Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess - Chapter 99

“Ah… Mother.”

A-Yue’s soft voice snapped Mu Wanci back to reality. Before she could respond, the chubby little finger was already pointing at her face. Mu Wanci gently touched her own cheek, feeling the cold wetness of tears she hadn’t realized she’d shed.

A-Yue was tilting her head up, trying in vain to wipe the tears away, her tiny brows furrowed in frustration as her short arms couldn’t quite reach.

“A-Yue, Mother is fine.” But A-Yue didn’t seem convinced, puffing her cheeks as she glared accusingly at Xiao Su in her eyes, the one who’d made her mother cry.

A-Yue was clingy and occasionally displayed an oddly mature demeanor for her age, especially toward A-Wu. Once, after accidentally scratching A-Wu’s cheek, she’d scolded her fiercely and even tried to grab her.

Naturally timid, A-Wu had been frightened by A-Yue’s outburst and had since kept her distance, even growing afraid of her. Mu Wanci found it exasperating no matter how she tried to mediate, A-Wu wouldn’t listen. Yet, being her child, A-Wu would still gaze at her with those dark, worried eyes whenever she sensed her mother’s distress.

“Mother is fine.” Mu Wanci turned to A-Wu, stroking her head gently. A-Wu nodded obediently and took her hand, standing close.

Xiao Su could only smile wryly from the sidelines, it almost felt like she was being blamed.

Still, she’d come to understand the girls’ personalities well enough by now. A-Yue was bold and held grudges, while A-Wu, though soft-spoken and reserved, was deeply affectionate.

Mu Wanci was truly blessed except…

Her path in love had been anything but smooth.

When news of Jiang Si reached her, Xiao Su couldn’t help but recall the lonely figure she’d often seen standing on the ship’s deck.

Without fail, on the day Jiang Si had left the Eastern Sea, Mu Wanci would stand in that very spot, rain or shine.

Xiao Su didn’t know the full story of their entanglement, but Jiang Si’s departure had clearly left its mark. Even after bearing two children, Mu Wanci remained strikingly slender unlike many other Kunze women on the island, who typically grew fuller after childbirth.

She was so thin that Xiao Su often feared the sea winds might sweep her away.

“I understand. You may return to Wuzhou Island first.”

“I may come to see you.” Mu Wanci’s tone was indifferent as she dismissed Xiao Su, who left without another word, her attendants in tow.

She had a feeling Mu Wanci would seek her out likely concerning the Eastern Sea’s shipping affairs.

Since Jiang Si’s departure, Mu Wanci had worked tirelessly to earn the trust of the island chiefs. By the time she gave birth, the Eastern Sea islands had formed a modest trade association, with Mu Wanci as its head and the island chiefs as branch leaders. All major decisions were made during meetings held on Wuzhou Island.

This arrangement was partly due to Wuzhou Island’s central location and partly out of deference to Xiao Su.

Meetings were usually held on the fifteenth of each month, rarely rescheduled but this time, it seemed inevitable.

Once Xiao Su had gone, Mu Wanci instructed Wei Nian to send word via carrier pigeon, notifying the island chiefs of an emergency meeting on Wuzhou Island the following day.

Then, with Wei Nian’s help, she carried A-Yue and A-Wu upstairs, her heart heavy with indecision as she looked at her two precious daughters.

Zhi Miao, sensing her hesitation, ventured cautiously, “Your Highness… are you planning to leave the Eastern Sea?”

After giving birth to A-Yue and A-Wu, Mowan Ci had almost no free time. For the first month, she personally took care of the children, with only the wet nurse assisting occasionally. Wei Nian managed their daily needs. Later, even when handling island affairs, Mowan Ci still fed them herself, especially A-Yue, who refused to be with anyone else unless absolutely necessary. A-Wu was more adaptable, allowing the others to take turns caring for him.

“You’re leaving… what about the young masters?” Zhi Miao voiced her concern, her gaze lingering particularly on A-Yue.

Mowan Ci understood all too well, A-Yue couldn’t be without her.

As for A-Wu…

Her eyes shifted to A-Wu, who, unlike A-Yue, wasn’t clinging to her. Instead, he gently held her hand, as if sensing her imminent departure.

“I’ll take them both with me.”

“Your Highness!” Zhi Miao’s voice rose in alarm at the suggestion. “With the ongoing war outside, taking both young masters along, ”

“If they’re not with me, I won’t rest easy.” Mu Wanzi’s eyes dimmed. She knew a long journey wasn’t suitable for one-year-olds, but there was no other choice.

