Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 44

“What is the Marquis trying to do? Are you testing me?”

“It’s not a test. I meant it sincerely.” Jiang Si sounded a little weary as she spoke, then chuckled and waved her hand, softening her tone. “But if Her Highness wishes to treat it as a test, that’s fine too.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

On the surface, she and Mowan Ci appeared close, but in truth, they were opposites.

Jiang Si could never fully trust Mowan Ci, and the feeling was mutual.

Last night they had embraced each other. Tonight they were already distant.

Jiang Si stomped her feet into the snow and yawned, pretending as if nothing had happened. “I’m tired. I’m going to bed. Your Highness should rest early as well.”

When Jiang Si and Mowan Ci had walked into the garden earlier, Zhi Miao and Sang Zhi had purposefully given them space. Now, seeing the two of them part ways coldly, each maid returned to her mistress.

At that point, the two women turned away from each other and headed to their own rooms.

Jiang Si was not very drunk, but after walking through the wind, her steps became unsteady.

Sang Zhi struggled to support her alone and nearly stumbled. Strangely enough, Mowan Ci suddenly rushed over to help.

Jiang Si’s earlier words had indeed annoyed her. But now, pretending nothing had happened made Mowan Ci feel oddly uncomfortable.

She supported Jiang Si from the other side, though she did not place all her weight into the gesture.

After a few steps, Jiang Si finally seemed to register what was happening and turned to look at her.

Zhi Miao had also followed and was reaching out to steady Jiang Si.

Now surrounded by three people, Jiang Si was puzzled.

Especially because the person holding her left side was Mowan Ci.

Whether it was a test or something sincere, Mowan Ci clearly believed she had some kind of motive. So what was she doing now?

Yet Jiang Si did not push her away.

She was used to Sang Zhi’s quiet and balanced care, but Zhi Miao’s approach made her uncomfortable.

Without thinking, she brushed Sang Zhi’s hand aside and even pushed Zhi Miao away. She leaned her entire body onto Mowan Ci.

They had touched many times before. In dreams, even more intimately. So this kind of closeness didn’t fluster Jiang Si. In fact, it gave her a strange sense of comfort.

She didn’t know what Mowan Ci was thinking, but she rested her head against her shoulder and whispered, “Would Her Highness stay in the Northern Courtyard tonight?”

Usually, she was the one going to the Southern Courtyard to find Mowan Ci. Tonight, she wanted to be a little selfish and bring her back instead.

Mowan Ci hesitated briefly, then nodded.

Behind them, Zhi Miao looked slightly troubled, then seemed to realize something. She followed beside Mowan Ci and even returned to the Southern Courtyard to fetch a change of clothes for her.

That night, nothing happened between them. Jiang Si simply slept holding Mowan Ci in her arms.

Mowan Ci, whose hands and feet were bound in sleep, felt incredibly uncomfortable and even angry at herself for acting on impulse.

When Jiang Si woke up, she was alone.

She tried to recall what had happened the night before. She remembered pulling Mowan Ci into the snow, remembered bringing up Feng Yao, remembered Mowan Ci coming to help her walk.

But after that?

She could not recall how they had gotten back. She kept wondering, why had Mowan Ci come to help her without holding a grudge?

There was little time to think it through. The finals of the ice polo match were today, and Sang Zhi soon knocked on the door to help her bathe and dress.

Jiang Si pushed the questions aside.

If she couldn’t figure it out, she would stop thinking about it. After all, Mowan Ci was never someone easy to understand.

The first match today was between the Jingyuan Army and the Ling Shang City Polo Team. The Jingyuan Army won without much suspense. Jiang Si gained a bit more confidence in herself. Although her skills were not highly refined, her accuracy was still quite good.

The final match would be the Jingyuan Army versus the Guard Unit.

Jiang Si wore a dark military riding outfit and rode a black horse. Opposite her, Feng Yao wore white and rode a white horse. The contrast was striking.

Both were skilled riders, but Jiang Si was better suited to icy terrain. Feng Yao’s movements looked awkward. Jiang Si had noticed Feng Yao’s expressions earlier, but now realized she had not expected the match to turn out like this.

Perhaps Feng Yao hadn’t felt any strong desire to win until now.

Two Qianyuan teammates from Jiang Si’s side were preparing to pass the ball to Fang Lin. Feng Yao, who was nearby, charged forward and stole the ball.

She had once served as a commanding officer in the capital and now held the title of Loyal and Brave General. Feng Yao was certainly capable. Although not suited for ice, she wasted no time and scored as soon as she got the ball.

It was a long-range shot, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

Feng Yao, as a noble from the capital, was used to being in the spotlight. To her, this kind of attention was normal.

Her expression remained calm and serious, showing no hint of pride.

