Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 103

Nearly three years had passed since their separation, yet neither reunion between Mu Wanci and Jiang Si could be described as dignified.

At the western frontier, Jiang Si had met her with cold words. Now in the new capital of Xingcheng, it seemed Mu Wanci had wounded Jiang Si once more.

From the moment Ayue was born, except for caring for Awu and during the year-long search, Mu Wanci had scarcely let Ayue out of her sight.

Ultimately, it was her own obsession—terrified that Ayue might vanish at any moment, she had become like a startled bird at the slightest disturbance.

But after treating Jiang Si this way, endless regret welled up in her heart. She longed to pull Jiang Si away from Lan Yu’s side.

Yet… what right did she have?

She could only watch from afar.

Unnoticed by her, Su Xun, who witnessed everything, darkened his expression and shouted, “In the heart of the new capital, such audacity and disrespect! Imperial guards, where are you?”

“Here!” the guards responded in unison. With a cold face, Su Xun pointed at Ayue behind Mu Wanci and commanded icily, “Seize her.”

His severity was never concealed. No sooner had he spoken than guards moved to act, only to be restrained by Liao Yang standing nearby. In a few strides, Liao Yang positioned herself before Mu Wanci and Ayue.

Her glare at Su Xun burned with the determination to protect Mu Wanci and Ayue even at the cost of mutual destruction.

But to Su Xun, this was merely futile resistance. With equal numbers, he might not have been confident of subduing them, but given the overwhelming disparity, Liao Yang had no hope of escaping with the others.

He smirked, raising a hand slightly, and the guards drew their blades.

“Liao Yang, stand down.”

The poised Liao Yang froze, turning a puzzled gaze toward Mu Wanci.

But Mu Wanci’s eyes remained fixed on Jiang Si.

Jiang Si had already parted from Lan Yu and was walking toward her.

The guards lowered their weapons and retreated. Even Su Xun’s earlier frosty demeanor softened as he stepped aside, detached.

Mu Wanci tightened her grip on Ayue’s hand, pulling the child in front of her. Ayue looked up in confusion until a hand rested on her head, calming her.

It was Jiang Si, smiling down at Ayue.

Ayue blinked stubbornly back at her.

Then, without warning, Jiang Si’s head began to throb with pain.

These headaches had plagued her since leaving the Eastern Sea. Initially, the addictive wine had dulled the symptoms, though drunken hazes would bring back memories of the Eastern Sea—until the narcotic haze numbed her again.

But after encountering Lan Yu and enduring prolonged immersion in medicated wine, the addiction faded. Yet after seeing Mu Wanci at the western frontier, the inexplicable headaches returned.

Each month, they stripped her of reason, making her mistake every face for Mu Wanci’s. The unresolved resentment festered—abandonment, betrayal, disgust, and harm swirling endlessly in her mind.

By nature, Jiang Si was aloof, even in matters of the heart.

Yet for Mu Wanci alone, she had loved despite fear, cherished despite torment.

When she loved Mu Wanci, it was with her entire being—delighting in making her smile, preparing her favorite dishes, dreaming of… a grand wedding celebration.

In short, she wanted this person to belong to her, inside and out.

Yet all of this was merely her fantasy. Since she couldn’t achieve any of it, then…

There was nothing.

She closed her eyes briefly, and when she turned back, her face was expressionless.

But upon seeing Mu Wanci’s eyes filled with Ayue, her expression became uncontrollable—her smile grew wider as she looked down at Ayue.

Ayue…

Hah…

Even the name was something she couldn’t bring herself to like.

Her feelings toward Ayue were deeply conflicted.

The things Mu Wanci couldn’t let go of had always haunted her mind, making her grow increasingly repulsed by Ayue.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about how difficult Mu Wanci’s pregnancy must have been, far away in the Eastern Sea.

But even before Ayue was born, she had become an insurmountable chasm between her and Mu Wanci. Today’s meeting only confirmed it.

Jiang Si’s smile grew brighter as she reached out and patted Ayue’s head, whispering softly to Mu Wanci, “Hand her over to the imperial guards.”

“Su Xun was right. As the sovereign of the realm, her words and actions are nothing short of disrespect.”

“Moreover…” Jiang Si suddenly stopped smiling, loosening Mu Wanci’s tight grip on Ayue and pushing her toward Su Xun’s side before leaning close to Mu Wanci’s ear and murmuring, “If I am her birth mother, then this is nothing less than rebellion and filial impiety.”

“Jiang Si…!” Mu Wanci’s breath hitched as she stared at her in disbelief. Jiang Si, however, was amused by her reaction. “Did I say something wrong?”

“Princess Shaoyuan, peerless in talent, surely understands that filial piety comes first—hasn’t that been the way since ancient times?”

Jiang Si’s reasoning was flawless. Mu Wanci had no choice but to agree, lowering her eyes as she whispered, “I know.”

Jiang Si continued, “Her Highness the Princess truly isn’t suited to raising children. First, there was the foolish Emperor Mu Zesheng, and now…”

The logic was sound. No matter Jiang Si’s status, Ayue should never have behaved this way—because she was her mother.

And indeed, it was her fault… she had spoiled Ayue rotten.

But realizing this only brought self-reproach. Hearing it from someone else was entirely different.

Mu Wanci’s emotions were fragile now, and tears welled up in her eyes in an instant.

This actually gave Jiang Si pause.

She opened her mouth, then swallowed the harsh words she had been about to say.

Irritated, she turned her back.

In the distance, the figure of Ayue, now taken away by the imperial guards, grew smaller and smaller. She struggled, she cried.

