Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 88

Inside the palace of Wuzhou, Lady Xiao Su sat quietly before a chessboard, dressed in black. She had not made a single move for a long time. Only when she heard the soft thud of a sedan chair being set down at the entrance did she finally place a black stone on the board.

She sat upright, watching without blinking as Mowan Ci stepped down from the sedan.

Once Mowan Ci had fully steadied herself, Xiao Su rose and walked forward to greet her.

“You are Mowan Ci?”

“I am,” Mowan Ci replied with a gentle nod.

Xiao Su narrowed her eyes slightly, her lips tugging into a faint smirk at the woman’s calm composure.

When she first received word that someone was trying so persistently to contact her, she assumed it was a fool who did not know their place. But the seal they had sent was no forgery.

“This way, please,” Xiao Su said, extending a hand and gesturing toward a seat.

“I have heard that Her Highness excels at both tea and chess. Unfortunately, Wuzhou is simple and can only offer one of the two today.”

“That’s no problem,” Mowan Ci replied with a soft smile, her gaze falling on the black stone that had just been placed on the board.

As the ruler of Wuzhou Island, Xiao Su naturally sat in the position of honor and played with the black stones. There was nothing inappropriate about it. But being stared at so directly by Mowan Ci made her feel strangely uncomfortable.

Still, someone in her position would never let that show.

She acted as if nothing had happened, calmly took her seat, and handed the white stones to Mowan Ci.

Mowan Ci raised no objection, but once the game began, she gave Xiao Su no chance at all.

No one on Wuzhou Island had ever dared to challenge Xiao Su this fiercely. Her breathing quickened as the game progressed, but when she thought of the seal Mowan Ci had shown, she forced herself to stay calm.

“For many years, Purple Mist Academy has used a thumb ring as its seal. Were you not afraid I would doubt you for presenting a ring instead?” Xiao Su asked.

“If I feared your suspicion, I would not have used the ring as the token in the first place.”

At those words, Xiao Su’s expression changed. The haughtiness she wore just moments ago faded quickly. Mowan Ci smiled faintly and placed the final white stone on the board, finishing the match.

She showed no intention of holding back, as if she had come to humble her opponent deliberately.

Very few people knew about the existence of the Purple Mist Academy. Even fewer knew that beneath the thumb ring used as the official seal, there was a hidden inner ring.

The thumb ring allowed one to command the academy’s members, but not the shadow operatives.

The academy had held power above the three kingdoms for hundreds of years, with deep roots. In her past life, Mowan Ci only learned of its true nature after she had already been placed under soft confinement in the Qingyi Palace by Jiang Si.

After returning to the capital years later, a former palace maid who had once served her mother handed her the seal on her deathbed, claiming she was helping her. At the time, Mowan Ci had little to do and began studying the token out of curiosity. That was when she discovered the hidden ring, as well as the network of Purple Mist families and their shadow operatives scattered across the continent.

At the time, she was already too weakened to use it. But now, everything was different.

“Master, whatever you need, I will do my utmost to fulfill it,” Xiao Su said suddenly, interrupting Mowan Ci’s thoughts.

Mowan Ci turned her head. Now the palace hall was empty, and only the two of them remained. Xiao Su had placed her right hand over her chest and bowed respectfully.

There was no trace of her earlier arrogance. Her gaze toward Mowan Ci was filled with reverence.

Mowan Ci did not respond immediately. Instead, she looked down at the chessboard, where she had once again defeated Xiao Su without a single misstep. She smiled and said, “Lady Xiao, forgive me.”

“Master…”

“No one besides you knows who I truly am. There is no need to address me that way.”

“The title of Long Princess of Yue is far more useful right now.”

“Yes,” Xiao Su replied, bowing even lower. She stared at the floor near Mowan Ci’s feet, waiting for further instructions. But Mowan Ci remained silent for a long time and did not turn around.

Growing restless, Xiao Su finally called out quietly, “Your Highness?”

Mowan Ci looked back, her eyes sharp with displeasure. Xiao Su dared not say more, and instead followed her gaze.

The one who had been chasing her for months was someone Xiao Su had only just decided to meet a few days ago.

