The Princess Is On Top (GL) - Chapter 17

Du Fei truly wanted to go home and see his parents as well, but he had a mission on him, and he could not be willful.

The more people knew about this matter, the greater the danger of exposure.

That night, the three of them waited on the road Liu Feng had to take to return to the Liu residence. During the day, they had already found out that Liu Feng had been going to Wanhua Tower every night lately to drink flower wine. What they needed to do now was wait quietly.

About half an hour later, a figure turned into the alley from the far end. From a distance, he was swaying unsteadily and looked like a drunkard.

Although Liu Feng went to Wanhua Tower every day, he usually only went there to sit for a while and look at his little lady, Lianhua. But today, he had drunk quite a lot. As it turned out, not long after Liu Feng sat down at Wanhua Tower today, Zhang Qiao came over to provoke him. Not only that, Zhang Qiao had even forcibly called Lianhua over to accompany him, all for the purpose of humiliating Liu Feng. Liu Feng picked up the wine pot and was about to smash it over Zhang Qiao’s head. He wanted to smash that bastard to death.

Zhang Qiao, however, did not care. He only laughed arrogantly. “You’d better think clearly about the consequences. If you don’t want that old father of yours, whose half foot is already in the coffin, to be angered to death, then go ahead and smash it! Hahahaha…”

“What’s the use of living… hehe… I really envy Big Brother. He left early, so he doesn’t have to live in such humiliation every day… If Big Brother were still here, that would be good… He would definitely help me beat that bastard to death, right? And Du Fei too… Liu Feng, ah, Liu Feng, the Liu family business is about to be ruined in your hands… What other people said was right. You’re useless! Hahaha, you’re a wastrel…”

Liu Feng hugged a wine jar in his arms, swaying as he muttered to himself. One moment he cried, the next he laughed. Suddenly, his stomach churned, and he leaned against the wall and began vomiting.

Liu Yu walked out from the shadows. Looking at the younger brother who had once been wild and confident, now reduced to this neither-human-nor-ghost state, his heart ached terribly.

“You… who are you? Move, you’re blocking my way.” After Liu Feng finished vomiting, he found a pair of boots before him. He did not even raise his head to look and only pushed at the person impatiently. After pushing for a while and realizing he could not move this person, he finally swayed and lifted his head. By the faint moonlight, he made out the person’s face in a blur… This was clearly his elder brother, Liu Yu. Could it be that Big Brother was not doing well down below and had come up to send him a message?

“Big Brother, are you short on money down there…”

“Hahahaha…” Liu Feng’s half-dazed words made Xiao Le and Du Fei, who were hiding in the dark, unable to hold back their laughter. Liu Yu was so angry he kicked his younger brother to the ground.

“You’re short on brains! Clear your head for me!”

In the study of the Liu residence, Liu Feng circled the three people in front of him again and again. After walking all the way back just now, he had sobered up halfway. Even now, he still could not believe that the three people standing before him were the three people who had supposedly died years ago.

“Brother, you really aren’t a ghost? If you’re short on money, I can burn some for you…” Liu Feng was about to continue when he noticed Liu Yu raising his left foot again, ready to kick him. “Fine! Enough. I understand. I’ll speak properly.”

Liu Feng walked around to sit behind the desk and took a sip of tea. “Sit. Du Fei, you explain first. What exactly happened with the three of you?”

Du Fei organized his thoughts and slowly explained the matter.

“Heavens, you’re all… this capable now?” Liu Feng listened until his eyes widened and his tongue was tied. “Then you came back this time because there’s something you need, right?”

“Brother Feng, how has the family business been lately? Do we still have dealings with Heyuan?”

“Wait, let me look.” Liu Feng dug out a booklet from the pile of books on the desk and looked through it carefully. “This year, our business has been suppressed badly, and our trade routes have shrunk a lot. Heyuan is too far away, so we weren’t planning to maintain the relationship there anymore… What, are you going to Heyuan?”

“If we have a team of four hundred people who need to disguise themselves as a merchant caravan transporting medicinal herbs to Heyuan, can you arrange it?” Xiao Le asked seriously.

“Four hundred people? What are you planning to do? A four-hundred-person caravan is already not small!”

Liu Feng could not help glancing at his elder brother. Seeing that Liu Yu did not react, although he did not know what mysterious thing they were trying to do, he knew his brother definitely would not trick him. After pondering for a long while, he said, “I can try to arrange it. Although it will take some time and effort, the selling price in Heyuan is still quite good. But for a four-hundred-person team escorting medicinal herbs, I’ll need a little time to gather the goods. You seem to be in a hurry. Would tomorrow evening work?”

