Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 109 Defending the Victory
Dali Temple was imprisoned.

In an empty prison, Song Jing sat cross-legged, his mind at peace.

In the four months since he was imprisoned, he has been questioned many times, but it has nothing to do with interrogation. Each time it was basically just asking questions, answering, confirming, and pressing. The sense of pressure he felt was not even as great as when he was given the year-end performance review by the Ministry of Personnel.

Not to mention the use of torture.

Clearly, this is not in accordance with the procedure.

However, he had no way of knowing what was happening outside, so he could only guess that some powerful forces, far exceeding his own, were vying for power both above and below the court.

Of course, it wasn't his father-in-law, Cui.

Although they are among the five prominent families of Kyoto, they are not top-tier families and cannot intervene in such matters.

Could it be that the prince has been eliminated?

However, Prince Jin clearly favored the aristocratic families. Even if he wouldn't target him personally, he wouldn't go against the officials on such an extremely sensitive issue.

Could it be the King of Wu?
Should this incident serve as the catalyst for the factional strife between the Jin and Wu parties?
He wasn't sure.

But one thing he was certain of.

That means that Song Shi'an, in the north wind, was still alive, according to the military intelligence relayed at least 800 li.

Otherwise, I'll have to start the investigation myself.

Is it really possible to contend with Ji Yuan for so long?

Just then, several officials from the Court of Judicial Review, seemingly accompanying a distinguished official, arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Prison.

Song Jing looked up and recognized him immediately; it was Wang Chen, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a second-rank official.

"Lord Wang."

Song Jing prepared to get up.

"No need, Lord Song, you don't need to get up."

After responding to him with a smile, Wang Chen had someone open the door to the imperial prison.

Then, after going inside, he sat down directly on the ground in front of Song Jing.

Logically speaking, even if the Junior Minister were to ask questions personally, a chair should be placed inside.

He sat in a chair, while Song Jing sat on the floor.

After all, he is still considered a 'traitor' now.

Such intimacy and courtesy are far too unusual.

You should know that he is currently acting as one of the Nine Ministers.

Even though his official title was Junior Minister, his authority was still much higher than Song Jing's.

Some of the second-grade gold coins have an extremely high gold content.

Even among the Nine Ministers, though they were of the same rank, there were still differences in rank.

The positions of Fengchang, Dianke, and Si'nong are equivalent to the agricultural bureau, science and technology bureau, and environmental protection bureau in the modern system, and naturally cannot be compared with the public security bureau or the finance bureau.

This involves the amount of power a position carries.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is one of the top five ministers among the Nine Ministers.

The power of the second-in-command of some of the five highest ministers was even greater than that of the first-in-command of the lower ministers.

At his current age, and as the acting Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Wang Chen is practically a half-step into the first rank.

Since he's only at the half-step first rank, then Song Jing is far from being a match for him.

"Lord Wang, the ground is cold, please get up," Song Jing said with concern.

Upon hearing this, Wang Chen quickly said to the person behind him, "Go and get a chair."

Soon, someone brought a chair and placed it in the prison.

Wang Chen stood up, extended his hand, and said with a smile, "Lord Song, please sit down."

"Of course you should sit here," Song Jing said, feigning reluctance.

"I've been sitting all day and I'd like to stand up a bit," Wang Chen said, supporting Song Jing. "Oh, don't be so polite, please sit down."

"This……"

Song Jing was quite conflicted, but still reluctantly sat down.

The other officials who had followed also quietly withdrew.

"This imperial prison is truly gloomy and cold; Lord Song, you've suffered greatly," Wang Chen said in a friendly manner.

"Lord Wang is joking," Song Jing teased. "There's no such thing as enjoying life while in prison."

"Please don't be offended, Lord Song. I'm just doing official business, and everything is in accordance with the Yu law." As Wang Chen explained, he also quietly gave an example, "Even if the Duke comes here, he can only have two meals a day and one quilt. There are no special treatments."

He really wasn't talking nonsense.

The Duke of Zhangping, who is currently stationed in Yangzhou to intimidate Sun Tuo, had previously been implicated in the Crown Prince case and spent more than a month in prison. Wang Chen, who was then a sixth-rank official, witnessed this. Therefore, his words can be considered a form of disclaimer.

“Jing has already received a lot of care from Lord Wang,” Song Jing said gratefully. “In this imperial prison, I have neither been tortured nor mistreated, unlike others who, even if they survive, are left with a heavy heart and skin…”

“Lord Song, you’ve really thanked the wrong person for this.”

He leaned close to him and said in a low voice, "The reason why Lord Song was spared punishment and trial is entirely because His Highness Prince Wu personally intervened on my behalf."

Even if Wang Chen had ten lives, he wouldn't dare claim this credit.

Therefore, it must be made clear.

"Is there such a thing?"

Song Jing looked incredulous and extremely flattered: "His Highness Prince Wu personally spoke for my sake... Really?"

At this level, they are all masters of feigning ignorance.

Wang Chen, of course, couldn't say it directly, so he smiled demurely and said, "If Lord Song gets cold, tired, or if the food isn't to your liking, just let me know. I'll take my leave now."

As he spoke, he prepared to leave.

Suddenly, Song Jing called out, "Lord Wang, could you tell me what exactly happened?"

"nothing."

Wang Chen stopped, then slowly turned around to look at him, revealing a genuinely happy smile: "Shi An is coming back soon."

.........

"Too fierce!"

