Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess (GL , ABO) - Chapter 14
“Feng Yao, are you defying an imperial decree?” Mu Zesheng’s face was filled with anger. In that moment, there was no dignity or authority in his posture.
He looked more like a petty, spoiled child than an emperor.
Jiang Si sneered silently. She figured that this young emperor lacked the strength to truly be ruthless, because he still cared too much about his image and reputation.
Feng Yao’s background reminded her of her own. Both families had once followed the founding emperor in unifying the empire. But over time, their descendants had grown indulgent. Feng Yao’s father had stayed in the capital, earning the title of Marquis Changjian, but held no real power.
This was common among the old noble families. Among them, only Feng Yao, the second daughter of the Marquis Changjian, had continued to pursue a government career.
Since the late emperor’s time, the suppression of the Marquis Jiajing’s family had never stopped. Meanwhile, the family of the Marquis Changjian had received many rewards, even though they were known for their indulgent lifestyle. Feng Yao had benefited from this as well, though she was not particularly favored.
If the court didn’t value her, she would remain a minor officer. But if they did, her future could be limitless.
So it was no surprise that Mu Zesheng was clearly displeased.
The Empress, Zhou Ruolan, and the officials from her maternal family also looked unhappy.
Their eyes turned on Feng Yao with sharp disapproval, like blades.
Yet Feng Yao ignored them all. She looked only at Mowan Ci.
What she said next sounded more like a pledge of loyalty than a simple refusal.
Jiang Si was irritated. Because after Feng Yao’s words, Mowan Ci’s expression visibly changed.
She began to avoid looking at Feng Yao entirely.
Out of sight, out of mind. Jiang Si clutched her stomach and turned to Mu Zesheng.
“Your Majesty, I suddenly feel unwell. It may be due to the change in climate. May I be excused?”
Jiang Si was sure that, for now, she still held some value in the emperor’s eyes. He would not dare neglect her.
As expected, Mu Zesheng’s attention shifted to her immediately. His tone changed, and he asked with concern, “What discomfort are you feeling, Jiang? I will summon an imperial physician.”
“Your Majesty need not worry. I only need to rest for a while.”
“Teng Gao, escort the Marquis Jiajing and the Princess Royal to rest in the side hall.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The person leading them out was the same young eunuch they had seen the day before at the Princess Royal’s residence. Just as Jiang Si had suspected, he was someone close to Mu Zesheng.
As they walked toward the palace, Jiang Si was still pretending. But just as they were about to reach the doorway, a sudden sharp pain pierced through her chest.
This time, she wasn’t pretending anymore.
Teng Gao had already left them at the entrance. Standing outside were only Jiang Si, Mowan Ci, Su Xun, and Zhi Miao.
Su Xun noticed her condition and quickly moved to support her. Mowan Ci also turned and looked at her.
Her eyes were filled with doubt.
Perhaps she had realized Jiang Si had been faking it at the banquet and now did not understand why she was still acting.
But Jiang Si had no energy or interest in explaining.
When she saw the three characters for “Qingyi Palace” above the door, a deep sense of unease rose in her chest.
Scenes from her dreams began flooding back into her mind.
The calm and control she had shown at the banquet disappeared. She leaned heavily against the doorway, breathing hard.
“My Lord, I will call for Lan Shao,” Su Xun said urgently.
Lan Shao was a military physician who had accompanied them all the way from the northern border. Now that they were in the capital, there were very few people Su Xun trusted. He had no intention of relying on any physician from the palace.
But Jiang Si did not want anyone at all.
She waved him off and said weakly, “There’s no need. I just need a short rest.”
It was the same excuse she had given Mu Zesheng. Su Xun looked reluctant, and Mowan Ci’s frown deepened.
Now she truly believed Jiang Si was unwell, but she couldn’t let her continue to brush it off.
Remembering how Jiang Si had spoken up for her earlier at the banquet, Mowan Ci offered a suggestion out of concern.
“My Lord, the military physician is outside the palace. The trip would take time. It’s better to call for an imperial physician here.”
But the moment she spoke, she was met with Jiang Si’s cold, shadowed eyes.
Her voice was sharper than ever.
“I said I don’t need one. Did you not hear me?”
…
Inside the Qingyi Palace, it was completely quiet. After Jiang Si’s icy words, Zhi Miao glanced nervously at Mowan Ci but did not dare speak.
