Transmigrated as the Imperial Princess's Scumbag Alpha Ex-Wife - Chapter 17

Silence.

Is this enough?

The multicolored jewels refracted sharp light, Zhu Yu lowered her head, watching them scattered across the floor, almost slicing through the dust.

Of course it was enough. She should be happy. After all, she had dreamed of a windfall, many of her dreams beginning with “When I have money…”

She crouched down and began picking up the dust-covered gems one by one.

The Paradis Manager had said that to succeed, one must humble oneself and set aside dignity. So even when scolded or harassed, it didn’t matter.

Zhu Yu truly didn’t care. The words went in one ear and out the other. If the insults were particularly harsh, she would mentally convince herself they were directed at “Zhu Yu,” not her, Little Yu.

But Bai Shuzhou was different.

Every word Bai Shuzhou spoke lodged in Zhu Yu’s heart, lingering with painful clarity, even as she repeatedly chewed over the bitterness.

Her heart brimming with joy and anticipation had been rewarded with… jewels.

Saying it like that seemed ungrateful.

After a long silence, Zhu Yu muttered, “You have money.” A short, stifled sigh.

The money she had painstakingly saved from two jobs a day and freelance repairs seemed laughable in the face of these extravagant jewels.

Bai Shuzhou didn’t even blink as she casually gifted these jewels. They held no special significance for her, including the ring Zhu Yu solemnly wore on her finger. To Bai Shuzhou, it was perhaps no more valuable than a one-yuan coin—something she could toss into the air and not care if she lost.

But what about Zhu Yu? What was her status?

She was Bai Shuzhou’s unconfirmed ex-wife, a Commoner’s Star in name only. According to the original plot, she would become a traitor, a prisoner, and a foil for Bai Shuzhou’s suitors.

After too many peaceful days in their cramped quarters, they had grown so close that Zhu Yu had almost forgotten they weren’t equals.

Zhu Yu looked up and saw cold indifference in Bai Shuzhou’s eyes. Their gazes met, and despite Zhu Yu standing while Bai Shuzhou sat, the power dynamic felt completely reversed, as vast as the heavens and the earth.

“Not enough?” Bai Shuzhou asked.

Zhu Yu shook her head.

“What else do you want?”

“I don’t know,” Zhu Yu said, pinching her wrist. She felt that their relationship shouldn’t be like this, as if sincerity were just another commodity with a higher price tag.

Since childhood, her sister had warned her that everything in the world had its price. To obtain something, you had to pay the price. Don’t covet what you can’t afford.

Zhu Yu fiddled with the gemstone, asking softly, “Then what can I do for you?”

Bai Shuzhou’s clenched hand relaxed slightly, pleased by Zhu Yu’s soft and yielding demeanor. This was how things should be—power, money, and transactions were the most reliable reins, offering reassurance when held firmly in one’s grasp.

“Just be obedient,” she said casually, her gaze lowered.

“Oh,” Zhu Yu replied. “I’ll be obedient.”

She shamelessly pocketed the gemstone and turned back to cooking.

Bai Shuzhou preferred mild flavors, so Zhu Yu maliciously grabbed a handful of chili peppers, shook off a few, then a few more, until only two remained. Finally satisfied, she tossed them into the hot oil to add flavor.

Even then, the fumes made her eyes water.

Why? Her first love had just been sold off by her own hand.

Well, not exactly her first love—just a one-sided crush. And if she’d been kind to her not for money, but to make the other woman like her, that would have been… even more despicable.

Given Bai Shuzhou’s status, every one of her suitors was far more accomplished than Zhu Yu. Even the original owner of her body, that scumbag A, had a bright future and knew how to charm women.

A mocking voice whispered in her heart: At least you made a fortune. What’s there to complain about? Thank Miss Bai Shuzhou for converting her champagne tower into cash! Your entire future expenses are now covered by Miss Bai!

I’ve finally gotten a full-court press of nominations! My first time… How awful! The cooking fumes choked Zhu Yu, and she couldn’t help but cough and laugh at the same time.

Watching the girl’s trembling shoulders, the woman in the wheelchair frowned slightly, her lips parting and closing before she finally closed her book.

Just as the oily smoke began to dissipate, her gaze suddenly sharpened.

Hasty footsteps echoed from outside, followed by… murderous intent.

Chirp-chirp!

A small, emerald-yellow bird stumbled into the courtyard, circling once before landing. A clear streak of bl00d stained its beak, and its teary, beady eyes met Bai Shuzhou’s.

Chirp!

The bird trembled fearfully, as if steeling itself for a decision. It flew directly toward Bai Shuzhou, who gently raised her hand to catch its descent.

Bai Shuzhou wiped the bl00d from the bird’s beak with a handkerchief and asked softly, “Did someone hurt you?”

Her tenderness was almost unbelievable.

