The Eldest Princess' Substitute Husband (Transmigration) - Chapter 9

“She mistook the princess for her pillow.”

********

Wei Luoyi was still puzzled, yet when Song Jinsheng saw her remain silent for so long, she became even more certain that the princess was upset about the handkerchief.

Even if she was nothing more than a “convenient” prince consort in Wei Luoyi’s eyes, she was still the consort. If she failed to properly guard the personal gift given by the princess, and even went so far as to lose it, wouldn’t that suggest she cared little for her?

Song Jinsheng dared not let her be angry. If Wei Luoyi held a grudge over such a trivial matter, and later used it to make her life difficult in the residence, what would she do then?

“Your Highness.” Song Jinsheng stopped in front of her and said earnestly, “Please don’t dwell on what just happened. I truly—truly lost it by accident. It wasn’t neglect, I didn’t just cast it aside…”

Wei Luoyi listened and grew even more confused, her brows drawing closer together.

“What are you talking about—”

“Your Highness, why don’t I take you ahead to look around? There are many amusing stalls up there.”

Before she could finish, Song Jinsheng interrupted, and seeing her still dazed, pressed her again: “Shall we go? Mm?”

Though Wei Luoyi hadn’t agreed, she hadn’t refused either. So Song Jinsheng grew bolder, once again taking her slender wrist and tugging her forward.

She coaxed Wei Luoyi as though she were a child. And in truth, Wei Luoyi was several years younger. Stripping away the intimidating weight of her imperial status, it wasn’t hard to treat her like a younger sister. Back in the orphanage, Song Jinsheng had often comforted withdrawn children in just this same gentle way.

Wei Luoyi said nothing. Her lips pressed faintly together, her gaze falling once more on the hand holding her wrist.

She was not a fool. How could she fail to see that every word and gesture of Song Jinsheng’s was deliberate flattery?

Why flatter her? Did she mean to gain some advantage?

Yet only a few days ago, she had said she wished for separation… shouldn’t she be eager to break free?

“Consort.”

She called her, intent on pressing for clarity.

“What is it?”

Song Jinsheng turned back, only to find Wei Luoyi staring at her in silence, which left her momentarily stunned.

“Mm?” Song Jinsheng arched her brows slightly, lips curling with an easy smile, her eyes clear and gentle.

Wei Luoyi’s gaze lowered, lingering for a breath on the little dimple at her lips, before she turned her eyes aside, freed her wrist, and moved to walk beside her. “It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

So be it. This feeling—she did not dislike it.

******

In truth, the last few days when Song Jinsheng had gone out, she hadn’t only been meeting with Su Ran. She had also scoured the streets for vendors selling curious little folk crafts.

Sugar paintings, candied hawthorn skewers, clay figurines… all things Wei Luoyi had never seen before. No one had ever brought her to wander among such trifles. Though she showed little outward interest, seeing Song Jinsheng’s delight as she browsed, she simply allowed herself to follow, roaming here and there.

Song Jinsheng had intended to coax Wei Luoyi, yet with the bustling stalls and endless curiosities laid out on the capital’s long street, she herself was dazzled. While Wei Luoyi’s expression remained faint and indifferent, it was Song Jinsheng who grew happiest of the two.

By the time they finally returned to the carriage, dusk had already fallen.

Song Jinsheng had never ridden in a carriage before. She didn’t find the jolting uncomfortable, but on such a crowded street it could only move slowly. The steady rocking soon lulled her into drowsiness.

After a full day of walking, the moment she sat down, weariness crashed over her. Before long her head grew heavy, her eyelids drooped, and she could barely hold herself upright.

Wei Luoyi was reading at her side. Midway through a page, she noticed Song Jinsheng’s head dipping, her body swaying unsteadily.

Wei Luoyi frowned, set the book aside, and reached a hand to steady her. “Consort?”

“Consort?”

There was no reply. Song Jinsheng’s weight tipped with her touch, her head falling naturally against Wei Luoyi’s slender shoulder.

Wei Luoyi froze. Her whole body stiffened. Her right shoulder grew heavier at once, and along with it came a strange tingling that spread from her neck, leaving her ill at ease.

Lowering her eyes, she looked at the woman leaning on her shoulder, her ears filled with the soft sound of steady, even breathing.

The faint exhalations only made the tingling more acute. Wei Luoyi’s brows drew tight, her body shifting uncomfortably, but Song Jinsheng slept deeply, utterly unbothered.

So strange.

What was this feeling?

She couldn’t name it, only that it unsettled her.

