Chapter 52 Either You Die or I Die…

Chapter 52: It's Either You Die or I Perish...

She slept restlessly. As dawn broke, she sat upright before the bronze mirror, her jet-black hair flowing like silk. Qiu Yue carefully gathered it in her hands, styling it into a soft, loose cloud chignon.

Newly promoted, Qiu Yue was gentler and more skillful than Bi He. But as the saying goes, new clothes are good, but old friends are better. Yan Xuerui, sentimental by nature, still missed Bi He.

She lowered her eyes faintly. Once tidied, she was about to head out when Qiu Hua hurried in breathlessly to report.

"Madam, the Old Madam... the Old Madam is coming to the main courtyard."

Startled, Yan Xuerui quickly rose to greet her. Though still ailing, the Old Madam walked with a cane, her steps steady and firm.

"Eldest Daughter-in-law, you’ve worked hard."

As soon as the Old Madam spoke, Yan Xuerui guessed the reason for her visit and felt a surge of private annoyance.

Young and never having managed household matters before, Yan Xuerui knew that compared to the stern and authoritative Old Madam, someone must have defied her orders and reported the matter of Gu Yan’s imprisonment to her mother-in-law.

Supporting the Old Madam’s arm, Yan Xuerui spoke reassuringly before the older woman could continue: "The Marquis left word. It’s really nothing serious. That’s why I didn’t want to disturb you, Mother."

"Hmph."

The Old Madam snorted coldly. She knew her son well—if Gu Yan had truly made preparations, the household wouldn’t be in such a state.

"Don’t try to fool me. I already know everything."

The Old Madam glanced at Yan Xuerui’s attire, took her hand, and said, "These old bones still carry some weight. Don’t worry—if the sky falls, I’ll hold it up. You have nothing to fear."

Having lost her husband in middle age, the Old Madam raised several children alone and endured the successive deaths of her eldest daughter and youngest son. She was no ordinary elderly lady content with a life of leisure.

She declared, "I am a First-Class Honored Lady appointed by the previous emperor. I will go to the palace to see the Emperor. You rest well at home and stay calm."

Yan Xuerui, delicate and frail like a willow swaying in the wind, understood the Old Madam’s unspoken concern. Gu Yan had treasured her like a jewel, almost never allowing her to step outside the manor. How could she now be expected to publicly appear and beg favors for the Marquis’ household?

The Old Madam couldn’t bear the thought.

Yan Xuerui had initially considered it herself. Understanding her mother-in-law’s concern, the two women argued back and forth for some time. The Old Madam was stubborn, and Yan Xuerui, as the younger, couldn’t win against her. In the end, she supported the Old Madam as they went together to the palace for an audience with the Emperor.

With the Old Madam present, Yan Xuerui found it inconvenient to say what she had prepared for the Emperor.

She didn’t know what hesitations the Emperor might have, but in her heart, Yan Xuerui wanted to acknowledge him as her father.

The Yan family had treated her well, but whenever Xue Fang was involved, she always came second to her sister. She understood their perspective. She had once believed herself an unwanted orphan, never imagining her birth father was right before her.

She also longed to experience the affection of a biological father.

Moreover, her father was no ordinary man—he was the Emperor.

The Emperor’s daughter was a princess.

In this dynasty, princesses not only received land grants and titles but were also granted their own residences. After marriage, they enjoyed significant autonomy: they could live with their husbands or reside separately in their princess mansions. They were permitted to maintain a guard of up to three hundred soldiers. Some, like Ping Yang, could even shut their doors and be absolute mistress of their own households, free to do as they pleased.

Yan Xuerui didn’t dare aspire to Ping Yang’s level of indulgence; she merely wished to breathe a little more freely. Gu Yan’s control was suffocating. She didn’t want to take medicine, nor did she want to be treated with her sister’s blood.

The Yan family were merchants, of low status. If she became a princess, could she finally live the free life she desired?

Unfortunately, the situation changed abruptly. With the Old Madam present, Yan Xuerui couldn’t speak openly. She subtly probed the Emperor’s intentions, and he remained affectionate toward her, reassuring her with kind words and bestowing many precious gifts before she left.

Yan Xuerui understood the situation. She presented a perfumed sachet and returned to the manor with the Old Madam.

The day passed quickly. As dusk settled, Yan Xuerui helped the Old Madam back to Chunhui Hall. In a soft voice, she said, "Mother, there’s something... I’m not sure if I should mention it."

