Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 75

Jiang Si bit down on Mowan Ci’s lips with fierce determination.

At first, Mowan Ci kept her lips closed, allowing Jiang Si to bite without reacting. But the scent of the incense was too strong and disruptive. Without meaning to, Mowan Ci parted her lips slightly, and Jiang Si immediately slipped in.

She kissed her again and again, with more force than tenderness. Mowan Ci could neither resist nor escape. In the end, she gave up struggling.

And just when it seemed like it would continue, Jiang Si suddenly stopped. Breathing heavily, she whispered, “I’ve only ever done this with you.”

Mowan Ci pressed her lips together tightly and turned away.

But deep inside, a wave of unfamiliar emotion rose—something like helpless sorrow.

Last night, Jiang Si had been pushy and overbearing. Neither her raised voice nor gentle pleading had any effect. She had been held down and kissed endlessly. The whole experience had been exhausting.

Jiang Si claimed she had only done this with her, but wasn’t the same true for Mowan Ci?

Still, the words never came. She pushed herself up and stepped off the bed.

Compared to Jiang Si, her appearance was even more disheveled. She quietly began putting her clothes on, piece by piece.

The disappointment in her heart hadn’t gone away, and she didn’t want to speak.

Jiang Si thought Mowan Ci was ignoring her. Feeling slightly irritated, she got out of bed too. But when her eyes fell on the marks scattered across Mowan Ci’s back, her heart tightened.

She silently cursed herself.

Idiot.

Did Mowan Ci not realize that “ice cream” was just a type of food? Why was she so caught up over it?

Jiang Si slowly followed behind her. While Mowan Ci was getting dressed, Jiang Si reached out to help. Mowan Ci’s hand froze for a moment, and she turned to look at her.

That one look was filled with unspoken emotion.

The lingering effects of the incense were still there, and the marks on her body made it impossible to ignore what had happened.

With a slightly hoarse voice, Jiang Si said, “Please believe me. There’s no one else. Only you.”

Of course Mowan Ci wanted to believe her.

But Jiang Si had never given her the chance. Who exactly was this “ice cream”? Mowan Ci believed she had every right to ask. And yet, the answer she received felt vague and incomplete.

Suddenly, Mowan Ci remembered Jiang Si saying, “I don’t like anyone but you.”

Her body stiffened.

She remembered how Jiang Si had called someone else’s name while hugging and kissing her. The memory of that passionate kiss just now had pushed that thought aside, but now it returned in full force.

Mowan Ci didn’t know what expression she should wear. She turned her head away completely and said quietly, “I believe you.”

“But from now on, don’t act out when you’re drunk.”

“Alright. I promise.” Jiang Si had started to reply without much thought, but after replaying Mowan Ci’s words in her head, she realized that her tone had softened.

A smile broke across her face. She stood in front of Mowan Ci and noticed a faint blush rising in her cheeks, like she was trying to hide her embarrassment.

“You wanted to know what ice cream is, right? How about I make it for you later?”

Even though Mowan Ci had said she believed her, she still didn’t understand what kind of food had such a strange name. She didn’t want to look foolish for trusting Jiang Si too easily, so she asked carefully, “Is it really a kind of food?”

“It is.”

“Do you want to try it? If you do, then…” Jiang Si started to speak but stopped halfway. She remembered their current surroundings and realized it might not be easy to make. She hesitated.

Mowan Ci’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“It’s nothing…” Jiang Si scratched her head, wanting to explain, but when she saw Mowan Ci’s expression darken, she clenched her jaw and promised, “There’s no problem. I’ll make it for you today.”

After saying that, she quickly turned and left, clearly flustered. Her hurried steps made Mowan Ci smile.

Of course she knew Jiang Si had no one else. Even if they had been distant recently, they had always been together.

Even if the dreams still haunted her and left her full of doubt, she had never lost sight of Jiang Si’s heart.

It had never strayed.

“Lan Shao, did you bring any goat’s milk this time?”

After drinking too much last night, Lan Shao had woken up even later than Jiang Si. When Jiang Si called for her, she was still lying in bed, clearly reluctant to move. She rolled around before finally dragging her sore body to respond.

“Jiang Si, what are you doing now?”

“Did you bring goat’s milk?”

“Huh…?”

Woken up so early over something like this, Lan Shao really wanted to snap. But since it was Jiang Si, she held back her temper. Still, her expression didn’t soften. “I think I did. It should be…”

After drinking the night before, her memory was still fuzzy. Halfway through her sentence, she forgot who she had given it to.

