Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 34

The drawn-out war between Yue and Liang could not be separated from the influence of both Mu Shuyang and the woman now standing before Jiang Si—Nangong Yan.

On the surface, Mu Shuyang stood united with Mu Zesheng. But behind closed doors, she harbored ambitions of seizing the throne for herself.

Compared to Nanliang, the Yue Kingdom was vast and sparsely populated. Its geography made it easier to defend than to attack. The only weak points were in the north and south. The northern border had Jiang Si, the Marquis of Jiajing, a descendant of a different royal bloodline, someone Mu Zesheng deeply feared.

As for Mu Shuyang, he feared her too, but to a lesser extent.

In past generations, the Princes of Pingjin had always lived comfortably in the capital, enjoying their noble status. They kept company with families like the Marquis of Boyang and were never truly favored by the late emperor.

But their ambition was never small—no less than that of the original Jiang Si.

The difference was that one wore their ambition openly, while the other hid it behind a mask.

If not for fragments of memory from the original story surfacing in her mind, Jiang Si would never have guessed that Nangong Yan, standing before her now, had once conspired with the Prince of Pingjin. Nor would she have known that Nangong Yan, after falling for the original Jiang Si at first sight, would go so far as to betray that agreement.

Originally, the Prince of Pingjin had intended for Jiang Si to die on this battlefield.

But Jiang Si had no intention of simply surviving by chance. She wanted to take the initiative and offer a deal to Nangong Yan.

Whether Nangong Yan would fall in love with her again, as in the original story, did not matter.

Jiang Si had no interest in seductive women like her.

“Princess, how many cities did the Prince of Pingjin promise you?”

Nanliang’s land was fertile, but its population was large. If left unchecked, its people would eventually suffer in poverty within just a few years.

Jiang Si’s ambitions were large, but not without limits.

Giving up a few cities in exchange for an alliance was something she could accept.

After all, even if she lost the southern territories, she still had the northern frontier and the land of the Rong Di to gain from.

So by asking that question, she was implying that she could offer more.

Nangong Yan understood perfectly well. She paused, clearly considering the offer.

The deputy general behind her grew visibly anxious.

“Princess, we still need to think carefully about whether this person can be trusted.”

It was meant as a reminder, but Nangong Yan’s attention was elsewhere. She seemed not to be weighing Jiang Si’s trustworthiness at all.

Instead, she turned and asked her deputy, “And Mu Shuyang is completely trustworthy?”

The deputy fell silent. His eyes darted for a moment, but in the end, he said nothing.

If Jiang Si could not be fully trusted, Mu Shuyang certainly could not either. To Nanliang, both were foreign figures. One had fought them for years, the other was only known through rumors.

Nangong Yan had fought life-or-death battles against Mu Shuyang for years, and their alliance had only lasted a few months. More importantly, she never really liked Mu Shuyang.

Finally, Nangong Yan raised her hand and held up three fingers.

“Huaicheng, Kangcheng, and Tiancheng.”

“How many cities can the Marquis offer me in return?”

The southern frontier did not belong to Jiang Si, so she could be generous. She smiled and replied easily.

“Half of the southern territories can be yours, Princess.”

That response shocked not only Nangong Yan but also the deputy general standing behind her. His eyes widened in disbelief.

The southern frontier was vast. Half of it would mean eight or nine cities. He could not believe Jiang Si would be willing to give up so much for one alliance.

“I have my eyes on the northern frontier. The south doesn’t concern me much,” Jiang Si said with a calm smile, her hands behind her back. Her relaxed posture only made her words more infuriating.

The deputy general grew angry. He stepped forward with his blade raised.

But Nangong Yan believed Jiang Si. Just as the two were within a few feet of each other, she called out.

“Xu Ji, stand down.”

Xu Ji had been born and raised in the Regent’s household. His instinct was to obey Nangong Yan’s orders without hesitation. Still, he stopped in place, his eyes locked on Jiang Si with unmistakable hostility.

Nangong Yan, on the other hand, smiled like a blooming flower as she slowly walked toward Jiang Si.