In the courtyard of the Wu Prince's residence, Zhao Yi clenched his fist tightly, his mood extremely gratifying: "For more than four months, the city of Shuofeng withstood over two hundred thousand men and held out for so long!" "Sure enough, his trip to Shuofeng wasn't unprepared." Ye Changqing couldn't wait to meet Song Shi'an. "Now that he's secured this earth-shattering achievement, what else does he want to do? How will he challenge Minister Sun?"

"If he wants to fight against Minister Sun..." King Wu felt a bit of a headache. "Since he is a member of King Wu's faction, doesn't that also mean we want to fight against Minister Sun?"

"Your Highness," Ye Changqing said bluntly when he saw that he was still hesitant about this matter, "It is His Majesty who wants to fight Sun Situ, so you must fight too. And if you win, that thing will be yours."

"Don't speak recklessly."

Zhao Yi reminded Ye Changqing.

"I was talking about that thing," Ye Changqing retorted impatiently.

"Who doesn't know that thing? It's that thing."

"Stop, stop, stop." King Wu interrupted the two bickering, then nodded. "For that reason, I have to go and relieve Father's worries."

Just like he said on his mother's birthday that day.

Wei Yiyun's path to seizing the throne was to relieve his father's worries.

"Does that mean the city has been defended?" King Wu asked.

"That's basically it, but we can't be completely sure," Zhao Yi said. "I reckon that Shuofeng City is now a rotten barrel. The city walls have been attacked countless times. The only reason it's holding on is because the Qi army is already half-crippled, and the Shuofeng defenders are holding on purely out of willpower. They've probably even fought street battles many times."

"Won't something go wrong at the very end?"

The King of Wu asked with concern.

“Logically speaking, it should have been snowing by now.” Ye Changqing frowned. “If we’re lucky, it might have even ended earlier.”

When snow falls on a day when it shouldn't, it's a gift from fate to the brave.

When the day that was supposed to snow finally came, it meant that wisdom and talent had triumphed honorably.

If it doesn't snow when it's supposed to, then it's pure bad luck; man proposes, God disposes.

The significance of Song Shi'an's victory has been enhanced, but the risks have also increased.

Just as the three were feeling indignant on behalf of Shuofeng, a round-faced man in plain clothes walked in with a smile on his face: "Your Highness, Your Excellencies."

Although Jia Guihao is not considered a core member of the Wu King's faction and his current official position is relatively low, namely the Sheng'an West Commandant, he has a quick grasp of all matters, big and small, within the city because of this position, which also grants him the right to enter the mansion.

The security of Sheng'an was managed by four commanders from the east, west, south, and north.

This is equivalent to the combined power of four branch directors of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.

They were several important officials under the command of Sheng'an.

"You came in smiling, what good news is there?" King Wu asked.

"I have brought someone for Your Highness," he said with a smug look on his face.

"Who is it?" King Wu asked.

"Didn't Your Highness want it to snow?" Jia Guihao said mysteriously, "I've brought the immortals with me."

"A deity?" Zhao Yi looked puzzled.

"He is a Taoist priest in the mountains, and he is incredibly efficacious. He can cure diseases with talisman water and even pray for rain or snow," Jia Guihao said, recounting his experiences with great familiarity.

"Nonsense!" Upon hearing this, the King of Wu asked with disgust, "You want me, Your Highness, to make contact with these sorcerers?"

"You should also avoid getting involved with these quacks and sorcerers," Zhao Yi warned. "If they spread rumors that you're using witchcraft or sorcery, it will cause trouble for His Highness."

Having been reprimanded like this, he obediently lowered his head: "Then, Your Highness, I will escort him away immediately..."

"Wait."

The King of Wu called out to him.

"Your Highness?"

He stopped, looking puzzled.

"You say this Taoist priest..." King Wu asked uncertainly, "is he really effective?"

"Your Highness, it's very accurate. I've tried it myself, and it even calculated my name," Jia Guihao said confidently.

"You are the Western Commandant, what's so strange about him knowing your name?"

Ye Changqing looked at him as if he were a fool.

The King of Wu also looked at him with a subtle expression.

A quarter of an hour later,

Incense burners were lit in the Wu King's Palace, and a Taoist priest from the mountains, holding ritual implements, began a shamanistic dance in the courtyard.

The King of Wu and the other two stood to the side, arms crossed, watching with furrowed brows.

Jia Guihao, standing beside the three, clasped his hands together devoutly and kept bowing to the Taoist priest in the mountains...

.........

Shuofeng City is mostly in ruins.

In a corner amidst the ruins, Song Shi'an, looking like a beggar, covered in dust and tattered clothes, rested his head on a sandbag and looked up at the sun in the sky.

"Damn it, it's not snowing, and the sun is warm and pleasant... It's actually quite comfortable to bask in the sun."

Song Shi'an was getting a little tired of the foul language.

Xinyue, who was holding a cake in her hand, walked to his side, handed him the cake, and then sat down against the wall.

She too became a Cinderella, covered in blood.

Neither of them said anything; they just quietly gave up.

I'm so tired, even speaking feels like a waste of energy.

"Is it raining?"

Suddenly, Xin Yue said.

Song Shi'an paused for a moment, then turned his head.

Then I saw a glistening speck on the tip of her nose.

Song Shi'an reached out and gently wiped it off with his fingertips.

Fingertips are covered in shards of ice.

The two of them raised their heads at the same time.

Under the north wind, it started to snow under the sun.

(End of this chapter)