Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 65

Mowan Ci’s tears flowed even more when she heard those words.

At first, she didn’t feel anything unusual, but the longer Jiang Si looked at her, the more embarrassed she became. She wrapped her arms around Jiang Si’s neck and buried her face against her shoulder.

Calling it a brush with death might be an exaggeration, but after everything that had happened, the calm she felt now was rare and deeply comforting.

This sense of peace, the feeling Jiang Si gave her, was something she hadn’t felt since the former emperor was alive.

At some point, her tears stopped. Mowan Ci gave Jiang Si’s shoulder a gentle squeeze and spoke softly.

“Didn’t Lan Shao ask you to bring me medicine? Aren’t you in a hurry?”

Jiang Si had already been feeling awkward with Mowan Ci clinging to her, but she didn’t want to push her away. She had been holding her neck stiffly the whole time. Now that Mowan Ci finally spoke, Jiang Si let out a breath of relief.

“I am in a hurry. I’ll get it now.”

Before Mowan Ci could release her, Jiang Si gently moved her arms aside and stood up to fetch the medicine.

Mowan Ci watched her go with a trace of disappointment in her eyes. But when Jiang Si returned with the bowl, she smiled faintly.

Her cheeks were still wet with tears. The first thing Jiang Si did was reach for a cloth and gently wipe them away.

Mowan Ci froze for a moment, then quietly closed her eyes.

Jiang Si was always like this. After every close call, she would show such careful concern and warmth. Her actions always made Mowan Ci feel chosen and cherished. But once that moment passed, Jiang Si would quietly pull away again.

This pattern repeated itself so many times. Jiang Si remained calm through it all, but every time, she stirred something deeper in Mowan Ci’s heart.

“Jiang Si, why can’t you always be like this?”

Jiang Si had just finished wiping her tears and brought the medicine to Mowan Ci’s lips, waiting for her to drink. She hadn’t expected the question and responded instinctively.

“What…? You mean feeding you medicine?”

When she saw Mowan Ci slightly open her mouth, Jiang Si carefully fed her the medicine and joked, “That’s not something we should make a habit of. Drinking medicine is hardly a good thing.”

Mowan Ci swallowed the bitter soup, frowning slightly but saying nothing.

Jiang Si thought she was just reacting to the taste. Smiling, she reached for a tray of sweets.

“Hurry and finish. There’s candy for you after.”

That was Jiang Si’s way—her words lacked subtlety, but her actions always struck the heart.

“Alright,” Mowan Ci replied with a soft smile and obediently drank the rest of the medicine.

As promised, Jiang Si handed her a piece of candy.

“These are from a famous sweet shop in Nanyue City. If you like them, I’ll have someone bring more back to the northern border.”

Instead of saying whether she wanted more, Mowan Ci asked, “When did you buy them?”

Jiang Si scratched her head and waved it off.

“I didn’t. I overheard two maids talking about it while we were preparing the medicine, so I sent them out to get some.”

“People here love sweets, so the shop had all kinds. I told them to bring back a bit of everything.”

“You can have one after drinking your medicine each day.”

“Can’t I have more than one?”

“Of course. Did you like the flavor I gave you just now?”

Nanyue’s climate allowed for more fruit than the northern regions. Even strawberries were common. Jiang Si had tasted one earlier and liked it. The piece she gave to Mowan Ci was strawberry-flavored. She hoped she would like it too.

But Mowan Ci had her own preference. She picked another piece from the tray and let it sit in her mouth for a moment before speaking.

“Lemon. I like lemon.”

Jiang Si, curious, tried one too. Her entire face scrunched up from the sourness.

“So sour.”

Mowan Ci laughed gently.

“Yes. I like sour things.”

Jiang Si looked at her, both helpless and amused, and shook her head.

After taking the medicine, Jiang Si was urged by Mowan Ci to go bathe. When she returned, Mowan Ci had already moved aside to give her the spot near the bed, lying with her back turned.

Jiang Si assumed she had already fallen asleep. She quietly slipped under the covers. But the moment she settled in, an arm wrapped around her waist.

Mowan Ci liked to curl up near her shoulder.

Jiang Si turned her head and saw Mowan Ci’s long black hair covering half her face. Her voice was soft and sleepy.

