Transmigrated as the Imperial Princess's Scumbag Alpha Ex-Wife - Chapter 26

The visit to Bai Shuzhou was scheduled for late at night.

Zhu Yu, with the intuition of a mysterious Feng Xing, changed outfits repeatedly throughout the afternoon, yet remained unsatisfied. Despite the vast walk-in closet, she couldn’t find a single thing she felt comfortable wearing.

The Scumbag A’s wardrobe was like a magical dressing room, dazzling her with its sheer variety and wildly diverse styles.

A formal suit seemed too stiff, inappropriate for visiting a Feng Xing. She stared at her reflection, unconsciously straightening her posture as if imagining a reporter with a camera filming her, making her appear overly formal.

Then she noticed a pre-coordinated set laid out earlier: a seemingly ordinary floral shirt that, when worn, revealed hidden contouring lines, accentuating her broad shoulders and narrow waist. The shallow V-neck naturally exposed a hint of collarbone and her slender neck, instantly perfecting her proportions.

This sensation was novel and strange, a tingling itch at her back as if she were about to unfurl a peacock’s tail.

Zhu Yu gazed into the mirror. The girl in the reflection gazed back, waved, and the girl in the mirror waved back with equal clarity and ease. Her voice deepened, becoming magnetic as she lowered her head slightly. “Long time no see, Sister.”

How pretentious, how unfamiliar.

She smiled, the expression freezing for a few seconds before she quickly composed herself. A sudden, wary thought struck her: Did Bai Shuzhou like this kind of style? The “bad girl” look?

This was their first meeting since that night. Zhu Yu wanted to show Bai Shuzhou her best side, hoping to make him like her just a little more.

If he liked me more, would he have left without a word? At least given me a hint?

Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that imitating someone else was wrong.

But then again, this “someone else” didn’t patent the style. I can wear it if I want!

Besides, she had to play the role of the original Zhu Yu in front of others anyway. It was safer that way, a necessity forced upon her by circumstances… ! Zhu Yu quickly concocted a flimsy excuse to justify her actions.

Unfortunately, her carefully planned “butterfly” outfit didn’t last long. The Head Maid’s gaze was like a measuring stick, scrutinizing her with a stern look as she delivered dinner. The verdict came swiftly: “Absolutely not.”

“Exposing your glands? Absolutely not.”

The Head Maid’s scrutiny was like a quality control inspector at the Nutrient Solution Factory, circling once before slapping a “Rejected” sticker on Zhu Yu and sending her back to redo it.

Although the Royal Star Academy was under Feng Xing’s control, fabricating research reports was a red line for scientific integrity. Bai Shuzhou’s illness was indeed linked to abnormal mental power fluctuations, meaning Feng Jiyan’s claims weren’t entirely baseless.

Zhu Yu couldn’t clear her name; she was merely being protected.

After secretly practicing her winks in front of the mirror for ages, Zhu Yu’s efforts ended in dismal failure. Undeterred, she stubbornly pulled on an oversized white shirt, buttoning it all the way up to the collar for an unusually demure look.

The Head Maid, observing her cheerful demeanor, felt an inexplicable twitch in her right eyelid.

Moments later, a fully armored figure resembling a Michelin Man, clad in a protective suit, slipped into the Academy of Sciences through a small maintenance door.

Zhu Yu completely understood the Head Maid’s caution. Given their special status as public figures, maintaining a low profile was essential. The change of attire only heightened the thrill of their secret rendezvous.

So exciting! she thought. I love it. It makes us feel so unique and different.

The Head Maid, Melno, was also a noble, but Zhu Yu couldn’t remember her long surname. Calling her by her first name felt impolite, so she stubbornly addressed her as “Sister.”

Her sister had taught her that a sweet tongue always served her well. Zhu Yu had learned this lesson firsthand on the Wasteland Star.

Unfortunately, the stern Melno remained expressionless as she tightened Zhu Yu’s protective suit, compressing her into a barely recognizable human shape.

Fish Charm? Absolutely not.

It was late at night, but the Royal Star Academy remained brightly lit. The corridors seemed impossibly long, stretches of pure white extending endlessly, radiating a cold, high-tech atmosphere.

The silent footsteps of the two women echoed through the corridor.

