Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 67

Jiang Si honored the alliance and continued to supply the Nanliang army with food when their provisions ran low. Nangong Yan had no choice but to accept this, even if she found it bitter.

The Nanliang troops were strong. Their weapons and horses were of higher quality than those of the Jingyuan Army. Although Jiang Si had the advantage of surprise attacks using signal arrows, they couldn’t be mass-produced. The Nanliang army outnumbered them, and their equipment was significantly better.

Because of this, the Nanliang soldiers were proud and arrogant.

To them, strength and superior weaponry were everything.

As for supplies and logistics…

In Nanliang’s territory, the climate was hot and rainy. While grain was not abundant, it was usually enough. But the problem was that they had never fought a battle that lasted longer than three months.

“I have been providing food to the Nanliang army every day according to the quantity agreed upon with the Princess. If it is still not enough,” Jiang Si said, lifting her gaze slightly, “then there’s nothing more I can do. The Jingyuan Army needs to eat too.”

She then picked up a letter from the table, making it clear she no longer wanted to speak to Nangong Yan.

Nangong Yan stood there, not moving a step.

Only after Jiang Si had opened the report did she glance up and say, “I’m reading military reports now. Do you still need something, Princess?”

“No,” Nangong Yan replied quietly. Right now, she was in no position to demand anything.

Clenching her jaw, she turned to leave. As she reached the tent flap, she paused and looked back at Jiang Si, who was reading the letter with a faint smile.

Their military camp was stationed twenty miles outside Pingjin, while the vanguard stayed closer to the city. Reports came daily, but she had never seen Jiang Si react this way.

During their campaigns at Huaicheng and Jicheng, all military reports were shared openly between the Jingyuan and Nanliang armies. This time, however, Jiang Si remained polite on the surface, yet more distant than ever.

The letter in her hand wasn’t a military report. That much was clear.

It was a personal letter.

Nangong Yan wasn’t foolish enough to ask about it. She didn’t feel anger or pain—just a kind of dull ache.

In the past, she had been angry because she didn’t believe Jiang Si truly cared for Mowan Ci. But now…

Perhaps the arrogance common among Nanliang nobles made her blind to what was obvious.

After Nangong Yan left, Jiang Si leaned back on the bed and began reading the letter Mowan Ci had written.

It had been three months since they parted. They hadn’t exchanged many letters, as each one had to be sent along with grain deliveries. They averaged one per month. Mowan Ci often described her daily life in Ling Shang City, her tone calm and plain, but Jiang Si always read them with deep interest.

She had only begun to realize how much she missed Mowan Ci through these letters.

Every time she finished reading one, it felt like something inside her was missing.

That missing part was called longing.

She missed Mowan Ci.

Now it was already September. The weather in Ling Shang City had suddenly turned cold. Mowan Ci had written about learning to sew jackets with the other women at the estate, promising to show Jiang Si when she returned.

No matter what Mowan Ci actually meant, Jiang Si read every word as if she were sharing her life with her.

Today she shared one thing, tomorrow something else. Because of the distance, they could only communicate through letters, but there was a kind of sweetness to it.

It felt like a long-distance relationship.

Jiang Si had begun to look forward to the day they could meet again, hoping she could take Pingjin soon and return in triumph.

After all, a prolonged battle benefited the Jingyuan Army more than it hurt them.

But three months had passed. It was time to take Pingjin once and for all.

She folded the letter and placed it in the small box where she kept all of Mowan Ci’s correspondence. Just as she locked the box, Su Xun arrived, looking tense.

“My Lord, the Prince of Pingjin, Mu Shuyang, is requesting to see you at the front lines.”

Jiang Si paused and asked, “Has he come to open the gates and surrender to the Jingyuan Army?”

It wasn’t arrogance. Pingjin truly posed little threat.

The vanguard stationed near the city had been reinforced by Ye Chan from Huaicheng. She and Xu Ji had been engaged with Mu Shuyang for months.

