The Transmigrated Cannon Fodder Alpha: She's So Sweet Now! - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: I’ve Traveled!

“Ugh…”

Jiang Ningzhi’s expression froze. She rubbed her heavy, groggy head, and as she took in the classical, antique surroundings, her stalled brain began to function again.

“I was clearly… working overtime…”

She remembered being in a skyscraper, sitting on that custom sofa she’d recently bought for a high price, admiring the city lights. The aroma of coffee still seemed to linger at the tip of her nose, yet when she opened her eyes again, the scene had completely changed.

Jiang Ningzhi looked at the bed she was lying on with bewilderment, glancing sideways at everything within her sight.

“Where… is this?”

Just as she was enduring a headache and trying to think, a “ding” sounded, followed by a mechanical female voice speaking in her mind.

“Hello, Host. I am an employee of the Space-Time Travel Bureau, World Inspection Branch. My number is 051.”

The voice was mechanical and cold. Its sudden appearance only made Jiang Ningzhi’s head hurt more. Before she could respond, the voice continued.

051: “Host, you died at 19:35:07 on April 21, 2023. The world you are currently in is an ancient ABO romance novel titled The Crown Princess Ran Away with a Baby Again.”

At this point, 051’s mechanical voice paused, and a flood of information regarding the novel appeared in Jiang Ningzhi’s mind.

After organizing the messy information, Jiang Ningzhi learned that the book revolved around the male lead, Jiang Ningjin, and the female lead, Chi Luoyao.

In this world’s setting, humans are divided into six categories based on primary and secondary genders: male Qianyuan (Alpha), female Qianyuan, male Kunze (Omega), female Kunze, male Zhongyong (Beta), and female Zhongyong.

Qianyuan and Kunze possess two sets of gender characteristics and have scent glands on the back of their necks capable of producing “Information Incense” (Pheromones). Zhongyong only have one set of gender characteristics and lack these scent glands.

“So, in this place, girls can marry girls too.”

Jiang Ningzhi sighed with emotion while absorbing the info. In her previous world, although same-sex partners existed, her country had not yet recognized same-sex marriage. Though she had never been in a relationship, she had always known her orientation was toward women. This setting made her feel a slight sense of happiness.

However, as she continued browsing the information, she became increasingly speechless.

This was a “melodramatic” novel filled with tropes like forced love, amnesia, running away with a child, and various kidnappings and misunderstandings.

The male lead was the Third Prince of the Great Jin Dynasty. The female lead was originally married to the Seventh Imperial Daughter by imperial decree. After the wedding, the female lead met the male lead at a palace banquet. With just one glance, the male lead fell in love, hounded the sickly Seventh Imperial Daughter to death, and used various means to snatch the female lead away to be his Crown Princess.

And what about Jiang Ningzhi?

“I… I’m just a… cannon fodder who doesn’t even last two chapters!?”

Thinking about the Seventh Imperial Daughter who shared her name, Jiang Ningzhi felt like collapsing. She had just accepted her sudden death and transmigration, only to face a “scripted death” that might happen in less than two days!

051: “Host, do not panic. As long as you work hard to avoid the death nodes in the plot, you can definitely live well!”

051’s voice rang out again, but this time it was no longer mechanical and cold. It carried a lively emotion, sounding like a child’s “doll voice.”

“So, is there a reward for completing tasks, or some kind of ‘cheat’ or golden finger that comes with the system?”

Though her face remained expressionless, Jiang Ningzhi asked expectantly in her heart. She didn’t usually read novels, but she knew that transmigration stories usually had such settings.

051: “Host, your only task in this book is to try your best to survive. Based on the duration of your survival, you will earn points at a ratio of 1 day : 10 points, which can be used to exchange for items in the System Mall.”

“So, for me, this is essentially a survival game.”

Jiang Ningzhi nodded. She didn’t mind the lack of an overpowered “cheat.” In her previous life, she was an orphan who built a career from nothing; she only slightly regretted the massive wealth she had accumulated but never got to enjoy.

“Where is the plot now? And let me see the System Mall.”

051: “Tomorrow is your wedding day with the female lead, Chi Luoyao. Since you just arrived, you have only the 100 initial points gifted by the system. Your current authority only allows you to open the Level 1 Exchange Mall.”

As 051 finished speaking, a transparent panel appeared before Jiang Ningzhi. The top read “Level 1 Exchange Mall,” and below were various items:

“Truth Powder: 30 points”

“Body Strengthening Pill: 50 points”

“Dreamweaver Saliva: 99 points” …

The dazzling array of items and their descriptions made Jiang Ningzhi a bit dizzy, but she was satisfied. The Level 1 mall seemed quite comprehensive. However, she didn’t plan to spend points recklessly, as she only had the initial 100.

