The Prince Consort's Secret (GL) - Chapter 1

Night. Silent.

The world was blurry, yet opulent. I lounged, attended by maids fanning me and massaging my shoulders. Life was exceedingly comfortable.

Suddenly, the curtain parted, and a shadowy figure entered. I couldn’t make out her features, but a surge of inexplicable desire flared. I smiled at my maids; they understood and discreetly left. I sprang up, embraced the figure—a hesitant, almost welcoming resistance. My desire intensified. I held her, kissed her without hesitation.

Passion consumed me. Reason faded. Instinctively, I scooped her up and carried her to the bed. I sensed her trying to catch her breath, a hint of… displeasure?

*Displeasure? She enjoyed it!* I thought, ignoring her reaction. I set her down on the bed—*I’m being so considerate; most people just throw them on!*—and reached for her sash.

Then, a breathless shout: “Enough!” A fist shot out, aiming directly for my… chest?! That’s brutal! I jumped back, stumbling backward.

I gasped, but it was too late. My eyes snapped open. The ceiling. Dawn was breaking. My phone: 6:00 AM. Class at 8:00. I could sleep another hour, but this bizarre dream… it was too strange. I’ve never considered myself attracted to women. Unless… I secretly like soft girls? The woman in the dream was pretty, though I couldn’t see her clearly… Ugh, what am I thinking?

I got up, went to the bathroom… only to be met by my roommate, who bolted out of bed and beat me to the bathroom, flashing me a triumphant grin as she shut the door. Seriously? Bathroom competition? I don’t get it. I waited my turn, then returned to bed. My roommate, noticing my gloomy expression, whispered, “What’s wrong? Bummed about losing the bathroom race?”

I smiled weakly, then confessed, “I had a… vivid dream…” Before I could finish, she exclaimed, “Oh my god! Which guy was it?!” She then nervously checked to see if the other roommates were awake. My mood improved. Her immediate reaction confirmed my beauty.

Then she said, “Wait, was it a guy or a girl?!” I stared, speechless, and buried my head under the covers.

The dream was ridiculous, yet… satisfying. My own thoughts shocked me. I sighed, closed my eyes, and tried to sleep, though I didn’t expect to. My consciousness drifted, sinking into an unknown abyss.

After what felt like an eternity, I stirred. Distant, chaotic sounds—annoying. I struggled through the void, regaining consciousness. The dream, the bathroom battle, my roommate… My head ached. Another grueling day of medical school…

Wait. It must have been a long sleep. Classes should be over. Did my roommates, out of the kindness of their hearts, go to class without waking me? It wasn’t an important lecture; I could have skipped it. But they’re all such overachievers; I’ve barely skipped class in college… Are they finally letting me off the hook?

Then I heard a woman’s voice. They were still in the dorm! Was class canceled? I rejoiced, then heard… sobbing? Unbelievable. They’re crying because they don’t have class? These people… I need to wake up.

I focused on my eyes, forcing them open. My head throbbed. The scene gradually… What the hell? It’s still dark! Am I blind?! I touched my eyes. Yes, they were open.

A sharp pang in my stomach grabbed my attention. Intense hunger. No way. Did I sleep for days? As I thought this, blurry spots of light appeared, followed by a black-and-white, speckled vision—low bl00d sugar. I’d studied this for years, and now I’m experiencing it firsthand.

I was lying down. Something was in front of me, not the ceiling. A blurry figure sat beside the bed. I strained to turn my head and saw many people standing. Guards! I mustered all my strength and croaked, “Hungry…” A buzzing sound filled my ears; I didn’t know if I’d been heard.

Someone lifted me, a spoon appeared. Food! I opened my mouth and swallowed. The food was invigorating; I craved more. The vision cleared, but I was too focused on eating. After a few spoonful, I grabbed the bowl and spoon, trembling, and devoured the rest. Relief washed over me.

I handed back the bowl and received another, then another. It was thin porridge. After the third bowl, I had some strength. I looked around. My heart leaped. Where was I?

Pale green gauze curtains, embroidered with elaborate phoenixes… tassels swayed gently. A handsome, yet young man with a stern expression stood by the bed. His narrow-sleeved robe was embroidered with sun, moon, mountains, and rivers. His imposing presence stunned me. He looked like an ancient emperor! Did I die from the bathroom incident and get transported here?

Transported… I couldn’t process it, but I accepted it. No ties, no worries. Where I am doesn’t matter. This new life had food, servants…

The emperor, expressionless, wiped my mouth with a handkerchief. I was delighted. I was clearly favored! But was I his concubine or… I didn’t know my gender in this life. I couldn’t check while sitting. But I could touch my hair! I cautiously felt my hair… female.

Was I his concubine, daughter, or sister? I couldn’t tell and didn’t know how to address him. Luckily, I was weak and excused from bowing.

The maids stood below, eyes red and swollen. The men, presumably physicians, wore ancient garb—ochre-colored robes, possibly Song Dynasty. So, the Song Dynasty? Or a fictional setting, but definitely not Qing! No pigtails!

A calm, yet urgent voice: “Yu Rou, how do you feel?”

My heart pounded. My name! This kind of reincarnation? I looked at the emperor; his features resembled mine. No way… I was an orphan on a planet in the Galactic Empire. Were my parents here? Did I travel back in time? Too coincidental. And there’s the soul vs. body issue.

The emperor’s question demanded an answer. “Hungry…”

He smiled. “Don’t rush. Eating too much is bad. Weren’t you on a hunger strike? Now you’re hungry?”

I looked at him pitifully. The original Yu Rou was bold enough to go on a hunger strike against the emperor. And now, I felt… touched. A parental love I’d never known.

“Physician, check the princess’s pulse.” I perked up. Princess! Not a concubine!

No palace intrigue! Food, drink, and relaxation! Knowing how to address him, I tried to bow.

I was stopped. “No need. You remember how to bow now?”

He was too kind. A handsome, scholarly physician placed a cushion and a cloth on my wrist. He took my pulse. Impressive technique! I’m a medical student, and I don’t have his skill.

After three minutes, he smiled, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, the princess’s pulse is stable. She’ll recover after eating.”

The emperor dismissed him. Of course, it was nothing serious. I’d seen countless girls faint from hunger strikes. But this was the royal treatment.

The maids’ red eyes, the physicians’ silence… The young physician who took my pulse seemed to show a flicker of guilt, then quickly recovered. Was I mistaken?

The emperor looked at me, smiling faintly. “Since you’re fine, tell me… are you this unhappy with the husband I chose for you?”