Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 212 Kill another Yu Envoy!
Under the moonlight, a rustling sound—

"Brother Ziliang, have I been discovered?"

Song Shi'an also moved closer, unbuckled his belt, and relieved himself alongside Song Shi'an.

“Hmm,” Zuo Ziliang said. “My men saw your man talking to Kang Yi’s wife and overheard some of the conversation. However, it seems that the woman deliberately lured them there.”

“I guessed so,” Song Shi’an said. “They’re delaying handing over that thing because they’re worried I’ll eat it all by myself.”

"You really are a prophet," Zuo Ziliang laughed, teasingly adding, "Since it's true, why not just conduct a forced body search?"

"The fact that he was able to hide it for so many years means he hid it very well," Song Shi'an said. "We should try our best to trick him into revealing it. Otherwise, if he turns hostile and destroys it or threatens to kill himself, things could easily go wrong."

"I'll listen to you," Zuo Ziliang agreed. "Let's continue acting."

“And then, as always, don’t let anyone know,” Song Shi’an said. “It’s not that I don’t trust the Embroidered Uniform Guard…”

“I understand. These people are very straightforward and rough in their dealings, unlike spies or scouts. They definitely can’t do delicate work.” Zuo Ziliang shuddered and looked at Song Shi’an. “Everything still depends on you, my lord.”

"That's what I think too. We still need Brother Ziliang's help."

Song Shi'an also shuddered, then pulled up his pants...

……

The princess finally understood.

Those Imperial Guards had no idea that Song Shi'an was fishing; they were just doing their job, monitoring everyone as if they were bad guys.

Xin Yue, the woman, was unaware of this matter. She was a die-hard fan of Song Shi'an and would do everything in her power to fulfill any request he made.

These two foxes!
How could you do this!

The princess glared at the man who had repeatedly teased and humiliated her, and lunged forward to bite him.

But he was easily subdued by Zuo Ziliang, who grabbed his arm with one hand.

He struck with extreme force, causing the young princess to burst into tears on the spot. She dared not struggle at all, because that would only cause more pain. Her anger towards Song Shi'an also became utterly ridiculous because of this casual suppression...

“I really didn’t expect that what your father left you would be this.” Holding the royal edict, Song Shi’an said with emotion.

Kang Yi glared at him, still filled with hatred.

"Hey." Zuo Ziliang, who had casually grabbed his wife, asked, "Since you have such a thing, why didn't you report it to His Majesty when Kangxun ascended the throne, so that we could send you to Northern Yan to be the king?"

These words made the princess regret her words.

Kang Yi, now enraged, declared with unwavering resolve, "No matter what, Kang Xun is a king appointed by the people of Yan themselves. I will never be a puppet supported by the people of Yu, never!"

He was very eloquent, but Zuo Ziliang was no less so, and he deliberately chose words that would break his defenses: "It seems your father's plan was good. He knew you wouldn't dare use this kind of worthless paper. Moreover, he used this worthless paper to keep you honest and obedient in Dayu for decades."

Kang Yi's neck immediately turned red, and he bit his lip, blood seeping into the gaps between his teeth.

Suddenly, he kowtowed heavily, determined to die.

He was unable to move because Xinyue was holding his head down.

"You lackey, what do you know about a king?" Kang Yi, his face covered in blood, said to Zuo Ziliang with disgust, "You dare to speak presumptuously about the Prince of Yan..."

"Kang Yi is truly useless."

At this moment, Song Shi'an looked at the imperial edict and said, "I didn't realize at all that your father wanted you to take this edict to Liaodong to become king."

Kang Yi froze.

The pupils trembled violently.

He didn't care at all about being called a good-for-nothing; the real problem was his father, whom no one else approved of...

Song Shi'an did not insult him.

So, you're playing the good cop/bad cop role?
Zuo Ziliang immediately saw through it, so he cooperated and said, "Perhaps his father saw his weakness and pedantry, which is why he made that promise? If he really wanted him to succeed to the throne, he should have negotiated with our Great Yu when the country was stable and exchanged hostages with Kang Xun."

In fact, this is also what puzzled Kang Yi.

He truly believed in his father, but on countless lonely nights, his faith would occasionally waver.

Why can't it be the younger brother?
“If it really is a scam.” However, Song Shi’an did not answer, but sighed softly, “When the old Prince Yan died, it would have been enough to pass the throne directly to Kangxun.”

This sentence caused Zuo Ziliang and Kang Yi to freeze for a moment simultaneously.

Indeed, there are suspicious points everywhere.

However, there is an indefinable paradox.

If the old Prince Yan's intention was to lure him away so that he wouldn't cause trouble in Dayu, and to consolidate his power, wouldn't it have been the most secure way to pass the throne to his younger brother upon his death?

Why pass the throne to Kang Yi? It would give those old ministers the opportunity to "mess up the government" and leave room for criticism later.

A single tear slid down Kang Yi's cheek...

Zuo Ziliang truly admired Song Shi'an.

"Xinyue, I'm leaving."

After Song Shi'an took the imperial edict, he prepared to leave.

