After The Mission Failed, The Scumbag Alpha Ran Away - Chapter 48

48: The Mentally Collapsed Old Emperor

The aircraft quickly arrived at the entrance of the imperial palace.

Jiang Youbai inadvertently glanced outside and saw a slender, elegant figure standing by the parking lot outside the security perimeter.

Jiang Youbai lowered her head and said to Chi Ruo, “Guess what? There’s a Jiang Qingxian standing at the palace gate. The emperor wants to see me, but her child got here first.”

Chi Ruo was puzzled: “Huh? What do you mean? Coincidence? Or is her intel that sharp? The moment you were summoned, she was already waiting at the palace gate?”

“I don’t know. I’m getting off the aircraft first.” Jiang Youbai took another look at Jiang Qingxian standing outside and replied, “Seems like she’s specifically waiting for me.”

The aircraft parked in the parking lot outside the security perimeter. Jiang Youbai didn’t rush to disembark but instead locked eyes with Jiang Qingxian through the transparent window of the aircraft.

It had been nearly a year since Jiang Youbai last saw Jiang Qingxian. Around this time last year, Jiang Qingxian had just returned to the imperial capital, and Jiang Youbai had spent half a month showing her around. Her impression of Jiang Qingxian was still quite vivid.

Now, as they exchanged glances through the window, Jiang Youbai could clearly sense that this fourth princess was entirely different from the person she remembered.

Still sporting a head of fine, curly lamb’s wool-like hair, now neatly tied back, still frail-looking, pale, and seemingly bloodless, but all traces of shyness had vanished, replaced by an elegance that was soft yet firm.

Jiang Qingxian stood not far away. Seeing Jiang Youbai’s aircraft stop, she walked over and gestured for her to come down, her gaze darkening, the imposing aura of a crown princess suddenly emanating from her.

Jiang Youbai considered her current identity—a lowly Beta clerk in the Ministry of Industry—so she opened the door, stepped out of the aircraft, and walked up to Jiang Qingxian, performing a standard imperial bow according to protocol.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”

Jiang Qingxian replied indifferently, “Good afternoon.”

Jiang Youbai straightened up. The young crown princess scrutinized her with an openly appraising gaze, staring straight at Jiang Youbai for a moment.

The Beta’s strikingly beautiful face wore a gentle, humble smile as she calmly endured the crown princess’s scrutiny.

After a moment, Jiang Qingxian asked in a low voice, “A few days ago, an Omega died in the sanatorium—my mother. Did you attend the funeral?”

Jiang Youbai roughly understood that Jiang Qingxian had likely figured out her identity. But this question caught her off guard.

Jiang Qingxian wasn’t testing her; she seemed certain of her identity, asking with a tone of melancholy and sorrow whether she had attended her mother’s funeral.

Jiang Youbai replied, “No. She wouldn’t have wanted her child to attend her funeral, would she? Whichever one it was.”

Jiang Qingxian vaguely acknowledged this, seemingly wary of being overheard by passing patrol guards or surveillance, keeping her voice low and sounding somewhat awkward: “Jiang Youbai, I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

Jiang Youbai looked at her calmly and suddenly felt that this crown princess might not have changed at all.

Seeing Jiang Youbai remain silent, Jiang Qingxian realized she wouldn’t speak easily without gaining useful information first.

“I know what this world is. Between Lou Huaiche and you, one of you is the chosen one destined to overthrow the empire. And I, along with Ning Yunze, are your opposites.”

Jiang Youbai listened to Jiang Qingxian’s words, her expression unchanging, though her heart stirred slightly.

She and Chi Ruo had speculated that Jiang Qingxian was the second antagonist bound by the system. All signs pointed to Jiang Qingxian likely having received the system’s assistance.

But now, judging by her words, things might not be so simple.

Jiang Qingxian had very little information and didn’t seem to show any particular attitude toward anyone in her speech.

If anything, when mentioning Ning Yunze, her frail face grew even more melancholic.