Part of her decision came from Xiao Qin’s persuasion. But also, the changes on Luzhou Island had not gone unnoticed. Xiao Su was not a narrow-minded person. If something genuinely benefited the people, she would not oppose it.

She knew all about the complicated history between Mowan Ci and Jiang Si. And if…

“If Your Highness does not wish to keep her here, I can take care of it,” Xiao Su said.

“When did I ever say I didn’t want to keep her?” Mowan Ci asked calmly.

Although she knew that the Xiao family of the former dynasty had once been closely tied to the Purple Mist Academy, this was her first time dealing with Xiao Su directly. Trusting her completely was out of the question.

But for now, Mowan Ci needed power of her own.

“She wants to work with you. Accept her offer. There is no need to embarrass her.”

Xiao Su looked completely stunned.

Although Donghai was more closed off than the mainland, the scandal surrounding the Marquess of Jia Jing from the northern border taking the Yue princess as a concubine had caused an uproar even here. It was a disgrace known to all.

Xiao Su had been skeptical before Mowan Ci arrived. But now she believed the story and felt even more uncomfortable about the closeness between Mowan Ci and Jiang Si.

In Donghai, Kunze were honored above Qianyuan. This rule came from the teachings of the Purple Mist Academy. The Xiao family had ruled this region for generations. Xiao Su, raised with the belief that Kunze were superior, could not comprehend this relationship.

“I will make my own decisions. You do not need to speak further,” Mowan Ci said with firm authority.

Her commanding presence left Xiao Su seething but unable to speak.

The seal of the Purple Mist Academy had long been considered a legend. Although Xiao Su’s mother had raised her to respect the Academy’s master, she had never imagined such a moment would truly come.

And still, even now, a part of her resisted.

It felt as though Mowan Ci had seen straight through her.

Her voice was quiet but cold. “Xiao Su, keeping her here is not something you are capable of doing.”

“Or do you intend to use all the strength of Wuzhou Island just to challenge one Jiang Si?”

“I…”

Mowan Ci was right. Wuzhou Island had taken the Xiao family several centuries to build into what it was today. If Jiang Si came with goodwill and offered a fair alliance, Xiao Su could certainly choose to resist or show displeasure. That was within reason.

But if it came to a real confrontation, a battle with weapons drawn, Wuzhou Island would gain nothing. Even if they did not lose outright, it would cost them dearly.

“I acted out of line. Please give your instruction, Master.”

“I already said it. Work with her. Let the rest unfold as it will.”

When Mowan Ci left the palace, she passed Jiang Si on the way. That was when Lady Xiao Su finally stopped creating obstacles.

But Jiang Si had already lost all desire to step inside the palace.

Their eyes met briefly.

After all that resistance, after seeing Mowan Ci’s coldness earlier, Jiang Si could easily guess who had been behind everything.

She had chased this meeting for too long. Xiao Su never gave in until now, just after Mowan Ci appeared. It was too obvious.

If that was the game being played, then she would stop playing it.

She would not step into the palace.

As soon as Mowan Ci left, Jiang Si turned and led her people away without a word.

At the shore, Jiang Si saw the small, simple boat Mowan Ci had come on. The sedan had been set down, but there was no other luggage or sign of preparation.

Her chest filled with frustration.

Just before the boat departed, she walked over to the dock.

Mowan Ci turned when she heard her footsteps. Her eyes were as hard to read as ever. Her voice, cold as it had been earlier, asked, “Does the Princess of Jingyuan not have business to attend to? Why are you following me?”

Jiang Si’s face was calm but tight. “Mowan Ci, you know exactly why I came.”

“I do not,” she replied.

Her eyes dimmed again. Her words felt as if they were spoken to a stranger.

“Do you really have nothing to say to me?”

On Luzhou Island, Jiang Si had worried every day. The things she did might have seemed small, but every day she made new meals just to lift Mowan Ci’s mood, to help her heal faster.

And now, even though Mowan Ci seemed perfectly well, Jiang Si felt more distant than ever.

She would rather Mowan Ci still be unwell.

That thought alone made her angrier. Her chest tightened. She did not want to say another word. She turned and left.

