Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 81

Jiang Si had hoped she could brush this matter aside, but Mowan Ci was far harder to fool than she expected.

After dinner, while Mowan Ci was bathing in her room, Jiang Si went to speak briefly with Lan Shao and Wu Tai, then retreated to the stairwell to cram through the military manual.

After a few pages, Jiang Si began to feel more confident. The content seemed familiar, not much different from what she had studied before.

But when she returned to the study and saw Mowan Ci waiting with a quiet smile, her heart skipped a beat.

The questioning began right away. There was no time to prepare. At first, Jiang Si was able to respond smoothly, but soon she realized that most of the questions were not from the book. Mowan Ci was asking off the cuff, testing her understanding in a much broader way.

Jiang Si used everything she had learned over the past year to answer. After a few exchanges, Mowan Ci stopped asking.

“It’s getting late. Time to rest,” she said calmly.

“Alright.” Jiang Si was relieved and followed her out of the room. But just as they reached the door, she was gently pushed back.

“Your Grace hasn’t finished studying. It looks like you’ll be sleeping in the study tonight.”

“There isn’t even a proper bed here…” Jiang Si tried to argue, hoping to win back a spot in the bedroom, but Mowan Ci didn’t even look at her. She turned and walked away without a word.

Jiang Si couldn’t bring herself to chase after her, so she returned to her seat and continued reading.

She still hadn’t bathed. Later that night, she quietly left the study, called for hot water, and washed up quickly. After that, she began pacing back and forth outside the bedroom door.

The doorway faced the staircase. Her pacing was spotted by Lan Shao as she walked up to the second floor. She paused and asked, “Are you two fighting again?”

Jiang Si’s face turned red. She didn’t even bother to answer and just gave a cold snort before opening the bedroom door.

Fortunately, Mowan Ci was already asleep and didn’t see her come in.

Jiang Si tiptoed to the bedside and had just started taking off her outer robe when Mowan Ci suddenly sat up.

She didn’t look the least bit like someone who had been sleeping.

Seeing her, Jiang Si suddenly had the feeling that Mowan Ci had been waiting for her.

She looked down and noticed something that confirmed her suspicion.

Whenever they shared a bed, Jiang Si always slept on the outer side. And now, Mowan Ci had left that side empty for her.

She undressed more quickly, and in just a few movements, climbed into bed and pulled Mowan Ci into her arms.

“Were you trying to scare me on purpose?” she asked softly.

“No…” Mowan Ci answered, but her voice was slightly unsteady, as if her words didn’t quite match her feelings.

It stirred something in Jiang Si.

She didn’t know why, but during this heat period, Mowan Ci’s pheromones were especially strong. Earlier, when she had walked past the bathroom, she had smelled a faint scent of snow lotus and guessed it might be from Mowan Ci. She thought she was imagining it. But now, holding her close, she knew the scent was real.

Mowan Ci’s scent had become much more intense than before.

Because of that, Jiang Si’s own pheromones began to respond. Even though her heat period had passed, the reaction was just as strong as before.

Mowan Ci, sensing something was off, placed a hand on Jiang Si’s shoulder and gently pushed.

“I don’t feel well,” she said softly.

Jiang Si thought her embrace was too tight and loosened her arms a little, but Mowan Ci was still pushing.

That was when she realized something was wrong. She cupped Mowan Ci’s shoulder and asked with concern, “What is it? Where does it hurt?”

“Maybe too much sea wind. I feel a little dizzy.”

“Just dizzy?”

“Yes,” Mowan Ci nodded lightly, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation. She turned away and lay back down.

Jiang Si gently helped her and lay down beside her, supporting her weight as she settled into the bed.

Now that she was so close, Jiang Si noticed something strange. The scent on Mowan Ci’s body had faded.

She looked down and saw that Mowan Ci’s cheeks were faintly flushed. She truly didn’t seem well.

“Mowan Ci, do you need me to…”

“Yes,” Mowan Ci answered before Jiang Si could finish.

