Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 105

At the break of dawn, officials began entering the palace through the main gate.

Jiang Si stood before the Hall of Governance in her black dragon-embroidered robe, waiting until all the officials had arrived before taking her seat on the throne.

The newly established Jing State was still refining its rituals and laws. Minor court assemblies were held every three days, major ones every five. Today, coinciding with a major assembly, was also the imperial consort selection. Jiang Si had barely slept all night.

Though not entirely listless, her demeanor was far from its usual vigor.

During the assembly, Nangong Yan stood at the forefront, gazing at her with a bashful expression.

Now a court official, she would soon enter the imperial harem as a candidate. Jiang Si suppressed her irritation, mustering energy only when addressing the ministers’ petitions.

Only when the assembly adjourned did Jiang Si finally feel a sense of relief, retreating to her chambers.

Sang Zhi followed behind, informing her that the ceremonial robes had been delivered to the side hall.

Jiang Si acknowledged with a hum but suddenly halted when she saw Mu Wanci emerging from the side hall.

Dressed in the peach-pink ruqun reserved for candidates, Mu Wanci looked strikingly similar to how she had in the Northern Frontier years ago.

Yet the unease in her demeanor was unmistakably different.

Later, when Jiang Si had grown fond of Mu Wanci, she often reminisced about their first meeting—a memory etched vividly in her mind.

Over the years, it was that moment she recalled most.

But now, faced with a similar scene, it only evoked a sense of irrevocable change.

The passion she once felt had long since frozen over.

Their paths diverged here. Jiang Si was to proceed directly to the Hall of Governance, while Mu Wanci would join the other candidates before heading there together.

This selection ceremony was all but a formality—everyone assumed Nangong Yan would be chosen.

The alliance between the Jingyuan Army and the Nanliang Army was a foregone conclusion in the eyes of all.

The candidates stood in a row as the palace eunuchs called their names one by one.

All except Mu Wanci.

Jiang Si had no intention of letting her participate—only to witness the ceremony.

To watch as she chose another as her empress.

Especially Nangong Yan, whom she despised.

At the ceremony, Jiang Si sat rigidly on the throne while Mu Wanci stood below, her eyes fixed on the dragon-robed sovereign.

Jiang Si’s gaze lingered on the smug Nangong Yan as she perfunctorily declared her selection as empress, with Lan Yu appointed as a concubine, to be formally enfeoffed at a later date.

The announcement carried weight. Nangong Yan, expecting an immediate coronation, momentarily forgot to express gratitude, her face flashing with disbelief.

The hall fell silent, countless eyes fixed on her until Nangong Yan, realizing her lapse, slowly bowed.

In the new capital, Jiang Si’s word was law. With no established harem hierarchy, there was no one to receive formal greetings, simplifying the proceedings.

Once the ceremony concluded, only Nangong Yan and Nangong Xiao remained.

With no outsiders present, Nangong Yan dropped all pretense, demanding bluntly, “Jiang Si, why wasn’t today the official coronation?”

Clenching her anger, Jiang Si reminded herself to endure a little longer.

Then she smiled. “Three days from now is an auspicious date, ideal for the coronation.”

“Jiang Si, this wasn’t what we agreed upon.”

Nangong Xiao couldn’t contain himself. Jiang Si lifted her eyes. “How so?”

“If Nangong Yan is to be Jing’s empress, shouldn’t the timing of the coronation be at my discretion?”

Nangong Xiao was left speechless, as Jiang Si’s words were indeed reasonable and left him no room for rebuttal.

Jiang Si then smiled and, looking at Nangong Xiao, uttered shocking words: “Prince Nanliang, how fares your consort?”

The rumors surrounding the Nanliang Prince’s residence were no secret, yet Jiang Si’s mention of them still managed to provoke Nangong Yan.

Even if she refused to admit it, she couldn’t deny the truth—Nangong Xiao, the man she had called elder brother for years, had an illicit affair with her mother… resulting in the birth of the current heir to the Nanliang throne.

Nangong Yan assumed this was a veiled threat, but Nangong Xiao’s brow twitched in alarm.