Her ship was larger and faster than the one Mowan Ci took. When she arrived back on Luzhou Island, the first place she went was the ship they had once shared.

The third floor looked the same, but she no longer felt it was familiar.

When she opened the door, the first thing she saw was the food she had prepared the night before.

It had not been touched.

There were other things too.

Many of the small gifts or meals she had brought were still sitting right where she had left them.

Seeing this, Jiang Si’s chest grew even tighter. She stood frozen, unsure of what to think or feel.

Only when Mowan Ci returned did she finally react.

But Mowan Ci acted as if Jiang Si was invisible. She sat quietly at the tea table, not looking in her direction.

When she finally noticed Jiang Si watching her, she turned sharply and glared.

“What are you staring at, Jiang Si?”

Her voice was cold and sharp.

Jiang Si met her eyes and answered, “I’m looking at the child.”

Her voice was lower than usual. It was clear to anyone that she was not in a good state.

Mowan Ci became tense. Her hand instinctively moved to her belly.

“Jiang Si, leave,” she said harshly, stepping back several times.

Her mind filled with flashes of chaotic memories.

She bit her lip so hard that only when she tasted blood did she return to herself. She clutched her belly and shouted, “Stay away from me, Jiang Si!”

But Jiang Si didn’t move.

She stood still, watching Mowan Ci retreat.

When there was nowhere else to back away to, Jiang Si stepped forward instead.

She looked Mowan Ci straight in the eyes, her voice full of pain.

“Mowan Ci, have you been playing with me this entire time?”

Mowan Ci’s expression faltered. Her eyes softened for a second. She caught the faint scent of amber from Jiang Si’s pheromones and hesitated.

It did not smell foul.

Her eyes flickered, and she softly whispered, “Jiang Si…”

But to Jiang Si, that voice sounded more like avoidance.

“I’m asking you. Were you just playing with me?”

Her anger grew. Her pheromones surged. She reached out and grabbed Mowan Ci’s wrist tightly.

She used strength.

Mowan Ci struggled, but it was no use.

“Jiang Si, you and I…”

“This was all a mistake, wasn’t it? From the beginning, you only got close to me to take revenge on the royal family…”

Mowan Ci shut her eyes as she said it. It felt like she was not only telling Jiang Si, but also reminding herself.

She remembered being imprisoned in a dark, damp dungeon.

The pain of needles driven into her gland.

The stench of foul pheromones forced into her body.

The shame and the cruelty.

And then…

The person before her had once taken her newborn child by force.

She remembered it all.

That tiny life had been ripped from her arms. Its delicate neck had been clutched so tightly, she had no idea where the baby had been thrown afterward.

When she opened her eyes again, Mowan Ci’s gaze was bloodshot. Without thinking, she sank her teeth into Jiang Si’s shoulder. The pain made Jiang Si release her grip.

Once free, Mowan Ci felt a sharp ache in her chest, deep and suffocating.

She sank to the ground, her breathing ragged and shallow.

With great effort, she spoke.

“Today I went to Wuzhou Island. From now on, no matter how you plan to cooperate with Xiao Su, she will follow your lead.”

“There will be the future you hoped for between the Eastern Sea and the mainland.”

Jiang Si stood frozen.

“Mowan Ci…?”

After days of coldness and silence, she had not given any explanation. Now, without warning, she suddenly chose to explain her visit to Wuzhou Island. It made no sense.

Before Jiang Si could say anything, there was a loud sound.

Mowan Ci collapsed, sliding limply to the ground. Her arms wrapped protectively around her stomach, and soft sobs escaped her lips.

The sound was so quiet that Jiang Si only understood what she was saying when she rushed forward and held her up.

Perhaps the pain had broken her defenses. For once, Mowan Ci no longer resisted. Her head rested gently against Jiang Si’s shoulder.

Over and over again, a single name fell from her lips.

“Ayue… Mama will protect you.”

She repeated it again and again, as if trying to remind herself, as if clinging to the last bit of strength in her heart.

Jiang Si finally understood.

The princess had remembered.

Her memories had returned, and with them, all the agony from her past life.

Nothing about that past was comforting.

And now, they both would need time to adjust, to find a way forward through everything they had endured.

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