ALSACW – Chapter 57

Tang Ji was deeply distressed. She felt like she was being isolated.

Although her family had an unusually high concentration of omegas, as the sole alpha, she had never received any special attention.

Her eldest son loved studying and making money.

Her younger daughter spent her days holed up in her room, mysteriously communicating with that underground omega organization.

None of that mattered. She still had her wife, and her wife was the most important thing.

Back then, she had gone to great lengths to cultivate the persona of an antique enthusiast, spending a fortune on a vast collection of artifacts and treating the museum as her second home. After all that effort, she finally managed to make the brightest pearl of the Chu family choose her from a crowd of potential marriage partners.

Tang Ji was born with a stern, coffin-like face that was very intimidating, making her look like the upright and incorruptible heir of a great family. In reality, she had plenty of cunning schemes up her sleeve. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to expand the Tang family’s inhibitor business step by step under the watchful eyes of so many, to the point where a third of the Empire’s territory sold only Tang inhibitors.

And no matter how arrogant the Third Princess was, before ascending the throne, she only dared to throw her weight around on the Imperial Capital Star. If it were Golden Phoenix Star, she wouldn’t even be able to assemble the necessary equipment for her schemes.

Objectively speaking, Tang Ji had lived a life of considerable renown. She had an outstanding track record in the business world and was now beginning to make her mark in politics. It wouldn’t be long before she had the opportunity to truly display her talents.

But her proudest victory was successfully getting Chu Yuexi to choose her.

Tang Ji had never spoken of this to anyone, nor had she told a soul. After their marriage, she maintained her image as an antique enthusiast, using it as a daily topic of conversation with her omega husband, who also loved ancient culture. After she genuinely became an antique aficionado, relying on their constant companionship and shared interests, she successfully won Chu Yuexi’s heart.

However, Tang Ji gulped down a large mouthful of hot tea, glaring resentfully at the two across from her. Her husband and that shameless A-Virtue thing (Tang Ji’s affectionate nickname for Yun Chuji) were deep in a heated discussion about whether the political system of the Great Liang Dynasty was an advancement or a regression compared to the previous dynasty.

She only had five hours left before she had to leave for A-District!

And during these precious five hours, her dear wife wasn’t spending them with her, but was instead discussing some Great Liang with a brainless A-Virtue thing.

Tang Ji secretly sent a message to her daughter: 【Aren’t you going to do something?】

Tang Jianxi: 【???】

Tang Ji: 【Who discusses academic issues with their father-in-law on the very first visit?】

Tang Jianxi: 【Doesn’t Dad call the shots in our family?】

Tang Ji: 【That’s true, but I feel that as your mother, I also need to have a talk with Xiao Yun.】

Tang Jianxi: 【Is Yun Chuji that popular?】

Tang Ji: 【It’s a mother’s duty.】

Tang Ji: 【By the way, after I call Xiao Yun away, show your dad that vase I bought him. It’s a relic from the Great Liang Dynasty. I put it in cabinet A4.】

Alright, plan set.

When she returned, it would be her and her Yuexi’s turn to talk.

Tang Ji curled her lips in satisfaction, then composed her expression and walked over to Yun Chuji, patting her on the shoulder.

Yun Chuji dodged it.

At that moment, Chu Yuexi was still saying, “But it’s undeniable that the political system of the Great Liang Dynasty did lead to more severe moral decay and official corruption. In the previous dynasty, it would have been unimaginable for foreign invaders to receive assistance from the scholar-officials.”

Yun Chuji glanced at Chu Yuexi, then at Tang Ji, and decided to answer her teacher first. “Before the unification of the Great Liang, the nine provinces were in turmoil, and foreign tribes ran rampant. People had grown accustomed to coexisting with them. This wasn’t a result of the Great Liang’s political system. On the contrary, at its founding, the Great Liang vigorously promoted clean governance, executing several thousand corrupt officials and implicating nearly a hundred thousand people. This actually cleared the air in the court and the country.”

Then, she turned her head to face her nominal, prospective mother-in-law. Looking at that stern face, Yun Chuji subconsciously became reserved and respectful. This was different from the respect she showed Chu Yuexi; her respect for him was that of a student for a teacher, while her respect for Tang Ji was tinged with caution.

