Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 242 Nobody Wants Song Shi'an Back

Night falls at the Song residence.

Only Song Jing and Song Ce were in the main hall.

The matter concerning Song Shi'an was conveyed by a messenger sent by the King of Wu. Song Jing had not yet made it public, also because he did not want the household to be thrown into chaos before the matter even occurred.

However, he still discussed it with Song Ce, the youngest son in his family.

However, while the two were chatting, Song Qin carefully walked in, carrying tea and snacks.

The two men remained silent, watching as she furtively placed the tea and snacks in front of them...

"You've come twice in just a short time. Are you usually this filial and sensible?" Song Jing looked at her speechlessly.

"I just wanted to be filial to you and respect my elder brother," Song Qin muttered. "It's rare for me to be diligent, and you still criticize me like this."

"I know," Song Jing said impatiently. "Go back to your room and go to sleep. Don't come over again."

"Oh……"

Song Qin lowered her head in disappointment and slowly left the house.

After she left, Song Ce took the opportunity to say, "This can't be kept a secret forever. Why don't we let the young lady know?"

"You've already become a little more worldly-wise," Song Jing commented.

Standing in this position, one must consider the country's interests, so many things have to be done in a more respectable and formal manner.

But if the women in the family were to argue about it and then blow the issue out of proportion, then things would be different.

I'm just a simple woman and I don't know much, but all I know is that my son is serving as an envoy for the country. Why won't you people let him come back?
I don't care, I just want my son!

The Jiang family had a major falling out.

Song Jing cited the excuse that staying at home was not relaxing, so he continued to stay at his workplace and did not go home.

After a few days, will the leaders still be able to turn a blind eye to this?

of course.

It's somewhat useful, but not very useful.

“But we still need to seek real help for this matter,” Song Jing said solemnly.

At this moment, Song Gan hurriedly arrived to report: "Master, young master, the Sixth Prince has arrived."

"Sixth Prince?" Song Jing pondered for a moment, then said, "Go and invite him quickly."

"Yes, sir."

Song Gan immediately went downstairs.

Song Ce also intended to leave for a moment, but Song Jing pressed his hand down, saying, "Ce'er, you stay here for now."

"Yes, father."

Song Ce stayed here.

After a while, Song Gan led a man dressed in plain clothes and walked briskly through the mansion at night.

Just then, Song Qin, who was hiding behind a tree, caught a glimpse of the figure entering her lobby...

"Your subject Song Jing pays respects to His Highness the Prince of Zhongshan."

Song Jing took the initiative to stand up and bow, and Song Ce followed suit.

Wei Wusheng said quite calmly, "Your Excellency, I came alone this time, precisely because I don't want to appear to be 'colluding' with anyone. So, there's no need for further formalities."

"Okay." Song Jing nodded, then said to Song Ce, "Ce'er, you go back first."

"Jingming, why don't you stay here and discuss this with us?"

Wei Wusheng did not ignore the prince consort and spoke without any concern.

"Yes, Your Highness."

So the three of them didn't even sit down, but stood in the hall and began to discuss important matters.

"His Highness the Prince of Wu has sent a message, so the officials in the capital must know about it, right?" Wei Wusheng asked first.

“Kang Xun kept him in Yan and mentioned certain conditions, which I know,” Song Jing said.

"That's all." Seeing that no further explanation was needed, Wei Wusheng asked, "Then, Your Excellency, what do you think?"

"Your Highness," Song Jing said after a brief silence, "I am the Minister of Works, and I am aware that the national treasury is short 20,000 taels of gold."

"Didn't Shi An tell you about this before?" Wei Wusheng asked.

"I know, how could I let him go?" Song Jing said unhappily.

"Sigh." Wei Wusheng sighed as well, quite displeased, "I never expected him to make such a bet with His Majesty. If he had told me beforehand, I would never have let him go to Yan!"

"Failure to complete the mission means losing one's head," Song Jing cursed. "Perhaps it's a good thing that this brat is now serving as prime minister in Yan."

"Please don't think that way."

Seeing his father's reaction, Wei Wusheng quickly advised, "Even if we spend gold and fail to complete the mission, I will do my best to save his life. But we cannot let him stay in Yan."

“Yes, Father,” Song Ce chimed in, “I don’t know whether my brother was respectfully invited to become prime minister or offended someone and was held hostage in Yan…”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Wei Wusheng nodded repeatedly. “Shi An must return to China.”

“But this is a difficult matter,” Song Jing said. “How many people has he offended in Sheng’an? Given this opportunity, how could they let it pass? They definitely won’t let Shi’an return to the country.”

