Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 108

When Mu Wanci was sent away from the capital, she had thought that this farewell might mean she would never see Jiang Si again. Yet, the moment she laid eyes on Awu—who looked exactly like a miniature version of Jiang Si—her heart trembled.

Held in Wei Nian’s arms, the child called out to her in a sweet, milky voice, “Mama.”

All the confusion and hesitation in Mu Wanci’s heart dissolved in that instant.

If Ayue represented an obsession for her, then Awu was her healing.

During her time in the Eastern Sea, it was the daily sight of Awu that kept her going. The child bore Jiang Si’s features, as if constantly reminding her of the weight Jiang Si held in her heart—far heavier than she had ever imagined.

The moment she held Awu, Mu Wanci had resolved to leave for good. But then chaos erupted at the city gates. In the distance, Nan Gongxiao and Nan Gongyan came galloping on fierce steeds.

She, Wei Nian, Liao Yang, along with Awu and Ayue, were taken to a secure area within the palace walls by the imperial guards. There, she witnessed Nan Gongyan stab Jiang Si.

At that moment, it felt as though her heart was being torn apart.

Wei Nian and Liao Yang refused to let her approach the city gates, so she pleaded with her life on the line. When Lan Shao hesitated, she used the same desperate tactic.

After the Nanliang army was captured and she entered the palace to see Jiang Si, she suddenly remembered Ayue and Awu.

When the two children—safe and sound—were placed in her arms, Awu’s little face was streaked with tears like a smudged kitten, while Ayue bit her lip, too afraid to cry.

It wasn’t until Mu Wanci promised to take them to see their mother that they calmed down.

In the days that followed within the palace, she rarely spoke to Ayue. This was also the first time Ayue learned that her mother was Jiang Si.

Shocked and bewildered, the child cried for a long time, lips trembling.

Awu, on the other hand, dried her tears and simply stared at Mu Wanci in silence.

When they finally saw Jiang Si, Awu grew curious, ignoring Mu Wanci’s warnings and stubbornly inching closer to her.

Mu Wanci feared Awu would receive the same cold treatment as Ayue.

But now, it seemed Jiang Si might have been right—Ayue was at the center of their problems. The way Jiang Si looked at Awu was the warmest expression Mu Wanci had seen from her in days.

Mu Wanci did her utmost to minimize her own and Ayue’s presence.

Because she never wanted to see Jiang Si return to the way she had been before—cold and distant.

Silence.

The four of them stood facing each other, the quiet stretching on.

It wasn’t until Lan Shao opened the door that Jiang Si finally averted her gaze.

Her expression shifted instantly, brows furrowing as she demanded, “Lan Shao, why is she… here?”

“And her… her…” Jiang Si pointed at Awu, then at Ayue.

Lan Shao didn’t answer. Instead, she carried a bowl of medicine to the bedside. Mu Wanci took Ayue and Awu a few steps back, making room.

Only then did Lan Shao speak. “Don’t talk yet. Be careful of your wound.”

Until that reminder, Jiang Si had been too stunned to even remember her injury. Now, pain flashed across her face, and she could no longer sit upright.

With Lan Shao’s support, she lay back down.

To make drinking the medicine easier, Lan Shao adjusted her into a reclining position.

Now, Jiang Si had a clearer view of the three before her.

Mu Wanci, of course, was someone she knew well—though her hair and robes were slightly disheveled. Ayue still looked at her like a mouse facing a cat.

But Jiang Si’s gaze lingered longest on the child who resembled her so strikingly.

Noticing this, Lan Shao murmured softly as she fed her the medicine, “Her name is Awu.”

Jiang Si glanced at her briefly before returning her attention to Awu.

After the initial shock, Jiang Si had calmed down considerably now.

The resemblance in their faces and Lan Shao’s composed demeanor when she entered made it impossible not to think of twins.

Back when Mu Wanci gave birth, Lan Shao had been in the Eastern Sea.

