The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 1

The sky was clear and boundless, and the crowd was as vast as the sea.

The usually spacious city gate was so packed today that not a drop of water could trickle through, making it impossible to move even an inch. From time to time, angry shouts could be heard.

“Who the hell stepped on my foot?!”

“Stop pushing! Stop pushing! I can’t see anything!”

Following the gaze of the crowd, one could see a man riding on horseback, his ponytail tied high, exuding a heroic and dashing aura. His polished armor reflected a faint golden light under the sun, as if a god of war had descended to the mortal world.

Someone witnessing such a scene for the first time couldn’t help but ask the person beside them, “Why is everyone crowding here?”

The person beside them glanced at them, slightly surprised. “You don’t know?!”

The other shook their head in confusion.

Only then did the person explain, “Today is the day General Yin returns to the capital! We owe the peace and prosperity of the capital to the Yin family’s army!”

“I heard it’s not just General Yin returning this time, but also a Deputy General Gu.”

“Who is this Deputy General Gu? I’ve never heard of them.”

“You must be out of the loop,” the man said proudly, relishing his insider knowledge. “Deputy General Gu appeared in the military camp two years ago. No one knows where they came from. They say they look like a pretty face, but when it comes to battle, they fight like a demon! This victory was largely due to Deputy General Gu’s brilliant strategies!”

Someone else nearby, who also knew a thing or two about Deputy General Gu, quickly chimed in, “That’s right! I also heard that General Yin fell into an enemy trap this time, and it was Deputy General Gu who kept their cool and rescued them. Otherwise, our General Yin would’ve…”

“Deputy General Gu…” A woman’s soft voice murmured the title, as tenderly as a lover’s whisper, making one involuntarily sink into its allure.

“Yes, I hear everyone is incredibly curious about this legendary Deputy General Gu.” Even someone as composed as Su Juan couldn’t help but feel a deep curiosity about this fabled figure after hearing the discussions.

Was it her?

Xie Zhizhen gazed out the window, lost in thought, recalling the words Gu Qing had spoken before leaving: “Zhizhi, wait for me. Two years! In two years, I’ll come back to marry you!”

And now, the second year had arrived.

During these two years, Gu Qing had seemingly vanished without a trace. No matter how Xie Zhizhen inquired, she could never uncover any news about her.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Xie Zhizhen glanced up at Su Juan, who nodded in response. As soon as the door opened, Lin Chenzhi stood there.

He fanned himself gracefully, exuding the refined charm of a noble gentleman, effortlessly winning favor. “Zhizhi, I knew I’d find you here. I went to the princess’s residence looking for you, but they said you’d gone out. I figured you must be at Wangxiang Tower again.”

Su Juan curtsied and greeted, “Young Master Lin,” before retreating to Xie Zhizhen’s side.

Xie Zhizhen lowered her eyes, appearing listless, and responded softly, “Young Master Lin.”

Unfazed by the indifferent attitude of the master and servant before him, Lin Chenzhi casually took a seat opposite Xie Zhizhen. “How many times must I say it? Just call me Chenzhi. You and I are about to be married, Zhizhi. There’s no need to be so distant.”

He raised his eyes to look at Xie Zhizhen. The woman was dressed in a moon-colored long gown, her attire extremely simple, her expression cold and detached, like an immortal goddess from the heavens unapproachable, as if even a glance at her would be a desecration. The thought that such a woman would become his wife in three months made Lin Chenzhi’s gaze grow increasingly fervent as he looked at Xie Zhizhen.

Xie Zhizhen had always been sensitive to the gazes of others, and she naturally noticed the subtle shift in Lin Chenzhi’s expression. Her heart grew more agitated, but her face betrayed no change. “We are not yet married, Young Master Lin. You may address me as Princess.”

Lin Chenzhi seemed accustomed to Xie Zhizhen’s attitude. He neither took offense nor pressed the matter further. Instead, he turned his head to look out the window at the bustling crowd gathered outside. “Have you heard, Princess?” he asked.

Though phrased as a question, he didn’t seem to expect an answer and continued on his own. “Everyone seems quite interested in this Deputy General Gu. I wonder what kind of person she is.”

His voice was gentle and pleasant to the ear, but beneath the table, Xie Zhizhen’s hands clenched tightly into fists. Seeing that Lin Chenzhi showed no sign of leaving anytime soon, she interrupted him.

“Young Master Lin.”

Though she knew interrupting someone was impolite, she couldn’t help it.

Xie Zhizhen tightened her fists and stood up. “I am feeling unwell and shall take my leave now.”

Without waiting for Lin Chenzhi to respond, she turned to leave.

Even sharing the same room with this man made her unbearably uncomfortable.

Lin Chenzhi quickly reached out to grab her wrist, but Xie Zhizhen deftly stepped back, avoiding physical contact.

Unfazed, as if this had happened countless times before, Lin Chenzhi smoothly withdrew his hand. “Aren’t you staying to see Deputy General Gu, Princess? Come to think of it, that surname reminds me of—”

He paused, chuckling softly to himself, a shadow flickering imperceptibly in his eyes. His tone remained unchanged, betraying nothing. “Ah, how thoughtless of me to bring her up now.”

When he looked up again, his expression was perfectly composed. “Since the Princess is unwell, allow me to escort you back.”

No matter how much she resisted, the man before her was still her betrothed, and his words and actions gave her no reason to refuse.

