Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 287 Shangxiang becomes Empress, Ce becomes Crown Prince, the Yuan family's empire is now in my hands! [5000]

Wu Jing!
How dare you do such a thing?

"If I don't kill you today, I'm not worthy of being called a son!"

As Sun Ce spoke, he was already furious. He pushed through the crowd and was about to attack Wu Jing.

"Without the young general lifting a finger, I, Huang, will be the first to kill that ungrateful wretch today!"

"Count me in!"

"If I, Han Dang, were to let you walk out of this door today, I would have no face to meet the old general in the afterlife!"

Huang Gai, Cheng Pu, Han Dang, and other former subordinates of Sun Jian all stood in front of Sun Ce, all wanting to capture Wu Jing.

Wu Jing was horrified when he saw this!

"I am General Anshun, personally appointed by the King of Han. Who dares to touch me!"

Meeting the murderous glares of Sun Ce and the others, he was horrified and drew his sword, pointing it angrily at Sun Ce.

"Shuzi!
"As your uncle, how could I dare to be unfilial!"

Sun Ce took the tiger-headed golden spear from Huang Gai and laughed loudly.

“My family has held high office for four generations; how could I possibly know a country bumpkin like you?”

I am a son of the Yuan family, so what if I kill you?

Would your father really kill his own son for the sake of a mere lowly general like you?

Wu Jing was horrified!

He suddenly realized that Sun Ce had been adopted by the King of Han and was now a member of the Yuan family.

As Yuan Ce, he had no legal connection with the Sun and Wu families anymore.

Calling him "uncle" is a matter of courtesy, but when he doesn't acknowledge that courtesy, not only can his uncle not use filial piety to pressure him, but even Lady Wu, or even if Sun Jian were to be resurrected, could not do so.

In this world, there is only one person who can use filial piety to pressure him, and in the Han Kingdom, there is only one person he needs to serve carefully!
He is second only to the King of Han and above ten thousand others. If the King were to kill him today, how could he possibly survive?

Wu Jing fled in panic, urgently calling out:
"Where are the armored soldiers? Armed soldiers, save me!"

Seeing the armored soldiers obeying orders to surround and rescue him, Sun Ce glared angrily and rebuked them:

"Yuan Ce is here, who dares to stop me!"

The soldiers were all terrified and dared not advance.

Fortunately, many people came to break up the fight; they were the same people who had previously sided with Wu Jing and wanted to gain wealth and power.

They advised him, saying:
"General Wu misspoke."

"Young Master Yuan, please calm down!"

"Yes, General Wu's intentions were good at least. Putting aside Madam Wu's status, his idea was good. Having someone in the palace makes things easier."

"The Wu family ultimately supports you, young master. Please calm down. If you really kill General Wu, wouldn't that be disheartening?"

"We're all family, let's not hurt our harmony. Even if General Wu is wrong, we can sit down and talk things over."

"Who is he family?"

I, Yuan Ce, do not have such family members!
"He insulted my birth mother; his hatred is irreconcilable. If I don't kill him, I'll be ashamed to be a human being!"

He then immediately gave the order.

"Huang Gai! Han Dang! Cheng Pu!"
Where are you?

"The general is here!"

"Stop the crowd and arrest Wu Jing!"

"We obey!"

Seeing that not only Sun Ce, but also Huang Gai and the others were howling in surprise:

"A subject who is disgraced by his lord shall die!"
"How dare you insult the spirit of General Sun! We will never let this go!"

Seeing that the armored soldiers were unreliable, and the men were unreliable, and that Sun Ce was even leading a group of people to fight him to the death, Wu Jing thought to himself: Oh no!

Knowing the perilous situation he was in and that only one person could save him, he scrambled to Madam Wu's place and shielded his sister before her.

"younger sister!
help me!

If you don't speak up, are you just going to stand by and watch your brother be beaten to death by your own nephew?

Madam Wu felt sorry for him. She was wrong, but they were still her own brother and sister who had been together for many years.

Looking at the chaotic scene, she finally let out a long sigh.

"Gentlemen, please stop."

However, the scene remained chaotic, filled with shoving and pushing. She looked sorrowful and said to Sun Ce:
"Ce'er!"
How long are you going to keep making a scene?
"Do you really have to kill my brother in front of your mother, making me watch you kill your own flesh and blood?"

"I didn't make a scene!"

Mother! How dare he insult you!

How dare you insult me!!!

Sun Ce knelt before her, tears streaming down his face.

"My father went out of Changsha, fought at Hulao Pass, and defeated all the warlords in the world. What a heroic and bold man he was."

Who would have thought that now, I would betray the glorious name of the Sun family, and instead worship the King of Han as my father? I have no face to see my father in the afterlife.

If even the mother
"It would be better if the child just died right now!"

