The Eldest Princess' Substitute Husband (Transmigration) - Chapter 3

“What a possessive control freak.”

******

“…”

Huh?

Song Jinsheng was stunned, completely unprepared for Wei Luoyi’s blunt refusal.

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

The words echoed in her mind, as cold and final as a judge’s verdict. All her beautiful fantasies from before shattered, and Song Jinsheng wilted like a dying flower, half-deflated.

These subtle changes in her expression didn’t escape Wei Luoyi’s notice. Her initial curious gaze morphed into one of close examination.

Song Jinsheng was taken aback, but she quickly came to her senses and pressed the issue. “Why? Why can’t we get a divorce?” Her frustration made her voice tremble with emotion.

“Why?” Wei Luoyi shot back, a half-smile on her face. “Consort, you still haven’t answered me. Why do you want a divorce?”

“You and I have been married for over a year. We’ve always been respectful and had no quarrels. You’ve never once brought up divorce. Now, you wake up after being unconscious for days, your body hasn’t even fully recovered, and you’re in such a rush to part ways with me?”

“…”

Wei Luoyi’s words made Song Jinsheng calm down a bit. She was right. It would seem strange for her to suddenly bring up a divorce without a proper reason. This was all the system’s fault for giving her a timed mission.

“Hmm?” Wei Luoyi’s eyes narrowed as she watched her with a frigid gaze.

“I…” That look made Song Jinsheng’s scalp tingle. For a moment, she was reminded of the panic she felt back in high school when she dozed off in English class and was called on by the teacher. But Wei Luoyi’s presence was even more intimidating.

After a long silence, just as Wei Luoyi was about to turn and leave, Song Jinsheng finally spoke. She let out a long sigh and stood up to face Wei Luoyi directly.

Song Jinsheng was taller than an average woman, and when she stood up, she was a head taller than Wei Luoyi. She looked down at the person in front of her, her eyes deep and earnest. “Yes, Your Highness is right. But even though I don’t remember anything from the past, Guzi told me that we haven’t been close this past year. Even the number of nights we spent together was… well, you can count them on one hand.”

“That means you don’t like me, and I… have no affection for you. Since that’s the case, why should we hold each other back? It would be better to get a divorce sooner. That way, we’d both be free.”

“Your Highness, I think we’re not a good match. You should find a better person.”

Song Jinsheng’s words sounded so sincere, she almost believed them herself. Thank goodness she had read so many angsty romance novels; she could just borrow lines from them in a moment of crisis.

Wei Luoyi watched her in silence, a subtle change in her eyes. She spoke in a flat voice, “Consort, I’ve noticed that ever since you woke up, not only have you lost your memory, but your personality has completely changed.”

Her voice was light as a feather, circling Song Jinsheng’s ear. Song Jinsheng froze, and saw her take a step closer. Song Jinsheng instinctively wanted to back away, but the bed was right behind her, leaving her with no escape. Wei Luoyi was now inches away, her body almost touching Song Jinsheng’s.

What is she going to do?

Song Jinsheng’s brow furrowed as Wei Luoyi’s small red lips got closer and closer, stopping right by her ear.

“Consort, when I first proposed this marriage, we had an agreement: we would not interfere, overstep, or cross any boundaries.”

“You agreed to everything back then, without a single objection… Don’t you think what you’re saying now is ridiculous?”

Wei Luoyi’s breath brushed against Song Jinsheng’s ear. It was a sensitive spot for her, and she felt a tingling sensation all over, a deep blush creeping up her neck. She quickly turned her head, gently pushing Wei Luoyi away to create some distance. She coughed twice to hide her flushed face, and after a moment’s thought, looked up again. “Your Highness, you said it yourself—that was the old me. People can change, can’t they? The past is different from now… and besides, I don’t remember any of it…”

Those promises were made by the old Song Jinsheng. She died in that accident. What do they have to do with the current me?

“Besides, I’m truly thinking of your best interests. Think about it, marriage… well, marriage is about having someone by your side to care for you, look after you, and love you.”

“But I can’t give you that, and you can’t give me that either…”

Before she could finish, Wei Luoyi interrupted her with a knowing look. “Are you blaming me for not caring about you in the past?”

The question choked Song Jinsheng. “That’s not it at all…”

“I just feel… that someone of your status has so many talented young men to choose from. You could have anyone you want. So why…?”

