The Eldest Princess' Substitute Husband (Transmigration) - Chapter 43

“Someone had already quietly moved into her heart.”

*******

I thought that Jiang Yun, the “distinguished guest,” was only here for a day, but I never expected her to stay for a few days.

Oh, right. She’s a rare visitor and Wei Luoyi’s childhood friend. It’s normal for Wei Luoyi to not want her to leave.

Of course, it has nothing to do with Song Jinsheng whether Jiang Yun stays for a few days or not, but…

It would have been fine if the two of them just had dinner together, but Wei Luoyi insisted on calling me as well… And I haven’t even had a good night’s sleep.

It was noon, and Song Jinsheng’s clothes were loose. She dragged her feet and slowly walked to the main hall. She looked exhausted, her eyes dull with sleepiness.

When she looked up, she saw that both of them were already sitting and waiting for her. Wei Luoyi, in particular, was staring at her. Song Jinsheng could only force a smile. “Your Highness, I woke up a little late… I was truly tired yesterday.”

“Late? I thought the Consort would blame me for making you wake up early.” Wei Luoyi looked up at her. When she saw the embarrassed look on Song Jinsheng’s face, she smiled inwardly and looked away. “It’s alright. We haven’t been waiting for long. Please, sit.”

“…Okay.”

The moment Song Jinsheng sat down, she felt a piercing gaze on her.

Without even turning her head, she could feel how cold Jiang Yun’s face was.

“Ahem…” Song Jinsheng lightly cleared her throat, looked away, and lowered her head to fiddle with her wooden chopsticks.

Seriously. Did she really have to call me here? Wouldn’t it be more comfortable for the two of you to talk alone?

Oh… right. Wei Luoyi needs me, her Consort, to put on a show for others. Why else would she have called me here? She hasn’t called me over more than a few times in the past few months…

With this thought, Song Jinsheng mockingly raised her eyebrows. She used her chopsticks to poke at the bottom of her empty bowl, her expression listless.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“Hmm?” Song Jinsheng paused. She looked up and met Wei Luoyi’s calm gaze.

“Oh… I’ll start eating. Your Highness, you should eat too, and General Jiang… should also eat…” The smile on Song Jinsheng’s face was so strained her mouth was twitching.

Jiang Yun glanced at her coldly and let out a soft laugh. “Heh, Consort, when I returned to the capital, I also heard a little about your reputation as a top scholar. People said you were an outstanding man, that one looked at you and you knew you were destined for greatness. I’ve always wanted to meet you.”

Hearing Jiang Yun’s words, Song Jinsheng quickly put down her chopsticks and said, “Hahaha… that’s all… just empty praise. The General’s name is famous throughout the capital. No one doesn’t know it.”

With that, she maintained her stiff smile.

What’s with this? She ignored me yesterday, but now she’s being so polite?

“The Consort is joking. How can a top scholar’s name be ’empty praise’?” Jiang Yun raised her chin and finally looked at her properly, a smile playing on her lips, but her eyes were still cold. “Although I am a warrior, I’ve loved reading poetry and books since I was a child. Today, do I have the honor of hearing the Consort recite a poem for me?”

“Oh… since we’re having dinner, how about the theme is based on the scenery right now?”

Song Jinsheng’s face was blank. “Huh?”

What the…?

“Hmm?” Jiang Yun looked at her with a half-smile.

Song Jinsheng froze. She instinctively glanced at Wei Luoyi, who was also smiling silently, with no intention of helping her. Song Jinsheng resigned herself to her fate.

She looked down and let out a soft laugh, then looked back at the two of them. “Of course. I’ll recite a humble poem.”

With that, she let out a sigh and looked at the large pot of white rice on the table with an emotional expression. “Plowing the fields… in the afternoon… sweat drips onto the soil below…”

“Who knows that the food on our plates, every grain, is a result of hard labor!”

Song Jinsheng looked at the pot of rice with great emotion, almost to the point of tears. After finishing, she paused and then looked at the two of them with a smile. “Sigh… just a few casual lines. My apologies for the poor quality.”

See? I knew she was setting me up.

