The Eldest Princess' Substitute Husband (Transmigration) - Chapter 29

“I… want to sleep with Your Highness. Is that alright?”

*******

A dreadful silence descended upon the room.

Song Jinsheng held Wei Luoyi’s naked body tightly in her robe, but it could only barely cover her upper half. Her shapely, long legs, which were slightly curled, were completely exposed. Anyone looking at them would find it a scene of intimate beauty, one that would make them feel shy with just a glance.

But Song Jinsheng had no mind to admire such a beautiful sight.

Her mind was filled with the words Wei Luoyi had just said—

“Are you afraid of me dying?”

She… she didn’t know… She had never thought about Wei Luoyi dying…

“Why do you care about me so much?”

Why?

Is it because she can’t stand by and watch someone die? Is it because she still needs to rely on Wei Luoyi to survive?

Is that it?

No, it’s not…

But Song Jinsheng didn’t dare to delve any deeper into the answers that were already starting to surface in her heart.

Flower petals floated in the bath, and the elegant fragrance from the hot water was thick in the room. Every time Song Jinsheng took a deep breath, her nose was filled with the scent.

It was a very familiar scent.

One she could smell every time she got close to Wei Luoyi.

It was her scent.

It was too overwhelming. It muddled her thoughts, made her feel restless, and made her body feel hot…

“I… I just…” Song Jinsheng was silent for a while. She finally lowered her gaze. Her eyes unintentionally fell on Wei Luoyi’s waist, and she suddenly realized how inappropriate their position was. She quickly let go of her and placed her on the edge of the bath.

She turned her back, still in the kneeling position from when she held Wei Luoyi, her head lowered, her eyes turned sideways to the person behind her. “I wasn’t thinking that much… I was just thinking that saving a life was the most important thing…”

“Besides… I’m Your Highness’s Consort. Of course I would be concerned about you…”

Yes, she was given the identity of a consort the first day she came here. Even if she wasn’t the real Consort, after a while, it was inevitable that she would take on the role. It’s not wrong for a consort to be concerned about the princess, right?

The person behind her didn’t answer right away. The only sounds in the room were their heavy breaths.

All of Song Jinsheng’s senses were magnified. In this moment, which was probably only a short while, just a single breath, she felt as if time was deliberately slowing down.

But the pounding in her chest was getting faster and faster.

After a long time, she finally heard Wei Luoyi’s question. “You mean, if I wasn’t Princess Zhaoyang and you weren’t the Consort… you wouldn’t have saved me?”

“Or, if you saw someone else like that just now, would you have been just as anxious?”

“Uh…” Song Jinsheng frowned in confusion. She didn’t know why Wei Luoyi was playing word games with her at a time like this. But she didn’t think too much about it and just answered honestly, “I am not the kind of person who would stand by and watch someone die.”

Wei Luoyi’s voice was flat. “So it would have been the same no matter who it was?”

Song Jinsheng: “…”

Song Jinsheng’s frown deepened, almost forming the Chinese character for “three.” She didn’t know what Wei Luoyi’s intention was in pursuing this question. She couldn’t be bothered to think about anything else. All she wanted to do was get out of here so she could breathe.

As if fate had heard her desperate plea, the black cat that had been hiding in the corner behind the screen slowly crept out. It walked in front of the two of them, looking innocently at the glaring Song Jinsheng, and let out a soft “meow.”

When Song Jinsheng saw the cat, she was instantly furious.

I couldn’t find it for the life of me, and after all that commotion, this creature just calmly walks out…

“Isn’t that…”

Wei Luoyi was about to ask something, but Song Jinsheng had already lunged forward, swiftly grabbing the black cat by the scruff of its neck and holding it tightly in her arms.

“Meow!!!” The black cat was startled and let out a sharp cry.

“Don’t you dare.” Song Jinsheng frowned in extreme displeasure, poking its forehead with her fingertip. After pinning it down in her arms, she slowly got up.

She instinctively wanted to turn her head, but her body paused. Her throat was so dry that she had to swallow. She pretended to be calm and said to the person behind her, “Your Highness, I came in uninvited because of this cat. It ran in here during all the chaos, and I was afraid it would startle you… The Princess was calling out for you, and you didn’t answer, so I had no choice… It was not on purpose…”

“Meow~” As if to agree with Song Jinsheng, the little black cat in her arms let out another meow. But after Song Jinsheng gave it a cold stare, it quickly retreated back into her embrace.