"Good child, you have followed the King of Han in his campaigns in the south and north, never suffering a defeat, and have made all the feudal lords in the world tremble with fear. You are far more capable than your father."

If your father knew this from beyond the grave, he certainly wouldn't blame you.

Seeing that he had endured so many years, Sun Ce shed tears for the first time today. Lady Wu felt the same heartache as when he was a child, and gently wiped away his tears while holding his face.

"Over the years, you've suffered so much because of the Sun family."

Ce'er, don't be sad, don't be heartbroken.

Because of you, even though Quan'er caused such a terrible disaster, he was not severely punished.

Because of you, Yi'er, Kuang'er, and Lang'er were able to grow up peacefully in such a tranquil and prosperous environment amidst the chaos of the world.

Because of you, the Sun family, which was once looked down upon by prominent families in Changsha, can now command those families that were once out of reach.

"My good child, the Sun family has achieved glory because of you. No matter what happens, you will always be the pride of your father and me."

"Mother."

Looking back on his journey, and the countless times he had bowed his head and felt helpless in the face of reality, Sun Ce couldn't stop crying.

“Mother, I know that the King of Han has been very kind to my family. If it is any other matter, I will be able to yield and compromise.”

However, Wu Jing's suggestion was something they would absolutely not follow!

Mrs. Wu gently patted his back to comfort him, her eyes already moist.

“Silly child, your uncle only made an idea, and your mother didn’t agree to it.”

"Mother.?"

Sun Ce opened his tear-filled eyes, looked up at his mother, and his eyes were still filled with confusion.

It wasn't that he was impulsive or didn't trust his mother; it was just that in the Sun family, every time the Prince of Han was involved, the result always disappointed him.

Every single time!

Madam Wu looked at him with a wry smile, then turned to look back at Wu Jing, who was still hiding behind her, a complex expression appearing in her eyes.

“Brother, you saw it too.”

Do not repeat those absurd words you spoke before.

With my humble and unworthy appearance, how could I dare to aspire to high positions?
Moreover, the King of Han has selected beauties from across the land, many of whom are of exceptional talent and beauty. As a widow, even if I were to enter the palace, I fear I would only disappoint my brother.

Wu Jing wanted to speak again, but when he met Sun Ce's eyes, which seemed to want to kill him, in Madam Wu's arms, he dared not say anything more and just smiled awkwardly.

"Well, I was just making a suggestion. Let's discuss it together."

In any case, it's always a good thing to take this opportunity to select one of our own people to enter the palace and look after Ce'er.

Since my sister doesn't agree, then let's just give up. If she doesn't agree, then she doesn't agree. As her older brother, I can't possibly force her to enter the palace.

"Ce'er, why are you in such a hurry?"

Seeing that Wu Jing had given him a way out, Sun Ce, though angry, apologized for his mother's sake.

"I acted impulsively just now, I hope my uncle won't take offense."

"We're all family, it's good to talk things out."

Although Wu Jing was secretly annoyed, he smiled and replied politely.

"It's a pity that my sister isn't going, and the Sun family doesn't have any suitable women in the clan. I'm afraid we'll just miss this opportunity that all the noble families are fighting tooth and nail for."

Sun Ce sneered, about to say: "The Sun family has enough with him. He will surely make merit on the battlefield. He doesn't care about such an opportunity."

Before he could speak, Zhou Yu, who had been observing coldly as if deep in thought, suddenly spoke.

"It's not impossible!"

Everyone was surprised and looked at him.

But then Zhou Yu, wielding a feather fan and wearing a silk turban, spoke with a smile:

"General Wu's words may be inappropriate, but it must be said that this plan is not without merit, only the person chosen could be changed."

Sun Shangxiang is the youngest daughter of General Sun and the younger sister of Bofu.

"Zhong Ling is intelligent and quick-witted; perhaps she could enter the palace and lend a helping hand to Bo Fu!"

Sun Ce: "!!!"

He stared at Zhou Yu in disbelief. He couldn't believe that his former friend had become like this, colluding with Wu Jing.

"Gongjin!"
Shangxiang is only eight years old; how could she serve the King of Han?

Never mention such words again; I will assume you never said them!

Unlike Wu Jing, Zhou Yu looked back at Sun Ce with a stern expression, his eyes clear, and smiled faintly:
"Bo Fu, you're being naive again. The King of Han selected ten prominent families and bestowed upon them daughters of good families to fill the palace as a reward."

All the powerful families fought over her like a precious treasure, but the Sun family alone discarded her like a worn-out shoe. When the time came, all nine powerful families offered their daughters, but the Sun family alone did not.

Bo Fu wondered how the King of Han would view the Sun family. Would he look down on the King's gifts, or would he feel that the King was unworthy of the Sun family's daughter?

"There is really no one else suitable, and the King of Han is not an unreasonable person."