Laughable. I may not be a real top scholar, but I’m a transmigrator. I could recite dozens of poems, not just this one.

After the poem, Jiang Yun narrowed her eyes and sized up Song Jinsheng. She said frankly, “Alright, Consort, there’s no need to be so humble. My question wasn’t easy, but not only did you recite a poem off the cuff, but you also recited a very good one. I am impressed.”

Jiang Yun was a straightforward person. She said whatever was on her mind. She didn’t doubt Song Jinsheng’s title as a top scholar. But since she was the person who married Wei Luoyi, she naturally wanted to see what kind of person she was.

“No, no, General. You’re giving me too much credit.”

After exchanging pleasantries with Jiang Yun, Song Jinsheng couldn’t help but look at the person who hadn’t said a word.

Seeing that she was still eating, with no intention of praising her, Song Jinsheng quickly lowered her eyes and put away her fake smile.

“Hey, Yi’er, I told you not to just eat vegetables. Look at you. You’ve become so thin. Eat more meat.”

“Okay.”

“Okay what? You say that every time. Come on, eat more…”

*******

Song Jinsheng silently chewed on her food. When she heard the two of them talking back and forth, she lowered her head even more. But when she saw Jiang Yun’s chopsticks reach into Wei Luoyi’s bowl from the corner of her eye, she still looked up.

Jiang Yun put a piece of sweet and sour pork in her bowl.

Song Jinsheng’s chewing slowed down. Her eyes were fixed on Wei Luoyi’s wooden chopsticks.

She saw the chopsticks linger in the bowl for a moment, then they were picked up, grabbed the piece of meat, and Wei Luoyi put it into her mouth.

She ate gracefully, her lips tightly closed, chewing slowly. Then the corner of her lips slightly turned up, presumably smiling at Jiang Yun.

Seeing this, Song Jinsheng lowered her eyes again and took a deep breath.

She didn’t know that the moment she looked down, Wei Luoyi looked at her.

Her gaze traveled from the top of Song Jinsheng’s black hair to her empty bowl. She stared for a moment, and just as she was about to speak, she was interrupted by Jiang Yun.

“The state banquet is in a few days. I heard His Majesty is going to hold a martial arts competition at the banquet this year, and foreign envoys can also participate. I’m sure we’ll get to see many masters compete.”

The thought of the state banquet meant returning to the palace. Wei Luoyi’s smile faded a little. “That’s right. I’m sure Arin will be the one to win.”

Jiang Yun smiled brightly. “Oh, I wouldn’t dare say that. Putting aside the few generals we have in the Southern Chi Kingdom, there are many masters from other countries as well.”

Wei Luoyi just smiled. Her gaze glanced at the person who had been silent all this time. “Arin, you just told the Consort not to be so humble, so as the top master in the Southern Chi Kingdom, you shouldn’t be so humble either.”

It was a joy to receive praise from the person she liked. Jiang Yun’s eyes curved with a smile. When she gently looked up at Wei Luoyi, she saw that her gaze was on Song Jinsheng.

Song Jinsheng regretted it again.

She truly didn’t know why she had to listen to Wei Luoyi and come here to sit with them.

Was it so she could watch them talk and laugh happily? While I sit here awkwardly, like an outsider who forced her way in.

Song Jinsheng lowered her eyes and stared at her bowl and chopsticks, her gaze unfocused. She couldn’t stop herself from thinking about the scene she had accidentally seen in the back garden last night.

Was she being too sensitive, or were Jiang Yun’s feelings for her truly unusual?

Heh… It’s ridiculous for me to even think about this. Even if her feelings are unusual, what can I do? What right do I have to care about Wei Luoyi’s business?

Is it because I’m a puppet consort?

Song Jinsheng felt ironic. She unconsciously tensed her jaw, and the hand holding the chopsticks clenched. She tried her best to control the irritation that was constantly welling up in her heart.

“Consort.”

Wei Luoyi’s sudden call, her voice as gentle as water, suppressed Song Jinsheng’s irritation a little. She slightly frowned and looked up to meet the gaze of the person in front of her.