She had a stunning figure, and her armor was slightly different from that of the others. Her exact age was unclear, but she certainly was not young. Especially with her prominent curves, she gave off a bold and sensual aura.

Jiang Si had never been drawn to this type of woman. So no matter how sweet Nangong Yan’s smile was, her expression remained completely unchanged.

That seemed to disappoint Nangong Yan, but only for a moment. Soon, her curiosity took over.

It was that curiosity that made Jiang Si gulp nervously.

She feared she had walked into a wolf’s den, while Nangong Yan, on the other hand, was beginning to believe Jiang Si might be interested in her.

“So what do we do now?” Nangong Yan asked, voice light and teasing.

“The thirty thousand soldiers of Nanliang think I came here to take your head, Marquis.”

Her words were deliberately flirtatious, and they sent a chill down Jiang Si’s spine. Even her hands were growing restless.

She brushed her fingers lightly over Nangong Yan’s armor, tracing meaningless patterns.

Thankfully, the armor was thick enough that Nangong Yan could not feel a thing. Otherwise…

Otherwise, Jiang Si would feel utterly unclean.

The suggestiveness in her tone was far too obvious. Jiang Si was clearly uncomfortable. Lan Shao didn’t look any better. And Xu Ji’s expression had completely darkened.

He was already tanned by nature. Now, he looked as black as charcoal.

Xu Ji’s temper flared the moment he saw Nangong Yan’s reaction. Taking the chance, he spoke up harshly.

“The head of the Marquis of Jiajing must be taken. If we miss this opportunity, there may not be another.”

Nangong Yan, who had shown only softness toward Jiang Si, turned sharply at his words, her eyes cold and threatening. Her hair nearly brushed against Jiang Si’s face as she spun around.

“What the Prince of Pingjin can offer, do you think the Marquis of Jiajing cannot?”

“In Nanliang, we have always valued strength. And in terms of talent, the Marquis of Jiajing is clearly above Mu Shuyang.”

Xu Ji’s face darkened further at her words. Even Jiang Si found herself speechless inside.

She thought, “This woman is truly love-struck. We’ve only just met, and she already believes I’m unmatched in talent?”

But Jiang Si showed nothing on her face. Nangong Yan didn’t seem to notice anything unusual.

She had chosen Jiang Si with her own eyes. Why would she ever doubt her own judgment?

“If the Marquis is serious about forming an alliance, why don’t we move this discussion to the Nanliang camp? It’s only a few li from here.”

Nangong Yan’s eyes sparkled with intensity. Jiang Si cleared her throat awkwardly, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere.

“My general, Cheng Pu, is currently trapped inside Huaicheng. Before going to any camp, I need to bring him out.”

“That’s easily handled,” Nangong Yan replied with a bright smile. “If that’s your wish, it will be done.”

“Xu Ji, give the order. Attack Huaicheng.”

Her tone was light, as though betraying a previous agreement meant nothing at all. Xu Ji grew anxious and tried to object.

“Princess, what about the Prince of Pingjin?”

“What about her?” Nangong Yan replied calmly. “It was only a verbal promise.”

“Great ambitions are never bound by small details.”

That last sentence sent a chill down Jiang Si’s spine.

She wasn’t sure if it was the charm of her own face or if Nangong Yan simply had no loyalty at all.

Either way, she knew she couldn’t trust this woman completely. An alliance might be possible, but she could never rely on her. She could not let Nangong Yan become too powerful.

Jiang Si then ordered Lan Shao to light the signal smoke, summoning Su Xun and Ye Chan to regroup with her outside Huaicheng.

Soon after, both armies advanced together toward the city.

The momentum was entirely different from when they had first arrived. Even from far away, the city guards noticed the change and immediately ran to report.

Not long after, Jiang Si saw a general standing at the top of the city gate. She guessed it was the governor of Huaicheng, Cai Yingwei. Standing next to him, under guard, was Cheng Pu.

Jiang Si’s eyesight wasn’t the best, but she could still tell that two soldiers were holding weapons at Cheng Pu’s side.

Her top priority in coming here was to rescue Cheng Pu and take control of Huaicheng, so she couldn’t afford to make a reckless move.

