The Eldest Princess' Substitute Husband (Transmigration) - Chapter 27

“I’ve never been ‘naked’ with Wei Luoyi before!”

*******

Seeing that Wei Qingwan had truly lowered her head to look at the plant, her expression was very focused. Her beautiful eyes were wide and innocent, as if she really believed the plant was a spirit.

Song Jinsheng watched her for a couple of seconds and couldn’t help but laugh, raising her hand to cover her upturned lips.

But her soft laughter was heard by Wei Qingwan. Wei Qingwan frowned and glared at her, getting up in annoyance and looking at her. “What are you laughing at?”

“Princess…” Seeing that she had been discovered, Song Jinsheng didn’t bother to hide her amusement anymore. She gave a helpless laugh and pointed at the mimosa plant. “This plant isn’t a spirit. It’s called a ‘mimosa.’ As long as something touches it, it will close up. If you don’t believe me, watch.”

With that, Song Jinsheng bent down and gently touched a leaf of the mimosa with her finger. Just as she said, the mimosa slowly folded up.

Seeing this, Wei Qingwan, who was already sensitive, saw the hint of a smile on Song Jinsheng’s lips. She assumed she was being mocked for her ignorance. Annoyed, she turned away and pouted, defending herself. “I… the books didn’t mention this. How was I supposed to know what it was…”

“Hmph, even if I didn’t know, so what… And you’re still laughing! I’m going to tell Sister on you!”

Wei Qingwan was flustered by the embarrassment, and her fair face flushed with anger. She turned to leave in a huff, but Song Jinsheng quickly blocked her path.

Song Jinsheng had no intention of mocking her. It was just human nature; anyone would have laughed at seeing her talking to a plant.

This Princess is truly willful and difficult…

She wasn’t afraid of this child getting angry, but if she exaggerated the facts to Wei Luoyi, who knows if she’d have a good time when they returned to the estate…

Thinking of this, Song Jinsheng took a deep breath and stopped laughing. She quickly put on a serious face and explained, “Your Royal Highness, you’ve misunderstood me. I really didn’t mean that…”

“Oh? Then why did you laugh? You just think I’m stupid!” Wei Qingwan didn’t care. She glared at her, her childish voice filled with a hint of indignation.

Song Jinsheng was speechless, unable to reply.

She raised her hand to her nose and cleared her throat twice. Her lowered eyes suddenly lifted. She said coaxingly, “Ah… Princess, don’t be angry. Anger is bad for your health. Look at what this is?”

Just as she finished speaking, a beautiful pudding cake appeared out of thin air in the hand she had kept behind her back. She had just placed an urgent online order for it. A sweet treat, perfect for coaxing a child.

Song Jinsheng presented the small cake in front of Wei Qingwan. Wei Qingwan’s eyebrows shot up, and her eyes lit up with curiosity. “What is this? Where did you get it from?”

“This is called a ‘cake.’ I made it before. You can’t buy it in the capital. This ‘cake’ is sweet but not greasy, and it’s soft and delicious, much tastier than the pastries in the palace. Would the Princess like to try?”

Just like Wei Luoyi, Wei Qingwan also had a sweet tooth. Listening to Song Jinsheng’s persuasive words, she was naturally tempted, but she couldn’t show her excitement on her face. She just gave a soft hmph and awkwardly took the pudding cake. “I’ll try it… Don’t think this means I’ll forgive you for laughing at me just now.”

“Hehe…” Song Jinsheng laughed awkwardly when she saw her already starting to eat the cake.

These two sisters… they’re not completely unalike after all…

They both say one thing but mean another.

******

Song Jinsheng’s guess was right. Wei Qingwan really loved the pudding cake. From the first bite, she couldn’t stop praising it, and she started talking to her more.

The sun got hotter, so the two of them went to sit on a stone bench in the pavilion. Song Jinsheng watched her eat like a hamster, with her cheeks puffed out. She couldn’t help but show concern in a senior tone. “Eat slowly, don’t choke. If you want more, I can bring you some next time.”

“Oh, right.” Wei Qingwan suddenly froze and slowly looked at the cake in her hand. “I forgot you could make it. I was going to save some to bring back for Sister to try, but you must have already let her taste it.”

Song Jinsheng choked.

She didn’t know why, but from their current interaction, it was clear that even though she saw both Wei Luoyi and Wei Qingwan as sisters, she was more natural and at ease with Wei Qingwan…

“What are you doing? Why are you staring at me?” Wei Qingwan noticed her staring blankly and looked at her in annoyance and confusion.

At her words, Song Jinsheng realized her thoughts had drifted. She slowly averted her gaze and changed the subject with a smile. “I was just thinking, even though the Princess and you aren’t biological sisters, your bond is already stronger… You really like Her Highness.”

Wei Qingwan used the plastic spoon Song Jinsheng gave her to scoop up some cake. She said matter-of-factly, “Of course. Sister is so good, who wouldn’t like her?”

Song Jinsheng was speechless again.

