Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 121 I will always support Xiao Wei

The north wind is blowing snow, and it's already snowing heavily.

Although the Deputy Envoy of the State was a civil official, he was not from a pampered aristocratic family. Because he had to travel to various different countries at any time of year, he was already used to bad weather.

Wearing a brocade cloak with a hood, and riding a fine, tall steed, a hybrid of Hequ and Ferghana horses, he set off back to Sheng'an.

Wei Wusheng accompanied him, but he was wearing a thick gray cloth cloak, showing no trace of the prince's nobility, only the roughness of a military general.

Xiao Wei has transformed into a tough guy.

The two men, along with a dozen or so cavalrymen, moved further and further away from the north wind amidst the wind and snow.

Suddenly, Wei Wusheng stopped his horse.

He took off his hood and slowly turned around.

Then she saw Song Shi'an standing in the wind and snow, under the city gate, still watching her go, with Xin Yue beside him.

When the other person saw him turn around, he raised his left hand.

Wei Wusheng looked at him and smiled as he raised his left hand.

Deputy Attendant Guoxin saw the deep furrow in the Sixth Prince's hand.

When I was received by Song Shi'an yesterday, I also saw his left hand, which had the exact same injury.

"Lord Zhu, let's go."

Wei Wusheng turned his head and continued forward into the wind and snow.

"Yes, Your Highness."

The cavalry slowly disappeared from sight.

After Xiao Wei disappeared, Song Shi'an, who was below the city, turned around and returned to the city.

At this moment, San Gou quickly draped a black wolf skin cloak over his shoulders from behind.

Song Shi'an tore off the paper without expression, handed it to Xin Yue who was standing next to him, and walked away quickly.

Xinyue took it, and although reluctantly, she put it on herself.

The two went straight to the county government office.

At this moment, the stove was burning.

Song Shi'an sat down in front of the stove. After Xin Yue hung up her cloak, she sat down beside him. "You look a little heavy-hearted?"

"I'm so sad to part with Your Highness," Song Shi'an said.

Xin Yue revealed a subtle expression.

"That's one aspect."

As Song Shi'an spoke, he waved to the two soldiers guarding the door.

The two immediately understood and left the main hall entrance to go to the county government office to stand guard.

"Should we close the door?" Xinyue asked.

"No need."

The fire in the hearth inside was warm and bright, while outside the open doors, a fierce snowstorm raged. This scene brought Song Shi'an a sense of peace.

"Xinyue, who suggested you stay?"

Song Shi'an's sudden question startled Xin Yue for a moment, then she replied in her usual calm tone, "It was Your Highness who asked."

“I think so too. Our relationship isn’t that good yet,” Song Shi’an said.

Xin Yue's expression turned displeased: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

“Just kidding, I know we have a pretty good relationship.” Song Shi’an’s tone was still somewhat heavy. “As His Highness’s personal guard, you naturally couldn’t make that kind of request. What I mean is, what His Highness is worried about is what I’m worried about now.”

"..."

Xin Yue was stunned.

Is this person a monster?

Without saying a word, he saw what His Highness was worried about.
Or perhaps Your Highness's concerns are being expressed too obviously?

But last night, it was indeed obvious...

……

"Only you are the reason why he won't leave me."

Faced with His Highness's pleading gaze, she remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, "Does Your Highness want me to seduce him?"

"No, I said I would never force you to do anything outside of your duties."

"Then..." she asked, puzzled, "how can I demonstrate my value?"

We must keep him here.

But without tempting him.

So, you're fishing for him?
“No, you don’t need to do anything. Just be my personal guard, protect him, and do your duty,” Wei Wusheng said with a light smile. “Besides, you seem quite relaxed when you’re with him, don’t you?”

She couldn't refute it, nor could she lie: "Yes."

"That's settled then, there are no tasks."

"Is monitoring and reporting required?"

"Do not."

Wei Wusheng said in an extremely broad way: "You can treat him as me, but you don't have to treat him completely as me."

……

“I talked a lot with His Highness yesterday, but there are still some things I didn’t say clearly.” Song Shi’an looked at Xin Yue and said, “I didn’t expect the Prince of Wu to personally get involved in the factional struggle. He is also taking the path of relieving the emperor’s worries.”

"It overlaps with His Highness."

“Yes,” Song Shi’an asked, “If two people were to do the same thing, which one would you trust more?”

"King of Wu".

After uttering those two words, Xin Yue gradually became angry, muttering in dissatisfaction, "His Highness almost lost his life in the north wind, while the Prince of Wu only said a few words from the rear. Is it because he is an illegitimate son? Is it because he is not favored?"

"Thank you for speaking up for our illegitimate son."

After a slightly cheeky remark, Song Shi'an continued, "Since the King of Wu has met his end, Your Highness has two paths: one is to become a member of the King of Wu's faction, and the other is to remain independent."

"Then becoming a member of the King of Wu's faction would be enough?" Xin Yue felt that the choice was clear.

"If he has a choice, then of course he can. But what if the emperor doesn't allow him to be a member of the Wu King's faction?"

"..."

"Moreover, the King of Wu personally went to protect my father. Should my father become a member of the King of Wu's faction?"

These words silenced Xin Yue for a long time. Finally, she spoke: "You can only be a member of the Wu King's faction." "That's right," Song Shi'an said.

Xinyue felt somewhat saddened by this outcome.

It wasn't sadness, but the realization that under the prevailing political climate, no one had freedom, and no one could control their own destiny.

His Highness once said that Xin Yue is a free bird, unfettered by any constraints.

But the reason is that she was far removed from the court and power.

