Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 442 Master or Sister-in-law? (1)

"I'm going to Ningguo!"

Lin Xue's voice slowly spread through the Su Nu Pavilion. The women weren't too surprised. Lin Xue was the first disciple their master had taken in, and the bond between them was undoubtedly the deepest. Now that they suddenly heard that their master was getting married, it was perfectly normal for Lin Xue to be worried and want to go and see him.

Liu Ziyan, in particular, couldn't help but feel secretly delighted.

Everyone knows that their senior sister has the worst temper.

That's a ruthless person who dared to beat even the crown prince to the ground.

If Lin Xue were to go to Ningguo, that Marquis of Champion would definitely have his head ripped off and used as a football.

The other women all had the same expression. Everyone in the Su Nu Pavilion respected and was close to Hua Lian Yue, and they had deep feelings for her. Some of them were even orphans adopted by Hua Lian Yue. So when they heard that Hua Lian Yue was going to marry Song Yan, no one had any good feelings towards Song Yan and instinctively rejected him.

Moreover, Lin Xue was the senior disciple of Su Nu Pavilion, and now that her master was not in the pavilion, no one would dare to refute her words.

Only Chu Menglan's expression seemed somewhat strange.

Just now, Lin Xue's beautiful face was inches away from Chu Menglan's. She clearly saw that the moment Lin Xue uttered the name Song Yan, Lin Xue's pupils trembled violently, as if an earthquake had struck.

She had a vague feeling in her heart.

It seems that the eldest sister went to Ningguo not for her master, but for that man named Song Yan.

But, how is this possible?

The eldest sister has always lived in the State of Chu, so how could she have met a man from the State of Ning?

Surely it wasn't when you led the Chu army to attack Ningguo last time that you met?
If they know each other, then what is the relationship between Senior Sister and Song Yan?
Among the many sisters of Su Nu Pavilion, the eldest sister, though somewhat violent, was efficient, reliable, and composed. She remained unfazed even in the face of imminent danger—a demeanor Chu Menglan had never seen before. Suddenly, a thought involuntarily popped into Chu Menglan's mind: Could it be a lover?
hiss.

If that's the case, wouldn't things be in complete chaos?
The eldest sister's lover became the master's man?

What a tragic human tragedy!

Is Senior Sister going to Ningguo to settle scores with that two-timing scumbag? In an instant, Chu Menglan's little head conjured up a scene of two women, master and disciple, vying for one man... Although she knew such thoughts were not good, for some reason, she felt a faint excitement in her heart.

However, it's a pity for her brother, the crown prince.

Although the Crown Prince is a bit abnormal, he is truly deeply in love with Senior Sister Lin Xue. He even stopped going to Qunyu Garden for her sake.

In Chu Menglan's heart, the Crown Prince and her senior sister were actually a very good match.

The eldest sister is from the Lin family.

In the State of Chu, the Lin family was undoubtedly a first-rate and prominent family.

The titles of nobility in the State of Chu were extremely precious. Although they were also divided into several ranks, such as Prince, Duke, Duke of the State, Marquis of the County, Earl of the County, Viscount of the County, and Baron of the Township, unlike those in the States of Ning and Zhao, the titles of nobility in Chu were not hereditary.

When Emperor Taizu of Chu was conquering the world, he had a strategist by his side, a Buddhist monk. This man was said to possess unfathomable abilities, and Emperor Taizu's ability to carve out a territory in the Central Plains owed much to this master. At the beginning of the dynasty, Emperor Taizu originally planned to lavishly reward his meritorious officials and members of the royal family, but this master dissuaded him. Emperor Taizu and the master talked for a day and a night in the imperial study; what they discussed is unknown, but it is known that the rewards planned for the next day were all changed.

A prince remains a prince, a duke remains a duke, and a marquis remains a marquis. The only change is that the title, previously hereditary, can only be inherited for three generations. After three generations, regardless of whether it's a prince, a monarch, a duke, or a county marquis, the rank decreases by one grade with each generation. That is to say, starting from the fourth generation, a duke becomes a county marquis; the fifth generation, a county marquis becomes a county viscount; and the sixth generation, a county viscount becomes a county baron.

