The Eldest Princess' Substitute Husband (Transmigration) - Chapter 24

“Your heart is beating very fast.”

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Listening to her words, Song Jinsheng was completely stunned. Her lips were slightly parted, and she blinked blankly, unable to utter a single word.

Did I hear that right?

Hugging and clinging to her… and refusing to let go?

The mere thought of that scene… Is that something I’m capable of doing?

Just from being drunk, could I… go so crazy?

She was in a daze for a while before her brows furrowed and the corners of her mouth twitched. She said, half-believing, half-doubting, “I… I… did I really do that?”

“Or what?” Wei Luoyi asked in return, a hint of innocence in her eyes, which were still glistening from just waking up. “Do you think I would lie to you about something like this?”

Yes, you’re lying, so what?

Wei Luoyi was doing this on purpose.

After helping Song Jinsheng back to the room last night, Song Jinsheng immediately collapsed on the bed. She didn’t say a word, closed her eyes, and fell asleep, forcing Wei Luoyi to go to great lengths to help this drunk person undress.

As a princess, when had she ever served anyone else?

Besides, the last time they shared a bed, Song Jinsheng took advantage of her and hugged her all night!

She hadn’t even settled the score for that yet. So she wasn’t really lying to her.

“Hmm… then…” Song Jinsheng was conflicted. She still found it hard to believe. It wasn’t like she had never been drunk before. She remembered her drunken behavior was quite good; all she wanted to do when she was drunk was sleep. How could she have developed a habit of hugging people?

But… Song Jinsheng looked up at Wei Luoyi’s slightly furrowed brow, which looked like she was complaining. For a moment, she felt like Wei Luoyi wouldn’t make a joke about something like this, so she put her suspicions aside and lowered her head, saying in a weak voice, “Then… my apologies for offending Your Highness last night. It was my fault…”

After a pause, she suddenly raised her head to defend herself. “But I really don’t remember. I swear it wasn’t intentional. I promise it won’t happen again…”

As Song Jinsheng spoke, Wei Luoyi casually hooked her fingers around a strand of her hair and played with it, looking absent-minded.

When Song Jinsheng finished, she looked up and glanced at her indifferently. “What? You’re already thinking about a next time?”

Song Jinsheng: “…I promise there won’t be a next time.”

I don’t want there to be a next time either…

“I don’t need your verbal promise.” Wei Luoyi let go of her hair and leaned closer, her gaze fixed on Song Jinsheng’s from below. She raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I said, I want to punish you.”

“But I am a big person, and I don’t want to make a big deal out of it. I just want…”

Wei Luoyi deliberately stopped speaking, watching the expression on Song Jinsheng’s face with interest. When she saw her also frown in anticipation, she chuckled inwardly and said slowly, “I want the same birthday gift you gave Father yesterday.”

“Didn’t you say you made it yourself? I want an identical one. Otherwise… after you return to the estate, you will serve tea and water to me every day for Dongyang and Chunyue.”

Song Jinsheng’s heart finally settled a little.

What was all that for? So you just wanted the stethoscope?

“Well? If you can’t produce one, then…”

“I can.” Song Jinsheng confidently looked up and replied. She then moved past Wei Luoyi to get off the bed. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. After we’ve had breakfast, I’ll give you an identical stethoscope.”

With that, she grabbed her robe and jade coronet from the chair and quickly ran behind the screen to get dressed.

She wants me to serve her tea and water? Heh, no way.

Who knows how she’d make things difficult for me.

Forget one stethoscope; I can get a hundred of them. I’ll just buy one from the system online. One-click purchase, one-second delivery.

Song Jinsheng was true to her word.

After breakfast, when Wei Luoyi returned to the room after a walk in the bamboo grove, she saw that Song Jinsheng had already placed a wooden box on the desk. When she walked over and looked inside, it was the same miraculous item Song Jinsheng had given the emperor yesterday.

“See, Your Highness? I didn’t lie, right? It’s exactly the same.” Song Jinsheng immediately handed her the stethoscope when she came close.

Wei Luoyi said nothing, only taking it and examining it closely.

This strange item not only had a special function, but its appearance was also something she had never seen before. It was the first time she had ever seen such a curious object used to listen to heart sounds to diagnose a person’s body.

In truth, she didn’t particularly love this item, but she just wanted it.

Song Jinsheng had given this unprecedented item as a gift to the emperor. So why had she never given her anything like this on her birthdays before?

She was her Consort, so why was she trying so hard to please the emperor?

The person Song Jinsheng should be pleasing was her.

“…What’s wrong? Is it not exactly the same?” Song Jinsheng was confused, seeing Wei Luoyi staring at the stethoscope in her hand for a long time without a word. She also began to examine the stethoscope she had given her.

“It’s great. I like it very much.” Wei Luoyi was about to close the wooden box, but she looked up at her and said suddenly, “But I don’t know how to use it. Why don’t you demonstrate it for me?”

