The Eldest Princess' Substitute Husband (Transmigration) - Chapter 22

“It must have been the Consort’s hand you pinched that night…”

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The moment those words left her lips, the entire hall buzzed with murmurs. Some people were so intrigued they couldn’t resist getting up to get a better look. What in the world was in that box that could listen to the imperial heartbeat and diagnose without even feeling a pulse? Was such a wondrous object even possible?

It wasn’t just the officials who were skeptical; even the emperor leaned forward slightly, peering at Song Jinsheng.

He had seen his share of exotic treasures, with a steady stream of them presented as tribute from the West every year, but this “stethoscope”… he had never, ever heard of it!

“Consort, does this item… truly have the miraculous effect you claim?”

“Of course.” Song Jinsheng answered with certainty. Her eyes swept over the crowd, and when she saw even Wei Luoyi looking at the box in her hand with a bewildered expression, her sense of pride swelled even more.

“If Your Majesty doesn’t mind the trouble, you can summon the imperial physicians. I will explain to them how to use this item, and they can immediately listen and diagnose Your Majesty’s condition.”

“Good. With such a marvel, how could I not try?” The item sounded so mystical, and if it could help him live longer, he had to see it for himself.

The emperor was overjoyed. With a laugh, he stroked his beard and looked at the eunuch by his side. “Go, do as the Consort says, and have all the imperial physicians come here.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After the eunuch left to carry out the order, the system, which had been observing in silence, couldn’t help but speak. …So that’s what you needed the stethoscope for when you bought it online a few days ago…

Song Jinsheng: Of course. What else would I want a stethoscope for? I’m not a doctor.

Song Jinsheng: By the way, didn’t you say I could get a bonus reward for raising my personal prestige? I should have a good reputation now, right? What’s the reward?

System: …The reward will be issued later. Please be patient, Host.

Song Jinsheng rolled her eyes. Why was the system acting just like a boss…

…all talk and no action.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, several imperial physicians arrived and stood beside Song Jinsheng. Their eyes widened as they stared at the stethoscope in the box, then looked at each other, their expressions completely baffled.

Every one of them was a senior physician with a long white beard. They had dedicated their lives to medicine, yet they had never heard of such a diagnostic method.

With the emperor watching, Song Jinsheng didn’t dare to be lax. She picked up the stethoscope and the diagram from the box and began explaining their use to the physicians. But after talking for a long time, she noticed that they still looked confused.

“What’s wrong? Do you not understand? Should I explain it again?”

The physicians fell into a silent huddle. One of them finally couldn’t hold back and spoke up. “Forgive this old official’s impertinence, but may I ask… which ancient text does this stethoscope come from?”

“We… have never heard of it.”

It makes perfect sense that you don’t, Song Jinsheng thought. This is modern medical equipment. If anyone here had known what it was, it would be me staring in astonishment, not you.

Song Jinsheng cleared her throat twice and handed the stethoscope and the diagram to the physician. “This… is something I saw in a dream one day. After that, I went to great lengths to create this item, with the sole purpose of one day being able to present it to His Majesty.”

“It’s alright that you’ve never seen it. Just follow the method I just described, and you will see the truth when you try it on His Majesty.”

Since Song Jinsheng had said so much, the physicians, although still half-confused, allowed the most respected one to take the stethoscope and step forward.

The physician knelt before the emperor, one end of the stethoscope in his ears and the other in his hand, pressing it close to the emperor’s chest and concentrating on the sounds.

He was skeptical at first, but a moment later, when he heard the emperor’s clear heartbeat echo in his ears, he was so shocked he immediately pulled the stethoscope away.

“This… this… this…”

The emperor saw that he was speechless and became even more intrigued, frowning as he asked, “What is it? Is it truly as the Consort claimed?”

“It’s real! It’s real, Your Majesty!” The physician was so excited he was almost in tears. He had lived his whole life and had never seen such a miraculous item. “This stethoscope can truly hear the imperial heartbeat, and from what I just heard, Your Majesty’s heartbeat is steady and strong—a sign of great health and vitality!”

“Excellent! This is excellent, ha ha ha…” The emperor threw his head back and laughed heartily, unable to contain his immense joy. Just by this reaction, it was clear how pleased he was with this birthday gift.

As she made her way back to her seat, receiving glances of scrutiny, admiration, and curiosity, Song Jinsheng felt a thrill of pride. A smile she couldn’t suppress played on her lips.

