"Good heavens! Where am I?"
I, Su Mingyue, a modern medical researcher specializing in new pharmaceuticals, have actually... transmigrated?!
The carved beams, the painted pillars, this antique-style room, and the elaborate, ornate traditional wedding gown I am wearing—everything screams the truth: I have transmigrated! And not just a simple transmigration, but a soul-transmigration at that!
I remember studying a mysterious bead at the time—a perfectly transparent sphere with iridescent light swirling within it; it was breathtakingly beautiful. I was staring at it, completely enthralled, when suddenly everything went black, and I lost all consciousness. When I woke up, I was in this godforsaken place!
"Consort, you’re awake! Oh, thank goodness!"
A girl dressed in a maid’s outfit rushed over, her face full of surprise. She grabbed my hand, her eyes brimming with tears.
Consort?
I was completely stunned, having no idea what was going on.
"Shen... Shen Li?" I tentatively called out a name. It had popped into my mind, feeling as if it had belonged there all along.
Shen Li nodded vigorously, excitedly saying, "It’s me, Consort! You terrified me; you’ve been unconscious for an entire day!"
A day? I’d been out for a whole day?
I struggled to prop myself up against the headboard and looked around. The room was large and exquisite, permeated with the atmosphere of ancient times.
Wait... Consort? I suddenly realized that my current identity must be no simple matter.
"Shen Li, what is the situation? Who am I? Where is this?" I fired off a series of questions, desperate to understand my current circumstances.
Shen Li was taken aback, as if she hadn't expected such questions, but she quickly replied, "You are the secondary consort of the Heir of Zhenguo, Lu Zhao. This is the Heir's Estate."
Heir of Zhenguo? Secondary consort?
My head buzzed. How could this plot sound so clichéd?
"A secondary consort... and to the Heir of Zhenguo at that?" I muttered to myself, panic beginning to set in.
"Consort, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Shen Li asked with concern.
I took a deep breath, trying hard to calm myself down. No, I cannot panic. I am a modern woman who has seen the world; I can handle this minor setback!
"Shen Li, tell me everything—every single detail," I said, keeping my voice as steady as possible.
Not daring to delay, Shen Li told me everything that had happened since I fell unconscious and explained my current identity in full.
After hearing her account, I felt terrible. I had actually transmigrated into an ancient novel titled *Phoenix Prisoner* and become the... substitute secondary consort of the Heir of Zhenguo, Lu Zhao!
What? A substitute? And a secondary consort?! This plot was too dramatic!
In short, my current identity was that of a "cannon fodder" character married into the estate simply because I resembled the "white moonlight" whom His Highness the Heir longed for. Once discovered as a mere substitute, my fate would be absolutely miserable!
Thinking of this, I felt the pressure mounting. This was a hellish starting point! Could it be that after finally transmigrating from the modern era, I was about to meet my end here?
No! I cannot sit here and wait for death! I must find a way to survive!
"Shen Li, where is... His Highness the Heir?" I asked, calculating how to handle the situation.
"His Highness... he should be in the study," Shen Li said hesitantly, seemingly reluctant for me to seek out Lu Zhao.
It seemed that relying on the Heir to turn my life around was entirely out of the question. I had to rely on myself!
Right—the bead!
I suddenly remembered the mysterious bead that caused my transmigration. Could it also send me back? I hurriedly raised my hands, looking for it, only to find them empty.
Where was the bead? I scrambled to search myself and finally felt a cold, hard object near my collar.
That was it!
I carefully took it out. It was still emitting a faint light, beautiful and mysterious. I took a deep breath, gripped the bead tightly, and muttered to myself, "Back! I want to go back!"
However, nothing happened. I refused to give up and tried again, but there was still no reaction. Could it be... that the bead only allowed for one-way travel?
I felt a touch of despair. Was I truly to be trapped here, a disposable substitute who could meet her end at any moment?
I didn't believe it!
I gripped the bead again, concentrating, trying to establish some sort of connection. Suddenly, I felt a sharp, stabbing pain in my head, as if something were about to explode from within.
"Ah!" I couldn't help but cry out in pain, and the bead fell to the floor.
"Consort! What’s wrong?" Shen Li was startled by my scream and rushed over to support me.
I clutched my head, groaning in agony. My mind felt like a chaotic mess, and I felt as if something was slipping away. It took a long while for the pain to subside.
I leaned against the headboard, weak and gasping for air, feeling as though I had lost something vital.
"Consort, are you alright? I’ll go fetch the royal physician at once!" Shen Li said anxiously.
"No need," I waved my hand, signaling her not to worry.
I struggled to recall what had just happened. I felt like... I had lost a segment of my memory! I couldn't remember exactly what was gone, but I knew it was something very important.
This bead... it could actually cause memory loss!
I was filled with shock and unease. What exactly was this bead? Why did it bring me here? And why did it make me lose my memory? Everything was shrouded in mystery.
"Consort, you don't look well. Let me bring you some soothing tea," Shen Li said, bringing over a cup.
I took the cup and managed a forced smile. "I'm fine, just... a bit of a headache."
I didn't want Shen Li to know about my transmigration, and even less about my memory loss. I had to figure this all out on my own.
Shen Li carefully helped me drink the tea, tucked me back into bed, and said softly, "Please rest, Consort. I will be guarding just outside."
I nodded and closed my eyes, feigning sleep. Once she left, I snapped my eyes open and sat up. I picked up the Time-Space Shuttle Bead from the floor and gripped it tightly.
This bead was my only hope. I had to uncover its secrets, find a way to return to the modern era, and... survive!
I sat by the bed, looking at the Time-Space Shuttle Bead in my hand. Where would it take me next? I stared at the damned thing; the more I looked, the more it felt like a ticking time bomb. It had thrown me from the familiar modern world into this godforsaken place and even robbed me of my memories. It was worse than a scumbag!
I swore to myself: I would survive in this cutthroat ancient world. I wouldn't just survive; I would live brilliantly!
A substitute? Fine. I’ll make this a game of wits!
I refuse to believe that with the intelligence of Su Mingyue, I cannot handle this lousy plot!
As for this bead... humph, one day, I will make you send me back. And when I do, I will hang you up in the lab and study you inside and out, night and day, just to see if you dare to flicker at me again!
I refuse to believe I can't tame you!
Sigh... I wonder if this thing can still take me back. I have to find a way to test it...