The Nanliang army, however, had no such concerns. On the way, Jiang Si hadn’t been able to hear what Nangong Yan and Xu Ji had discussed, but Xu Ji’s attitude had shifted. He now seemed determined to seize the city at any cost.

When the Nanliang soldiers launched their assault, they moved swiftly. Jiang Si wanted to stop them, but with so many troops, her words were not enough.

“Nangong Yan, what are you doing?”

The sudden attack sent the city’s defenders into panic. As Jiang Si questioned her, the soldiers on the walls were already preparing to drop stones.

Jiang Si didn’t care about what happened to the Nanliang army. What she feared most was that Cheng Pu would be harmed.

“You want to take Huaicheng, Marquis? I’m just helping. What’s wrong with that?” Nangong Yan’s tone grew sharper. While she treated Jiang Si with some favor, she didn’t like being questioned. Her voice carried a clear edge.

Jiang Si didn’t back down.

“If we are allies, should you not consider your ally’s wishes?”

“The northern frontier does not raise useless soldiers like the Prince of Pingjin’s army. You know what a good general means. I don’t need to explain it.”

“Cheng Pu is my strongest warrior. If we lose him, it would be a huge blow to our cause.”

“Then what does the Marquis intend to do?”

Jiang Si had prepared a full argument, but Nangong Yan interrupted her with that one line. Her eyes were gleaming, which made Jiang Si feel deeply uncomfortable.

She looked down slightly and said calmly, “You knew the answer. You just didn’t want to deal with the effort.”

Dealing with the Nanliang army had only been a smokescreen. Though the Jingyuan Army had fewer soldiers, they were all highly trained and disciplined. Even if they couldn’t win in a direct fight, they could still retreat intact.

What Jiang Si had not expected was Nangong Yan’s ruthlessness. Including the Jingyuan Army, there were only thirty thousand troops near Huaicheng. If Nangong Yan had truly believed in their alliance, she wouldn’t have launched a full assault.

But if Nangong Yan used all thirty thousand Nanliang troops and expected the Jingyuan Army to hold back, there would be sacrifice. And that meant she was willing to risk casualties for a higher chance of victory.

With Nanliang’s assault in full motion, Governor Cai Yingwei would surely panic. That could cost them Cheng Pu’s life.

Nangong Yan frowned, clearly displeased.

The situation on the battlefield changed quickly. Jiang Si no longer had time to argue. Since things had already developed this far, she had to think of another solution.

There were only three thousand Jingyuan soldiers inside Huaicheng. The rest were stationed at a camp several li away. Su Xun’s personal guards had already gone to deliver a message. All they could do now was wait.

To Xu Ji, the Jingyuan Army’s movements were suspicious. They showed no intent of joining the assault. It looked like the Nanliang forces were being sacrificed alone.

Soon, even Nangong Yan grew restless. It wasn’t until the rest of the Jingyuan Army finally arrived that she began to understand Jiang Si’s plan.

Seventeen thousand soldiers under Jiang Si’s command arrived, creating immediate confusion on the city wall.

And their formation was aimed directly at the Nanliang army.

Jiang Si, in the name of alliance, had actually disrupted Nanliang’s battle formation.

Xu Ji was furious, and even Nangong Yan was beginning to lose patience. She stormed up to Jiang Si and demanded answers.

“Marquis of Jiajing, what is the meaning of this?”

“What do I mean?” Jiang Si smiled calmly.

“When I asked what you meant earlier, Princess, your words became my response.”

“But why…”

“Why don’t I care about the Princess’s wishes?” Jiang Si raised her eyebrows.

Nangong Yan’s eyes reddened in frustration, but she couldn’t argue back.

After all, she had been the one to ignore her ally’s wishes first.

“What a coincidence. I hope this will be the last time as well,” said the Marquis.

Clearly, both sides could have achieved their goals by cooperating. But Nangong Yan acted entirely on her own desires, ignoring Jiang Si’s will. Since she disregarded his wishes, there was no reason for him to consider hers.

The Jingyuan Army had its own method of communication, not through smoke signals, but through a special kind of whistling arrow.

Understanding Jiang Si’s intent, Su Xun immediately sent someone to fire the signal arrow. As expected, the Jingyuan forces inside the city would move out in full force.

