Chapter 2: Leaving the Mansion

After the bathwater was prepared, Jiang Huaiyue didn’t even bother taking off her clothes and dove straight into the tub.

At this point, the drug had reached its full effect. Her entire body felt like it was being bitten by tiny insects—it was unbearable.

Qiu Chan, who was standing nearby keeping watch, spoke anxiously:

“Princess, should I call for a physician?”

“No! Bring me the… the thing for bedroom pleasure, then stand outside and guard the door. Don’t let anyone come in.”

Jiang Huaiyue clutched the edge of the tub, her slender fingers tightening with all her remaining strength as she gave her orders.

“But Princess, if you use that… and haven’t yet consummated with His Highness… what if others think you’ve lost your virginity?”

Qiu Chan’s voice trembled, on the verge of tears, her face full of worry.

The princess hadn’t even shared a wedding night with the prince yet. If she used that, and people misunderstood later, it could ruin her reputation.

Inside the tub, Jiang Huaiyue’s pale face was soaked with sweat, her hair clinging to her cheeks. Her usually bright and lively eyes were now clouded with desire, like a seductive fairy meant to enchant men’s souls.

“Bring it!” she shouted.

She couldn’t afford to care anymore. At this moment, she genuinely felt like she was going to die.

With no other choice, Qiu Chan, her eyes red, rushed to the bottom of a chest, took out a small box, opened it, and presented its contents to Jiang Huaiyue.

Jiang Huaiyue reached out, suppressing her discomfort, and took it. Her voice weak, she instructed:

“Go out and stand guard.”

“Yes.” Qiu Chan closed the box, wiped away her tears with her sleeve, and turned to pull the door shut.

Once she was alone, Jiang Huaiyue looked down at the item in her hand, let out a bitter laugh, and muttered:

“Fine. Let’s just call it playing with a little toy.”

Time passed. Ripples in the water lapped against the wooden tub. Occasionally, splashes spilled onto the floor and trickled away slowly.

The woman in the bath, her body full of heat, had skin glowing white under the candlelight—her delicate form almost shining like porcelain.

That night, Jiang Huaiyue suffered through waves of torment in the steaming water. By midnight, she had developed a high fever.

---

The next day.

Jiang Huaiyue slowly opened her eyes, dazed. Above her was a red silk canopy. Her voice was hoarse as she croaked:

“Qiu Chan…”

“Princess! You’re finally awake—you scared me to death!”

Qiu Chan rushed in from outside, relief flooding her face when she saw her mistress awake.

She had stood guard at the door for a long time last night. After hearing no sound from the princess, she finally gathered the courage to push open the door—only to find her unconscious.

Panicked, she pulled the princess out of the bath.

Later that night, the princess developed a fever. Afraid to summon a doctor, Qiu Chan had no choice but to wipe her down and cover her with quilts to sweat it out.

It wasn’t until dawn that her fever finally broke.

Jiang Huaiyue knew Qiu Chan was the only truly loyal person to the original princess. Seeing her so worried, she offered some comfort:

“Don’t worry. I’m fine now. I’d like some water, Qiu Chan.”

After the mess from the previous night, Jiang Huaiyue felt like she had barely survived.

She wondered if her best friend Su Xiangwan had crossed over too. She’d have to find a way to visit the General’s Manor to check.

She figured if she had transmigrated into the story, then Xiangwan probably had as well.

After all, when the script was written, the screenwriter used their real names to give the actors a more immersive experience.

Based on the usual “transmigrating-into-a-novel” trope, as long as there was a character with the same name as someone in real life, there was a good chance they’d transmigrate.

“I’ll pour the water right away, Princess.”

Qiu Chan walked over to the round table in the room, poured a cup of water, and brought it over to help Jiang Huaiyue drink.

After finishing the cup, Jiang Huaiyue’s throat felt much better. She casually asked:

“Do you know where the prince went?”

As she spoke, she touched her chest, which still throbbed faintly in pain.

That bastard of a man… how low can he go? Hitting a woman? With that face, what a waste.

“Your Ladyship, the Prince should have gone to court by now,” Qiuchan said as she placed the cup on the small table by the bed and helped Jiang Huaiyue sit up.