Jiang Si was already growing impatient and pulled her toward the door.

“Wait, let me change clothes first.” Lan Shao sighed. This time, Jiang Si realized she was being too hasty. Lan Shao was still in her underclothes. She couldn’t be dragged outside like this.

Jiang Si stepped back and said, “I’ll wait outside.”

With a loud thud, Lan Shao shut the door behind her.

About fifteen minutes later, she finally came out, fully dressed. The two of them began searching for the goat’s milk that had been brought all the way from the northern border.

They searched all three floors, from top to bottom, but couldn’t find it.

In the end, Lan Shao remembered who she had handed it to. After tracking that person down, they learned that Wei Nian had just taken it.

“Your Highness, just go back and ask the princess for it. I’m going back to sleep.” Lan Shao had barely slept the night before and was clearly still tired. She wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed. Jiang Si didn’t stop her and just waved her off before heading back upstairs to the third floor.

When Jiang Si entered the room, Zhi Miao and Wei Nian were gathered around Mowan Ci, though she couldn’t tell what they were doing at first.

As she got closer, the scent of warm milk reached her nose.

The goat’s milk had already been cooked by the two of them, while Mowan Ci was quietly preparing tea.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Mowan Ci, could I have a bit of that goat’s milk?”

Even though the milk had clearly been brought by Lan Shao, Jiang Si still felt a little awkward asking for it. Fortunately, Mowan Ci didn’t seem to mind. She nodded and signaled to Zhi Miao to give her some.

Zhi Miao handed her a small amount, not much. She seemed aware that the two of them had been having a rough time lately. Her attitude toward Jiang Si was polite, but not as warm as it had been before.

Jiang Si accepted the milk without saying anything. She glanced at Mowan Ci, who kept her head down and continued preparing tea, so she didn’t interrupt.

She didn’t plan on explaining the ice cream idea to Mowan Ci yet. She was afraid it might fail.

She only remembered the theory behind it. Though she had made a few slushes before, which gave her at least a little experience.

The kitchen was on the first floor. Jiang Si took the goat’s milk down with her and started digging through the cabinets. She found some malt sugar and eggs and began preparing in earnest.

Her stubborn nature pushed her forward. At this moment, she completely forgot they were still in a cold war. All she could think about was letting Mowan Ci try the ice cream.

She had asked the boatman earlier and learned it would take three more days to reach the East Sea.

Which meant, if she didn’t keep herself busy, the next three days would be dreadfully boring.

Unlike Mowan Ci, who had two maids by her side, always able to prepare tea or play a game of chess. Jiang Si only had Lan Shao, who often seemed annoyed with her.

She kept herself occupied the entire morning. When the cook returned to the kitchen to prepare lunch, Jiang Si had just finished her work. She asked everyone not to touch her materials, then returned to the small compartment on the third floor to rest.

That small room had been designed specifically for midday naps. Thankfully, she had thought ahead to include a private space during the ship’s design. Otherwise, having to face Mowan Ci and her maids in such close quarters would have made things quite awkward.

Jiang Si hadn’t slept well after hugging her “ice cream” all night. As soon as she lay down, drowsiness hit her.

The final days of her Rain-Dew cycle were especially difficult. Her body alternated between hot and cold. She kept kicking the blanket off, then pulling it back up again. She wasn’t sure when she finally managed to fall into a proper sleep.

Once she did, the dreams came almost immediately.

Chaotic, yet strangely coherent.

In the dream, Mowan Ci lived in a small, isolated courtyard within the Ling Shang Manor. There were no familiar faces like Zhi Miao or Wei Nian around her, only an unfriendly-looking older woman. When Jiang Si opened the door and stepped into the yard, the old woman greeted her with an obsequious smile, calling her “Marquis” and chattering endlessly about Mowan Ci’s daily routine.

She only received one meal a day, the same food the servants ate. If she behaved, she might get something better.

But from the woman’s words, Jiang Si gathered that Mowan Ci had not been behaving.

Which made sense. Mowan Ci had a strong will. She would never let others control her unless she chose to. No one could force her into anything.

That thought felt like it came from both the dream version of the Marquis and the real Jiang Si watching from within.

She couldn’t control her body in the dream. Her legs moved her into the room. Inside was a mess, clearly untouched for a long time.

Further in, behind a folding screen, she could see Mowan Ci’s silhouette.

