The Princess Is On Top (GL) - Chapter 14

After lying in bed for one more day, Xiao Le refused no matter what to stay there any longer.

In her view, it had only been a small matter of catching a cold and running a fever, and no one could persuade her otherwise. Xiao Le was now the rising favorite in the army. Wherever she went, people greeted her. Everyone knew she was someone the marshal had personally promoted, and not long ago, she had even saved the Commandery Princess. She was simply at the height of her momentum.

After training ended that day, Xiao Le originally wanted to visit Su Luoyang. But when she arrived and asked, she heard that Young General Su had come. Thinking that it would not be good to disturb the siblings as they caught up, she prepared to come again another day.

Su Cheng had originally been in a stalemate with the Wu army in the Eastern Route Army, but a military report came saying that his second sister had been attacked on the road and that her life or death was unknown. This immediately made the Su father and son remember the news of Su Huai’an’s death that had come from the capital years ago.

Su Qian was the commander-in-chief of the three armies and also the leader of the righteous army. He could not easily leave the troops.

Su Cheng was different. The Su siblings had been close since childhood. Their eldest brother had spent years in the capital as a hostage, so Su Cheng’s relationship with Su Luoyang was even closer. That very day, he selected two thousand men from the Valiant Cavalry Battalion and hurried toward Youzhou at full speed.

“Second Sister, when Father and I heard the news, we thought you might end up like Eldest Brother… Thank goodness you’re all right.” Su Cheng was sitting by Su Luoyang’s bed at this moment, chatting idly with her.

“No need to worry, Cheng’er. This time, that old traitor Yu Ke failed. After this, I fear there will be even more waiting for us. And not only for me. You and Father must be careful in everything you do.” Su Luoyang lightly patted her younger brother’s hand and reminded him gently.

“Don’t worry about that, Second Sister. Security and defenses in the army have all been strengthened. This time, I also brought three thousand men from the Valiant Cavalry Battalion with me.”

Su Cheng changed the subject. “How has Sister been getting along with Qi Han on this trip?”

Su Luoyang did not bother being deliberately mysterious and simply asked in return, “What does Cheng’er think of him?”

“The Qi family forgot righteousness the moment they saw profit. How good a son could they possibly raise? And they still dream of matching you? Truly foolish beyond measure. It must be hard on Second Sister to keep up polite pretenses with him.” In front of his own sister, Su Cheng ruthlessly belittled Qi Han until he was worth nothing at all. In his eyes, Su Luoyang was naturally a peerless and unmatched person. Although Qi Han might be the perfect husband in the eyes of many women, to Su Cheng, he was not worth mentioning.

Su Luoyang found it somewhat funny and shook her head indulgently. “Did Father ask you to bring these words?”

“Not exactly. Father only said that it would be best if you and Qi Han could see eye to eye. Right now, we do need the Qi family’s strong support. If you do not like him, then it does not matter either. He only wants Sister to deal with him for now and put the larger situation first. But I think Father was asking unnecessarily. Does he really think Sister would take a fancy to goods like Qi Han?” Su Cheng said disdainfully.

“Enough, Cheng’er.” Su Luoyang grew serious and gave him a warning look. One had to guard against ears behind walls. Su Cheng also knew he had said too much just now, so he stopped speaking further.

Outside, faint voices suddenly drifted in and out. Su Cheng frowned, somewhat displeased. His sister was recovering from illness, and this was precisely when she needed a quiet environment.

“Ah Zheng, who is making noise outside the tent?” Su Luoyang asked toward the outside. Before long, Ah Zheng lifted the tent flap and came in to report. “Commandery Princess, General Xiao has come to visit. But after hearing that Third Young Master is here, he felt it would be inconvenient to disturb you and is already preparing to leave.”

“General Xiao? Is that Xiao Le, the one who saved Second Sister? I’ve heard of him too. It’s said that in the great victory at Youzhou, his contribution was indispensable.” Su Cheng clearly seemed very interested in this Xiao Le.

“It is indeed him.” The moment Su Luoyang heard that Xiao Le had come to visit, her mood instantly improved a little. She instructed Ah Zheng, “Since it is General Xiao, there is no need to be distant. Invite him in.”

Xiao Le was just about to leave when Su Luoyang’s question came from inside the tent. Then Ah Zheng came out and invited her in.

“Greetings, Commandery Princess. Greetings, Young General.”

“General Xiao, why be so polite? I have not even thanked you for saving my second sister’s life.” Su Cheng hurriedly stood and stopped Xiao Le from saluting.

“Cheng’er is right. Xiao Le, you do not need to be so restrained. Sit.” Since the Su siblings both said this, Xiao Le no longer insisted on empty formalities and sat down according to their wishes.

“Commandery Princess, how does your body feel? Is the arrow wound on your shoulder any better?”

“Many thanks for the general’s concern. The military physician said that as long as I rest properly, I should recover soon.”

“Has your… illness improved?” Su Luoyang had originally wanted to ask whether her wound had improved, but when the words reached her lips, she felt it was inappropriate. Xiao Le understood what she meant. This feeling, where no one else knew and only the two of them could understand, made her feel strangely wonderful.

“It’s already fine. It was all thanks to the medicine the Commandery Princess sent.” The wound medicine.

“Cough… cough…” Su Cheng deliberately coughed twice, interrupting the back-and-forth between the two. Since just now, he had been left to the side like air, and this feeling was truly not very pleasant.

Having grown up together since childhood, he had never seen Su Luoyang treat anyone so specially before, let alone a man. Still, speaking of which, his first impression of Xiao Le was quite good. Although Xiao Le looked fair and clean, like a frail scholar, someone who could command troops and go onto the battlefield to kill enemies definitely would not be as simple as he appeared on the surface.

On top of that, the young man before him had just pulled Su Luoyang back from the gates of hell.