“Oh, a little bird!” Zhu Yu turned around, unconsciously stealing glances at Bai Shuzhou.

Bai Shuzhou seemed to be gentle with everyone… except her.

This courtyard was secluded, rarely visited by people or animals.

The tearful bird nuzzled Bai Shuzhou’s hand, frantically gesturing. It spread its clipped wings, tapped its head, covered its beak, and let out a hoarse cry.

It was telling on someone.

Before Bai Shuzhou could respond, a barrage of curses and the sound of someone pounding on the door erupted from outside the courtyard.

The violent noise startled Zhu Yu, who gripped the spatula tightly, nearly splashing hot oil onto her hand.

“That little beast! It bit me and then ran!”

“It’s tired of living! We’ll teach it a lesson this time.”

“Don’t hit its face! We won’t get a good price for it if we do.”

“Open the door! Open it now, or we’ll set the place on fire!”

The little bird buried its head completely under its wing, trembling in Bai Shuzhou’s palm.

Star Pirates! Zhu Yu’s mind buzzed with the terrifying rumors Little Shan had told her earlier.

Bai Shuzhou shielded the bird with both hands, her eyes darkening slightly.

This creature was her subject, yet it had been lured away, trafficked by Star Pirates, and abused to this state.

The vines subtly sharpened into needle-like thorns, and the high-level pheromone was about to descend. Just as Bai Shuzhou was about to act, Zhu Yu hurriedly scooped her up and carried her back to bed, nervously covering her tail. She then shushed the bird with a gesture, pulled up the Bai Sha curtain, and rushed to open the door.

The commotion outside suggested at least seven or eight people.

Zhu Yu cranked the stove to its highest setting, filling the air with acrid smoke that quickly masked any sensitive scents.

Clutching the spatula, she forced the door open before the lock completely buckled.

The courtyard, already piled high with scrap metal, suddenly felt even more cramped.

The Black Hat, who seemed to be the leader, scanned the yard with a semblance of politeness. “Have you seen a bird? She owes us money.”

Zhu Yu quickly replied, “No!”

“Bullshit! Are you blind? I saw her fly in here myself!”

The One-Eyed Dragon, sporting an electronic prosthetic eye, raised his stun baton, forcing Zhu Yu to retreat. His gaze dripped with contempt as he spat to the side. “Another worthless hybrid.”

Zhu Yu fell silent, marveling inwardly. Can Beastmen, Federation Citizens, and hybrids really be distinguished by scent alone?

“Are you… a pure-blooded Federation Citizen?” Zhu Yu asked, noting the man’s race-level physique.

“Heh, you have a keen eye. Hand over that Birdman now, or I’ll burn your shack to the ground.”

Zhu Yu calmly positioned herself in front of the shack’s entrance, her voice steady. “I truly haven’t seen anyone like that. Times are tough enough as it is—why would I invite trouble?”

The One-Eyed Dragon frowned. “You’re all Imperials. How do we know you’re not protecting each other?”

Zhu Yu discreetly slipped the money she was holding into the Black Hat’s hand as she passed the One-Eyed Dragon. It was clear she was the leader.

“I know you’ve come a long way. I understand the rules of the road. Let me treat you all to drinks. As you can see, I’m just an honest mechanic. Who knows, we might even have opportunities to collaborate in the future.”

Black Hat glanced at Zhu Yu sideways, hefting the device in her hand. It felt surprisingly heavy.

Zhu Yu, in turn, sized them up. All the intruders wore identical triangular metal armbands, marking them as members of the same smuggling organization she’d seen at the bar.

“A mechanic?” Black Hat exhaled a plume of stale air through her nostrils. Zhu Yu’s timid demeanor convinced her the man posed no threat. She waved dismissively, “Routine inspection.”

Without a proper ventilation system, the pungent fumes from the stir-fry made Black Hat pinch her nose in discomfort. Her back was turned to Zhu Yu, revealing several needle marks on the back of her neck.

Her subordinates shoved Zhu Yu aside and stormed into the room, ransacking drawers and cabinets.

Zhu Yu stood protectively in front of the bed, rubbing his hands together with a forced smile. “Go ahead and look. There’s really nothing here. I was just cooking when you barged in. Which faction are you with, friends? Red Wing or Liquid Three…?”

Black Hat ignored his chatter, her sharp gaze shifting to the white gauze draped over the bed. “What’s on the bed?”

Zhu Yu’s smile widened. “My wife.”

“You’re so broke you still have a wife?” One-Eyed Dragon sneered, kicking the nearby wheelchair. “A mongrel paired with a cripple.”

Zhu Yu’s smile strained, his clenched hands turning white.

“This wheelchair must have cost a fortune,” Green Hair exclaimed, his eyes widening. He swaggered over and plopped down in it, tilting his head back to ask his companion, “The latest PT300? The one that goes for 380,000?”