Looking at her lady’s pale and weakened face, Qiuchan hesitated before speaking again, worried, “Your Ladyship, what should we do next?”

The Prince was temperamental, and there was only Qiuchan at Jiang Huaiyue’s side. What were they to do?

Jiang Huaiyue lowered her gaze, remaining silent for a long time. She, too, wished she knew what to do.

Now, she was completely isolated—caught between a rock and a hard place.

On one side was Jiang Jingchen. Before the wedding, he had instructed the original host to drug Pei Ji and monitor his every move, reporting back regularly.

On the other side was Pei Ji, who knew she had been sent by Jiang Jingchen to spy on him. The original host didn’t even survive three days in his hands before being reduced to a half-dead wreck.

“Qiuchan, help me get dressed. I want to leave the estate,” Jiang Huaiyue said, lifting the covers and raising her voice with determination.

She couldn’t just sit and wait to die. No matter what, she was still a princess consort. No matter how little Pei Ji cared for her, he wouldn’t outright forbid her from stepping outside the residence.

Qiuchan supported her. “But Your Ladyship, you’re still sick.”

“I’m fine. There’s something important I need to do. Help me get ready,” Jiang Huaiyue insisted. She had decided to use the time while Pei Ji was away at court to visit the general’s residence and see if Wanwan had also transmigrated.

According to the plot of the drama, Wanwan was the daughter of the Right Chancellor. She was married off to General Xiao Qingrong, commander of the frontier.

On their wedding day, the border was invaded. Xiao Qingrong departed immediately, donned armor, and led troops to battle. He was killed in action, and Su Wanwan became a widow.

Afterward, Su Wanwan entered the palace by chance and saw Jiang Jingchen. From that moment on, she fell deeply in love with him.

But the male lead was destined to belong to the female lead. No one else could touch him.

For Jiang Jingchen, Su Wanwan did many things that harmed the female lead. In the end, she was poisoned mute by the male lead, thrown into a military camp, caught a disease, and died miserably.

Thinking of all this, Jiang Huaiyue couldn’t help but sigh. Both of them had horrible ends—Wanwan’s was just slightly less tragic. As long as she didn’t fall for Jiang Jingchen or go against the female lead, she should be fine.

Sitting in front of the bronze mirror, Jiang Huaiyue stared at her reflection—her face hadn’t changed much from before, and her expression was somewhat dazed.

The face in the mirror had crescent-shaped brows, roundish eyes, a petite yet well-defined nose, and lips naturally red without rouge. She was undoubtedly a stunning beauty.

Qiuchan deftly arranged her hair into a graceful bun and selected a few elegant hair accessories to adorn it.

Moments later, Jiang Huaiyue, accompanied by Qiuchan, hurried out of the Regent’s estate—unaware that just as she stepped out the door, someone began following her from the shadows.

Not long after leaving the estate, the bustling city streets came into view—lined with shops, vendors calling out their wares, and crowds of people going about their day.

Taking in the scene before her, Jiang Huaiyue finally felt the reality that she was truly still alive.

If her heart weren’t weighed down by other matters, she would’ve liked to stroll and enjoy the market. But right now, all she wanted was to reach the general’s manor as quickly as possible and confirm if the general’s wife was indeed Wanwan.

With the memory in her mind to guide her, Jiang Huaiyue pushed through the crowd, Qiuchan jogging to keep up behind her.

—

Meanwhile, inside the study of the general’s residence, a woman dressed in a pale green gown sat with furrowed brows, flipping through a book.

She clearly remembered getting into a car accident with Yueya, but when she awoke, she found herself in the body of a woman with the same name as her.

Uncertain of her situation, she came to the study to look through books of this era, hoping to gather some information.

Just then, the door to the study slowly opened, and her personal maid Ningxiang announced, “Madam, Her Highness the Princess Consort is here.”

Su Wanwan looked up, eyes filled with emotion. “Where is she?”

It was her—it had to be Yueya. The original owner of this body had no real connection to the princess consort, so the only reason she’d come now must be because it was Yueya.

“She’s already in the front courtyard,” Ningxiang replied, a bit puzzled by her mistress’s sudden excitement.

Su Wanwan closed the book in her hand and lifted her skirt, rushing out the door.