Jiang Si and Feng Yao were, in a way, romantic rivals. Their play styles were also quite similar. Jiang Si had good horsemanship, but she had never played in a real match before. Catching the ball was still difficult for her. If not for the support of Su Xun and Lan Shao, she would have lost the ball several times.

Still, once she had the ball, she could score.

Feng Yao, on the other hand, played independently. Her teammates couldn’t keep up, and the team started falling apart.

The two Qianyuan men trusted Fang Lin but were cautious about Feng Yao’s status. They had no choice but to pass the ball to her. However, the formation behind her could not follow up. After just fifteen minutes, the score difference became clear.

Feng Yao was naturally proud. Seeing this, her fighting spirit ignited.

Her polo stick curved like a crescent moon and blocked the fast-moving ball. Jiang Si met her head-on.

Their arms collided. Neither was willing to give way.

After a long standoff, Jiang Si took advantage of a moment of carelessness and passed the ball to Lan Shao. Feng Yao’s teammates were far behind. Only Fang Lin was nearby.

As Jiang Si rode aside to receive the ball from Lan Shao, she turned and saw Fang Lin get struck by Feng Yao’s polo stick.

Fortunately, the girl was agile, and it looked like it only hit her arm.

The match had only gone on for fifteen minutes, but with Fang Lin injured, the outcome was now certain.

“Stop,” Jiang Si shouted. She threw her polo stick aside and rode over to Fang Lin with Lan Shao.

Feng Yao stood nearby. When she saw Jiang Si approaching, she bowed and said, “My lord, I lost control of my hand for a moment. It was an accident.”

Jiang Si didn’t even acknowledge the apology. She had no interest in hearing excuses. All her attention was on Fang Lin’s condition.

The junior medic from the Jingyuan Army was already by Fang Lin’s side. When Jiang Si and Lan Shao approached, he said, “My lord, Commander. Allow me to treat her.”

Lan Shao, as the military physician of the Jingyuan Army, held the rank of Gold Feather Commander. The junior medics under her command referred to her by this title, though most others simply called her Physician Lan.

In the military, medics and soldiers worked independently of each other. Treating every soldier was their duty, but priority always went to Jiang Si, Su Xun, Ye Chan, and a few other senior officers. That was why the junior medic had stepped forward first for Fang Lin.

However, since the one who caused the injury was Feng Yao, the Loyal and Brave General, and since Fang Lin had been personally selected by both Jiang Si and Su Xun, this situation was not the same.

Lan Shao examined Fang Lin’s injury and replied in a calm voice, “No need. I’ll handle it myself.”

The junior medic stepped aside and stood next to Lan Shao.

“She’s injured the bone, but it’s not broken.”

“After treatment, you must not move the arm for three months. If you rest properly, I promise you’ll recover fully.” Lan Shao, usually strict and distant, spoke with rare gentleness as she bandaged the injury and gave Fang Lin careful instructions.

Fang Lin was one of the youngest in the Guard Unit. Her duties were limited, and her pay was modest. To help with her family’s expenses, she often took on small side jobs. Hearing this, she shook her head immediately.

“I can’t, Commander. I… I won’t continue the treatment.”

“My mother is sick at home. I need to take care of her.”

Lan Shao usually gave off a serious, almost aloof impression, but she was a healer at heart. Facing a situation like Fang Lin’s, she couldn’t ignore it.

She wasn’t being kind just because Jiang Si and Su Xun had taken notice of Fang Lin’s abilities. What moved her was the sight of those thin yet strong hands and the girl’s determined spirit.

“Your mother can wait. Let me finish treating your injury first. Then bring her to the back courtyard of the Marquis’s residence.”

“I can help treat her too.”

“Of course, there will be a fee. But you can work it off by helping me.”

Fang Lin frowned at the word “help.” Lan Shao could tell that this young girl had a strong sense of pride and self-respect.

Understanding her meaning, Fang Lin’s eyes turned red. She lowered her head and gave a respectful bow.

“Thank you, Commander. I’m truly grateful.”

“No need to thank me. I serve the Jiajing Marquis. She provides for me. If you must thank someone, thank her.”

Fang Lin responded quickly. Not only did she thank Jiang Si, she also bowed deeply to Su Xun and her deputy, recognizing their matching uniforms. She kowtowed again and again until Jiang Si, uncomfortable with the sight, quickly helped her up.

Fang Lin might be young, but she knew who the Jiajing Marquis was. Most of her bows were directed at Jiang Si. Now, completely ignoring her own injury, she tried to pull away from her.

“My lady… I’m not clean. I don’t want to soil your clothes…”

“What do you mean not clean? We were just playing on the ice together. What’s there to be afraid of?”

