I’m Done Being The Female Lead In This Historical Romance - Chapter 2

What penetrated all the way to her bones was a crushing heaviness and bitter cold.

The lake in the princess’s estate was filled with diverted mountain springwater and had no swift currents. That was precisely why Ji Lanyin had dared to jump in. However, she had underestimated the panic that would overwhelm someone who could not swim.

Moreover, she had always harbored an intense aversion to water.

The cold, heavy water soaked through her clothes, making every limb and bone feel as though it had been filled with lead. Ji Lanyin could only squeeze her eyes shut and hold her breath for as long as possible. Amid her panic, she vaguely heard the splash of someone pushing through the water. Her instinct to survive forced her to gather the courage to open her eyes, and she saw a woman’s figure rapidly approaching.

Ji Lanyin hurriedly reached out to her.

The woman swam toward her quickly, but Ji Lanyin was gradually sinking as she struggled on instinct. Her breathing grew frantic, and she soon swallowed several mouthfuls of water, leaving her throat burning with pain. The next moment, an arm wrapped around her waist and began pulling her upward with all its strength.

Ji Lanyin nearly coughed and gasped again. Her lungs ached from holding her breath, but in the next instant, the woman finally brought her above the surface.

Before she could draw in the fresh air, the sweet taste of the woman’s lips reached her first.

They were soft and yielding, carrying the sweet fragrance of plum-blossom rouge. They covered Ji Lanyin’s mouth as the woman gently blew air between her lips, sending it into her mouth. It felt like a cool breeze sweeping through her dry, aching throat, bringing a small measure of relief. Ji Lanyin’s eyes hurt so badly that she could no longer open them. She allowed the woman to breathe air into her mouth for a while before she finally recovered enough to gasp for breath.

By then, the women stationed nearby as expert swimmers had also arrived. They took Ji Lanyin from Xie Ling’an’s arms. Her maids were already waiting with a thick, dry fur cloak. The instant Ji Lanyin reached the shore, she was wrapped in warmth, while her maids’ anxious cries filled her ears.

Only then did the full realization strike her. She touched her lips in disbelief.

It was as though five bolts of lightning had struck her at once.

When her maids noticed that her expression was wrong, they were so frightened that they dropped to their knees in unison. The surrounding noble young ladies were also stunned by the sudden incident, but they had all been raised in distinguished families and were accustomed to major events. Someone quickly began issuing instructions.

“What are you all standing around for? Hurry and help Her Highness inside to rest! Prepare two bowls of ginger soup, and take Second Miss Xie away to change her clothes as well!”

Xie Ling’an had climbed out of the water on her own by then. Both women’s clothes were completely soaked. After such a serious incident, the flower-viewing banquet naturally could not continue.

County Princess Ning’an, Jiang Shuyue, was Ji Lanyin’s older cousin. She had always been calm and composed. Under her direction, the two women were quickly taken to separate side chambers to recover.

With her maids’ assistance, Ji Lanyin changed her clothes and drank a bowl of extremely concentrated ginger soup. The sharp, spicy sensation that filled her mouth finally overwhelmed the lingering fragrance of plum-blossom rouge. However, amid the confusion, her maids had not had time to redo her hair or makeup. When Ji Lanyin walked over to the quatrefoil mirror, she clearly saw her current disheveled appearance.

After nearly drowning, the woman in the mirror looked unhealthily pale. A faint flush colored her cheeks, softening the severity of her expression. Most striking of all were the two different shades of rouge upon her thin lips. The color was no longer delicately applied, and the smeared traces looked messy and uneven.

Ji Lanyin brushed a slender, jade-like finger beneath her lips. The streak of rouge upon her fair fingertip immediately stood out.

The color was slightly paler than the shade she used and carried a rich yet elegant plum-blossom fragrance. It undoubtedly belonged to another woman. After being pulled from the water, Ji Lanyin remembered hearing the surrounding women repeatedly mention “Second Miss Xie.”

In other words…

The woman who had jumped into the lake to save her was Xie Ling’an!?

And in full view of everyone, Xie Ling’an had forcibly kissed her!

Admittedly, calling it a “forced kiss” was something of a stretch. However, Ji Lanyin had always been domineering and accustomed to having her own way. Xie Ling’an had pressed their mouths together and breathed air into her without obtaining her permission. If that was not forcing her, then what was?

