Transmigrated Into A Novel As A Scumbag Princess’ Consort - Chapter 1

1:

Deep autumn, inside the Ministry of Justice’s prison.

Yun Chi lay groggily on the ground, her heart a chaotic mix of shock and panic.

She had actually transmigrated, and into the very ancient romance novel her cousin had ranted to her for hours.

The villainous scumbag in the novel, who met a tragic end, not only shared her exact name but also had an appearance described as nearly identical to hers.

That was why her cousin had spent so long venting to her about it.

Once Yun Chi calmed down and sorted through the memories that had suddenly appeared in her mind, she nearly had a heart attack.

Good grief, it wasn’t just nearly identical—it was completely identical.

She had transmigrated directly into the body of that scumbag princess consort…

If she had known this would happen, she would’ve read the novel herself. Too bad hindsight is priceless.

The good news? Her cousin despised the scumbag villain so much that she had shared a ton of details about the original character.

The original Yun Chi was a beggar. On the day the Princess was ordered to throw an embroidered ball to choose her consort, Yun Chi had gone to join the commotion and, unbelievably, got hit by the ball.

The emperor, who was incognito among the crowd, declared “a ruler’s word is no jest” and immediately granted the marriage.

Thinking of this, Yun Chi’s heart filled with doubt. Are the Emperor and the Princess really siblings? How could anyone be cruel to their sister like that?

As for the Princess, she played the role of the heroine’s best friend in the novel. To push the heroine’s storyline of entering the palace as a concubine, the Princess was framed for treason at the beginning of the story, dying early on the road to exile.

As soon as the Princess was exiled, the heroine, a noble daughter of the Prime Minister’s household, entered the palace as a favored concubine. Within half a month, the heroine cleared the Princess’ name but it was too late. The Princess had already died, and it was all because of the scumbag consort’s actions.

The scumbag consort stole the Princess’ food and clothes during the exile, publicly beat and humiliated her, and worsened her injuries. Already frail and suffering from cold and hunger, the Princess caught a chill and died prematurely.

When the heroine knew about this, she was enraged so she tortured the scumbag consort to death to avenge her friend.

The bad news? Her cousin only ranted about details related to the scumbag consort and didn’t mention a word about anything else.

Yun Chi closed her eyes in despair. This transmigration was a total scam, a cosmic-level scam!

“Princess’ Consort?”

Yun Chi opened her eyes and glanced discreetly at the person calling her softly. Besides her, the cell held two maids from the Princess’ residence. The one speaking was the older of the two.

“This servant is Shushi, the personal maid of Her Highness,” Shushi introduced herself. The Princess’ residence had been raided and confiscated on the day of the wedding, meaning Yun Chi and the Princess, as newlyweds, had been thrown into prison right after their ceremony.

So, Yun Chi knew next to nothing about the people in the Princess’ household.

Likewise, the household knew little about her, only that she was once a filthy beggar who after being cleaned up, looked decent enough—clear eyes, refined features.

Seeing Yun Chi stay silent, Soseki lowered her voice. “By custom, we servants will be sold off. The Princess’ Consort is luckier than us, you can accompany Her Highness to the place of exile.”

Yun Chi: “…”

Lucky? She was cursed with the worst luck, okay?

She had just stayed up late working overtime, and at such a young age, she’d transmigrated. Starting in a prison cell, with an ending where she’d die horribly.

She’d rather be a beggar outside!

Seeing Yun Chi still silent, Soseki hesitated, then pulled a cornbread bun from her bosom and offered it.

“Please, Princess’ Consort, bring this food to Her Highness.”

Times had changed, and the road to exile would lack food and clothing. This was all she could do for Her Highness now…

Yun Chi reached out and took it. To avoid following the original consort’s path, she figured she’d help out. Carrying a cornbread bun wasn’t much effort.

Seeing her accept it, Soseki quietly sighed in relief and said no more.

At that moment, two jailers approached, opened the cell door, and tossed three cornbread buns onto the ground. “Eat quickly.”

Yun Chi sighed inwardly and picked one up.

She was genuinely hungry. Good or not, she’d fill her stomach first in times like these.

Soseki, beside her, handed over her own cornbread bun. “This servant isn’t hungry. Princess’ Consort, take it.”

Sushi, seeing this, followed suit without hesitation.

“Princess’ Consort, I’m not hungry either.”

Yun Chi hesitated but accepted them. She was just helping to deliver stuff, she wasn’t meddling in anything else.

The next moment, a jailer struck her arm harshly with the back of a blade.

The cornbread buns in her hands fell to the ground instantly.

“No hoarding possessions!,” the jailer shouted as he sheathed his blade.

Yun Chi’s mouth twitched in pain, and she couldn’t help but curse inwardly. Damn, that hurt!

Noticing the jailer’s hostile gaze, she clutched her arm, lowered her head, and didn’t dare pick up the buns.

