Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 97

Having given birth to two children, Mowan Ci had exhausted all her strength. She barely managed to lift her eyes to glance at the babies before falling back into unconsciousness.

Unable to nurse them herself, Zhimiao handed one of the infants to the wet nurse.

Before the delivery, Mowan Ci had expressed her desire to breastfeed her children personally. Zhimiao had tried to dissuade her several times, but Mowan Ci remained stubborn. In the end, Zhimiao had no choice but to compromise, agreeing to keep a wet nurse on standby as a precaution. Only then did Mu Wanci relent.

Now, that precaution proved necessary.

Holding the newborn in her arms, Zhimiao gazed at Mowan Ci with heartache, pursing her lips before entrusting her to Wei Nian. She still had to help the wet nurse care for the babies.

The room was thick with the scent of a Kunze’s pheromones. Though Lan Shao had scattered suppressant powder around, it was only enough to shield the other Kunzes in the room for a limited time. Not daring to linger, Zhimiao and the wet nurse carried the infants to a side chamber, leaving only Wei Nian and a few maids behind.

As the sole Qianyuan in the household, Lan Shao had some resistance to Kunze pheromones compared to others, and the suppressant powder helped. Still, after enduring nearly two hours, she had reached her limit.

With the birth over and Wei Nian fully capable of tending to Mowan Ci, Lan Shao went to the side chamber to see the newborns.

Being a Qianyuan, her presence made everyone except Zhimiao somewhat uneasy. Zhimiao dismissed the maids and wet nurse, leaving the door open as she spoke with Lan Shao.

Knowing Lan Shao had come to see the babies, she made space for her.

Lan Shao took out two bracelets she had prepared in advance. After examining the infants, she said, “Both children are healthy, though being twins and premature, they’re a bit smaller and weaker.”

The two girls bore a striking resemblance to Jiang Si, but Lan Shao would never voice that thought in front of Mowan Ci’s maids.

She was about to leave Donghai. Seeing the safe arrival of Jiang Si’s bloodline brought her joy, and she felt all the more protective of the babies.

After speaking, she fastened a bracelet to each child’s wrist, each one different. The obsidian bracelet, meant to ward off evil, went to the slightly stronger twin. The red jadeite bracelet, believed to avert misfortune and bring luck, adorned the frailer one.

“Don’t remove these before they turn three,” Lan Shao instructed. Though Zhimiao didn’t understand the significance, the bracelets were beautiful, and Lan Shao’s sincerity was evident. She thanked her and promised to keep them safe.

With the babies born, Lan Shao’s mind was at ease, and she began preparing for her travels.

The night before her departure, she summoned Wei Nian.

Over the past few days, Lan Shao had frequently asked Wei Nian about Mowan Ci’s condition, so when they met, Wei Nian instinctively began updating her. But as she spoke, she noticed something off about Lan Shao, she was unusually quiet.

Wei Nian asked what was wrong.

Lan Shao smiled, serving her food before saying, “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Ignoring Wei Nian’s shock, she continued, “From now on, take good care of Her Highness and the two young misses.”

Wei Nian had been too busy these past days to speak properly with Lan Shao. She never expected her to leave so soon. Panic churned inside her.

She had thought… after staying so long, Lan Shao might not leave after all.

The words of affection lingered on her lips for a long time, yet Wei Nian still couldn’t bring herself to say them. It wasn’t until after the meal, when Lan Shao returned to her study, that she hesitated over whether to write a letter to Jiang Si.

She wanted to tell her that Mu Wanzi had safely given birth.

But then she reconsidered the war must have already reached the capital by now, a critical moment and stopped herself.

This battle was far too important. It would be better if she went there in person.

The next day, when she was about to depart, both Wei Nian and Zhi Miao came to see her off. Even Mu Wanzi, who had just recovered enough to walk, wanted to bid her farewell. But Lan Shao refused, even persuading Zhi Miao to leave.

She only allowed Wei Nian to accompany her.

As she stepped onto the boat, Lan Shao turned back to look at Wei Nian, whose eyes brimmed with tears on the shore. Her heart softened, and she returned to pat Wei Nian’s head. “Little sister, don’t waste your thoughts on me.”

