My Wife Is The Female Lead In A Scum Alpha Novel - Chapter 88

88

“Madam Zhilan, indeed, lives up to her reputation—wise and graceful, with peerless beauty.” Gongxi Lingping gazed at Ruan Zhi, her eyes fixed on her face as if she could see through the veil.

Gu Qingci felt the woman was being extremely rude and wanted to step in front of Ruan Zhi, but Ruan Zhi gently tugged at her sleeve to stop her.

“Thank you for your praise, Your Highness.” Ruan Zhi replied calmly, accepting the compliment with ease.

Gongxi Lingping glanced at Gu Qingci beside Ruan Zhi, her expression no longer as warm as before.

“Madam Zhilan, you are quite the strategist. Even I have been used by you. How should we settle this?” Gongxi Lingping’s tone shifted abruptly, her voice carrying a metallic coldness, devoid of emotion.

Ruan Zhi’s expression changed slightly, realizing that her actions had already been discovered.

“Madam Zhilan, don’t blame Her Highness for being angry. The grand deeds you accomplished in Turkic—crippling Ashina Lie—have caused quite the stir. The Turkic royal family sent envoys to lodge a complaint with His Majesty. Now, Her Highness has been burdened with yet another accusation of cruelty and bloodlust, and many court officials have submitted memorials impeaching her. They even demanded that I be handed over to Turkic as compensation.” said another woman beside her, Gongsun Yuyao, with a smile.

Ruan Zhi showed little panic. Since they hadn’t immediately seized her, it meant there was room for negotiation.

“My apologies. At the time, it was an emergency, and I had no choice but to borrow your name. I will arrange for word to be spread that it was my doing, not Her Highness the Fifth Princess.” Ruan Zhi said coolly.

She never expected to keep borrowing others’ names and making them take the blame.

Moreover, these people are as shrewd as they come—they wouldn’t help her shoulder the blame without a price.

“How many people do you think will believe it? A delicate woman like you, traveling all the way to the Turks to accomplish such a major feat—does that sound credible? Or would it be more believable if my lord sent me to do it? My lord’s reputation has already suffered greatly because of you.” Gongsun Yuyao continued, still smiling, her words laced with the implication that Ruan Zhi should compensate for the losses.

“I will naturally compensate for the losses caused to Lord Gongsun and His Highness. I plan to open several shops in Jiangjing City, and I’ll collaborate with your family, offering a thirty percent discount on goods supplied to you. How does that sound?” Ruan Zhi replied.

“Madame Zhilan, the calculation isn’t that simple. I heard the Turks captured General Gu precisely to obtain the formula for explosives. How about this—give us a copy of the formula, and I’ll take responsibility for crippling Ashina Lie’s limbs. Subsequent negotiations with the Turks will also be handled by us. We only want the formula for self-defense and won’t conflict with your Great Heng. Wouldn’t that be a win-win situation?” Gongsun Yuyao continued, still smiling.

“I’m just a delicate woman—how would I know anything about such a formula? Lord Gongsun must be joking.” Ruan Zhi said.

Ruan Zhi’s responses showed no fear or retreat. She remained calm, composed, and sharp-minded.

“Madam Zhilan is no ordinary woman. Outsiders praise the newly appointed top scholar, General Gu Qingci of Zhenbei, for her remarkable achievements, but I believe half the credit belongs to you, madame. You gathered provisions for the northern frontier, ventured into Chu for supplies, and then braved the Turks to rescue General Gu. Truly, you are a heroine among women.” Gongsun Yuyao said with a smile, shaking her head as she glanced at Gongxi Lingpi.

“Madam Zhilan, how about staying in Great Chu? I have yet to take a consort. If you wish, the position is yours. If I succeed to the throne in the future, you will become empress. Then, the entire Great Chu will be your marketplace, and the imperial treasury will be your private coffers.” Gongxi Lingpi said coolly, her eyes not on Ruan Zhi but on Gu Qingci.

The moment these words were spoken, even Gongsun Yuyao drew a sharp breath.

The offer was simply too generous!

Who could refuse such terms?

Before Ruan Zhi could react, Gu Qingci’s anger flared.

How dare this person try to poach someone right in front of her?

Absolutely despicable!

“No need!” Gu Qingci spoke up, locking eyes with Gongxi Lingping.

When Gongxi Lingping looked at Gu Qingci, the latter knew she had already seen through her.

Perhaps from the moment Gu Qingci entered, Gongxi Lingping had noticed and deliberately praised Ruan Zhi to provoke a reaction from her.

Since the other party had seen through it, there was no need to continue hiding.

This person appeared cold and ruthless, capable of offering consort and even empress positions to win Ruan Zhi over—proof enough of her admiration for Ruan Zhi.

Now, Ruan Zhi held many formulas, including the gunpowder recipe.

Her business acumen was also top-tier.

Gaining her allegiance would undoubtedly be a tremendous advantage.