Just the day before, she had instructed that the Old Madam should rest undisturbed and that no one was to reveal anything about Gu Yan’s situation. Yet, in barely a day, someone had rushed to inform the Old Madam—defying her orders almost immediately.

She had explicitly stated that those who disobeyed would receive fifty cane strokes and be driven from the household.

She phrased it delicately: "This concerns someone from your courtyard, Mother. I didn't want to overstep my authority. But... this is the first time I’ve taken charge, and already someone has openly defied me. If there’s no punishment, how will I maintain my standing in the household going forward?"

The leak had come from a female steward in Chunhui Hall who, having fallen out of the Old Madam’s favor in recent years, saw this as an opportunity to win back her regard. How could a replaceable servant compare to a beloved daughter-in-law?

The Old Madam agreed readily. She affectionately stroked Yan Xuerui’s temple and said, "Very well. I’ll send someone to assist you."

She even worried that the gentle and soft-hearted Yan Xuerui might be too timid to intimidate these sly old retainers.

Yan Xuerui smiled faintly. "That won’t be necessary. I can handle it."

...

Without discussion or hearing any excuses, the punishment was carried out exactly as she had decreed: fifty strokes, expulsion from the household.

Qiu Yue returned on trembling legs and whispered, "Madam, she... didn’t survive."

Fifty strokes were enough to take a life.

Yan Xuerui’s long eyelashes fluttered slightly, casting a shadow across her snow-white cheeks.

"Was everyone there?" she asked.

To make an example of the woman, Yan Xuerui had ordered all the servants to witness the punishment.

She knew fifty strokes could be fatal. She hadn’t originally intended to take a life—she had set the number to deter others.

With Gu Yan handling external affairs and the Old Madam managing the household, the Marquis’ household had always been well-run. From the delicate "Madam Yan" to the widowed Third Madam, there had never been instances of servants bullying their masters. She hadn’t expected anyone to dare defy her so openly.

If Gu Yan were here, no one would have dared disobey. Not just because he was the Marquis, but because everyone knew that Marquis Gu’s word was law—his commands were weighty and absolute.

Both court and country feared Marquis Gu. This was what Gu Yan had taught her, and she had learned quickly.

"Yes," Qiu Yue nodded hurriedly in response. When she looked at Yan Xuerui again, there was a newfound respect and fear in her eyes.

The scent of blood lingered in the air. The Madam’s order for the entire household to witness the punishment reminded Qiu Yue of Sister Bi He.

Back then, it had been Sister Bi He. Qiu Yue, on duty that day, had learned some hidden details.

For instance, when Sister Bi He defied the Marquis’s orders, the Marquis had initially planned to have her beaten in front of the Madam to intimidate her into submission.

How similar it was to today!

The difference was that the one giving orders was now the Madam, and the old woman hadn’t been as fortunate as Sister Bi He. First, the Second Master had intervened, arguing that the Madam was too frail to handle such a shock, persuading the Marquis to abandon the idea. Then, Young Master Ming Lan had arrived in time to spare Sister Bi He’s life.

As Qiu Yue looked at Yan Xuerui’s porcelain-like profile, she suddenly felt that, in this moment, the Madam was strikingly similar to the Marquis.

She fell into deep confusion. She had once worked desperately to serve by the Madam’s side. Now that she had gotten her wish, had she... made a mistake?

"Prepare a coffin and have her buried."

Having been the Marquess’s wife for so many years, this was the first time she had personally ordered a punishment. To say she felt nothing would be a lie.

Yan Xuerui forced herself not to dwell on it. Right now, she had more important matters to attend to.

...

This act of making an example out of someone proved highly effective. From that day onward, no one in the mansion dared to look down on this delicate, fragile Marquess’s wife. With the dowager bedridden with illness, Yan Xuerui closed the mansion gates, and the household gradually settled into peace.

Two more days passed, and the Yan family came for a visit.

Because Gu Yan had been imprisoned, Yun Shu's entry into the Eastern Palace was not a grand, public spectacle, but she had secured a position as a Junior Consort. Yan Xuefang finally was triumphant, gloating arrogantly in front of Yan Xuerui.

Yan Xuerui couldn't be bothered with her. However, her mother, Lady Yan, took Yan Xuerui's hand and hinted, "If things go badly... it's been a long time since you last visited your mother’s home. Perhaps it would be good to go back to Yangzhou."

Unaware of court politics and only aware that her son-in-law had been arrested and imprisoned, Lady Yan meant that if the Marquis's household truly fell, the Yan family still had their ancestral home and business in Yangzhou. They would never let her go hungry.