Wei Luoyi’s eyes lingered on her face and her empty bowl. “You…”

Before she could ask her question, Song Jinsheng cut in. She glanced at the table full of delicacies and said, “I’m fine. I just don’t have much of an appetite… The sight of the dishes makes me feel a little nauseous.”

Nauseous?

Wei Luoyi didn’t answer. She just looked at the dishes silently.

She remembered that these dishes were all to her liking.

Seeing that Wei Luoyi was only staring at the food without saying anything, and that Jiang Yun was also just eating and not speaking, Song Jinsheng felt both ridiculous and awkward, and a hint of annoyance was mixed in with the embarrassment.

She couldn’t sit still anymore.

Song Jinsheng took a deep breath. She suddenly stood up, her eyes lowered, her expression uncharacteristically calm and serious. “I really can’t eat anymore. It’s time for me to go to the shop. I won’t be able to keep you and the General company anymore. Please, enjoy your meal.”

“I’ll… take my leave.”

Song Jinsheng bowed to the two of them. Then, without waiting for permission, she turned and walked away.

She walked along the corridor, glanced back once, and then let out a heavy sigh, releasing the frustration that had been building up in her heart. She didn’t stop again and walked straight to the front gate.

Behind her, the two people in the main hall were still in silence.

Jiang Yun looked at Wei Luoyi several times. She saw that ever since Song Jinsheng left, she hadn’t touched her food. Her gaze was still, and she looked lost in thought. She couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.

“Yi’er…”

Jiang Yun had never wanted to see Wei Luoyi married. Now, seeing this scene, she felt even more indignation and said angrily, “It’s one thing that you have to wait for your Consort to have a meal, but how can she be so casual? She just gets up and leaves without even asking for permission…”

“Does she… treat you like this all the time?”

Listening to Jiang Yun’s angry complaints, Wei Luoyi just gave a faint smile. She didn’t answer her directly. Instead, she said, “Arin, you don’t need to be so angry.”

“The Consort and I are very respectful to each other, and we get along well. It’s just…”

Jiang Yun pressed on, confused. “Just what?”

“Her heart was already quietly taken.”

Wei Luoyi looked at the seat where Song Jinsheng had been sitting. “It’s just… she has too many thoughts… It’s like a beautiful bird being locked in a cage. After a while, the bird will also develop its own thoughts…”

“What… Do you mean?” Jiang Yun was completely confused, her brows furrowed. She suddenly realized that the person she had grown up with and regarded as a moonlight maiden had a side to her that was completely new to her.

“It’s not important. I was just speaking my mind.” Wei Luoyi looked away and back at Jiang Yun, a familiar smile on her face. “Arin, you should eat quickly. The dishes will get cold.”

With that, Wei Luoyi glanced at Song Jinsheng’s seat again.

Song Jinsheng… she seemed a little different today. Why is that?

There was a perfectly good seat right next to her. It was only right for the Consort to sit by the Princess’s side, but she chose to sit somewhere else…

During dinner today, she rarely looked at me. She was chatting happily with Jiang Yun… But when she saw me, her face would turn solemn.

What? Even after I have repeatedly said that I won’t let her go, does she still want to escape?

Why? Why, exactly?

Song Jinsheng, why must you leave my side?

*******

Jiang Yun only stayed at the residence for two days before leaving.

Jiang Yun had two purposes for coming to the Consort’s residence this time: one was to see Wei Luoyi and check on her well-being, and the other was to see Song Jinsheng for herself, to see what was so captivating about him that made Wei Luoyi so devoted.

Now that she had seen everything, the ideas she had been holding in her heart for Wei Luoyi were completely extinguished.

She was a martial artist. She was not good at reading people’s expressions, and she didn’t understand all the nuances of love and romance. But she had known Wei Luoyi since they were children, and she knew her personality to some extent.

Although the two of them seemed to be together in body but not in heart, Wei Luoyi had spoken about Song Jinsheng more than anyone else in their conversations. Even though they were all insignificant little things… she remembered all of them…

Perhaps she herself has never realized it.

Someone had already quietly moved into her heart.