Jiang Youbai said calmly, “Your Highness, so what?”

She didn’t plan to say anything more or make any unnecessary responses.

Jiang Qingxian seemed to realize this, sighed in resignation, and spoke as if she had nothing left to lose: “Ning Yunze seems to have merged with something called the ‘system.’ Initially, the system was bound to me and gave me an introduction to the truth of this world. But before the binding was complete, it disappeared.”

Jiang Youbai suddenly looked up, taking a deep breath: “What do you mean? What happened to Ning Yunze?”

Jiang Qingxian lowered her eyes slightly, her thin face shrouded in an enduring sorrow: “Although ‘he’ tries very hard to mimic Ning Yunze, I can clearly tell it’s no longer him—or at least, not entirely him.”

“The system only gave me a little information. I could only guess that Ning Yunze had merged with this thing, so I had him restrained first. But even under house arrest, he could still do many things. I had no choice but to put him into a conscious slumber.”

Jiang Youbai said, “Hmm, is that so?”

She found Jiang Qingxian’s words somewhat odd.

With so little information, why was Jiang Qingxian waiting for Jiang Youbai? Why tell her all this?

Jiang Youbai stared into Jiang Qingxian’s eyes and suddenly felt she had seen these eyes before—on Ning Yunze.

Cold, lifeless, like some inorganic creature.

Who had truly merged with the system? Ning Yunze? Or Jiang Qingxian? Or both?

Under Jiang Youbai’s wary gaze, Jiang Qingxian spoke frankly: “When I was bound to the system, it seems a part of it merged with me too. I’m no longer entirely myself, but my fusion with the system is very limited. I can only sense its hatred for you and Lou Huaiche and deduce that the key lies with the two of you.”

Jiang Youbai involuntarily took a step back.

These few short sentences sent a chill down her spine, making her shudder.

Jiang Qingxian frowned and asked, “So, you don’t know what’s going on either? Right?”

Jiang Youbai slowly shook her head.

She truly didn’t know what to do. Until now, she hadn’t even known such a thing could happen.

A vague thought flashed through her mind.

A long time ago, she had wondered how Ning Yunze had resisted the system, how he had stalled it to complete its destruction, and how he had managed to harness the system’s power to transfer her consciousness.

The system was an outsider. If it could actively merge with someone to complete its mission and then leave, it wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to bind antagonists.

This kind of fusion was likely very dangerous, even fatal, for the system.

Thus, the most plausible explanation was that the system hadn’t merged with Ning Yunze—rather, Ning Yunze had used his own body and soul as a vessel to merge with and consume the system.

This was his method.

Mutual destruction.

Jiang Youbai realized her throat was tight, unable to make a sound. There was no evidence to support her conjecture, but a voice in her heart told her with certainty that this was the truth.

The last time she saw Ning Yunze, when he mentioned the system, he hadn’t seemed particularly anxious. Despite knowing Lou Huaiche’s whereabouts, he chose to conceal them and was deeply saddened by the fact that Lou Huaiche’s luck had transferred to Jiang Youbai.

He wasn’t worried about the system’s whereabouts but about whether Lou Huaiche could follow the original worldline.

Unless Ning Yunze had already made all the preparations long ago.

She should have realized it sooner. He had gone through seven cycles with the system and could even wield its power—how could he not know anything about its whereabouts?

Jiang Youbai looked at Jiang Qingxian, who returned her gaze with slight confusion. Unaware of what had transpired, Jiang Qingxian sighed worriedly and said, “The emperor summoned you, probably because of a heart palpitation episode. Not long after your death, he began hallucinating and hearing things due to constant fear of assassination…”

Under normal circumstances, Jiang Youbai would have thought to herself, What a delightful turn of events. But now, having just pieced together part of the truth Ning Yunze had concealed, she couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for terrifying the old emperor.