The more Ji Lanyin thought about it, the angrier she became.

She was a princess of Great Rong, yet Xie Ling’an had stolen her first kiss. The female swimming instructors had merely been one step too slow. Once Ji Lanyin had been pulled from the water, her condition had not been so dire that she absolutely required mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Even if she and Xie Ling’an were both women, that sudden kiss still infuriated Ji Lanyin.

Her personal maids, Qiao’er and Qiuping, were helping restore her appearance. When they saw Ji Lanyin’s expression suddenly turn cold, they assumed she was about to hold them accountable. Trembling with fear, they knelt to one side and waited for her punishment.

At that moment, an announcement came from outside.

“Your Highness, Princess Changping, the heir of Prince Wu’an and Second Miss Xie request an audience!”

Ji Lanyin was already furious. When she heard that Gu Xuan and Xie Ling’an had come to see her together, a cold glint flashed through her eyes. She initially intended to have them both driven away, but curiosity dragged her teetering rationality back from the brink.

She had just removed her makeup, and her hair was still slightly damp, making it inconvenient to receive a man. Thus, she rejected Gu Xuan’s request and summoned Xie Ling’an inside.

She wanted to see what this woman was truly up to.

The moment the words left her lips, the crisp chiming of jade pendants sounded from nearby, as though someone were hurrying toward her. The next instant, a lively and charming figure sprang into view.

“Your Highness!”

Xie Ling’an had arrived.

“Your Highness,” Xie Ling’an repeated in her soft, sweet voice. After performing the proper greeting and receiving Ji Lanyin’s casual permission to dispense with the formalities, she walked over and tugged on Ji Lanyin’s wide, gold-woven sleeve. Her glossy black eyes were round and bright, shimmering with a faint mixture of concern and grievance. “You frightened this subject’s daughter half to death just now!”

Ji Lanyin: “…”

Although the Ji family was the imperial clan, its ancestral teachings warned against arrogance and impatience. To demonstrate the imperial family’s benevolence, imperial sons and daughters would always smile pleasantly and tell the children of distinguished families their own age, “There is no need for such formality.”

However, everyone understood that it was merely a polite courtesy. Aside from those with exceptionally close relationships, Xie Ling’an was the first person who had ever dared to take those words seriously.

Ji Lanyin could not help examining her more carefully.

At the same time, Xie Ling’an was also scrutinizing her.

Strictly speaking, this was the first time the two of them had formally met.

My Heart Whispers was a historical romance novel that wrapped itself in a cloak of heartache while tormenting its female lead nearly to death. During a flower-viewing banquet hosted by the female lead, she accidentally fell into the water and was rescued by the male lead. Because of a marriage agreement, she was married to him and thereafter subjected to both emotional and physical abuse.

Naturally, a novel like this could not do without a white moonlight. The woman hated the female lead for occupying the position of principal wife while she herself could only enter the household as a concubine. She incited the male lead to abuse the female lead for more than a hundred chapters, then pretended to be ill and persuaded him to drain the blood from the female lead’s heart to cure her.

Despite there being no basis whatsoever for such a treatment, the male lead actually did it. Although the female lead was a princess of the highest standing, she did not resist. Instead, utterly disheartened, she faked her death.

After the female lead’s supposed death, the male lead began a perfunctory groveling-and-wife-chasing redemption arc. The two eventually reconciled as though nothing had ever happened. After exposing the white moonlight’s false green-tea façade, they tortured her to death. The female lead then devoted all her strength and used her status to support the male lead’s ascent to the throne.

Because the female supporting character shared her name, Xie Ling’an had forced herself to endure the discomfort and finish the entire novel. By the end, she could no longer restrain herself and cursed it furiously.

Then she transmigrated into the story—as that very green-tea supporting character.

Looking shy and bashful, Xie Ling’an did her best to appear calm as she discreetly studied Ji Lanyin. Inwardly, however, she was in an absolute panic.

The highest-ranking official in the Xie family was the original character’s father, Xie Li, who served as Vice Minister of Works. His position was awkwardly stuck in the middle—not particularly high, yet not especially low. In truth, the Xie family’s status was not sufficient for them to associate privately with a princess.

