Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 60

“I… still prefer the citrus mist,” Jiang Si admitted honestly, even though she had been presented with five different fruit teas to choose from.

Mowan Ci wasn’t surprised. She simply had Zhi Miao remove the other jars.

When only the two of them were left, Mowan Ci gave a gentle smile and said, “The marquis has always been this way. You appear to accept everything, but deep down, you already know what you want.”

Her words carried a double meaning. Jiang Si paused for a moment, then quietly continued sipping her tea, one cup after another.

A jar of tea wasn’t all that much, but Jiang Si drank more than half of it in one sitting before Mowan Ci could bear it no longer.

Everything she had just said had been completely ignored. Jiang Si only focused on drinking the tea. It was frustrating.

Mowan Ci didn’t show it on her face though. She stood up slightly and gently pressed down on Jiang Si’s hand, stopping her with a smile.

“Don’t drink any more. I’ve prepared a copper hotpot for dinner. Save some room.”

“Alright,” Jiang Si replied sweetly, putting the cup down and lightly grasping Mowan Ci’s hand in return.

Mowan Ci had brought quite a few things with her on this trip. Besides the tea leaves, tea sets, and the copper hotpot, she had also packed everything she usually used to pass the time at the marquis’s estate.

After dinner, she suggested playing a game of Go. Jiang Si was about to refuse, but after thinking for a moment, she confessed honestly, “I don’t know how.”

As expected, Mowan Ci showed no sign of surprise. She simply began setting up the board and started playing on her own.

Jiang Si was a little curious and kept glancing over from time to time.

At first, Mowan Ci didn’t notice, but after a while, she picked up on it and waved her over. “If you’re interested, I can teach you.”

Mowan Ci was skilled in everything from music and chess to calligraphy and painting. Jiang Si had never had those opportunities growing up. As the newly titled Marquis Jiajing, her talents were more suited to the sword than to refined arts.

She wouldn’t say she liked Go, but she was interested in learning a little.

So when Mowan Ci called her over, she didn’t hesitate and took the seat across from her.

Mowan Ci handed her the black stones and then sat quietly.

Jiang Si held a stone in her hand, not knowing what to do with it.

This simple action completely shocked Mowan Ci.

She had assumed that when Jiang Si said she didn’t know how to play, she was just being modest. She didn’t expect that Jiang Si truly had no idea what she was doing. Not even how to hold a stone properly.

Mowan Ci leaned over and gently took her hand, adjusting her grip. “It should be like this…”

A soft scent of snow lotus wafted over. Jiang Si had been focusing on her hands but couldn’t help lifting her eyes.

Mowan Ci had changed clothes after her bath. Now she wore only a light undergarment and sheer robe. Jiang Si felt her face heat up instantly.

Even after a while, Jiang Si still hadn’t responded. Mowan Ci finally looked up at her.

Their eyes met, and Mowan Ci’s face flushed red in an instant.

She tapped Jiang Si lightly on the forehead and scolded her playfully, “As a student, you should pay attention.”

“Oh…” Jiang Si quietly looked away and let Mowan Ci guide her to place her first piece.

“Black goes first. It’s the more respected color.”

Jiang Si didn’t quite agree and argued instinctively, “If black is the respected one, then shouldn’t you be using it?”

“And why is that?”

“Well, you’re the princess of Yue. You should take the lead.”

“Do you really think so?”

The simple Go lesson had taken on another meaning. Mowan Ci sat up straight and looked down, asking in a low voice, “Do you think someone like me still has the dignity a princess should?”

Perhaps in Mowan Ci’s eyes, Jiang Si had no right to speak, being one of the people responsible for what had happened.

But Jiang Si was not the same person from the past. She still had confidence in who she was.

She handed the black stone back to Mowan Ci and said naturally, “Dignity lives in the heart. And in my eyes, everything you’ve done proves you still have it.”

“At the very least, you have more of it than me, the so-called half-baked Marquis Jiajing.”

Mowan Ci didn’t take the stone, but she couldn’t help smiling at Jiang Si’s last comment. “You’ve already been granted the title of Prince Jiajing. In the future, you’ll accomplish great things. How are you half-baked?”

