Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 68

After half a year of military campaigns, the allied forces had successfully seized sixteen cities in the southern territories and two more in the Central Plains.

The former balance of power among Nanliang, Beiyue, and the Western Frontier was broken. Yue Kingdom, having lost control over the south, was in decline. Mu Zesheng could no longer afford to stay passive. Mu Shuyang surrendered without a fight, and Pingjin was taken by Nanliang. This had little to do with Jiang Si and her Jingyuan Army.

In fact, the Jingyuan Army had acted in support, managing to hold Huaicheng along with two nearby small towns, as well as Jicheng and Fengcheng.

As agreed, Pingjin, Tiancheng, Kangcheng, and five smaller cities were handed over to Nanliang.

Tiancheng and Kangcheng were connected to Nanyue City, which made them attractive to the Nanliang royal family. Jicheng and Fengcheng were near the Eastern Sea. While not especially valuable, they were not insignificant either. At the time, Nan Gongxuan had no wish to let Jiang Si gain too much, so the cities acquired at least connected to Nanliang’s existing borders.

Jiang Si clearly understood the ambitions of the Nanliang royal house. That was why she insisted on securing Jicheng, the city Nan Gongxiao valued most.

More importantly, the two smaller cities bordered the Western Frontier and were not far from Nanyue City. This made it easier for her to gather intelligence from both regions.

Jiang Si had always said that her ambitions did not lie in the southern territories. Although Nan Gongxuan was displeased with the current situation, she did not dare to say anything openly.

As for Mu Shuyang, her loyalty was to Jiang Si, not the Nanliang Army. Given her royal lineage, Jiang Si would never treat her harshly. After half a year of governance, Huaicheng had completely aligned with Jiang Si. Rather than relocating Mu Shuyang elsewhere, Jiang Si assigned her to Fengcheng, a city the Nanliang forces had shown no interest in.

Mu Shuyang understood her position well. Being able to live quietly in a corner of the southern lands was already enough.

The coming year’s battles would likely be even harder. As the southern campaign came to an end, the New Year approached. The cities were left in the hands of various local garrisons.

Jiang Si, along with Su Xun, Lan Shao, and the Jingwei Battalion, returned to Ling Shang City.

The year had passed quickly. Jiang Si had spent most of it away. Upon her return to Ling Shang City, a feeling of homecoming unexpectedly filled her heart.

On the final leg of the journey, heavy snow began to fall, making the route more difficult.

Jiang Si asked Su Xun several times, “How many more days until we arrive?”

“That depends on whether the snow blocks the mountain,” Su Xun answered with a blank expression. Jiang Si did not respond further and simply urged her horse forward.

She hoped to cross the mountain before the snowfall became too heavy.

The horses they rode were strong and fast, able to handle tough terrain without fear. At first, they thought there was plenty of time. But as the snow thickened, Jiang Si’s anxiety grew.

What was supposed to be a five-day journey, Jiang Si forced them to complete in three.

By the time they reached Ling Shang City, everyone was exhausted. The warhorses were nearly too tired to stand.

Though the main forces of the Jingyuan Army had not yet returned, their early arrival was seen as a victory. Each day, the people of Ling Shang City looked forward to the Marquis of Jiajing’s return. When a few sharp-eyed townsfolk spotted them, the newly arrived group was immediately greeted with a crowd of cheering citizens.

Because of this, what should have been a short walk to the Marquis’s residence took over two hours instead of twenty minutes.

They arrived at noon, but night had already fallen by the time Jiang Si stepped into the house.

After dismissing the others, she walked alone toward the southern courtyard.

She had not sent any message ahead of time. Her return had happened too suddenly.

While Mu Shuyang had surrendered, the governors of Tiancheng and Kangcheng had remained loyal to the Yue Kingdom. They refused to surrender and fought fiercely. It had taken a long battle to secure those two cities.

Jiang Si expected the same resistance from Jicheng and Fengcheng. She had already written to Mowan Ci, saying she might not be able to return for the New Year. But to her surprise, a few days later, the governors of those cities surrendered without resistance, just like Mu Shuyang.

There was no time to send another letter. It was faster to return in person.

