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“If it’s truly a pregnancy pulse, won’t the Royal Mansion belong to the Second Young Master from now on? After all, our heir…”
“Shh, keep your voice down! Do you have a death wish? If the heir or his consort hears you, do you still want to live?”
The voices of the two gradually faded away. Shang Ruoyi rolled her eyes and thought to herself: You’re talking right outside my door—clearly, you meant for me to hear it.
But she couldn’t care less.
Whoever the Royal Mansion belonged to, whether the Second Young Master had an heir—none of that concerned her.
The only reason she had agreed to the substitute marriage into the Royal Mansion was to find an excuse later to divorce He Jingheng, take her dowry, and live a carefree life.
Stretching lazily, she removed the crown from her head. Suddenly, the string of the jade pendant around her neck snapped. As she hurried to pick it up, her finger was accidentally pricked by the hairpin that had lost its Glass Beads, and a drop of blood fell onto the jade pendant on the floor.
“Ouch, that hurts.” The moment she spoke, the world spun around her, and the scenery transformed. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in the medical laboratory from her past life.
What was going on?
Shang Ruoyi stared at the laboratory in astonishment, momentarily unable to process the situation.
Could this be a hidden benefit of her transmigration?
Looking at the rows of medicines and medical equipment, her lips curled into an unconscious smile.
With this divine tool, she could thrive here effortlessly. Even after leaving the Royal Mansion, her life would be comfortable.
Stepping out of the laboratory, the sight before her left her even more stunned.
Not far away was a spring, its clear and refreshing water flowing steadily.
As she approached, she caught a sweet, fragrant scent emanating from the spring.
Then, a mechanical voice echoed in her mind: “Spirit Spring—capable of Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Purging, improving constitution, and prolonging life.”
Beside the Spirit Spring were two pools. One emitted a faint mist—she reached out and confirmed it was indeed a hot spring.
Who would have thought she could enjoy a hot spring here?
The other pool was filled with fish she had never seen before—plump, entirely white, and completely scaleless, looking incredibly fresh and delicious.
A little further away was a plot of farmland.
Shang Ruoyi nodded in satisfaction as she surveyed the space.
With this, she could grow whatever she wanted to eat—how wonderful would that be?
But how could she leave this space?
Just then, her figure returned to the Bridal Chamber, as if everything she had just witnessed was a dream.
Did entering and exiting the space depend on her thoughts?
She silently thought: Enter the space.
The next second, she was indeed back inside the space.
So that was how it worked.
Having this space was like possessing a cheat tool!
But could items from the space be brought into the real world?
After re-entering the space, she wandered around the laboratory, picked up a scalpel, and exited. The scalpel remained in her hand.
So the space and the real world were connected!
Shang Ruoyi was overjoyed.
Just then, a servant’s voice came from outside the door: “The heir is here.”
She frowned. Could it be that He Jingheng actually intended to consummate the marriage?
He didn’t want to marry her, and she didn’t want to marry him—this was obvious to anyone with eyes. She had assumed they had a silent understanding. Surely He Jingheng wouldn’t be so tactless!
She adjusted her bridal veil and sat upright on the bed. Soon after, the door creaked open, followed by the sound of wheels rolling across the floor.
After a long silence, a soft chuckle broke the quiet.
“What, still waiting for this heir apparent to lift your veil?”
He Jingheng scoffed disdainfully, “I have no such idle time for this.”
Shang Ruoyi’s fingers curled slightly, but she remained silent. Beneath the veil, however, she rolled her eyes.
If you have no time for this, then why are you even here?
“You should know that the one betrothed to me was your legitimate elder sister. The fact that Dingguo Prince Residence would accept a mere concubine-born girl like you should fill you with gratitude. Don’t harbor any foolish delusions—do you understand?” He Jingheng frowned when she showed no reaction. He had spoken so harshly, yet she remained utterly unmoved.
This was nothing like what Yunqi had described.
Seeing her continued silence, He Jingheng lost all interest in teasing her. His voice turned cold. “If you need anything, speak to the steward or the servants. I have no time for this.”
With that, he left the room without even lifting her veil.
Shang Ruoyi exhaled in relief.
Having just transmigrated here, she wasn’t yet familiar with Prince Dingguo’s Heir’s temperament. As the saying goes, when under someone else’s roof, one must bow their head. After all, she was now labeled as the Heir’s Consort. If she wanted a peaceful divorce, she couldn’t afford to truly anger him.
Only through mutual separation could she take her dowry with her. If she were to be cast out, the dowry would have to be returned to the Shang family. Given her scoundrel of a father’s nature, not a single item from that dowry would be left to her.
Still, from his tone, it seemed he had no interest in her whatsoever.
That suited her just fine.
Yet the words spoken by the First Wife when she left the ministerial residence still lingered in her mind.
What did she mean by “having the fortune to take it but not the life to spend it”?
What exactly did she know?
Meanwhile, in the study of Dingguo Prince Residence.
He Jingheng’s gaze was icy as he stared at Feng Shi kneeling before him. “Say that again.”
“At the battle of Soul Severing Cliff, our forces suffered heavy losses. None of the soldiers who accompanied His Highness into battle survived. The prince himself has gone missing.” Feng Shi knelt with his head bowed. “This subordinate failed in his duty to protect him. I deserve death for this crime. I await your punishment, Heir Apparent.”
“Have men been sent to search?”
“Yes, but there was no trace of His Highness at the base of the cliff.”
He Jingheng clenched his fists. “Send more men. Keep looking. And for now, do not let the Dowager or Her Ladyship know.”
“Yes!” Feng Shi accepted the order and left.
A gust of wind blew through the study, making the candlelight flicker.
Yuntian, standing nearby, spoke softly. “Heir Apparent, His Highness is blessed. He will surely return safely.”
He Jingheng said nothing, glancing down at his legs. He tried to exert force, but they remained immobile as ever.
If not for his injury, his aging father would never have needed to return to the battlefield.
Outside, dark clouds churned ominously in the sky, threatening rain.
He murmured under his breath, “The wind heralds a coming storm.”
A sense of foreboding spread through his heart.
Early the next morning, Shang Ruoyi was jolted awake from her dreams by the sound of footsteps.
Her previous profession had honed her hearing to an extraordinary sensitivity.
Even the faintest noise could rouse her instantly from sleep.
“Heir’s Consort, it is time to dress. You must soon present tea to Her Ladyship.”
After much fussing, she was dressed in layer upon layer of formal robes, then escorted out of the courtyard by her maids.
“Where is your Heir Apparent?” Shang Ruoyi asked softly.
“The Heir Apparent said he has matters to attend to today. For the tea ceremony, you are to go by yourself,” the maid replied with bowed head, her attitude extremely respectful.
Shang Ruoyi was somewhat surprised. The servants of the Dingguo Prince Residence were exceptionally well-trained, showing no trace of disdain despite her lack of favor.