“Even if that’s true, I don’t have the grace or polish of someone born into royalty. I’m good at fighting, not these elegant pastimes. They’re just not for me.” Jiang Si waved her hand and stood to leave, but Mowan Ci called out to stop her.

Her expression had turned cold, and she looked clearly displeased.

Jiang Si instinctively shrank back and mumbled, “It’s getting late.”

“You haven’t even learned how to hold a stone properly, and you want to go rest already?”

Mowan Ci’s tone was serious. Jiang Si suddenly felt like she was back in school, facing the kind of strict teacher she used to fear.

“No… I mean, aren’t you tired? You made fruit tea all afternoon and now you’re still teaching me Go.”

“You agreed to learn, so it’s only right that I teach.”

“Then shouldn’t you consider your student’s schedule too? Your student is tired now.”

Jiang Si didn’t think there was anything wrong with what she said, until she noticed Mowan Ci’s expression growing colder by the second.

That was when she realized just how different the two of them were.

On the surface, she was someone who went with the flow. But really, it meant she often acted on impulse.

Mowan Ci, on the other hand, was strict with herself, meticulous with everything, and never forgot a slight.

Their conversations were often vague. In the future, she might end up suffering again like she did with the fruit tea.

But she wasn’t the type to just back down.

So either they would stay at a stalemate, or things would end the way they usually did—with words left unsaid and everything brushed aside.

If they hadn’t grown closer over the past few days, Jiang Si might not have noticed the problem.

Many things Mowan Ci cared deeply about were things Jiang Si didn’t even think twice about. Some things she couldn’t be bothered to explain, so she would rather make a mistake and move on.

If she always expected the worst, then she wouldn’t be crushed by hope.

Take what happened last night. She had kept it in her heart, unsure whether to bring it up with Mowan Ci. But whether she mentioned it or not, that tiny seed of unease had already been planted.

“Since you’re tired, go ahead and rest.”

Once again, the one to give in was Mowan Ci.

That left Jiang Si with mixed feelings. Her face was unreadable as she stepped down from the lounge chair.

Mowan Ci watched her and suddenly laughed.

Jiang Si looked at her in confusion.

That smile was so natural, so relaxed, it was hard to believe she had looked so cold just moments ago. Could it be that Mowan Ci did not really care about any of it after all?

As if she could see straight into her thoughts, Mowan Ci walked over and spoke softly.

“The Marquis of Jiajing is brave and accomplished. Things like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting are simply decoration. I was short-sighted.”

“Are you being serious?”

“Of course.”

Mowan Ci’s gentle smile made Jiang Si feel a little embarrassed. It almost seemed like she had been the petty one.

Well, maybe she had been.

Because of what happened the night before, she had spent the entire day acting distant toward Mowan Ci.

When Ye Chan came to deliver the news of the imperial decree, she could have handled it openly with Mowan Ci there. But instead, she had gone out of her way to avoid her.

It was a childish way to try and make Mowan Ci feel the same kind of frustration.

But in the end, it had all felt pointless. Like she had been struggling alone for no reason.

She bit her lip. The words she had been holding back were almost on her tongue.

But Mowan Ci spoke first. She gently brushed a loose strand of hair from behind Jiang Si’s ear and asked, “You’re sweating. Would you like to take a bath?”

“I… I don’t think it’s necessary.” Jiang Si answered hesitantly. She really was hot, but something about Mowan Ci’s gaze made her feel unsure.

The moment she responded, Mowan Ci’s eyes dimmed just a little. She dropped her hand from Jiang Si’s cheek, letting it fall to her side.

“Then let’s sleep,” she said quietly, turning to walk toward the bed.

Jiang Si did not follow. She stood there, watching.

She was not sure if she was imagining it, but Mowan Ci’s figure seemed even more graceful than usual. Even just walking to the bed carried a sense of subtle allure.

“Didn’t you say you were tired?”

Sitting at the edge of the bed, Mowan Ci looked back and asked when she noticed Jiang Si still standing there.

Jiang Si snapped out of it and quickly walked over.

The closer she got, the stronger the scent of snow lotus became.

