Princess, Spare My Life - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Princess is an Expert

(TLN: So about gender pronouns. Since Yuan Shang/Su Qi is crossdressing, people who know that they were women will refer to them as “she/her” while those who don’t know their gender will say “he/him.” This applies to both monologues in the perspective of certain characters, thoughts, and dialogues.)

In this world, traditional Chinese characters were used. While Yuan Shang was proficient in six different languages, she was also skilled in using traditional Chinese characters. From Su Yin’s mouth and the book collection within the prince consort’s residence, Yuan Shang gradually learned about her current situation.

This world was not currently in an era during the ancient China of her world, but a completely different time period and dimension. She should be in the period after the “Uprising of the Five Barbarians.” But for some reason, the butterfly effect occurred and the annals of history made a different turn, which completely strayed from the original timeline.

(TLN: For those who don’t know history, the “Uprising of the Five Barbarians” refers to “a series of rebellions between 304 – 316 A.D. by four non-Chinese people living in North China against the Jin Dynasty.”)

The Dayan Dynasty was now the orthodox of the Central Plains. Its status was identical to that of the Tang Dynasty.

(TLN: The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907.) 

The Dayan Dynasty was now on its second emperor. Emperor Mingda, Gu Jiankun, was in power.

Yuan Shang currently inhabited the body of Su Qi, the granddaughter of the state of Zhao duke’s Su Feng. Duke Zhao had a total of one son and three daughters. Originally, Su Ce’s main wife had twins of mixed-sex, which were Su Qi and her elder brother. However, just after the good news was dispersed, the eldest son died. To prevent Su Feng from being aggrieved, Su Ce raised Su Qi as a boy and declared that he only had one son.

Only a few members of the Su family knew Su Qi’s real identity, but even the current mistress of the Su family did not know. The only people who knew were the Su family’s old mistress, Su Ce’s Chief Advisor Gongsun Ji, and Su Qi’s personal bodyguard, Su Yin. Gongsun Ji was Su Yin’s master. Su Yin was taking care of and protecting Su Qi on Gongsun Ji’s orders while simultaneously trying to hide Su Qi’s true identity. If this matter was disclosed, the imperial court would believe that the Su family was mocking them!

Princess Minghui was the daughter of the emperor’s first wife and younger sister of the crown prince. The empress had passed away, leaving behind Crown Prince Gu Chengye, the Fifth Prince Gu Min, Eleventh Prince Gu Rui, and Princess Minghui, Gu Yuemin. Eleven Prince Gu Rui and Princess Minghui were twins. When Gu Yuemin was engaged to Su Qi, it was completely a political marriage. The Duke of Zhao went to Jiangshan as a loyal minister of today’s emperor. When the current emperor fought for the throne, he also unwaveringly supported him. After the initial state affairs were fixed, the Duke of Zhao conducted himself in a low-profile manner and never acted arrogantly because of his achievements. In the present day, he remained impartial towards the princes in line of succession. Since he always blindly followed the emperor’s will, he gained the emperor’s trust.

The emperor married the country’s most beloved princess to the Duke of Zhao’s only grandson, consoling the old minister and proclaiming imperial benevolence. A few years ago, the people of the imperial family had already assumed that this would happen.

However, Su Qi was a genuine woman who grew up while hidden in a manor outside the house. The rumors regarding the so-called Tianyun Temple were pure nonsense! Su Qi and Gu Yuemin had never met before they got married! Su Qi was weak, yet the emperor unusually supported the marriage and made her the prince consort. The wedding between the two was more symbolic than real.

Two days ago, when Yuan Shang crossed over to this world, the princess came to see the prince consort with her own eyes.

Su Qi’s task was to continue to act “frail and sick” while in possession of this body. Then, she had continued to act as weak as a child.

There were a lot of princesses of the Dayan Dynasty, along with many prince consorts. There were countless years when princesses and prince consorts would not meet. Now that the atmosphere is open, there are more anecdotes behind the royal family. At least half of the princesses have a group of noodles in their backs. Anyway, the Princess House and the Hummer House are not living together, and it was difficult to meet on weekdays. Therefore, as long as Gu Yuemin and Su Qi didn’t want to go to the emperor, it doesn’t matter.

But the key was to not allow the princess to find that she stole this body! Princess Minghui was notoriously pampered. Although she was adorable and intelligent, like teasing people, and was inherently kindhearted, this only applied to the emperor and a limited number of princes. But towards other people…when she was offended, the princess was willing to order corporal punishment of ten strikes using a stick. Even beheading a head or two was not an exaggeration.

If the princess discovered the truth, even without having the emperor coming out in person, the princess’s few brothers could pummel Yuan Shang into a meat paste! When that time came, not only will Yuan Shang, who had just traversed into this world, perish but the entire Su family would also face retribution.

Yuan Shang looked in the mirror but only saw a reflection of a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy. Fair and clear skin, a handsome appearance, and a refined demeanor with a hint of a paleness as if she were ill. However, she did not seem deathly ill nor abnormal and her body was slender. She appeared somewhat thin and weak. While in men’s clothing, it was inevitable that she appeared like a sissy and women’s clothing was more suited for her.

Yuan Shang was a professional hitman; makeup and disguise were child’s play to her. Using an eyebrow pencil and so on, she could hide some features of her face to improve her disguise. The original feminine appearance was completely concealed. Even when Su Yin took a closer look at her, he could not tell that she was a woman from just her appearance and merely said that she became more excellent.