Really? I guess she’s the only one who thinks that…

“What about you? Do you truly like Sister?”

“Huh?”

Song Jinsheng was caught off guard by Wei Qingwan’s sudden question. Her heart skipped a beat. But with the mischievous little princess staring at her, she had no choice but to pretend to be natural. “I… of course. Of course, I truly like Her Highness… Otherwise, why would I give up my official position just to marry her?”

The original owner was an orphan from the previous dynasty and harbored a deep-seated hatred for Wei Luoyi due to their family’s and nation’s grievances. She risked the crime of deceiving the emperor to marry her. How could she truly like her?

And as for her… she liked her even less. She was a person who had transmigrated to a foreign land, and all she wanted was to go home as soon as possible.

However, what was obvious was that Wei Luoyi didn’t like her either, whether it was the original owner or her. But if that was the case, why did she have to marry the original owner?

What was she after?

Perhaps no one would ever understand…

Wei Qingwan had never believed in flowery words. She turned her head and said in a sweet voice, “It sounds nice, but who knows what you’re really after? Even if you gave up your position, you’d still enjoy wealth and prestige by marrying Sister. Besides, Sister’s beauty is famous throughout the capital. It’s not a bad deal for you at all.”

“Sigh…” Wei Qingwan let out a faint sigh and put down the spoon. She looked into the distance with a deep gaze. “Sister could have married someone better… but she chose you. I really don’t know why… I guess Sister hasn’t been happy before, so I can only hope her future days will be a little more joyful…”

She was young, but she wasn’t foolish. How could she not see that although her sister and this person beside her were respectful to each other, it was not how a close couple should be…

But ever since she had grown up, she had never been able to see through her sister on many things…

Wei Qingwan was lost in her thoughts, forgetting that Song Jinsheng was still beside her.

Song Jinsheng heard a deeper meaning in her words and immediately followed up. “She hasn’t been happy before? What, did someone bully Her Highness before?”

Wei Qingwan froze, her expression visibly changing. It became unusually serious. The hand holding the cake box tightened slightly, and she lowered her gaze without a word.

Seeing this, Song Jinsheng became even more curious. She leaned closer to her and asked in a low voice, “Is that so? Was it… related to the Empress?”

When Wei Qingwan heard the word “Empress,” she suddenly looked up at Song Jinsheng, but after a moment, she looked away. “How would I know… If you want to know, go ask Sister yourself…”

“It’s too hot here. I’m going back to the palace.” With that, she got up to leave, but after two steps, she suddenly stopped and turned to look at the still-frozen Song Jinsheng.

“In any case, you must not fail Sister. Since she has married you, you must treat her well. Otherwise, I will not let you get away with it.”

Song Jinsheng didn’t reply. She just watched her slender figure gradually walk away, her mind replaying the expression on her face when she was speaking. Her gaze was heavy, and she was deep in thought.

*******

The night was deep, and the moonlight on the palace gates of Changxin Palace made it look serene.

After dinner, Song Jinsheng went for a walk, while Wei Luoyi and Wei Qingwan chatted in the room.

Wei Luoyi was lazily leaning on a soft chair, watching Wei Qingwan playing happily with a small black cat she had found at the corner of the gate. She couldn’t help but say, “Wan’er, that stray cat is dirty. You should have someone wash it properly.”

“Don’t worry, Sister. I’ve already told someone to wash it. And you don’t have to worry about it being sick. Brother Consort told me he has medicine to get rid of any worms inside the cat.”

Hearing Wei Qingwan’s new way of addressing Song Jinsheng, Wei Luoyi couldn’t help but recall how the two of them had been chatting happily during dinner.

How did the two of them get so close in such a short time?

She smiled as she watched Wei Qingwan, asking as if casually, “Is that so? That’s good. Since you saved this cat, you must treat it well… Speaking of which, Wan’er, you and the Consort talked a lot today…”

Hearing this, Wei Qingwan quickly glanced at Wei Luoyi, her expression a little bashful. “I… I just feel like he’s not a bad person… I just talked to him a little…”

“Oh? But yesterday Wan’er didn’t seem to think so.” Wei Luoyi’s smile remained, but her eyes were as deep as if she was trying to see through Wei Qingwan.

“Oh, stop it…” Wei Qingwan lowered her eyes, a blush on her face. She couldn’t tell her that it was because Song Jinsheng had promised to bring her delicious cakes from now on…

“Little sister just saw that Brother Consort is good to Sister… he’s really not like a bad person, and… he’s quite interesting… Don’t you think so, Sister?”

Her watery eyes looked at Wei Luoyi. She didn’t know how to answer, so she just threw the question back at her.

Wei Luoyi stared at her, as if she was looking at her, and at the same time, as if she was seeing someone else through her.

After a moment of silence, she narrowed her eyes slightly, a smirk on her lips. “Yes, the Consort… is indeed much more interesting than before…”

******

After Wei Luoyi went to bathe, only Wei Qingwan and the black cat were left in the room.