Sensing danger, he hastily pulled Nangong Yan, who was about to say more, out of the council hall.

After the two left, the hall fell into near silence as Jiang Si calculated the time.

It shouldn’t take more than three days now.

“Your Majesty, this humble official has a matter to report.”

“The young lord has been causing quite a stir in the camp. None of us Qianyuan have any experience caring for children…”

No sooner had the two left than Qiu Han came seeking an audience.

After a long day of work, Jiang Si finally remembered what she had forgotten.

Shortly after Su Xun departed in the early hours, Qiu Han had come once before, but Jiang Si had been occupied with city affairs and set it aside.

Now, the child was likely throwing a tantrum.

Coincidentally, Mu Wanci must have had enough of staying in the palace by now.

“Qiu Han, go bring her here.”

Not long after Mu Wanci returned to the side hall, Lan Shao arrived.

Today was another day for acupuncture treatment.

Truth be told, Mu Wanci wasn’t particularly close to Lan Shao. During those six months in the Eastern Sea, Lan Shao had mostly interacted with Wei Nian.

Yet her presence always brought Mu Wanci a sense of comfort.

She never pried or spoke out of turn, treating Mu Wanci with respect, and Mu Wanci reciprocated in kind.

Like now—despite the humiliation in the council hall and the maid’s attire Mu Wanci wore, Lan Shao acted as if she noticed nothing, simply picking up her silver needles and proceeding with the treatment.

The silence was profound.

Yet it provided Mu Wanci some solace within these palace walls.

Having barely slept the night before, Mu Wanci was utterly exhausted. After the acupuncture, she nearly dozed off.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when the needles were finally removed and Lan Shao prepared to leave.

“Thank you, Military Physician Lan.”

Mu Wanci still preferred to address her this way. Lan Shao gave a faint smile, gathered her needles, and turned to leave.

But before she could step out, the door was pushed open from the outside.

It was Jiang Si, her face cold as she dragged along A-Yue, who looked like she wanted to cry but didn’t dare.

Jiang Si’s strides were long, and A-Yue stumbled slightly from being pulled along. Without hesitation, Mu Wanci rose and hurried toward them.

Jiang Si stopped in her tracks, her gaze fixed on Mu Wanci as she watched her kneel to check on A-Yue.

Unconsciously, her grip on the child loosened.

Lately, Jiang Si was acutely aware of the changes in her body and emotions. At times, inexplicable disgust and irritability left her deeply unsettled.

Lan Shao had repeatedly reminded her that only by calming her mind could she achieve better results, unaffected by external factors.

But with Mu Wanci in the palace, how could she possibly remain composed?

Jiang Si looked down as mother and daughter exchanged whispered words, completely ignoring her and Lan Shao.

When she could bear it no longer, Jiang Si ordered Lan Shao to take A-Yue away.

Only then did Mu Wanci look up in confusion, her eyes flickering with innocent bewilderment at the sight of Jiang Si.

Instinctively, she tightened her hold on A-Yue’s hand.

In her eyes was a look Jiang Si knew all too well—wariness.

This time, Mu Wanci’s movements were much gentler than before.

“I brought her here just so you could comfort her and stop her from crying.”

A-Yue had indeed held back her tears, but when Jiang Si spoke of reconciliation, her eyes welled up again, and she instinctively clung tighter to Mu Wanci.

A-Yue had been raised by her since childhood, and she knew all too well how A-Yue looked when she was afraid.

Though it had happened very few times, it was enough for her to recognize.

Mu Wanci also struggled to suppress her emotions as she lifted her gaze to Jiang Si.

Jiang Si suddenly curled her lips into a smile—one that didn’t reach her eyes.

Seeing this, Lan Shao quickly stepped forward and whispered something to A-Yue. Being just a child, A-Yue’s attention was soon diverted, and she released Mu Wanci’s hand.

It was then that Mu Wanci realized something.

She let Lan Shao take A-Yue away without protest.

Afterward, the hall fell so silent that even the drop of a needle could be heard.

