Transmigrated as the Doomed Scumbag Alpha of the Eldest Princess (GL , ABO) - Chapter 4
Su Xun led the way toward the Southern Courtyard while Jiang Si followed behind in silence, carefully memorizing the layout of the marquis’ estate so she would not get lost later and struggle to find her way back.
The estate was far more expansive than Jiang Si had imagined.
The path from the Northern Courtyard to the Southern Courtyard was the longest within the estate. They passed the Main Hall and the gardens before finally arriving at the Southern Courtyard.
It took nearly twenty minutes.
Walking this route back and forth could easily serve as a pleasant stroll after a meal.
Once Jiang Si had committed the layout to memory, Su Xun came to a stop, turned around, and informed her that they had arrived.
From a distance, the Southern Courtyard looked much like the Northern Courtyard. The difference was the presence of a lakeside pavilion and a variety of flowers and plants. Compared to the martial training hall and archery grounds in the north, this place was clearly meant for rest and recovery.
After stepping inside, the scenery became even more peaceful and pleasing.
“Marquis, I will go inform them of your arrival,” Su Xun said softly at Jiang Si’s side. After Jiang Si gave a nod, Su Xun walked into the courtyard.
Mowan Ci’s status was far from ordinary. While Jiang Si might speak bluntly to her without consequence, Su Xun did not have the same freedom. She quietly spoke with one of the princess’s guards, who then allowed them to pass.
Because Mowan Ci was a Kunze, all of the guards around her were of moderate strength. There were no Qianyuan among them.
Even so, they were well-trained and physically capable. When they saw Jiang Si, they performed the proper courtesies with calm and respect.
If the original Jiang Si were here, her face would likely be filled with resentment. But the current Jiang Si felt differently.
She actually admired the dignity shown by the guards. Despite being on the grounds of Marquis Jiajing’s estate, they did not diminish their sense of self-worth.
That was commendable.
With a faint smile on her lips, Jiang Si lifted the hem of her robes and stepped into the courtyard.
She had only walked a few steps when Su Xun leaned in and quietly asked, “Marquis, would you like me to replace the guards at the gate?”
Su Xun had good intuition.
Unfortunately, it was aimed at the original Marquis Jiajing, not at Jiang Si.
So the suggestion was misplaced. Jiang Si’s brow twitched. She nearly told her to step back, but seeing the sincerity in Su Xun’s expression, she swallowed the words and simply waved her hand.
Su Xun took it as a sign of impatience and said nothing more.
Jiang Si continued walking toward the lakeside pavilion. Along the way, she passed a few people.
Compared to the Northern Courtyard, this place was far quieter and more refined.
She actually preferred it that way.
She even considered removing half the staff from the Northern Courtyard to create more private space for herself.
The scenery here was also completely different. Jiang Si strolled along, stopping now and then to admire the lotus flowers or the artificial rock formations. She felt a small pang of regret at not having a phone or a camera. Otherwise, she would have asked Su Xun to take a few pictures for her.
Her hobbies had always included photography and drawing. But here, taking photographs was clearly impossible. She would be lucky to get in a few quiet sketches now and then.
And even then, she would be forced to practice a style she was not particularly skilled in, like landscape painting.
As she stopped for the fifth time, Su Xun, who had been following and pausing with her all along, finally spoke up. Her voice was hesitant but firm.
“Princess Mowan Ci has been waiting at the pavilion for quite some time.”
“Oh? Has she?” Jiang Si turned her gaze back to Su Xun, then looked toward the lakeside pavilion before Su Xun could reply.
There were two figures ahead, one seated and the other standing.
The one seated was clearly Mowan Ci. She wore a moon-white, open-collared ruqun. A sheer shawl of the same color rested lightly on her shoulders.
She looked beautiful. That much was undeniable.
But Jiang Si was surprised.
Yesterday at the gates of the estate, she had seen Xiang Ning wearing a similar style. Mowan Ci’s clothing and overall appearance reminded her of that, though the difference in fabric quality was striking.
Xiang Ning, in her cheap clothing and heavy makeup, had a kind of vulgar beauty.
But Mowan Ci, dressed like this, gave Jiang Si the impression that the customs of this era were far more open than she had expected.
In Jiang Si’s mind, someone like Xiang Ning, or perhaps Quan Fang who had tried to seduce her, might dress this way and it would make sense. But Mowan Ci doing so was something she simply could not understand.
Still, the reality was that Mowan Ci wore it well. In fact, it suited her better than the peach-colored outfit from the day before.
As Jiang Si approached, the first person to see her was Zhi Miao.
Jiang Si watched as Zhi Miao called out to Mowan Ci several times before the princess turned her head, as if awakening from a dream.
That glance was misty, almost tender, and carried a strange depth of emotion.
