Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 236 Imprisoned by the Prince of Yan

Conson, what are you doing?
This was the first time Song Shi'an had ever seen this good-for-nothing make such a dashing move.

This idea must have come from someone else, and it was Gongsun Xing who came up with it.

Why?

Gongsun Xing is the current prime minister. Without his request, who would dare to give up his position to me?

This move does indeed have several advantages, for both countries.

Yan will be safe in the long term.

Furthermore, it will weaken the Great Yu to some extent.

The Great Yu Kingdom, on the other hand, was able to easily resolve this crisis, save 5,000 gold coins, and have ample time to cultivate land.

What are the downsides?
I'm not even in Dayu, why would I hoard chicken feathers?

Originally, this was something I wanted to do alone, but the whole world opposed it. Now that I'm leaving, Sun Situ and the others will probably be ecstatic.

Damn it.

Song Shi'an suddenly realized that this move was actually quite ruthless.

Because it created a win-win situation.

This victory even included himself—because he was promoted.

If he could make the decision himself, he would definitely refuse.

If the emperor were to make the decision, he would refuse.

But if this news were to reach the Great Yu...

Then their attitude will be influenced by the powerful families.

"Your Highness, this is five thousand taels of gold."

Song Shi'an feigned amusement and pointed at the two boxes: "You could easily pull out an army of ten thousand men on the spot, are you really going to trade them for me?"

These words struck a chord with Conson.

Five thousand gold pieces is far too much; the Great Yan treasury has never held five thousand gold pieces at any given moment.

He knew even better about Song Shi'an's role.

It's no use just saying how awesome this person is.

But Conson witnessed it firsthand; he verbally abused a living person to death right in front of him!

This thing is so amazing!

"Let alone five thousand taels of gold, even ten thousand taels would be worth it to exchange for you to become the prime minister of Yan," Kang Xun said generously.

"What if Your Majesty were really given ten thousand gold pieces?"

"...I won't change it!"

Kangxun almost had his sincerity tested by this kid.

If I were given ten thousand gold coins, I would definitely exchange them.

This money could transform the Yan state into a powerful nation on the spot.

But how could we possibly give him so much gold?

It was clearly a trap she set for herself, a test to see what he was thinking.

Don't fall for it.

“Your Majesty, you are joking,” Song Shi’an said. “Only in Dayu can I guarantee these things to you. Because it is all my promise. Including that road, if someone else had been in charge, they wouldn’t have had the same obligation or been as dedicated.”

Song Shi'an reminded Kang Xun in an almost threatening tone: Stop messing around, aren't you annoying?
“With you here, sir, I feel at ease.” Kang Xun continued to press, “If Your Majesty wishes to establish military farms, engage in commerce, and reform the bureaucracy in Yan, the entire Yan state will support you.”

“But I am a Yu person, and I only know how to serve the Great Yu,” Song Shi’an said. “Even if you keep me here and make me the prime minister, I still won’t be able to change the current situation of the Yan state.”

"Then what about my Yan state, which is willing to submit to Dayu and form a military alliance to attack Qi?"

As soon as he said that, Song Shi'an knew he was in trouble.

This Gongsun Xing is too ruthless.

If this request were made public, not only would the officials of Dayu unanimously support it, but even the emperor might agree.

Do you think that this old Wei really wanted to establish military farms, strengthen the country, and plan to unify the world for future generations?

wrong.

He only had one thought in mind: to secure the throne for the Wei family.

The formation of a military alliance between Yan and Yu ensured that even if they couldn't destroy Qi, they could prevent Qi from freely invading southwards during the decades-long reign of Ji Yuan and achieve any significant results.

Moreover, he himself, the hidden powerful minister, was directly sent away.

The emperor's worries were gone.

Gongsun Xing, you son of a bitch...

"Then Your Highness, you must be prepared to get nothing."

Song Shi'an smiled and bowed to him with utmost composure.

Don't let yourself be the only one bothered.

This statement truly startled Conson.

But he also realized that Wei Ye was the one who could make the decisions.

Just as Gongsun Xing said, we should think from the emperor's perspective.

Song Shi'an didn't bribe anyone, but offered gifts only to himself. Wasn't that what he did too?
Go and win over the person who actually makes the decision.

"I am only looking for a good prime minister for the people of Yan. If you stay here for a while, you will feel the warmth and the support of the people."

Conson ended the conversation there and readily agreed to part with the gold: "Then please let the magistrate's men take this gold back first."

"Then I'll take my leave."

Song Shi'an prepared to leave, displeased.

"Please wait, Your Excellency." Kang Xun smiled. "I have many things to discuss with you. It's too much trouble to travel back and forth between the palace and the post station every time. Please stay here tonight."

Good grief, they've even restricted personal freedom.

"Then I shall respectfully comply."

…………

The two large chests of gold were returned to the post station intact.

Those who were already anxiously awaiting the results had to hold a small meeting. This included Xin Yue and San Gou, two of Song Shi'an's trusted confidants.

At this moment, Zuo Ziliang, who had put the gold back in its place, also arrived at the main hall of the post station.

