Shoving the terrified child out of the way, Chu Siqing watched the truck hurtling straight toward her, with only one last thought in her mind:
Damn it, I risked my life to do a good deed!
You'd better let me be born into a good life next time!
When Chu Siqing regained consciousness, she felt as though she could barely breathe.
A quiet, frightened voice sounded beside her ear:
"Why isn't the little princess crying yet? If anything happens to this child and His Highness holds us responsible, we're all finished!"
Another, steadier voice immediately rebuked her in a whisper. "What nonsense! Let me try again..."
Smack!
Pain shot through Chu Siqing's bottom. She tried to open her eyes, but simply couldn't.
Then she tried to open her mouth to curse, only for an infant's cries to spill out instead!
"Waaah..."
"Congratulations, Your Highness! It's a little princess!"
"Your Highness, you can't go in!"
Hearing the baby crying inside, Prince Yu, Chu Hongle, who had been pacing outside, lit up with joy.
Ignoring the two maids trying to stop him, he pushed the door open and went straight in.
Prince Yu strode to the bedside. Seeing his consort's half-closed eyes and pale face, his expression immediately darkened.
He swept his gaze over the roomful of maids and midwives and demanded unhappily, "What's wrong with my consort?"
Everyone was too frightened by him to speak.
At last, the midwife holding the swaddled baby gritted her teeth, stepped forward, and mustered the courage to answer, "Your Highness, Her Highness is no longer in any danger. She is merely exhausted from giving birth..."
Han Wanqing, Princess Consort Yu, forced her eyes open and said softly, "Your Highness, I'm all right..."
Prince Yu's expression eased a little, and his gaze finally turned to the child in the midwife's arms.
Seeing his mood improve, the midwife quickly held up the baby, eager to claim credit. "I have yet to congratulate Your Highness on the birth of a little princess!"
The other maids and older servants in the room hurried to seize the opportunity, offering one auspicious greeting after another:
"Congratulations on the birth of your precious daughter, Your Highness!"
"Congratulations on welcoming your darling daughter, Your Highness!"
The corners of Prince Yu's mouth lifted. Though he wanted to take his daughter into his arms immediately and have a good look at her, he maintained his composure. "How should I hold the baby?"
The midwife hurried to demonstrate for Prince Yu herself.
When she finished, she didn't forget to add a few flattering words. "Your Highness truly has a loving father's heart. The little princess is blessed indeed."
Prince Yu paid close attention. Though his movements were still awkward, he soon grasped the essentials.
He carefully took his daughter, whose eyes had yet to open, from the midwife and gave a light cough. "My consort and daughter are both safe, and I am most pleased. Each of you may collect a reward from the steward later."
Everyone in the room beamed at his words, and those with no further duties withdrew.
Once the outsiders were gone, Prince Yu could no longer keep up his stern expression.
He plopped into the armchair beside his consort's bed and began studying the daughter in his arms.
Looking at the tiny baby in wonder, Chu Hongle grinned foolishly at Han Wanqing as she lay in bed. "Wanqing, look how wrinkly she is! She looks just like a monkey!"
Han Wanqing's eyes curved with her smile. "All newborn babies look like that... Your Highness, have you chosen a name for our daughter?"
Chu Hongle blurted out, "I have! Our daughter's name is Siqing!"
Then, a little embarrassed, he turned his head and coughed. "Ahem, yes, Chu Siqing!"
Han Wanqing blinked. Once she understood the meaning of the name-thinking of his beloved-her face instantly flushed.
Though she was delighted that her husband had expressed his affection so openly, anyone else who heard that name would surely tease her...
Chu Siqing vaguely heard someone calling her name.
She struggled to open her eyes a sliver and saw a handsome face looming close, grinning foolishly at her.
Who's this? Wasn't I hit by a truck...?
She recalled the words she had dimly heard earlier: "His Highness," "Her Highness," and "little princess."
A suspicion took shape in Chu Siqing's mind. She had transmigrated into a prince's daughter!
Sure, she had wanted to be born into a good life, but getting by in ancient times was no easy feat!
Feeling movement in his arms, Chu Hongle looked down and hurriedly brought the baby over to Han Wanqing, exclaiming in delight, "Look! Siqing is looking at me!"
Han Wanqing glanced at her daughter, and a smile lifted the corners of her lips too.
Looking at the beautiful face before her, whose pallor did nothing to diminish its delicate loveliness, Chu Siqing was dumbstruck.
Are these my parents in this life?
"By the way, Wanqing, what exactly happened today? Why did you suddenly go into labor?"
Han Wanqing knitted her brows as she recalled what had happened. "The weather was lovely this afternoon, so I wanted to take a walk in the courtyard. A dog suddenly darted out from somewhere, and it frightened me, so..."
At those words, Chu Siqing's heart gave a sudden, ominous lurch.
These names, this plot-why did they sound so much like the opening of a novel she had read?
At the time, she had even grumbled about the cannon fodder who died young having the same name as her.
Thinking of the tragic fate awaiting her, Chu Siqing wanted to burst into tears!
[Congratulations, host, on triggering a plot point. Binding Gossip System...]
Huh? Who's talking? A system? Could this be my cheat?
Hearing the mechanical electronic voice in her head, Chu Siqing was instantly ecstatic! She knew good deeds would be rewarded!
System? System? According to the book, I'm about to croak. Do you have any way to save me?
[System loading complete...]
Chu Siqing waited for a while, but the thing in her head calling itself a system gave no answer.
Growing anxious, she hurriedly asked again, System! What exactly can you do?
System: [Uh... this system is the Gossip System. As the name suggests, I collect all kinds of little-known rumors...]
Chu Siqing understood at once.
This system was nothing but a chicken rib-too meager to be useful, too much of a pity to throw away!
Chu Siqing: I may love gossip, but I'm about to lose my life! What's the point of munching on gossip now?!
System: [Since you know the plot, host, can't you just avoid the point where you die?]
Chu Siqing: I never even finished the book! And how am I supposed to remember all those details clearly?!
Chu Siqing was filled with regret. If she had known she would transmigrate into the book, she would have memorized the whole thing!
After hearing Han Wanqing's account, Chu Hongle said solemnly, "That dog is already dead, but rest assured, Wanqing. I will get to the bottom of this!"
Han Wanqing nodded and said to Chu Hongle, "Your Highness, it's time for Siqing to nurse. Let Wet Nurse Zhou take her..."
Having just been dismissed as useless by Chu Siqing, the system was fretting over having no opportunity to show its worth.
Hearing that its host was about to be fed by a wet nurse, it immediately dug up a juicy tidbit:
[Host, host, stop sleeping! That Wet Nurse Zhou hasn't bathed in half a month! The grime on her body has crusted into a thick layer!]
At the system's sudden revelation, the corner of Chu Siqing's mouth twitched.
Thinking of having to spend every day with the filthy Wet Nurse Zhou from now on, she immediately opened her mouth in protest. "Waaah..."
Mother! Mother! I don't want Wet Nurse Zhou to feed me! She doesn't bathe! She's filthy! Aaaah!
Chu Hongle and Han Wanqing, who had been talking, both froze, their eyes widening.
Before you continue