As her consciousness drifted in a daze, Cheng Yao suddenly felt a sharp, agonizing pain in her heart, as if it were being violently twisted by a jagged blade. It hurt terribly!
She pressed a hand to her chest and snapped her eyes open.
The room was decorated in an ancient style, with bright red “Double Happiness” characters pasted everywhere.
Hadn’t her head been crushed by the Zombie King?
Where was she?
“Oh, you’re awake?” A beautiful woman dressed in an exquisite Wedding Dress gave her a contemptuous smile. “Sister, if you thought you could escape this marriage by feigning death, you were mistaken.”
With a wave of the woman’s hand, two old momos stepped forward. They hauled Cheng Yao up, pinched her chin, and forced a bowl of dark, bitter medicinal broth down her throat.
Cheng Yao felt as if her body were under a seal; she couldn’t speak or move. The two old momos possessed extraordinary strength, and the bitter, foul-smelling liquid slid down her throat, making her cough uncontrollably in a pathetic state.
“Sister, the War King has lost the use of his legs, and you are a Wastewood. You two are a match made in heaven. Marrying him is the right choice for you.” The woman stroked her brightly colored Armor, her eyes full of pride. “As for me, I’ll just have to suffer a little and marry the Second Prince in your place.”
Having said that, she chuckled and walked away with a graceful air.
Cheng Yao was forced into her Wedding Dress by the two old momos, half-supported and half-carried out, then stuffed into a sedan chair.
…
The two daughters of the General’s Mansion were getting married on the same day—one to the powerful Yixing Wang and the other to the exceptionally talented Second Prince. Having two sisters marry so well at once was the envy of many, and the onlookers discussed it with great interest.
Cheng Yao was in a stupor, being dragged along like a puppet on a string.
Because the War King had difficulty walking, the Wedding Ceremony was skipped entirely. She was supported by her dowry maids into the bridal chamber.
The servants withdrew, and silence fell over the room.
By now, Cheng Yao realized she had transmigrated, though her thoughts remained a chaotic mess.
She had regained full control of her body and her strength had returned, but an unbearable heat was surging through her. She couldn’t wait to take off the Phoenix Crown and shed the Wedding Dress.
A sharp, piercing gaze fell upon her.
She looked over—what a powerful man!
The man sat in a wheelchair, exuding an aura of nobility despite his cold, stern expression. A single glance from him sent a chill down her spine, making her feel restless and uneasy.
“You are not Cheng Lan.” The man’s deep, magnetic voice was laced with indifference.
In the deathly silence, Cheng Yao steadied her nerves and whispered, “My name is Cheng Yao. I am Cheng Lan’s elder sister.”
The man let out a cold sneer. “The one who chased the Second Prince all over the capital?”
Cheng Yao shook her dizzy head, but the fire within her was spreading to her entire body, making even her bones ache. Her tone became somewhat dismissive. “I was young and foolish before. I know my mistakes now. From now on, I will treat you well…”
As she spoke, she began stripping off her clothes and lunged toward the man in the chair.
“How dare you!” The man’s features were as sharp as a blade, but he suddenly found his entire body going limp. He lacked the strength to push her away.
He glanced to the side, his eyes turning predatory and dark.
The Three-legged incense burner cast in bronze, gilded, carved with dragon patterns was emitting curls of fragrant smoke.
There was something wrong with that incense!
Taking advantage of his distraction, Cheng Yao hauled him up and pushed him onto the bed.
The moment she touched him, her heat intensified. She felt as if she were about to burn to death. She collapsed weakly on top of him, her clear apricot eyes misting over as she looked at him pitifully. “I’ve been drugged. Be kind to me.”
Irritation flared in the man’s heart. He said coldly, “This King will have someone summon the Imperial Physician.”
“I’m suffering.” she whined softly, her voice sweet and soft. Losing all reason, she began to strip his clothes. “Give it to me… I will take responsibility for you.”
The man froze for a moment, and then a heavenly fire ignited in his eyes. “Those are your words.”
“Mhm, my words.” Cheng Yao replied perfunctorily, but she maintained the dominant position, conquering every inch of him.
…
Sunlight climbed over the windowsill, and the osmanthus tree outside swayed gracefully in the breeze.
Amidst the rich fragrance, Cheng Yao recalled the ridiculous things she had done last night. Her thick eyelashes fluttered several times before she squeezed her eyes shut again.
She had struggled for years in the Apocalypse, only to die and wake up as the second legitimate daughter of the General’s Mansion who had been lost for years.