“Huh?” Song Jinsheng frowned.

How troublesome.

“Hmm?” Wei Luoyi raised an eyebrow.

You dare to refuse me?

“Alright.” The moment their eyes met, Song Jinsheng immediately surrendered.

But at this moment, she had no idea what would happen after she agreed.

Until… she put on the stethoscope and held the other end, about to place it on Wei Luoyi… she suddenly stopped.

Hiss…

Song Jinsheng’s eyes darted to the rising and falling of Wei Luoyi’s clothes, then quickly looked away, her expression awkward. “Is this… appropriate?”

Wei Luoyi looked down, feeling a hint of shame at first. But when she saw that Song Jinsheng seemed even more evasive and scared than she was, all her shyness vanished.

She knew she wouldn’t do it.

“Why? What’s inappropriate about it?” Wei Luoyi was deliberately feigning ignorance.

Song Jinsheng was speechless. Her hand was suspended in mid-air, unable to go forward or retract. She could only clench her fingers tightly around the cold earpiece.

“Just think of me as a patient you’re diagnosing. Don’t overthink it.”

The more anxiously she tried to avoid it, the more open Wei Luoyi spoke. The more open she was, the more Song Jinsheng couldn’t bring herself to do it.

After a moment of internal struggle, Song Jinsheng feigned a casual glance at Wei Luoyi’s chest and finally lowered her hand, taking off the stethoscope. She sighed helplessly. “Forget it… How about you try it, Your Highness? Just do what I tell you.”

At her words, Wei Luoyi was stunned. She clearly hadn’t expected her to say that. A flash of discomfort crossed her calm face, but she quickly agreed. “Alright, then I’ll do it.”

She took the stethoscope from Song Jinsheng’s hand, put it on as she had just done, then held the earpiece and looked at Song Jinsheng. “Consort, what now? What should I do?”

“Then…” 

Song Jinsheng sighed silently and unfastened her outer robe. She took Wei Luoyi’s hand, guided it through her clothes, and placed the earpiece on her left chest.

She had wrapped her chest binder even tighter when she got dressed this morning, so she figured Wei Luoyi wouldn’t notice anything unusual unless she felt it carefully.

“Did you hear anything?” Song Jinsheng looked at her, almost asking the question in a whisper.

Wei Luoyi didn’t answer. She just let her hand be held steady, her eyes fixed on Song Jinsheng. Their gazes met.

It had rained lightly last night, and the morning was still cool. The gentle spring breeze blew open the slightly ajar wooden window, making it creak.

“Squeak-squeak—”

Over and over, the sound was deep and drawn-out…

Just like Song Jinsheng’s heart at this moment.

“Consort.” After a long moment of staring, Wei Luoyi finally opened her lips and called out softly.

She could feel Song Jinsheng’s eyes darting away. She could hear the frantic pounding in Song Jinsheng’s chest. And she could see right through her poorly hidden thoughts.

She smiled, a smile as gentle as a spring breeze, as beautiful as a blossoming peach flower.

“Your heart is beating very fast.”

At her words, Song Jinsheng’s eyes widened slightly, a mix of guilt and embarrassment on her face. Without a second thought, she immediately pulled Wei Luoyi’s hand away.

“Fast… it should be fast…” Song Jinsheng turned her face away, letting out a dry laugh. “Fast means… I’m very healthy, in very good shape… That’s why it’s beating fast. You see, some patients have a weak pulse, right? This is the same principle… ahem…”

Song Jinsheng’s explanation was so rushed that her mouth went dry. She quickly poured herself a cup of tea and drank it all in one gulp.

“Is that so? I didn’t know the Consort was also a bit knowledgeable about medicine.” The smile remained on Wei Luoyi’s lips. She took the stethoscope from her ears, and her eyes slowly turned back to her.

“I couldn’t hear it clearly just now. How about…”

“How about Your Highness finds someone else?” Song Jinsheng interrupted, quickly finishing her sentence. She gave a dry, awkward smile and got up. “It’s too hot here. I’m going outside for a walk. If Your Highness truly wants to try, you can find Dongyang and Chunyue. Listening to different people’s heartbeats can also help with your medical skills…”

With that, she didn’t wait for Wei Luoyi’s reply and left the room in two big steps.

Wei Luoyi’s gaze followed her until the door closed. Only then did she turn back, take the teapot, and pour a cup for herself.

Her expression was calm. She sipped the warm tea, and her eyes turned to the swaying window, a slight curve on one corner of her lips.

Hot?

It’s a very cool day.

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[Author’s Note]

Ahhh, I’m late, my dears!!

Have you noticed that when the Princess’s mood changes, her way of addressing herself also changes?

Right now, their relationship is in its budding stage. Xiao Song has a slight crush on the Princess, while the Princess, on top of her desire to control Xiao Song, is also gaining a little fondness for her. And also—she’s discovered that teasing Xiao Song is a lot of fun, which is why she loves to do it on purpose.

She’s a devious Princess now…

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