Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 71

Chapter 71

“Thank you, High—”

Jiang Jinhuang started speaking, but Xiao Ying interrupted her quickly. “Call me Ying Er from now on,” she said.

The surname Xiao was the imperial surname. Commoners couldn’t use it. Calling her “Highness” was even more forbidden. Her name was Xiao Ying, and she was the second child at home. She simply asked Jiang Jinhuang to call her Ying Er.

Jiang Jinhuang couldn’t bring herself to say it. She feared that using the name too much would offend this favored Second Highness. If that happened, the entire Jiang household would be doomed. She thought it better to avoid the name and address matters directly.

“Yes, I understand,” Jiang Jinhuang said softly.

Xiao Ying frowned slightly and continued speaking. “Don’t be so formal with me. Treat me as you treat your companions normally,” she said.

Jiang Jinhuang gave a fake smile, the kind she used in the capital with noble ladies. She thought, joking aside, how could she dare? One misstep could earn the Second Highness’s grudge, and the Jiang household would suffer.

The little one heard Xiao Ying’s words without overthinking. She usually played with Sister Ye and Sister Song, asking for hugs. She assumed Sister Ying was the same. She walked over and stretched her arms toward Xiao Ying. “Sister Ying, hug me,” she said sweetly.

Jiang Jinhuang’s heart leaped to her throat. Her face paled, frightened by her sister. She took a deep breath. “Yangyang, don’t be silly. Come back. I’ll hug you,” she said urgently.

“It’s fine,” Xiao Ying said. She paused, surprised, but saw the little one asking for a hug. She picked her up gently.

Xiao Ying hadn’t held such a young child before. Her cousins had children, but she disliked them. Her cousins wished she and her royal sister would die early. If both Dazhao’s princesses were gone, her cousins would have a chance at the throne.

The assassins sent to kill her were likely arranged by them. Xiao Ying smirked faintly. She pinched the little one’s hand gently. The little one giggled happily, unbothered.

Jiang Jinhuang watched nervously, fearing her sister would offend this noble princess.

When the little one got down from Xiao Ying’s arms, Xiao Ying showed no displeasure. Jiang Jinhuang sighed with relief quietly.

Ye Qing, sitting outside, looked unhappy. She wondered where this female Qianyuan came from suddenly. Wasn’t Jiang Jinhuang’s childhood friend in the capital? How did an old acquaintance appear on this famine escape?

Ye Qing felt uneasy somehow. She couldn’t pinpoint why. She just felt uncomfortable.

Too many refugees crowded the road. The black-clad figures found Xiao Ying’s discarded dress and searched there long. They lost her trail completely.

Ye Qing’s group traveled all night. When the horses grew exhausted, Ye Qing and Song Zhao dismounted. They led the horses into a grove and found a spot near the main road to rest.

“Unhitch the cart first. Feed the horses some hay and beans, or they won’t last,” Ye Qing instructed firmly.

“Yes, Master,” Song Zhao said. She took out the bag of horse feed quickly.

Jiang Jinhuang, the little one, and Xiao Ying got off the cart. Ye Qing glanced at the female Qianyuan. She ignored her and crouched to start a fire.

The little one wriggled out of Jiang Jinhuang’s arms. She ran to Ye Qing and whined. “Sister Ye, what yummy food are we eating? My tummy’s hungry,” she said.

“Good. I’ll cook soon. Don’t rush,” Ye Qing said. She smiled at the little one to comfort her.

Xiao Ying saw Ye Qing ignore her. She didn’t make a fuss. She turned to Jiang Jinhuang and asked, “By the way, what’s your name? I think I’ve seen you a few times before.”

Jiang Jinhuang nearly bowed instinctively. She stopped herself forcefully. “Jiang Jinhuang. The Minister of Rites is my father,” she said.

“Oh,” Xiao Ying said. She nodded and frowned. “Then you should be in the capital. Why are you here?” she asked.

“I returned to Linzhou with my mother to visit family. Bandits attacked us on the way. I got separated from my mother. When I reached Linzhou with my sister, I learned my maternal family had fled south. Ye Qing saved me later,” Jiang Jinhuang said. She omitted how Ye Qing tricked her into marriage and was harsh initially.

“I see. Where are you headed? South all the way?” Xiao Ying asked further.

Jiang Jinhuang hesitated. They were going south, but she didn’t want to travel with the Second Highness. Accompanying royalty was like accompanying a tiger. Even if they did everything well, one small mistake could earn Xiao Ying’s grudge, spelling disaster.

“We’re not sure yet. We’ll go south for now. When things improve, we’ll return to the capital,” Jiang Jinhuang said.

Xiao Ying nodded. “Good. We’re going the same way. Take me along,” she said.

Xiao Ying’s trip was to inspect the people’s conditions. The court allocated much relief silver and grain, but it vanished locally. Refugees were everywhere. Someone must have embezzled the funds. She planned to investigate thoroughly upon returning to the capital and report everything to her mother, the emperor.

Her mother was too kind. Her uncles were growing ambitious. It was time to deal with them.

