The Princess Is On Top (GL) - Chapter 4

The servant whose words had been interrupted was just about to flare up, but once he saw clearly who had come, he immediately changed into a fawning expression. “So it is Your Highness, the heir. This servant deserves death for disturbing Your Highness’s peace… I beg Your Highness to forgive me.”

“Hmph!” Yu Shiwen gave a cold snort.

“Fourth Prince, your complexion looks so poor. Why have you still come out to drink flower wine? Do you need to return to the palace and have an imperial physician take a look?” Su Huai’an asked with a concerned expression.

“Su! Huai! An!” How could Yu Shiwen fail to hear the mockery in his words? With wine rushing to his head, he was even more furious. He raised his hand and pointed at the tip of Su Huai’an’s nose, saying through gritted teeth,

“You had better not oppose me today!”

“Oh? And what if I insist?” Su Huai’an’s face was full of arrogance. He had no intention of giving him face at all.

“Outrageous!” Yu Shiwen grabbed the wine pot from the neighboring table and smashed it toward Su Huai’an’s head.

“Your Highnesses… heavens, please stop fighting…” The madam was so anxious she spun in circles.

Amid the chaos, a crying shout rang out. “Ah—! Blood!! Su Shizi…”

Su Huai’an gripped the dagger buried in his chest and stared at Yu Shiwen in disbelief. He actually dared to hide a dagger on him and try to take Su Huai’an’s life…

Yu Shiwen’s face was also full of panic. The blood before his eyes had long since washed away seventy percent of his drunkenness…

…

“You rebellious son, you bastard! You absolute bastard!”

Yu Ke kicked over the servant kneeling and reporting the matter, then cursed furiously.

Yu Zhuo’s expression was also terrible to the extreme. Although this imperial nephew of his usually seemed reckless, he truly had not expected him to do something so bold and outrageous. With the Prince of Luoyang’s heir dead, the entire court was likely to be thrown into turmoil.

“Imperial Brother, I fear this matter will reach the Prince of Luoyang before long. The urgent matter now is to make preparations early.”

“You teach Zhen how to prepare?!” Yu Ke’s tone was chilling. “Su Qian is currently guarding the northern border. Zhen needs the Su family army’s reputation to deter the Northern Hu. Now his eldest son has been killed by Zhen’s son. How is Zhen supposed to give him an explanation? Is Zhen supposed to send him the head of his own biological son?”

Yet these words gave Yu Zhuo a measure of understanding.

In the end, he was still his own son, so he would always be partial to him. Although Yu Shiwen had caused a disaster that reached the heavens, he was still Imperial Brother’s most beloved son.

“Imperial Brother, I have a plan…”

Yu Ke looked at his full-blooded younger brother and said nothing.

“Men, take all the attendants by the fourth prince’s side and behead them. As for anyone who knows the truth, kill them without exception. From this day onward, without Zhen’s command, no one is allowed to enter or leave the Fourth Prince’s residence.”

Three days later, the imperial court posted a public proclamation. It stated that the fourth prince, Yu Shiwen, and the Prince of Luoyang’s heir had been exchanging martial arts pointers, and the heir had unfortunately been accidentally killed. Yu Shiwen would now be stripped of his status as an imperial prince and confined to the Fourth Prince’s residence, there to await the Prince of Luoyang’s arrival in the capital to decide his punishment. In addition, Su Huai’an was posthumously granted the title Prince Huai’an and would be buried with full honors.

At the same time the proclamation was posted, two groups of riders galloped out of Pingjing at full speed, heading respectively for the borderlands and Luoyang.

The news of the Prince of Luoyang’s heir’s death seemed to grow wings. By the next day, it had already reached Luoyang City. The Su family enjoyed deep popular support in Luoyang, and for a time, the people spontaneously hung white lanterns before their doors to express their mourning.

The Prince of Luoyang’s residence was even more a stretch of plain white. Although the manor soldiers wore military uniforms, white silk bands were tied around their left arms.

In the study of the prince’s residence, a woman dressed entirely in mourning white was writing something with a brush. From outside the door, a man in full military attire entered.

The guards at the study door did not stop him. The man walked to the desk, cupped his fist, and saluted. “Commandery Princess.”

So this woman was the Prince of Luoyang’s second daughter, Su Luoyang. She wore mourning white for her deceased eldest brother.