******

After her afternoon nap, Wei Luoyi was still a little tired and didn’t want to move around. She lay on the rocking chair in her room, holding a new novel that Dongyang had bought for her.

The past two days, the weather has become hot again. Not only was it muggy outside, but the room was also stuffy. The kitchen had specially made some sour plum soup for Wei Luoyi with ice cubes. It was cool and refreshing, but Wei Luoyi’s body was cold, so she couldn’t drink too much. She only drank half and then placed the bowl on the table.

Chunyue was there, fanning Wei Luoyi and staring at the half-finished bowl of sour plum soup. She looked glum and sighed. “Sigh… Your Highness, why didn’t you ask the Little General to stay for a few more days? Look at this sour plum soup. I heard there’s a restaurant in the capital that makes the best one. If the Little General were here, she would surely know.”

After speaking, Chunyue glanced at Wei Luoyi. Seeing that she was silent and still looking at her novel, Chunyue sighed again and muttered softly to herself, “If the Little General were here… someone could also keep Your Highness company…”

Hearing this, Wei Luoyi finally looked at her. “When have I ever needed someone to keep me company?”

“If you miss Arin, you can go to the Jiang residence to talk to her. I give you permission.”

Chunyue was flustered by her words. She stopped fanning herself. She lowered her head, her bright eyes blinking rapidly, and said with a huff, “I don’t… Your Highness just loves to tease me…”

Wei Luoyi squinted at her shy expression. She was about to say something else when Dongyang came in.

Seeing Dongyang’s furrowed brows, Wei Luoyi knew that something was wrong again.

“What is it?”

Dongyang walked to Wei Luoyi’s side and sighed. “I just heard from the Consort’s servant that the Consort seemed to be feeling unwell today. After lunch, he went back to his room to rest.”

“Usually at this time, the Consort would go out to the shop, but today, she only sent Guzi with A’jun.”

Hearing this, Wei Luoyi couldn’t help but frown. She put the novel aside and asked, “How do you know she’s unwell? Maybe she just wanted to rest?”

“The person who helped the Consort wash up said that the Consort didn’t look well when she woke up today. Her face was pale, and she looked lifeless and weak. She didn’t even eat much for lunch.”

Wei Luoyi’s frown deepened. Her calm gaze became complex as she tried to guess what was wrong.

She was fine yesterday, wasn’t she? A few of them even returned to the residence together, laughing and chatting…

Why is she suddenly sick?

******

Meanwhile, in Song Jinsheng’s room.

Song Jinsheng had been lying in bed since lunch and hadn’t gotten up.

She had felt a little better just now, but now the abdominal pain had returned. It was like a chainsaw sawing into her stomach over and over again, tormenting her both mentally and physically.

“Hiss… nngh… urgh…” Song Jinsheng clutched her stomach, her delicate face crumpled, and she groaned in pain.

In this hot weather, everyone else wanted to take off as many layers as possible, but she was wrapped tightly in a blanket.

It’s all because she drank too much iced bubble tea yesterday!

She swore that her period had never been this bad when she drank cold drinks. It had never been so painful that she would rather die. And to make things worse, she was in this era and couldn’t even get a painkiller…

If she were a woman, she could at least ask a doctor to prescribe her some medicine, but fate had other plans… she was a man in front of others. How could she ask a doctor to see her?!

The pain was so bad she couldn’t even say it!

“Ah! This is so annoying…”

Song Jinsheng tossed and turned in bed, trying to find a position that would make her a little more comfortable and ease the intense, tearing pain that came in waves.

In an emergency, she suddenly remembered a key item.

Song Jinsheng: System, help! Please help me buy a bottle of ibuprofen online, now!

System: Received. Checking available balance for online shopping…

System: I’m sorry, Host. Your balance is sufficient, but due to exceeding the limit of ten online purchases this week, you have been restricted. Online purchase failed.

“Ahhh! What’s the point of you… Your Host is about to die from the pain…”

Song Jinsheng couldn’t help but curse out loud.

And whether her cursing actually worked or not, the system responded.

