After Transmigrating Into a Cannon Fodder, I Got a Happy Ending with the Female Lead [Transmigration Into a Novel] - Chapter 11

Chen Wu froze in place, her whole being numb from heart to skin.

Only after a long pause did she ask, “You want to let her into the Marquis’ residence?”

Cui Ping nodded, with a tone that almost sounded like persuasion:
“Wang Fu is a lonely orphan girl with nowhere to go. I had no choice but to bring her to the capital, and I didn’t expect to develop feelings for her. Xiao Wu, you’ve always been magnanimous, surely you can accept her, can’t you?”

But Chen Wu was not swayed by her words. She asked instead, “And if I cannot accept her?”

Cui Ping’s face changed instantly, her tone sharp:
“That’s easy then. I can live with Mistress Fu in another estate. This huge Marquis’ residence can be all yours. Aren’t you the one who wants to be the mistress of the house? Then enjoy it to the fullest!”

Wang Fu tugged gently at Cui Ping’s arm, her voice pitiful:
“My lord, don’t be like this. Let’s talk properly with elder sister—she will understand.”

She turned to Chen Wu, eyes brimming with tears, looking fragile enough to break.

“Elder sister, don’t blame the Marquis. She only pities me. Rest assured, even if I join this household, I would never destroy the bond between you and the Marquis. Elder sister, just treat me as another servant in the manor.”

After saying this, she reached out to take Chen Wu’s hand.

But Chen Wu shook her off, her expression dark and cold.

“Who is your elder sister?! I am the most beloved Princess Hekang of the Son of Heaven, a thousand-gold body. And you—an unknown woman of questionable origin—you think you deserve to call me sister?”

Wang Fu let herself fall to the ground with a soft cry, tears flowing instantly. She bit her lip and made no sound, looking so pitiful it would wrench anyone’s heart.

Cui Ping’s heart ached for her. She hurried to lift Wang Fu and protectively held her close, glaring fiercely at Chen Wu.

“Chen Wu, don’t go too far! No matter what, I will give Mistress Fu a proper place. Whether you agree or not, she will enter this household!”

Chen Wu suddenly gave a bitter laugh, her eyes filling with tears.

She asked softly, “Cui Ping, do you remember the vow you made when you married me?”

Cui Ping faltered, then snapped impatiently:
“Vows only matter in the moment. It’s been so long—surely you don’t still believe you’re the precious pearl I once longed for but could not obtain?”

Chen Wu clenched her fists so tightly her nails cut into her palms, yet she felt no pain.

Through her tears, she stared at Cui Ping and said each word clearly:
“You said, in this life you would love only me. That if ever your heart strayed, you would die a terrible death.”

A shiver passed through Cui Ping, her face twisting as if she had swallowed a fly.

“Stop spouting nonsense! You’ve been locked up in this deep household too long and lost your senses! I won’t be coming back for some time. You’d best reflect on yourself, and when you’ve thought it through, send someone to fetch me.”

With that, she turned and left with Wang Fu in tow. Wang Fu glanced back at Chen Wu, still wearing that pitiful look—but in her eyes, there was unmistakable triumph.

Chen Wu stood there for a long time. Long enough for heavy snow to cover her from head to toe, yet she did not move.

This was the third snowfall. Each one had marked her fate.

Today’s snow was especially heavy. After only a short time outside, her clothes were soaked through.

Yue Xi turned to look at Qing He. Her light green open-front robe had turned dark, clinging tightly to her body.

It must have been freezing cold, yet Qing He seemed unaffected, her gaze distant, unfocused.

Yue Xi removed her own Daoist robe and draped it over Qing He’s shoulders. Qing He turned to her and asked, “Aren’t you cold?”

Cold—of course she was.

In this dream realm, there was no hunger, no thirst, but temperature could still be felt. And right now, even without wind, Yue Xi felt a bone-piercing chill seeping into her very bones.

But how could she admit weakness before the woman she liked? So she straightened her back, feigning calm:
“It’s not that cold.”

Qing He held the robe, sensing the warmth it retained, her eyes downcast as if in deep thought.

Ever since being expelled from Feng Mountain, she had not had a normal body temperature.

Her warmth changed with her environment. Lying with Yue Xi, her temperature became Yue Xi’s. Standing in the snow, her temperature became as cold as ice. Thus, she did not feel the cold.