Before entering, Zhu Yu had glimpsed staff members moving through the windows, marveling at their dedication to working so late.

Yet after entering, they hadn’t encountered a single person along the way.

The endlessly repeating white corridors felt like being trapped in a maze.

If I wanted to escape from here… it would be incredibly difficult, wouldn’t it?

Zhu Yu grew increasingly tense with each step, her fingertips tingling faintly. She felt an inexplicable dread creeping over her.

Even through the mask, Zhu Yu could still faintly smell the disinfectant and medicinal odors. Perhaps because her mother was a doctor, she had always been particularly sensitive to these scents.

From stiffly taking her first steps to silently tiptoeing, Melno keenly noticed Zhu Yu’s unease. She slowed her pace, shifted from walking slightly ahead to beside Zhu Yu, grabbed her arm, and quickened her stride.

At the end of the corridor, Melno whispered, “When you meet Your Highness, don’t say anything you shouldn’t. Understand?”

Zhu Yu didn’t understand, but she nodded anyway. She realized that everyone in the Imperial Palace seemed to enjoy speaking in riddles.

The door swung open, and the researcher looked up, her gaze meeting Zhu Yu’s. Both women seemed tense.

Zhu Yu straightened her posture, though from the outside, it was impossible to tell the difference. The researcher immediately stood up as well.

However, upon seeing Melno beside Zhu Yu, she asked no questions, merely bowed respectfully to the woman and offered a formal greeting.

It was clear that Melno held a high position.

“Take her in for the bl00d draw,” Melno instructed.

Zhu Yu tensed. “Another bl00d draw?”

Melno didn’t even lift her eyelids. “Do you still want to see Your Highness?”

“……”

Alright, Zhu Yu conceded.

After stripping off layer upon layer of clothing, Zhu Yu finally exposed her arm. The blond researcher, who looked young and seemed inexperienced with such situations, politely replied, “I’m sorry, but that’s not allowed. May I try to be as gentle as possible?”

“Oh, okay, that’s fine,” Zhu Yu said, adding awkwardly, “Thank you.”

The “Michelin Man” only revealed her arm, not her face, but as the researcher raised the needle, she suddenly asked, “Are you Zhu Yu?”

How could she tell just from my arm?! Zhu Yu worried about causing trouble for Bai Shuzhou and remained silent.

Her silence was taken as confirmation.

The researcher’s movements immediately slowed to a crawl. “Then you’d better wait before going in. His Majesty is inside.”

Bai Qianze’s dislike for Zhu Yu was common knowledge.

But thinking about it, it made sense. The Empire’s “rose,” whom he had personally nurtured, had encountered a poor girl who had clawed her way out of the slums, a match so mismatched that Zhu Yu completely understood his disapproval.

If she were to imagine her future daughter meeting a blond-haired boy, Zhu Yu would absolutely forbid them from being together!

Having survived such a close call, it was no wonder she had felt a chill the moment she entered the room.

“Thank you. I owe you everything.”

“No need to thank me,” the researcher paused before continuing. “I watched your broadcast that day. Everyone admires you so much.”

Admiration—such a lofty compliment left Zhu Yu feeling both flattered and overwhelmed. For the first time, she felt the full weight of others’ fervent, genuine gaze reflecting solely on her, not as a mere shadow of her original self.

After the bl00d draw, the researcher warmly shook Zhu Yu’s hand and even pulled up surveillance footage of the corridor on a large screen, planning to release her only after the Emperor’s entourage had passed.

Their resources were limited, but they were determined to do what they could.

However, it was already quite late. Zhu Yu remembered that Bai Shuzhou needed to be in bed by midnight every night, and now less than half an hour remained before her bedtime.

Zhu Yu stood up and waved her hands repeatedly before the researcher could offer her a high-end nutrient block, indicating she didn’t need such formalities.

Just then, a figure flashed across the screen. Zhu Yu looked up, her eyes lighting up, but she quickly realized the white-haired figure wasn’t Bai Shuzhou, but Bai Qianze.

As sisters, they undeniably shared striking similarities: long silver hair and blue eyes. Yet their auras differed sharply.

Bai Qianze’s pupils were darker, as if they could devour everything.

Unlike Bai Shuzhou’s sky-blue eyes, which refracted light gently like sapphires, radiating a brilliant, gem-like glow.