Being a male student from a county-level city is the minimum requirement.

This incident caused a huge uproar, chaos, and even accusations of treason at the time. After all, during times of great turmoil, we risked our lives to fight alongside you, not just for our own wealth and status, but also to secure a bright future for our children, grandchildren, and the family. Now, it seems wealth and status can only last three generations, and after that, each generation will be less prosperous? Will the sixth generation only be a minor baron?

How can this be allowed?
Isn't this like killing the donkey after it has served its purpose?

At that time, the State of Chu had just been established, and a period of chaos almost brought it to an end. However, the founding emperor of Chu was fierce and powerful, skilled in warfare, and firmly controlled the military, suppressing any attempts to rebel.

Secondly, it's not just the powerful and wealthy who need to be demoted; even members of the royal family are treated equally without any bias.

Thirdly, even if one's title is reduced, there is still the baronship as a safety net, so one is still a member of the powerful and wealthy.

Furthermore, with the Chu emperor bestowing a large amount of gold and silver as rewards, and the bald monk providing a conspicuous outlet for his anger, the matter was ultimately resolved smoothly. As for the master, he disappeared without a trace after this incident, never to be seen again in the Chu capital, his whereabouts unknown.

Perhaps they were worried that one night while sleeping, they might suddenly pass away.

It wasn't until a century later that the true effects of the master's strategy gradually became apparent.

Just like the Zhao Kingdom diagonally across the street, there are countless princes, dukes, and princesses. If you throw a stone randomly in the capital, you might hit a prince. The amount of money spent on supporting these royal relatives every year is astronomical. Although the Zhao Kingdom is the richest of the four kingdoms in the Central Plains, the lives of its people are absolutely miserable. Even the Liang Kingdom and the Chu Kingdom are far worse off.

Supporting the royal family has become an insurmountable burden on ordinary people.

As for Ningguo on the other side, although it doesn't have as many princes or dukes because of the lack of royal blood, it has a lot of powerful and noble people. Dukes, marquises, and earls are everywhere. Supporting these powerful and noble people almost empties Ningguo's annual tax revenue.

But the State of Chu had no need to worry about this aspect, since supporting a baron only cost a few cents.

Of course, the State of Chu would continue to grant titles, as it needed to provide a path for military men. However, the assessments were extremely rigorous. For example, last year, Lin Xue first captured two cities in Ning State and then beheaded nine thousand Xiongnu on the border. Although she had made great contributions, because she was a woman, she could not be rewarded with a normal title. Moreover, she was unmarried, and it was not appropriate to grant her a title of noblewoman. In the end, she was barely granted the title of Township Lady, which was roughly equivalent to Township Man. In Ning State or Zhao State, this kind of merit would have earned her at least a count.

Currently, the vast state of Chu has only two dukes.

One is the patriarch of the Lin family, and the other is the patriarch of the Xiao family. Both have the merit of destroying a country and are pillars of the court.

One can imagine how illustrious such a family must be.

As the eldest daughter of the Lin family, Lin Xue naturally possessed an extremely noble status, making her more than qualified to be a match for the Crown Prince of Chu.

Unfortunately, the Crown Prince was an unreliable fellow. He paid no attention to national affairs and instead frequented brothels, especially the Jade Garden, where he was rumored to be intimate with every girl. One day, he saw Lin Xue and was immediately captivated by her beauty. He approached her, but Lin Xue, knowing his identity, didn't want to get too involved. However, the Crown Prince was incredibly thick-skinned, ignoring Lin Xue's aloof attitude and relentlessly pursuing her.

In the end, Lin Xue couldn't take it anymore and beat up the Crown Prince.

Upon hearing this, the patriarch of the Lin family felt as if the sky were about to fall. He personally tied Lin Xue up with ropes and, along with his sons, went to the palace to apologize.