Jiang Qingxian, ignorant of everything, forced a faint smile and said, “You should go into the palace first. I couldn’t wait any longer. When I heard the prime minister say the emperor had summoned you, I rushed over, thinking that since you’re the counterpart to my role, it wouldn’t be too dangerous. I wanted to see if I could get some information from you.”

Jiang Youbai, like a wandering spirit, turned and walked toward the palace gate. She showed the summons to the guards stationed there, who examined it and said, “Miss Bai, please wait here for a moment. A palace attendant will come to escort you inside. We’ll need to inspect your belongings first, then you’ll bathe and change clothes…”

The guard dutifully explained the palace entry procedures. Jiang Youbai listened silently and, for some reason, glanced back at Jiang Qingxian standing beyond the security perimeter.

Jiang Qingxian leaned against the aircraft, her head slightly bowed as she smoked, her fine, curly lamb’s wool hair making her appear even more fragile and slender under the sunlight.

At some point, this princess, who had once been unwilling to socialize upon arriving in the capital, had transformed into the image of a qualified heir—and even learned to smoke.

Jiang Youbai remembered that when she first took Jiang Qingxian around, the latter would frown whenever someone smoked, clearly disliking the smell.

The guard returned with a palace attendant and said, “Miss Bai, the attendant is here. Please enter the palace.”

Jiang Youbai withdrew her gaze and followed the attendant into the palace, her body stiff and her mind elsewhere.

The palace’s etiquette remained as cumbersome and tedious as it had been for decades. The attendants’ faces were etched with increasing caution, their wariness tinged with a sense of impending doom due to the unstable mental state of the palace’s master.

Jiang Youbai was familiar with the entry procedures. She listened silently as the attendant explained the rules and etiquette, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of Ning Yunze.

In the past, the empire hadn’t had so many rituals. As imperial power expanded, so did the cumbersome rituals.

Though not as extreme as ancient times, where self-designations reflected a rigid hierarchy, the rituals still revealed the sharp edges of imperial authority.

Following the attendants through the palace, Jiang Youbai suddenly realized the emperor’s delusions might have reached a severe level.

The entire palace was shrouded in a heavy atmosphere of fear, with everyone wearing varying degrees of panic on their faces.

In a stable reign or peaceful era, well-trained palace attendants wouldn’t be unable to suppress such emotions.

Jiang Youbai sighed.

The emperor’s mental state had already affected the entire palace to such an extent… The struggle for imperial power was likely imminent.

The pressure on the two heirs must be immense.

Lost in thought, she soon found herself outside the emperor’s study.

Over the past twenty-plus years, she had stood before this door countless times. When the steward, his face grim, announced her presence and slowly opened the door, Jiang Youbai, for the first time, felt the stench of death emanating from within.

As the door opened, the smell of lingering medication wafted out. The old emperor sat behind his desk, looking even more gaunt than before, his eyes clouded as they fixed on Jiang Youbai.

Jiang Youbai could smell the distinct odor of a dying man on him.

From across the study, she observed that the old emperor’s characteristic paranoia had mostly dissipated. His expression was vacant, his muddled mind no longer capable of suspecting everyone.

Jiang Youbai realized that the emperor, whose oppressive presence had loomed over her and the empire for so long, was finally nearing the end of his once-vigorous life.

Seems I scared him into this state. Didn’t expect to frighten the old man so badly, but whatever—consider it a pleasant surprise.

Jiang Youbai stepped forward and bowed deeply before the emperor.

Deliberately staying in the study’s shadows, she raised her eyes sinisterly at the old emperor behind the desk while maintaining her bow: “Your Majesty, good afternoon.”

From this angle, she looked nearly identical to her past self.

The old emperor made a guttural sound. Seeing her face, he slammed the desk and roared irrationally: “Jiang Youbai! Bastard! Bastard—”

Jiang Youbai straightened up and asked, puzzled, “Your Majesty, who is Jiang Youbai? I’m Bai Mu.”

The old emperor, his mind addled, saw her meekness and deference—identical to the deceased prince’s—and in his daze, felt as though countless voices echoed through the room.