Compared with that useless thing Qi Han, he was much stronger.

Su Cheng’s gaze kept circling around Xiao Le, making Xiao Le extremely uncomfortable. This young general did not have some kind of strange preference, did he? Although she did not particularly mind, she was a fake man…

“Since the Commandery Princess’s body is all right, then I can rest easy. I still have important duties, so I will not disturb you any longer.”

Since she had said she had important duties, the Su siblings could not say much more.

“Second Sister, what do you think of Xiao Le? Is he truly as the rumors say, or is his reputation undeserved?” As soon as Xiao Le left, Su Cheng began asking Su Luoyang in a roundabout way. He wanted to see his sister’s attitude.

“Even more than the rumors say. If this person is cultivated further, she will certainly shine brilliantly in the future.”

“Isn’t that assessment rather high?”

“Cheng’er, there are many things you do not know. Xiao Le is someone I brought in. At the time, I did not expect her to grow so quickly either. Just wait and see.”

Since Su Luoyang was unharmed, Su Cheng stayed here for one day before rushing back on horseback to the military camp on the other side.

Previously, because Su Cheng was there, Qi Han knew he was not very welcome by Su Cheng and did not go to Su Luoyang’s place to invite dislike. Once Su Cheng left, however, he began trying to see Su Luoyang every day under all kinds of excuses. Unfortunately, King Xiang had a dream, but the goddess had no heart. Using the excuse that she had not yet recovered and was physically unwell, Su Luoyang kept him outside the door.

“This Qi Han really has the face to come see the Commandery Princess again,” Liu Yu muttered under his breath.

When Xiao Le and the others returned to the tent, they saw Qi Han standing before Su Luoyang’s tent from afar, seemingly waiting to be announced.

“In the ambush before, he, a grown man, came back completely unharmed, while the Commandery Princess nearly lost her life. I really don’t know how he has the nerve to keep clinging around here…”

Although Xiao Kai and Du Fei did not speak, this time, they both very much agreed with Liu Yu’s view. For a soldier, there was truly no greater humiliation than this. The Commandery Princess was both a woman and their lord. No matter which identity it was…

On ordinary days, Xiao Le would usually stop Liu Yu when he spouted nonsense, but this time, she did not. There was no other reason. Liu Yu had practically spoken the words in her heart. She truly hated Qi Han’s existence now. It would be good if this person were not around.

Perhaps heaven heard Xiao Le’s thoughts, or perhaps it was something else, but in any case, half a month later, Qi Han was truly summoned back to the main camp. Su Luoyang, however, remained because her body had not yet recovered and she was not suited for long-distance travel. She only moved from the military camp into a residence inside Youzhou City.

The Western Route Army stopped advancing. This year’s battle results had been quite abundant. Farther ahead were city after city, and siege warfare could not be rushed in a short time. Moreover, the New Year would arrive in a little over a month. After years of constant warfare, everyone’s nerves had been stretched tight every day. He Yan decided to let everyone properly rest and reorganize.

Ever since the Su family army entered and stationed itself in Youzhou, the city had become especially lively. The common people had absolutely no awareness that they were living in a time of war. Instead, their days were particularly comfortable, and the flow of merchants coming and going had actually increased quite a bit compared with before.

Every seven days, Xiao Le had one rest day, and she would go to the residence where Su Luoyang was recovering to visit her. Quite a few rumors had already begun circulating in the army, saying that the Commandery Princess had taken a fancy to General Xiao. Xiao Le paid no attention to these rumors. As long as Su Luoyang did not open her mouth and drive her away, she continued as she always had.

That day, after Xiao Le accompanied the Commandery Princess through dinner, she prepared to return to camp. Su Luoyang called out to stop her.

“Would General Xiao mind accompanying me outside for a walk?”

At night, Youzhou’s night market was extremely lively. People came and went along the streets, and the peddlers on both sides kept calling out to sell their wares. Steam rose from the small roadside stalls, which were full of seated customers, presenting a scene of prosperity and flourishing life.

Xiao Le walked beside Su Luoyang and found everything novel. This was her first true experience of shopping. On ordinary days, she stayed cooped up in the military camp. Even on rest days, she had never properly come out to look around. Back when she was in Han County, she had mostly only moved around the tavern.

“Ha, they actually have this here!”

Xiao Le stopped in front of a stall. Looking at the wontons that passersby were eating at the tables, she said in delighted surprise.

“Comm— We should try it too!” Remembering that they were now on the street, she swallowed the words “Commandery Princess” back down. She took Su Luoyang’s wrist and, without giving any explanation, sat down at the stall.

This was the first time Su Luoyang had seen such obvious emotion on Xiao Le’s face. She had not expected it to be over a bowl of wontons, and Xiao Le had even pulled her along to eat them together. Su Luoyang had never eaten at this kind of common street stall before. She glanced at the hand holding her wrist and teased,

“Are you still not letting go?”

“Uh…” Only then did Xiao Le realize that she was actually holding Su Luoyang’s wrist, and her cheeks grew a little hot.

“Boss, two bowls of wonton noodles,” Su Luoyang said, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the owner to hear.

“Yuntun? You call this yuntun?” Xiao Le’s attention instantly returned to the wontons. This was her favorite food. But ever since she came to ancient times, she had never seen this dish before. She had thought this place did not have it, and had not expected to see it here today.

“What, have you never eaten it before? Then why are you so excited…”

“Mm… no. In my hometown, we don’t call this yuntun, so I just find the name very novel. I thought this place didn’t have it.” Xiao Le explained patiently.

“No wonder you’re so happy. Could it be that besides yuntun, this food has another name? That really is interesting.” This was the first time Su Luoyang had heard Xiao Le mention her hometown, so she could not help feeling somewhat curious.