The Eldest Princess' Substitute Husband (Transmigration) - Chapter 44

The Road to Vengeance (Original Owner’s Memories)

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Although the birthmark was not large, it was shaped like a crescent moon and was not as ugly as a typical birthmark. This was why Wei Luoyi had taken a few extra glances at it back then.

She distinctly remembered it being there. So how could it have disappeared?

Wei Luoyi stared at the area below Song Jinsheng’s collarbone, lost in thought. She then tugged at her robe, pulling it down, but even after seeing the chest binder, she still couldn’t find the crescent moon birthmark.

“How is this possible…”

Wei Luoyi whispered in a daze. She stared at the upper left side of Song Jinsheng’s chest, her expression frozen, but her eyes were filled with a mix of shock and fear. Even her hand, which was clutching Song Jinsheng’s robe, was trembling uncontrollably.

After staring for a long time, Wei Luoyi suddenly came back to her senses. She immediately let go of her hand. She took a deep breath to calm her chaotic mind before covering Song Jinsheng with her robe and pulling the blanket over her.

Wei Luoyi now realized, as she carefully looked back on everything, that everything had become strange after Song Jinsheng fell off the cliff.

First, after being in a coma for several days, she suddenly woke up, as if she had been revived from the dead. Then, her personality completely changed. From her dining preferences to her words and actions, she seemed to be a different person from head to toe.

And… it seems like she started wanting a divorce from the day she woke up…

The more Wei Luoyi thought about it, the more horrified she became. She had rarely felt such fear, except during rainy nights with thunderstorms.

Although she wasn’t intimate with the current Song Jinsheng, she was still a person by her side. If she had been replaced…

The Song Jinsheng in front of me is not the real Song Jinsheng…

Wei Luoyi looked at the person on the bed again, her eyes filled with a complex coldness. It was as if her gaze were a sharp needle, trying to pierce through her facade and get a closer look at her true self.

She slowly extended her hand, inching it closer to Song Jinsheng’s face. The closer she got, the more the echo of her own heartbeat became apparent.

Finally, after her hand had hovered an inch away from Song Jinsheng’s face for a long time, she gently caressed her cheek.

Her fingertips slid down from Song Jinsheng’s cheek to her chin… she was very thin. The places her fingers touched felt very boney.

Then, she curled her fingers and traced the bone structure of her chin, but other than the soft touch of her skin, there was nothing else. Not a single irregularity.

Wei Luoyi frowned in suspicion. She looked up at the face that was so close to hers. Her gaze was like a paintbrush, tracing her eyes, her high nose, her thin lips…

It was safe to say that other than the missing birthmark, Song Jinsheng’s face was the same as before.

It was impossible for even identical twins to look so much alike… What’s more, she couldn’t feel any fake skin on Song Jinsheng’s face, and Song Jinsheng had no twin sister…

But… how could that birthmark just disappear?

Could it be… that I remembered wrong? That the birthmark was somewhere else on her body?

Wei Luoyi’s brows were tightly furrowed, and her gaze was uncertain. It finally landed on Song Jinsheng’s face, and she fell into a memory of when she had first met her all those years ago.

And it wasn’t just her. The person who was still fast asleep was also trapped in a long memory dream…

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System: A large increase in the Host’s reputation has been detected in a short period. Hidden achievement unlocked. Dream is being issued…

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It was that dream again.

In the dream, Song Jinsheng became “Song Jinsheng” again.

After experiencing such a profound separation of life and death, “Song Jinsheng” dragged her heavy feet. She didn’t cry or make a fuss. She was just numb and dazed as she walked down the cliff.

She remembered the last words Biyu had said to her.

She had to live.

She had to live no matter what.

Whether it was because she was tough or because fate took pity on her, she wandered in the mountains for seven days and seven nights without giving up. She was barely clinging to life.

She was so hungry that “Song Jinsheng” was forced to climb a tree to pick fruit. When she was thirsty, she would find a river and drink from it with her hands. But when she was tired, she didn’t dare to sleep. She was afraid that if she closed her eyes, she would become food for wild animals. When she was too tired to go on, she would force herself to wait for the daytime to rest.

And so, she survived. She lived and walked down the mountain, all the way back to the capital.

But the once bustling capital had now become a desolate, lonely place. Soldiers were stationed everywhere, and the military flags of the “Southern Chi Kingdom” were planted in the ground.

Perhaps it was because “Song Jinsheng’s” small figure was so out of place in the empty streets, or perhaps it was because her gaze was so full of grief that she caught the attention of a soldier who was resting nearby.

The soldier stood up and walked toward her. “Song Jinsheng” just stared at him blankly, her eyes fixed on his armor. She couldn’t help but remember the scene where Biyu was killed by these very soldiers.