Why are you clinging to me and refusing to let me go… rejecting me without even considering it?

Song Jinsheng carefully voiced her thoughts, her eyes fixed on Wei Luoyi’s face, watching for her reaction.

She was watching Wei Luoyi, and Wei Luoyi was watching her in return.

The person in front of her had the same face, but why did her personality and speech feel so different ever since she woke up? The old Song Jinsheng was sullen, withdrawn, taciturn, and not good at arguing. She seemed indifferent to everything. How could she have become so eloquent?

Why was she so desperate for a divorce? She was very curious.

“You don’t need to worry about that, Consort.” After a long pause, Wei Luoyi replied calmly.

Wei Luoyi took a step back, her gaze moving from Song Jinsheng’s delicate face to her messy collar. She raised her hand to straighten the collar, smoothing out the wrinkles. “Since you are the person I chose, how could I easily grant you a divorce?”

Song Jinsheng stood still, dazed. Once Wei Luoyi was done, she looked up and changed the subject. “It’s not impossible to get a divorce, but not right now.”

“Then… how long do I have to wait?” Song Jinsheng asked, frowning.

Wei Luoyi’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. She answered casually, “How long? I don’t know either.”

“When I no longer need you, I will naturally let you go.”

“Do you understand?”

Song Jinsheng’s brow tightened as she stared at Wei Luoyi, unable to say a single word. She finally understood. It wasn’t that Wei Luoyi wouldn’t agree to a divorce; it was just that the divorce couldn’t be her idea. The control was firmly in Wei Luoyi’s hands.

What a possessive control freak.

Ugh, this princess’s eyes are so spooky…

Wei Luoyi’s icy stare sent a shiver down Song Jinsheng’s spine. She quickly looked away, her eyes darting around. “…I understand… And I’m a little tired…”

“Then you should rest well, Consort.”

Wei Luoyi gave her a brief glance, dropped the casual remark, and slowly turned to leave.

Song Jinsheng stood there, frozen, until she heard the door close. Only then did she relax completely and collapse back onto the bed.

Thinking about the way Wei Luoyi had said, “I have no desire for a divorce,” Song Jinsheng felt exhausted. She couldn’t help but ask the system, “Please, tell me there’s another way for me to go back? Other than getting a divorce from the princess?”

The system replied slowly, “There is. You just need to change the main quest. You must complete the original host’s…”

Song Jinsheng interrupted it impatiently, “Okay, okay, I didn’t ask. You can rest now.”

System: “…”

As expected, it’s useless to rely on anyone else. She had been forcibly bound to this place by the system. How could she still hope for it to give her an easy way out?

After Wei Luoyi left, the room fell silent. Song Jinsheng lay in bed, her eyes wide and vacant, completely spiritless. To be honest, this entire turn of events was so sudden that she still hadn’t fully accepted the fact that she had transmigrated. She didn’t know how long she would have to stay in this strange place, or what else she would have to deal with besides a moody princess.

If the princess never agreed to a divorce, would she have to stay here forever? Just thinking about it… was enough to drive her crazy.

Song Jinsheng felt a headache coming on. She let out a long sigh, closed her eyes, and pulled the covers over her head, curling up into a ball.

Since it’s come to this, I might as well get some more sleep.

******

In the days that followed, Wei Luoyi didn’t come to see her again. Besides the imperial physician who came to take her pulse every day, only a few maids and Guzi came in and out of her room. The days were quiet. She didn’t have to rush to catch the subway or the bus for work, or deal with annoying colleagues. But without any electronic devices, the days were unbearably boring.

So, Song Jinsheng made a deck of playing cards out of some rice paper. It took her a good half-day to teach Guzi how to play. After that, she would drag him into a game and, in the meantime, ask him about the original host’s life story.

Guzi had only been with the original host for two years and didn’t know much about his past, nor did he know that he was a descendant of the previous dynasty. All he knew was that the original host had no parents and had told him he was an orphan. Before he became the top scholar, he was a poor student who survived by selling his calligraphy and paintings and the kindness of a neighbor. His life was very hard.

However, all his hard work paid off. After ten years of dedicated study, he finally became famous in one fell swoop.

After the original host passed the imperial exam and became the top scholar, the Emperor offered him a high-ranking position during a banquet. But the original host turned down the offer, asking only to marry the princess. At the same time, Wei Luoyi, who was sitting on the throne above, also asked the Emperor for the marriage, stating that she had fallen in love with him at first sight.

