Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 46

That future was still far away, but Jiang Si remembered it clearly.

She drank with Fang Lin and praised her, then let the girl sit by her side and join the table.

The evening grew warmer with laughter and food. The children, timid at first, began to relax a little. Jiang Si remained at ease, not forgetting to send some food to the Southern Courtyard.

Although she and Mowan Ci had not spoken since the lantern-hanging earlier, she still had someone bring a selection of the night’s best dishes over.

Zhi Miao accepted the food box with a complicated expression and relayed the message to her mistress.

“Your Highness, these are from the Marquis. She said she made sure to pick only the finest dishes.”

Mowan Ci paused in her reading, lifting her gaze slowly.

“She sent food?”

“Yes, and it was specially chosen. The kitchen said she personally selected every dish in the box.”

Mowan Ci said nothing. She set the book aside, untied the ribbon on the food box, and opened the lid.

The fragrance of warm wine and spiced vegetables wafted out. Each dish was the kind she liked.

She pursed her lips, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.

Zhi Miao stood nearby, waiting for her reaction. After a long moment, Mowan Ci finally spoke.

“Tell the kitchen to prepare a few pastries. Send them to the North Courtyard.”

Zhi Miao blinked. “Your Highness, are you… returning the favor?”

Mowan Ci gave a quiet hum in response.

“You may go.”

Zhi Miao retreated silently. Alone again, Mowan Ci turned her gaze back to the food box.

She didn’t know what Jiang Si was thinking, or if she was even thinking anything at all.

But this strange relationship of theirs, full of unsaid words and gestures, had grown both distant and familiar.

Later that night, when the fireworks began to crackle across the sky, Jiang Si stood at the highest point in the Marquis Estate to watch.

The sky lit up with color, reflecting in her eyes as she looked toward the Southern Courtyard.

She could not see Mowan Ci from that distance, but she stood there for a long time anyway, quietly holding a wine cup.

She did not drink it.

She just held it, letting the warmth soak into her fingers as the snow began to fall.

So this time, she didn’t want to die. And she certainly didn’t want Fang Lin to die in her place again.

Sitting beside her was the one person most curious—Mowan Ci. She hesitated for a long time, waiting until Fang Lin and Lan Yue had returned to their seats before she finally asked, “Marquis, do you really like children?”

The moment she asked, Mowan Ci felt a flash of regret.

The banquet was noisy and full of chatter. She silently hoped that Jiang Si hadn’t heard her.

As fate would have it, a military officer approached Jiang Si right then to offer a toast. He had once been a trusted subordinate of Cheng Pu. Before heading to Huai City, Cheng Pu had left him behind in Ling Shang City to assist Jiang Si.

He had fought in the Huai City campaign and deeply admired Jiang Si.

“Marquis, let me offer you a drink!”

Rough and boisterous like his former commander, the man’s voice rang out loudly.

Jiang Si only caught a fragment of what Mowan Ci had said. After drinking, she turned back to her and asked, “Did you just say something, Princess?”

“No, Marquis must have misheard,” Mowan Ci replied smoothly, quickly changing the topic. “I heard there will be fireworks by the Ling Shang River tonight. Is that true?”

“Yes, but we’ll wait for General Feng and the others to return first.”

Feng Yao had sent a message days ago, saying she would return to Ling Shang City on New Year’s Eve. If Jiang Si left without waiting, it would seem dismissive and rude. There was no need to stir trouble.

Mowan Ci, hearing this explanation, visibly lost interest. She didn’t mention the fireworks again.

Roughly half an hour later, Feng Yao and Qiu Han returned.

Covered in snow and wearing a thick cloak, Feng Yao paused briefly upon seeing Mowan Ci. Then she bowed and greeted them both.

“I greet the Princess and the Marquis.”

Had it only been the three of them, Jiang Si might not have reacted at all. But the soldiers at the banquet heard Feng Yao’s greeting and were clearly displeased.