“Prisoner Yun Chi, come with us,” the jailer shouted again.

Behind her, the two maids’ pleading voices rang out.

“Princess’ Consort, please, you must take care of Her Highness.”

“Princess’ Consort, please look after Her Highness well…”

Yun Chi sighed softly and didn’t look back.

Stepping out of the prison, Yun Chi surveyed her surroundings and unexpectedly met a pair of calm, indifferent eyes.

The woman had delicate features, a radiant beauty that stunned at first glance. Her face was pale, almost fragile, yet she stood ramrod straight.

Like a plum blossom enduring frost and snow, despite her dire circumstances, her innate pride and nobility shone through.

Her noble air carried a trace of frail beauty, evoking pity in those who saw her.

This woman was the Princess, Ye Xuejin, titled Princess He’an.

Their eyes met silently for a moment before Ye Xuejin looked away.

Yun Chi didn’t initiate the conversation either. The situation was unclear, and acting rashly wasn’t wise. Better to observe more and speak less.

She quietly scanned her surroundings, mentally noting the situation.

There were seven escorts: three in front, three in the back.

The one riding a horse in the middle was likely the leader.

The prisoners were divided into three groups: a family of over a dozen, young and old; a pair of similar-looking brothers; and then her and Ye Xuejin.

Perhaps because dawn hadn’t fully broken, there were few passersby, making the atmosphere especially oppressive.

After leaving the city, the previously silent escorts suddenly turned harsh.

“Move faster, all of you!”

“Anyone who delays the journey will taste the whip!”

The sound of whips cracking against the ground made the prisoners quicken their pace. The exile had just begun, no one wanted to get beaten or injured.

When everyone sped up, the one lagging behind stood out.

That person was none other than Princess Ye Xuejin.

Yun Chi glanced at her and immediately noticed something was wrong.

Ye Xuejin was likely injured. Her already pale face was now deathly white, her lips tightly pressed together, her steps slow. Faint traces of dark red seeped through her gray prisoner’s garb.

Was that bl00d?

Yun Chi’s heart stirred with suspicion, and she slowed her pace.

In just half a month, the heroine would clear Ye Xuejin’s name. To be safe, Yun Chi set a small goal: try to build a good relationship.

Crack!

A sudden whip struck, and a sharp, burning pain shot through her back. Yun Chi shuddered in agony.

Damn it, I didn’t expect to be the first one whipped!

She glanced at the escort who struck her, cursing inwardly again. Is this guy addicted to hitting people?

“Princess’ Consort, you better behave and not make things difficult for us,” the escort sneered, his tone mocking and arrogant. It was the same jailer who had struck her arm with his blade in the cell.

Yun Chi gritted her teeth and hurried forward. When under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head.

There was still half a month, plenty of time to take it slow.

Behind her, Ye Xuejin glanced at Yun Chi faintly before looking away.

At that moment, the lead escort reined in his horse and said in a deep voice, “Rest here for a quarter of an hour.”

This man, named Yu Lu, was a prison official from the Ministry of Justice, an eighth-rank officer.

Yun Chi glanced at the family sitting together, then at the two brothers sitting side by side. After a moment’s hesitation, she walked over to Ye Xuejin.

With everyone so clearly divided into groups, she’d better not end up alone.

Considering their intertwined fates and tragic endings, Yun Chi lowered her voice and asked, “Princess, are you hurt?”

This woman had to survive the next half month. If the heroine cleared her name only to find her dead, she might take it out on Yun Chi.

Ye Xuejin’s gaze was fixed in the distance, not looking at Yun Chi. “Call me by my name.” After a pause, as if realizing something, she repeated, “Call me by my name.”

Her voice was low and hoarse, her tone frail, sounding very weak.

Yun Chi’s lips twitched. “Alright, Ye Xuejin, are you injured? Is it serious? Do you have medicine to treat it?”

Ye Xuejin turned her head, her cool gaze landing on Yun Chi’s face. “It’s nothing.” With that, she closed her eyes to rest.

She clearly had no interest in engaging with Yun Chi.

Fair enough—they were only wives in name, practically strangers otherwise.

Since the other party didn’t want to talk, Yun Chi wouldn’t make herself a nuisance.

She silently adjusted her goal: not to build a good relationship, but to avoid causing offense.

As she pondered, several escorts began distributing food from their packs.

Someone muttered quietly, “Why are we eating early? Will there even be lunch?”

“Stop talking nonsense. Eat when you’re told to eat.”

A whip cracked, and no one dared speak again.

Yun Chi took half a flatbread from an escort’s hand. Yes, just half, and it was a coarse, hard, dry flatbread.

She took a bite and couldn’t stomach another. The bread was as tough as a brick, with a strange taste—beyond bad, it was worse than bad.

Compared to this, the cornbread bun from the prison seemed like a delicacy.

Speaking of the cornbread bun… Yun Chi touched her bosom and glanced at Ye Xuejin.