Jiang Jinhuang didn’t know Xiao Ying’s thoughts. She was utterly reluctant to travel with Xiao Ying. She forced a polite smile. “Great,” she said.

Ye Qing glanced at them sharply. She felt uneasy somehow. She spoke up. “Everything here is mine. I decide who joins us,” she said.

Ye Qing stood and faced Xiao Ying. “Our team doesn’t keep idle people. Driving and night watch are shared. If you just want free food and shelter, I won’t take you,” she said.

Jiang Jinhuang signaled Ye Qing frantically. Ye Qing saw Jiang Jinhuang defending Xiao Ying. She grew angrier. “What’s wrong? Sand in your eyes?” she asked.

Jiang Jinhuang closed her eyes. She calmed herself briefly and smiled at Xiao Ying. “Ye Qing speaks bluntly. She means no harm. I’ll talk to her alone,” she said.

Jiang Jinhuang looked at Xiao Ying cautiously. This made Ye Qing more annoyed. Was the original story wrong? Did Jiang Jinhuang have another love besides her childhood friend?

Thinking this, Ye Qing found Xiao Ying even more displeasing.

Jiang Jinhuang grabbed Ye Qing’s arm quickly. She pulled her to a spot farther away.

Ye Qing followed reluctantly. After a short walk, she stopped. She tugged her wrist from Jiang Jinhuang’s grip. As a Qianyuan, Ye Qing was strong. She freed herself easily with one pull.

Jiang Jinhuang turned around. She saw Ye Qing looking down, her expression sour.

Jiang Jinhuang glanced at her hand, surprised. This was the first time Ye Qing acted this way on the famine escape. Ye Qing was usually good-tempered. Why did a female Qianyuan’s arrival change her mood?

Jiang Jinhuang realized something suddenly. She smiled faintly and stepped closer to Ye Qing. “What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly upset?” she asked.

“Nothing. I just think adding someone unknown to our team is unreliable,” Ye Qing said. Her tone was neutral.

Jiang Jinhuang blinked and stared into Ye Qing’s eyes. “Really? Just that?” she asked.

Ye Qing nodded. “Yes. I said I don’t keep idle people. If she can’t do anything, I won’t take her south. Besides, she’s being chased. She might get us into trouble,” she said.

Jiang Jinhuang worried about that too. She didn’t want to travel with Xiao Ying. But how could she say so to Xiao Ying’s face? Did she want to die? Did the Jiang household want to perish?

Seeing Ye Qing’s wrinkled, unhappy face, Jiang Jinhuang stepped closer. She softened her tone. “Are you jealous?” she asked.

Ye Qing jolted at Jiang Jinhuang’s words. She denied it loudly. “How could I be? Me, jealous? That’s ridiculous. Don’t be absurd,” she said.

Ye Qing acted indifferent. She raised her head high and avoided Jiang Jinhuang’s gaze.

Jiang Jinhuang’s eyes curved with amusement. Ye Qing resembled a ruffled rabbit, denying it loudly. She looked quite cute.

Jiang Jinhuang teased deliberately. “If you’re not jealous, why shout so loud?” she asked.

Ye Qing coughed lightly. She glanced around, relieved no one was near. “I—I just wanted to make sure you heard me,” she said.

Jiang Jinhuang nodded, suppressing a laugh. Ye Qing had stepped back earlier, widening their distance. Jiang Jinhuang closed the gap again. Only an arm’s length separated them now.

Jiang Jinhuang sighed. She looked at Ye Qing and soothed her gently. “I have nothing with her. You can trust me. No need for baseless jealousy. Some things I can’t refuse due to her special status. Come closer, and I’ll tell you,” she said.

Ye Qing leaned in skeptically, lowering her ear. She added firmly, “I said I’m not jealous.”

Jiang Jinhuang smiled and reassured her. “Alright, alright. I overthought it. That’s fine, right?” she said.

Ye Qing nodded, satisfied. She perked her ears, waiting for Jiang Jinhuang’s secret.

Jiang Jinhuang leaned close to Ye Qing’s ear. She whispered softly, “She’s the second princess, Xiao Ying, a top candidate for future empress. We can’t offend her. One word from her could decide our lives.”

Ye Qing frowned slightly upon hearing this. They had stumbled into big trouble. She knew Jiang Jinhuang’s family background. They truly couldn’t afford to cross Xiao Ying.

The assassins chasing Xiao Ying belonged to some unknown faction. Traveling with Xiao Ying meant getting entangled in their conflict.

Jiang Jinhuang saw Ye Qing frown silently. She leaned close to Ye Qing’s ear again. “Ye Qing?” she called softly.

Ye Qing’s ear twitched as Jiang Jinhuang’s warm breath hit it. Jiang Jinhuang noticed. Was Ye Qing’s ear that sensitive?

“I’m fine. But we’ve really landed in big trouble,” Ye Qing said. She focused on Xiao Ying’s issue, ignoring her ear’s twitch and Jiang Jinhuang’s expression.