“Your Majesty, I’m Jiang Youbai.”

…

“Your Majesty?” Jiang Youbai leaned in with feigned concern. “Your health is what matters.”

Exactly the same.

This was Jiang Youbai!

The old emperor’s eyes bulged with fury. He grabbed a teapot from the desk and hurled it at Jiang Youbai, who stood motionless behind the desk, taking the hit squarely.

The teapot, aimed at her head, didn’t even reach her face, instead striking her shoulder before clattering to the ground.

Apart from the teapot’s weight, there was hardly any force behind the throw.

In the past, the old emperor could hurl a flowerpot across the room and hit her collarbone with precision. Now, at such close range, he barely had the strength to lift it.

Jiang Youbai stood, rubbing her tea-drenched shoulder with her thumb, and cast a disdainful glance at the old emperor.

He was instantly provoked, slamming the desk and cursing: “I knew I should’ve killed you sooner, you bastard—just like your Alpha mother—”

His weakened body made his curses intermittent, interspersed with violent coughs.

Jiang Youbai watched his delirious tirade and suddenly found it somewhat absurd.

After all, there was a high probability that she was the Alpha child the old emperor had gone to such lengths to produce.

Jiang Youbai had imagined countless times how she would feel if the old emperor died and she succeeded in her revenge. Would she feel relieved? Or would it no longer matter?

But now, standing before the old emperor and seeing him in such a wretched state, the emotion that surged within her was pure exhilaration.

She smiled and whispered to the aged emperor: “Your Majesty, I came today to tell you something.”

“You and your imperial power are utterly boring.”

Her voice was so soft only the old emperor could hear it.

The old emperor’s expression instantly twisted in terror: “Get out! Get out!”

The steward, hearing the commotion, hurried in. Jiang Youbai promptly announced her departure, promising not to disclose the day’s events.

The steward paid her no mind, focusing on calming the enraged emperor. Even as Jiang Youbai closed the door behind her, she could still hear the old emperor’s furious roars, punctuated by coughs and spitting.

“You think you can kill me? I’m the emperor! I’m the emperor! I’m far superior to your useless Alpha mother!”

Jiang Youbai turned and walked away with light steps, saying to the trembling attendant outside, “Let’s go. Take me out. His Majesty seems to be in a bad mood today.”

Bad mood? The emperor might drop dead from fright today.

The nervous palace staff escorted her out. Once outside, she boarded the aircraft, set the course for the Chi residence, and immediately contacted Chi Ruo.

“Chi Ruo, Jiang Qingxian just told me she was once bound by the system, but before the binding was complete, the system vanished. Afterward, she felt Ning Yunze had merged with the system.”

She shared her conjecture with Chi Ruo and recounted the events in the palace.

Chi Ruo, who had likely been waiting for her message, replied promptly:

“Your uncle… his mental state is that bad? There’s been no news at all to the outside. The lockdown is tight. Jiang Qingxian knowing you’re Jiang Youbai won’t pose any issues, but once your uncle regains some clarity, he might try to silence you.”

Chi Ruo first addressed the matter of the old emperor. Jiang Youbai watched as the “typing” indicator appeared repeatedly at the top of the chat box. After over ten minutes, Chi Ruo sent a second message:

“About Ning Yunze… I think your guess is correct. But… but how do we tell Lou Huaiche?”

“Lou Huaiche has been trying to approach Jiang Qingxian these past few days. Jiang Qingxian likely sees her as the protagonist counterpart to Ning Yunze and has been wary. She only just learned what Ning Yunze did… Now, telling her Ning Yunze might have merged with the system for her sake—that’s too cruel for Lou Huaiche.”

Jiang Youbai sighed. The crux of the problem lay precisely in this.

For anyone, this would be an unbearably cruel revelation.

Ning Yunze always said he lacked Lou Huaiche’s courage. But how many people in this world would endure so much for a friend and the light that friend could bring?