Before knocking on the door, Jiang Si took a deep breath. Then she chuckled at herself. She did not even know why she felt nervous.

At that moment, Zhi Miao’s voice came from inside.

“Your Highness, I think someone is outside.”

Then came Mowan Ci’s calm reply.

“Go open the door and see.”

Jiang Si froze where she stood and waited as Zhi Miao opened the door.

“Aren’t you cold, standing out here?”

It was not Zhi Miao who greeted her, but Mowan Ci.

She wore a white fur coat. The heated floor must have kept her warm, and her cheeks were tinged with a soft pink.

Jiang Si’s eyes passed over her and looked inside the room. Zhi Miao was kneeling beside a table. She had likely been playing chess earlier. Now she was preparing tea.

Unlike Jiang Si, who looked travel-worn and had snow clinging to her shoulders.

Only when Mowan Ci gently brushed the snow from her shoulder did Jiang Si react. She reached out and grabbed Mowan Ci’s hand.

Her fingers were soft and warm, the snow already melted.

Jiang Si pressed her lips together, neither letting go nor holding tighter.

Mowan Ci turned her hand and held Jiang Si’s gently. She spoke softly.

“Even someone as strong as the Marquis should not be standing outside in the cold.”

Then she turned back and called for Zhi Miao.

Zhi Miao nodded and placed a steaming cup of tea in front of Jiang Si.

Mowan Ci smiled and gestured for her to take it.

But Jiang Si did not move. Mowan Ci raised an eyebrow and teased her.

“Marquis, have you gone numb from the cold?”

Only then did Jiang Si finally accept the cup.

The temperature was perfect, as if Mowan Ci had been waiting just for her.

She was welcomed inside. Zhi Miao quietly closed the door behind them.

Mowan Ci personally helped her remove her snow-covered coat and asked, “Would you like to bathe first, or warm up by the fire?”

“I’ll warm up first. It’s too cold.”

She had not noticed the cold during the journey, but now that she was in the warmth of this room, she felt frozen to the bone.

Her mind gradually became clearer. She took Mowan Ci’s hand and asked, “Did you know I was coming back?”

“I did. There was a commotion outside this afternoon, so I started preparing dinner for you,” Mowan Ci answered calmly and openly.

She had been waiting.

“I left only a few days after sending the letter. The messenger probably wasn’t as fast as I was, so I didn’t tell you in advance.”

“I know.”

“We’ve secured the southern territory. Next year, we’ll be able to move into the Central Plains.”

“I know.”

“I also obtained the defense layout of Nanyue City. If you are willing…”

“Jiang Si,” Mowan Ci interrupted her softly, “I already know all of this. You wrote it in your letters.”

Only then did Jiang Si remember. She had written everything already.

Mowan Ci had written her back as well.

Over the past few months, that was what they had done the most—writing letters. Jiang Si had originally planned to talk to Mowan Ci about everything once they reunited, but now, with the moment here and the conversation interrupted, she suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

She lowered her eyes as Mowan Ci shifted closer. A warm hand gently cupped her cheek, and in a soft voice, she asked, “What I really want to know is, how have you been these past few months?”

“All your letters talked about were battles. You never said how you were doing.”

“How was the food? Were you getting enough rest?”

Jiang Si froze.

When Mowan Ci first began speaking, her mind had raced through many things—Nan Gongxuan’s schemes, how Mu Shuyang had surrendered. But she hadn’t expected Mowan Ci to ask about such simple things. Whether she had eaten well. Whether she had slept enough.

It was such a small matter, yet she had ignored it for far too long.

“It was alright…” Her voice came out dry and hoarse, and she could hear it herself.

Mowan Ci brought the cup of tea back to her lips.

She waited patiently.

In truth, she was feeding her the tea.

Jiang Si opened her mouth without thinking. The tea was the perfect temperature, and as it warmed her throat, it reached her heart as well.

She felt her whole body burn with warmth.

Without caring whether the moment was appropriate or not, she pulled Mowan Ci into her arms.

She buried her face against her shoulder and whispered softly, “The food wasn’t great. I don’t like the cuisine in the south. I only slept about two hours a day. I haven’t slept in for a long time.”

“I made porridge for you today. You’ve been traveling in the cold, and a warm meal will help.”