“According to the original plot, the original host was hounded to death by the male lead a few days after the wedding…”

Jiang Ningzhi sat up while talking to 051 in her heart. As she moved, she felt extremely weak. It seemed she really was stuck in a “sickly” body.

051: “Yes, Host. In seven days, you will encounter the first ‘Death Node.’ Successfully surviving it will grant a bonus point reward.”

“Can you tell me the specific plot details?”

Surviving was her priority; bonus points were useless if she was dead.

051: “In the original book, after the male lead set his sights on the female lead, he forcibly defiled her right in front of the Seventh Imperial Daughter. This caused the Seventh Imperial Daughter to cough up blood and die from extreme rage.”

“What kind of garbage plot is this? The male lead isn’t even the Crown Prince yet, but he can defile his sister’s wife and kill his sister without any consequences?”

051: “There’s no helping it. This is a romance novel; the logic of the plot serves only the emotional development between the leads.”

“……”

Jiang Ningzhi felt a lump in her throat. She wanted to complain more but knew it was useless. The priority was to understand her current situation and see if there was any help available to survive seven days from now.

She walked a few steps in the room. Based on the quality of the furnishings, although the original host was sickly, she was still an Imperial Daughter with a status that matched her title. It seemed she wasn’t unfavored.

In this novel’s setting, Qianyuan—both male and female—could inherit families, become officials, or lead farming and commerce. Occasionally, outstanding Zhongyong would take roles, while Kunze were mostly responsible for offspring and managing internal affairs. This was determined by innate ability; Qianyuan far surpassed the others in intelligence and physical stamina.

As a Qianyuan, the original host’s weakness was rare. Because she was a cannon fodder who only appeared for two chapters, many details of the setting were incomplete. Jiang Ningzhi decided to go out and investigate.

As soon as she pushed open the door, a maid bowed in greeting.

“Mm.”

Jiang Ningzhi nodded slightly. She didn’t dare speak much, fearing she would expose that the “core” of the body had changed.

The maid on the left spoke: “Has Your Highness rested enough? Would you like to go to the garden for some fresh air?”

“Yes, lead the way.”

Jiang Ningzhi thought for a moment. Since she didn’t know where to go, she might as well familiarize herself with the layout. The maid looked a bit confused but didn’t say anything. She bowed respectfully: “Please follow me, Your Highness.”

Jiang Ningzhi followed the maid slowly. Through conversation, she discovered the maid was named Qianrui, and the other one at the door was Huier. They were both personal attendants of the original host. She also learned that princes and imperial daughters move out of the palace to their own estates after reaching adulthood and “differentiating” at sixteen. The original host was now twenty and had been in her own manor for four years.

Qianrui felt the Seventh Imperial Daughter was strange today. She spoke much more than usual and even tested her knowledge of the manor. Was she dissatisfied and looking to replace her attendants?

While Qianrui was terrifying herself with her imagination, Jiang Ningzhi was asking 051 about the female lead, since they were to be married tomorrow.

051: “The female lead is twenty-three this year. She’s considered to have married late for a Kunze, mainly because her father is the only Prince with a different surname in the Great Jin Dynasty, Chi Sheng. Ordinary people cannot dictate her marriage.”

“So this marriage by imperial decree was the idea of my ‘cheap’ Mother Empress?” Jiang Ningzhi asked in her heart as she looked at the red silks and “Double Happiness” decorations being put up.

051: “Although the Empress Dowager issued the decree, it was actually the female lead herself who requested it from the Empress.”

“She requested it herself? Did she have feelings for the original host? Did they have any history?”

051: “Uh… I cannot answer that, Host. The original book didn’t mention this part of the plot.”

“……”

Jiang Ningzhi gained a deeper realization of her status as a cannon fodder. This meant there were many unknown variables. She didn’t know if her meeting with the female lead tomorrow would expose her.

Thinking this, she looked at the lead maid, Qianrui, and decided to ask with a softened expression and a smile.

“Qianrui, do you… know much about County Princess Luoyao?”

Her brain stalled for a second as she tried to remember how to address the lead. Qianrui stopped and bowed her head to answer.

Qianrui: “Replying to Your Highness, I have never met the County Princess. However, the County Princess has a reputation for virtue and beauty. All the noble ladies in the capital say she is a formidable Kunze.”

“Oh? I didn’t know my future wife was such a formidable figure.”

Qianrui couldn’t help but steal a glance at Jiang Ningzhi. She thought the Highness was usually cold and uninterested in everything, even accepting the marriage decree with indifference. Perhaps because the wedding was tomorrow, she had suddenly developed an interest in her future wife?

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