After a few days, an unexpected person visited the prince consort’s residence.

On this day, Yuan Shang was holding a scroll “Baigong.” Just after turning a few pages, she heard Su Yin suddenly saying, “Who is there?”

Following the source of the commotion, Yuan Shang saw a girl slowly arriving with a group of followers.

It was Princess Minghui, Gu Yuemin.

This was the first time that Yuan Shang had ever seen the princess’s appearance, but she was certain that this person was Gu Yuemin.

The gentle tone that echoed within her ears on that day still lingered, and the fragrant aroma from her fingertips remained. Yuan Shang felt that it was as if the bright and moving girl moving towards her was the only one in this world. She could tell she sounded like the spring water. Her voice had a noble and charming tone as she exuded an intoxicating strong hypnotic fragrance…

She slowly treaded closer step-by-step, giving Yuan Sheng the delusion that she was an immortal fairy that descended from the nine heavens. Her eyebrows and eyes revealed a natural cheerful expression. Only the corners of her mouth evoked a sly expression as her gorgeous body was covered by a cotton dress.

She was only sixteen or seventeen-years-old. Yuan Shang did not know how alluring the princess would become in the future.

Yuan Shang had once assassinated an influential member of the U.S.A, a European royal princess, and women from various luxury banquets, fashion shows, Miss World elections, etc. for her missions. Therefore, she had encountered quite a variety of women see more, but none had ever given her the same impression that Gu Yuemin did. Perhaps this was the temperament that was unique to the royal women from the eastern feudal society.

“It seems that the prince consort is doing fine! It seems that Eldest Brother’s ginseng has proven its effectiveness. I have sent some white fungus and young deer antlers to help the prince consort’s body recover.” The princess smiled and nodded. Although Yuan Shang could her smiling expression, her smile seemed artificial yet could still conquer all beings.

Yuan Shang carefully made some observations for the past few days while obtaining a detailed explanation from Su Yin. Now, she understood the customs and practices of this world. At this moment, she promptly stood up and cupped her hands to express her gratitude while saying, “Many thanks to the crown prince and the princess’s kindness!”

Princess Minghui smiled and said, “This prince consort is too polite! Husbands and wives should share the same troubles. When the prince consort was sick, this princess worried about it throughout the past few days. Today, seeing that the prince consort is healthy, this princess became relieved!” As she said that, she reached out to touch her forehead.

Beside them, Su Yin coldly snorted.

Yuan Shang naturally acted respectful and reverent towards her. Moving a step back, she bowed and replied, “Thank you very much for your concern, Princess!”

Princess Minghui did not mind and retracted her outstretched arm. She asked with a smile, “How usable are the servant girls that this princess sent to you?”

Yuan Shang was indifferent yet her expression on the outside was gentle and refined. She replied, “Many thanks to the princess! These servant girls work without causing any trouble as they come to clean the study every day.”

Behind Princess Minghui, Zhu Yu’s expression became rigid. But on the contrary to one would expect, the smile on Princess Minghui’s face had not faltered. “I heard that the prince consort has been interested in books recently. Let them know which books that the prince consort likes, and I will send a few to you!”

In Yuan Shang’s mind, she knew that people were being sent to monitor her. Furthermore, she could only see through a part of the princess’s strength; this princess was not so simple!

As before, she continued to be courteous. In an even tone, she replied, “Many thanks to the princess!”

Princess Minghui smiled and said, “This prince consort is being overly polite! There is no need to regard me as an outsider.”

After stating several lines of concern, Princess Minghui expressed her intention of heading home. “This prince consort should have a nice and proper rest. Tomorrow, this princess will come and see you again!”

Su Yin coldly said, “Who even wants you to come back?”

Zhu Yu gave a glance at Su Yin from behind the princess, causing Su Yin to return a look towards here with no trace of politeness!

Princess Minghui turned a deaf ear to Su Yin’s words. She smiled and turned around as her body elegantly swayed. When she departed from the prince consort’s residence, a large group of servants and maids followed, excessively moving around the princess.

In the imperial court, there were many conspiracies and political struggles. This was not a good place for her to stay for a long time, not to mention how she did not know when she would be screwed. She must leave as soon as possible!

Yuan Shuang watched how Princess Minghui and her maid, Zhu Yu, walked. Although there were many ways that a woman could lightly walk, by examining carefully, she could discern the distance between footsteps. With Yuan Shang’s keen sight, she could tell that the distance between each step was absolutely the same!

Her maids had also walked with light and even footsteps. In the hidden world of her previous life, only the experts among the top killers could make these types of footsteps. The princess clearly had the pride and arrogance engraved within her bones. While she acted so tolerant of Yuan Shang, of course, the princess would look after her to some extent. In order for her to leave the princess’s sight, she was afraid that she needed a plan.

Furthermore, there was still this Su Yin…

“Young Master, it’s almost as if you became a new person. You’re so calm! The master and mistress of the Su family would certainly rejoice!”

In the eyes of Yuan Shang, a trace of killing intent flashed. This Su Yin must be killed! This person was Su Qi’s personal bodyguard from an early age. He knew the original Su Qi and understood that she had become changed. Although she barely fooled him before, the suspicions and doubts would surely accumulate. Moreover, if she wished to leave the Su family, she must first deal with this personal guard!

She was a killer. When it was not necessary, she would not arbitrarily make connections with other people. Up until her death in her previous life, she desired to obtain freedom. In this life, she refused to be trapped in this prison of an imperial city!