Likely, Gongxi Lingping’s thoughts aligned with Ye Youli’s in the original plot—to offer Ruan Zhi the closest, most inseparable position by her side.

How could they both be so shamelessly wishful!

“I’d like to hear what Madam Zhilan has to say. As merchants, you excel at weighing gains and losses and would never make a losing deal. How do you calculate this time, Madam Zhilan?” Gongxi Lingping asked, her gaze still icy, devoid of emotion, filled only with calculation.

“Thank you for your high regard, Your Highness. Gu Qingci is my wife. We are deeply harmonious as a couple, and I have no intention of divorcing and remarrying.” Ruan Zhi replied, her voice gentle and melodious, yet carrying an innate authority.

Hearing this, Gu Qingci glanced at Gongxi Lingping, suppressing the urge to smirk as she moved closer to Ruan Zhi.

“What a pity. My offer stands indefinitely. Should Madam change her mind, you may seek me out at any time.” Gongxi Lingping said.

Gu Qingci glared at her again in anger.

“No need. If Your Highness feels the previous proposal is insufficient compensation, here’s another option: Jucheng Trading and Your Highness’s trading company can collaborate. Whenever Your Highness’s company opens shops or conducts business in Daheng, Jucheng Trading will treat you as an internal member, providing full support. Additionally, we will supply local raw materials at a 10% discount. This is the utmost sincerity I can offer.” Ruan Zhi added.

Gongxi Lingping said nothing more, waving her hand to let Gongsun Yuyao negotiate with Ruan Zhi.

Gongxi Lingping did not speak to Gu Qingci, and naturally, Gu Qingci did not speak to her either.

This grudge has been settled now.

Ruan Zhi rejected Gongxi Lingping—such a massive opportunity, yet Ruan Zhi remained utterly unmoved.

“The entire Great Chu will be your business domain.” Even Gu Qingci was stunned by those words.

Gong Xi Lingping had seen Ruan Zhi with remarkable precision.

Gu Qingci suspected that if Ruan Zhi had no emotional attachment to her, a purely career-driven Ruan Zhi might have been tempted.

Unrestrained by anyone, with an entire nation as her business playground, the national treasury at her disposal to use as she pleased—Ruan Zhi, who was always enthralled by numbers and calculations, would undoubtedly have been overjoyed.

At this thought, Gu Qingci spaced out for a long moment.

By then, Ruan Zhi had already finished negotiating with Gongsun Yuyao.

What Gong Xi Lingping wanted was not all-out war between the two nations but sufficient benefits. With that as the foundation, there was still room for discussion.

Once the negotiations concluded, Ruan Zhi took Gu Qingci’s hand and left.

“Your Highness truly values this woman so highly?” After Ruan Zhi and the others had left, Gongsun Yuyao asked Gong Xi Lingping.

“Gu Qingci is not even twenty years old—impatient and lacking composure. Behind her, it’s all the support of Madam Zhilan. If we could exchange a royal consort’s position for her to come to Great Chu, it would be worth it.” Gong Xi Lingping said quietly.

Having recognized that the person beside Ruan Zhi was Gu Qingci, she had deliberately provoked her with a few words. The look in Gu Qingci’s eyes had said it all.

Though Gong Xi Lingping did not underestimate Gu Qingci, she valued Ruan Zhi even more.

“Consort, even the position of empress—and she still wouldn’t agree. This woman is truly… Love blinds people! What future does she have in Daheng? They prioritize agriculture over commerce, face threats from the northern barbarians and Great Yan to the south, and the court is unstable, with the King of Jinling stirring trouble. Once chaos erupts, she’ll realize how much better Great Chu is.” Gongsun Yuyao said.

“Consort? Empress? What do those titles even matter!” Gong Xi Lingping’s expression darkened, as if recalling something.

Gongsun Yuyao immediately fell silent, not daring to say another word.

Meanwhile, after Gu Qingci and Ruan Zhi boarded the carriage, Gu Qingci immediately wrapped her arms around Ruan Zhi’s shoulders, pressing close to her.

“What’s wrong?” Ruan Zhi patted Gu Qingci’s head.

“If… your current assets were multiplied tenfold, a hundredfold, with endless tasks to handle, countless accounts to calculate, and an overwhelming number of people to deal with—would that make you happy, or would it feel like a burden?” Gu Qingci asked softly.

“Nature is a good thing. It’s a bit troublesome, but once sorted out, it’s manageable. Why ask such a question?” Ruan Zhi said.

Gu Qingci didn’t know how to respond, so she nuzzled against Ruan Zhi’s shoulder.

She actually had the answer in her heart.

Ruan Zhi didn’t find it troublesome at all.

She simply loved “managing” things.

It was like how some people enjoyed playing simulation games—opening shops, selling goods, expanding their business, building properties, and so on, finding endless joy in it.

That was their sense of achievement, their unique happiness.

Ruan Zhi had such a passion.

