The Eldest Princess' Substitute Husband (Transmigration) - Chapter 42

“Is this also considered love?”

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The night was cool and serene. Although there was no wind, it wasn’t stuffy.

In the pavilion of the residence, if you sat there and looked up, you could see the bright and hazy moonlight.

In stories about ghosts and demons, it’s often said that the spirits of the deceased linger in the world. These spirits often appear late at night, blending into the moonlight just like tonight. If your heart is sincere and you look long enough, you can see their faces.

This is why Wei Luoyi always came here to look at the moon in her free time.

But she had never been able to see the faces of the deceased.

Tonight… is the same as always…

Wei Luoyi whispered this to herself in her heart.

When she came back to her senses, she realized that the person beside her had been watching her for a long time.

“What’s wrong?” Wei Luoyi looked at Jiang Yun. The moment their eyes met, Jiang Yun looked away.

Jiang Yun rested her hands on the cold stone bench, lowered her head, and smiled. “It’s nothing. I just think that…”

“After two years, Yi’er has grown to be even more graceful and charming. And me… I’ve spent all my time fighting on the battlefield, so I’ve lost all my ladylike qualities.”

Hearing this, Wei Luoyi smiled faintly. “What you said is wrong, Arin (Jang Yun). What does a ‘ladylike’ appearance even mean? A woman can not only read books and play music, but she can also lead an army onto the battlefield and fight for her country.”

“Besides… I’ve always been a little envious of you, Arin. Although there is great danger in fighting all over the land, you are at least doing something you love. And me, I can only remain in this small capital city…”

“There are many things one has no control over.”

With that, Wei Luoyi looked at her again. Jiang Yun saw that although she was smiling, the loneliness in her eyes was hard to hide. She was at a loss for words and could only stare back at her.

“Hey? Consort? What are you doing here?” Chunyue’s surprised voice pierced through the silence of the back garden like a needle.

She appeared from behind Song Jinsheng, almost scaring her to death. Song Jinsheng’s body stiffened, and in an instant, the blood rushed to her head, and her heart pounded violently.

She quickly turned to leave, but she saw that the two people sitting in the pavilion had already turned to look at her.

…How awkward.

Is fate really messing with me? Why does it always make me want to dig a hole and crawl into it?

Since she had already been seen, where could Song Jinsheng go? She could only force a smile. It was as if she was answering Chunyue, but also as if she was talking to the two of them. “I ate too much, so I’m taking a walk. I just happened to wander over here.”

After saying that in a clear voice, she put away her smile, leaned closer to Chunyue, and said with a frown, “Chunyue, can you please not suddenly appear and scare me next time? You almost gave me a heart attack.”

“Hey? No, I didn’t…” Chunyue pointed at herself, looking innocent as she watched Song Jinsheng turn and walk away.

At this moment, Song Jinsheng wished she had a pair of magic wheels on her feet or that a magic door would appear, so she could disappear from here as fast as possible.

But after only two steps, a voice made her stop.

“Consort, since you’ve already come all this way, why don’t you come and sit with us?”

It was Wei Luoyi’s voice.

Song Jinsheng froze. She remembered the scene of Wei Luoyi and Jiang Yun smiling at each other. She pursed her lips and didn’t turn around. “No, Your Highness is talking with General Jiang. I don’t want to disturb you.”

With that, she didn’t stop again and walked away with long strides.

She didn’t stop until her figure had completely blended into the night and disappeared from Wei Luoyi’s sight.

“Your Highness, I’ve brought a light blanket. May I lay it out for you?”

Chunyue walked over with a folded blanket, interrupting Wei Luoyi’s thoughts. Wei Luoyi nodded lightly and stood up to let Chunyue lay the blanket on the stone bench.

Jiang Yun glanced at it, frowned slightly, and asked with concern, “Yi’er, have you not been taking good care of yourself these past two years?”

Wei Luoyi straightened her robe and smiled at her. “I’ve been sickly since childhood. You know my health has always been poor.”

“Sigh… then…” Jiang Yun wanted to curse Song Jinsheng for not taking good care of her, but she remembered the thoughtful look Wei Luoyi had on her face as she watched Song Jinsheng’s back. She swallowed her words.

After that, the two of them continued to chat about everyday things, all insignificant topics. Jiang Yun asked, and Wei Luoyi answered. Unconsciously, they had been sitting in the pavilion for a long time.

“Yi’er, you…” Jiang Yun looked at her face in the moonlight. She was so gentle and lovely, but her eyes were as cool as the moonlight itself, making her feel unapproachable.