Although Mu Shuyang had defended the southern region for years, the difference between his troops and the Jingyuan Army was vast. The Rongdi tribes had attacked many times but still avoided direct battles with the Jingyuan Army, mostly sticking to small raids.

The Nanliang army, on the other hand, had already lost several southern cities under Mu Shuyang’s command. The only stronghold that remained was Pingjin.

As the primary fortress of the south, Pingjin held a strategic location, which was the only reason Mu Shuyang could still hold it.

But now that the Jingyuan Army had arrived, Pingjin’s fate was uncertain.

“He came alone and asked to meet with you personally.”

“Send Ye Chan…”

“No, you go yourself.”

For the past three months, Ye Chan and Nanliang’s Xu Ji had been stationed at the front, supposedly attacking but mostly harassing the enemy.

The Nanliang army had long been dissatisfied. If Ye Chan was removed, who knew what the Nanliang forces might do. It was safer for Su Xun to go.

“When you return, you don’t need to come into the tent. Just wait outside.”

Jiang Si knew why Mu Shuyang had come. He wanted to negotiate peace.

Although he held a princely title, Mu Shuyang’s forces had never matched those of the Jingyuan Army. If they had, there would have been no need for reinforcements earlier.

Today, Jiang Si wanted Mu Shuyang to see exactly who he was up against, and who her allies were.

After Su Xun left, Jiang Si reclined for a short nap. About half an hour later, Su Xun returned with Mu Shuyang, who waited outside the command tent.

Jiang Si dressed slowly, carefully fastening each layer of her black armor.

When she stepped outside and saw Mu Shuyang for the first time, she couldn’t help but make a joke.

“Prince of Pingjin, you’re quite bold to come here alone.”

It was their first meeting. Jiang Si had to admit, the royal family’s bloodline was strong. Looking at Mu Shuyang, she saw a slight resemblance to Mowan Ci.

But Mu Shuyang’s features were sharper and colder, lacking Mowan Ci’s gentleness.

Seeing that familiar face kneeling before her was strange. She walked forward quickly and politely helped him to his feet.

“The Princess of Shaoyuan is mine now. That makes us family of sorts. There’s no need for such a formal greeting.”

Mu Shuyang’s expression was tense, and he awkwardly accepted her help.

He would never have come to negotiate if he hadn’t been left with no choice.

As one of the southern princes, his pride had always been high. He believed his alliance with Nanliang would ensure success. Even if they had to share power, that was acceptable. And if Nanliang wanted more, so be it.

What he hadn’t expected was the sudden appearance of Jiang Si.

This Jiajing Marquis, known for ignoring military affairs and doing as she pleased, had come to the south and now threatened to take everything.

But now, Mu Shuyang had no choice but to smile and adjust his attitude.

What made her even more furious was that the person behind it all was Nangong Yan.

The Empress was pregnant, and Mu Zesheng now obeyed Tao Zun’s every word. If Mu Shuyang didn’t surrender now, there would be no future left for her.

Mu Shuyang found herself in a difficult position. Either Jiang Si took Pingjin by force, or she handed it over willingly.

“Most of the southern cities already belong to the Marquis. I now offer up Pingjin as a sign of loyalty.”

Though Mu Shuyang left reluctantly once again, seeing the shock and confusion on Nangong Yan’s face brought her a certain satisfaction.

Jiang Si bore the surname Jiang, but there was still a long princess in her residence—Mowan Ci, from the royal Mu family. Between Mu Zesheng and Mowan Ci, Mu Shuyang respected Mowan Ci more.

After all, in the years when Mowan Ci had yet to fully come into her role, Mu Shuyang’s faction in Pingjin had not seriously considered rebellion.

“Prince of Pingjin, please rise. Since we are allies, we stand as equals. I am not someone who makes things difficult for those on my side.”

Jiang Si’s words carried deeper meaning. Both Mu Shuyang and Nangong Yan understood it clearly, and their expressions reflected it.