"Master Zuo, what happened?" Envoy Zhou Tong asked anxiously. "Why was the gold returned, but the magistrate has not returned?"

"I do not know either."

Zuo Ziliang shook his head and looked at Xin Yue. He thought she would know something, but he found that she was also confused and had a faint worry.

It's okay that Song Shi'an didn't come back.

The King of Yan wanted to keep him for one night, so what was there to be afraid of?

The key issue is that the money was refunded.

This means that the matter was not resolved.

"Could it be because the Earl cursed that old man to death in court today? So, the Prince of Yan is blaming him?" San Gou suddenly asked.

"Is it really because he humiliated these ministers in court that they held a grudge against him?"

"That's because you lost the argument, so who can you blame?"

"Why don't we go find Lu Chao..."

Seeing that the delegation's emotions were wavering and confused, Zuo Ziliang spoke up: "When I returned, I did not see the Envoy. I think that no matter what has happened, we should follow his instructions."

It means that one should not act without authorization.

“We can’t even see him now…” Zhou Tong said, “Master Zuo, how about I, as an envoy, invite him into the palace?”

“No, he won’t let you in,” Zuo Ziliang said. “If we could really talk, he wouldn’t keep quiet about nothing to me.”

"I go."

At this moment, Xin Yue said in an icy tone.

Everyone turned to look at her.

Finally, Zuo Ziliang spoke up: "If we don't act as a delegation, it's certainly worth a try."

.........

The King of Yan was in his bedchamber, with the Queen beside him.

But he couldn't sleep at all; he was thinking about what Song Shi'an had said.

I'm also thinking about what Gongsun Xing said.

He was even more thinking about the five thousand gold coins.

He understood the reasoning, but that was a national treasury's worth of gold!

Just then, a eunuch from outside the palace came to report.

"Your Majesty," the eunuch said, "Consort Wu is outside requesting an audience."

"Consort Wu?" The Prince of Yan asked, puzzled. "Didn't I send her to Song Shi'an's place?"

Hearing this, the queen sat up and cursed, "That vixen, usually so slutty, was kicked out for serving a man today? Useless thing."

Conson frowned and said, "Then let her in."

Then, a woman, looking aggrieved and with tears streaming down her face, entered and knelt before their bed, complaining, "Your Majesty, I had just entered when Song Shi'an tried to make me leave."

The emperor's concubines were indeed very noble.

But a domineering king was just a beautiful woman, used only for diplomacy.

I can even share my wife (though she's young) with you, don't you feel my sincerity?

"You said you don't have an identity?" Conson asked.

“I told him, and then he called me ‘Madam’ and asked me to leave,” she continued.

It turns out that Song Shi'an initially thought it was a palace maid serving him in bed, so he simply told her to get lost.

Upon hearing that she was the wife of the Prince of Yan, he politely told her to get lost.

Get out, all of you!

"Didn't you take even a little more initiative?" Conson asked again.

Actually, when Wu Meiren went in and saw such a handsome man sitting on the bed, she was quite happy. After she went over, although he told her to roll over on her own, she still took the initiative to stick close to him, rubbing against him and taking off her clothes, but she was still not moved at all.

Feeling bored and ashamed, she left.

But she couldn't say that.

She could only shake her head, looking pitiful: "After all, the other party is not the king, so I cannot take the initiative..."

"Useless is useless, why are you spouting this nonsense?" The Queen pointed at the vixen, utterly disgusted.

"Alright, you may leave."

Conson didn't make things difficult for him, he just sighed.

So, Lady Wu left the palace in tears.

"Your Majesty, what exactly does Song Shi'an want?" the Queen asked, puzzled. "At twenty-one, he's unwilling to become the Prime Minister of Yan?"

“He definitely wants to be the prime minister of Dayu,” Kang Xun said.

"His ambition is truly grand," the Queen exclaimed, then asked, "If he doesn't dedicate himself fully to his work here, what's the point of him staying?"

"He himself is far more valuable than people like Ji Hui and Kang Yi."

But what to do next? Conson was truly at a loss.

Was this move the right one?
If the State of Yan can win, can we also win?

If we don't force Song Shi'an to stay, we're guaranteed to win.

Just then, a eunuch rushed in to report: "Your Majesty, Song Shi'an's wife requests to enter the palace to take care of him."

"Where did Song Shi'an get a wife?" Kang Xun asked, puzzled.

“That person should be one of the envoys who came with Song Shi’an, and is called the Moon Envoy. She claims to be Song Shi’an’s betrothed, but her greetings were rejected. Since her husband is still missing, she asked to enter the palace to stay with him through thick and thin,” the eunuch said.

"Send her back to the inn..."

Before Kang Xun could finish speaking, he quickly changed his mind and said, "Never mind, let her go into the palace to find Song Shi'an."

"Aren't we keeping him from seeing anyone?" the Queen asked.

"That's true," the Prince of Yan said helplessly, "but if word gets out that I've placed Song Shi'an under house arrest, Great Yan can't afford that risk."

(End of this chapter)