The Eldest Princess' Substitute Husband (Transmigration) - Chapter 2

“I, for one, have no desire for a divorce.” 

******

Though it was officially the “Consort’s Residence,” this manor was actually built by the Emperor for the Princess when she married, a private home for her outside the palace walls. The sheer size of the place was proof of how much the Emperor doted on his daughter; it was even more grand and spacious than some of the princely estates. Within the residence, Princess Wei Luoyi was the undisputed master. She and her consort lived in separate quarters, and if her chambers were not lit up at night, the consort was expected to stay in his own room.

The consort’s living area was a good distance from the main hall—a decent walk, in fact.

And yet, no sooner had Guzi sent someone to inform the Princess than Wei Luoyi arrived, barely a quarter of an hour later.

Her haste wasn’t because she cared so deeply for her young, handsome consort. Instead, it was because Song Jinsheng’s condition was still so uncertain. Just two days ago, the imperial physician had visited and told her that Song Jinsheng’s head injury was difficult to treat and he likely wouldn’t last more than a few days. Wei Luoyi was already preparing for his funeral. But then, someone came to report that the consort had woken up.

Song Jinsheng was awake? He had risen from the dead?

Wei Luoyi rushed over the moment she heard the news. She was already surprised by his recovery, but now, seeing him, she found the situation even stranger.

She stood by the bed, her eyes fixed on the pale man lying on the mattress. Her gaze was placid, betraying no emotion. From the moment she entered, Song Jinsheng had been looking at her, and she had caught the flash of awe in his eyes. Wei Luoyi’s brows furrowed slightly, a deeper sense of unease settling in her heart.

Strange. This was truly strange. Why would Song Jinsheng look at her like that?

******

System: “Reminder: Important Character – Wei Luoyi, the current Princess and your wife.”

Song Jinsheng was startled by the system’s mechanical voice and quickly withdraw his gaze. But this sudden jolt only deepened Wei Luoyi’s suspicion.

A faint ripple disturbed her usually serene expression. Her eyebrows drew together noticeably as she slowly parted her lips. “Consort, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

Wei Luoyi’s cool demeanor was a stark contrast to Guzi’s earlier warmth. In a single second, Song Jinsheng was completely disillusioned with the beautiful princess. But this also meant the Princess truly didn’t care about her, which would make her plan for a divorce much easier to execute.

“Consort?” Wei Luoyi was still watching Song Jinsheng, her brow remaining deeply furrowed.

“Hmm?” Song Jinsheng raised her eyes and met Wei Luoyi’s gaze. She was stunned at first, then suddenly coughed twice, pretending to be weak and sitting up, “Well, I’m fine… it’s just that my head still hurts…”

In reality, she felt perfectly fine after transmigrating. But Guzi had just told her that the original host had a severe head injury, so she couldn’t just pretend to be completely healed the moment she woke up. The Princess seemed far more difficult to deal with than Guzi, so she had to keep up the act.

Song Jinsheng feigned a pained expression, gently holding her forehead and taking a sharp breath, her eyes darting toward Wei Luoyi.

Wei Luoyi paused for a moment, the complex, deep look in her eyes fading slightly. She took a step forward and placed her slender fingers on Song Jinsheng’s thin wrist. The touch was not warm; it was a cold, icy chill.

Song Jinsheng felt a slight tremor in her heart.

Wei Luoyi gently lowered her hand and said in a soft voice, “The consort was gravely injured after falling off a cliff. You’ve been unconscious for several days since being brought back to the manor. Now that you’ve woken up… your head pain is likely from an unhealed injury. We’ll have the imperial physician take a look when he arrives.”

As if on cue, the imperial physician arrived. A servant led a white-haired man, who rushed in just as Wei Luoyi finished speaking. After bowing to Wei Luoyi, he walked to the bedside and, upon seeing Song Jinsheng, his eyes widened slightly in surprise. He quickly regained his composure, knelt down, and began taking her pulse.

Seeing the physician’s solemn expression, Song Jinsheng’s heart tightened. She secretly asked the system: Doesn’t taking a pulse reveal gender? What if he realizes I’m a woman?

System: “Don’t be nervous, Host. As a transmigrator, you have special privileges in this timeline. Physicians cannot determine your gender by taking your pulse. Furthermore…”

System: “This imperial physician was already brought in by the Princess to treat the Consort before. You have nothing to worry about.”

Hearing this, Song Jinsheng felt a little more at ease, but the physician’s expression grew even stranger.

Finally, the physician’s hand left Song Jinsheng’s wrist. The look of worry remained on his face as he stood up, stroking his long, white beard. He looked at Song Jinsheng and simply shook his head without a word.

This gesture confused Song Jinsheng. I’m perfectly fine… It seems doctors are the same in every era.

Wei Luoyi saw him just shaking his head and not speaking, so she took the initiative to ask, “Physician, how is the consort’s body? Are there any internal injuries?”

“This…” The physician looked at Wei Luoyi, hesitating, as if in a difficult position.

******

This isn’t right. He had just visited two days ago. How could the consort have come back to life on his own in just two days? Not only that, but all his internal injuries were completely healed. He had been a doctor his whole life and had never seen a case like this. If he told the truth, the Princess might think he was lying to her before and would hold him accountable…

Seeing him look away and act so timidly, Wei Luoyi pressed him further. “What is it? Is there something you can’t say?”