Jiang Si cursed silently in her heart. Those eyes were far too seductive.
She was sure that if Mowan Ci had seen her now, she would want to slap her rather than gaze at her with such feeling.
Jiang Si cleared her throat and walked forward with her hands behind her back.
Although the imperial decree had named Mowan Ci as her concubine, she was still the noble Princess of the Yue Kingdom. She was under no obligation to bow to Jiang Si.
If anything, Jiang Si should bow to her.
Having spent the entire day being saluted and bowed to, Jiang Si was still not used to such formalities and failed to respond appropriately.
She only noticed that Mowan Ci’s expression had grown colder.
The moon-white gown made her look even more distant than she had seemed when stepping down from the carriage.
Jiang Si felt a flicker of discomfort in her expression. She stopped, standing at an angle across from Mowan Ci, and was just about to ask why she had been summoned when Zhi Miao snapped sharply from her side.
“How dare you! Do you not know how to show respect in the presence of the Princess?”
When they had first arrived, both Zhi Miao and Su Xun had bowed respectfully to each other’s masters. Because of that, Zhi Miao did not feel at fault and raised her voice slightly.
This drew the attention of both Su Xun and Mowan Ci.
Su Xun looked surprised, even impressed by Zhi Miao’s boldness.
As for Mowan Ci, her gaze was calm and unreadable. There was no visible emotion in her eyes. She simply glanced over once and said nothing.
Jiang Si had not noticed at first, but Zhi Miao’s slightly hesitant expression made her realize what had happened.
She remained silent, curious to hear what Zhi Miao would say next.
“First… first comes the relationship between ruler and subject, and then…” Zhi Miao began, but halfway through her sentence, she shrank back a little and turned to glance at Mowan Ci.
Seeing that Mowan Ci showed no reaction, she let out a quiet breath of relief, though her face also revealed a trace of regret.
Jiang Si understood what she meant.
She could cooperate. That was not a problem.
After all, it was only a matter of time before she gradually changed how others viewed her.
She curved her lips into a faint smile, a touch of mischief in her expression, and cupped her hands in salute to the princess.
Her form was not exactly precise, since she had only observed others do it for a day. And besides, she smiled while doing it.
Su Xun showed no surprise. In fact, she looked like she thought Marquis Jiajing was simply playing around with something new.
Zhi Miao, on the other hand, looked thoroughly offended.
This was exactly the reaction Jiang Si wanted.
She could bow to the princess, but she would not lower herself completely. A gesture half-serious, half-playful would send the message that she was beginning to change.
“Your Highness invited me… invited this marquis here. For what purpose?”
As expected, Mowan Ci’s expression showed a flicker of irritation. But it passed in an instant. By the time Jiang Si looked again, her face was calm, as though that moment had never happened at all.
There was no attempt to hide the glance. Mowan Ci did not care whether Jiang Si was watching her or not.
She was also observing Jiang Si.
This was, in fact, the first time she had truly taken a close look.
With sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, red lips, and white teeth, her looks were exceptional. Like many Qianyuan women, her long hair was tied high in a ponytail, giving her a striking and energetic appearance.
From her clothing, one could tell she preferred bold and vivid colors. It suggested a personality that was proud and unrestrained.
But judging someone solely by appearance was shallow. Mowan Ci quietly laughed at herself for doing so.
Jiang Si was not someone who could be so easily read.
It should have been clear from the very moment she petitioned to take Mowan Ci as her concubine.
She was not someone easily provoked or controlled.
Then again, Mowan Ci no longer had the will to control anyone.
The emperor had grown up under her protection, ascending the throne, taking the reins of power, and marrying under her guidance. Every step of his life had her presence in it. And in the end?
He still sent her down the same path as every other princess in history, married off for diplomacy.
In fact, her fate was even worse. She was now only a concubine.
So what was this meeting for? Mowan Ci had yet to say. She was waiting.
Waiting for Jiang Si to show signs of irritation, waiting for her to grow angry, waiting for her to reveal her true self.
“Although Ling Shang City lies in the northern region, the summers are still stifling. Marquis Jiajing, could you send someone to deliver more ice?”
This was hardly a matter that required her to be summoned in person.
Mowan Ci simply wanted to see her lose her temper.
But unfortunately, she miscalculated.
Jiang Si answered with a clear voice, “Of course. I will send someone shortly.”
“Does Your Highness have any other requests?”
“If not, then I will take my leave and return to my duties.”
The woman before her looked exactly like the one in her dreams, yet she was neither angry nor crude. She did not drag Mowan Ci into a room as the dream had shown.
Instead, she stood calm and composed.
This made Mowan Ci furrow her brow, falling into doubt.
The dream had felt too real.
The pain and humiliation had been so intense that even breathing in the dream had hurt.