Su Luoyang did not raise her head, as if she had not heard the man call her. The brush in her hand showed no intention of stopping either.

The man seemed long used to this. Straightening, he continued, “Emperor Wu has already posted the proclamation, and he actually claims the shizi and Yu Shiwen were sparring and that it was an accidental injury! As for Yu Shiwen, he has only been placed under house arrest. There is no real punishment at all. It is simply outrageous!” By this point, the man’s face was full of indignation, his fist clenched tightly. Only after a while did he continue,

“The intelligence report also says that two groups of men and horses left Pingjing. I think the imperial edict from the capital will arrive in a few days.”

Only then did Su Luoyang finally finish the last stroke. She moved aside the paperweight, pinched the paper between her slender fingers, and lightly blew on the still-wet ink. Her thin lips parted slightly, and a cold, clear female voice came out.

“What is written in the imperial edict? Have you found out?”

The man’s eyes followed Su Luoyang’s movements as he answered, “This subordinate is incompetent. Our informants in the palace were unable to find out.”

“Oh? But I happen to know what is written in the imperial edict… Do you want to know?”

A look of astonishment appeared on the man’s face. He cupped his hands and said, “I ask the Commandery Princess to make it clear.”

Su Luoyang glanced at him and spoke each word distinctly.

“Moved by the Su clan’s unwavering loyalty, and now that such a great tragedy has befallen them, Zhen is deeply grieved. Su Huai’an, heir to the Prince of Luoyang, is posthumously granted the title Prince Huai’an. Furthermore, hearing that the Su clan has a daughter of both virtue and talent, an imperial edict specially summons her into the palace to become the crown prince’s consort, thereby fulfilling the sworn brotherhood of our forebears. An auspicious date shall be chosen for the wedding.”

“Fuck his ancestors!” The man’s face flushed scarlet. His right hand tightened around the sword at his waist, and he could not help cursing. “That old bastard Yu Ke—does he really think our Su family army is some soft persimmon he can squeeze?”

“Eldest Brother and Father always thought that as long as they honestly served Emperor Wu with their lives, Yu Ke would spare our Su family. So even when Father was exiled to the borderlands, he never complained by even half a word.”

Su Luoyang paused. Although she still wore that same calm expression from before, her eyes had already reddened.

“Back when Emperor Wu ascended the throne, Father took the initiative to send Eldest Brother to the capital to study. In truth, he was sent as a hostage. Even so, Emperor Wu never stopped guarding against the Su family… I wonder what Father will think today.”

“The prince has been so cautious and hesitant because of the greater picture. But now, we can no longer swallow humiliation and compromise! The shizi cannot have died in vain, and Commandery Princess, you… cannot be sent into the tiger’s den either!…” The man’s tone sank.

“The prince and Third Young Master are both far away at the border. Commandery Princess, make the decision for them…”

Su Luoyang tightened her grip on the paper in her hand and struck it hard against the man’s chest, staring fixedly at him.

“Emperor Wu’s move is thinking far too beautifully. Has he decided that my Su clan would not dare rebel…?”

“Ah Zhe, go invite the two uncles who remained in Luoyang to ‘recuperate’ over to see me.”

Back when Su Qian was exiled to the borderlands, he had still kept one cautious thought in mind, fearing that Yu Ke would discard him after making use of him. Not long after going there, he sent two trusted generals back under the pretext of recovering from injuries.

“Yes!” Ah Zhe froze for a moment after being struck, but immediately answered. He turned and prepared to invite the men. Only after leaving the room did he realize he was still holding the paper the Commandery Princess had spent half the day writing. Unfolding it, he saw it was a poem. The brushwork was strong and powerful, bearing quite the spirit of a heroine:

Hammered and chiseled a thousand times from the deep mountains,

Burned by raging fire as if it were nothing.

Shattered bones and broken body, wholly unafraid,

To leave innocence and integrity in the world.

Ah Zhe tightened his fists, then strode outside.

Others may hold the knife and chopping block, but I cannot allow myself to be their fish and meat.