“What?! Seriously?” the Leather-Clad Woman cursed. “Mechanics make that much? No way!”

Zhu Yu froze. This hovercraft had been a gift from Nangong to Bai Shuzhou. Feeling awkward about it, Zhu Yu had bought it from Nangong for 18,000 credits—the price Nangong had quoted.

“Holy sh1t, it’s the high-end Rose Wheel Hub edition!”

“Get lost! Let me take a ride too…!”

Amid the commotion, Black Hat turned her sharp, hawk-like gaze on Zhu Yu. “How did you get your hands on this thing?”

This cutting-edge technology shouldn’t even exist on this backward planet. The locals probably hadn’t even heard of anti-gravity systems.

Zhu Yu certainly hadn’t, until she saw Bai Shuzhou using it.

18,000 credits… Zhu Yu had once thought that was an exorbitant price, naively believing Bai Shuzhou was worth it.

Nangong had gifted something so expensive… She must be incredibly wealthy.

Zhu Yu lowered her head, her already gloomy mood darkening further. Even the furtive “Wife” she had boldly called out earlier couldn’t lift her spirits.

That endearment felt stolen, only permissible in these unusual moments—a tacit agreement to maintain a facade of normalcy, without fear of Bai Shuzhou’s anger.

She mumbled, “I have a partnership with Paradis. I had someone buy it for me.”

“Paradis?”

Black Hat gave Zhu Yu a deep look before raising her hand to stop her subordinates’ commotion. “Pull back the curtain. Let’s take a quick look.”

Among the ruthless smugglers, Black Hat was undoubtedly the most human-like, almost reasonable, and utterly out of place among her peers.

Yet their condescending gazes clearly appraised Zhu Yu as if she were merchandise, and they referred to the Imperials as “beasts” at every turn.

Zhu Yu spread her arms protectively in front of Bai Sha, refusing to yield. “No, my wife is shy. You’ll scare her.”

Black Hat stared Zhu Yu down. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

A bone-chilling aura of murderous intent radiated from her. In that brief moment of eye contact, Zhu Yu felt a surge of primal fear. She had an inexplicable intuition that Black Hat had served in the military, and at a high rank.

Why would someone like that end up smuggling?

Zhu Yu swallowed hard and used her foot to hook a small pouch of hidden money from under the bed—the portion she hadn’t told Bai Shuzhou about.

“Sister, please, you know Captain Xiao, right? We’ve shared drinks before. Can’t you cut me some slack?”

“If it were you, you wouldn’t want so many eyes on your wife either, would you? This is just bullying.”

Black Hat remained unmoved, but One-Eyed Dragon grinned and snatched the money pouch, patting Zhu Yu’s cheek. “Aiyo, we’re just bullying you. What are you going to do about it? Go whine to Captain Xiao?”

The dust-stained hand slapping her face brought far more humiliation than pain. The girl bit her lip, then, under the crowd’s gaze, forced a smile. “Then bully me all you want, just leave my wife alone.”

In Paradis, she’d dealt with plenty of men like this. Just play along with their words. Hearing this, One-Eyed Dragon frowned in disgust, his interest waning. He sneered, “Spineless creature. Are all Imperials this soft? No wonder you’re house-trained. Beg me—”

Beg me. The words cost nothing. Zhu Yu was about to speak when the woman behind the white veil snapped coldly, “Zhu Yu, step back!”

Her voice… was refined and noble, worth more than that little yellow oriole.

One-Eyed Dragon’s expression shifted instantly. He licked his lips and lowered his voice. “Boss.”

“This guy’s so nervous, I bet she’s not even his wife—probably bought her. We could flip her later…”

The floor mat where Zhu Yu slept was already filthy from their trampling. Now, one of them kicked it with her boot, her raspy voice dripping with greed. “She must be worth a fortune. Even he’s too scared to touch her.”

Zhu Yu’s nerves, stretched taut for too long, finally snapped. “Shut up!”

“I told you, she’s my wife. She’s my bottom line. If you dare speak another vulgar word—”

“Oh, look who’s got some fight in her. What’s this, Great Mechanic? Gonna fix us with your little wrench and screwdriver?” Green Hair led the group in mocking laughter.

Zhu Yu forcefully slapped away their hands reaching for Bai Sha, every muscle in her body coiled tight.

I can’t let them see Bai Shuzhou.

Clenching her fists, she challenged Black Hat, “Let’s settle this in the courtyard, one-on-one. If I win—”

Thud.

Before she could finish, One-Eyed Dragon ambushed her from behind, kicking her in the side with such force that she flew across the room, crashing into a pile of stacked appliances.

Only the most naive and foolish young fools believed in the lie of a fair fight. A coordinated group assault was always quicker and more efficient.

Black Hat shot a warning glance at One-Eyed Dragon, who immediately retreated with a sheepish grin. “Don’t cause any more trouble,” she warned.