“Months of careful teaching were for the sake of Her Highness and the child, as well as to ensure my master’s legacy is passed on.”

Long ago, Lan Shao had once said this almost jokingly. But later… she never brought it up again. Over time, Wei Nian had nearly forgotten why Lan Shao had first begun teaching her.

All she knew was that Lan Shao’s medical skills filled her with admiration, and her compassion as a healer was something she aspired to.

Being called “little sister” made her a bit indignant, so she boldly called out her name instead: “Lan Shao…”

“Hm?” Lan Shao responded softly. Seeing the same look in Wei Nian’s eyes, she hardened her heart and said, “My heart has long belonged to another. Don’t waste your time.” She gave Wei Nian’s head two more gentle pats before signaling the boat to set sail.

The autumn and winter chill was harsh, and the strong winds at sea slowed Lan Shao’s journey more than expected. By the time she reached Luancheng, it was already the end of October. After a long and winding journey, she arrived at the capital region in the midst of heavy snowfall.

Over the years, Lan Shao had spent most winters in the northern frontier, so the snow and wind were nothing to her. But she noticed the coachman shivering from the cold. When they reached Shuicheng, he trembled as he carried her belongings into the inn and asked, “Physician Lan, the winter months are bitterly cold. Why not rest here a few more days before heading to Taicheng?”

“If you hurry, you might reach the capital by the new moon.”

“Winter months? Isn’t winter supposed to start in December? It’s only the end of October now,” Lan Shao asked, puzzled.

The coachman chuckled and explained, “Physician Lan, coming from the north, you might not know this. Here in the capital, November is considered the winter month, December is the twelfth month, and January is the new moon.”

Lan Shao gazed toward Taicheng in the distance and remarked, “The capital sure has a lot of customs…”

“Ah, but no matter how many customs there are, things are bound to change now,” the coachman sighed.

Lan Shao glanced at him and asked, “Why do you say that?”

Seeing her curiosity, the coachman spoke frankly, “Since you’ve come from outside Shuicheng, you might not have heard yet Yue Kingdom is no longer Yue Kingdom.”

“Now, the one ruling the capital is none other than the former Marquis of Jingyuan, the God of Slaughter from the north, Jiang Si!”

When the coachman mentioned Jiang Si, his tone was full of resentment. Lan Shao didn’t understand why but smiled as she asked, “What’s so bad about Jiang Si, the God of Slaughter?”

“Bad? What’s good about her… tch!” The coachman, usually outspoken, was about to say more when he spotted patrolling soldiers and fell silent.

After helping Lan Shao settle her things in the inn, he finally added, “The Tao dogs were tyrants, and their clansmen acted like they owned the streets. If anything, the common folk should be thanking this God of Slaughter.”

“If it weren’t for that executioner humiliating the Grand Princess back then, the capital wouldn’t have been reduced to such a state!”

The coachman continued his indignant rant, but Lan Shao couldn’t bear to listen any longer until the man abruptly changed topics to mention Mu Zesheng: “At the start of the new year, it’ll be the death anniversary of that former Yue Emperor. If you’re going to the capital, Physician Lan, you should go see it!”

Dynastic changes always breed discontent. The coachman exemplified this sentiment, and he certainly wasn’t alone in harboring such thoughts.

Had Mowan Ci not entered the Marquis of Jingjing’s household as a concubine back then had she remained the regent Grand Princess, who knows what Mu Zesheng might have done? Tao Zun would still have exploited his weakness and tyrannized unchecked.

Even if Jiang Si hadn’t overthrown Yue, someone else might have Nanliang, the Western Frontier, or perhaps even Mu Shuyang staging a rebellion.

Fault lies everywhere, but in these times, what can truly be called right?

Only after crossing the threshold of the new year did Lan Shao finally reach the capital. Bidding farewell to the coachman, she wandered the streets alone.

Her last visit bore no resemblance to now different seasons, different moods among the people, different garrison troops at the gates.

Deliberately avoiding contact with any Jingyuan Army personnel during her journey, she’d wanted to witness everything firsthand.