“Don’t be scared. Here in the North, I’ll speak for you. The one who hurt you won’t get away with it.”

Fang Lin’s tearful and shrinking expression made Jiang Si’s chest tighten. She didn’t care about the looks others gave her. She meant every word she said.

Fang Lin lifted her head uneasily and glanced at Feng Yao.

Feng Yao knew she was in the wrong and said nothing.

At that moment, a voice full of irritation rang out behind them.

“To hurt a child like that… just how shameless can a person be?”

Everyone turned their heads. Feng Yao looked particularly offended.

She glared at the masked captain of the Ling Shang City polo team, the one who had just defended Fang Lin.

Feng Yao admitted she had acted out of anger earlier, but she hadn’t expected it to go this far and actually injure Fang Lin.

So what if she was a commoner? Was all this fuss really necessary?

Still, the injury was real, and there was no way to deny it. Feng Yao could only stand silently, then cast her gaze toward Mowan Ci, hoping she would say something on her behalf. If not, it would seem like everyone present was against her.

Unfortunately, Mowan Ci showed no reaction. She stood quietly at a distance, watching the scene unfold with calm eyes.

She did not share Jiang Si’s urgency, nor the masked captain’s fury.

Her gaze remained steady. If Feng Yao hadn’t looked at her, no one would have even noticed that Mowan Ci was standing nearby.

Seeing that, Feng Yao walked out of the crowd and approached her.

“Your Highness, I truly didn’t mean to hurt her. It was a momentary lapse. Please don’t misunderstand me.”

Feng Yao cared how others saw her, but what mattered most was Mowan Ci’s opinion.

If Mowan Ci believed her to be dishonorable or cruel, she would never forgive herself.

Their conversation was quiet and went unnoticed by most. Jiang Si, who was focused on Fang Lin and Lan Shao, didn’t hear a word.

Because of how cautious the original Jiang Si had been, she had no personal guards of her own. Her interest in Fang Lin was not just because of the injury, but also because she had considered raising her from a young age. That way, she could shape her into someone trustworthy.

Now, seeing her hurt made Jiang Si even more anxious.

After Lan Shao finished applying the medicine, Jiang Si gently patted Fang Lin on the head.

“Rest well. Once you recover, you’ll join the Jingyuan Army.”

“And even if you can’t go back to how you were, there are still many roles you can take on.”

With Jiang Si’s words of comfort, a shy smile appeared on Fang Lin’s face. Her eyes lit up with determination.

“I will. I’ll repay you, my lady. And Commander Lan, and General Su…”

Jiang Si stepped back to give Lan Shao space to continue treatment.

She didn’t expect to bump into someone behind her.

Turning around, she found herself face-to-face with the masked team captain who had spoken up earlier.

“I didn’t expect the Jiajing Marquis to have such a soft heart for children.”

The earlier noise had made it hard for Jiang Si to hear her voice clearly. Now that she did, it sounded very familiar. Her eyes were sharp and bright, and it felt like she had seen her somewhere before.

Just as she was trying to remember, the woman pulled off her mask for a brief moment.

Jiang Si’s eyes widened, and she pointed at her.

“Nangong Yan…”

“Shh. I’m only here to help keep Feng Yao in the North. If she finds out I’m here, she might flee before nightfall.”

“How do you know what I’m planning?”

“I guessed.”

“I don’t like Feng Yao. Just like I don’t like Mowan Ci.”

“No. The truth is, out of everyone in Yue, the only one I like is you.”

Jiang Si closed her eyes in frustration. Every time she thought she could have a serious conversation with Nangong Yan, the woman would start acting like this.

She pretended not to hear and turned to leave.

By now, the match was effectively over. There was no reason to continue. But Nangong Yan followed after her.

“Letting Feng Yao make such a mistake was a clever move. A perfect way to keep her here.”

“It’s just a pity about that little Qianyuan girl. If she can’t use her arm anymore, what will she do?”

Jiang Si walked ahead, her face growing darker with each word.

Yes, she had wanted to keep Feng Yao in the North. But she had never intended for Fang Lin to get hurt.

She turned around, ready to argue, but then she saw Mowan Ci walking toward her with Feng Yao following behind.

Nangong Yan noticed too. She shifted to stand beside Jiang Si and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear.

“Did you know the Princess had a marriage arrangement with General Feng when they were young?”

“Is that so?”

Jiang Si responded calmly, without the slightest hint of interest. Nangong Yan froze, surprised at her indifference.

Seeing Jiang Si ignore her and walk straight toward Mowan Ci, Nangong Yan fell silent.

Jiang Si reached out and took Mowan Ci’s hand without a word, pulling her toward the edge of the field.

Behind them, Feng Yao followed, eyes locked on Mowan Ci with deep longing.

It had begun.

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