“Don’t worry. We’ll leave as soon as we’re done checking. We won’t harm your family.”

Black Hat reached out to pull back the white veil, her fingertips stopping just a centimeter away. Her brow furrowed even deeper.

Years of bloody battlefield experience had honed her senses, and she detected an overwhelming killing intent—so cold it could freeze her thoughts solid.

In an instant, the room filled with the scent of roses, and her lower legs began to tremble uncontrollably.

She had felt this way once before, years ago on the First Battlefield. No, this was even more terrifying.

Black Hat released her own pheromones, but the aggressively pink peppercorn scent was utterly overwhelmed by the rose fragrance, offering no resistance whatsoever.

Who is this person?!

The chip implanted in her body whirred rapidly, growing faintly hot. Just as she was about to forcibly tear away the veil, a piercing buzz erupted, stabbing into her eardrums.

Black Hat recoiled, twisting around in shock. The girl she had kicked away had already scrambled to her feet with astonishing speed. Another fraction of a second, and her arm would have been severed entirely.

In the backlighting, the girl, who had been cowering in pain, now wielded a chainsaw. Her slender figure was stretched into an elongated silhouette by the darkness, her eyes rimmed with red, resembling a cornered beast poised to tear their throats out.

“I really, really don’t want to kill anyone.”

“Why are you forcing me to do this?”

“Apologize to her! Apologize to my wife!”

Her stark black-and-white eyes swept across the room, a stark contrast to the chainsaw in her hands. Her hands remained astonishingly steady as she swung the blade in a series of precise arcs, sending wisps of hair drifting down. A slight miscalculation would have meant instant decapitation.

The once-roaring Star Pirates stared in terror, their eyes wide with fear as they faced death. Their legs turned to jelly, and they scrambled to escape, only to be pinned down by an invisible force, unable to even crawl away.

Zhu Yu deliberately stepped on the One-Eyed Dragon’s body as she passed.

“We’re sorry! We’re sorry! We were wrong! We were just being stupid!”

“Please spare us! Aaaaaahhhh!!”

Only Black Hat remained standing in the room. She stiffly turned her head, her pitch-black eyes fixed on Zhu Yu. After a moment, she murmured in realization, “It’s you?”

The woman had just called her Zhu Yu.

Black Hat didn’t even glance at the chainsaw. Her icy gaze remained fixed on the girl as she ripped off her oversized coat, revealing an arm encased in a silver-white mechanical exoskeleton.

The military-grade exoskeleton whirred at the joints, exposing a pitch-black gun barrel.

“I didn’t want to use this, but for you—”

This time, Zhu Yu had learned her lesson. She didn’t wait for Black Hat to finish speaking before launching a surprise attack. She tossed aside the chainsaw, lunged forward, pressed close, and clamped her hand around Black Hat’s throat. With a sharp elbow strike to the joint, she forced the exoskeleton arm to bend and fold.

Adrenaline surged through her veins, and the threat of death ignited boundless courage within her.

Bai Shuzhou was right behind her. She couldn’t lose. She would win!

“You think you can threaten me with that thing? Do you even know who I am?”

No one understood the intricacies of machinery better than a mechanic. How they worked, where their weaknesses lay—it was all written in black and white in the books, clear as day. The principles were always the same.

Besides, it was just an exoskeleton. She’d repaired several during her apprenticeship with White Horse!

Veins bulged on the back of her hand as she rained down punch after punch, giving Black Hat no chance to retaliate. The hat had long since flown off, crushed beyond recognition on the ground.

Her slender frame tensed like an arrow about to be released from its bow, the pent-up frustration and anger exploding in an instant. A distinct click emanated from Black Hat’s body.

“Apologize, you crude bastards! How dare you insult her like that?!”

Bai Shuzhou was a radiant moon, inviolable and beyond reproach.

They must have terrified her. Poor Princess, why must she endure such humiliation just for being with me?

With a final punch, teeth flew out with the force of the blow. Zhu Yu stopped, took a deep breath, and belatedly realized she might have gone too far.

She had deliberately avoided striking the temples or any vital areas.

She was merely defending herself and her family.

Apart from Zhu Yu, everyone else was paralyzed by an invisible mental force, unable to move. Black Hat spat out a mouthful of bl00d, her voice hoarse: “Zhu Yu… Zhu Yu… it really is you!”

The white veil had been lifted from within, revealing the ‘fragile’ Princess now glaring down at them with a coldness that made them feel like corpses under her gaze.

Zhu Yu glanced back, meeting those pale blue eyes. Instinctively, she plastered on her most harmless smile, hastily hiding her bloodied hand behind her back. “Don’t worry,” she reassured softly, “I’ll take care of this quickly!”

The icy glacier of indifference melted away, and the woman lowered her gaze, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curving her lips.

“Alright.”