Song Jinsheng let out a silent sigh of exhaustion. She said, “I won’t disturb Your Highness’s bath anymore… I’m leaving.”

With that, she quickly walked away, her boots making a dull “clack-clack” sound on the wooden floor.

Wei Luoyi watched her leave without a word. Only after she heard the wooden door of the bathing room close did she slowly come back to her senses.

She lowered her gaze and ran a hand over the robe that was the only thing covering her. She remembered how Song Jinsheng’s ear tips had been so red they looked like they could bleed when she turned her back. She couldn’t help but lower her head and smile.

******

Outside the door, Wei Qingwan and Chunyue were waiting anxiously. When they saw Song Jinsheng walk out with the cat, her face solemn, they immediately swarmed her.

Wei Qingwan took the black cat from Song Jinsheng’s hands, hugging it like a treasure. She then looked at Song Jinsheng, a rare smile on her face. “I’m glad you caught it. Thank you for your trouble. By the way, is Sister alright?”

At her question, Song Jinsheng was forced to recall the sight of Wei Luoyi submerged in the water without clothes, her body as white and flawless as a piece of mutton-fat jade.

She had been focused on saving her just then, so she didn’t think much of it. But the more she remembered now, the more embarrassed she felt.

This is driving me crazy.

“Huh? What’s wrong?” Wei Qingwan’s smile faded halfway when she saw Song Jinsheng not answering.

“…She’s fine.” Song Jinsheng gave Wei Qingwan a speechless look. At the same time, she saw the black cat in her arms staring at her with wide eyes and couldn’t help but say, “Your Royal Highness, you’d better watch your cat. If it runs away again, I won’t have time to catch it for you.”

“Oh…” Wei Qingwan knew she was wrong this time and didn’t dare to speak loudly. But when she saw Song Jinsheng leave without another word, she stared at her very thin back and suddenly felt something was off.

She turned to the always-silent Chunyue and asked with doubt in her heart, “Chunyue, don’t you think she’s a little strange?”

Chunyue also looked up, confused. “Huh? What makes the Princess say that?”

“Hmm… I don’t know… I just saw her outer robe was unbuttoned, and her face was red…”

“Your… Your Highness… please don’t say anymore…” Chunyue cut off Wei Qingwan with a blush. But Wei Qingwan was even more confused by her reaction.

“Huh? Don’t you think it’s strange? Why would she have to take off her outer robe to catch a cat…”

“Your Highness, you’ve been standing here for a long time. You should go and rest. This servant still has to attend to Her Highness’s bath…”

Chunyue heard that she was still thinking about this matter, and her shame intensified. She quickly spoke, not letting her say another word.

This Princess isn’t a child anymore. Why doesn’t she understand… Her Highness must be naked in the bath. The Consort must have seen her when she went in. As for her outer robe… it’s probably in there… Just thinking about it is so embarrassing…

Chunyue didn’t dare to think any further. She quickly cleared her mind of those messy thoughts. After she coaxed Wei Qingwan to leave, she picked up the wooden basin that had been on the floor for so long and walked into the bathing room.

*******

Song Jinsheng walked quickly back to the side room and sat on the bed in a daze for a long time.

The more she tried not to remember the scene, the more she couldn’t help but recall Wei Luoyi in her arms, asking her questions.

It’s all that cat’s fault. No… it’s all that little brat’s fault. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had to go in there, and I wouldn’t have stumbled into such an awkward situation…

For the first time, Song Jinsheng wished she had a bad memory so she could forget what just happened.

To do so, she not only drank several glasses of water to calm down but also randomly took out a novel from under her pillow. This was something she had brought with her to the palace to pass the time.

The novel was full of folk stories. Song Jinsheng usually found them very interesting, but today, she couldn’t get into it at all. In fact, the more she read, the more annoyed she became.

She would think of Wei Luoyi when she read about girls of seventeen or eighteen. She would think of Wei Luoyi when she read about the royal family. She would even think of Wei Luoyi when the book briefly mentioned an old woman bathing in the hot springs of Tianshan.

