Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 66

“You don’t need to blame yourself. Nangong Yan’s intentions have always been clear. Even after taking Jicheng and other cities, she wasn’t satisfied. Now, she wants Huaicheng and even has her eyes on the rest of the southern region.”

“If it hadn’t been this issue, she would have found another reason to make demands of me.”

“Besides, we are currently in Nanliang. If we really came to a fight, even if I managed to escape, I would suffer heavier losses.”

“So it is better to let her think she is getting what she wants. Whether she actually does or not is up to me.”

Jiang Si spoke in a calm, almost indifferent tone, but Mowan Ci felt a deep sense of guilt.

If it weren’t for her, Jiang Si would never have had to agree to such an unfair deal with the Nanliang army. If it weren’t for her influence in this situation.

“Jiang Si, I know you did this to protect Ziwus Academy.”

“You don’t need to look at it that way. The Nanliang army knowing about Ziwus Academy might help them, but it doesn’t help me, so it wasn’t completely for your sake.”

Jiang Si deliberately distanced herself from the issue to ease Mowan Ci’s burden. But Mowan Ci knew what Jiang Si truly intended.

“You were the one who said we shouldn’t let others look down on us.” She held Jiang Si’s hand and looked at her with steady, shining eyes.

Jiang Si shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. She coughed and said, “It’s been a long day. I’m tired.”

With that, she lay down on the bed, ignoring Mowan Ci’s reaction.

Just as she said, she really was exhausted. She fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow.

Mowan Ci, however, couldn’t sleep. Her mind was filled with Jiang Si’s words, that she must never let others think she was weak or unworthy.

It had been nearly a year since they left the capital, and most of that time had been spent with Jiang Si.

But only today did Mowan Ci truly feel she understood her.

Just one sentence from Jiang Si had made her happy.

When she finally lay down, Mowan Ci carefully rested her head on Jiang Si’s arm.

She gently touched Jiang Si’s nose and stared at her without blinking. This person had stirred unfamiliar feelings inside her.

When Mowan Ci finally drifted into sleep, Jiang Si quietly opened her eyes.

She looked at the woman in her arms.

That usual cold and distant expression of hers always felt like a kind of armor. Only when asleep did Mowan Ci  show this vulnerable side, holding onto her sleeve tightly as if afraid to let go.

” Mowan Ci ”

“I really should have”

Forget it. Giving your heart to someone is nothing but foolish.

Jiang Si didn’t dare.

That was why she had told Mowan Ci  everything about her visit to the Nanliang Royal Palace, except for one thing. She hadn’t mentioned her intention to ask for Mowan Ci i’s hand in marriage.

She had been rejected before, and that kind of rejection was something she would always remember.

Even now, Jiang Si didn’t know what Mowan Ci really thought of her. She didn’t dare take that risk.

Jiang Si had never been a heavy sleeper. She woke early the next morning and gently pulled her arm out from under Mowan Ci’s head. After arranging breakfast, she headed to the back courtyard of the estate.

After what had happened, even if things looked peaceful on the surface, no one would truly feel at ease. Jiang Si, cautious by nature, did not want to remain in Nanyue City any longer. She had already told Su Xun last night that she was preparing to leave.

There were only three to four hundred soldiers from the Jingwei Battalion hidden in the city. That was one reason why Jiang Si had held back. Leaving the city quickly was the best option.

However, the ones leaving would only be Mowan Ci and her maid.

Most of the Jingwei Battalion remained stationed at the Nanliang Royal Palace and the city gates. Only thirty-four would accompany Mowan Ci, which was enough to keep her safe.

“Su Xun, this time you will personally lead the men from the Jingwei Battalion. Bring some soldiers from the Jingyuan Army as well. You must ensure the princess reaches Ling Shang City safely.”

Yesterday, everything had to be decided quickly, so they aimed for Huaicheng. But today, with more time to think, Jiang Si knew that Mowan Ci would only be safe once she reached Ling Shang City.