Jiang Youbai leaned back in her seat, wanting nothing more than to close her eyes and sleep. Forcing herself to stay alert, she replied to Chi Ruo:

“The issue now isn’t just Ning Yunze. Jiang Qingxian believes the worldline will inevitably overthrow the empire. What’s her stance? To resist? Or something else? Ning Yunze merging with the system doesn’t mean the system is completely defeated… As the chosen one, I should seize the world’s energy to help Ning Yunze.”

Chi Ruo said, “How do we tell Lou Huaiche? We can’t hide it forever. She’ll find out eventually.”

“I’m so frustrated. Let’s not tell Lou Huaiche for now. Stall for a day or two, check on Ning Yunze through Jiang Qingxian, and then decide,” Chi Ruo’s words conjured an image of her tugging her hair and kicking the table leg in frustration. “Damn it, I’m going out for a drink tonight.”

Jiang Youbai said, “I’m frustrated too. I want to join.”

“No, I can’t drink with you Alphas. I’m going alone.”

Jiang Youbai leaned back in her seat and let out a long sigh.

All these matters were a tangled mess. The hardest part wasn’t the complexity of the issues but the emotions involved.

Putting herself in Lou Huaiche’s shoes—if Chi Ruo had gone through seven cycles and merged her soul with the system for her sake—Jiang Youbai couldn’t even imagine how she would react.

The aircraft landed in front of the Chi residence. Jiang Youbai ran into Chi Ruo, who was heading out. She wore dark gold smoky eye makeup and vibrant lipstick. Spotting Jiang Youbai, she waved: “I’m off for a drink.”

Jiang Youbai nodded. “Okay.”

Chi Ruo had always held a grudge over Jiang Youbai’s past remarks about Alpha privileges.

Even after years of relying on each other for survival, Chi Ruo remained firm and unyielding on this matter.

After bidding Chi Ruo farewell, Jiang Youbai messaged Lou Huaiche: “Where are you? Want to finish the movie?”

Lou Huaiche replied: “Sure. I’m still at the restaurant.”

Jiang Youbai boarded the aircraft and returned to the restaurant where they’d dined earlier.

Lou Huaiche stood waiting for her on the first floor. From afar, Jiang Youbai spotted the tall Omega with her hair in a bun.

Lou Huaiche waved at her.

It was nearly evening, the sunlight softer, tinged with warm orange hues that bathed Lou Huaiche.

Jiang Youbai suddenly recalled their conversation earlier that day.

She walked up naturally, took Lou Huaiche’s hand, and kissed her cheek.

Lou Huaiche looked up and asked, “Movie?”

“Sure, the one from earlier.”

As if Jiang Youbai’s gesture was the most natural thing in the world.

Jiang Youbai thought for a moment, then held Lou Huaiche’s hand. She examined it, comparing it to her own, then interlaced their fingers: “Let’s go. Hand in hand.”

Lou Huaiche chuckled: “Your Highness, you’re so childish.”

Suppressing the weight in her heart, Jiang Youbai flashed a bright smile: “I never held hands like this as a kid. Miss Lou, indulge me, won’t you?”

Hand in hand, they walked slowly into the restaurant. Their previous seats were on the fourth floor, so they climbed the stairs together, fingers entwined.

Jiang Youbai held Lou Huaiche’s hand, feeling the warmth of her fingers, and quietly exhaled.

Let’s follow Chi Ruo’s suggestion. We’ll tell Lou Huaiche in a couple of days.

They found their seats and resumed the movie.

With nothing else to do, they ended up watching the entire horror series. Around 11 p.m., Jiang Youbai received an email from Jiang Qingxian:

“Jiang Youbai, my subordinates just informed me that Chi Ruo underwent a secondary differentiation into an Omega at a bar.”

“During her differentiation, her pheromone concentration spiked. There were many Alphas in the bar, and two forcibly gave her a permanent mark.”

A deafening buzz erupted in Jiang Youbai’s ears. The world before her sharpened, then rapidly spun into a viscous darkness.