Wei Luoyi, wrapped in her outer robe, with wet hair draped behind her, lying in her arms, with watery eyes and rosy eye tails. On the surface, she looked so pitiful, but the more she remembered her now, the more she felt like she was a demon.

The kind that the books write about, skilled at deception and charming people’s hearts…

This image was now stuck in Song Jinsheng’s mind. She was so annoyed by it that she threw the novel aside and stared blankly at the wooden beams above her head.

A sudden system notification made her come back to her senses. Notification: Since Wei Luoyi’s favorability has increased to 30 or higher, the Host must now accept the corresponding punishment.

Song Jinsheng was still wondering how Wei Luoyi’s favorability had increased, but when she heard there was a punishment, she immediately asked, Punishment? What punishment??

System: You will find out shortly. After the punishment, your quest progress may reverse.

Song Jinsheng: …

As long as I don’t lose life points.

Song Jinsheng added a thought in her mind.

While she was still wondering what kind of punishment would reverse her quest progress, there was a knock on the door.

Song Jinsheng was startled. She quickly sat up and straightened her clothes before walking to the door and opening it.

The person was Dongyang.

When Song Jinsheng saw her, she had a bad feeling. “Why are you here?”

Dongyang bowed to Song Jinsheng and said, “Consort, the Princess will not be staying in Her Highness’s bedroom tonight. Her Highness asked if you would like to return?”

Can I refuse?

The moment this thought appeared, the system’s cold, mechanical voice sounded again. Notification: This is a punishment selection. If you answer “yes,” you will accept the punishment without any additional deductions. If you answer “no,” 50 life points will be deducted in place of this punishment. Please choose carefully.

Song Jinsheng wanted to roll her eyes.

What kind of choice is this? Do I even have a choice?

******

Of course, Song Jinsheng chose the former.

On the way to Wei Luoyi’s bedroom, Song Jinsheng kept her head down, her mind a million miles away.

This wasn’t the first time she would be sharing a room with Wei Luoyi, but now… she was even more nervous and uneasy than the first time…

Her eyes, whether open or closed, were filled with the scene from the bathing room.

Whatever. It’s just sleeping on the floor mat for one night. Maybe Wei Luoyi didn’t even think much of it. Why should I be so awkward about it… I’m tired anyway, so I’ll just fall asleep early…

Song Jinsheng kept telling herself this.

But her understanding of the punishment was far too simple.

Dongyang, holding a lantern, walked ahead, and before she knew it, they had reached the bedroom door. Dongyang, knowing her place, bowed and left.

Song Jinsheng stood outside the door, gathering her thoughts for a long time, before slowly pushing the door open and walking in.

When she reached the inner room, she looked up and saw Wei Luoyi already sitting on the bed in her inner robe, holding a book. Her long hair, reaching her waist, was softly fanned out, making her small face look as white as snow.

Although she should have looked gentle and graceful at this moment, Song Jinsheng’s mind unceremoniously conjured up a quick glimpse of her in the bathing room…

Wei Luoyi happened to look at her, and Song Jinsheng quickly lowered her eyes, looking away.

“You’re here.” Wei Luoyi’s voice was still as cold as ever, showing no sign of shame or discomfort from Song Jinsheng having seen her naked. “I thought you wouldn’t want to come back. After all… you don’t have to sleep on the floor mat in the side room.”

“How could I…” Song Jinsheng gave a dry laugh. She wanted to pretend that nothing had happened and exchange a few pleasantries with Wei Luoyi, but just as she was about to speak, the system’s notification sounded again.

System: Notification: The punishment has officially begun. The punishment dialogue has been automatically generated for you…

In a flash, Song Jinsheng’s eyes went blank. After a moment of a daze, her eyes softened. She stared deeply at Wei Luoyi, took two steps closer, and under Wei Luoyi’s questioning gaze, she asked softly and gently, “Your Highness, since I’ve returned tonight… I don’t want to sleep on this cold floor mat anymore… It’s really uncomfortable…”

Wei Luoyi looked up at her, staring for a while, and asked with a half-smile, “So you want to…?”

“I… want to sleep with Your Highness. Is that alright?”

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Song Jinsheng felt her sanity slipping away again.

What in the world is this system doing?!

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