“Song Jinsheng” immediately came back to her senses. Her eyes widened in fear, and she ignored her wobbly legs, running forward desperately.

But after only two steps, the collar of her robe was grabbed. She was pulled back with great force. “Song Jinsheng” was dragged backward on the ground. Her delicate little hands were cut by the small pebbles, and the pain made her suck in a breath.

“Ah… hiss…”

“Where did this little brat come from… Do you have a death wish, wandering the streets these past few days?”

The soldier’s sudden roar made “Song Jinsheng’s” body tremble. She wanted to run, but her collar was tightly held. “Song Jinsheng” could only lower her head timidly, not daring to meet the soldier’s fierce eyes.

“Speak! Where did you come from!” The soldier’s angry shouts echoed through the street.

After the Southern Chi Kingdom took over, a city-wide curfew was put in place to capture any remaining royalty. All citizens were forbidden from being on the streets or harboring any suspicious people. If they were discovered, they would be executed.

“I said, speak! You little brat…” The soldier lost his patience. He switched his hand, grabbing “Song Jinsheng’s” collar and pinching her chin with the other, forcing her to look up.

“Song Jinsheng” was in a complete state of terror. The soldier’s hand was pinching her so hard it felt like he was crushing her bones.

She could only struggle desperately, but in front of the soldier, she was as helpless as an ant. Her struggle was useless.

The soldier saw her struggling so fiercely and yet she refused to look up. He became suspicious. He used force on his fingers, harshly lifting “Song Jinsheng’s” chin—

“Nnngh…” Although she tried to hold back, “Song Jinsheng” was still a person who had been raised in the royal family. She had never been treated like this. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes, which were still filled with endless fear.

The soldier only glanced at her before he frowned and threw her aside. “Song Jinsheng” was thrown to the ground, and she let out a muffled groan of pain.

The soldier stood up and, before walking away, said, “You’re a mute… Go find a place to stay… And get out of here!”

Hearing this, “Song Jinsheng” trembled all over again. She scrambled to her feet and ran forward desperately.

She didn’t dare to stop until she ran into a small alley.

“Song Jinsheng” leaned against the uneven stone wall, gasping for air. Sweat dripped down her forehead, and she was soaked as if she had been caught in the rain.

After she had caught her breath, she turned around and happened to see the water that had gathered in a ditch on the ground.

She glanced at it, then walked closer and slowly squatted down, looking at her reflection in the water. “Song Jinsheng” was in disbelief.

The person in the water had her hair in a mess. Her once round face was now so thin her chin was sharp. It was no exaggeration to say that she looked haggard and pitiful, like a beggar.

There was no longer any trace of her being a princess. It was no wonder the soldier had only glanced at her and let her go…

“Song Jinsheng” suddenly wanted to cry. But she couldn’t.

She bit her lip, suppressing the sourness that was welling up in her nose. She walked to the innermost corner of the alley and looked back to make sure no soldiers were coming after her before she finally relaxed.

And the first tear that fell was followed by an endless stream of tears.

She felt so helpless.

The people who loved her the most had left her… and her country was gone.

And she was the only one from the royal family left. But what… what could she do?

She didn’t know how long she had cried. “Song Jinsheng” finally calmed down, and a hint of a solemn expression appeared on her young face.

She used the wall to help her stand up. Enduring the pain and hunger throughout her body, she walked out step by step. Her expression was both numb and determined, and her swollen eyes were bloodshot from crying…

She couldn’t die.

She had to live.

…

The memory stopped there, and the world in the dream suddenly sped up.

The next ten years of her life flashed by in an instant.

Perhaps fate was truly on “Song Jinsheng’s” side. She first lived by begging, and when she got a little older, an old woman in the alley took pity on her. The old woman had no children, so she took her in and cared for her as if she were her own.

And “Song Jinsheng” was smart. She was literate and could paint. She sold her paintings to buy books. Sometimes she would even work as a servant in rich people’s homes just to listen in on their conversations.

And so, year after year passed. Her life slowly got better. But the old woman who had cared for her passed away. Thankfully, in the same year, she met Guzi. Guzi pledged his loyalty to her and was willing to follow her, no matter how poor their life was.

The next year, fate rewarded her. “Song Jinsheng” finally became a top scholar. After the parade, she not only received awards but was also invited by the emperor to the state banquet.

In the great hall of the state banquet that night, she sat in a seat behind the officials. Even from there, she couldn’t see the face of the person on the dragon throne clearly, but she couldn’t look away.

How could she not have seen the dragon throne before?

Her father had once sat on that throne…

“Song Jinsheng” stared at the emperor on the dragon throne, her eyes, as deep and unreadable as fog, were fixed on him. Her hands, which were on her lap, clenched. The hatred in her heart was almost too much to bear.