“Hmm?”

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but Jiang Yun looked at the person in front of her, who was neither cold nor warm. She couldn’t say it.

She finally shook her head and smiled softly. “It’s nothing. I won’t ask.”

Wei Luoyi, who had been looking down, raised her eyes to look at her. “If you have a question, Arin, just ask. There’s no need to be so hesitant.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yun smiled again. She rubbed her fingers together and, like Wei Luoyi, looked up at the moon. “I just didn’t expect that in just two years, you would be married… I remember you once told me that if possible, you would never marry and that we would roam the world together.”

Jiang Yun’s words brought back memories for Wei Luoyi. She was silent for a long time before saying calmly, “Arin, we’re not children anymore.”

“That’s true… I know it was just a joke, but… did you ever truly think about it?” Jiang Yun looked at her. Only she knew how much resentment was hidden in her furrowed brows.

Did I ever think about it? Wei Luoyi asked herself.

No. I did.

In that innocent age, I truly did.

But… after her 15th birthday banquet and before Jiang Yun went to war, the enemy countries surrounding the Southern Chi Kingdom were in turmoil. Although they were small countries, when they joined together, their forces were formidable. At that time, the Southern Chi Kingdom’s military might was not enough to guarantee a victory.

And yet, even with the war still undecided, the emperor had already made plans to marry her off for peace. He had even used her birthday gifts as an excuse to come to her palace and say it to her face with a loving look.

But, thankfully, Jiang Yun’s campaign brought a string of victories.

And, thankfully, she met Song Jinsheng.

“Heh… never mind.” Seeing that Wei Luoyi had been silent for a long time, the tiny bit of hope that had risen in Jiang Yun’s heart was extinguished.

But she couldn’t hold it back any longer. She finally asked the question she wanted to ask the most. “Do you… love her that much?”

She remembered that Wei Luoyi had personally chosen to marry Song Jinsheng.

But what did it matter that Song Jinsheng was handsome and a top scholar?

In the end, all these so-called men had ugly hearts. How could they be worthy of her Yi’er?

“Love?” Wei Luoyi looked up. Song Jinsheng’s face flashed in her mind, and in the next moment, she suddenly remembered the scene of their lips brushing against each other.

They seemed so close, but in reality, they were complete strangers.

Wei Luoyi thought for a long time. She didn’t answer directly. Instead, she asked, “Arin, what… is love?”

Jiang Yun was taken aback. She looked away, as if thinking about something. The corners of her lips curved slightly. “Love… is when you see her, you feel joy, and you want to see her all the time. Not only that, but you also want to get close to her, to be near her, you want to…”

Before she could finish, Wei Luoyi interrupted her. “Then… I guess I don’t love her.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yun’s expression froze. She immediately turned to her, her eyes filled with shock and a hint of suppressed anger. “You don’t love her? Then why would you…”

Wei Luoyi also looked at her, her eyes terrifyingly calm. This made Jiang Yun stop talking. She lowered her head, and a trace of a smile appeared on her lips, but it was filled with sorrow.

Yes… Who is Wei Luoyi? She is the most favored princess of the current dynasty.

Even if she hadn’t married this Song Jinsheng, there would have been another Song Jinsheng, and another one after that…

What was the point of her asking all these questions?

She probably… would never know what I truly feel for her.

Jiang Yun’s beautiful eyes were lowered, staring blankly at her black boots. The hand resting on the chair slowly tightened.

She consoled herself that Yi’er didn’t love that person either… If Yi’er had feelings for her, she wouldn’t have been able to handle it…

While she was lost in her own thoughts, Wei Luoyi was also in a silent conversation with herself.

She had never known what love was.

When she was younger, she had read novels about romance. She read about women who were willing to abandon their families and sacrifice themselves for the person they loved…

I can’t do that. From that moment on, I knew I couldn’t.

If that’s what it means to love someone, then I’ll probably never experience it in this life…

Love… is wanting to see her, wanting to see her all the time?

I don’t.

I don’t want to see her all the time. I just can’t stand to not see her.

Love… is wanting to get close to her, wanting to be near her?

I don’t.

I don’t want to get close to her, but I also can’t stand anyone else getting close to her.

Is this also considered love?

I guess not.

Wei Luoyi muttered in her heart. She slowly lowered her head, and a faint, sarcastic smile appeared on her lips.

It was devoid of joy, filled with a hint of irony.

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