She looked thinner than any version of her Jiang Si had ever seen, in dreams or in real life.

As the view drew closer, Jiang Si saw clearly that it wasn’t just thinness. Mowan Ci was completely drained. Her eyes were lifeless when she noticed someone approaching.

“Mowan Ci, are you sure you’re ready to pay the price for being disobedient?”

Jiang Si heard the chilling voice come out of her own mouth. Mowan Ci’s body stiffened, but she didn’t raise her head. She didn’t even look at her.

“Then you’ll never see her again.”

“Never.”

Jiang Si watched herself clap her hands. The old woman shuffled in, hunched over, carrying a child in her arms. She forced the child into Mowan Ci’s hands.

“Remember this. From now on, she is A Yue.”

“She is yours and the Marquis’s A Yue.”

The dream began to break apart. Mowan Ci’s figure multiplied into seven or eight, as did the old woman’s.

Only Jiang Si remained as she was. There were no other versions of her.

And surrounding her, there was the thick stench of rot.

It was that horrible smell that woke her up. When she opened her eyes, Lan Shao was standing nearby, holding something yellow in her hands.

Jiang Si took one look and immediately covered her nose, sitting upright.

“Lan Shao, what are you doing?” she asked, startled. Then she realized what Lan Shao was holding.

It was a durian.

“Where did you find that thing?” Jiang Si asked. Lan Shao grinned.

“The boat just docked at a small island. That place is full of these.”

“I was curious. Wanted to see if it could be used as medicine.”

“It can. But actually, it tastes pretty good too.”

“You’ve tried it?” Jiang Si asked, narrowing her eyes.

Lan Shao looked pleased with herself and handed the durian to Jiang Si. “Do you know how to eat this?”

Durian was spiky and hard to handle. Jiang Si didn’t want to touch it. She pushed it back. “I do. But you should ask someone else to help you.”

“Alright. I’ll go get the cook.” Lan Shao turned and left without hesitation.

Jiang Si shook off the last bit of sleep and followed her out.

Only then did she realize there were at least ten durians stacked on the deck.

She actually liked the fruit, though she hadn’t had any in a long time. The sudden strong smell had caught her off guard, but now it was making her mouth water.

She was craving it.

There were so many durians, and plenty of ways to prepare them.

Jiang Si wasn’t the type to keep good things to herself. She began directing the kitchen staff to start working.

Durian was the kind of fruit people either loved or hated.

Lan Shao was clearly someone who loved it. She didn’t mind the smell at all. In fact, she was the first to taste it as soon as one was cracked open.

“It’s so sweet.”

Those who didn’t like it frowned and walked away. Jiang Si didn’t force anyone. She let them go prepare dinner instead, while the rest stayed to help.

By the time the sun was about to set, all the durians had been opened. Only two were left for Lan Shao to study for her medicine-making.

Jiang Si took the largest piece and left.

She was going to make durian ice cream.

Lan Shao also picked one up and followed her upstairs.

Originally, Jiang Si had planned to work in the first-floor kitchen. But not everyone could handle the smell of durian, so she settled for the smaller kitchen on the second floor.

Lan Shao followed closely. When she saw Jiang Si mixing goat milk, eggs, and malt sugar together, she asked curiously, “What are you making?”

“Ice cream,” Jiang Si answered without looking back. Only after saying it did she realize she probably shouldn’t have.

This ice cream was meant for Mowan Ci. If Mowan Ci didn’t like the durian flavor, then maybe she would share a little with Lan Shao. That was the only reason she might get to taste it.

When Jiang Si turned around, she saw Lan Shao’s eyes brighten.

Why had she never noticed before that Lan Shao was such a foodie?

“Don’t get any ideas. I’m making this for Her Highness.”

“Alright.”

“If she doesn’t like it…”

“If she doesn’t like it, then I’ll take it. I’ll bring it to you myself,” Lan Shao muttered with a disappointed tone, holding the durian and turning to leave. Just as she turned, she saw Zhi Miao and Wei Nian coming downstairs.

After they greeted one another politely, Zhi Miao quickly walked past while covering her nose, unable to stand the smell. Wei Nian didn’t react at all to the scent. Instead, she kept staring at Lan Shao.

Wei Nian had rarely seen Lan Shao, even though the latter had accompanied Jiang Si on campaigns for over half a year. Each time she saw her, she was too nervous to speak.

Sometimes the timing wasn’t right. Other times, if Lan Shao was alone, Wei Nian felt even more afraid to speak up.