“You were looking for me?”

“Let’s talk,” Tang Ji said, her expression blank.

Yun Chuji instinctively looked toward Tang Jianxi, who winked at her, signaling not to worry.

But Chu Yuexi knew his alpha as well as he knew the mole on his own face; he didn’t need to look to know where it was, and he could guess Tang Ji’s intentions without much thought. “Talk about what? You’re not going to act like those old nobles in A-District and try to make Xiao Yun ‘be sensible,’ are you?”

Tang Ji’s expression stiffened. That had indeed been her original plan.

But now, she had a different idea. “I heard Xiao Yun has become famous in the Empire recently because of this A-Virtue business. I’d like to ask her opinion on the matter.”

Was she a genuine oddity, or was she just trying to curry favor to deceive her daughter’s heart? For the sake of her being his wife’s student, Tang Ji decided to give her a chance to explain herself.

But speaking of A-Virtue, Chu Yuexi’s academic spirit couldn’t help but bubble up again. “Yun Chuji, is your theory of A-Virtue a re-creation based on the theoretical system of ‘Feminine Virtue’? I see many traces of ancient Huaxia ethnic groups and some religious theories in it.”

Tang Ji stood there like an icicle, feeling utterly superfluous.

If only his wife studied something a little more recent, she wouldn’t be so completely lost right now. But the Great Liang Dynasty had left not a single trace in the Empire’s common education system. It was like a pebble ground into sand by floods and cliffs; no one knew its original form.

And yet, Chu Yuexi just happened to love this kind of work—piecing sand back into stone.

However, on this topic, the actual person involved, Yun Chuji, couldn’t be as forthright as when discussing the Great Liang’s political system. She admitted to herself that she had constructed the A-Virtue theory out of a need to take a stance; it lacked academic neutrality.

So Yun Chuji merely gave a vague reply, “There are elements of that, but it’s also related to the current social situation.”

Chu Yuexi had no intention of interrupting the conversation between Yun Chuji and Tang Ji. The thought had just occurred to him, and besides, he had things to discuss with Tang Jianxi as well.

“Could you write a paper for me? I find your theory quite interesting. Perhaps it’s a byproduct of your research on Great Liang chastity?”

After saying this, Chu Yuexi realized he might be betraying his original intentions and quickly added in a gentle tone, “You go chat with Xiao Tang first. We can talk in detail later.”

Yun Chuji nodded and followed Tang Ji upstairs.

The interior of the house was an extension of Chu Yuexi’s exclusive study in the Imperial Library. There were few signs of smart home technology; even the doors were opened with keys, and the AI greeting voices found everywhere else were absent, giving the space a warm and private feel.

Yun Chuji decided that if she could ever stand on her own two feet and earn enough money, she would decorate her own home this way.

Tang Ji led Yun Chuji to a semi-open terrace on the second floor. Climbing vines covered the edges, and directly opposite was a garden meticulously designed by Chu Yuexi. On a small pearwood table on the terrace lay a half-read book.

Tang Ji and Yun Chuji didn’t sit down. They stood by the terrace railing, a gentle breeze blowing, stirring the natural silence between the two alphas.

Tang Ji spoke first. “Have you decided to marry into the Tang family?”

Yun Chuji: “Huh?”

“It’s no secret in S-District that Jianshen doesn’t like alphas, but the Tang family must have an heir. In the past, Yuexi and I were unwilling to pressure Jianxi too much, so we let her delay until now.”

“However, since she’s finally come to her senses and found you, I must remind you that being with the second daughter of the Tang family is not a once-and-for-all solution. Our Tang family will not let an outsider take advantage of us.”

Hearing these profound words, Yun Chuji thought to herself that Jianxi hadn’t been entirely teasing her before.

She had thought this was just a matter of an AO couple in a modern relationship meeting the parents to show the seriousness of their bond.

Yet, the situation had now escalated to the point of discussing marriage.

Yun Chuji had no intention of leaving Tang Jianxi’s mother with such expectations. Ultimately, she and Tang Jianxi had no future together. If Tang Jianxi bore the responsibility of the entire Tang family’s legacy, then no matter how noble the reason, it shouldn’t be used as an excuse to lie and deceive.