“Tomorrow I’ll go with you to the Nanliang Palace.”

“There’s no need. I can go alone.”

“This started because of me. I can’t let you face it by yourself.”

Mowan Ci sat up, her expression serious, gripping Jiang Si’s wrist as if afraid she would be refused.

“Then… we’ll go together,” Jiang Si said, pulling her down gently and wrapping an arm around her as they lay together.

Even though she had napped earlier, Mowan Ci was still exhausted. With Jiang Si beside her and the faint scent of amber calming her nerves, she quickly drifted off to sleep.

But Jiang Si remained wide awake.

She lay there thinking about the visit to the Nanliang Palace the next day.

What had happened would undoubtedly damage her alliance with the King of Nanliang. Those soldiers’ lives might not be worth much, but they could easily become bargaining chips.

She didn’t believe the King would break the alliance over this, but she couldn’t take any chances.

Her thoughts ran in circles, and she didn’t know when she finally fell asleep. Even then, her rest was uneasy. She woke before dawn.

Everything she had thought about last night replayed in her mind.

Bringing Mowan Ci along was too risky.

So while Mowan Ci was still asleep, she quietly left the room.

Su Xun lived nearby and was already awake. When Jiang Si knocked, she opened the door almost immediately.

Before Su Xun could greet her, Jiang Si got straight to the point.

“Today you and Lan Shao are coming with me. Tell Qiu Han to stay behind and guard the Princess and her people. If you see the signal arrow, or we haven’t returned by midday, take them and head back to Huai City.”

Su Xun understood the stakes and nodded solemnly.

“Don’t worry, Marquis. Qiu Han will handle it.”

“I trust your people.” Jiang Si patted her shoulder and reminded her, “Leave your weapons behind when we go. Just carry the signal arrow.”

In this situation, Jiang Si had no grounds to argue. Regardless of what the soldiers had done, they were dead, and there were no witnesses left.

She believed Mowan Ci, but the Nanliang Palace wouldn’t.

By the time they reached the Nanliang Palace, daylight had fully broken. Only a handful of household servants accompanied them.

This was an apology visit, so bringing gifts was expected.

But the usually welcoming palace did not let them in. Even Su Xun and Lan Shao were turned away.

Nanliang soldiers guarded the gate. With swords drawn and crossed before them, they announced loudly,

“By the order of the Princess, only the Marquis of Jiajing may enter.”

No servants, no gifts.

Jiang Si had expected this. Su Xun, however, was angry and almost drew her weapon.

Jiang Si held her back.

“Su Xun. You and Lan Shao wait for me outside.”

“My lady—”

“Don’t worry. It’s only the Nanliang Palace. Do you think I won’t walk back out?”

She motioned for them to step back, then walked through the gates alone.

The last few times she had visited, the King, the prince, and the princess had all come out to greet her.

Now she was being made to enter alone.

The difference was clear.

Inside the council hall, the King of Nanliang sat at the head, flanked by the prince and princess. Around them were trusted officers and senior military men.

The bodies of the soldiers killed yesterday had been brought inside.

This was clearly meant to make a point.

The King’s face was dark, nothing like the friendly manner he had shown before.

Nangong Xiao remained as calm as ever. When he saw Jiang Si, he gestured for someone to bring her a seat.

“Thank you for your kindness, Prince Nangong, but today I’ve come to apologize. I’m not in the position to sit.”

Jiang Si shook her head with a smile.

Nangong Xiao didn’t insist. He closed his mouth and turned his gaze to Nangong Yan.

Since Jiang Si had entered the room, she had not once looked in Nangong Yan’s direction. At first, Nangong Yan didn’t care. But now, feeling slighted, she stared at Jiang Si openly.

When she saw Jiang Si still refusing to sit, she stood up.

“Our Nanliang army has always entered this alliance with the Jiajing Marquis with loyalty and sincerity. We’ve never harmed our own, isn’t that right, Marquis?”

“Of course.”

“Our army is valiant and has supported the Jingyuan Army many times during campaigns.”

“And I, as the Princess of Nanliang, have never wronged any of your men.”

“The Princess has always treated the Jingyuan Army with kindness.”

“Then how will the Jiajing Marquis explain this—unprovoked killing of Nanliang soldiers?”