The princess’s carriage had been waiting outside the teahouse. As Xie Zhizhen stepped onto the footstool to board, she momentarily lost her balance and nearly fell. Su Juan, quick to react, reached out to steady her, but Xie Zhizhen instinctively avoided her touch.

Though she appeared delicate, Xie Zhizhen had trained lightly under Gu Qing’s influence and managed to steady herself without falling.

“Princess, are you all right?”

By then, Xie Zhizhen had regained her balance and replied softly, “I’m fine.”

Once she was seated inside the carriage, Su Juan, as her personal maid, followed her in.

Just as they were about to depart, Lin Chenzhi’s attendant, Fule, approached the carriage. Through the curtain, Xie Zhizhen heard his voice.

“Princess, our young master’s carriage seems to have encountered some trouble. Might we—”

Though he left the rest unsaid, his meaning was clear.

In the Geng Dynasty, it was not considered improper for an unmarried woman to ride in the same carriage as her betrothed, especially with a maid present. On the contrary, most women would take this opportunity to get to know their future husbands and nurture their relationship. Therefore, Fule naturally assumed the princess would not refuse.

However, just as he thought Xie Zhizhen would agree, through the carriage’s curtain, he heard the woman’s melodious voice, soft yet firm, leaving no room for argument. “If that’s the case, then there’s no need for your young master to escort me.”

Fule was taken aback, never expecting to be refused. But as a mere servant, he had no right to question the princess’s decision. Crestfallen, he could only retreat.

Upon learning that Lin Chenzhi’s carriage had broken down, Xie Zhizhen’s first reaction was relief.

If possible, she wanted nothing to do with Lin Chenzhi.

Because she preferred tranquility, the princess’s residence was deliberately built in a secluded area, far from the bustling crowds. The journey was long, but with that detestable presence gone, the air inside the carriage felt fresher.

Yet, when she stepped out of the carriage, she saw the very person who shouldn’t have been there, Lin Chenzhi.

It didn’t take her long to realize that the broken carriage was merely an excuse. A slight frown creased her brow, displeased with his tactics, but in the end, she said nothing.

Lin Chenzhi approached Xie Zhizhen with his usual graceful demeanor, offering no explanation as to how he had arrived at the princess’s residence at the same time despite his supposed carriage trouble.

“The weather is growing hotter. Might I trouble the princess for a cup of tea?”

Had any other man spoken such words, he would likely be accused of impropriety. But given their engagement, even a degree of intimacy was permissible.

Xie Zhizhen’s expression remained unchanged as she replied coolly, “It seems Young Master Lin was in such a hurry to leave home that he forgot even the money for tea.”

With that, she tilted her head slightly and called, “Su Juan.” Understanding her mistress’s intent, Su Juan quickly retrieved a pouch of silver and handed it to Fule. “Young Master Lin need not stand on ceremony. Consider this a small gift, no need to return it.”

As the gates of the princess’s residence closed behind her, Lin Chenzhi smiled faintly, his thoughts inscrutable. Beside him, Fule held the heavy pouch, utterly bewildered. “Why does the princess treat you this way?”

Nearly a year had passed since their engagement, yet Princess Rongjia remained aloof, as if his young master were some kind of monster.

Lin Chenzhi tapped Fule’s head lightly with his folding fan, appearing unbothered. His gaze, however, lingered on Xie Zhizhen’s retreating figure, his eyes brimming with possessive desire. “Your young master has patience to spare.”

Inside the princess’s residence, Su Juan noticed her mistress’s unusually pale complexion and couldn’t help but wonder.

Though she knew the princess disliked Lin Chenzhi, over the past two years, she had witnessed his unwavering devotion. She had assumed the princess’s icy demeanor would eventually thaw, but observing her now, it seemed Xie Zhizhen had not yet forgotten that person.

Upon returning to her chambers, decorated identically to her palace quarters, save for a longsword hanging on the white wall, Xie Zhizhen withdrew into solitude.

She reached out and took down the long sword. A tassel hung from the hilt, its meticulous care evident in how well it matched Xie Zhizhen’s cool and elegant demeanor. Clearly, its owner had put great effort into preserving it, minimizing the traces of time. As the blade left its sheath, despite its long disuse, the edge remained razor-sharp.

Though she was accustomed to her princess often cradling the sword in a daze, every time Su Juan caught sight of that gleaming blade, her heart still skipped a beat.

She feared the princess might accidentally cut herself, but after all, she was merely a servant, she had no right to interfere in her mistress’s affairs.

Knowing the princess preferred solitude at such moments, Su Juan quietly withdrew from the chamber and closed the door behind her.

Xie Zhizhen’s slender fingers traced the silver-white blade, her reflection pale and faint glinting on its surface. But her thoughts had already drifted far away.

She had no idea how much time had passed before Su Juan burst in, shattering her reverie.

Seeing the breathless maid before her, Xie Zhizhen didn’t scold her for the intrusion.

She sheathed the sword and set it aside, then poured a cup of tea. “Speak slowly. There’s no need to rush.”

No sooner had the words left her lips than Su Juan gasped out, “Princess! Miss Gu, Miss Gu has returned! And she’s petitioned His Majesty to marry you! She, she says she wants to be your consort!”

With a clang, the teacup shattered on the floor.

Xie Zhizhen’s composed expression shattered in an instant, her pupils contracting sharply. “Who did you say?!”

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