Zhou Yu sneered, "Is it because there's no one to choose from, or are you just being sentimental and can't bear to part with your sister?"
Bo Fu, think carefully about how you got here.

It is because of your sacrifice that the Sun family is where it is today, and that everyone is able to enjoy wealth and prosperity.

But if you can sacrifice yourself, why can't Shangxiang?
The reason why a family can prosper for a thousand years is that its members have sacrificed themselves for the family one after another, passing on the torch for thousands of years without it being extinguished.

As the head of the household, it's time to put down your ridiculous naiveté!
Even if Shangxiang doesn't marry the Prince of Han today, she will have to marry someone else for the sake of her family in the future, compared to marrying into other noble families.

Yu believed that entering the palace to compete for the empress's position was the best arrangement for both her and you.

"Gong Jin!"

Sun Ce stared at Zhou Yu and gritted his teeth as he spoke.

"You watched Shangxiang grow up, and she called you brother. Is Gongjin truly heartless?"

“Bo Fu, you’ve been through so much over the years, I thought you should have grown up by now.”

Zhou Yu sighed softly, stepped forward and gently patted his shoulder, "If General Sun were still alive, as the young master of the Sun family, Sun Bofu, you would certainly be able to act on your emotions."

But as the head of the household, Yuan Ce, you must weigh the pros and cons.

Sun Ce raised his hand and pushed his hand away. Just as he was about to speak and confront him, he heard Wu Jing cautiously probing from the side.

"Well, if you really can't bear to part with your sister, why don't you consider my previous suggestion?"
My sister can do it. If you and I work together to persuade her, we'll definitely be able to convince your mother.

For Wu Jing, how could he advance his career and become a powerful general with the maternal relatives of the emperor if he sent Sun Shangxiang into the palace?

Only by leveraging the Sun family's status and sending his own sister in, thus using their connections to his advantage, could his grand plan succeed.

However, suddenly, he saw Sun Ce turn around and stare straight at him.

Wu Jing quickly backed away, lowering his voice further and further.

"Of course, I'm just making a suggestion. If you disagree, just pretend I didn't say anything."

Seeing Wu Jing tactfully retreat, Sun Ce had no interest in paying him any attention. Facing Zhou Yu before him, he felt a strange sadness in his heart.

Why are they both pressuring him, either his mother or his sister? Why does he have to choose one?
Wasn't it enough that he sacrificed himself for the Yuan family's cause?

And they even have to personally push their own family members, one by one, into the fire pit?

Seeing his sorrowful expression, Zhou Yu felt a pang of sympathy for him. He then glanced at Wu Jing and the surrounding onlookers, frowned, and said to him:

"Everyone, please disperse. I have some private matters to discuss with Bofu alone."

Sun Ce suppressed his grief, maintaining a defiant expression, and addressed the crowd:
"Get out of here! All of you, stand back!"
Over the years, everyone has changed a lot, and today it is indeed time to have a proper talk with you, Gongjin.

Zhou Yu laughed, “People change. You say I’ve changed a lot, but I think you’ve changed just as much, Bo Fu.”

Finally, after everyone had left, only the two of them remained in the room.

Sun Ce held his breath, about to find the right words to berate Zhou Yu.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yu stretched and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, "I feel a bit lighter now, and I can speak properly."

Sun Ce: "???"

"Gongjin, what exactly do you mean?"

"What do I mean?"

Zhou Yu squinted at him, "Could it be that in Bo Fu's eyes I have truly become such a heartless and ungrateful person?"

Sun Ce was overjoyed. "Good! I knew it! Gongjin, you seemed like a completely different person. So you were just putting on an act for others?"
"Oh dear, what's your plan this time? Tell me quickly! Saying you're going to send Shangxiang to the palace almost scared me to death!"

"No, Shangxiang should still be sent to the palace. This is a good thing for both you and her."

Sun Ce: "."

"Shangxiang is only eight years old, Gongjin, do you even know what I mean?"

"It's a good thing precisely because he's eight years old."

Sun Ce: "???"

Seeing Sun Ce's anger, Zhou Yu smiled and explained for him.

"Bo Fu, don't be anxious, let me say something."

In your opinion, is the King of Han a beast?

Sun Ce: "." (Scratching his head)
Zhou Yu clearly didn't intend to wait for his reply and continued.

"The King of Han may have his faults, but judging from my interactions with him over the years, he is by no means a beast."

On the contrary, ever since you presented the imperial seal and took the two Qiao sisters as your concubines, the King of Han has been fighting in the south and north for years, personally facing danger.

It is evident that he harbored great ambitions and was by no means a person who indulged in lust.

Even though Yuan Yin offered a suggestion to select women from good families, in Yu's view, the King of Han was not interested in the women offered by everyone.

What he truly cared about was the land and people that powerful families offered up in their struggle for the interests of this region.