Her cries made Jiang Si’s head throb, and her heart ached along with it.

Once, twice… who knew how many more times this would happen.

Why did she always have to let Mu Wanci hurt her?

Couldn’t she hurt Mu Wanci instead?

Make Mu Wanci feel the same stabbing pain in her heart.

Jiang Si gritted her teeth, the more she thought about it, the more her blood boiled. Lan Yu approached at just the right moment, whispering a reminder, “Do you want to take another pill?”

Jiang Si closed her eyes and shook her head slightly.

No, she didn’t.

When she opened her eyes again, Lan Yu, standing opposite her, clearly saw the sorrow in Jiang Si’s gaze.

And also…

Resentment. Fury.

She turned her head, fixing her gaze on Mu Wanci.

Mu Wanci had already snapped out of her daze from Jiang Si’s earlier words and was now looking at her uncertainly.

She didn’t know what Jiang Si intended to do.

Jiang Si took a step forward, grasped Mu Wanci’s hand, and smiled faintly as she asked, “Did you remember what I just said, Your Highness?”

“What… what did you say?” A flicker of confusion passed through Mu Wanci’s eyes as she asked, bewildered.

Jiang Si, however, grew impatient and explained, “Once you enter the new capital, leaving won’t be so easy.”

After speaking, she turned to Liao Yang, pointing at her and saying, “Su Xun, let her go.”

Upon hearing this, Liao Yang struggled, but Jiang Si continued pulling Mu Wanci toward the palace gates.

Jiang Si’s grip was firm, and Mu Wanci could hardly break free.

From the main gate all the way to her bedchamber, Jiang Si then ordered all the palace maids to withdraw—including Sang Zhi, who had always stayed by Mu Wanci’s side.

When Sang Zhi saw Mu Wanci, her eyes widened in shock. Before she could utter a word, Jiang Si called out to her, “Summon the court painter.”

“Jiang Si, what do you think you’re doing?” Mu Wanci’s usual composure crumbled under Jiang Si’s rough treatment.

Her thoughts were consumed with worry for A-Yue, and recalling Jiang Si’s earlier words, she dared not speak further.

Having spent considerable time together, Jiang Si could guess Mu Wanci’s state of mind.

Straightening up, Jiang Si smiled coldly and said, “Mu Wanci, you were the one unwilling to leave earlier.”

“Then stay in this deep palace courtyard and keep your A-Yue company.”

With that, Jiang Si strode away without giving Mu Wanci a chance to respond, her steps so swift they seemed like a gust of wind.

Not long after she left, the court painter arrived to sketch Mu Wanci’s portrait.

Mu Wanci refused to cooperate.

Meanwhile, Jiang Si went to Lan Yu’s quarters.

The moment she stepped inside, she collapsed to the floor.

Lan Yu had no time to catch her and could only sigh helplessly.

“Your temper is truly something—aren’t you afraid of angering yourself to death?”

Was she angry?

Yes, with a fury so intense she couldn’t even define it.

It had begun the moment A-Yue kicked her.

Her headache had persisted for a long time, and when it became unbearable, she almost asked Lan Yu for another pill.

But after a moment’s hesitation, she decided against it.

Instead, she lay down on the divan, feigning sleep. By the time her headache subsided, two hours had passed.

Gone was the disheveled state from when she had entered. Lan Yu watched her with amusement, but Jiang Si paid no mind.

After straightening her robes, she returned to her bedchamber.

She then summoned Su Xun to discuss her upcoming journey to Nanliang.

Today’s commotion with Mu Wanci and A-Yue had nearly made her forget the critical matter at hand.

Tomorrow was the Empress Selection Ceremony—nothing could go wrong.

“You’ve seen the roster. The empress must be… Nangong Yan.”

Su Xun nodded silently but then hesitated.

After finishing her letter and handing it over, Jiang Si asked, “Is there something else?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The young princess is demanding to see Her Highness…”

“Young princess? Who?”

For a moment, Jiang Si was confused, frowning at Su Xun before it finally dawned on her.

During the worst of her headache, she seemed to have brought Mu Wanci into the palace.

Now, she was in her own bedchamber.

She had assumed today would pass like any other—lost in her own daze—but she hadn’t expected…

“Su Xun, you may leave.”

“As you wish…”

Once Su Xun was gone, Jiang Si rose from her chair, bracing her hands against the desk as she recalled Lan Shao’s words.

Her headaches…

Were because this body did not wholly belong to her.

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Mu Wanci stepping out from behind the curtains where she had been standing for some time.

Jiang Si could vaguely remember her actions outside the palace gates earlier. Lowering her gaze, she smiled weakly.

Then, slowly, she walked toward Mu Wanci.

Unable to explain what had happened today, she decided…

Not to explain at all.

Opening the door, she turned her back to Mu Wanci and said, “I’ll arrange for you and A-Yue to leave soon.”

“From now on, stay away from the palace gates.”

She thought Mu Wanci would leave without hesitation after hearing this, but to her surprise, when she turned around, she saw Mu Wanci with reddened eyes, on the verge of tears.

Mu Wanci stood motionless, head bowed, and after a long pause, spoke in an almost inaudible voice: “You’re right… I’ve only spoiled A Yue. That’s why she’s so difficult to discipline, so…”

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Jiang Si interrupted impatiently, utterly perplexed.

This version of Mu Wanci wasn’t the person she knew at all.

The aloof and proud Mu Wanci from before—why had she become like this now?

They stood in tense silence until Jiang Si’s patience was wearing thin. Finally, Mu Wanci spoke again: “Are you truly going to make Nan Gongyan your queen?”

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