“Understood. Once everything is ready, we will depart. What about your own escort?”

“I still need to visit the Nanliang Royal Palace today. Lan Shao will accompany me.”

Upon hearing that, Su Xun frowned slightly, as if he didn’t trust Lan Shao. Lan Shao, who had been listening nearby, immediately jumped in.

“Su Xun, don’t think you’re the only one who can fight. I can protect the marquis too.”

Su Xun didn’t respond, but his eyes were full of doubt. This only made Lan Shao even more annoyed.

Su Xun was the quiet type, not one to argue. And he certainly couldn’t outtalk someone like Lan Shao. In the end, Jiang Si had to step in.

“General Lan, I know you are capable.”

“But I hope you won’t bully Su Xun again.”

“Su Xun is lucky to have a leader who always takes his side,” Lan Shao muttered with a pout. Su Xun still said nothing, but turned to Jiang Si and bowed.

“Do not worry. Once the princess is safe in Ling Shang City, I will head to Huaicheng immediately.”

Jiang Si hadn’t told Mowan Ci about leaving Nanyue City until that morning during breakfast.

To her surprise, Mowan Ci did not question it or object. This caught Jiang Si off guard.

She thought Mowan Ci would at least ask why. But instead, she just quietly picked food for her.

“After we part today, I don’t know when we will meet again.”

Mowan Ci ’s voice was filled with quiet sadness. Jiang Si felt a heaviness in her heart too.

The same uncertainty from the night before came back.

“If you don’t want me to worry, then always be honest with me.”

“I can accept what you did today, deciding without asking me first. But in the future, please tell me beforehand.”

Mowan Ci  had her own thoughts. She knew her presence might hold Jiang Si back. It was better for her to return to Ling Shang City and wait.

Jiang Si fell silent, feeling a bit guilty.

The Mowan Ci she had imagined was starting to change.

She suddenly wanted to confess what she had kept hidden.

“I have something I want to tell you. It’s just”

She hesitated. Mowan Ci smiled gently and said, “There’s no rush. Think it over. You can tell me when you come back to Ling Shang City.”

Jiang Si still hadn’t sorted out her feelings, and Mowan Ci ’s understanding words gave her a moment of relief.

When it was time to part, Jiang Si personally walked Mowan Ci to the city gates. They didn’t say much. Mowan Ci simply looked at her.

As the carriage began to move, she gently pulled Jiang Si’s hand and handed her a letter.

“Open it when you’re back at the estate and safe.”

Before Jiang Si could respond, the carriage was already moving farther away.

She looked at the letter in her hand, then looked into the distance where Mowan Ci had gone.

Only when she could no longer see her did she turn back toward the city.

And there she saw Nangong Yan, sitting tall on her horse, waiting behind her.

“How long were you watching?”

“Not long. I arrived at the gates just as the carriage was leaving.”

“And what about you? What were you looking at for so long?”

“I was watching my wife. Is there anything else, Princess?”

“There is.”

“Does the promise you made yesterday still count?”

“It does.”

“Then why did you send the princess away from Nanyue City so early this morning?”

Even after speaking for some time, Jiang Si still hadn’t looked directly at Nangong Yan. Her distant gaze made Nangong Yan feel even more hurt than before.

Though it seemed like Nangong Yan had won yesterday, she had actually lost completely.

Jiang Si had promised to hand over Pingjin, Tiancheng, and Kangcheng to Nanliang. Her agreement had come so quickly and decisively that Nangong Yan found it hard to believe. But today, Mowan Ci had already been sent away.

Nangong Yan had come too late. She wanted to stop Mowan Ci, but just a few miles outside Nanyue City were already guarded by the Jingyuan Army. She couldn’t act, nor did she dare to.

Just like Jiang Si had once been restricted in Nanyue City.

What had started as a seemingly friendly alliance had turned into something much colder.