The Emperor of Chu was a magnanimous man and did not want to create a rift between himself and his most trusted general over such a trivial matter between his children. He originally wanted to resolve the matter peacefully, but who would have thought that after the Crown Prince came out and saw Lin Xue bound hand and foot, he was overjoyed and said to Lin Xue: "You little vixen, I am angry at your arrogance. I will bind you and take you to the Eastern Palace to temper your sharpness. I will personally instruct you in the Orchid Chamber so that you will become obedient and accept my favor."

Enraged, Lin Xue broke free of her ropes and beat the Crown Prince again before the Emperor!

Old Master Lin was terrified and knelt down, kowtowing and begging for mercy.

Although the Crown Prince was disappointing, he was still his son and of royal blood. To be beaten like this in front of the palace, even though Emperor Chu was a wise ruler, his anger was rising. However, he inadvertently saw Hua Lian Yue rushing over to inquire about the situation, and in his extreme anger, Emperor Chu lost his temper.

He then rushed forward to help Grandpa Lin up, saying that it was normal for children to fight and play, so why did it have to come to this?

If things end here, that would be normal.

But then, the prince, his face bruised and swollen from the beating, lay sprawled on the ground, his face a mess of swollen lumps, and inexplicably uttered:
"It hurts!"

"It's so cool!"

It is said that the Chu emperor's face turned red instantly, and he almost fainted from anger.

She rushed up and kicked the Crown Prince twice. She couldn't bring herself to say the words she had originally wanted to say about bringing Lin Xue and the Crown Prince together... After all, although the Crown Prince was of noble status, he was a pervert. After that, the Crown Prince quit Qunyu Garden and would often go to the Lin family's door. He would visit them whenever he had something to say. Lin Xue couldn't stand the Crown Prince's harassment, so she simply moved out and lived in the military camp.

The Emperor was too embarrassed to issue an imperial decree to bestow a marriage upon Lin Xue and the Crown Prince, but in Chu Menglan's heart, Lin Xue was simply the best candidate for Crown Princess. After all, one was a violent maniac, and the other a masochist; they were practically a match made in heaven.

But now, Chu Menglan's intended sister-in-law is about to be snatched away by someone else. How can this be allowed?

Seeing Lin Xue's slightly furrowed brows, as if she were seriously pondering something, Chu Menglan became even more convinced of her suspicions. The man who was to marry her master must be her senior sister's lover, and her senior sister's trip to Ningguo was to cause trouble and steal the bride.

No.

No one can take her sister-in-law away from her.

"Senior Sister, I'll accompany you to Ningguo..." Chu Menglan announced.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xue merely nodded slightly, her thoughts completely elsewhere; she was preoccupied with something else entirely…

Will her grandfather and parents agree to let her go to Ningguo?

Moreover, she is a general of the Chu Kingdom. Would the Chu Emperor release her so easily?

How exactly can we persuade the King of Chu? We can't just tell him directly, "The woman you had your eye on is getting married. Let's go to the wedding and bring you a gift."

No, no, that's really a bad way to put it. It's better to be more tactful.

Moreover, Lin Xue also had to consider another matter... If Song Yan was really the Song Yan she thought he was, how should they address each other after Song Yan and Hua Lianyue got married?
Master, or sister-in-law?
The generations are messed up!
……

Ningguo.

Early April.

A light spring rain pattered down outside the window, and even the Pingyang River was gradually rising. The rain came rather suddenly, and the maidservants were busily gathering clothes in the courtyard. The window was open, and a cool breeze blew into the room, giving Song Yan goosebumps. He was all alone in the room, which made him feel somewhat lonely.

His fingers were clenched tightly.

My heart is colder than my body.

His face showed sadness, pain, and despair, but more than anything, a deep sense of powerlessness.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's spies have been deployed to the border. The latest news is that the Xiongnu army has begun its operation and may reach the walls of Anzhou today or tomorrow.

Anju can't hold on.

When Song Yan first formulated the battle plan with Mei Wu, Mr. Liang, Li Er and others, he already understood that Anzhou, and the million people in Anzhou City, were abandoned.

