Chapter One: Reborn as the Villainous Supporting Actress

“Miss, are you all right?”

A voice tinged with tears rang in Shen Yi’s ears.

Shen Yi opened her eyes weakly. Countless memories surged into her mind, flashing by like film reels, leaving her in agony.

She had once been an ordinary office worker in the twenty-first century. On her way to attend the launch event for Luo Xi’s new bestseller, “The Counterfeit Prince,” she was caught in a car accident and woke to find herself inside the very book.

The tearful girl asking if she was okay was her maid, Lyu’er.

Now, after being transported into the novel, she had become the adopted sister of Jiang Huaijin, the current Regent and the mighty God of War of the Dayu Dynasty—a character notorious in the story as a vicious supporting role.

In the book, Xiao Huaijin always regarded the original Shen Yi as his adopted sister. But she, in secret, swore she would marry no one but him and always considered herself the true mistress of the prince’s household.

That was until Xiao Huaijin met Jiang Nansheng—a brilliant healer and, like Shen Yi now, a woman transmigrated from another world, formerly a medical PhD. Jiang Nansheng cured his chronic illness.

Xiao Huaijin, who had once been told he had only three years to live, was fully restored to health.

During the treatment, the two fell in love with each other.

Just yesterday, Xiao Huaijin had married Jiang Nansheng, making her Princess Consort of the War Prince’s household.

The original Shen Yi, infatuated with Xiao Huaijin, had planned to embarrass Jiang Nansheng at the wedding banquet, hoping to make her a laughingstock among the guests.

But Jiang Nansheng, as if foreseeing everything, had anticipated her tricks, leaving Shen Yi humiliated instead.

This, in turn, greatly displeased Xiao Huaijin.

If not for the fact that her brother was a general under Jiang Huaijin’s command and, ten years ago at the Battle of Yandang Pass, had saved Jiang Huaijin with his own life and entrusted his sister to the regent’s care, things would have turned out very differently.

Anyone else who dared lay a finger on Jiang Nansheng would have faced more than just house arrest—they would be dead by now.

Before Shen Yi could speak, Lyu’er fell to her knees, sobbing.

“Miss, we still have a long life ahead! Even though Jiang Nansheng is now Princess Consort, she’s just a girl raised in the countryside—how could she ever compare to you? Just apologize to His Highness. For the sake of past affection, he’ll surely forgive you.”

Shen Yi frowned. Apologize to Xiao Huaijin?

Yes, in the original novel, it was mentioned that if she remained unrepentant, Jiang Huaijin planned to send her back to her hometown in Huainan with some travel money and forbid her from ever returning to the capital.

Shen Yi recalled Jiang Huaijin’s face: strikingly handsome and commanding an authority that set him apart from all others.

Yet, in the book’s ending, a year later, he was accused of treason and sentenced to beheading.

And it was she who reported him.

Wait, what was she feeling so smug about?

If Xiao Huaijin was convicted of treason, she, as his adopted sister, would be implicated as well.

Not that he was falsely accused—he truly intended to rebel and seize the throne.

No, she had to find a way to leave the War Prince’s household as soon as possible.

Otherwise, when disaster struck, the consequences would not be a joke.

Or perhaps, for now, she should just lower her head and admit her fault?

Having thought it through, Shen Yi said, “Lyu’er, go and ask Brother Xiao to come. Tell him I realize my mistake and dare not repeat it!”

Hearing her mistress finally relent, Lyu’er breathed a sigh of relief.

She had feared her mistress would remain stubborn to the end.

After all, fortunes change—there’s always time for a young woman to have her revenge.

Once Lyu’er had left, Shen Yi thought of Xiao Huaijin. He’d always treated the original her well and was certainly good-looking, but alas, she was cast as the villainess, and the hero and heroine were fated to be together.

When the time came for the household to be raided and the family exterminated, she hoped she wouldn’t be caught up in it.

Wait, that didn’t seem right. Xiao Huaijin was of royal blood, too.

Raiding the house was one thing, but exterminating the family—wouldn’t that include the emperor himself?

For now, she should focus on surviving in this world.

Softly, Shen Yi called, “System, system, come out!”

But nothing happened.

She reached out, as if to summon a panel—but there was nothing.

What was going on?

Wasn’t a system and a cheat panel supposed to come with transmigration?

She’d been a regular office worker in her past life. In this world ruled by imperial power, without a golden finger, could she even survive a single chapter?

Shen Yi sighed helplessly. It seemed that even after transmigration, a loser would remain a loser.

All she wanted now was to live well in this new world.

If Jiang Huaijin ever rebelled, she certainly wouldn’t be the one to report him. The original was an ingrate—she was not.

Regardless of his success or failure, she must stay away.

No matter how handsome he was, she wasn’t about to be buried with him.

Besides, even if he succeeded, she had gone through twelve years of compulsory education and four years of university. She couldn’t stand the thought of sharing a toothbrush with so many men.

A man who doesn’t cherish himself is like rotten cabbage.

While Shen Yi’s mind wandered, Lyu’er returned.

After entering the room, Lyu’er looked at Shen Yi, seemingly hesitant to speak.

As the original’s loyal lackey, Lyu’er was truly devoted. She wasn’t bad at heart but had picked up a few bad habits from her mistress.

Today’s behavior was certainly unexpected.

Shen Yi asked, “What’s wrong?”

Lyu’er stammered, “Miss, the Princess Consort... Jiang Nansheng wants you to go to the garden. I heard from the servants that she intends to set the rules for you!”

Hearing this, Shen Yi almost found it amusing.

The original had always been harsh to the servants, except for Lyu’er—quick to beat or scold.

Most importantly, none dared complain to Xiao Huaijin.

For in front of Xiao Huaijin, the original always played the innocent flower.

Out of guilt for his late subordinate, Xiao Huaijin indulged her every whim, never suspecting a thing.

She had truly hidden her true nature well, presenting two entirely different faces to her adoptive brother and the servants.

Lyu’er could attest to this.

Thus, the servants were eager for Jiang Nansheng to put Shen Yi in her place.

Although she was under house arrest, Jiang Nansheng was now the rightful mistress of the household.

If she refused to go when summoned, and Xiao Huaijin heard of it, he would surely, out of affection for his wife, punish Shen Yi again.

After all, between a wife and an adopted sister, there would always be a side to take.

They say a man forgets his sister once he has a wife—it’s no mere saying.

Especially when the sister is not even his by blood.

Shen Yi rose and adjusted the pearl hairpin on her head.

“Let’s go see what rules she intends to set for me.”

Lyu’er watched her mistress, noticing she seemed both changed and unchanged.

But whatever her mistress became, she would remain her loyal follower.

Before being sold into the household, Lyu’er’s mother had clearly instructed her: a loyal servant does not serve two masters—unless one is male, and one is female.

Lyu’er clenched her fists, her cheeks flushing as if preparing for battle.