Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 180 Shi An, save me!

Chapter 180 Shi An, save me!
The banquet lasted a long time, from the afternoon until evening.

As the sun began to set, it was finally time to end the meeting.

Almost every scholar who had passed the imperial examination had finished drinking.

There are even those who get drunk, rest for a while, sober up a bit, and then continue drinking.

The drinking culture has evolved to its current state, retaining its essence and discarding its dross. In ancient times, when entertainment was scarce, alcohol was the only source of emotional support.

The drinking habits of the ancients were far more outrageous than those of modern alcoholism. The famous hero and emperor Gao Yang even crawled under his mother's bed after drinking, propped the bed up, and invited his mother to ride in a rocking horse.

Sun Quan once said while drinking on the high platform that if he didn't drink a few cups today, he wouldn't have had a good time.

That's normal.

These scholars, who were not good drinkers to begin with, all collapsed after this incident.

Normally, one cannot ride in a sedan chair to enter the palace, not even princes, except for powerful figures like the Duke of Li who have urgent business to attend to. But today, a once-in-a-lifetime privilege is being exercised exclusively for these scholars—each Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) is carried out of the palace in a sedan chair by four eunuchs.

"I'll go see the scholar off."

When the scholars were about to leave, the King of Wu, in the Zhaoming Palace, pretended to be respectful and courteous to them and walked out of the palace.

The Prince of Jin, sitting on his throne, smiled and looked at his younger brother, who was so flustered that he had lost his composure, with great pleasure.

As I've said before, sometimes it's better to say less and do less.

The King of Wu is now in a panic.

Actually, when he said those words and was saved by Song Shi'an, he sobered up instantly.

After that, he basically stopped drinking heavily.

I tried my best to stay sober, just in case I said something reckless again!

But once words are spoken, and water is spilled, how can they be taken back?

The key is how to get past this hurdle!

With advisors to help him, he can make decisive choices. But asking him to both think and do is a bit much. It's not that he can't do it, it's just that he's afraid of doing it poorly.

He finally understands the Prince of Jin.

It's better not to do it than to do it poorly.

After leaving the palace, sedan chairs carried out by eunuchs took people away one after another.

At that moment, a head peeked out from the last sedan chair and looked back at the palace.

It was Song Shi'an; he was also waiting for him.

"No need to help."

The King of Wu dismissed the eunuchs and strode forward. Song Shi'an, who was in the sedan chair, also staggered down and took the initiative to greet him, slowly bowing as he approached.

At the same time, he whispered, "Your Highness has made a mistake."

Upon hearing this, the King of Wu was immediately relieved.

It wasn't that he was laughing because he made a mistake, but rather that Song Shi'an was teaching him how to get through the situation.

So he smiled and whispered, "I know, but what should I do?"

Song Shi'an bowed slowly, still taking the opportunity to ask, "Does Your Highness know why His Majesty allowed you to accompany Prince Jin?"

"Let the world see this and dispel the rumors of discord between Wu and Jin."

"Yes."

"I did overstep my bounds and say things I shouldn't have. Should I admit my mistake by saying I was drunk and talking nonsense?"

"I want to cry."

Before looking up with a smile, Song Shi'an uttered those two words as a final gesture.

"Shi An, go back and get some rest, and prepare to take up your post."

After those ten seconds or so, the chance to whisper was gone, and the King of Wu could only offer him polite words of concern.

And so the two parted ways.

Song Shi'an, drunk, got into the sedan chair and headed for the palace.

The word "want to cry" is so concise; how exactly should it be understood?
But the King of Wu only knew that his excuse of drunken ramblings was rejected by Song Shi'an.

There is indeed a saying that people talk nonsense when they are drunk, but more often than not, they speak the truth when they are drunk.

He himself had acted improperly, and trying to shift the blame to the wine would only make the emperor dislike him even more.

Cry, cry? Cry!
The King of Wu was still puzzled, but he was already brewing tears.

Then, he asked the eunuch beside him, "Where is His Majesty now?"

"Your Highness, we are at the Divine Palace."

"Take me to the Divine Palace."

.........

Inside the Divine Palace, after reviewing some memorials, the emperor asked Chen Bao, who was standing beside him, "How long has the banquet been over?"

"It's only been about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn," Chen Bao said. "Should we summon His Highness Prince Jin and His Highness Prince Wu to come together?"

"No," the Emperor said. "Tell them to go back to their residences and rest, and not to come and pay their respects. Any reports needed at the Qionglin Banquet can be made after they have sobered up."

The emperor certainly disliked his son's transgressions. What could he do? Kill him?

Let's just assume he was drunk and talking nonsense, let it go this time, and hope he doesn't do it again next time.

However, if he truly believes this matter is over and done with, or even 'forgot' about it...

That shows they don't respect their father, the emperor, at all.

"Yes."

Chen Bao prepared to go down and give the notice.

Just then, a eunuch came in and reported, "Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Wu requests an audience."

Oh, you came straight here?
The emperor hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

Then he asked, "Where?"

"Your Majesty, it's right outside the palace."

"Summon the King of Wu to the palace."

The emperor leaned back on his dragon throne, as steady as a mountain, waiting for his son to come and argue with him.

How unintentional, how innocent he was! "Summon His Highness Prince Wu—"

Soon, the King of Wu walked in, clearly somewhat drunk, but he tried his best to appear sober.

