I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

"Found him. Manager Meng has already taken him away," said Princess Fuke. "But they say the guard claims he doesn’t know anything, not even why his own horse bolted."

Song Yunzhao thought, ’It won’t be that easy to investigate.’ She looked at Princess Fuke and said, "A bird in flight still leaves a shadow. A careful investigation will surely turn something up."

"What Zhaoyi says is reasonable."

The waiting was always the hardest part. The first people sent down the mountain were Song Yexi and others who were uninjured.

When Song Yunzhao received the news, she arranged for Song Yexi to be brought directly to her. She also sent a message to the First Madam, telling her not to worry.

Song Yexi looked pale when she arrived. She was surprised to see Princess Fuke there and immediately stepped forward to offer her respects. "I pay my respects, Your Highness, Lady Zhaoyi."

"Young Madam Yue, please dispense with the formalities and rise," Princess Fuke said with a gentle warmth. "How are you hurt? The Zhaoyi has already sent for an Imperial Physician, so please bear with it for just a moment."

Song Yunzhao quickly had her sit down and asked where she was hurt. Song Yexi lifted the hem of her dress, revealing a large abrasion on her leg. It looked frightening, but it was only a superficial wound.

Song Yunzhao breathed a small sigh of relief, but her expression remained grave. "Don’t move. Let’s wait for the Imperial Physician."

Song Yexi leaned back against a soft cushion, finally letting out a breath of her own as the tension left her body. She looked at Yun Zhao and said, "When I came down the mountain, there was still no news of Linlang or the County Princess. The Emperor is personally overseeing the search, so the Zhaoyi and the Princess shouldn’t worry too much."

’How could I not be worried?’

’This "supporting character" rule was driving Yun Zhao mad.’

’But she couldn’t say any of this out loud. She could only fret in silence.’

The Imperial Physician arrived quickly. Knowing the patient was a woman, he had brought a Medical Woman with him. The Medical Woman examined the injuries behind a screen, after which the Imperial Physician wrote a prescription. He said to Song Zhaoyi, "Young Madam Yue has mostly superficial wounds. She’ll be fine after applying the ointment and resting for a few days. The prescription I’ve written is to calm her nerves. She should take it before bed."

Song Yunzhao thanked the Imperial Physician and had him rewarded. The physician didn’t linger, as he had other patients to attend to. He had come and gone in a hurry.

This was because Song Zhaoyi was favored; hence, the Imperial Physician had come to see her first.

The Imperial Physician had just left when the First Madam arrived. She was also surprised to see Princess Fuke and immediately came forward to pay her respects.

"This servant pays her respects to Your Highness the Princess and to Lady Zhaoyi."

"First Madam, there’s no need for such ceremony. Please, rise quickly," Princess Fuke said with a smile. "I know you’re worried about your daughter. Go on in and see her."

The First Madam expressed her thanks and hurried behind the screen. When she saw the Medical Woman carefully cleaning her daughter’s wound and applying ointment, her eyes reddened instantly. "How could you be so badly hurt?"

Song Yexi had been holding herself together, but her eyes reddened at the sight of her mother. Knowing the Princess was just outside, she forced her emotions down and said, "It looks frightening, but it’s only a superficial wound. The Imperial Physician said I’ll be fine after a few days of rest. Mother, you don’t need to worry."

How could the First Madam not be heartbroken? She had raised her daughter all this time and never let her suffer such a serious injury.

She took a breath to compose herself, then looked at her daughter and said, "Princess Zhenbei sent a message. But with the County Princess missing, she can’t attend to you right now."

Song Yexi was surprised that Princess Zhenbei would remember her, her niece-in-law, at a time like this. "The County Princess and Linlang still haven’t returned. I’m safe now, so the Princess Consort doesn’t need to worry about me."

After applying the ointment, the Medical Woman bowed and withdrew. The First Madam helped her daughter walk out. Looking at Yun Zhao and the Princess, she said, "I’ve already sent our family’s servants up the mountain to inquire about the situation. They will send word back as soon as they have any news. Lady Zhaoyi need not worry too much."

Princess Fuke was considering a marriage alliance with the Song Family, so she carefully observed how the First Madam handled matters. She was quite satisfied by what she heard. That the woman could remember to send people up the mountain at a time like this—not just doting on her own daughter while putting Miss Xie out of her mind—spoke volumes. Whether she was kind-hearted was hard to say, but she was certainly someone who considered the bigger picture and acted with forethought.

"I hear that Young Madam Yue accompanied you to the traveling palace this time, Madam, so she likely didn’t bring many of her own attendants," Princess Fuke said. "I have a governess here with excellent medical skills. I’ll have her attend to Young Madam Yue for a few days. She can return once the young madam has fully recovered."

The First Madam was taken aback and quickly rose. "It’s a minor injury. How could we trouble someone in Your Highness’s service?"

"Though it’s a superficial wound and not life-threatening, a young woman’s skin is of the utmost importance. It would be a shame if it scarred," Princess Fuke said slowly, lowering her voice. "The Imperial Hospital’s ointments are excellent, but preventing a scar requires extra care."

The First Madam hesitated for a moment, looking toward Song Yunzhao.

Song Yunzhao knew what was worrying the First Madam. Song Yexi was newly married and on excellent terms with her husband. A scar would certainly be a problem. The First Madam was afraid her son-in-law would grow to resent her daughter.

"The Princess is offering a kindness, Aunt. You should accept it." Song Yunzhao knew that for someone like Princess Fuke—who had grown up in the palace as the late Emperor’s favored daughter—her attendants were bound to be highly skilled. It was a favor the Song Family could not easily ask for.

Only then did the First Madam agree and express her gratitude to Princess Fuke. Song Yexi also bowed in thanks.

Princess Fuke was inwardly amazed. ’The First Madam defers to Song Zhaoyi’s judgment on everything. Even for such a small matter, she waited for her approval. This Song Zhaoyi is certainly an interesting person.’

With her wound bandaged, Song Yexi was no longer in any great discomfort and began to recount what had happened on the mountain in detail.

"Originally, our group wasn’t traveling with them, but we ran into them at a fork in the road. Miss An from the Duke Dingguo Mansion said it would be more lively if we all went together, so we joined them. The women’s hunting grounds are separate from the men’s, and since we didn’t know the paths well, we just followed the others. I’m not sure how, but we ended up at the boundary. That’s where we came across the Heir of Marquis Yongjia and his party, who were also hunting. It was right at that moment that Sixth Miss Huang’s horse suddenly went wild for no reason and started charging about. I was right beside her, so I was the first one hit. Thankfully, the County Princess pulled me away. If she hadn’t, I fear I’d be half-dead, if not worse."

The First Madam’s expression turned grim as she listened.

Song Yunzhao knew Song Yexi well enough to hear the unspoken parts of her story. It seemed there were things she couldn’t say in front of Princess Fuke. So, Yun Zhao said, "It appears the County Princess thinks highly of you, her cousin’s wife. You must thank her properly when she returns. Even among relatives, one must not neglect etiquette."

Song Yexi nodded. "I know. You can rest assured, Zhaoyi."

Inwardly, however, she thought, ’If Yun Zhao knew the three of us did this on purpose, she’d probably give us a terrible scolding.’

Song Yunzhao saw Song Yexi’s faintly guilty expression and thought, ’Just as I suspected. She’s definitely hiding something.’

Princess Fuke, not knowing Song Yexi well, didn’t notice anything amiss. She looked at Yun Zhao and remarked thoughtfully, "Ending up at the boundary between the hunting grounds... now that’s interesting."

Since the grounds were separate, who would wander to the boundary unless it was intentional?