A false surrender had once been the plan to minimize losses. But now, that option was no longer possible.

From a distance, Jiang Si watched Cheng Pu standing on top of the city tower. Her only thought was to save him with as little loss as possible. The moment the whistling arrow flew into the sky, Cai Yingwei seemed to sense something. He raised his hand and gave the order for his soldiers to strike.

Jiang Si’s entire body trembled.

In the original version of events, Cheng Pu did not die in Huai City. He had escaped with the remaining few thousand Jingyuan soldiers and returned to the northern frontier. Only after that did the original protagonist and Nangong Yan begin their plot to seize control of the Yue Kingdom.

Was it because she already knew all of this that she rushed the sequence of events?

And if so, could that also change Cheng Pu’s fate?

Jiang Si closed her eyes, feeling a cold chill wash over her. Guilt weighed heavily on her heart, too painful for words.

When she opened her eyes again, the situation had already changed. The Jingyuan Army had somehow climbed onto the city tower. A soldier stood behind Cheng Pu and another in front. His restraints were removed, and Cheng Pu raised his sword and struck at Cai Yingwei.

The weight on Jiang Si’s chest finally eased. Cheng Pu was safe. With that burden lifted, she could now go on the offensive without hesitation.

The reason the Jingyuan Army had never lost a battle was partly due to their strength, but also because of their superior weapons.

If Jiang Si had previously underestimated the original protagonist, she now realized she had judged too quickly.

In this age of cold weapons, the original protagonist had invented a concealed fire-launching device.

Although it had rarely been used and had sat untouched in the armory—deemed unnecessary in past battles with the Rong and Di tribes—Jiang Si had revived the weapon upon discovering it and formed a firebolt unit.

Since their return from Wei City, the unit had been under Su Xun’s command.

“Su Xun, release the arrows.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Very few people knew about this unit. Even Lan Shao and Ye Chan had been kept in the dark.

When the two women glanced toward Su Xun, they saw her surrounded by dozens of soldiers.

Jiang Si trusted Su Xun more than anyone, and Su Xun trusted only those closest to her. The soldiers at her side were all elite warriors from the former Jingyu Battalion.

With a single wave of her hand, the soldiers drew out their firebolts and aimed at the top of the tower.

The improved firebolts had a much longer range than traditional arrows and far greater power. In an instant, half the Pingjin troops on the tower were struck down. Inside the city, the Jingyuan soldiers opened the gates.

When Jiang Si finally saw Cheng Pu again, the Jingyuan and Nanliang armies were already entering the city to rest and reorganize.

After a few months apart, Cheng Pu looked noticeably thinner and no longer carried the same simple, honest air he once had.

With blood on his hands, he knelt on the ground and bowed deeply to Jiang Si.

“My lord, I have failed your trust.”

“It doesn’t matter. I am just glad we could meet again.”

Jiang Si helped him up and saw clearly that several of his fingers were missing. Blood was still flowing from the wounds. They must have been inflicted during the confrontation on the city tower.

Cheng Pu lowered his head as she looked at him, his hands rubbing together awkwardly.

“Be careful. If the wounds get worse, they may not heal properly. Go find someone to bandage them quickly.”

Jiang Si’s concern was sincere and heartfelt. Nangong Yan, who stood nearby, felt a sudden pang of jealousy when she saw it.

Along with that jealousy came guilt. If she had not acted so recklessly, perhaps none of this would have happened.

She walked up to Jiang Si and gently patted her on the shoulder.

There was nearly a head of height between them. Jiang Si looked down, while Nangong Yan tiptoed slightly and blinked up at her.

“I heard the Marquis has yet to marry.”

“You heard wrong. I plan to marry once I return to the northern frontier.”

“Marry who? All I’ve heard is that Princess Shao Yuan of Yue has become your concubine. But no one ever mentioned you planned to marry anyone.”

Jiang Si realized something in that moment. Nangong Yan had a strange ability to provoke her anger in just a few words.

It was true that Princess Shao Yuan was her concubine. But why couldn’t a concubine become a wife?

Only because the Princess had not yet appeared.

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