Su Xun stood silently, unconcerned by her sudden coldness.
Only Mowan Ci was still holding back her temper. She looked up and said, without emotion, “Do as you like.”
She no longer looked at Jiang Si after that. Together with Zhi Miao, she entered the inner hall.
This was where she had lived since childhood. She was deeply familiar with every corner and quickly arrived at her personal quarters.
Only here did she finally relax a little. After sitting for a while, she told Zhi Miao to heat water for a bath.
On the surface, the Qingyi Palace still looked just as it had before she left the palace. But in truth, all the old maids had long been replaced. The faces she and Zhi Miao saw now were completely unfamiliar.
Not willing to trust anyone else, Mowan Ci had no choice but to rely on Zhi Miao alone.
Fortunately, Zhi Miao knew the place well. Half an hour later, the water was ready.
After bathing, Mowan Ci finally lay down for a nap and did not wake until evening, just before dinner.
When Mowan Ci walked to the table, Mu Zesheng was already there, clearly having waited for her for quite some time.
As soon as he saw her, he leaned forward with a warm and affectionate expression.
Mowan Ci wasn’t surprised. She had expected that he would come.
The dishes served were all her favorites. In this, Mu Zesheng had always been thoughtful.
“Royal Sister, how is the Marquis Jiajing? Why haven’t I seen her?” he asked gently.
He spoke like a caring younger brother, but Mowan Ci knew it was just another test. He had always used affection to mask his intentions.
She was used to it and replied calmly, “She is resting in the side hall.”
Qingyi Palace was not large, but it was elegant and refined. The late emperor had personally overseen its construction when Mowan Ci was still a child.
Now that she had returned to the palace, she had kept most things private. But there was no need to hide where she stayed or who she stayed with.
If anyone understood her relationship with the Marquis Jiajing, it was Mu Zesheng.
She could still remember the day he had begged her to go to the northern border. The scene was as clear as if it had happened yesterday.
Mowan Ci took a few bites, but soon lost her appetite. She set down her chopsticks and simply watched Mu Zesheng eat.
Much of the staff in Qingyi Palace had changed, but the kitchen had remained the same. Mu Zesheng had always loved the meals made here, and he ate much more eagerly than she did.
Seeing this, Mowan Ci finally asked, “In the past few months, did no one cook these dishes for you?”
Mu Zesheng paused for a moment. Then he took another bite before putting down his chopsticks and smiling at her.
“Of course not. Without you here, how could I bring myself to use your people so casually?”
That smile made Mowan Ci feel a moment of confusion.
For a second, it felt like her younger brother was still the playful child who followed her everywhere. But in the blink of an eye, he had grown up and was now full of charming but empty words.
If he really felt that way, then why had he dismissed all the eunuchs and maids from Qingyi Palace?
If he truly respected her space, why had he brought dinner in as if this were his own place?
Mowan Ci smiled as well.
They looked so alike that even their forced smiles were nearly identical.
“Royal Sister, while you were away from the capital, I had Wanjin and Zerui sent out of the palace,” Mu Zesheng said casually.
“They are thirteen now. Even if they haven’t differentiated yet, isn’t it about time for them to leave the palace and open their own households?”
“I remember our eldest brother did so at that age. It was because Father was afraid he would overshadow you.”
Mowan Ci already knew all of this, but hearing it in Mu Zesheng’s proud and mocking tone made her feel deeply uncomfortable.
Was this really the younger brother she had raised?
He used to laugh and play with Wanjin and Zerui, that pair of twins. He used to say they were like him, with no mother and only an older sister to rely on.
But now he had rushed to send them away.
He had completely ignored the ancestral rule that children should not leave the palace before their second gender had appeared.
Mu Zesheng was too impatient. Just like before he came to power, he had often thrown tantrums. But now that he ruled, he was even more eager to push her out of the way.
And for the sake of that so-called alliance with Yue, he had even arranged for her to be placed beside the Marquis Jiajing.
Mowan Ci said nothing, so Mu Zesheng quickly changed the topic.
“Royal Sister, the Marquis Jiajing only sent twenty thousand soldiers this time. That’s just one fifth of the Jingyuan Army.”
“That is not enough. Could you perhaps…”
“Perhaps speak to her privately? In her bedchamber?”