The legendary Emperor, known for her icy demeanor and warmth reserved solely for her sister, was now cradling a woman in her arms, completely shrouded by her cloak. Under surveillance, only a glimpse of an ankle occasionally peeked out—pale as jade, suspended in mid-air, swaying lightly like a wind chime.

Delicate and fragile.

The staff lining the road bowed their heads deeply, daring not to gaze upon the Emperor’s face.

In a place where no prying eyes could reach, Bai Qianze’s deep, sea-like eyes revealed a nearly maddening tenderness. The researcher couldn’t help but startle inwardly, instinctively turning to look at Zhu Yu.

Zhu Yu frowned as well.

From the massive screen, she precisely pinpointed Bai Shuzhou’s silhouette and murmured, “Why isn’t he wearing socks? He’s sick, and the air conditioning is set so low here.”

Is that really the main concern?! the researcher thought.

“You…”

Before the researcher could finish, Zhu Yu had already mysteriously wrapped herself in her coat and was rushing out the door.

Moments after the Emperor’s imperial procession had departed, the white Michelin Man had already slipped past the staff, sneaking into Bai Shuzhou’s room.

While watching the surveillance footage, she had memorized the route, moving even faster than Melno. Unfortunately, Bai Shuzhou’s room appeared to be a luxurious suite. From the doorway, only the foyer and living room were visible, guarded by a fluffy white tail.

It was the Snow Leopard Knight.

Zhu Yu froze in terror, turning to flee, but Melno calmly bypassed the iris scanner behind her and shoved her inside.

“You may leave now,” Melno told the Snow Leopard Knight.

“Yes, ma’am.”

The Snow Leopard Knight glanced at Zhu Yu without any discernible expression before silently departing.

Could it be that the Emperor tacitly approved of my visit to Bai Shuzhou? Zhu Yu couldn’t help but feel a secret thrill.

The interior of the room was a stark contrast to the outside, transitioning from icy white to the opulent splendor of imperial grandeur within a single wall.

In an instant, Zhu Yu felt as if she had traveled back from the Academy of Sciences to the Imperial Palace—and to a chamber far more lavish than her own former quarters. Even the numerous instruments gleamed with an otherworldly brilliance.

This was Bai Shuzhou’s personal chamber.

From childhood to adulthood, Zhu Yu had likely spent more time here receiving treatment than in the Imperial Palace itself.

A strange sense of familiarity washed over Zhu Yu. A word suddenly flashed through her mind: Canary.

Pah! I’m no canary. I’m a Dragon! And one day, I’ll be the strongest Dragon of all!

The room’s temperature seemed to have dropped further. Even through her protective suit, Zhu Yu felt waves of bone-chilling cold.

Bathed in a subtle, luxurious glow, the woman on the bed was as pale as the first snow of winter, her eyes tightly closed. The clock lit up precisely at midnight.

Zhu Yu vaguely heard the sound of a bell tolling.

The warm, amber light illuminated Bai Shuzhou’s profile, rendering her skin almost translucent, like porcelain. Faint blue veins pulsed beneath her delicate neck, fragile and vulnerable.

Zhu Yu’s nose stung with emotion as she gently touched Bai Shuzhou’s fingertips.

A heavy weariness clung to the woman’s curled lashes. She didn’t open her eyes—she no longer had the strength to do so—but her fingertips twitched slightly.

Zhu Yu saw Bai Shuzhou’s thin lips part. Though no sound escaped, she seemed to hear a soft, hoarse whisper, filled with tenderness:

“Zhu Yu.”

In this ice-cold room, they sensed each other’s presence, their minds connected like snails extending their antennae, gently touching.

Zhu Yu removed her mask and leaned down to kiss Bai Shuzhou. Her hand silently conjured specks of warm light, but in the next moment, Bai Shuzhou gripped her wrist tightly.

The woman opened her eyes, their pale blue irises appearing particularly cold and wet tonight.

She held Zhu Yu’s hand and tugged.

This gentle kiss was inescapable, like snowflakes drifting down from the sky, settling on their hair and between their brows.

Zhu Yu knelt beside the bed, instinctively returning the grip on Bai Shuzhou’s icy hand, cradling it in her warm palm.