Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 95

In September, the Jingyuan Army, allied with the remnants of Nanliang and Pingjin forces, advanced into the capital region.

As Jiang Si had anticipated, the six cities of the capital region were like an impregnable fortress. It was no exaggeration to say that nearly the entire nation’s strength was concentrated in the capital city, Shui Cheng.

The one leading the army, however, was an extremely young face, likely only sixteen or seventeen years old.

At the forefront of the army, Jiang Si asked Su Xun, “Who is this?”

“Tao Zun’s grandson, Tao Ji, the youngest dual champion in both civil and military examinations in Yue Kingdom’s past century.”

“A dual champion…? Tao Zun truly dotes on his grandson,” Jiang Si scoffed with a disdainful smile, and Su Xun mirrored her expression. He then pointed out another figure to her among the vanguard and said coolly, “This person is also Tao Zun’s grandson, Tao Jiang, the Imperial Guard Commander’s illegitimate eldest son, Tao Sheng, who also ranked in the top three of the military examinations.”

Jiang Si glanced between them and noticed something unusual.

Tao Sheng was older than Tao Ji and appeared far more robust and formidable.

Tao Ji, with his frail and feeble demeanor, hardly seemed capable of defeating Tao Sheng. The title of military champion likely had some shady dealings behind it.

The distinction between legitimate and illegitimate heirs was clear, Tao Zun naturally couldn’t bear to see his cherished legitimate grandson suffer any harm, yet he was desperate to claim military achievements.

However, the way Tao Ji trembled in his chariot suggested Tao Zun had miscalculated.

The path had been paved, but the favored grandson had lost his nerve first.

Jiang Si studied him carefully before raising her hand high and then dropping it.

The war drums thundered, and the vanguard charged forth.

The vanguard led by Ye Chan was among the most valiant warriors of the Jingyuan Army. With her at the forefront, supported by Xu Ji and Mu Shuyang, they were practically invincible.

But today, their efforts were destined to be in vain.

Because Jiang Si was in no hurry to capture Shui Cheng she wanted to toy with Tao Zun’s precious grandson first.

As swift blades and silver spears flashed, Tao Ji immediately clutched the chariot’s handles and screamed, “Elder Brother!”

Tao Sheng was already overwhelmed, yet he still spared a glance at Tao Ji, his eyes filled with unmistakable disgust something Jiang Si, locked in combat with him, saw clearly.

Her intention had merely been to test Tao Sheng and intimidate Tao Ji.

For the commanders to behave like this on the battlefield would only demoralize their troops and instill fear in them.

When Tao Sheng had no choice but to prioritize Tao Ji, pulling him to safety, Jiang Si had already retreated even Ye Chan’s vanguard had withdrawn.

As arrows rained down, Tao Sheng could no longer afford to worry about Tao Ji and instead ordered a full retreat.

By then, the now-safe Tao Ji emerged to taunt, “Tao Sheng, why aren’t you pursuing the victory?!”

Tao Sheng cursed inwardly at his stupidity, how could he not see this was a humiliating defeat?

The arrows were merciless, and the soldiers were in complete disarray.

Ignoring Tao Ji’s orders, Tao Sheng commanded the troops to fall back.

Enraged, Tao Ji rallied his own men for what he called a “pursuit of victory.”

He knew nothing of warfare, relying solely on the royal army and the Fuyuan Army to act recklessly.

He could afford to be afraid but what did the defending soldiers have to fear?

Yet this charge would be a one-way trip.

Tao Sheng glared furiously at Tao Ji and demanded, “Tao Ji, why would you?”

He wanted to ask why Tao Ji had done this, but seeing his indifference his utter disregard for the lives of his men, he fell silent.

It was his own fault for forgetting how cowardly and selfish his legitimate elder brother was, willing to sacrifice others for his own gain!

From his perspective, it was merely a trial-and-error attempt, hardly worth considering. A successful pursuit would be ideal, but failure would only cost the lives of a small cavalry unit!