Ignoring Yan Xuefang's biting, sarcastic remarks, Yan Xuerui was touched. She reassured Lady Yan kindly and had them escorted out. She glanced up at the sky; though it was just past noon, thick clouds hung heavy and low, as if rain was coming.

She ordered, "Prepare the carriage. I am going to the palace."

At this hour, the emperor should be taking his afternoon nap. From previous inquiries, it seemed the emperor was not opposed to acknowledging her as his daughter.

To avoid nightmarish complications, she would seek clarity today.

"Do not disturb the dowager."

***

On the same day, the Virtuous Prince, in full armor, stood with row upon row of imperial guards arrayed behind him beneath the western wall of the palace.

The Virtuous Prince anxiously paced back and forth, touching the token at his waist that granted him command over the imperial guards. After a moment, a soldier hurried over and whispered a few words into his ear.

The Crown Prince had reached the central gate.

"Good, good, good."

The Virtuous Prince repeated the word three times.

He leaped onto his horse and shouted, "The Crown Prince—is committing treason—!"

"Follow me to protect the emperor and purge the court!"

"Purge the court—!"

The shouts pierced the air, and the thunder of hoofbeats from his cavalry merged into a continuous rumble, drowning out the real thunder above.

His eyes red, the Virtuous Prince had lured the Crown Prince to the central gate for an ambush while Gu Yan was trapped in the prison. Even if there was fallout later, he had evidence that the Gu family's three thousand Black Armor Army stationed near the capital had made the first move!

He was justified.

A torrential downpour erupted, rainwater seeping through the gaps in his helmet and trickling down his neck, but it did nothing to cool the Virtuous Prince's fervor. Suddenly, he sensed something wrong.

The sound of hooves was too loud—it seemed to be coming not just from behind him, but from all directions.

Where was the Crown Prince? Where had he gone?

As doubt seized him, the red walls and glazed tiles of the palace suddenly swarmed with countless archers. In the instant lightning split the clouds, a rain of cold-gleaming arrows shot toward them.

"Something's wrong, retreat—!"

The Virtuous Prince's pupils contracted sharply as he pulled the reins sharply. Only then did he realize he had fallen into a trap, but it was too late.

High on the majestic palace wall, Gu Yuan, the long-unseen Second Master of the Gu family, coldly observed the scene. He raised his hand slightly and commanded, "Bow and arrow."

A soldier swiftly presented the bow and arrow. Gu Yuan handed them to the Crown Prince standing beside him and said tersely, "Shoot."

Raindrops splashed against the horn bow, dripping down its surface. The Crown Prince took it, drew the bowstring, and aimed at the beleaguered Virtuous Prince below.

Abruptly, he lowered the bow and turned to Gu Yuan. "General, he is still my brother, my father's flesh and blood."

Gu Yuan frowned deeply and said in a grave voice, "Your Highness, now is not the time for mercy."

In the past, his elder brother had often complained that the Crown Prince was too soft-hearted, which gave him headaches. Gu Yuan had dismissed it, thinking the Crown Prince was young and could be taught.

Now, with the arrow notched and everything arranged by his elder brother, all the Crown Prince had to do was shoot. The Virtuous Prince had forced his way into the palace in rebellion and would be killed by the Crown Prince's hand. From then on, no one would ever challenge his position as heir.

This useless fool!

Suppressing his fury, Gu Yuan gritted his teeth. "Today, it's either him or you. Think carefully, Your Highness!"

If not for his elder brother's repeated warnings that the Virtuous Prince must be killed by the Crown Prince's hand and that he himself must not be involved, he wouldn't be wasting time here!

The Crown Prince hesitated. During his previous struggles with the Virtuous Prince, he had wished for his death countless times. But now that it came to this... this was his own brother. How would his father view him afterward? What would the court officials think? Would future history books record this moment?

On the battlefield, speed was crucial. A single misstep could lead to total defeat. The Crown Prince had completely exhausted Gu Yuan's patience. Stepping behind him, Gu Yuan gripped the Crown Prince's hand, notched the arrow, and released the bowstring.

Tempered by the northwestern winds and sands, Gu Yuan possessed astonishing arm strength. The arrow pierced precisely through the armor at the Virtuous Prince's throat, and dark red blood bloomed in the heavy rain. Gu Yuan released the trembling Crown Prince and turned to leave.

"Report to His Majesty at the Qianyuan Palace that the rebel has been executed."

He issued the cold order. With the Virtuous Prince dead, the emperor's inquiries and the explanations due to the court officials lay ahead—another tough battle awaited.

It was up to his elder brother now.