“Tomorrow is Little New Year. I’ve handed all the household affairs over to Liu Jin. You’ve just returned, and I imagine there’s a pile of military work from the northern front waiting for you. I already asked Zhi Miao to let Su Xun know. He’ll report to you in the afternoon.”

“You can sleep in tomorrow.”

Every word from Mowan Ci was like a blanket wrapping around her. Jiang Si felt her heart grow soft and warm. A little dazed even.

She held Mowan Ci tighter, her face close to the back of her neck.

With a quiet, spoiled tone, she asked, “Will you stay with me tomorrow?”

“Stay with you for what?”

“Sleep in with me.”

“That might be difficult. I still haven’t finished the embroidery work I was assigned. Tomorrow I need to—”

“It can wait. Just half a day. Stay with me?”

“I…”

The words “I missed you” caught in her throat. Suddenly embarrassed, Jiang Si blushed and didn’t want to say it out loud. Instead, she leaned in and gave a gentle bite to the back of Mowan Ci’s neck.

When she heard her draw a sharp breath, she quickly pulled away and asked, nervous, “Did I hurt you?”

“No. It’s just…”

“It’s been a while. I’m not used to it.”

As if Mowan Ci were the only one not used to it.

Jiang Si wasn’t used to it either.

The last time they parted, she hadn’t been someone who could say such things out loud. But now, she didn’t know why the words just came.

After a moment of thought, she concluded it was probably because they had been apart for too long.

“Mowan Ci, when will we eat?” After talking for a while, Jiang Si couldn’t fight off her hunger anymore and finally asked for food.

“The porridge has been kept warm on the stove. I’ll ask Zhi Miao to bring it in.”

Mowan Ci moved to get up from Jiang Si’s lap, but Jiang Si tugged her back down.

Reluctant to let go, Jiang Si hesitated before saying, “I can wait a little longer. I still want to talk to you.”

“Talk about what?”

“About how you’ve been doing here at the manor.”

“In the letters, didn’t I already tell you everything?” Mowan Ci replied. “I’ve been doing embroidery, making tea, playing chess. I even learned how to make a new jacket.”

“The one you’re wearing now?” Jiang Si asked.

“Yes,” Mowan Ci answered plainly, but she didn’t ask the question Jiang Si had expected—how it looked, whether it suited her.

Jiang Si glanced at her with subtle disappointment but didn’t push the matter. Instead, she moved on and asked about other things.

Their conversation went on until Jiang Si’s stomach growled loudly, cutting her off. Mowan Ci had no choice but to get up and call for the porridge.

It came with refreshing side dishes, the same kind Jiang Si used to make for Mowan Ci in the past.

Jiang Si ate two full bowls. After bathing, she lay down beside Mowan Ci on the bed.

They lay side by side, holding hands. Jiang Si still didn’t want to sleep—she wanted to keep talking.

“I want to take Nanyue City. What do you think?” She had sent a letter about this plan long ago, but Mowan Ci never replied. Jiang Si wasn’t sure what she thought, so she asked directly.

“I’ll support you,” Mowan Ci said, “but I worry you’re acting out of anger.”

“The King of Nanliang has ruled over Nanyue City for many years. His roots are deep. If you’re serious about this, you need to plan carefully.”

Jiang Si knew that too. But the resentment in her heart wasn’t something she could swallow. No matter what, she wanted the Nan Gong family to feel some pain.

Still, she couldn’t help agreeing with Mowan Ci. “You’re right. This will take careful planning.”

Mowan Ci gave a soft hum of agreement, then turned to sit upright, looking down at Jiang Si.

They had been apart for a long time. Some things didn’t need to be said out loud. Jiang Si kept talking not because the words were important, but because she had missed her.

And when it came to moments like this, she was never the one to take the lead. That had always been Mowan Ci.

Now, Mowan Ci was indeed drawing closer. So close that Jiang Si could breathe in the faint scent of snow lotus lingering on her skin. Her eyes began to flutter closed, until Mowan Ci suddenly spoke.

“I heard a rumor,” she said. “They say that, at the Nanliang royal court, the Marquis of Jiajing declared me your wife. Is that true?”

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