Jiang Si paused, unsure what exactly she meant. Did she need her scent, or did she need her?

When Mowan Ci reached out and wrapped her arm around Jiang Si’s neck, she finally understood. She leaned in and placed a kiss on the back of Mowan Ci’s neck.

Mowan Ci let out a soft hum, holding her tighter.

It seemed she needed Jiang Si’s pheromones, not her body.

Still, if it made Mowan Ci feel better, Jiang Si didn’t mind. Either way, she was hers.

Jiang Si shifted from sitting to lying fully on the bed. She held Mowan Ci in her arms and gently brushed aside her hair.

As her own amber scent filled the space, Mowan Ci’s hand slowly clasped her arm. It was not painful, but firmer than usual.

Jiang Si could clearly feel how fragile she was at that moment.

She hugged her more tightly and took a long, steady breath.

With such warmth in her arms, her thoughts began to drift.

It was as if Mowan Ci could feel her restlessness. She turned her head slightly to look at her, and Jiang Si looked down in return.

Her eyes were slightly red at the corners, and her gaze was soft and shining. Jiang Si’s heart stirred even more deeply.

Mowan Ci reached up and kissed her on the lips. It was gentle, like comfort and apology wrapped together.

She was too unwell to do anything more and could only ask Jiang Si to help her in this way.

The topic of the military manual never came up again. They held each other and slept through the night until the sky turned bright.

When they arrived at the Eastern Sea the next day, Jiang Si looked more spirited than usual. She did not wear the heavy armor she used for battle, nor the ornate robes from Ling City. Instead, she wore a dark blue riding outfit that was simple, composed, and steady.

Mowan Ci stood quietly at Jiang Si’s side. Her attire was also much simpler than usual, a deep red ruqun with a front-tied collar. From afar, the two of them looked like a perfectly matched pair.

As they prepared to leave the ship, Jiang Si reached out and gently held Mowan Ci’s hand, guiding her down with care.

Jiang Si had noticed how unwell Mowan Ci had felt the night before. That morning, she had intended to have her stay on the ship to rest, planning to scout the island herself first before making any decisions. But Mowan Ci refused.

She had traveled all this way and now that they had arrived, she was not willing to wait behind.

Jiang Si understood this and did not try to stop her again.

Once they stepped off the ship, Ren Jiu took the lead. Horses and carriages followed. Jiang Si and Mowan Ci shared the same carriage. About half an hour into the journey, Jiang Si faintly heard Ren Jiu speaking outside.

They were now in Ren Jiu’s tribe’s territory, where many were familiar with her. But the way they spoke sounded cold and unfamiliar.

“Please send word. We have honored guests from afar who wish to meet with the Lady Kunze.”

“Honored guests?”

“Unless they are from Wuzhou Island, who would dare call themselves honored guests?”

Ren Jiu was clearly caught off guard. She did not respond for a long time. Jiang Si was about to step out of the carriage when Ren Jiu finally spoke again.

“Do you truly want to live the rest of your life under the control of the Kunze?”

The other person seemed to say something, but their voice was too quiet for Jiang Si to make out.

Not long after, they were allowed to proceed.

Jiang Si had come here hoping to negotiate peacefully. She did not want to rely on force unless absolutely necessary. Having Ren Jiu lead the way was ideal.

The carriage rocked gently as they traveled further. Jiang Si had no idea where they were going until Ren Jiu lifted the curtain and called them to step out.

“Your Grace,” she said, “the woman who spoke earlier grew up with me. But later, she was taken into the Lady Kunze’s private quarters. I beg you to help her.”

Jiang Si’s eyebrows drew together slightly. That woman had spoken to Ren Jiu with such a sharp tone. She had assumed their relationship was distant or strained. She did not expect they had once been close.

“Taken into the private quarters… you mean…”

“Yes. Just as Your Grace suspects. The Lady Kunze keeps seven or eight Qianyuan in her inner chambers. Before I set sail, I almost became one of them. I was only allowed to leave because I promised to bring back enough food to feed the tribe for a month.”