By the time the imperial envoy rushed to the northern border, four days had already passed since the incident. When the soldiers saw that the imperial envoy had arrived, though they were angry in their hearts, they did not dare neglect him and hurried to the commander’s tent to report. Wang Li carried the imperial edict inside his robe and waited outside, feeling somewhat guilty and uneasy. As an imperial envoy, he naturally represented the emperor. Although the Prince of Luoyang was not favored, he was still a regional vassal prince, and he held heavy military power besides… What would Wang Li do if the prince vented his anger on him?

As Wang Li was thinking this, Su Qian and the others had already come out to receive him.

“This lord… how should we address you?” The speaker was a young general standing behind Su Qian. He had sword-like brows and bright eyes, looking heroic and extraordinary. It was none other than the Su family’s third son, Su Cheng.

Wang Li hurriedly saluted. “I would not dare. This lower official is Wang Li. Greetings to Marshal Su.” Since they were in the army, he naturally addressed him by his military rank.

Su Qian did not respond. His complexion did not look very good. Su Cheng took over at the right moment. “Lord Wang must be weary from traveling by boat and carriage. The marshal has already prepared wine and dishes. Lord Wang, please?”

Wang Li secretly glanced at Su Qian’s expression, then cast Su Cheng a grateful look.

Su Cheng did not mind. In his view, Wang Li was only a minor official. Making things difficult for him would serve no purpose. Emperor Wu would not suffer any loss from it; instead, it would give others a handle against them.

“Many thanks for the young general’s kind intentions, but this lower official carries an imperial command. It would be better to first read the imperial edict.” Wang Li’s heart cried bitterly again and again, but he had no choice but to brace himself and speak.

“There’s no rush. The imperial edict won’t run away. I think Lord Wang should have lunch first. What do all the generals think?”

Su Qian finally spoke. Although his words sounded like a question, they carried a trace of certainty.

“What the marshal says is right!”

“Lord Wang should fill his stomach first, then discuss matters.”

The various generals all echoed him one after another. Wang Li felt his scalp go a little numb. What they meant was perfectly clear: I do not want to hear it right now. If you insist on reading it, then do not blame me for being discourteous.

“Then… this lower official can only respectfully obey…”

“Father, are you still not going to make a decision?”

Su Cheng lifted the tent flap and entered, his face full of disapproval. Halfway through the banquet, Su Qian had excused himself with the claim that military affairs were keeping him busy and left first. After that, Su Cheng had also found an excuse and followed him out. Everyone present was sharp and experienced; how could they fail to see the trick in this? Unfortunately, all of them were trusted aides of the Su family. Although the main person had left, they still had to help hold back this imperial envoy, did they not?

Wang Li also had grievances he could not voice.

“What is so difficult about this? I think Father truly grows more muddled with age!”

“Cheng’er, do you know that once the bow is drawn, there is no turning back?”

“Father, is one blood debt still not enough for you to see the situation before your eyes? Or…”

“Must Second Sister be sacrificed as well?”

Su Cheng took a scroll of bright imperial yellow from inside his robe and unfurled it. If this was not the imperial edict, then what else could it be?

“Cheng’er! How did you…” Su Qian was somewhat shocked by the item in his son’s hand.

“I have already had Wang Li tied up. Since Father cannot make up his mind, let Second Sister and me help you make the decision.”

A trace of ruthlessness flashed through Su Cheng’s eyes…

On the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the tenth year of Zhiwu, an imperial envoy arrived in Luoyang to read the imperial edict. Su Qian’s daughter, Su Luoyang, split the imperial edict with her sword. With the three thousand manor soldiers left in Luoyang, she swiftly occupied Luoyang. The Prince of Luoyang held the hearts of the people, so they did not encounter much resistance.

On the seventeenth day of the same month, the Prince of Luoyang guarding the border responded to his daughter’s action and executed the imperial envoy. Leading the forty thousand Su family troops, the Prince of Luoyang swiftly seized the surrounding territories of Anyi, Fenyang, Yong’an, Yang County, and Jizhou.

The five-year-long war against Wu officially drew back its curtain.

With the Prince of Luoyang taking the lead, heroes across the realm took advantage of the chaos and rose in rebellion one after another. When Emperor Wu heard the news, he flew into a rage and wished to personally lead a campaign to suppress the rebels. Only after the assembled ministers advised him against it did he finally give up the idea. He ordered Prince Ying to campaign in the emperor’s place, leading one hundred thousand troops north to eliminate the Su rebels.