Mu Shuyang looked pleased, while Nangong Yan lowered her head in silence.

Jiang Si invited Mu Shuyang into her tent. After a long private conversation, Mu Shuyang left with Su Xun and returned to Pingjin City.

Jiang Si walked them to the entrance and noticed Nangong Yan standing not far away.

Their eyes met. Nangong Yan looked resentful, but said nothing.

Jiang Si lifted her hand and called out to her. “Princess, would you like to come in and sit?”

Nangong Yan hesitated for a moment, then stepped into the tent.

Jiang Si had just finished washing. Even while traveling, she was more refined than most Qianyuan lords. A light sandalwood fragrance lingered in the tent. Nangong Yan paused as she entered, then quietly sat down.

Jiang Si sat at the head, not sparing her a glance, but she could already guess what she was thinking.

“The sandalwood was left by the Princess. I use it every day. It’s as if she’s always beside me.”

Jiang Si had never wanted to use Nangong Yan’s former affection—whether it was toward her or her predecessor. Love in itself was not a sin, and using it made her feel guilty.

But after what had happened in Nanyue City, her pettiness resurfaced. She wanted to get under Nangong Yan’s skin.

Sure enough, when she saw the dislike flash across Nangong Yan’s face, Jiang Si’s mood improved.

She told Nangong Yan everything about Mu Shuyang’s surrender.

“When I first arrived in Pingjin, I wrote to Mu Shuyang. Naturally, the Jingyuan Army alone wouldn’t have been enough to force her to surrender. But we had the Nanliang army.”

“It took a lot of work, but we succeeded.”

“I think you should be happy, Princess. After all, just as we planned, both armies suffered minimal losses.”

“Also, I’ve made arrangements with Mu Shuyang. Tomorrow we’ll enter the city. The Nanliang army will go in first.”

“My Jingyuan Army will remain outside and not step foot inside.”

Jiang Si was letting her know that she meant to fulfill her promise. But Nangong Yan felt a chill run down her spine.

She had underestimated Jiang Si. In Nanyue City, Jiang Si had been forced to bend. But here in Pingjin, she had taken full control. She had exchanged secret letters with Mu Shuyang without Nangong Yan knowing a thing.

Now was not the time to press for answers. Nangong Yan didn’t want to break the fragile trust between them.

Capturing Pingjin was still a victory. She watched Jiang Si for a long moment. Seeing her casually pick up a military report as a polite hint to leave, Nangong Yan finally walked out, unwillingly.

With Pingjin taken, the rest of the southern cities fell more easily. As promised, Jiang Si handed them over to Nangong Yan one by one.

Her attitude also softened. She discussed all military matters with Nangong Yan, though Mu Shuyang was always present as well.

The relationship between Nangong Yan and Mu Shuyang had shifted from allies to rivals, and now back to uneasy allies. Their polite but biting exchanges were filled with veiled tension. Whenever emotions slipped through, the resentment between them became obvious.

Jiang Si found their dynamic more entertaining the longer she observed it. As a result, the three of them met more and more often.

However, Mu Shuyang now reported directly to Jiang Si and didn’t dare challenge Nangong Yan too openly.

One day, a report arrived from the front lines. The tension between Nangong Yan and Mu Shuyang boiled over into another heated argument in Jiang Si’s tent. Fed up, Jiang Si kicked them both out.

Once she finally had some peace, she sat down to write a reply to Mowan Ci.

It had been several more months. With spring approaching, she expected to return to Ling Shang City before the New Year. Naturally, she wanted to prepare a gift for Mowan Ci.

She touched the red ring on her finger, then began writing with awkward hesitation.

She didn’t want anyone else to write the letter for her. She hoped Mowan Ci would be able to understand the unspoken meaning between the lines.

Using the Ziwus Academy network that Mowan Ci had left behind, Jiang Si had secretly obtained the defense map of Nanyue City. She planned to send it along with her letter.

If Mowan Ci shared her intent, that would be the best outcome she could hope for.

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