Not only them, but Emperor Ninghe has also abandoned Anzhou.

The secret letter had already been sent, but there was no response from the court; this was the evidence.

Of course, Song Yan understood Emperor Ninghe... Emperor Ninghe was probably in a terrible predicament right now. Just as Luo Yuheng had analyzed before, Emperor Ninghe couldn't do anything. If he transferred away the few troops he had, Dongling would probably be thrown into chaos instantly. At that time, it wouldn't just be the people of Anzhou Prefecture who would die, but the entire Ning Kingdom would probably suffer as well.

Emperor Ninghe simply found a group of loyal eunuchs and sent a large sum of money, amounting to three million taels, to Pingyang.

Although Emperor Ninghe had reaped considerable gains from the recent confiscation of property, the money was quickly depleted due to outstanding military pay, urgently needed replacement equipment, river repairs, and disaster relief for the affected population. Emperor Ninghe did not send any messages through the eunuchs, but Song Yan understood his meaning: this was all he could do.

Song Yan also understood Mei Wu, Mr. Liang, Li Er and others. They were currently in Pingyang, so naturally they were based in Pingyang. Everything they planned was for the benefit of Pingyang first. Only if they could protect Pingyang would they consider whether they could rescue Anzhou.

Unfortunately, with such limited troops, they were unable to cover both prefectures.

At that moment, Anju and its people were abandoned.

Many people will die.

But Song Yan had no right to blame others, because he, the governor, was the one who ultimately made the decision... He was just ashamed of his past ambitions.

Once upon a time, he vowed in his heart to protect the people of the Central Plains and to preserve the Han people's heritage. But when disaster struck, he helplessly discovered that there was very little he could do.

He once proposed sending all the troops from Pingyang to Anzhou to fight the Xiongnu. However, this proposal was rejected by Mei Wu, Luo Yuheng, Mr. Liang, Mr. Gao, and Mr. Jia. Pingyang only had a total of more than 50,000 troops, of which more than 10,000 were rebels brought by Li Er. Their infantry marched slowly, and by the time the Pingyang troops reached Anzhou, the city would surely have already fallen.

On the open field, with 50,000 infantrymen facing 150,000 cavalrymen, the outcome was predictable.

Song Yan naturally understood this principle as well.

He was just unwilling to accept it!
He then arranged for the Imperial Guards to try and inform the Prefect of Anzhou of the potential Xiongnu invasion. Even if they were no match for them, at least it would allow Anzhou to prepare in advance. After spending a total of 30,000 taels of silver, he finally managed to meet with the Prefect of Anzhou and inform him of the possible Xiongnu invasion of the border. The only response he received was a perfunctory "hmm."

And then... no more.

The governor's mansion then played music and danced.

The entire state of Ong is no different from before.

That feeling of powerlessness was truly agonizing.

All he could do was probably to accept as many refugees from Anzhou as possible after the city fell.

Plop, plop.

It was the sound of raindrops falling on an oil-paper umbrella.

Looking up, he saw Gu Banxia appear outside. Noticing Song Yan's gaze, Gu Banxia smiled gently: "Young Master..."

"A visitor is coming."

Song Yan took a deep breath, suppressing the pressure in his chest, and stood up: "What guest?"

"There are quite a few guests today." Gu Banxia covered her mouth and chuckled. Usually, apart from the officials, teachers, and old man Zhang Ci from Pingyang City, most people who came to see the Princess were looking for her. It was rare to see so many people looking for Song Yan like today.

The woman tilted her head slightly: "The head of the Kong family has arrived!"

Kong Xingye?

"And there's another one, claiming to be your aunt!"

"Oh, right, Princess Fu also sent someone over. It seems she wants to speak with you privately, young master."

Aunt?

Could it be Shen Qi?
What is the Princess Consort of Fu sending people over for?
Surely they wouldn't just turn around and sell Gao Yang to themselves, would they?

(End of this chapter)