Bo Fu, the King of Han is a very formidable person. He is completely different from you. He has no personal feelings for his children, nor does he act on emotion.

Everything he did was based on a careful weighing of pros and cons.

Sun Ce frowned, puzzled. "Perhaps? But what does this have to do with the incense? She's still a child!"

"On the contrary, this is precisely Shangxiang's advantage."

Zhou Yu gently waved his feather fan and began to speak eloquently.

"Now that you know what kind of person the King of Han is, Bo Fu, what do you have to worry about?"

"The King of Han is no beast. Even if we send Shangxiang into the palace, it will only be to provide her with a better environment to grow up in."

"But Shangxiang will grow up eventually."

"But the King of Han will also grow old and die!"
Who can say for sure what the future holds?
Just in case—and I mean just in case—the King of Han is accidentally struck by a stray arrow and dies during his future northern expedition against Cao Cao.

With Shangxiang present in the palace at this time, what a great help this is to you and the Sun family!

Even if the King of Han truly had the Mandate of Heaven, he was victorious in every battle and truly endured until Shangxiang grew up.

Imagine, with Shangxiang's unparalleled beauty and sweet words, she could bewitch him.

To paint her eyebrows tenderly, to please her eyes and ears;

This creates a divide between those inside and outside the court, and alienates loyal and upright officials.
They will lure you from within and seize you from without, ensuring your position as crown prince; they will coordinate with you from the outside and cooperate with you from within, so as to plot your move to the empress's throne.
Once the King of Han is about to die, the great matter can be settled.

Shangxiang is only eight years old, while the King of Han is already forty. If Shangxiang becomes empress when the King of Han dies, how many years of wealth and honor can your Sun family enjoy?

This was an achievement that Empress Lü had never accomplished before!

If this plan succeeds, the dragon will gain access to clouds and rain, and you and Shangxiang will no longer be ordinary creatures.

"I hope you will consider this carefully, Bo Fu."

Sun Ce: "."

With Shangxiang as Empress and Ce as Crown Prince, the Yuan family's empire will fall entirely into my hands.
Although, in Sun Ce's opinion, even with Shang Xiang's inside help, given Han Wang's personality, it was still unlikely that he could contend for the position of crown prince.

But if the siblings work together, they can exchange for more imperial edicts and certificates, which will benefit both themselves and the Sun family.

At least in front of the King of Han, their ability to survive seems to have indeed improved significantly?
On the other side, when Jia Xu was busy at the Imperial Observatory until mealtime, he looked around at the young people still working hard on government affairs and couldn't help but sigh.

"I'm getting old, my body isn't what it used to be, I can't compare to you young people, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep going."

Without even glancing at the resentful looks from Pang Tong and the others, he got up, picked up his pot of goji berry tea, and leisurely headed home.

Unexpectedly, just as he got home and lay down, before he could even settle into his seat, someone came to report:
"Zhang Xiu arrived with generous gifts."

Jia Xu frowned slightly, knowing that trouble was coming his way, but the Zhang family father and son had treated him fairly well after all, and he couldn't ignore them now that they had come knocking on his door.

He then straightened his clothes and went out to greet Zhang Xiu.

"Mr. Jia, it's been a long time."

"General Zhang, you've come, so why bring such an extravagant gift?"

Zhang Xiu laughed heartily, "It's just that the end of the year is approaching, so I've come early to wish you a Happy New Year, sir."

After exchanging pleasantries, Jia Xu welcomed Zhang Xiu into the mansion, where they sat down as host and guest and were served tea.

Jia Xu then asked, "Between you and me, there's no need for formalities."

General Zhang, you can speak frankly now regarding the purpose of your visit today.

"Since you've said so, sir, I'll get straight to the point."

As Zhang Xiu spoke, a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face, and he said awkwardly.

"When Xiu saw Yuan Yao and Yuan Ce, they were vying for the throne. I once heard that the King of Han wanted to arrange the rank of the emperor in the Lingyan Pavilion to establish the great lineage."

"Sir, you have long held a position of power and must know the inside story. Is this true?"

Jia Xu raised an eyebrow, sensing something was amiss, but he suppressed his emotions and asked the question gently.

"General, what is your purpose in inquiring about this matter?"

Zhang Xiu's embarrassed expression deepened, and he stammered out a few words.

"If this is true, I believe Yuan Ce is in charge, and Xiu is not out of the question!"

I only regret that my family has no vast tracts of fertile land, nor any people to offer tribute. Now I wish to repay my father, but I have no way to do so.

I have come specifically to seek your guidance, sir.

As he spoke, he stood up and bowed respectfully to Jia Xu.

"Now that I wish to vie for the position of heir apparent, I humbly request your guidance, sir!"

Jia Xu: "."

Xiu'er, is it too late for me to tell you that I haven't seen you today?

(End of this chapter)