However, according to the rules of the Southern Chi Dynasty, the royal consort could not hold political office, and the original host had no power or influence. At first, the Emperor was unwilling to marry his daughter to him, but Wei Luoyi’s daily pleas eventually won him over. And so, the two were married, but as a result, the original host lost his original official position.

Upon hearing this, Song Jinsheng couldn’t help but marvel at how similar her life was to the original host’s. She had grown up in an orphanage and had never met her biological parents. Although her life was tough, she was lucky enough to be smart. She worked hard and eventually got into a top university, securing a decent job. She was well-known at the orphanage for her success.

But she was different from the original host. She wasn’t as ambitious as him. He was willing to risk his life to marry the princess just for revenge. She was a coward who only wanted a stable, peaceful life. So, the sooner she could divorce the princess, the better. But she couldn’t rush things; she had to plan it out carefully.

In these past few days, Song Jinsheng had already gotten used to the lifestyle and schedule of the olden times, with one exception: her meals.

The original host didn’t like to eat meat, so for several days in a row, all the dishes brought to her room were vegetarian. The food looked delicate and refined, but Song Jinsheng had no appetite for it. She barely ate anything tonight, and an hour later, she was hungry again.

Right now, Song Jinsheng was lying on the bed reading a book, but her stomach rumbled so loudly, she couldn’t focus. I can’t believe the original host was a vegetarian, and not only did he not eat meat, but all the vegetarian dishes were stir-fried with hardly any oil.

Song Jinsheng rubbed her flat stomach and sighed. She sat up and called the maid who was standing outside the door. “Is there anything else to eat in the manor?”

The maid was slightly surprised. She lowered her head and said, “Replying to the consort, Her Highness might have some pastries left. Perhaps…”

Before she could finish, Song Jinsheng quickly interrupted, “No, no, don’t go to the princess’s side…”

She didn’t want to bother Wei Luoyi again. But there was no food in the house, and in these olden times, there was a curfew. If she went out at this hour, all the restaurants would probably be closed.

After thinking for a long time, she made up her mind. She stood up, put on her shoes and socks, and, with a flick of her sleeve, said to the maid, “Let’s go. Lead me to the east kitchen.”

Sigh, after all that deliberation, it looks like I’ll have to do it myself.

******

The moon hung high in the night sky, its light cold and clear.

In the study beside the main hall, Wei Luoyi stood at her desk, a brush in her hand, writing with heavy strokes on the paper. The brush flowed gracefully, and the handwriting was elegant and refined.

Dongyang watched her silently from behind. Only when Wei Luoyi finished the piece and put down her brush did she step forward and say softly, “Your Highness, they just reported that the consort went to the east kitchen.”

Wei Luoyi’s face remained expressionless. She simply put away the paper on the desk. “Didn’t I say not to report such trivial matters?”

Dongyang remained silent but raised her eyes to look at Wei Luoyi’s expression. “Your Highness… the consort went to the kitchen to cook…”

“What?” Wei Luoyi’s hand froze. She looked at Dongyang in disbelief.

Did Song Jinsheng actually fall off the cliff and break his brain? Why would he go to the kitchen at this hour?

And he was a scholar. His hands were only meant for writing and painting. When did he learn how to cook? What if he burns the entire kitchen down?

“Where are the cooks?” Wei Luoyi rarely showed emotion, but now, out of sheer surprise, her voice was a little louder than usual.

Dongyang was also flustered, speaking with a stutter. “The consort said he didn’t need the cooks… he said… he was the cook…”

Wei Luoyi frowned, her face full of confusion. Her brow was furrowed for a long time without relaxing. After a while, she let out a silent sigh and placed the rolled-up paper into a wooden tube beside her. She was about to walk back to the main hall, but after two steps, she turned around, glanced at Dongyang, and said with a helpless look, “Get a lantern. We’re going to the east kitchen.”

“I want to see what kind of stunt he’s pulling.”

*******

[Author’s Note]

Question: What should you do when you wake up and have a yandere princess on your hands?

Song Jinsheng: The best of the *Thirty-Six Stratagems is to run! (Thirty-Six Stratagems is a Chinese essay used to illustrate a series of stratagems used in politics, war, and civil interaction.)

Wei Luoyi (with a queenly smile): Heh heh, let’s see where you’ll run to.

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