It was her turn to be the heroine of a thrilling tale.

Wei Luoyi glanced sideways at the person who was clearly delighted with herself and couldn’t help but curve her lips slightly. “Consort, your gift truly is an extraordinary item.”

Song Jinsheng was in such a good mood that she had forgotten the awkwardness from the other day. Her eyes sparkled with a smile as she looked at her. “It’s nothing, really. It can only listen to heart sounds to help with diagnosis. It can’t bring people back from the dead.”

Wei Luoyi continued to smile. She picked up her teacup, about to drink, and said in a slow, meaningful tone, “I just wonder… where did you find such a remarkable item?”

“Didn’t I say? I made it myself.”

“Is that so?” Wei Luoyi turned and looked at her, smiling silently, her eyes full of scrutiny and doubt.

But this time, Song Jinsheng wasn’t rattled. Even though she didn’t make it herself, it was a modern item she bought online from the system. She knew it wouldn’t be found in the Southern Crimson Kingdom, and even if you traveled across the oceans to the West, South, or North, you still wouldn’t find it.

Song Jinsheng raised an eyebrow in response. “Of course. Your Highness doesn’t believe me?”

Wei Luoyi turned her gaze away and leisurely added some food to her bowl. “I didn’t say that.”

“Ah… I know Your Highness doesn’t believe me, but…” Song Jinsheng smiled, her dimples showing. She leaned close to Wei Luoyi’s ear. “I have many more strange items like this. Your Highness will find out about them slowly, over time.”

With that, Song Jinsheng gave her a meaningful look, took a small pot, poured a cup of wine for herself, and downed it in one go. She winced as the strong liquor went down her throat and let out a long sigh.

She couldn’t hide her youthful pride, yet it didn’t come across as frivolous. Instead, it was like a spring breeze, the epitome of a carefree and dashing young gentleman.

Wei Luoyi stared at Song Jinsheng’s delicate profile. After a long moment, she looked away. As she lowered her head, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

System: Notification: Wei Luoyi’s favorability +5.

*******

Later in the banquet, Wei Luoyi was called to sit with the emperor and empress, leaving Song Jinsheng’s seat empty.

Because she had presented such a miraculous gift to the emperor, officials, princes, and even other royals kept coming to propose a toast and talk to her, all wanting to know how the “stethoscope” was made.

At first, Song Jinsheng happily entertained them, basking in all the praise. But in less than half an hour, she regretted it.

Everyone came to drink with her, and they were either high-ranking officials or noble members of the royal family. She couldn’t refuse them.

Song Jinsheng had never been a heavy drinker, and her tolerance was not high. After just a few cups, she felt dizzy. Now, she was so drunk that her vision was blurred, and she couldn’t even make out what the people around her were saying.

“Hey, Consort, your tolerance isn’t very good. You need more practice… Come on! Drink another cup with me!” The Second Prince, seeing that Song Jinsheng was about to collapse, quickly stopped her and put an arm around her shoulder.

“No… no… I really can’t drink any more…” Song Jinsheng was held by someone and resisted instinctively, but her body had long gone soft and powerless. She couldn’t struggle.

The young official on Song Jinsheng’s left also wanted to encourage her to drink but hesitated when he saw her state. He turned to the equally inebriated Second Prince. “Your Highness, perhaps we should drink another day… The Consort seems…”

“Oh, come on!” The Second Prince waved his hand dismissively, grabbing the wine pot with an uncaring expression. “It’s Father’s birthday! When else should we celebrate with a few drinks if not on such a grand occasion!”

“Come on…”

“So my brother still remembers it’s Father’s birthday today.”

The Second Prince was about to pour wine for Song Jinsheng when a cold voice from above him stopped him in his tracks. He looked up—

“Sister… Princess…”

“So you still recognize me, brother. I thought you had already drunk yourself senseless.” Wei Luoyi stood before him, her head held high. Her gaze fell directly onto his hand tightly wrapped around Song Jinsheng’s shoulder. Her brows furrowed deeply, and her expression instantly darkened. “The Consort is not a good drinker. Please release him.”

“Mm… Your Highness…” Song Jinsheng heard the familiar voice and grabbed onto it like a lifeline. She groaned in discomfort, broke free from the Second Prince’s grip, and tried to stand up to get to Wei Luoyi’s side.