“Phew.” Xiao Le let out a long breath. After receiving this promise, the heavy stone in her heart finally fell. “No problem. Then we’ll have to trouble you.”

“We’re all brothers. Why be polite? It’s so late—where are you staying? I’ll arrange guest rooms for you.”

“No need. We’re staying at an inn. If we stay at your house, it may cause unnecessary complications.” Xiao Le and Du Fei declined Liu Feng’s kindness, but they saw Liu Yu dawdling, looking as if he wanted to say something but could not. “Xiao Le… can I…”

Xiao Le immediately understood what he wanted. His old father was bedridden, and the family had fallen into such a state. Between brothers who had not seen each other for so long, there must be many things to say. But it was difficult for him to ask for anything, especially since Du Fei and the others were passing by their own homes without entering.

“We understand. Go see your father. The old man hasn’t had it easy. But be extremely careful not to let anything slip. We’ll wait for you at the inn.”

“Yes!” Liu Yu answered excitedly. Xiao Le smiled, then led Du Fei out of the Liu residence through the back door.

Near dusk the next day, carts loaded with medicinal herbs had already filled the eastern gate of Han County. Everyone had disguised themselves as members of a merchant caravan and was ready to depart.

“Be extra careful on the road.” Liu Feng handed the newly signed travel documents to Liu Yu. He had searched through every connection he had to get these documents approved in such a short time. Liu Yu put the documents away and did not say anything more. Last night, the two brothers had talked all night. Everything that needed to be said had already been said.

Late at night, inside the Prince of Luoyang’s residence, Su Luoyang pinched the space between her brows with one hand. With the other, she reviewed and approved various matters sent from territories where the righteous army’s banner had already been planted. These had always been matters she helped Su Qian share. The lamplight flickered. Ah Zheng saw that the oil in the lamp seemed to be almost gone, so she hurriedly and quietly added a little more. Then she went to the rear kitchen to prepare a bowl of bird’s nest porridge, intending to bring it to the Commandery Princess.

Su Luoyang had been sitting there ever since dinner, reading without pause for six hours. The servants knew the Commandery Princess’s temperament and did not dare disturb her. Even when walking, they were careful and light-footed. When Ah Zheng entered, Su Luoyang did not even lift her eyelids. Ah Zheng gently placed the freshly cooked bird’s nest porridge from the tray onto the table and reminded her, “Commandery Princess, this is the blood swallow’s nest Third Young Master had someone send yesterday. It is almost midnight now. Drink it while it’s hot, then you should rest.”

Su Luoyang gave a soft hum as acknowledgement, but still did not stop the movement of her hand.

Ah Zheng knew it would be like this. Lately, nine times out of ten, the Commandery Princess reacted this way. But she still had a trump card… She placed the tray holding the bowl to the side, took a properly sealed envelope from her robe, and said unhurriedly,

“Commandery Princess, this evening, a messenger came from Marshal He and delivered a letter.”

Su Luoyang still did not raise her head. She only asked, “From whom?”

“General Xiao.”

This time, Su Luoyang finally showed some reaction. She turned her head and looked at Ah Zheng, her expression slightly surprised. She and Xiao Le did not exchange letters often. Looking only at this point, the two truly did not seem to have any developing tendency. Su Luoyang thought briefly, then put down the brush in her hand.

“Leave the letter there. I’ll drink the bird’s nest porridge and then go to sleep. You should go rest too.”

She knew what Ah Zheng meant. It was nothing more than feeling sorry that she had been overworking herself too much. After Su Luoyang said this, Ah Zheng was finally reassured. She placed the envelope on the table and quietly withdrew.

Su Luoyang brought the bird’s nest porridge over and drank two mouthfuls. Then she glanced at the four large words written on the envelope on the table: For the Commandery Princess’s personal reading.

She put down the spoon, picked up the envelope, and opened it. Inside was only a thin sheet of paper, appearing rather shabby.

She raised a brow and unfolded the letter.

Luoyang,

The marshal has ordered me to go to Heyuan to handle a very important matter.

This trip will take at least one or two months. I was afraid you might send someone with a letter, only for me not to be in camp and unable to reply in time, which would make you angry.

So I am especially informing you. Do not worry about me.

Once this matter is settled, the great cause of overthrowing Wu will have taken another step forward.

I look forward to the day we meet again.

Also… I miss you very much.

There were only a few short lines, but from the final sentence, Su Luoyang could see how awkward this person had been while writing the letter. The corners of her mouth lifted unconsciously.

She folded the letter and put it away, then continued drinking the bird’s nest porridge.

Mm. The quality of the blood swallow’s nest Cheng’er sent was indeed quite good. Compared with what she usually had, it seemed especially delicious…