Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 38

Jiang Si had expected that Mowan Ci would be angry.

She thought Mowan Ci might say something contradictory to her true feelings, or even suspect her of being unfaithful.

But she had never expected to hear the words, “Anyone but you.”

Jiang Si felt humiliated and hurt. Her eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Mowan Ci, silently begging her to take those words back.

But she didn’t. Mowan Ci remained calm and composed, as if nothing had happened, or as if nothing that happened could ever matter to her.

For the first time, Jiang Si felt completely powerless in front of Mowan Ci.

She couldn’t win against her and finally gave up. “I once said I wanted to marry you.”

“You were the one who rejected me.”

“Have you forgotten all of that now?”

Jiang Si was trying to defend herself. She didn’t want Mowan Ci to think she was someone who would casually get involved with anyone.

Mowan Ci stared at her in confusion. Jiang Si lowered her gaze, hiding her emotions, but she felt her guess was correct.

There was nothing for Mowan Ci to forget. She just never believed in her.

Jiang Si’s behavior had been strange. She had traveled a great distance to seek an imperial decree to take her as a concubine, but after Mowan Ci arrived at the Marquis’s residence, Jiang Si’s attitude completely changed.

It was nothing like what the world said. Nothing like what Mowan Ci had imagined.

She couldn’t understand it, and so she chose not to get too deeply involved.

But after she was poisoned, she had no choice but to grow closer to Jiang Si, and even…

Mowan Ci bit her lip. Thinking back on her recent behavior, she realized the real reason might be that her body had developed a dependence on the incense Jiang Si used.

Just then, Jiang Si said, sounding somewhat wronged, “You even bit me last night.”

With those words, it suddenly made Mowan Ci look like the one who refused to acknowledge their relationship, even though she had been the one doing those things.

Mowan Ci almost lost control of her expression. She clenched her fingers so tightly that her nails dug into her palm, forcing herself to calm down.

What existed between her and Jiang Si was not what it seemed.

She turned to Jiang Si, who looked frustrated and downcast. Just as she was about to speak, Nangong Yan stepped out of the room.

Earlier, Mowan Ci had only heard voices and hadn’t seen what was happening inside.

Now, seeing Nangong Yan walk out with her clothing messy and untidy, it immediately gave the impression that something inappropriate had just taken place.

Mowan Ci’s eyes moved past Jiang Si and landed on Nangong Yan. Jiang Si noticed the hostility in her gaze and followed her line of sight.

Her face turned completely cold.

She hadn’t even had a proper conversation with Mowan Ci yet, and now someone had come to cause trouble.

Just moments ago, Nangong Yan’s robe had still been neatly on her shoulders. Now it had slipped halfway down her arms.

Did she have no shame? In front of so many people?

“Nangong Yan, do you think this little act is funny?” Jiang Si lowered her voice, but it was filled with anger. Nangong Yan simply looked at her innocently and said nothing.

It was like trying to strike something soft. No matter how angry Jiang Si was, there was no impact.

This was clearly intentional. She said nothing and let people imagine whatever they wanted.

Jiang Si turned to explain to Mowan Ci, but to her surprise, Mowan Ci didn’t even look at her. She walked straight toward Nangong Yan.

She gently helped Nangong Yan adjust her robe and said with a calm smile, “Last night I told the Marquis that if you truly care for him, it might be better to bring you into the household as a proper concubine.”

Mowan Ci remained composed. She didn’t care how Nangong Yan viewed her, and she wasn’t worried about how Jiang Si would react.

But Nangong Yan was different. She had come with the intent to provoke Mowan Ci.

As the Junzhu of Nanliang, Nangong Yan had been raised in luxury. The former emperor had died young, leaving only a child as heir. Among her generation of Nanliang royalty, she was the most noble. Calling her a princess would not be wrong, since real power lay in her father’s hands.

She was proud and overbearing, and she had done many things that a woman of her rank shouldn’t have.

But in her heart, there was always one person she couldn’t let go of—Princess Shao Yuan.

Mowan Ci was older than her and had been the person she was constantly compared to since childhood. Not because she wanted to become like her, but because her father always praised how perfect the Princess of Shao Yuan was.

She had never accepted it. She had never been willing.

When she heard that Princess Shao Yuan had been abandoned by her own brother and given to a military marquis as a concubine, she stopped treating her as a rival.