The black cat was a stray, still very young. It looked to be less than a month old, and it was so small and thin that it was pitiful. It hadn’t eaten in a long time. Wei Qingwan had just fed it some leftover fish, and the little cat ate as if it were devouring it. Now that it was full, it had a little more spirit.

Wei Qingwan was a pampered child. The cat wasn’t heavy, but holding it for a long time made her tired. She was about to carefully put the cat on the chair when the wooden door was pushed open.

“Squeak—”

“Meow!”

The little black cat was startled and scrambled to its feet. Taking advantage of the gap in the door, it swiftly darted out.

“Hey!” Wei Qingwan was also startled, but there was no way she could catch the little black cat. She could only watch it run out the door.

And the “culprit” who caused all this looked at her with a confused expression.

The moment Song Jinsheng pushed the door open, she saw a dark blur flash by. She couldn’t even make out what it was.

“What’s wrong? What ran out?”

“Don’t even start, it’s all your fault!” Wei Qingwan frowned, her small face all puffy with anger. She pushed Song Jinsheng aside and ran out to chase it.

“Huh?” Song Jinsheng asked from the bottom of her heart. Although she had no idea what was going on, she had no choice but to follow Wei Qingwan.

After running for a while, she finally saw the little black cat ahead. She said breathlessly, “Princess, stop chasing it. It’s scared. The more you chase, the more it runs!”

Wei Qingwan ignored her and continued to chase the little black cat, holding up her skirt. Although the black cat was young, it was much faster than she had thought.

“If I don’t chase it, won’t it just run away for good! I saved it. How can I let it run away!”

Song Jinsheng slowly stopped, putting her hands on her hips. Listening to Wei Qingwan’s stubborn words, she couldn’t help but think, They really are two peas in a pod…

If it wants to run, why force it to stay by your side?

But the cat had indeed been scared away by her. Song Jinsheng sighed helplessly and had no choice but to follow her again.

She had thought the little cat would climb the wall and escape, but it ran into the palace instead, even running in the direction of the bathing room.

And in the bathing room, Chunyue had just opened the door and walked past the screen, holding a basin of hot milk that a servant had just delivered to add to the bath. But then a black blur flashed past her feet. She was so startled that she almost dropped the basin and screamed—

“Ahhh—”

“Chun… Chunyue… did you just see a black cat run in?”

Chunyue came back to her senses from the shock and saw Wei Qingwan and Song Jinsheng running in, one after the other, their faces flushed and out of breath.

Chunyue was holding the wooden basin, so scared that she was stammering. “I… I don’t know… I just saw something black… Ah! Oh no!”

She suddenly remembered something and quickly turned to look back—she hadn’t had time to close the door behind the screen!

Usually, no one came here, so she had been careless. Who would have thought a little cat would run in…

Song Jinsheng saw that her expression was wrong and also looked toward the screen. “Did the cat… run in there?”

Chunyue was already flustered and lost. Her face was completely crumpled up. “I think so… Oh no, what do we do? Her Highness is still in there…”

She quickly put the wooden basin with the milk down and went to the side of the screen, calling inside, “Your Highness! Your Highness! Are you alright?”

Chunyue was worried sick. But after a moment, there was still a deathly silence inside the bathing room. No one knew what was going on with Wei Luoyi.

“What do we do… Why isn’t Her Highness answering…” Sweat was already beading on Chunyue’s forehead. She anxiously paced back and forth, occasionally looking back at the screen.

Wei Qingwan couldn’t stand it. She grabbed Chunyue’s hand and frowned. “Chunyue, go in and check. And get that cat for me.”

“Huh? I… but…” Chunyue looked distressed. After a moment of hesitation, she whispered, “Her Highness never lets us in when she’s bathing, and… I’m afraid of cats… I wish Dongyang were here…”

Hearing this, Song Jinsheng said to Wei Qingwan, who was still anxiously standing there, “Then why don’t you go in, Princess?”

“Me? I…” Wei Qingwan was caught off guard by the sudden suggestion. She was also conflicted. In the end, she stomped her foot and said with a blush and a helpless tone, “How can I go in… Sister is bathing. This…”

She stopped halfway through her sentence and suddenly looked up at Song Jinsheng, who looked like she didn’t care. She grabbed her sleeve. “Then you go in! You’re the Consort, you and Sister are a married couple. It won’t be against any rules for you to go in!”

Seeing this, Chunyue also quickly agreed. “Yes, yes, Consort! Her Highness said no outsiders are allowed in, but you’re not an outsider. Please, go in and check on her!”

At this moment, Song Jinsheng was already staring at them, dumbfounded, pointing at herself in disbelief.

What? How did this end up with me having to go in???

Even though I’m a woman, too, but… but…

Besides, we’re only a couple in name. I’ve never been ‘naked’ with Wei Luoyi before!!!

How can I not be embarrassed?!

******

[Author’s Note]

Ahem, a heads-up. Last time, Little Song was fully clothed. This time, the Princess is not (dog head)

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