After seeing enough, she arranged to send a letter to Su Xun before waiting at an inn.

From dawn until midnight she waited, until Su Xun finally arrived.

Snow had begun falling again outside. Su Xun came in windblown and travel-worn, with Ye Chan trailing behind.

Ye Chan had always nursed grievances against her, and today was no exception. Having accompanied Jiang Si from the Central Plains all the way to the capital while Lan Shao remained absent, Ye Chan regarded her with barely concealed haughtiness, though it mattered little.

Ignoring her, Lan Shao addressed only Su Xun: “Where’s Jiang Si? I need to speak with her directly.”

“The Prince is occupied,”

“Lan Shao,” Ye Chan interjected, Su Xun failing to stop her, “by remaining in Donghai all this time, do you serve that Grand Princess or our Prince?”

Unfazed by the barb, Lan Shao kept her eyes on Su Xun: “Can I see her now?”

She’d wondered whether reaching the capital might change things, and had prepared for every possibility.

Jiang Si wouldn’t refuse to see her but more pressing matters might intervene.

“The Prince is indeed occupied,” Su Xun conceded, “so she sent me to escort you to the palace first. You may need to wait awhile for… other matters.”

“That’s fine.”

Lan Shao had been determined to personally inform Jiang Si about Mowan Ci’s condition, but her journey here had shifted that resolve.

Now, merely mentioning Mowan Ci’s name would determine whether she should continue.

At the palace, Lan Shao waited with Su Xun while Ye Chan went to announce them.

Before long, the door swung open, Jiang Si had braved the snowstorm to come.

Her excitement at seeing Lan Shao surpassed all others. “Why didn’t you send word earlier?” she laughed. “I’d have had Su Xun meet you! Those jars and bottles of yours must’ve been heavy!”

Lan Shao smiled too, genuinely pleased by Jiang Si’s demeanor.

The Northern-style dishes served eased some of Ye Chan’s hostility.

Her travels had left Lan Shao pensive. After a drink, she remarked, “The coachman didn’t lie the capital truly is prosperous now.”

Ye Chan shot her a glance while Su Xun remained silent. Only Jiang Si smiled and said, “It’s not like you’ve never been here before.”

“The capital has always been like this. If anything, it’s become more dilapidated due to the war. Where do you see prosperity?”

“Perhaps I’ve stayed too long in Donghai.”

“The climate there is pleasant. In the half year since Your Highness left…” Lan Shao tentatively began, only to see Jiang Si’s expression darken.

She shouldn’t have brought it up.

Lan Shao pursed her lips in a faint smile and picked up her wine cup again. Suddenly, Ye Chan across the table spoke up: “So you’ve truly taken her as your master now.”

Lan Shao didn’t respond, downing her wine in one gulp.

She knew Jiang Si would speak.

Sure enough, as the cup landed, Jiang Si stood up, grabbing Ye Chan by the collar and shouting, “Have you stayed in the capital so long you’ve forgotten your place?”

“I… Your Highness… I meant no disrespect.” Ye Chan looked pleadingly at Su Xun, who could only shake his head helplessly.

As the collar tightened, Ye Chan’s eyes began to redden, yet Jiang Si’s grip didn’t loosen.

Finally, in desperation, Ye Chan blurted out all her grievances: “That scoundrel Mu Zesheng keeps clamoring day and night to see the Grand Princess, saying you dare not touch her because of the Grand Princess’s presence! He accuses you of breaking promises, using the pretext of sending the Grand Princess to the northern frontier to blackmail you…”

Her words grew increasingly outrageous until even Su Xun couldn’t tolerate it, stepping forward to punch her.

“How dare you presume to comment on matters between His Highness and Her Highness?”

Lan Shao also rose, watching the three coldly, truly feeling she’d come at the wrong time.

The capital’s affairs had already stretched Jiang Si thin, difficult to manage. Seeing Lan Shao like this, Jiang Si abruptly released Ye Chan.

She could probably guess why Lan Shao had come.

But whatever concerned Mowan Ci truly had nothing to do with her anymore.

She didn’t want to care, didn’t want to ask, and least of all wanted Lan Shao to speak.

Support