She never expected that fate would play such a trick on her. The person she had fallen for turned out to be the very same Jia Jing Marquis.

And after hearing Mowan Ci speak to her like that, all the resentment Nangong Yan had buried for years finally burst out.

Why? Why could Mowan Ci, a princess rejected by her own brother and forced into concubinage, still carry herself with such pride?

“What do you have to rely on, Mowan Ci?”

“Is there anyone in the royal family of Yue who even wants you alive?”

She knew exactly where to strike. If Mowan Ci could hurt her, then she would make sure to return the pain.

When she saw the momentary shock and confusion flash across Mowan Ci’s face, Nangong Yan felt thrilled beyond words.

“Mowan Ci, you—”

“Enough.”

Before she could finish, Jiang Si grabbed her wrist.

Nangong Yan had trained in martial arts, but her strength was no match for Jiang Si, who was born of Qianyuan blood. She was thrown aside with ease.

Jiang Si stared at her with murderous intent and said through gritted teeth, “Liu Jin, escort the Junzhu out of the residence.”

Then she added coldly, “This Marquis and the Junzhu are allies in military matters only. I hope the Junzhu will keep her place and not overstep her bounds.”

Nangong Yan had been humiliated by Jiang Si more than once, and her heart burned with resentment. But she could not help the fact that she had fallen for this person.

With a mocking laugh, she said to Mowan Ci, “Princess Shao Yuan, your skills are truly impressive.”

Mowan Ci did not respond. Her expression remained calm, and Nangong Yan, unable to get a rise out of her, left with forced grace.

Now, with the chaos cleared, it was Jiang Si, caught between them who felt the most uncomfortable.

She cared deeply about what Nangong Yan had said.

Especially the line: “Is there anyone in the royal family of Yue who wants you alive?”

And the one that followed: “What do you even have to rely on?”

Yet, aside from the moment of surprise when she first heard those words, Mowan Ci had remained calm. In fact, she had shown even less reaction than when Nangong Yan first appeared before them.

Jiang Si wanted to say something comforting, but the words remained stuck in her throat.

Mowan Ci seemed to notice. She looked at Jiang Si, who hesitated to speak, and said plainly, “There’s no need to mind her. She only spoke the truth.”

Back in her room, the more Jiang Si thought about Mowan Ci’s indifferent reaction, the more frustrated she felt.

Everything she did, Mowan Ci didn’t seem to care. Whether it was concern or confrontation, Mowan Ci remained unaffected.

Even the two clashes with Nangong Yan felt less about her and more like the two women simply didn’t get along.

And then there was that painful phrase—”Anyone but you.”

Jiang Si couldn’t sit still any longer. She stood up impulsively, thinking she would go and ask Mowan Ci what she was supposed to do.

But when she reached the training grounds, she suddenly realized—Mowan Ci didn’t care. Why should she keep chasing this so stubbornly?

She changed course and went to spar with Su Xun, who was training soldiers on the field.

Sparring was a common activity, but because it was Jiang Si, Su Xun seemed hesitant, holding back his strength. Jiang Si didn’t enjoy it either. After just a few moves, she found it boring and told Su Xun to continue his training. She walked away and began practicing with a spear instead.

The moment she saw that spear in the armory, it had felt familiar. Holding it in her hands, it felt as if it belonged to her, perfectly in sync with her body.

At first, she only knew the basic forms. But after several real battles, her movements had become fluid. Now, her skill had improved even more, and the practice felt better than ever.

However, not long into her training, her body began to feel heavy.

She wasn’t far from Su Xun, who immediately noticed something was wrong.

He wanted to call for Lan Shao, but Jiang Si waved it off. Once she stopped moving, the discomfort eased slightly. She returned the spear and left the field.

She thought rest would solve the issue, but the discomfort lasted into the night.

After dinner, she tried to sleep, but though she usually slept easily, tonight she couldn’t fall asleep at all.

Her thoughts, hazy and restless, kept returning to Mowan Ci.

She saw her again, in her mind’s eye, kissing her in the Snow Lotus Pool.

Snow lotus?

Jiang Si suddenly sat upright, shaking her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

Then Lan Shao’s words came to mind—the only ones who react to reversed scent-marking are Qianyuan.

Was her mind now full of Mowan Ci’s scent? Her soft lips?