The original host’s foster father was a drunkard who beat people when he was intoxicated. Her foster mother spent her days in tears and failed to care for her properly, leading to the development of a timid and introverted personality.
When she was eight, her foster father fell to his death in the street while drunk. Her foster mother, falling gravely ill, finally showed a spark of kindness and went to the General’s Mansion. She confessed that because she had been unable to conceive for years, she had stolen their child.
Cheng Yao was brought back to the mansion, thinking her hardships were over and good days were ahead, but that was not the case.
She had been stolen while still in her swaddling clothes, leaving her mother devastated. Later, her mother discovered that her father kept a mistress. Under the double blow, her mother died of grief.
With her mother gone and her father indifferent, no one in the mansion liked her. If not for her grandparents’ protection, her situation would have been worse than that of a servant.
At the age of fourteen, while following her grandmother to offer incense at Huguo Temple, she met the Second Prince.
The Second Prince was handsome and exceptionally talented. The original host fell in love with him at first sight and became unexpectedly bold.
She sent him gifts and love letters, and even secretly climbed walls to see him.
She cast aside all dignity and reason, using all her courage and strength to love him.
Seeing the scandal brewing, her grandfather sacrificed his pride and used his military merits to request an Imperial Edict for Marriage.
Little did they know that the concubine-born younger sister, Cheng Lan, had already been involved with the Second Prince. How could she be willing to let this stand?
Once the grandparents passed away, there was no one left to protect the original host. Cheng Lan no longer had any qualms, leading to the scene at the beginning.
The original host was literally scared to death upon learning she was to be remarried to the War King, Zhan Haoting, who was rumored to be a War King with a green face, sharp teeth, eating raw meat and drinking blood.
And when she transmigrated last night, she had ended up sleeping with the War King.
Since the War King’s legs were inconvenient, she had taken the initiative, over and over again.
Then, she wasn’t sure if it was because his pride had been wounded and he wanted to reclaim his dignity, or if he had simply developed a taste for it, but he had turned the tables and exhausted her in return.
Ahhh! This was too embarrassing!
Cheng Yao covered her face with both hands and sat up in bed.
Her entire body ached. She couldn’t help but let out a groan.
Fortunately, she felt a cool sensation in a certain place—medicine must have been applied.
She was wearing clean casual clothes; she wasn’t sure if the maids or the War King had changed her.
“Princess Consort, you are awake.”
Hearing the movement, a maid lifted the curtain and entered, preparing clothes and waiting on her to wash and dress.
Cheng Yao looked over; they were all new faces. None of the servants from her dowry were to be seen.
“Where are Chun Tao and Qiu Yue?”
“In reply to the Princess Consort, those two failed to care for you properly and were sold off by Madam.”
This “Madam” referred to her mother-in-law, the eldest lady of the Zhan family.
The ancestor of the Zhan family had been titled the Loyal and Brave Marquis, but the descendants had been mediocre, and the family had gradually declined. However, this generation had produced a brilliant successor: Zhan Haoting.
He had been like a fish in water since entering the battlefield at twelve, stabilizing the borders and reclaiming lost territory. After ten years of warfare and achieving great military feats, he was titled a Yixing Wang by the Emperor.
Since he had been titled a King, his wife was the Princess Consort; however, as his father held no such title, his mother could only be addressed as Madam.
“What about Chen Momo and the others?”
“In reply to the Princess Consort, the momos were also dealt with by Madam.”
Cheng Yao understood.
Truly worthy of the Zhan family—their methods were as swift as thunder.
She had been drugged and substituted into the marriage with the War King. None of the dowry servants could escape involvement; they had to be interrogated and punished.
She wondered if the person behind the scenes, Cheng Lan, had been dragged out as well.
Cheng Yao asked again, “Where is the Prince?”
The maid replied, “In reply to the Princess Consort, the Prince is in the front hall waiting for you to perform the Tea Offering together.”
Cheng Yao felt flustered and complained, “Why didn’t he wake me earlier?”
The sun was already high in the sky. She felt too embarrassed to go, and frankly, she didn’t want to.
The news of her being an impostor had likely already spread through the mansion. She could only imagine what those people were saying about her.
“In reply to the Princess Consort, the Prince said that you were unwell and that you could come over later.”
Zhan Haoting was surprisingly considerate. With him around, surely no one would dare bully her?
Fine, for the sake of his protection, she wouldn’t make things difficult for him.
With that thought, Cheng Yao rose gracefully.