The young woman before her had a luxuriant cascade of black hair. Even without makeup, her features remained clear and striking, while her exceptional beauty possessed an almost otherworldly quality. Her expression was somewhat distant and cold, however, as though covered by a layer of frost and snow. She truly was a rare beauty.

What a pity that such a beautiful woman was the ultimate love-addled fool.

Xie Ling’an could not help lamenting inwardly.

“Qiao’er, serve the tea.”

The silence lasted only a moment before Ji Lanyin withdrew her gaze from Xie Ling’an. At the same time, she unobtrusively pulled her sleeve from Xie Ling’an’s grasp. Xie Ling’an understood the importance of stopping while she was ahead and obediently sat down to drink her tea.

Naturally, everything used in the princess’s estate was of the finest quality. The tea was premium Junshan Silver Needle, decorated with several pale-gold osmanthus blossoms. The fragrance of the tea and the delicate scent of osmanthus mingled upon the tongue, leaving a clean and lingering aftertaste.

After taking only two sips, Xie Ling’an looked at Ji Lanyin again.

It had to be said that although Xie Ling’an’s appearance could not be considered unrivaled in a capital filled with beautiful women, her eyes were as lively and expressive as a young deer’s. Ji Lanyin did not like her, yet when faced with such a soft gaze, she still found herself unable to speak too harshly.

“In the depths of autumn, Second Miss Xie disregarded your own safety to rescue me. That was very thoughtful of you.” Ji Lanyin could not determine what Xie Ling’an was really plotting, but regardless of her reasons, the woman had genuinely saved her. After a moment of contemplation, Ji Lanyin thanked her. “Since Second Miss Xie saved me, you naturally count as my benefactor. A gift of thanks will be sent to your residence afterward. If you have any wish, you may take the next few days to consider it. I owe you a tremendous favor. Once I have recovered, I will personally visit your residence to express my gratitude.”

After speaking, she coughed twice.

Xie Ling’an immediately recognized the dismissal hidden within her courteous tone. She exchanged a few equally polite remarks with Ji Lanyin, then hurriedly took her leave.

Only after Xie Ling’an’s figure disappeared from sight did the courteous smile on Ji Lanyin’s face gradually fade.

The Hundred Flowers Banquet had already dispersed. Before long, Noble Consort Yao hurried over from the imperial palace after receiving the news.

The emperor and empress had spent the past few days praying for blessings at Chengtian Temple on the outskirts of the capital, leaving the responsibility of managing the palace to this exquisitely beautiful noble consort.

A princess falling into the water was no minor incident. Fortunately, Ji Lanyin had not truly come to harm. Even so, afraid that she would be held responsible, Noble Consort Yao had flown into a terrible rage before she even entered the room. She punished several guards for failing in their duties, then replaced her furious expression with a loving smile before approaching Ji Lanyin’s bedside to show concern.

Ji Lanyin’s thoughts were already in complete turmoil, so she naturally had no patience to exchange empty words with her. She pretended to be tired and quickly brushed Noble Consort Yao off.

Noble Consort Yao and the empress were bitter enemies within the imperial harem, so her concern for Ji Lanyin was naturally insincere. Before leaving, she smiled broadly and brought up Gu Xuan.

“The Eldest Princess’s unfortunate fall into the water was truly heartbreaking. On my way here, I happened to encounter a steward from Prince Wu’an’s residence at the entrance. He was delivering wild ginseng for you. Eldest Princess, you must take good care of your health. In the future—”

She smiled suggestively and left the sentence unfinished. Supported by her maid, she departed with graceful, swaying steps.

The look in Ji Lanyin’s eyes grew even colder.

After the noble consort left, Qiao’er studied Ji Lanyin’s expression before quietly asking,

“Eldest Princess… what should we do with the supplements sent by Prince Wu’an’s residence?”

“Throw them out.”

Ji Lanyin was an extreme clean freak.

The dream had felt far too real. Previously, she had merely found Gu Xuan tolerable, but now all she felt toward him was intense disgust and aversion. Even touching something he had sent would make her feel as though her hands had been dirtied. She regarded his gifts with utter disdain.

After a while, once Qiao’er and the other maids had been dismissed, Ji Lanyin gave a coded signal. A figure silently appeared inside the room, and Ji Lanyin lowered her voice to issue her instructions.

“Investigate Xie Ling’an for me.”

“Her family background, her past—everything. Within three days, I want every detail, no matter how small.”