Upon arriving before the emperor, he immediately knelt down: "Father, I have done something wrong!"

His voice trembled.

What did you do wrong?

The emperor looked at his 'fragile' appearance and asked.

The next moment, when he raised his head, his eyes were already a little moist, and he said with a clear sob, "Your subject was too clever for his own good and ruined Father's plans."

"Oh, what did you do at the Qionglin Banquet?" the emperor asked, feigning curiosity.

So he told the emperor everything that had happened at the banquet that day.

Upon hearing this, the emperor's expression turned slightly serious. However, he remained calm throughout, showing no sign of anger.

"Your Majesty, I think that Yangzhou has so many officials and has always been a major province for the imperial examinations. However, this year there are only three Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) from Yangzhou. I then speculate that it is because Your Majesty is dissatisfied with the fact that the Yangzhou aristocratic families are forming alliances and protecting each other, thus alienating themselves from the court. So..." As the Prince of Wu spoke, he choked up even more, "so he said those kinds of things to suppress and remind the people of Yangzhou."

"You guessed correctly, I do indeed have grievances. Especially when Ji Yuan invaded the north, I felt even more disgusted with those people in Yangzhou." The emperor fully admitted, and then asked, "Then why do you think that I was being presumptuous and made a mistake?"

"Your Majesty's son thought this move would make the people of Yangzhou grateful for Your Majesty's grace, thus bringing them closer to the court," the Prince of Wu said with particular regret. "But after seeing the fearful reactions of those scholars, I realized my mistake. Those words only caused unease and unrest, leading to further alienation from the scholars..."

As Song Shi'an cried and apologized, King Wu gradually understood what he truly meant.

Admit the mistake, but not admit to overstepping the bounds of that mistake.

Or perhaps he was just too oblivious to realize that doing so made him feel like an emperor.

He was simply thinking that his father was angry with the people of Yangzhou, and he wanted to avenge his father.

He just wanted to help his father relieve his worries about this matter.

He made a mistake, but what was his mistake?
The mistake was causing trouble for my father and ruining things.

So, I cried with regret and sadness.

Fortunately, Song Shi'an taught me, otherwise I really wouldn't have been able to get through this!
The King of Wu did not wail, but he seemed genuinely remorseful. This touched the Emperor, who said with concern, "Zisheng, you are right. You did make a mistake, but the mistake lies elsewhere. It is that you do not understand how to cultivate our own power."

"Please enlighten me, Father." He looked at the emperor honestly.

"Of course we must suppress Yangzhou, but we cannot suppress all the people of Yangzhou in one fell swoop," the emperor said. "On the contrary, we should promote and give important positions to those in Yangzhou who are loyal to the court. This is the proper way to suppress the remaining deeply rooted aristocratic families."

“Your Majesty is wise! Your son… suddenly understands.” The King of Wu showed an understanding expression and said, “Then, afterward, could we have the Ministry of Personnel summon these three Yangzhou scholars separately and try to win them over?”

“Yes.” The emperor smiled and raised his hand. “This is the combination of kindness and severity.”

That's how the matter was resolved.

Moreover, it's not just about repairing things; it's about using a combination of incentives to win people over.

Having caused no major trouble for his father, the King of Wu was completely relieved.

"Why all the weeping and wailing?" the emperor said, unusually kind. "Saying one wrong word doesn't mean you're completely finished."

"Your Majesty's teachings are correct; I will remember them."

King Wu gradually composed himself and said calmly.

"Next time there's a Qionglin Banquet, you'll be more experienced," the emperor said casually.

These words melted the heart of the King of Wu.

I'll still host the next Qionglin Banquet myself.

Although it wasn't explicitly stated whether it was separate from Prince Jin, he was undoubtedly the emperor's preferred successor.

You passed!
"Your subject will strive to improve and never make such a foolish mistake again." King Wu prostrated himself in worship.

As he lowered his head, the emperor above him spoke in a calm voice: "Did Song Shi'an teach you to say these words?"

…………

Would the King of Wu tell the emperor that he taught him?

Song Shi'an was quite concerned about this.

As long as he cries there, he'll basically get through the challenge.

After all, the emperor wasn't some kind of demon. He just wanted to discipline the prince and hone his abilities and shrewdness. He wouldn't kick him out of the game over such a trivial matter.

That's ridiculous, isn't he just a pure tyrant?
Just don't mention me.

After leaving the palace in a sedan chair, Song Shi'an got off.

Outside the palace gates, imperial carriages would escort the scholars back to their lodgings.

However, those from Sheng'an didn't need to go through that; they were all scions of prominent families, and their families came to pick them up directly.

"Sir, please."

Song Gan had someone first get Song Ce, who was even more drunk, onto the carriage.

Song Shi'an waited to get on the bus.

"Young Master, let me help you..."

"No need, I'm just a little tipsy."

Song Shi'an refused outright and waited on the side.

Just then, someone poked me from behind.

Song Shi'an turned his head, and Xin Yue, who had been entrusted by the princess to see Song Ce, was about to speak...

Suddenly, Song Shi'an, who was in a daze, lost his balance and fell onto her.

Seeing this, Xinyue quickly reached out her hands and caught him.

Just like that, she put her arms around his waist and gently placed her hands on his back.

Why do you always have to get this drunk every time you drink?