Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 100

Jiang Si left the oasis, heading east, completely the opposite direction from Mowan Ci.

After about half an hour, she entered a courtyard, poured the two buckets of water she had fetched into the water vat, and was about to return to the oasis when a strange, hoarse voice, like that of an old woman, came from inside the house: “Slacking off again?”

Jiang Si was no stranger to this voice. She chuckled and replied, “Just dozed off for a bit. It won’t delay anything.”

Water was scarce in the desert, and so were its inhabitants. Every day was a struggle for survival. Early in the morning, Jiang Si had to fetch two buckets of water for daily use, and before evening, she had to fetch two more.

This person was extremely particular about cleanliness and insisted on bathing daily.

Since Jiang Si was the one doing all the fetching, she naturally prepared bathwater for herself as well. As for slacking off…

She didn’t think it was a big deal.

And indeed, the person inside said nothing more.

Jiang Si prepared a simple dinner and placed it by the window.

In the six months they had lived together, Jiang Si had never seen this person’s face. But she knew the voice didn’t match the person’s age, she likely wasn’t as old as she sounded, perhaps even younger than Jiang Si herself, around twenty years old.

Once, by chance, she had caught a glimpse of the person’s hand when reaching out to take dinner.

It was quite fair and delicate.

She didn’t know this person’s true identity, but in the end, she had saved her life. So Jiang Si saw no reason to pry. When the time came for her to know, she would know. If not, then so be it.

After all, she had agreed to this person’s request.

Once she left the desert, the Western Frontier King would not live.

But truthfully, even without the request, Jiang Si would have done it anyway. After all, the misfortunes she had suffered were inextricably linked to the Western Frontier King.

And to the people around him.

Ever since that night raid, someone had been delivering wine to her every day especially when she was in Shangjing.

Even before the battle, someone had handed her wine.

She had promised Lan Shao to drink less, but that promise remained unfulfilled. She had also only halfway kept her word about bringing Lan Yue over.

Fortunately, she hadn’t entirely failed her. Lan Yue had been sent to Qiu Han in Xingcheng, safe and sound.

As for Jiang Si herself, she had been on horseback in the midst of battle, supposed to be fighting valiantly. Yet, while still fully conscious, she had somehow ended up encircled by the Western Frontier army. Quick thinking had saved her life, but she had fallen at the edge of the desert.

When she woke again, she was in this courtyard, saved by a person shrouded in black cloth.

She was told that the poison she had been given was a toxin unique to the Western Frontier royalty. At first, it caused no discomfort in fact, it even eased the fatigue of the day. But over time, its dangers became apparent.

As Jiang Si listened, she began to recall.

It was true. By the time the war was approaching, she had even felt that something was off if she didn’t drink a cup a day.

She had been addicted!

The method to break the addiction, as well as the treatment for her various injuries, had all been arranged by this person though the medicine was different from Lan Shao’s.

There was no helping it. Having drifted to this state, encountering someone who could save her was nothing short of a miracle. Though there were conditions, Jiang Si was deeply grateful.

“Old Physician, would you like some supper?”

After bathing, Jiang Si didn’t return to her room. Instead, she roasted the wild turkey she had caught earlier in the day in the courtyard. The sizzling, fragrant aroma was irresistible, she refused to believe anyone could resist it.

Sure enough, before half a moment had passed, a voice came from inside: “Leave it by the window.”

“Alright then, answer me one question, how long until I can leave this place?”

For miles around, it was nearly impossible to find another soul. Apart from the young Qian Yuan who appeared monthly to exchange supplies, she had scarcely seen another living soul. When she tried to send messages out, the young Qian Yuan cited rules, saying he only bartered goods.

She wanted to leave because she knew Su Xun, Ye Chan, and the others must be frantic with worry. Even Lan Shao had likely found out long ago and was searching everywhere for her.

Perhaps Mowan Cii…

Would also be pleased finally getting her wish.

“Six months.”

“In another six months, you can leave this place.”

The hoarse voice interrupted Jiang Si’s thoughts. She turned to look, gathering the clean plates as she asked, “Can’t it be sooner?”

“It can, if you’re not afraid. You could leave right now.”

Of course Jiang Si was afraid! Pouting, she dropped the subject of departure and instead asked if the other still wanted to eat.

“I’ll eat. Chicken leg.”

Concise and to the point, demanding the best cut of meat.

And if Jiang Si remembered correctly, she’d already given her one chicken leg earlier!

Never mind. The treatment wasn’t over yet no point being stubborn.

She carved off the chicken leg and handed it through the window, then began eating her own two chicken wings with relish. Finishing her meal, she noticed a medicine bundle placed outside the window.

Wiping her hands, Jiang Si picked it up.

Without waiting for any instructions from inside, she said matter-of-factly, “Must boil it thoroughly, until it’s completely broken down. I know.”

This medicine was specifically for Jiang Si’s treatment, she had no idea what was in it. During her most severe injuries, she remembered being practically marinated in this medicinal bath daily. Only when she gradually regained consciousness and mobility did it become every other day. Now it was down to once every five days. Practice makes perfect Jiang Si could now prepare her own medicinal baths, timing them perfectly.

“After five more five-day cycles, ten more ten-day cycles, you can leave.”