Now she was certain she had not imagined anything. Mowan Ci was definitely trying to tempt her. Jiang Si immediately became more alert and focused.

They sat side by side in silence, neither of them getting under the covers.

The fragrance in the air was so rich that Jiang Si could not help but reach out toward Mowan Ci. But as soon as her fingers moved slightly, she stopped.

That hesitation was enough for Mowan Ci to make her move. She reached out and took Jiang Si’s hand.

Then she leaned in and whispered, “Are you shy?”

“How… how could I be?”

Even someone as bold as Jiang Si could not help but feel embarrassed.

The more time she spent around Mowan Ci, the clearer it became to her what that fragrance meant.

The soft and lingering scent from earlier had definitely been a kind of invitation.

Jiang Si even began to suspect that Mowan Ci’s earlier question about bathing had been a suggestion to bathe together.

“I’m Qianyuan. Why would I ever be shy?” Jiang Si turned her head and spoke loudly.

Mowan Ci laughed next to her. She reached out and gently touched the tip of Jiang Si’s ear, speaking slowly and teasingly.

“Then why is this red?”

“I… I…” Jiang Si stammered, unable to reply.

Mowan Ci became bolder. She gave a small pinch and leaned closer.

“And who ever said a Qianyuan cannot be shy?”

“If someone believes that, then you should show them you’re the exception. A Qianyuan can be shy too.”

The room was filled with the scent of snow lotus, and Mowan Ci kept teasing her. Jiang Si could not take it anymore.

She reached out and pulled Mowan Ci tightly into her arms.

They were already familiar with each other’s touches. Mowan Ci naturally wrapped her arms around Jiang Si as well.

Her fingers trailed lightly along Jiang Si’s neck, playing gently.

Jiang Si trembled. The amber scent of her own signal began to fill the room, uncontrollable.

Mowan Ci bit gently at her ear and whispered, “Now your scent is all over me.”

“Are you still going to pretend you’re shy?”

“I never was…”

Jiang Si always acted tough in moments like this, like admitting anything meant losing to Mowan Ci.

But she always did lose in the end.

The amber pheromones filling the room proved it. Every time, she surrendered to the snow lotus.

Mowan Ci lifted her waist slightly, kissing along Jiang Si’s eyebrows and eyes, drawing even closer.

That thin sheer robe she wore might as well not exist. Jiang Si had not imagined the softness she noticed earlier.

“Princess, you…”

“I told you not to call me that right now.”

Jiang Si’s voice was low and rough as she wrapped her arms around Mowan Ci’s waist and gently laid her down.

“I only want to call you that in moments like this.”

“Why?” Mowan Ci narrowed her eyes, her breath growing uneven.

Jiang Si smiled, finally completely relaxed. She stroked Mowan Ci’s hair and whispered, “Because… it’s thrilling.”

Mowan Ci did not really understand, but she accepted it. She allowed Jiang Si to call her whatever she wanted.

Every time Jiang Si said “Princess,” Mowan Ci responded, until she was too exhausted during the marking to say anything at all.

The curtains swayed. A summer breeze moved through the room. Jiang Si finally collapsed beside Mowan Ci.

Even with the breeze, both of them were covered in a thin layer of sweat.

This time, Jiang Si had been far bolder. She took Mowan Ci’s hand, trying to lead her to the bath.

Shamelessly, she asked, “Earlier, when you asked about bathing… were you trying to…”

Mowan Ci immediately covered her mouth and gave her a sharp look.

“Quiet.”

Jiang Si laughed foolishly and suddenly scooped her up from the bed, carrying her barefoot to the next room.

Water splashed around them. Jiang Si leaned limply against Mowan Ci’s side.

The tub was spacious enough for both of them, but Jiang Si insisted on staying close.

The difference between how Mowan Ci acted before and after always gave her a headache. She tried to push Jiang Si away, but before she could say anything, Jiang Si kissed her again.

Even during the more challenging moments in the bath, Mowan Ci did not resist.

Jiang Si eventually let out a sigh and asked, “Princess, is there anything else you’re hiding from me?”

That question shifted the mood.

Mowan Ci turned to look at her, her eyes shimmering with tears and filled with hesitation.

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