The physician had no choice but to bow his head and give a false report. “No, this commoner is simply astonished by the consort’s great fortune. His external injuries have now healed, and there is no major internal damage. However, because of the severe blow to the back of his head, there may be some residual blood within…”

Just as the physician was running out of things to say, Song Jinsheng quickly interjected with a sigh, “So that’s it…”

She lowered her head, pretending to look dispirited. “To be honest, when I woke up, I couldn’t remember many things…”

When Wei Luoyi heard this, her relaxed eyebrows knitted together again.

Seeing this, Dongyang, who stood behind her, stepped forward and whispered to her, “Your Highness, when Guzi reported earlier, he did say that the consort was different from before and that it seemed… he couldn’t remember anything.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Luoyi’s gaze toward Song Jinsheng became a little more complex. She nodded to the physician and then gave a signal to her two maids, Dongyang and Chunyue. The two immediately understood, and led the physician out, closing the door tightly behind them.

The room was now quiet, with only the two of them left. Song Jinsheng didn’t dare to look up, her heart inexplicably tense as she heard Wei Luoyi’s approaching footsteps.

She saw Wei Luoyi sit down by the bed.

“Consort, lift your head.” Wei Luoyi’s voice was gentle and ethereal, yet devoid of all emotion.

Song Jinsheng didn’t know what she was going to do, so she just lifted her eyes to meet Wei Luoyi’s cool gaze.

“Do you… remember who I am?”

Song Jinsheng swallowed and shook her head, her face unchanged. “I don’t remember. When I woke up… I only remembered Guzi.”

“You don’t remember anything from before?” Wei Luoyi stared right at her.

Song Jinsheng shook her head again.

So she really doesn’t remember me…

Look at that expression, as innocent as a child, and with a hint of foolishness. It’s much more interesting than how she used to be.

This version of Song Jinsheng will be much easier to control, won’t she?

Wei Luoyi was silent for a long moment, then a slow smile crept onto her lips, bright as a blossoming flower. But the smile was not inviting; instead, it made Song Jinsheng feel a little uneasy. Even if there’s no affection between us, there’s nothing to laugh about when your husband loses his memory from an injury… right?

Seeing Song Jinsheng’s confused expression, Wei Luoyi’s smile grew wider, her eyes curving into crescents. This was the first time she had ever seen such a vivid range of emotions on Song Jinsheng’s face.

“It’s fine if you don’t remember,” Wei Luoyi’s smile faded bit by bit as she stood up. “The consort only needs to remember that I am your wife, and you are my husband. When I need you, I will summon you. When I don’t, you will stay put like a good boy.”

“Can you do that?”

Song Jinsheng watched Wei Luoyi’s face return to its expressionless state, a coldness that sent a chill down her spine, as if the smile from just a moment ago had been an illusion. This princess is truly odd…

“Yes, yes.” Song Jinsheng nodded quickly.

“That’s good.”

“The consort is only just recovering from a serious injury. You should rest more. I won’t disturb you.”

With that, Wei Luoyi turned to leave.

But before Song Jinsheng could even breathe a sigh of relief, the system’s mechanical voice boomed in her mind.

System: Main Quest Initiated. Please propose a divorce to the Princess within the time limit. Failure to do so will result in a deduction of ten life points from the host.

System: Time limit: thirty seconds. Countdown begins…

Song Jinsheng: Hey!!

Song Jinsheng was so startled that she sat bolt upright. The continuous mechanical countdown sent her into a panic. Without thinking, she called out to Wei Luoyi.

“Your Highness!”

Her sudden shout made Wei Luoyi stop. She turned around and asked, bewildered, “Does the consort have something else to say?”

The countdown continued, and Song Jinsheng’s heart hammered in her chest, her lips trembling.

“Your Highness, let’s… let’s set a date for a divorce.”

System: Quest Complete.

System: Notification: Wei Luoyi’s Affection -10.

Why are there affection points too?

After her words fell, there was no response, only a silent stare. As the long, drawn-out silence continued, Song Jinsheng’s heart gradually calmed. She looked into Wei Luoyi’s icy, beautiful eyes, and the only three words she could think of were:

Please agree. Please agree. Please agree…

If she agrees, and once the divorce papers are signed, my mission will be complete, and I can go back.

Why isn’t she saying anything? Just agree already! Agree to the divorce!

Song Jinsheng was so anxious she almost blurted it out, but Wei Luoyi still didn’t respond. The look in her eyes was one of pure confusion.

“What did the consort just say?”

“I said… Your Highness and I, let’s get a divorce.” Song Jinsheng’s tone was much firmer now.

She saw Wei Luoyi freeze for a moment, and then, she turned around. To Song Jinsheng’s expectant gaze, she pursed her lips and smiled.

“Why?”

Before Song Jinsheng could answer, Wei Luoyi slowly stepped forward, looking down at Song Jinsheng from her dominant position. 

“No matter the reason, I will not allow it.”

She raised an eyebrow, and seeing Song Jinsheng lost in thought, she lifted her hand and gently cupped her chin. Her fingertips were so soft, but her eyes were so aloof.

“I, for one, have no desire for a divorce.”

*******

[Author’s Note]

Song Jinsheng: I want to go home!!!

Wei Luoyi: Humph, trying to run away again? Did you get my permission?

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