Yet the robe Yue Xi draped over her shoulders let her feel a long-lost, normal warmth again.

She had once possessed such warmth—but now needed another to give it to her.

Soon Yue Xi’s own face flushed red from the cold, her nose running. Luckily, Chen Wu finally moved.

Perhaps she had thought things through. She cast one deep look in the direction Cui Ping had gone, then turned and walked back toward her residence.

The further she walked, the lighter the snow became. The sky remained gloomy, but the bitter chill had eased somewhat.

Yue Xi glanced at the dark sky and said, “This dreamscape is about to shatter.”

“Shatter?” Yue Xi echoed in surprise.

This was the first she had heard of a dream realm shattering.

“Yes.” Qing He replied calmly. “Because the one who created this dream is about to die.”

Yue Xi thought back to when she first met Chen Wu—so young, only seventeen—and now she would soon wither away.

Was loving the wrong person such a deadly price to pay?

After a long silence, Yue Xi felt a sudden warmth.

Qing He had returned her robe.

“It’s very cold, isn’t it?” Qing He asked, still expressionless.

Yue Xi pulled the robe tighter, but insisted stubbornly: “Not cold at all.”

Qing He said nothing more. She stepped forward and said, “Come. We need to find a safe place to stay. Once the dream shatters, we could be trapped otherwise.”

Yue Xi knew little about such matters. Whatever Qing He said, she followed. She walked beside her, occasionally brushing against her shoulder.

As they neared the Princess’ residence, Yue Xi asked:
“What do you think of Chen Wu’s feelings for Cui Ping?”

Qing He replied coldly, only four words: “Utterly foolish.”

Love was already troublesome enough. To fall for a faithless, irresponsible person—foolish beyond measure.

That Chen Wu had come to this point was entirely her own doing.

Hearing her icy tone, Yue Xi did not dare argue, though deep inside she pitied Chen Wu.

The Princess’ residence was where Chen Wu’s happiest memories lay, making it the safest place within the dream.

There, the servants had not diminished. Daily chores continued as if Chen Wu still lived there.

When they saw Yue Xi and Qing He, they greeted them as always—still treating them as honored guests of the Princess.

The two stayed in the same chamber as before, unchanged in every detail.

That night, Chen Wu returned.

It was her first time back since marrying Cui Ping.

The entire household was overjoyed. To them, Chen Wu would always be their beloved little princess.

Chen Wu dismissed the attendants and walked the halls, nostalgia written in her eyes.

When she stopped before the room Yue Xi and Qing He occupied, Yue Xi opened the door and greeted her with a small smile.

“Elder Sister Yue Xi, come walk with me.”

Naturally, Yue Xi agreed. She walked at her side, noting the faint exhaustion on the girl’s features, and asked:
“Is the Princess very tired?”

Chen Wu smiled. “If I said no, would Elder Sister Yue Xi believe me?”

Cui Ping’s debauchery after marriage was no secret; likely the whole kingdom knew. To see the once-innocent young girl reduced to this… Yue Xi could only sigh at fate’s cruelty.

“Elder Sister Yue Xi, do you like that young lady beside you?”

To this day, Chen Wu still did not know Qing He’s name, so she could only call her “that young lady.”

Yue Xi was taken aback, hesitated, then finally answered:
“I do.”

She chose honesty.

Chen Wu turned to her, a faint spark in her eyes.

“Though she seems cold, I can tell she treats you differently. Don’t let her down.”

Though Chen Wu barely knew Qing He, she had a feeling—

That she was like herself: once in love, she would give everything, and nothing could turn her back.

Such a woman should not be betrayed.

Yue Xi’s gaze grew solemn.
“I will protect her. I won’t let her suffer the slightest harm.”

Chen Wu’s lips curved into a gentle smile, her dull eyes regaining a bit of light, tinged with envy.

“It’s late. I should return. I hope we can meet again.”

Yue Xi knew she was saying farewell. Her eyes stung as she replied:
“We will surely meet again.”

After watching Chen Wu leave, Yue Xi turned back to her chamber.

Opening the door, she almost collided with Qing He.

Yue Xi’s heart skipped a beat. She asked softly, “Did you hear what I said to Chen Wu?”

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