Everything she had said before was true, and Jiang Si could answer easily, expression steady. But this—this was something Jiang Si could not agree with. Could not accept.

After the incident yesterday, she had questioned everyone around Mowan Ci. She had even sent Su Xun to Qingfeng Teahouse to verify every detail. She knew exactly what had happened.

But…

Because it involved her, anything regarding Mowan Ci was always met with tolerance—people would offer her face. Yet deep down, these people still looked down on the Mu clan of Yue.

And now…

“It’s true. I killed Nanliang soldiers without official cause. I admit it.”

“But it’s also true they were not entirely innocent.”

“They insulted my wife. I had every reason to kill them.”

“If alliance with Nanliang requires me to cast my wife aside and let her be humiliated, then what’s the point of me being the Jiajing Marquis?”

“How could I lead the Jingyuan Army with pride?”

As Jiang Si spoke, she slowly sat down beside Nangong Xiao, her gaze turning directly toward Nangong Yan to watch her reaction.

She had already found out that the woman who led the assault was named Yuan Qing, one of Nangong Yan’s subordinates. Yuan Qing had admired the Princess for many years and resented Mowan Ci—just like many Nanliang soldiers, who held disdain for Yue.

Their alliance with Jiang Si had caused a great deal of internal dissatisfaction. Yuan Qing was just one of many.

Jiang Si did not believe that Nangong Yan was completely uninvolved.

Perhaps this had been a test—to see how much Mowan Ci meant to her—or maybe, it had been an attempted assassination, plain and simple.

“Your… wife?”

Nangong Yan repeated the word, barely containing her fury. When she saw Jiang Si nod with a faint smile, her expression turned sharp.

“Very well. Then, on behalf of my soldiers, I offer an apology to the Marquis and her Lady.”

She gave a slight smirk.

“But from what I saw yesterday, the Lady didn’t seem harmed. I find it difficult to explain your overreaction to our troops.”

“Perhaps the Marquis can help me—what would be easier to explain? Surrendering Pingjin, or handing over Huaicheng?”

Jiang Si had expected Nangong Yan to make an outrageous demand, but she hadn’t thought she would try to claim nearly all of the southern territories.

Jiang Si returned to the marquis’ residence just after noon. Naturally, she hadn’t been invited to stay for lunch. As soon as she was back, she had the steward prepare food to be sent to the study.

She had planned to eat, rest a bit, and then go see Mowan Ci.

She opened the door, only to find someone already sitting by the writing desk—Mowan Ci. On the table were her favorite milk pastries and a steaming dish of spicy sliced beef.

“I thought Her Highness didn’t know how to cook. But this beef dish looks rich and flavorful—it’s making me hungry just looking at it.”

Mowan Ci didn’t respond to the tease. Instead, her voice was soft and aggrieved.

“Why didn’t you take me with you?”

She had gotten up early that day, yet Jiang Si had left even earlier.

Jiang Si said nothing, only took a bite of the beef.

Mowan Ci, visibly irritated, took away the chopsticks and stared at her.

Only then did Jiang Si wipe her mouth and reply.

“I could handle it alone.”

“And how exactly did you handle it?”

“I gave up a few cities. Nothing major. They weren’t conquered yet, just promised. You don’t need to worry.”

Jiang Si spoke casually, even trying to snatch the chopsticks back for another bite.

Mowan Ci refused to hand them over.

Jiang Si pouted.

“I didn’t even eat breakfast. I’m starving.”

“I said you don’t need to worry, and I meant it.”

“A few soldiers from Nanliang? They’re not worth much. What they want is land, and I can afford to give it.”

“In the previous campaigns, most of the captured cities were already under Jingyuan control. Fertile land or—”

“You’re willing to give it all away?” Mowan Ci interrupted her.

Jiang Si paused, then looked at her seriously.

“Yes. I’m willing.”

“Those people died by our hands. The only way to settle the score was with land. You and I both know they had ill intentions, but dead men can’t testify.”

“The alliance will continue. I’ll take back what I gave, eventually.”

“I just can’t let anyone think that I see you as less.”

She looked straight into Mowan Ci’s eyes.

“If I’m going to marry you, they need to know exactly where you stand.”

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