System: Host’s mental state has been detected as poor. The level of physical pain is at eight. Would you like to activate forced sleep?

Hearing this, Song Jinsheng didn’t hesitate for a second. Yes! Yes! Do it now!

System: Received. Activating forced sleep. The dream will begin…

The system’s mechanical voice echoed in Song Jinsheng’s mind. In the next moment, her hands, which had been clutching her stomach, relaxed. The look of pain on her face slowly returned to a state of peace. Her entire body went limp on the bed, and she completely lost consciousness…

*******

Song Jinsheng slept from afternoon until night and still hadn’t woken up.

Guzi was pacing anxiously outside the room, his hands nervously rubbing the corner of his clothes. He only stopped when he saw a slender figure walking toward him not far away. He quickly ran up to her.

He bent over, his head lowered, almost kneeling in front of Wei Luoyi. “Your Highness, Your Highness… please go inside and see the Master… We have been calling for an hour, but there’s no sound from inside. I don’t know what’s wrong with the Master…”

Hearing this, Wei Luoyi frowned, her eyes deep and her expression solemn. She didn’t say much. She just walked past Guzi and headed straight for Song Jinsheng’s door.

Chunyue and Dongyang also followed her, a worried look on their faces. But just as Wei Luoyi was about to push the door open, she stopped and turned to look at the two of them. “You and Guzi stay outside. I’ll go in and take a look.”

Chunyue and Dongyang looked at each other and nodded in unison. “Yes.”

With that, Wei Luoyi no longer hesitated. She let out a deep sigh and gently pushed the door open.

The moment she entered the room and closed the door, she immediately walked to the bed. When she saw that Song Jinsheng was still covered in the blanket, she frowned again.

She lowered her voice and slowly sat down on the edge of the bed, staring at Song Jinsheng’s peacefully sleeping face.

Although her expression was calm, her face was pale, and her lips were a lifeless color. This made the worry in Wei Luoyi’s heart become even more apparent.

Thankfully, Song Jinsheng’s breathing was steady. This was the only thing that brought her a sense of peace.

After sitting there and staring for a while, Wei Luoyi lowered her eyes and slowly raised her hand, placing the back of her cold hand on Song Jinsheng’s forehead.

But Song Jinsheng’s forehead was also cool to the touch.

“It’s not a fever, so why…” Wei Luoyi withdrew her hand and curled her fingers. A confused look, something she rarely showed, appeared on her face.

It wasn’t until her gaze accidentally fell on Song Jinsheng’s hands, which were resting on her stomach, that she suddenly realized something. Her eyes instantly widened.

Could it be… her period?

Thinking of this, Wei Luoyi secretly let out a sigh of relief. But she still wasn’t at ease. She lifted the corner of the blanket, and seeing that Song Jinsheng had no injuries, she took her pulse, and only then did her heart fully calm down.

“You fool. You’re in so much pain that you’ve passed out. Why didn’t you have someone come and tell me sooner…”

Wei Luoyi’s gaze swept over Song Jinsheng’s sleeping face over and over again, and she unconsciously murmured these words.

Suddenly, when her gaze fell on the delicate bones below Song Jinsheng’s neck, her eyes froze.

Normally, Song Jinsheng liked to wear clothes with a high collar. Even when she wore her inner robe, she was dressed neatly, so this area was never visible. But now, perhaps because Song Jinsheng had been tossing and turning in bed earlier, the collar of her robe had become loose, allowing Wei Luoyi to clearly see her collarbone.

Wei Luoyi was in a daze for a long time. She then frowned again, raised her hand, and carefully pulled back a corner of Song Jinsheng’s robe—

Underneath the delicate bones was only fair, jade-like skin.

But this made Wei Luoyi even more confused.

How could this be?

Before they were married, she had accidentally seen Song Jinsheng’s body. It was then that she had learned she was a woman.

She clearly remembered… she clearly remembered that there was a noticeable birthmark on the left side of her neck…

*******

[Author’s Note]

Ohh~~ The Princess is about to discover a bug~~

The poem in the text is from Li Shen’s “Min Nong” from the Tang Dynasty.

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