As soon as she stood, her head felt light and her body swayed uncontrollably. She instinctively grabbed Wei Luoyi’s hand, and fighting off the nauseating urge to vomit, she leaned close to her ear and murmured softly, “Your Highness… I feel so sick. I want to go back…”

At her words, Wei Luoyi’s frown deepened. She didn’t address Song Jinsheng first but instead glared at the Second Prince, her eyes filled with displeasure. “I’ve heard that my brother has a drinking problem. I didn’t expect you to be so drunk and ill-mannered even on Father’s birthday.”

“If this gets out, it will be a disgrace to the royal family.”

With that, Wei Luoyi gave a look to Dongyang, who immediately stepped forward to support the intoxicated Song Jinsheng. The three of them slowly walked away, leaving the Second Prince behind, who watched them with barely suppressed anger.

Even though Wei Luoyi was a princess and had a strange, detached personality, no one dared to cross her because she was under the empress’s protection.

The empress had no sons, only Wei Luoyi. With the empress’s patronage, everyone in the palace—from the concubines to the princes—had to give her some deference.

*******

“Consort… Consort?”

“…Song Jinsheng?”

Wei Luoyi frowned as she looked at the person sleeping soundly on her shoulder. She had tried to push her away several times but couldn’t. In the end, she let out an exasperated sigh, her face clouded.

“He stinks… reeking of wine.”

The three of them were sitting in the sedan chair. Wei Luoyi was already uncomfortable with Dongyang seeing Song Jinsheng hugging her like this, but now Song Jinsheng’s clothes were saturated with the overwhelming and pungent smell of alcohol. It made Wei Luoyi even more awkward and uncomfortable.

Dongyang said nothing, just kept her head down, occasionally looking up at the two of them.

If Chunyue were here, she might secretly tell her that the Princess disliked the Consort so much.

But she wasn’t like Chunyue, who only saw things at face value. She knew that the Princess’s words only meant she cared about the Consort.

After all, even though she disliked the smell of wine on her, she still let the Consort lean on her, didn’t she?

If the Princess truly didn’t want the Consort close, she could have directly ordered her to take the Consort to another sedan chair…

“Dongyang.”

“Huh?” Dongyang was still lost in thought and was startled by Wei Luoyi’s sudden call.

Wei Luoyi looked at her hands, which were resting in her lap. “When we get back to the palace, I’ll give you a box of snowflake cream. It can remove scars and is also great for skin care.”

Dongyang looked confused. She couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness… why… are you suddenly giving this to me?”

“To use on your hands.”

“My hands?” Dongyang was even more confused. She held out her hands and carefully examined them. “There’s nothing wrong with my hands, is there?”

Seeing that she truly didn’t understand, Wei Luoyi became bewildered herself. “You don’t remember?”

Dongyang asked, “Remember what?”

Wei Luoyi didn’t want to spell it out. She didn’t want to recall the memory of that night, but seeing Dongyang’s continued confusion, she had no choice but to be blunt. “That night when I had stomach pains… I pinched your hand. I’m afraid it left a mark…”

Dongyang’s expression was a rare one of surprise. Her eyes widened. “Pinched… my hand? Your Highness, when I was massaging your stomach, you didn’t pinch me… Are you mistaken?”

“It wasn’t you?” Wei Luoyi was stunned. She quickly glanced at the person on her shoulder, then frowned and pondered for a long time. She asked in a low voice, “Were you not the one serving me by my side that night?”

Dongyang shook her head, then also looked at Song Jinsheng. It was clear she had also guessed the answer.

“After the Consort entered the room, Chunyue and I left. Before we left, we even told the Consort to take good care of Your Highness…”

Dongyang lowered her gaze, her voice getting softer and softer. “It seems… it must have been the Consort’s hand you pinched that night…”

Wei Luoyi remained silent, staring at the embroidery on the sedan chair’s curtain, but her eyes were empty. She was clearly lost in thought.

It was him? Song Jinsheng?

The one who was comforting me that night… was Song Jinsheng?

Wei Luoyi’s hand, which was resting at her side, involuntarily curled into a fist. Her furrowed brows didn’t relax as she seemed to be contemplating something difficult.

If it was him, then why did she never mention it to her…

And if that’s the case… He must have heard her dream-filled ramblings that night…

A twisted and complex mix of emotions disturbed Wei Luoyi’s peace of mind. Fragmented memories of that night, even the most fleeting ones, once again rushed into her heart…

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[Author’s Note]

In the next chapter, little Song and the Princess will demonstrate the correct usage of the stethoscope for everyone (hehe, just use your imagination)

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