Xin Yue carefully released her grip, but Kang Yi, who was being controlled, did not struggle. So, she escorted Song Shi'an away.

Zuo Ziliang also left.

Before leaving, he gave instructions to the two guards, telling them to keep a close watch on their every move and not even give them a chance to commit suicide.

"What do we do now?!" The princess collapsed, unable to bear it any longer, and roared at him, "I told you when you ascended the throne to go find the emperor, but you refused. I didn't even know you had this edict... Now, what do we do?!" At that time, Kang Yi's explanation for refusing him was that it was too dangerous to go back now. Those old ministers had all helped Kang Xun ascend the throne, and they would not tolerate their return to the country.

But now, after hearing Song Shi'an's words, the young master's wife also felt that this was the only chance.

After waiting for more than a decade, and having secured his position, there was still absolutely no chance!
"What do we do?" Kang Yi slowly sat up, gave a bitter smile, looked at her, and said sadly, "Even the royal decree is gone. We're just hostages now. What else can we do?"

We are at their mercy, like fish on a chopping board!
.........

"Then what about the Kang Yi family..." Zuo Ziliang asked in Song Shi'an's room, "Should we just lock them up in jail to avoid any trouble?"

Song Shi'an said, "Give them a house, and set up more guards around it. Then, send them some good clothes and food, and raise them like pigs."

After a moment's thought, Zuo Ziliang nodded in agreement with the suggestion, saying, "That makes sense. Their spirits are already dead. If we push them any further, they might really try to kill themselves."

Even in prison, with someone watching, it's possible for someone to suddenly have a moment of despair and kill themselves by running into a brick wall.

They were kept in captivity with good food and drink, and gradually forgot about it.

Then, they returned to the royal edict.

Looking at it on the table, Zuo Ziliang said solemnly, "You must use this thing well."

"Yes, used well, it is better than 100,000 soldiers."

"The entire Yan state only has about 100,000 soldiers," Zuo Ziliang joked. "What, you think you can just switch countries?"

"But if they fight us, there will be more than 100,000 soldiers."

“Indeed, it’s a three-way war,” Zuo Ziliang agreed, then asked, “This thing is definitely going to be used this time. But, to whom should we give it?”

"What advice do you have for me, Brother Ziliang?" Song Shi'an asked.

“No, I have given you no instructions,” Zuo Ziliang said. “I’ve followed your instructions completely on this mission, just like with this scheme. Of course, if it’s too confidential, you don’t have to tell me.”

"There are no secrets between you and me."

After Song Shi'an finished speaking with a smile, he slowly leaned closer, covered his mouth, and whispered a name.

"..."

Then Zuo Ziliang couldn't help but slap the table in admiration for the plan, saying, "Lord Song, Lord Song, how did you come up with such brilliant ideas?"

That's absolutely brilliant.

Zuo Ziliang considered sending it to a series of important figures in the Yan Kingdom, but none of them thought of that one person.

"You flatter me," Song Shi'an said modestly. "I just think this is the easiest way."

“In that case…” Zuo Ziliang said somewhat seriously, “this mission must be approached with utmost care.”

"What does Brother Ziliang mean?" Song Shi'an asked.

"Our envoy was definitely not killed at Kang Xun's request. If it was Chen Xing who bribed him, why would the person being bribed agree?" Zuo Ziliang said with certainty, "Because that person is the iron-fisted Qi faction."

Having reached that position, how could I be short of money?
Offering more money can indeed sway people.

But at its core, the two parties reached a consensus on their interests.

“In that case, he will definitely stop us from entering Yan.” Zuo Ziliang leaned forward, looking at Song Shi’an, and reminded him, “Because once we enter the country, things will change. If Kang Xun changes his mind, he will definitely punish the person who killed our envoy without permission.”

“Therefore,” Song Shi’an also became serious, “if we were to conduct our diplomatic mission normally…”

"They are very likely to suffer a terrible fate."

.........

"Lord Qin, it seems they've found out about me!"

In the main hall of a military fortress, a robust warrior, about fifty years old and dressed in a magnificent robe, sat in his seat.

In front of him stood a middle-aged captain.

Huang Tong.

He knelt before Duke Qin, pleading in great fear, "Duke Qin, you must protect me!"

"With me here, what are you panicking for?" Duke Qin said.

“Song Shi’an is going to enter Yan. That man defeated Ji Yuan…” he said with great fear. “If the king is moved and does not form an alliance with Qi, he will definitely investigate the killing of the Yu envoy.”

A mere captain will surely be thrown out like trash.

After all, it was him who did it.

However, the people in charge are Duke Qin and Chen Xing.

"They haven't arrived yet, have they?" Qin Gong said.

"But the delegation will be there soon..."

"Don't panic."

Interrupting Huang Tong's incessant grumbling, Duke Qin, after deep thought, revealed a somewhat cold look in his eyes: "Using the king's order that it is inconvenient to receive envoys, we will lock down the country and keep Song Shi'an occupied."

"But he insists on coming?"

"Then kill another Yu envoy."

(End of this chapter)