So she knew everything.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“You didn’t want to hear it.”

“……”

Jiang Si glared at her but had nothing to say.

At that time in Shangjing, when she met Lan Shao, she truly hadn’t wanted to hear anything about Mu Wanci. That woman had broken her heart, and the birth of the child hadn’t been something she’d looked forward to at all.

But she never expected it would be twins.

And one of them—completely different from A-Yue—looked just like her.

The child nestled obediently in Mu Wanci’s arms, those eyes, so similar to hers, peering at her curiously.

Even the dark pupils were identical!

Jiang Si’s eyes lit up. She was so absorbed that when Lan Shao tried to feed her medicine, she forgot to open her mouth, nearly spilling it all over the pillow.

Just then, Mu Wanci hurriedly stepped forward with A-Wu in her arms. Instinctively, Jiang Si frowned.

She knew that at first glance, she had been curious about this child who looked so much like her, wanting to understand how this had happened.

Yet, she didn’t want to see Mu Wanci.

And her reaction made it all the more obvious.

Mu Wanci saw it clearly.

She lowered her gaze with a self-deprecating smile, then tightened her hold on A-Wu and led A-Yue out.

But she didn’t go far, only waiting in the courtyard.

She didn’t know what she was waiting for—she just didn’t want to leave.

A-Wu, still held in her arms, curiously peeked toward the door before clinging to Mu Wanci and whispering in her ear, “Mother, is that our other mother?”

The secretive tone made Mu Wanci chuckle. She pinched A-Wu’s cheek and smiled. “Yes, she’s your and your sister’s other mother.”

Hearing this, A-Wu beamed, her eyes widening before crinkling with joy.

She even wrapped her arms around Mu Wanci’s neck and wriggled excitedly. But then she paused, sensing something amiss, and looked down at A-Yue. “Sister, don’t you like our other mother?”

A-Yue had also been staring at the door. Ever since learning Jiang Si was her mother, she had been like this. Earlier, when A-Wu boldly reached out to touch Jiang Si, A-Yue had cautiously tried to pull her back.

She was terrified of Jiang Si. Now, hearing A-Wu’s question, she froze before shaking her head. “She doesn’t like me…”

Then she leaned against Mu Wanci’s leg and fell silent.

This left A-Wu frowning in confusion, looking up at Mu Wanci for answers.

Indeed, their resemblance was uncanny—even the furrowed brows mirrored Jiang Si’s earlier expression. Mu Wanci gave a wry smile, unsure what to say.

But seeing her silent, A-Wu grew a little upset. She poked Mu Wanci’s cheek and asked pitifully, “Mother, aren’t you happy to see me?”

“Of course I’m happy. What about you?”

“I’m happy because I have you… and now our other mother too.”

Inside the chamber.

After feeding Jiang Si the medicine, Lan Shao recounted how Mu Wanci had risked her life, insisting on seeing Jiang Si.

But Jiang Si scoffed, baffled. “Lan Shao, why do you always speak up for Mu Wanci? What has she promised you to make you defend her all these years?”

“I’m just stating the facts. Mu Wanci was genuinely worried about you and did force her way into the palace.”

“You didn’t stop her?”

“I tried. Didn’t I just tell you? She threatened to kill herself, even held a knife to her neck.”

“Didn’t you see the bloodstain?”

“Why would I look at her?!” Jiang Si snapped irritably, but the outburst strained her wounds, making her grimace in pain. After a moment, she reached out to Lan Shao for painkillers.

Only to be met with Lan Shao’s own irritation: “None left!”

“If you want painkillers, go find your Lan Yu. All I have here are medicines that’ll make it hurt even more.”

Jiang Si was caught in a dilemma, unsure what to choose.

Lan Shao’s medicine was excruciating but healed quickly, while Lan Yu’s provided better pain relief but slowed recovery.

While she hesitated, Lan Shao finished packing her medical supplies and prepared to leave.