So she pressed her lips together and said seriously, “Jianxi and I don’t plan to get married.”

Ha, showing the exhaust fumes of your shoddy hovercar right from the start. I knew you were just trying to get a piece of the Tang family fortune!

Tang Ji was inwardly pleased but didn’t let it show on her face. She furrowed her serious brow and asked in a faint voice, “Why? Are you unwilling to marry into the family?”

Yun Chuji, having nothing to gain, was completely unfazed by this powerful figure, one of the most influential in the Empire. “I’m not good enough for her.”

Tang Ji was stunned. Of course, she knew Yun Chuji wasn’t good enough for Tang Jianxi. The daughter of a mere Imperial University professor wanting to marry a Tang family omega—it wasn’t just wishful thinking, it was a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh.

That’s why I’m letting you marry in!

Do you not understand human language?

Shouldn’t you be using your S-rank alpha status to raise the price right now?!

Oh, this was probably her negotiation tactic.

Tang Ji calmed down and said nonchalantly, “Of course I know you’re not good enough for her, but when marrying in, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a match or not. As long as Jianxi likes you, that’s all that matters.”

“Or do you have some other conditions?”

Yun Chuji shook her head. “No, I don’t. But I think I’m a very ordinary person, and Jianxi will eventually grow tired of me. I don’t want to tie her down with marriage.”

“I hope that the days we spend together are because she likes me, not because we are bound by marriage. I understand that for someone as outstanding as Jianxi, I am just a passerby in her life. I know my place, so I’ve never dared to ask for too much.”

“In fact, I’m already very happy that Jianxi was willing to bring me to meet you.”

Tang Ji’s scalp tingled.

This tone… it sounded just like a pure and innocent omega who had been humiliated and trained. Many young, arrogant nobles enjoyed playing this kind of game.

They would take an omega from a poor background, keep them by their side, make demands of them at will, while simultaneously hinting that the omega was unworthy.

After successfully taming the person into their own dog, they would cast them aside and watch them go mad, suffer, and self-destruct. Some would commit suicide, while others would find someone random to live out the rest of their miserable lives with.

But, these people were alphas!

Her own daughter was an omega!

What was going on! Had Tang Jianxi been secretly turning into a pervert all these years she’d been single?!

Yun Chuji was unaware that her words had caused this overly experienced and shrewd alpha to have some unfortunate ideas about her own daughter. She believed she had told a half-truth—she truly didn’t think she was worthy of accompanying Tang Jianxi for a lifetime.

Nor did she believe she had the right to bind Tang Jianxi with marriage—not even for the most touching of reasons.

And so, the two of them stared at each other. Tang Ji sighed, still wanting to make excuses for her daughter. “Jianxi isn’t that kind of person. She wouldn’t look down on you because of your background. That child has been kind since she was little.”

Well… probably.

Yun Chuji certainly agreed. “Yes, Jianxi is the kindest person I’ve ever met.”

Then, she corrected her seriously, “She doesn’t look down on me. I’m the one who looks down on myself. I know my own worth.”

Tang Ji fell silent.

She felt she must have misunderstood her daughter.

The root of it all was the terrifying thought process and even more terrifyingly low self-esteem (compared to the sky-high self-esteem of most alphas) of the alpha standing before her.

“…That whole A-Virtue theory, those are your true feelings, aren’t they,” Tang Ji said, her tone quite complex.

Then she saw the S-rank alpha lower her head slightly, looking somewhat shy, and whisper, “Yes.”

“I just feel that’s how alphas should be.”

As someone at the apex of the Empire’s pyramid, Tang Ji had seen many actors in her life, whether they were professional actors or those who had naturally honed the craft in their daily lives. She herself was an excellent actor. So she could tell that while Yun Chuji was putting on a bit of an act, it wasn’t much.

Not enough to turn her from an alpha oddity into an alpha careerist.

Tang Ji wanted to pat her shoulder but subconsciously knew she would dodge, so she put her hand behind her back midway. She gazed at the large birch forest in the distance and said in a subtle tone, “It’s Jianxi’s good fortune to have found you.”

“You flatter me!”

“…Have a cup of tea.”

Just stop talking.

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