Sure enough, before he could ask, Tao Ji questioned him: “In war, life and death are trivial. But since the Jingyuan Army is full of schemes, why must you act so recklessly, brother?”

“Let us withdraw for now and strategize carefully!”

Tao Ji sneered contemptuously as the imperial troops retreated first, leaving the remaining Fuyuan Army to look to Tao Sheng for orders.

“Fuyuan Army, hold the city!”

Tao Sheng ignored Tao Ji’s command, infuriating him. Pointing at Tao Sheng, Tao Ji snapped, “I am the commanding officer! Are you defying orders, General Tao?”

“Brother, do you not understand the principle that ‘a general in the field may disregard orders’?”

“How… how can you invoke that principle now?” Tao Ji glared at him, but Tao Sheng paid no further heed, already directing the Fuyuan Army into formation.

From a distance, Jiang Si watched with amusement.

It was just a feint, yet Tao Ji had reacted so entertainingly.

Though she couldn’t hear their exchange, their parting in discord was unmistakable.

“Your Highness, shall we attack today?”

Jiang Si shook her head. “No, but the Jingyu Battalion can harass them later.”

During their retreat, Su Xun had briefed her on the brothers’ relationship and the Tao family’s internal strife.

Both were grandsons of Tao Zun and sons of Tao Jiang, yet their circumstances were worlds apart. Tao Ji’s mother was Tao Zun’s first choice as Tao Jiang’s principal wife.

After years without an heir, Tao Jiang took several concubines, one of whom Tao Sheng’s mother was the daughter of Yuan Ding, a seventh-rank official.

She bore the first son, Tao Sheng, a decade before Tao Ji’s birth.

For nearly ten years, they endured humiliation until Yuan Ding won the late emperor’s favor and was appointed Fuyuan General, guarding the capital.

Only then did their lives improve. Tao Sheng was sent to train with the Fuyuan Army, where he gained considerable prestige. But two years ago, Yuan Ding publicly slighted Mu Zesheng at court, opposing Mowan Ci’s demotion to concubine status. Mu Zesheng’s wrath soon saw Yuan Ding demoted and imprisoned in the Dali Temple.

With Tao Zun now wielding near-absolute power in the capital, assigning Tao Sheng to the frontlines signaled both disregard and displeasure especially since Tao Zun had been instrumental in sending Mowan Ci to the northern frontier, earning Mu Zesheng’s gratitude.

“So, the feud between the Tao and Yuan families is partly my doing?”

Su Xun pondered and conceded the point. Before she could respond, Jiang Si added, “What a waste of Tao Sheng’s talents in Yue.”

Su Xun immediately grasped her meaning.

Tao Sheng’s abilities were renowned, no less than his grandfather Yuan Ding’s,  hough equally stubborn. While Jiang Si’s desire to recruit talent was understandable, the current situation forbade it. “Your Highness, this matter requires, ”

“further discussion. The immediate battle takes precedence, I know.” Jiang Si chuckled, her gaze fixed on Tao Sheng’s retreating figure. “Though the battlefield is merciless, I’d prefer to spare this one.”

Mounting her horse, she mused toward Shui Cheng: “I wonder how Tao Zun would feel if his grandson defected to my Jingyuan Army.”

The war in the capital’s Water City dragged on for months. Several times, the Jingyuan Army had terrified Tao Ji to the core, only for Tao Sheng to rescue him each time.

Jiang Si grew increasingly appreciative of him. The Yue Kingdom had few elite soldiers, and Tao Sheng was undoubtedly one of them. If not for him, the Jingyuan Army would have long breached Water City’s gates and stormed the capital.

During military discussions, Jiang Si found herself frowning over his strategies, spending days holed up in the command tent with Nan Gong Yan and Mu Shuyang.

Any tactic she devised, Tao Sheng could anticipate and counter. Only when Tao Ji acted recklessly did the Fuyuan Army falter.