“That is why you took the risk of boarding our ship.”

“I never meant to hide it. It was simply too shameful to speak of.”

With that, Ren Jiu knelt on the ground, head lowered deeply. She did not dare meet Jiang Si’s eyes.

Jiang Si was not angry. Her connection with Ren Jiu had always been based on practical use. Something so personal did not need to be shared, and it did not interfere with her own plans.

If anything, it made her feel more certain. This kind of humiliation would only fuel Ren Jiu’s desire to rebel.

She raised her hand, signaling Ren Jiu to rise. Then she turned and reached for Mowan Ci’s hand, smiling softly.

“Come. Let’s go meet this Lady Kunze that everyone seems to fear.”

Mowan Ci smiled but said nothing. The look on her face made Jiang Si feel slightly nervous.

She thought to herself, wondering whether Mowan Ci was offended by the way she had just spoken.

As they continued on, Jiang Si felt uneasy. But Mowan Ci still wore that same gentle smile.

This place had once been a place of exile. The residence of the Lady Kunze looked like it had been built on the site of an old military outpost. Although it had been heavily renovated, the structure still retained some traces of the old dynasty’s style.

Fortunately, the palace in the capital had preserved much of the architecture from the previous era. That was how Mowan Ci recognized it.

When they reached the main gate, Mowan Ci paused to take a closer look. Jiang Si followed her gaze and noticed a bell hanging beside the entrance, with a Qianyuan standing guard next to it.

The guard appeared ready to stop them, but Ren Jiu quickly stepped forward and rang the bell before he could act.

Not long after, the door opened, and a Kunze stepped out.

She looked down at them, her posture cold and dismissive. When her eyes landed on Ren Jiu and Jiang Si, the look in her eyes was openly intrusive and bold.

But when she looked at Mowan Ci, her expression changed. It was filled with hostility.

Still, she was clearly not experienced enough. Her composure quickly broke under Mowan Ci’s cold gaze, and she turned her attention back to Ren Jiu.

“Ren Jiu, who gave you permission to bring strangers to the Lady’s residence?”

“These guests have traveled from the northern borders. They have matters to discuss with the Lady Kunze. If anything important is delayed because of you, will you be the one to take responsibility?”

Although Ren Jiu kept her head bowed, her tone was direct and firm. The woman in front of her frowned but did not dare say more. After glancing at Jiang Si and Mowan Ci’s attire, she could tell they were not people to offend lightly.

“Wait here.”

They were left standing outside. What they thought would be a short wait stretched into nearly half an hour before the doors opened again.

This time, more than one person stepped out. A whole group of Kunze emerged together.

Their pheromones filled the air, bold and overwhelming.

It suddenly became very clear to Jiang Si why the Kunze held power on this island.

Their pheromones were far stronger than those of an average Kunze. After the time she had spent learning both the theory and practical knowledge from Lan Shao, Jiang Si had come to realize something important. The idea that a Qianyuan’s scent could always suppress that of a Kunze was not entirely accurate.

At the very least, she had once been marked in reverse by Mowan Ci. She had not been completely defenseless at the time, but afterward, she had become deeply dependent on Mowan Ci.

Kunze with pheromones this powerful were clearly more than capable of subduing a Qianyuan.

Jiang Si had not intended to use force from the start. That was why she had asked Ren Jiu to lead them here, hoping for a peaceful introduction. But this group of Kunze showed no signs of cooperation. In fact, the one standing in the center was staring at her with an expression that made her uncomfortable.

It felt strange.

Jiang Si instinctively shifted slightly behind Mowan Ci, because the Kunze’s gaze had changed again.

Now it seemed more like a challenge.

Just as Jiang Si began to wonder if she was imagining things, the woman finally spoke.

“Where did you find such a Qianjun?”

The way she said it felt completely inappropriate.

Calling someone a Qianyuan was expected. That was Jiang Si’s role. But using the term Qianjun was something else entirely. It was a name reserved for a spouse or partner within an intimate bond.

It was a title only a wife would use.

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