Stumbling toward the South Courtyard, Jiang Si found that Mowan Ci’s lights were already out. The maid standing outside didn’t seem surprised by her arrival and didn’t stop her.

In fact, she faced no obstacles at all. Zhimiao wasn’t guarding the door either.

The courtyard was silent. Only Jiang Si’s soft knocking and her uneven breathing could be heard.

“Your Highness… I…”

“Come in.”

Mowan Ci’s voice drifted out, carrying the faint, sweet fragrance of snow lotus. Jiang Si felt a burning pain flare up at the back of her neck.

Her vision began to blur. It was already dark, and now she could hardly see at all.

She didn’t even remember how the door opened. When she became aware again, Mowan Ci was already seated on the bed.

Though night had fallen and the lamps were out, Mowan Ci was still in her day clothes, showing no signs of preparing for sleep.

It even felt like she had been waiting.

Waiting for her to come in just like this.

Jiang Si pushed through the pain, step by step, toward the bed. Mowan Ci urged her gently, “Hurry up.”

Her legs felt weak, and she moved slowly, steadying herself on anything she could touch. Finally, she placed a hand on the edge of the bed, locking eyes with Mowan Ci.

The moonlight was faint, but just enough for her to see Mowan Ci’s bright eyes and inhale the overwhelming scent of snow lotus.

She breathed deeply, wanting to take in more of the scent, desperate to ease the burning in her glands.

But the more she inhaled, the more it felt like something inside her was being set ablaze.

Her hands moved instinctively, searching for Mowan Ci in the darkness.

Mowan Ci didn’t move away. She was waiting for her touch.

Jiang Si’s fingertips brushed her arm, then slid upward until she gently grasped Mowan Ci’s hand.

She dared not do anything further. Instead, she leaned her head quietly against Mowan Ci’s shoulder.

It was Mowan Ci who raised her hand, gently tilted Jiang Si’s chin, and made her look up.

The scent seemed to be tearing through her. Jiang Si stared at her lips, entranced.

Mowan Ci noticed the way she licked her own lips.

Then, with a soft smile, Mowan Ci asked, “You want to kiss me?”

Jiang Si nodded blankly.

Mowan Ci’s smile deepened. She leaned close and whispered, so softly it felt like a dream, “If the Marquis desires it, I won’t refuse.”

Those words made Jiang Si tremble with need. She swallowed hard. Her hands moved on their own, sliding around Mowan Ci’s waist. Tilting her head, she leaned in to taste the snow lotus scent.

So close, yet still just out of reach. Just when she was about to touch her lips, Mowan Ci pulled away.

Jiang Si felt the sting of disappointment. The ache in her chest grew worse.

She reached out and pulled Mowan Ci onto the bed with her, pressing her down and moving above her.

Mowan Ci didn’t resist. Instead, she spoke gently, “Does the Marquis intend to take me by force?”

Jiang Si froze. Her heart sank with guilt.

She had said she wouldn’t resist.

Her eyes turned red with frustration, and Mowan Ci only continued smiling.

As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Jiang Si could see her more clearly. Every expression, every glance was filled with emotion.

The amber scent was starting to affect her too. Mowan Ci’s eyes shimmered as she gazed back, clearly moved.

At the same time, a tingling sensation began to spread from Jiang Si’s collarbone.

It was Mowan Ci’s hand, slowly and teasingly tracing along her skin.

It tickled, and Jiang Si didn’t know what to do.

She wanted to pull away, but she also craved the cool touch of Mowan Ci’s hand.

“Mowan Ci…” Jiang Si whispered. She had never experienced anything like this before. She didn’t know what to do, only that saying her name helped ease the storm in her heart.

Mowan Ci was calm and deliberate, as though she had been waiting for this moment. Her voice was slow and gentle.

“I no longer care what the royal family of Yue thinks. If you can overthrow it, then I will belong only to you, regardless of your status.”

“As for Nangong Yan, I believe you.”

“Because your body carries no trace of her scent. You were disgusted, weren’t you?”

Her normally cold voice now held a subtle allure. Jiang Si understood every word, yet couldn’t find the logic through the haze.

All she could do was speak her heart.

“No one else will do.”

Her gaze burned with intensity and sincerity. For a moment, Mowan Ci was caught off guard.

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