Jiang Si sat down on a chair, her expression dark as she stared at Mu Wanci, who remained crouched on the floor. With a faintly amused tone, she asked, “How did it feel watching me choose Nangong Yan as my empress today?”

That smile sent a chill down Mu Wanci’s spine.

In the grand hall earlier, she had felt humiliated—but more than that, she had felt hatred.

And that hatred was directed at Nangong Yan.

Yet Jiang Si pressed her further, crouching down to ask, “Don’t want to answer, or don’t know how?”

Mu Wanci shook her head, meeting her gaze directly. The air around her shifted—cold and composed, just as she had been back in the Northern Border. “You won’t marry her.”

A surge of inexplicable anger flared in Jiang Si’s chest.

Even now, she was sick of Mu Wanci’s unshakable calm!

She stood and walked to the edge of the bed, looking down at Mu Wanci before reaching out to trace the corner of her eye with a feather-light touch. Her voice was deceptively tender as she murmured, “These eyes of yours—I was struck by them the first time I saw you.”

“Whenever I made you cry, the corners would turn red.”

“So pitiful it made my heart ache. I always kissed them afterward. Do you remember?”

Memories were a double-edged sword, shared between them.

What should have been sweet now only brought mutual pain.

Jiang Si sat sideways on the bed, idly toying with Mu Wanci’s hair as she remarked, as if casually, “You know, it’s not just you who has so-called memories of a past life. I have them too.”

“I know exactly why you despise Nangong Yan.”

“Before, I thought your actions were absurd beyond reason. But today, I finally understand—this is what it means to destroy someone’s spirit.”

With every word, Mu Wanci trembled slightly, her earlier composure crumbling.

Her fingers tightened around Jiang Si’s sleeve, her voice tinged with pleading. “Jiang Si, stop.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“Weren’t you just trying to guess my thoughts?”

Suddenly, Jiang Si turned sharply, gripping Mu Wanci’s arms and forcing her to look up.

Leaning close to her ear, she enunciated each word clearly: “Mu Wanci, listen well.”

“I know everything you believe to be true.”

Mu Wanci lifted tear-filled eyes, trying to cover Jiang Si’s mouth—but her hands were pinned, leaving her no escape.

All she could do was listen as Jiang Si continued, cold and deliberate:

“I know it was Nangong Yan who had the Marquis of Jiajing send A-Yue away.”

Tears she had been holding back suddenly burst forth like a broken dam. Jiang Si’s figure before her blurred, but his hunched back remained painfully clear.

Mu Wanci suddenly understood Jiang Si’s intention.

He was telling her that there would always be the double-edged sword of A-Yue between them.

Jiang Si had things he couldn’t move past.

So did she.

Making her personally witness Nangong Xuan being chosen as empress was simply to make her realize this clearly.

Perhaps, if Mu Wanci could be a little more indifferent, Jiang Si’s heart might feel slightly better.

She understood everything, cared about everything, yet had to pretend as if nothing was wrong.

Jiang Si’s heart was ashen, his lips curling into a bitter smile. “Mu Wanci, you should’ve known me long ago—I’m petty as hell.”

“You could hurt me because of A-Yue back then, so why can’t I do the same now?”

P.S. Check out my next upcoming novel, The Scumbag Alpha Exorcist Who Traveled Back After Divorce—don’t forget to bookmark it!

A warm-hearted Alpha who excels at ghost (and demon) hunting but fails spectacularly at winning back her wife × A cold-faced, secretly soft and clingy Omega.

Synopsis 1

One day, Ji Yao transmigrated into a world of mysticism. Years later, when she returned, she found her original world turned upside down.

To summarize: two pieces of good news, and a whole lot of bad ones.

Good news #1: She went from being an unknown TV station intern to a renowned music show producer.

Good news #2: The campus goddess and singing diva she had a crush on in school, Shi Yu, was now her wife!

Bad news #1: She had become an abusive, cheating scumbag Alpha.

Bad news #2: Shi Yu was threatening to divorce her—even if it meant dying for it!

Shi Yu’s fans cursed her daily, her parents disowned her, and her brother-in-law beat her up on sight.

Ji Yao: Please! Just give me a chance to explain!

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