She had waited for more than ten years.

To seek vengeance, she had to give up her favorite dresses and dress as a man. She had to abandon her royal dignity and beg on the streets… And everything she did was just so she could become a high-ranking official, get a position in the court, and slowly corrupt the dynasty…

But before “Song Jinsheng” could get excited for too long, she got drunk and went outside to get some fresh air. In just a moment, someone covered her face with a cloth and her mouth with their hand, dragging her all the way to a pond near the rockery.

She recognized him. It was a scholar who had been in the same examination hall as her and was the son of a court official.

His face was filled with jealousy and hatred. He was like a madman. No matter how much “Song Jinsheng” struggled, he wouldn’t let go. In the end, he threw “Song Jinsheng” directly into the pond.

“Hahaha… Top scholar, do you think you’re going to rise to power now? Impossible!”

“I’ll tell you this, the imperial guards are all in the great hall right now, and the rest are patrolling the palace gates. No one will come here, and no one will find you here…”

“When they find you dead in this pond tomorrow, I’ll tell them that you got drunk yesterday and insisted on coming outside. Maybe you just fell in by yourself… Hahahahaha…”

Hearing the words of her attacker, “Song Jinsheng” frowned. She held her breath, but she wasn’t a good swimmer. The more she struggled, the deeper she sank…

She was unwilling. She was unwilling to have endured such humiliation for so many years only to be killed so carelessly…

In the last moment before she lost consciousness, “Song Jinsheng” made a wish to the heavens. She was willing to give up decades of her life just to survive right now.

She didn’t know if fate had heard her plea again… but she didn’t die.

When she woke up again, she found that she was in a new set of clothes and lying on a bed.

The maid who was guarding her saw that she was awake and gestured for her not to move. Then she walked out of the room.

A moment later, the door opened again, and a noble woman in a moon-white dress walked to her side.

“Song Jinsheng” looked up. She was stunned for a moment by the woman’s face, but then she remembered something. She immediately tried to get up and kneel before the person in front of her, but she was stopped.

“Hey, you just woke up. You might not have recovered yet, so there’s no need for formalities.”

“…I… but… this commoner wouldn’t dare!”

“I told you to rest, so rest.”

“Song Jinsheng” heard the cold voice from above her and had to stop what she was doing.

But she didn’t understand. The person in front of her was clearly of a noble status, and she was a “man.” How could a man and a woman be alone in a room together? Wouldn’t she be bothered…

“Song Jinsheng” didn’t know what to say. She didn’t dare to look up, so she just listened to the woman. She clutched the corner of her robe and lowered her head even more. “Thank you… This commoner has offended you!”

“Offended?” Wei Luoyi let out a soft laugh. She sat down on the bed, her gaze lingering on “Song Jinsheng’s” head, which she didn’t dare to lift. She seemed to be interested.

She ordered the maid to leave, then looked back at “Song Jinsheng.” “Top scholar, am I some kind of vicious person? Why are you so afraid to look at me?”

Hearing this, “Song Jinsheng’s” heart trembled. She blinked several times. After a moment of hesitation, she slowly lifted her face, but still didn’t dare to look at the person in front of her directly. “No… This commoner wouldn’t dare…”

“May I ask… did Your Highness save…”

Before she could finish her question, she heard Wei Luoyi’s soft laugh again.

“The top scholar is mistaken. I am not a ‘Your Highness’.”

“Then…”

“Song Jinsheng” cautiously glanced at Wei Luoyi twice and finally saw clearly. The person in front of her was still a young girl. Although her face was extremely beautiful, it was still a little childish.

If she’s not a princess, then she must be Princess Zhaoyang.

Wei Luoyi’s smile slowly faded. Her eyes were still studying “Song Jinsheng.” She suddenly said calmly, “I’m sure you’ve already guessed who I am.”

“I am the one who saved you. And the person who harmed you, I’ve already handed him over to my father to be dealt with.”

Hearing this, “Song Jinsheng” immediately tried to clasp her hands and thank her, but Wei Luoyi raised her hand to stop her.

“You don’t need to thank me. I only need you to promise me one thing.” Wei Luoyi’s expression was calm, and her cold eyes were fixed on her, making “Song Jinsheng” feel a little nervous.

She slightly looked up and met Wei Luoyi’s gaze. She wanted to swallow, but her throat was so dry. She could only ask in a hoarse voice, “What does Your Highness want this commoner to promise?”

“If it’s something this commoner can do, I will do it without a moment’s hesitation.”

“That’s good.” Wei Luoyi curled one side of her lips and said in a low voice, “I want you to be my Consort.”

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[Author’s Note]

Actually, the original owner and the Princess were also a great ship. Does anyone feel the same way!!!

But their personalities were too similar, so they were destined not to end up together~

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