Ever since hearing news of Jiang Si, Mowan Ci had been restless. Without A-Yue and A-Wu by her side, her heart would remain unsettled.

“I… just want to find her. If she’s safe, I’ll return.”

Mowan Ci turned her head slightly, her cheeks tinged with pink.

Though Zhi Miao didn’t know the full story of what happened years ago, she was aware that Jiang Si had been driven away by Mu Wanzi’s own hand. Now, wanting to bring her back felt shameful.

But ever since A-Yue and A-Wu were born, seeing A-Wu’s face so strikingly similar to Jiang Si’s made everything feel surreal.

The past life seemed illusory, as did the days she’d shared with Jiang Si in this life. Over time, the bitterness of her previous existence faded, replaced by the sweetness of the present.

The difference between ‘Jiang Si’ and Jiang Si.

The difference between past and present lives.

A-Wu was living proof, she was now living a completely different life.

Here she was in the East Sea, not the Qingyi Palace, surrounded by decay and manipulation every day.

And A-Yue… was alive and well before her eyes.

No matter what might happen between her and Jiang Si, all she wanted now was for Jiang Si to be alive. If not…

Mu Wanzi’s mind wavered, and the image of Jiang Si smiling while cooking porridge for her surfaced again. She clenched her fists, telling herself firmly:

There was no “if not.” Jiang Si had to be alive!

Turning to Zhi Miao, who was still hesitating, she instructed, “Go find Ren Jiu and have her arrange for our departure…”

“Never mind, let Wei Nian handle it.”

Over the past year, Ren Jiu had gained considerable authority on the island. Her familiarity with the sea made her the ideal person to arrange things. However, her aversion to Kunze made interactions difficult. It was better to send Wei Nian instead.

“Your Highness, are you truly certain?” Zhi Miao pressed once more. Mowan Ci closed her eyes and nodded resolutely. “I am.”

As a maid, Zhi Miao naturally worried about Mu Wanzi’s safety, but her duty was to obey. Without another word, she went to find Wei Nian, instructing her to seek out Ren Jiu in the front courtyard.

Everything was unfolding exactly as Mu Wanci had envisioned. The second day’s chamber of commerce meeting proceeded smoothly as well. After it concluded, she stayed behind a little later, instructing Xiao Su to contact the academy’s special envoys to blend into their traveling party.

This journey required her to bring Ayue and Awu along, naturally adding much more worry than if she were traveling alone.

Xiao Su followed her arrangements faithfully, but ultimately couldn’t hold back from saying, “Your Highness, forgive my bluntness, the Northern Jing King hasn’t formally ascended the throne only because there wasn’t time, but in reality, he’s already the ruler of a nation. If a monarch goes missing, the Jingyuan Army will undoubtedly exhaust all resources to search. Your going there…”

“Most likely won’t yield results, and even if you do find him…”

“It might not turn out as you wish.” Xiao Su truly spoke her mind, striking right at the heart of Mu Wanci’s concerns.

As she wished…

Perhaps if she’d never learned of their past life, she wouldn’t have driven Jiang Si away. They might have watched their two children being born together and raised them jointly, rather than being separated as they were now.

Only with Jiang Si’s disappearance did she find the courage to go searching.

Had she considered not going?

She had.

From the moment Xiao Su mentioned Jiang Si’s uncertain fate, she’d thought about it.

But after those thoughts, whenever she saw Awu’s face so strikingly similar to Jiang Si’s her heart would ache unbearably, leaving her at a loss. Only the thought of going brought her some relief.

“Whether we find him or not, I must go.”

“It’s only right that I go.”

“He… is Awu’s mother. Awu deserves to see him.”

With these words, Mu Wanci remained firm in her resolve, so Xiao Su ceased her attempts to dissuade her.

However, she did manage to secure other concessions.

“Your Highness, I cannot stop you from going, but the two young masters are still small and cannot endure the hardships of travel. Moreover, this journey holds many dangers. If anything were to happen…”

“Wouldn’t you regret it?”

Zhimiao had advised against it, and Wei Nian had voiced concerns too, but none dared speak as frankly as Xiao Su did now, making Mu Wanci’s heart tremble.

If… something truly happened, she would indeed regret it.

“Let me… think on it further.”

Ayue and Awu would be safer in Donghai than anywhere else this Mu Wanci knew well. Yet parting from them for this journey pained her.