“Did you calculate that right? That doesn’t add up to half a year.”

“Close enough.”

The medicine provider had the final say. Jiang Si didn’t argue further, taking the bundle to the adjacent room.

She needed proper sleep, tomorrow meant another five-hour soak!

The days passed swiftly in this idle routine of medicinal baths. Jiang Si experienced a leisure she hadn’t known in years. After initial worries, she grew accustomed, Su Xun was capable, the Jingyuan Army didn’t need excessive concern, and she would return eventually.

Even if something unexpected happened, it wouldn’t matter. Everyone she cared about was safer than she was.

Months flew by. By her reckoning since arriving here, winter should have come.

On the final day of her medicinal treatment, Jiang Si began packing her meager belongings…

Just a few tattered garments, then she knocked on the neighboring door.

She intended to bid farewell, but before her knuckles touched wood, the door swung open to reveal a figure clad entirely in black.

“I’m coming with you.”

Jiang Si frowned. “Do you even know where I’m going?”

“Wherever you go.”

“Until you defeat the Western Frontier King, I won’t leave your side.”

The clear objective left Jiang Si speechless.

From the day she was rescued, Jiang Si had known, this person definitely recognized her.

So, she finally voiced the question she’d suppressed so long: “Just who are you?”

At first, she couldn’t figure out who it might be, but the repeated mentions of the Western Frontier King made her think of someone.

Yet their mannerisms were entirely different.

The person before her gave off an air of quietness nothing like the one she had imagined.

“You’ll know when the time comes.”

“For now, just repay your life debt. No need to ask more.”

“I will destroy the Western Frontier Dynasty and kill the Western Frontier King with my own hands!” The suffering she had endured over the past year would be repaid in kind.

The medicinal baths, though healing, were excruciating each soak felt like a death sentence. The scalding water seared her skin, leaving her feeling as though she had shed a layer of flesh afterward. And that was without mentioning the old wounds.

The piercing injury on her back had left her arm weaker than before, aching whenever the weather turned foul.

The Western Frontier King, Mu Shuyang, and Nan Gongyan…

None of them would escape her vengeance.

“No need for you to kill him. Hand him over to me.”

“One more request take me with you and arrange a suitable identity near the Northern Jing Prince.”

“So you really…”

“Of course. Why else would I go to such lengths to save you?”

“After spending so much time together, I’ve come to understand you somewhat. You’ll repay a life debt.”

The figure before her seemed to smile, though the veil only revealed the faintest curve at the corner of her eye.

She was right, these demands weren’t unreasonable.

A fitting identity, and the Western Frontier King was already marked for death. Handing him over changed nothing.

A fair trade. That way, she wouldn’t feel indebted.

“Deal. But no reckless moves.”

“Don’t worry. My goals are clear.”

The journey out of the desert was longer than Jiang Si had expected. The camels moved painfully slow, and it wasn’t until the New Year that the two reached Mi City, the closest settlement to the Western Frontier’s border.

The black market here thrived. Under her guidance, Jiang Si exchanged goods and acquired two swift horses.

“I’ve gathered intel, the Jingyuan Army is stationed in Cu City.”

Cu City, the battleground between the Jingyuan Army and the Western Frontier. The most prosperous and densely populated city in the Western Frontier after the capital. If the Jingyuan Army had secured it, their campaign over the past year must have been successful.

Jiang Si instinctively smiled, only to be sharply cut off: “Don’t celebrate too soon. The Western Frontier is vast unlike Yue, losing a few cities means little.”

“The secret to their enduring strength… I’m sure Lan Shao has told you.”

At the mention of Lan Shao, Jiang Si tensed, her gaze locking onto the veiled woman’s eyes until she averted them uncomfortably.

Jiang Si relented with a chuckle. “Before, it was just the two of us, no need for formalities. But now, with people everywhere, shouldn’t I have a name to call you by?”

“What should it be?”

“Lan Yu.”

Jiang Si had only asked out of curiosity, never expecting an answer, let alone a name that felt vaguely familiar.

“You’re surnamed Lan?”

“Mn. Many in the Western Frontier share the name. It’s not connected to the one by your side.”

She explained preemptively, amusing Jiang Si.

Glancing at her, Jiang Si grinned. “I wasn’t assuming a connection. There are plenty of Jiangs too, not all are my kin.”

Lan Yu frowned, turning away without another word.

Jiang Si followed closely behind, weaving through the unfamiliar dialects of the Western Frontier until a passing group’s accents struck her as oddly familiar.

She instinctively tilted her head to look. The woman wore clothing in the western frontier style, but her hairstyle was uniquely Yue Kingdom’s bridal coiffure, accompanied by two armed maidservants.

Halting her steps, Lan Yu ahead noticed and turned to ask, “Do you know these Yue people?”

“I… don’t.” The figure just seemed vaguely familiar, but there was no need to explain.

Jiang Si continued walking until she was about to pass them when she heard a voice behind her – once intimately familiar, now strangely foreign: “Jiang Si?”

The uncertain tone made Jiang Si involuntarily freeze mid-step.

Without turning, she knew it was Mowan Ci’s voice.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival – Xiao Jiang and the princess have finally had their quasi-reunion.

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