Jiang Si called out to her: “Lan Shao, give me the—”

“You said it hurts too much? I’ll go develop some better painkillers. If the pain gets unbearable these next couple days, go call for your Lan Yu.”

“What do you mean ‘my Lan Yu’…?!”

“The imperial selection ceremony was canceled. At best, she’s just a candidate lingering in the palace. If she weren’t refusing the physician post, would she need to resort to such methods?”

“Why doesn’t she want it?”

Most of Lan Shao’s words had been teasing, but this last question was unexpectedly serious, leaving Jiang Si at a loss.

Lan Yu had explained her reasons before but sworn her to secrecy.

She…

Jiang Si blinked but ultimately kept silent.

Lan Shao didn’t press her, simply took her medical kit and left. At the door, she added: “I’ll be in seclusion developing medicines these days, and my junior sister has arrived. I likely won’t have time to tend to you.”

“If anything comes up, go find your Lan Yu.”

With that, she walked out without another glance at Jiang Si’s protests.

Outside, encountering Mu Wanci with two children, Lan Shao felt awkward.

Unsure if Mu Wanci had overheard her heated exchange with Jiang Si, she hesitated to explain lest it cause misunderstandings.

She simply nodded and moved to leave.

Just then, the aforementioned Lan Yu entered Qingming Hall.

No one could see her expression through the veil, but Lan Shao sensed she was approaching her.

Sure enough, after passing Mu Wanci, Lan Yu stopped before her.

In a slightly hoarse voice, she asked: “Jiang Si is supposed to meet Prince Yi of Nanliang tomorrow. Can she use these painkillers?”

“I worry she won’t endure it otherwise.”

Lan Yu’s voice carried a faint amusement by the end, making Lan Shao’s expression turn cold.

Apparently, none of today’s warnings had gotten through.

She took the medicine from Lan Yu’s hand, gripping it tightly: “No.”

“She uses my medicine or nothing. If she can’t bear it, let Prince Yi wait two days.”

“You can develop new medicine in two days?”

Lan Yu’s raspy voice held a trace of unexpected eagerness, startling Lan Shao into silence.

But Lan Yu didn’t press further, saying cheerfully: “Then I’ll wait. I won’t give Jiang Si this medicine anymore.”

Jiang Si’s voice rang out right then: “Lan Yu, I want your medicine! I refuse to use hers!”

After just two exchanged barbs, Jiang Si was already holding a grudge!

Lan Shao turned back to glare at her exasperatedly, shoving her own medicine into Lan Yu’s hands: “She must use mine!”

Then she stormed off in a huff.

Lan Yu smiled and walked inside—the door was left open.

So Mu Wanci could clearly hear Lan Yu say, “Use Lan Shao’s medicine, and lift your clothes up yourself.”

“Lan Yu, have you forgotten I’m injured?”

“Either you do it, or go call Lan Shao back for me!”

Jiang Si’s voice was unusually weak due to her injuries, sounding almost… like she was coquettishly whining to Lan Yu.

From beginning to end, Mu Wanci remained standing outside the door, yet aside from Lan Shao greeting her, it was as if no one knew she was there.

Yet the one injured was the Qian Yuan who had temporarily marked her—the mother of her child.

And now, standing outside the door, they seemed like complete strangers.

Perhaps sensing the shift in her emotions, the usually well-behaved A-Wu in her arms suddenly pouted and asked, “Mother… does A-Mu not like me either?”

“I’ve never even met her before…”

The sight of A-Wu’s pouting little face made Mu Wanci’s heart ache with tenderness.

She didn’t respond, but A-Yue took A-Wu’s small hand and whispered to her, “A-Wu is so adorable, no one could ever dislike you.”

Yet even as she said this, her expression couldn’t hide her own sadness.

Who would have thought there would be such a stark contrast in how everyone treated the two children?

The significance of the twins—as many had guessed—was to make Mu Wanci see clearly, and to save this family.

But as for A-Yue… from the very beginning, she was destined to be the sacrifice.

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