But with Zhi Miao beside her now, she seemed a little braver. She took the initiative to ask, “Medic Lan, what is that?”

“Durian,” Lan Shao answered.

“Our prince brought it. She said she wants to make ice cream for Her Highness.”

Both of her replies involved Jiang Si. Wei Nian’s face dimmed slightly, but she still said softly, “The prince is thoughtful. Her Highness is resting right now. She might miss dinner.”

Jiang Si, who had just come up behind them, heard this and paused for a second but didn’t say anything.

After Zhi Miao and Wei Nian walked away, Jiang Si turned to Lan Shao. “Why do you talk so much?”

Lan Shao scoffed. “I was helping you. Have you ever seen me talk too much about anything else?”

She had a point.

Jiang Si couldn’t argue with that and turned back to focus on the ice cream.

It had been a long time since Jiang Si truly lost herself in doing something.

Since returning to Ling Shang City, she hadn’t thrown herself into anything so completely. She had forgotten all about the strange dream she had earlier in the day.

After a quick dinner, Jiang Si brought the finished goat milk and durian ice creams up to the third floor.

She gently knocked on the door. When she heard Mowan Ci respond, she stepped inside.

Mowan Ci looked like she had just woken up. Jiang Si had also thoughtfully brought her a bowl of noodles with soybean paste.

The closer they got to the East Sea, the hotter the weather became. Mowan Ci wore a thin robe, and the room was filled with blocks of ice, but even so, her cheeks were flushed from sleep.

“Did you need something?” Mowan Ci asked casually, clearly not expecting anything special.

Jiang Si didn’t answer. She frowned slightly and placed the tray in front of her.

“Eat the noodles first, then the ice cream.”

Knowing that Mowan Ci had probably missed dinner, Jiang Si had packed the ice cream in ice blocks to keep it cold. It would stay perfectly frozen for at least half an hour.

Mowan Ci didn’t eat right away. She reached for a light robe and slipped it over her shoulders.

She didn’t think anything of it, but Jiang Si felt a strange discomfort in her chest.

She stared at the robe, lost in thought. Maybe the distance between her and Mowan Ci was like that layer of clothing. Not heavy, but still there.

Mowan Ci didn’t know what she was thinking, but she could sense something in Jiang Si’s gaze.

“Jiang Si, have you stared long enough?” she asked.

The question was vague, and Jiang Si immediately thought of several possible meanings.

Was Mowan Ci hinting at what happened last night? Was she saying her gaze was too direct? Or did she just not want to be looked at?

None of those seemed quite right.

In the end, Jiang Si turned her head, choosing not to look at her anymore. Instead, she focused on the reflection of Mowan Ci in the mirror across the room.

Her figure was clear and graceful. Even more beautiful than the version Jiang Si had seen in her dreams.

Something in her expression shifted.

She finally remembered what she had forgotten.

The dream.

It hadn’t been hard to interpret.

Ayue was Mowan Ci’s child. And that child had most likely been taken away or abandoned by the original Jiang Si.

But why?

Why would the child be discarded or worse?

She couldn’t make sense of it. So she turned to Mowan Ci, ready to ask.

Most of the noodles had already been eaten. Mowan Ci noticed her looking again. Her cheeks turned red, and the back of her neck flushed with warmth.

Jiang Si no longer smelled like the harsh incense from earlier. Instead, she carried a faint scent of amber. It was soft and comforting, and it settled Mowan Ci’s heart.

The uncomfortable memories of her dream faded for the moment.

“So this is ice cream?” she asked.

“Yes,” Jiang Si replied without thinking.

Mowan Ci picked up a spoon and took a bite.

It was the durian flavor.

When Jiang Si had brought it in, Mowan Ci hadn’t reacted to the smell at all. Now that she was eating it, she seemed to really enjoy it.

Still…

“You just ate noodles. If you eat something too cold, your stomach might get upset,” Jiang Si warned gently.

But Mowan Ci was more curious about her behavior.

“What are you trying to ask me?”

Jiang Si had intended to ask earlier, but seeing how happy Mowan Ci looked while eating, she had pushed the question down. Now that it was brought up, she was caught off guard and didn’t know how to respond.

Mowan Ci acted like she hadn’t noticed her hesitation. She set the spoon down and said softly, “I had a dream. You came to me with a child. You told me her name was Ayue.”

Jiang Si’s heart skipped a beat.

Had she and Mowan Ci really had the same dream?