But as Xiao Su had pointed out, she also feared unforeseen circumstances, especially given how young they still were.

In the end, when setting out, Mu Wanci entrusted Ayue and Awu to Zhimiao and the wet nurses, taking only Wei Nian, her martial maids, and the academy’s special envoys with her.

No one could ultimately deter Mu Wanci’s determination. Xiao Su could only arrange for additional special envoys to protect Ayue and Awu in their absence.

The two children, leaving Donghai for the first time, were brimming with curiosity. Even the usually silent Awu chattered excitedly beside his sister, while Mu Wanci watched them with tender affection.

Their destination lay in the western frontier, and the journey proved far safer than Mu Wanci had anticipated.

Since Jiang Si’s disappearance, far from descending into chaos, the Jingyuan Army had grown more united under Su Xun’s leadership, successively capturing the western frontier’s Cu City and five or six surrounding towns with remarkable speed.

After two months of travel, Mu Wanci arrived to find a scene of peace and prosperity.

Jiang Si had vanished here, so here she would search. Renting a house, she left Ayue and Awu in Zhimiao and the wet nurses’ care, keeping some martial maids and envoys behind while taking the rest to search for Jiang Si.

Leaving early and returning late, for several months, as long as there was no news of Jiang Si, she still held hope in her heart.

She would believe it only when she saw the person alive or the body dead.

After searching through several cities, Special Envoy Yun Ya couldn’t help but speak up: “Your Highness, shall we try looking in the desert?”

“The western frontier desert is said to be uninhabited year-round, but I’ve heard occasional wisps of smoke can be seen there. Should we give it a try?”

Yun Ya’s words made the other special envoys and Wei Nian widen their eyes in surprise.

The desert was dangerous, how could they venture there lightly?

Yet Mu Wanzhuo remained remarkably calm. If the cities had been thoroughly searched, then only the desert remained.

But the desert was vast. The Jingyuan Army had entered multiple times without results.

Could she find anything?

Mu Wanzhuo hesitated for a long time. By dawn the next day, she sought out Yun Ya.

“Are you familiar with the desert routes?”

“Somewhat. I’ve been there a few times,” Yun Ya replied calmly, lowering her head as she noticed the flicker in Mu Wanzhuo’s eyes.

After a long pause, Mu Wanzhuo finally said, “Prepare our supplies.”

Then she went to see A-Wu and A-Yue.

Several months had passed since leaving the Eastern Sea. A-Wu had begun speaking, though rarely. Seeing her only at night, the child never clung to anyone. A-Yue, however, seemed to struggle with the separation, squeezing into her lap whenever they met.

Her words carried a whining tone: “Mother, when can we go play?”

“Mother still has matters to attend to. Once they’re settled… I’ll take you both out to play.”

Though A-Wu didn’t seek her out, Mu Wanzhuo would naturally take A-Yue too. She pinched the little one’s cheek, while A-Wu pressed her lips together, lowering her head before gently grasping her hand.

Even without words, a child barely over one year old would still miss her mother.

Mu Wanzhuo kissed both A-Yue and A-Wu, explaining she might be away longer this time, and spent considerable time comforting them before departing.

She brought only Wei Nian, who could provide assistance if injuries occurred. Wei Nian’s steady temperament made her a reliable companion.

As they journeyed toward the desert, Mu Wanzhuo wore nomadic attire and scattered ample suppression powder, moving with ease. Yet despite searching numerous locations, not a trace of information surfaced.

At an oasis, the group stopped to refill their water supplies and rest briefly.

Yun Ya, efficient as ever, finished preparations ahead of others and approached Mu Wanzhuo: “Your Highness, further in, I cannot guarantee bringing everyone back safely.”

“Shall we proceed?”

Mu Wanzhuo glanced at the weary guards and envoys, hesitating momentarily before replying, “Then let us advance only as far as you’re confident we can return from.”

Others’ lives mattered too. While the deeper reaches were impassable, the surrounding areas still warranted inspection.

Yun Ya acknowledged the order and led the party onward.

Occasional sand-laden winds made Mu Wanzhuo narrow her eyes, shielding her face.

Meanwhile, from the recently vacated resting spot came faint rustling sounds. A figure, clearly just awakened stretched lazily while observing the departing group.

This was none other than Jiang Si. Until her injuries fully healed, she couldn’t leave this place. Brief naps during water-gathering trips served as her only respite.

Here I am! Whoever said amnesia, I wouldn’t resort to such clichés!!!!

Yet finding her wouldn’t be easy either.

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