In the northern territory, the highest authority was the Jiajing Marquis.

Jiang Si showed no reaction, so the others could only glare at Feng Yao. Some even exchanged looks before crowding around her with wine cups once she sat down.

They were tactful enough in their words, but made it impossible for Feng Yao to decline.

By the time they were set to leave for the Ling Shang River, Feng Yao was thoroughly drunk. The soldiers, however, remained unaffected.

“Liu Jin, have someone escort General Feng to a guest room. The Princess, our officers, and I will head to the river for the fireworks.”

Fireworks by the Ling Shang River on New Year’s Eve were a local tradition. Civilians also set up stalls to sell leftover goods before the holiday ended.

Upon arriving, Jiang Si parted ways with the rest of the officers. With her were Mowan Ci, Zhi Miao, Wei Nian, and Lan Yao with Lan Yue.

Jiang Si had wanted to bring Fang Lin along too, but her injured leg made it unwise to leave the estate.

The riverside was bustling with life. Zhi Miao, full of energy again, whispered beside Mowan Ci, “Your Highness, they’re selling cosmetics over there.”

Zhi Miao loved beautiful things and always wanted to try different powders. Mowan Ci smiled and nodded.

“Go ahead and buy some, but be careful.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” Zhi Miao replied cheerfully and darted off. The stall was not far, just a few dozen steps away.

In the crowd, Mowan Ci and Jiang Si walked neither too close nor too far from each other. They hadn’t spoken since arriving.

Lan Yao, watching this, grew a little annoyed and went to Jiang Si.

“Are you not going to buy anything for the Princess?”

Jiang Si blinked. The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind. She glanced at Zhi Miao picking out cosmetics and replied, “Isn’t Zhi Miao already doing that for her?”

In other words, why should I?

Lan Yao sighed, clearly exasperated. She looked at Jiang Si as if there were no hope for her and walked off with Lan Yue to see the lanterns.

Jiang Si lingered behind, looking puzzled.

Why did Lan Yao care so much about her and Mowan Ci’s relationship?

Could it be… she was from another world too?

Jiang Si shook her head. A strange thought, but not likely.

Now alone, Jiang Si followed behind Mowan Ci, just a few steps apart, wandering aimlessly through the crowd.

The fireworks were scheduled to begin at midnight. They had about fifteen minutes left. Jiang Si grew tired and slowed her steps, gradually walking behind Mowan Ci.

The night was cold, and everyone was dressed in layers. As Jiang Si drifted off in thought, something soft bumped into her chest.

She looked down and saw that it was Mowan Ci.

The crowd had grown denser, and there was a bit of chaos ahead as the fireworks were about to begin.

“Are you all right?” Jiang Si asked softly.

Mowan Ci pressed her lips together and shook her head, trying to pull away. But the chaos around them only increased. Just then, the fireworks burst into the sky with thunderous noise, and Jiang Si thought she heard galloping hooves shake the ground.

A moment later, she saw the banner of the Jingyuan Army. At the front rode Su Xun.

They weren’t here for the celebration. The path simply passed through this area on the way back to the Marquis’s estate.

The crowd was moving aside to clear a path for the army.

The formation galloped past swiftly. Jiang Si looked up at the exploding fireworks, then lowered her head and said quietly to Mowan Ci, “Princess, I’m afraid we won’t get to see much of the fireworks tonight.”

Something major must have happened. This was not the place to report military matters.

The group returned to the estate, where Su Xun was waiting at the entrance.

She had seen Jiang Si by the riverside, but with civilians nearby, it would have been inappropriate to dismount. So, she waited at the estate gates instead.

When Jiang Si lifted the curtain of the carriage, Su Xun was already dismounting. Behind her, the Jingyuan Army soldiers dropped to one knee in perfect unison, all facing Jiang Si, who hadn’t yet stepped down.

“Marquis, we bring urgent military news from the northern border. Wei City has fallen.”

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