“Jiang Si, are you really willing to give up those cities just for Mowan Ci?”

“What if I’m not? While I was in Nanyue City, my life was in your hands. If I had died, there would be no one to speak for me. Who among you would believe me or take my side?”

“But I do have one question for you too.”

“Treating your ally like this, aren’t you afraid that one day the Jingyuan Army might turn against you?”

“Jiang Si, you know that’s not what I meant”

Nangong Yan suddenly grew emotional. She got off her horse and stepped forward to argue, but Jiang Si took a step back before she could get close.

“Princess, please respect yourself. The soldiers behind us are from the Nanliang army.”

“Jiang Si, I am only upset because of what you’re doing for Mowan Ci.”

“And with what position are you speaking like this? Aside from our alliance, there is nothing between us. Please be careful with your words, Princess. If others misunderstand, it could create even more trouble.”

Jiang Si then looked up at the Nanliang soldiers standing on the wall.

To her, Nangong Yan’s reaction seemed ridiculous.

“You and I are walking the same path. We are both ambitious.”

“But I want to live. I fear death and I want to survive. That’s why I made these choices. You, on the other hand, want power above all else.”

“Don’t pretend to be noble. You want territory, and you want it badly. That much is true.”

Since the words were already spoken, Jiang Si wouldn’t break her promise. But she also wouldn’t let the Nangong family get what they wanted so easily.

The war had already begun. Jiang Si and Nangong Yan were both heading to the battle of Pingjin. With Nangong Xiao gone, Nangong Yan no longer clung to Jiang Si like she used to. This gave Jiang Si more peace and space than before.

Pingjin was easy to defend and hard to attack. Jiang Si’s plan relied on the fact that the Nanliang army had fewer supplies compared to the Jingyuan Army.

She moved slowly and deliberately. The only one growing anxious was Nangong Yan.

Though the Nanliang army was strong, it had always suffered from shortages. That was one of the main reasons they had wanted to work with Jiang Si.

On the day of departure, Jiang Si appeared friendly on the surface. But when they arrived at Pingjin, she made things difficult for Nangong Yan over military supplies.

The battle was tough. With Jiang Si deliberately delaying things, they still hadn’t taken the city even after three months.

“Jiang Si, is this how you treat your allies in the Nanliang army?”

“The Jingyuan Army has done everything it can. Princess, you know very well that Pingjin’s terrain is not easy to conquer.”

If Pingjin fell, it would mean Jiang Si had fully turned against Nanliang.

The imperial decree sent to Ling Shang City had already been passed into her hands. If the Prince of Jiajing decided to fight against Nanliang next, it would not be without reason.

Jiang Si didn’t conquer Pingjin because she wanted Nangong Yan to stay on edge, always on guard.

“Nangong Yan, we’ve worked together for over half a year. Did you really never realize how petty I can be?”

“When I was in Nanyue City, everything I did was restricted. But now, the situation is different.”

“So you agreed so easily back then because you were planning this all along?”

“What else did you expect?”

“Our alliance should have been based on equality. But your Nanliang army wanted to control everything. Things don’t work that way.”

“But it makes sense. The King of Nanliang may hold the title of king, but he rules like an emperor. Someone like me, a marquis from a remote borderland, would never be seen as an equal.”

Jiang Si rubbed the ring on her finger and smiled as she spoke. After a long pause, when Nangong Yan still didn’t respond, Jiang Si didn’t even bother looking at her again.

It had been three months since she parted with Mowan Ci. She had worn the ring Mowan Ci gave her every day since then. And she had missed her deeply the whole time.

The bright red ring was a token from Ziwus Academy. It was a reminder of both the love between them and the humiliation they suffered together in Nanyue City.

“Sometimes, thinking too highly of yourself only brings harm.”

“But don’t worry. If we take Pingjin, I will honor my word. That land will still belong to the royal court of Nanliang.”

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