In the year since their marriage, never had they been so close. Even on their wedding night, Song Jinsheng had lain quietly at her side, perfectly well-behaved.

If not for her fall from the cliff and the memories she had lost, Wei Luoyi was certain that the old Song Jinsheng—even if exhausted—would never dare lean so near.

It was overstepping boundaries.

The Song Jinsheng who had accompanied her today almost seemed a different person: no longer dull, no longer cold and lifeless, no longer indifferent to all things.

She smiled now.

And today, for the first time, Wei Luoyi realized how much more pleasing her face appeared when her lips curved gently, her expression warm and good-natured.

Could forgetting the past truly change a person’s nature so completely?

It was the same face so why did it feel like she was faced with two different people…?

“Ah—” Wei Luoyi gave a startled cry when an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. All her wandering thoughts scattered at once.

With that one embrace, her heartbeat turned chaotic, her breathing quickened. Her slender fingers curled tight, her whole frame rigid—while the culprit slumbered on peacefully.

Far too presumptuous… Who gave her leave to do this…?

Wei Luoyi bit her lip, swallowing her annoyance, and cast a sidelong glare at the one already snoring softly.

But that someone, unaware, still thought she was back in her tiny rented flat before she crossed over. dreaming that she was hugging her old pillow, not the princess she feared most in this world.

Wei Luoyi, who bathed in flowers year-round, carried a fragrance unlike any heavy perfume of the modern age—light, natural, with a trace of sweetness. Drawn in by the scent, Song Jinsheng’s arms only tightened around her waist in sleep, leaving Wei Luoyi no way to push her off.

At that moment, Chunyue, alarmed by the princess’s earlier cry, lifted the carriage curtain in haste, forgetting all decorum.

“Your Highness, you—” Chunyue stumbled in, and immediately froze.

When she regained her senses, she dropped the curtain and fell to her knees in a panic. “Your Highness… this maid did not know… I was only afraid something had happened, so I entered without leave. I overstepped, please punish me…”

“Oh… I shouldn’t be here. I’ll leave right away…”

Frightened and flustered, she scrambled up, not daring to lift her head, desperate to retreat lest she disturb her master’s “good moment.”

Heaven knew how shocking that scene had been to her eyes.

Since the day of their marriage, she had never once seen such intimacy between the princess and her consort. Never had she seen them embrace, let alone so closely entwined.

Everyone knew the consort suffered from an ailment that prevented the bridal chamber from being consummated. Though she treated the princess with utmost respect, that respect had always been so stiff, so excessive, it hardly resembled what should exist between husband and wife.

But just now—she had seen clearly: the consort nestled fast asleep against her mistress, arms tight around her waist.

And the princess herself—cheeks flushed, eyes clouded with shy confusion—such a sight Chunyue had never once beheld.

The more she thought on it, the more flustered she grew, until she even felt as though she had ruined something private between them…

“Wait.”

Wei Luoyi’s voice called her back just as she was about to slip away.

“This palace won’t punish you. Just… just help lift the consort off me.”

“Ah?” Chunyue blinked in surprise. After a brief pause, she hurried forward.

Looking at the soundly sleeping Song Jinsheng, she hesitated, then carefully pried her arm from the princess’s waist and settled her against the other side of the carriage.

Wei Luoyi rubbed her sore shoulder and shot a glance at the one still sleeping. She couldn’t help grumbling inwardly: this was the same woman who used to stir at the slightest noise, yet now she slept like stone.

Without Song Jinsheng bound to her, Wei Luoyi felt a sudden lightness—though her face still burned hot. She instinctively raised the back of her hand to cool her cheek, only to notice Chunyue still standing there, watching her.

Her lips were pressed tight, as though she were fighting to keep from laughing.

“What are you laughing at?” Wei Luoyi frowned, genuinely perplexed.

Shouldn’t she be angry for her instead?

“N-no, nothing…” Chunyue feigned innocence, then quickly added, “We should be nearing the residence gates. If Your Highness has no further orders, this maid will withdraw.”

“Mn.” Wei Luoyi nodded. She smoothed the wrinkles Song Jinsheng had left in her robes and let her face fall back into its usual cool composure.

Once Chunyue left, she cast another sidelong glance at the sleeper. Her eyes were calm, but narrowed slightly.

She lingered there, unreadable, until at last she exhaled softly, closed her eyes, and leaned back to rest.

******

[Author’s Note]

Sleeping Song Jinsheng: When did my pillow come with a warming function? So soft… so comfortable…

Princess, trapped in her arms, scowling: ………

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