Chapter 2: My Cheap Husband, Wei Chengyi!

“Greetings, Your Highness!”

*Creak!*

The synchronized greetings of the servants suddenly rang out from outside. The tightly closed door was slowly pushed open from the outside. As the maids and elderly servants made a move to enter, a cold, magnetic voice stopped them: “Stay outside.”

“...Yes.”

The group of maids and servants seemed somewhat hesitant, yet they had no choice but to obey.

A short while later, a tall man pushed a wheelchair into the study. Seated in the wheelchair was a man in his early twenties, dressed in ink-colored brocade. He possessed sword-like eyebrows that reached his temples, eyes like stars, and a high bridge to his nose. His sexy, thin lips were so enticing one could hardly resist lunging forward to bite them. He was undeniably handsome, complemented by an aura of cold, ethereal detachment that seemed to repel anyone from a thousand miles away, much like a high-seated immortal. It was impossible to look away.

The only flaw was that although he was tall, his frame appeared somewhat thin. His skin possessed an unnatural pallor, and his lips, which should have been crimson, bore an eerie purple tint—a look that suggested a short lifespan.

Was this Wei Chengyi?

Raising an eyebrow, Shen Xiangwan stared at him intently. In the original novel, he had followed his father and elder brother to the battlefield at only fourteen. At fifteen, he led eight hundred elite cavalry to circle behind the enemy and burn their grain supplies, forcing a retreat and making a massive contribution to resisting the invasion. After his father and brother fell in battle, he inherited the title and military power at the age of twenty. Relying on his fierce strength, he led his army to firmly hold the border, preventing the enemy from stepping a single foot onto the territory. He was hailed as the new generation's God of War for the Tianqi Dynasty.

Unfortunately, a few months ago, he was suddenly struck by a potent poison. Even after exhausting all the resources of the Prince's Mansion, they could only barely keep him alive. His body had collapsed as a result; he even found walking difficult and had to endure the periodic agony of the toxin's erosion.

For a man who had dedicated almost his entire life of just over twenty years to protecting the country, the dog emperor could not tolerate him. He wasn't even given the chance to consummate his marriage; on his wedding night, he was summoned to the Imperial Palace, where his martial arts and limbs were crippled. The very next morning, his entire household was seized and exiled.

Since ancient times, the "Peaceful General" is a title fixed by fate—one never sees a general actually enjoying peace!

When she was reading the book, Shen Xiangwan had felt nothing but contempt for the dog emperor's maneuvers, thinking Wei Chengyi was treated far too unjustly. She never expected that she would actually transmigrate into the book, and even become his cheap husband.

"Hmm?"

While she was sizing him up, he was also sizing her up. Having already reached the bedside, Wei Chengyi frowned almost imperceptibly. At this time, shouldn't she still be in a deep sleep?

"You are not Shen Xiangyue."

The cold, magnetic voice suddenly rang out. Wei Chengyi's deep eyes locked onto her without blinking. He spoke in a statement rather than a question, and he clearly knew she had been framed by Shen Xiangyue.

"As you can see, I am indeed not."

Snapping back to her senses, Shen Xiangwan's attitude was blunt. Her gaze swept past him to the area outside the room: "I am Shen Xiangwan, the second young lady of the Prime Minister's residence who was recently brought back. I also want to know why I woke up here out of the blue."

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

Several heavy objects hitting the ground sounded timely from outside. Wei Chengyi gave a faint, sidelong glance before refocusing his gaze on her: "Is that so?"

In his memory, she didn't seem like this.

To be precise, the current her was like a completely different person from the one in his memory; there was absolutely nothing in common.

Wei Chengyi stared at her with his deep, dark eyes. No one knew what he was thinking. Logically, upon hearing that his bride had been swapped, he should have been enraged, yet he was unnervingly calm—calm to the point of being eerie!

"Your Highness..."

"Since you are the one who has entered this mansion, then you are my Princess."

As time passed slowly, just as Shen Xiangwan was preparing to say something, Wei Chengyi spoke, accepting the fact that his Princess had been swapped with eerie composure.

"Huh?"

Shen Xiangwan was momentarily stunned. He just accepted it like that? This was clearly a scheme against them, yet he accepted it far too calmly.

"Since you are already my Princess, as long as you do not cause trouble, I will ensure your safety."

It wasn't that he hadn't noticed her reaction; Wei Chengyi continued regardless. No matter why she was different from his memory, as long as she was still Shen Xiangwan, it was fine.

"Oh?"

Ensure her safety... huh?

With a slight twitch of her brow, Shen Xiangwan gazed deeply into those eyes that seemed to hold the stars and the universe. A slow curve formed at the corner of her lips. In both her past and present lives, this was the first time someone had solemnly promised to protect her. Although the man would soon be targeted by the dog emperor and would be unable to protect her at all, her heart still felt a slight ripple of emotion.

"If the Princess has no other business, she should rest early..."

"Your Highness, an imperial decree! The Emperor commands you to enter the palace immediately."

Just as Wei Chengyi was about to leave, a man in his thirties or forties ran in. Upon hearing his words, not only Shen Xiangwan, but even Wei Chengyi's eyes flickered.

"Mhm."

With a noncommittal nod, Wei Chengyi made a move to depart.

"Wait."

Shen Xiangwan suddenly called out to him. Meeting their bewildered gazes, she ignored the blatant rejection on his face and whispered into his ear: "Summoning you on your wedding night... the dog emperor likely has ill intentions. Beware of a trap."

"What?"

Hearing this, Wei Chengyi's pupils contracted. He moved to speak immediately, but Shen Xiangwan had already pulled away, patting his shoulder and saying boisterously, "Your Highness, take care of your health."

"Mhm."

His intense emotions instantly settled back into calm. Wei Chengyi looked at her once more before signaling his subordinate to push him away. Before leaving, he coldly ordered the people of the mansion to deal with the maids and servants that came with Shen Xiangwan's dowry. Without them acting as cover, how could Shen Xiangwan have replaced the bride so inconspicuously? Since they were not loyal to her, there was no need to keep them.

To this, Shen Xiangwan expressed no objection; she couldn't afford the servants Shen Xiangyue had so meticulously selected for her anyway.

[End of Chapter]