She opened shops everywhere, expanded her business, and even acted as a “customer service representative” herself, building a network of relationships with the nobility—all to grow her enterprises bigger and bigger.

If she could give the entire Daheng to Ruan Zhi as her business playground, and the entire national treasury of Daheng to Ruan Zhi…

“But did you have some thoughts because of what the Fifth Princess said earlier? Da Chu is not our home. Going there would be treason. And how much of what Gongxi Lingping said can be trusted? In Daheng, we have you, my parents, and Jinyu—it’s quite good. Our business is also growing steadily. With a general like you by my side, no one dares to compete with me for profit.” Ruan Zhi thought for a moment and said, pinching Gu Qingci’s cheek.

Hearing this, Gu Qingci smiled at Ruan Zhi.

“Mmm, I know.”

Gu Qingci said.

Gu Qingci had no sense of national belonging, but Ruan Zhi did—this was something Gu Qingci hadn’t considered.

Regardless, Gu Qingci knew that Ruan Zhi would never go to that so-called Da Chu to become a princess consort.

Gongxi Lingping coveted her treasure—this was something she would remember.

During the day, Ruan Zhi was always busy, so Gu Qingci accompanied her.

When it was time for acupuncture, she went for acupuncture; when it was time to take medicine, she took her medicine.

Once a day for acupuncture, three doses of medicine without fail, and medicinal baths at night.

After one session, Ruan Zhi’s glands felt slightly better, and she didn’t stick close to Gu Qingci again.

Gu Qingci also wanted to recover sooner so she could snuggle to her heart’s content, so she obediently soaked in the medicinal baths and focused on recuperation.

After following the treatment for seven days, Gu Qingci indeed felt much better, no longer as incapacitated as before.

With the medicine for the journey in hand, Gu Qingci and Ruan Zhi boarded the ship.

Their vessel was a large cargo ship loaded with goods imported from the Great Chu. After all, they had come all this way and needed to bring back some gains.

However, what troubled Gu Qingci was that after arriving in Daheng by ship, Ruan Zhi would take the goods back to Yanjing, while Gu Qingci had to go to the northern frontier.

After all, she was still the Zhenbei General of the northern frontier, and matters there were not yet resolved.

It was impossible for her to return to Yanjing with Ruan Zhi.

Gu Qingci spent a few more days on the ship recuperating, feeling that she was almost back to normal.

Though her stamina hadn’t fully recovered to its peak, she was no longer in pain with every movement, akin to a slightly frail but otherwise healthy person.

For intimate snuggling, it was more than enough.

Thinking about their impending separation, Gu Qingci clung to Ruan Zhi, unwilling to let go.

Ruan Zhi’s glands had stabilized, so her need for physical closeness wasn’t as urgent.

But with Gu Qingci acting coquettish and persistent, she indulged her every whim.

Thus, during their days on the ship, amidst the nighttime waves, the two were inseparable.

This continued until they reached Jincheng downstream of the Huangshui River, where they finally had to part ways.

That morning, Gu Qingci’s eyes were so red they were almost unbearable to look at.

Seeing her like this, Ruan Zhi held her for a while to comfort her.

“I will suggest to His Majesty the establishment of official trading posts along the frontier. If we cease war with the Turks, the best way to maintain future relations is through trade between the two sides. The Turks’ fox furs, horses, medicinal herbs, and the like can be exchanged for grain from Daheng. If His Majesty agrees, I will return to the northern frontier and stay for a longer period. You must be careful in everything you do.” Ruan Zhi explained her plans to Gu Qingci.

“I understand. I’ll strive to return as soon as possible.” Gu Qingci replied, reluctant to let go of Ruan Zhi.

Time was passing little by little, and in the end, they had no choice but to let go.

After disembarking, soldiers sent from the Northern Frontier came to escort Gu Qingci.

Gu Qingci mounted Chihuo and rode with them toward the Northern Frontier, while Ruan Zhi led the team back to the capital, Yanjing.

They gazed at each other from afar before parting once more.

The position of General Zhenbei still needed to be fulfilled properly, to strengthen Ruan Zhi’s path ahead with more confidence.

Gu Qingci watched Ruan Zhi’s direction until her figure disappeared from sight, then urged her horse to leave.

Inside the carriage, Ruan Zhi’s thoughts remained with Gu Qingci.

The journey back to Daheng would take roughly another twenty or so days.

As they neared Daheng, Ruan Zhi began to feel something was off with her body.

Her usually punctual menstrual cycle, perhaps due to the long and arduous journey, had not arrived as expected.

The more than ten days of entanglement on the ship had left her somewhat worried.

Because she and Gu Qingci had essentially consummated their relationship, their intimacy this time was different from before.

At the peak of their passion, the alpha’s pheromones would flow into the omega’s unique cavity.

That could lead to pregnancy.

It wasn’t something they had considered at the time.

Once they reached Yanjing, she would need to summon a physician for an examination.