“Therefore,” Song Shi’an changed the subject, “I should also take the imperial examination to become the top scholar when I get back.”

To others, this statement would be incredibly arrogant, but when he said it so naturally, Xin Yue didn't feel that he was being pretentious at all; instead, she felt that he was making a practical plan.

"You're pretty impressive then."

"I certainly can't control my choices, but I have to make some changes through my own efforts."

Continuing, Song Shi'an said earnestly, "My father will definitely be promoted to a very important position, either as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review or in an important post in the Secretariat. At that time, although he is a member of the Wu King's faction, he will not become the Wu King's nominal subordinate."

If the emperor wanted to reward the King of Wu, he would certainly grant him exceptionally important authority.

Judicial power and the power of appointment and removal must be included.

At that point, they were no longer purely part of the King of Wu's faction; they could be considered one of the King of Wu's allies.

"how about you?"

“I absolutely cannot become a staff member of the Wu King’s Palace. This position is basically no different from being a retainer of the Wu King.”

“I understand what you mean.” Xin Yue understood. “You can be a supporter of the King of Wu, but you can’t completely become one of the King of Wu’s people.”

Once you become an official in the Wu King's Office, it's like having the Wu King's seal branded on your backside. If you win with Xiao Wei, you'll be branded with shame.

Not everyone can be like Wei Zheng, who could thrive even after serving several different masters.

He did that for two reasons: firstly, he was indeed capable and thick-skinned; secondly, the Second Princess needed such a role model to reduce the fear among the princelings, so that the country could remain stable.

But my friend is a kid from Sheng'an, and he cares about his reputation.

“As long as one holds a position with some real power outside of the Wu King’s office, their personal independence can be guaranteed to some extent,” Song Shi’an said.

"And then?" Xinyue asked.

“Then let His Highness resist and force him to become a member of the Wu King’s faction,” Song Shi’an said firmly.

If the emperor forbids me from being a member of the Wu King's faction, then I won't be one.

Let's do it!

"Disobeying orders again?"

Xin Yue saw something called rebellious in Song Shi'an.

“His Majesty doesn’t allow it because he’s worried that His Highness will become too powerful. But would the Prince of Wu be worried?” Song Shi’an didn’t even bother to pretend. “If it were the Prince of Wu, he would definitely want both me and His Highness. He would only complain that he doesn’t have enough support. As long as there are people from the Prince of Wu’s faction, the more the better.”

The emperor is old.

When he gets old, he can no longer have everything he says.

Otherwise, that would be too unfair.

When the emperor ascended the throne, he was eleven years old. He had been bullied by nobles and relatives of the empress for many years, and he relied on himself to gradually regain power. Now that he is old, he must accept his age and become that eleven-year-old child again.

"So, what effect do you want to achieve?" Xin Yue asked, concerned.

“The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal.”

This was Song Shi'an's thought, and he further explained his words as: "Your Highness may be the King of Wu's man, but I can only be Your Highness's man."

At this moment, Xinyue showed a hint of helplessness.

Thinking about it this way, His Highness's worries seemed more like distrust.

"Should I relay these words to His Highness?" Xin Yue asked blankly.

Song Shi'an looked at her and complained, "What's wrong with you? I only chatted with you because I consider you a friend, and you're going to spread rumors again?"

"What do you mean 'again'? I never relayed any messages." Xin Yue also got angry immediately. "I have never said those treasonous things you said to His Highness."

"Then you are disloyal to His Highness."

"You're saying both the right and the wrong thing."

Xin Yue stared at Song Shi'an and said defiantly, "I am only responsible for His Highness's safety, not for monitoring him. I did talk to His Highness about whether he wanted to monitor you, but he didn't care at all and told me to just be myself."

"I know."

"what do you know?"

"Of course I know."

Song Shi'an looked at the heavy snow outside and murmured, "His Highness is lonely. What he fears most is loneliness."

Song Shi'an had already figured it out.

Therefore, the existence of a person named Xinyue came into being.

No power, no position, no mission.

What assassin has as much free time as her?
Xiao Wei is not yet wealthy enough to control others.

He dared not use something like the 'Imperial Guard' to control people's hearts and minds, lest his friendship with them be tainted.

At least, Xiao Wei is sincere now.

"I truly have no doubts about you." Song Shi'an looked at Xin Yue and said, "Haven't you noticed? When have I ever been nervous when you're by my side?"

That's true.

Xin Yue reflects on her time with Song Shi'an.

The two of them really are just friends.

“Since that’s how you see me, then I’ll ask you a question too.” Xin Yue looked at him and said, “You came to Shuofeng to accomplish what you wanted to do. You approached His Highness only because he gave you this opportunity. But at that time, you were complete strangers. It’s impossible to be ‘devoted’ to him so easily, right?”

This is a very sensitive issue.

But Song Shi'an replied without hesitation, "Yes."

"Because of you, His Highness has also received a reward, so you don't need to repay any more kindness. As for the merit of following the emperor, now that you've gone to the King of Wu, he will definitely make you his most trusted confidant, which is not much different from assisting His Highness, and may even be simpler."

Xin Yue would never spread rumors, so she spoke even more bluntly: "Even if you become the King of Wu's man, it's not your fault; it's the Emperor's order."

"From both a moral and logical standpoint, there's no problem," Song Shi'an said. "But what about feelings?"

"Doesn't 'compassion' and 'reason' include emotions?"

"That was just the affection the King of Wu had for me."

Song Shi'an looked at his slowly opening left hand and the winding scar, and said, "Without the shared experiences, one cannot cherish this kind of feeling."

(End of this chapter)