Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 28

When Jiang Si first heard Mowan Ci’s words, she instinctively looked at the plate of water-boiled pork slices in her hand. Only then did she notice the slightly cold expression on Mowan Ci’s face.

She didn’t dare to think too deeply about it, but Mowan Ci’s tone seemed to carry a hint of bitterness.

Jiang Si hesitated, wondering what the right thing to say would be. If she said too much, Mowan Ci might become even more displeased.

What she didn’t realize was that her silence might also make Mowan Ci upset.

Sitting on the bed, Mowan Ci lowered her gaze slightly, her fingers gripping the blanket tightly.

In fact, she couldn’t understand why she felt so discontented. It was only because she had seen Jiang Si and Kunze joking around. Why should it bother her so much?

But she couldn’t control her emotions, and they worsened when she saw Jiang Si cheerfully walk into the room.

“Did the princess go to the kitchen?”

“Yes, I was a bit hungry earlier, so I went with Zhi Miao,” Mowan Ci explained generously, and surprisingly, she spoke this much.

This explanation eased Jiang Si’s uncertainty, and a faint smile appeared on her face.

Her smile made Mowan Ci feel very uneasy, as though her thoughts had been exposed.

But she couldn’t explain it, because she herself didn’t understand why she felt that way.

The person in front of her wasn’t someone who should make her feel this way. Could it be because of the time spent together today, the blending of their scents?

Mowan Ci didn’t want to think too deeply and ultimately attributed it to the mingling of scents, which made her feel a little better and more able to face Jiang Si.

“I’ve already had dinner. Thank you for the trouble of bringing it to me, Marquis.”

Realizing that Mowan Ci had already eaten, Jiang Si had already planned her response. She brought the water-boiled pork slices a little closer, speaking softly, “This dish is quite unique. I made it twice to get the right flavor. I suggest Princess try it. It’s very good.”

“If you wait until I finish, you might regret it,” Jiang Si said, nodding at the dish, clearly proud of her cooking, and letting the fragrance drift towards Mowan Ci.

The dish looked vibrant and appetizing.

Furthermore, since Mowan Ci wasn’t in the best mood earlier and hadn’t eaten much, she now felt a bit hungry.

But she was afraid of the spiciness and didn’t want to lose face, so she turned her head and decided not to look at it. “The Marquis can enjoy it.”

Jiang Si suddenly understood Mowan Ci’s reluctance and asked directly, “Can’t you handle spicy food?”

“We also have some sour and sweet dishes…”

“No need, I’m not hungry.”

If Mowan Ci hadn’t glanced at Jiang Si when she said this, Jiang Si might have agreed immediately and taken the food away.

But she did glance, so Jiang Si didn’t leave. Instead, she began eating with great enjoyment.

She had been craving this for so long and was savoring it thoroughly.

The chili here wasn’t particularly spicy; it was full of aroma.

The serving was large, and Jiang Si couldn’t finish it alone, so before eating, she had already set aside Mowan Ci’s portion.

After finishing, Mowan Ci remained in the same position on the bed, but her brow was furrowed even deeper.

Her gaze seemed full of resentment.

Jiang Si brought a small bowl of water-boiled pork slices in front of her and, smiling, said in a coaxing tone, “Try it. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat it.”

Jiang Si’s tone was very natural, but Mowan Ci didn’t feel at ease.

Since the death of the late emperor, no one had ever spoken to her like this. For a moment, she was stunned, slowly raising her hand to take the chopsticks. However, before she could touch them, Jiang Si had already placed the meat near her mouth.

Her ears turned hot, and Mowan Ci struggled to suppress the impulse to reach out. She slightly opened her mouth.

The taste was slightly spicy but fragrant, and the flavor was excellent.

Her eyes brightened a little.

Seeing this, Jiang Si smiled wider and placed the chopsticks in her hand. “You do it yourself. These side dishes are also quite good. Paired with a bowl of rice, it’s especially fragrant.” With that, Jiang Si turned to fetch the side dishes, missing the slightly disappointed look in Mowan Ci’s eyes.

After dinner, Jiang Si didn’t stay long and returned to her study.

Su Xun came to report on the military affairs of the northern border. The difficulty in Wei City had been resolved, but the Rongdi tribes still attacked from time to time.

“As for the Rongdi matter, Marquis doesn’t need to worry too much, but the situation in Nanliang…”

“What happened in Nanliang?”

“Prince Pingjin sent a letter. The losses from the battle in Nanliang were severe, and they’re requesting another 20,000 troops from the Jingyuan Army.”

Jiang Si had been leaning against her chair. Upon hearing Su Xun’s words, she sat up straight and took the letter.

She skimmed it quickly, then smiled faintly. “20,000 soldiers, and weapons too? Does she think my Jingyuan Army is her personal armory?”

Though the Jingyuan Army in the northern border was strong, if it continued to lend troops like this, it would lead to its own downfall.

“No, we won’t lend any! Has Cheng Pu sent a letter yet?”

“Not yet. It’s likely intercepted by Prince Pingjin, but he will find a way to send it over. It will take some time.”