Though the capital was now as impenetrable as an iron fortress, the one calling the shots was a mere scholar-official, obsessed with securing military merits for Tao Ji, essentially a useless figurehead.

It was her own fault, she had been too fixated on Tao Sheng’s talent, focusing all her attention on him.

“The royal army is practically the Tao family’s private force now, so of course they prioritize Tao Ji…”

“But this Water City will be lost because of him.”

After secretly plotting with her advisors, the next day’s assault followed the same pattern until the enemy grew exhausted. Their best chance lay in striking at Tao Ji, the weakest link.

Catching them off guard, Tao Sheng arrived too late to intervene, and the Jingyuan Army ultimately cornered them miles outside Water City.

Upon entering the city, the first thing the Jingyuan Army did was reassure the civilians.

Yet the suffering of the capital’s six cities was far worse than Jiang Si had imagined.

After nearly a month of reorganization, the only regret was that the Fuyuan Army had retreated to Liao City.

Tao Ji was still alive Tao Sheng, stubbornly treating Tao Zun’s words as military orders, had protected him.

Jiang Si was deeply disappointed. This time, she had misjudged him.

Stubbornness could be admirable, but not when it reached Tao Sheng’s level.

She set aside her thoughts and turned her focus to the battle at Liao City.

But that day, as they strategized, a guard interrupted.

“Your Highness, a letter has arrived for you.”

The guard’s voice came from outside. Jiang Si, mid-sentence, had to pause and order the letter brought in. She examined it with suspicion.

The letter bore no signature, and opening it carelessly risked hidden poison.

Su Xun, understanding her concern, summoned the army physician to test it. Once cleared, she opened it herself and began reading aloud to Jiang Si.

Yet after a long silence, she still hadn’t spoken.

Su Xun’s expression was odd. Jiang Si glanced at Nan Gong Yan and Mu Shuyang, then dismissed them.

Once they left, Jiang Si motioned. “Give me the letter.”

Su Xun handed it over, brows furrowed.

Jiang Si took one look and slammed it down.

With a bitter laugh, she asked, “Do you believe this is Mu Zesheng’s own handwriting?”

“I cannot say, but the content matches his predicament.”

“It’s just this address ‘sister-in-law’…”

“Yes, it’s absurdly comical!”

The letter’s contents were even more ludicrous.

The Emperor of Yue, of all people, was begging her for help!

What gave him the right?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she grew, her expression darkening.

“What does Your Highness intend?”

“Should we consider His Highness’s…”

Mu Zesheng’s plea was solely for his own survival not a word about Yue. Su Xun naturally assumed Jiang Si was weighing Mu Wanzuo’s feelings, hence the question. But Jiang Si scoffed.

“What ‘face’?”

“Our army has fought bitterly to overthrow Yue, not to save him!”

Su Xun’s original intention was merely to remind Jiang Si that Mowan Ci might care about Mu Zesheng, and if possible, to spare his life after all, he alone couldn’t amount to much.

But seeing Jiang Si’s indifference, she let the matter drop.

If even Jiang Si didn’t care, it had even less to do with her!

Business came first, so Su Xun asked, “Your Highness, should we still summon Princess Nangong and Marquis Pingjin?”

“Not for now. I’d like to rest awhile.”

Su Xun had more to say but held her tongue upon noticing the dark circles under Jiang Si’s eyes.

After days of relentless warfare, Jiang Si was truly exhausted.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

“Mmm…”

Jiang Si acknowledged lazily, not bothering to see her out, and sprawled onto the couch.

Yet she found herself lost in thought, still holding Mu Zesheng’s letter because it made her think of Mowan Ci.

And the child in her womb.

As she pondered, a sudden realization struck her.

In the tenth month, Mowan Ci would give birth, and Yue would fall!

I’m stuck on the writing again, ahhh!

Transitional chapters are so hard, I just want Her Highness to appear soon!

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