“Alright. Let’s wait for a month. By then, the one in the capital will likely not be able to sit still either.”

After that matter was settled, Su Xun spoke about some recent events that had occurred in Ling Shang City. Only then did Jiang Si say, “You used to be busy with military and governmental affairs. From now on, the general management of the household will be handled by Chief Steward Liu Jin. Tell him that the Princess Royal and I will be going out tomorrow and he should start making preparations.”

Su Xun had indeed been dealing with many trivial matters, but that was because Jiang Si did not trust anyone else, especially not Liu Jin, whom she looked down on. So hearing this surprised Su Xun greatly.

Before he could react, Jiang Si had already started listing the items they would need to bring.

When she suddenly noticed Su Xun still standing there, she blinked in surprise. “You haven’t left yet?”

Su Xun bowed and said, “Your subordinate will take his leave now.”

Originally, they had planned to go out the next day, but a continuous snowfall disrupted their plans. The snow fell for three days before finally stopping.

Jiang Si barely left her study during that time. All the fatigue from the past few days had vanished, and she stepped out of the northern courtyard feeling refreshed. She saw that Liu Jin had prepared sleds and carriages for traveling over snow, just as she had requested.

He had worked with care and precision, almost exactly as Jiang Si had envisioned.

Due to the bitter cold in the northern region, snow activities were one of the few pastimes available to the people during winter, and they had created many creative ways to enjoy it.

Liu Jin’s face lit up with pride when he noticed the satisfaction on his master’s face. He said cheerfully, “My Lord, the Ice Festival here in the North will be in a few days. There will be wonderful performances on the Ling Shang River. Why not stay a little longer and let the Princess Royal experience the winter beauty of the North?”

It was only through this trip that Jiang Si learned how much the original owner had appreciated comfort and leisure. A manor had even been built by the Ling Shang River, specifically for winter retreats.

“Very well, I’ll speak with the Princess later,” Jiang Si replied with a smile. She also praised Liu Jin for his capable work. Overjoyed, Liu Jin could not hide his happiness, and his dark face broke into a wide grin.

The entire household was filled with joy, and Jiang Si felt genuinely content.

She was still smiling when she walked into the southern courtyard.

But her smile disappeared when she saw Mowan Ci standing at the entrance.

Mowan Ci was dressed in a white cloak. She looked even colder and more distant than usual.

However, her cheeks were slightly rosy, a sign that she had recovered well over the past few days.

Seeing her made Jiang Si feel a little embarrassed.

Ever since that day, Mowan Ci’s soft fragrance had become something Jiang Si was very sensitive to. Being this close made her face flush with heat.

She stammered as she explained the plan to stay at the manor for two nights. Mowan Ci responded with a cool and quiet “Alright,” and with Zhi Miao’s help, walked over to Jiang Si to remind her that it was time to leave.

The manor was not far away. It was located on the edge of Ling Shang City, and a slow carriage ride from the Marquis’s residence took about half an hour.

Mowan Ci remained inside the carriage even after they arrived at the Ling Shang River.

She glanced at Jiang Si, who was sitting on a sled, with a slight raise of her eyebrow.

Jiang Si immediately understood what she meant.

She wanted to sit here instead.

Thinking of Mowan Ci’s safety, Jiang Si had arranged for a comfortable and secure carriage. But it was true that it lacked the fun and excitement of a sled ride.

Mowan Ci did not directly ask to switch, but Jiang Si asked gently, “Would you like to sit here?”

Before Mowan Ci could reply, Zhi Miao became visibly nervous. Her hands waved slightly as if she wanted to stop her mistress from agreeing but did not know how.

Jiang Si looked at her and noticed how much she had changed.

With a warm smile, she said, “It’s alright. There is a coachman, and we have safety straps.”

“Besides, I promised to protect the Princess. Of course, I will take responsibility.”

It was unclear which part of her words made the difference, but Mowan Ci stepped up without saying anything and got onto the sled.

Ling Shang City was large, and going around it once took about half an hour. The icy surface had some rough patches. It was smooth at first, but fifteen minutes later, they reached the uneven sections.

Up to that point, Mowan Ci had kept a faint smile on her lips.

Jiang Si glanced at her several times and realized she truly seemed to enjoy the experience.

But now she looked visibly frightened. She held tightly onto her cloak and pressed her lips together in silence.

Jiang Si found it difficult to watch her like that. After hesitating for a moment, she reached out and placed her hand gently over Mowan Ci’s.

Her hand was warm and carried a light amber scent. The touch seemed to calm Mowan Ci’s fear a little, but she still moved her hand slightly, trying to pull away from Jiang Si’s grasp.

Jiang Si’s hand was larger and stronger, and she didn’t let go so easily.

Mowan Ci lowered her gaze. Her face, flushed like it had been touched by the wind, looked up and quietly asked, “Why are you doing this?”

Jiang Si paused. It seemed as if she did not fully understand the deeper meaning behind Mowan Ci’s question. She opened her mouth and let out a bright laugh, then pointed to the servants in the distance who were building snow tracks and said, “I invited you here to play in the snow.”

“I also said I would protect you. So, I have to keep my word.”

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