“So, we must fight for this,” Wei Wusheng said in a low voice. “His Highness the Prince of Wu told me that his people will oppose this matter. And I will also argue my case based on reason.”

"What does Your Highness require of me?" Song Jing asked uncertainly.

“As Shi’an’s father, and in this position, it’s not easy for you to speak, Du Tang. Please remain silent until then,” Wei Wusheng said. “However, when His Majesty asks you personally, please speak of your reluctance.”

If you give other reasons, people will morally blackmail you: You hold such a high position, and the emperor has promised the Song family such great wealth and honor, are you not even willing to sacrifice for the country?

But you have to admit, I really can't bear to part with my son.

If anyone makes a nasty remark at this point, you can ask: "Okay, then you'll send your son over there too?"

The art of language.

"I understand," Song Jing affirmed.

Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and Song Qin, carrying a cup of tea, timidly said, "I've come to bring tea..."

After being stopped time and again, Song Jing finally snapped: "I told you not to come! Don't you understand?"

Startled by the shout, Song Qin's hand trembled, and the tea tray in her hand fell to the ground.

Her eyes instantly reddened.

"Your Highness, please don't be angry. My sister meant well," Wei Wusheng quickly pleaded. "Please don't scold her." "Your Highness, she is simply being disrespectful."

“My little sister is still young. I beg you, Your Excellency, to let her off the hook in this small matter,” Wei Wusheng joked. “She’s even crying from fright.”

"Your Highness, I'm truly sorry to have made you laugh." Song Jing said, embarrassed, and then waved his hand, dismissing Song Qin.

She quickly retreated.

"Your Excellency, please rest assured about this matter." Getting back to the main point, Wei Wusheng promised, "I have sworn a blood oath with him, vowing to live and die together. As long as I live, he will be in no danger."

"Your Highness, Shi An has truly followed a benevolent king." Song Jing bowed gratefully.

“Jingming, thank you, Your Highness.” Song Ce did the same.

He helped the two men up, then said hastily, "I must go now, please don't see me off."

"Ce'er, go see His Highness off..."

"No, no, don't stand on ceremony, I need to leave right away."

After saying that, Wei Wusheng opened the door and left quickly without any delay.

The two watched them go.

After he could no longer see, Song Ce asked, somewhat puzzled, "Father, why did you say that?"

Although Song Ce didn't understand, he still pretended to ask his father to save Song Shi'an along with Wei Wusheng.

Let him make his act seem real.

"You think I'm lying?" Song Jing laughed, then asked with a hint of helplessness, "Is Sheng'an really safer than Yan?"

"But my brother must be saved."

"That's natural."

Song Jing only had some pessimistic thoughts, but his attitude remained firm: "But this is really difficult."

“If it were just you, Father, it would indeed be difficult. But the King of Wu would also speak up for us; his words should carry a lot of weight, right?” Song Ce asked, puzzled.

“You just went along with my act, but the King of Wu and His Majesty are father and son.”

Song Jing's words hit the nail on the head, making Song Ce suddenly realize the truth.

"So, Your Majesty wants the King of Wu to be the good guy." Song Ce understood.

Now that the King of Wu is being regarded as the successor, how could he possibly have a conflict of interest with the emperor?
Their interests are highly aligned.

"In this world, besides us, the only one who truly wants Song Shi'an to return is this Sixth Prince," Song Jing sighed with a touch of melancholy.

Song Ce also sensed the sincerity within him.

"Father, does His Majesty have made up his mind that he doesn't want my brother to come back?" Song Ce asked.

"This matter is so private; if he wanted to, he would have simply refused. Why did he specifically convene this court assembly?"

Fun fact: Your boss will never tell you what you don't want to do.

Since a meeting has been held, the purpose is to reach a consensus on the ideas he wants.

Song Ce was at a loss and was in a dilemma.

“Ce’er,” Song Jing said, pulling himself out of this mess, “Tomorrow, go and comfort your sister.”

"Father, why tomorrow?" Song Ce asked.

Song Jing shook his head: "I don't know."

.........

Song Qin sniffled, choking back tears as she walked, feeling particularly dejected.

"Why are you still crying?"

Then he ran into Wei Wusheng, who was about to leave the mansion.

Upon hearing the voice, Song Qin immediately stopped. Turning around in surprise, she saw that it was the Queen of Zhongshan and immediately performed a proper lady's curtsy: "Greetings... Your Highness."

"Judging from what your father said, it seems that you came in to serve tea more than once while he was discussing business?" Wei Wusheng found it a bit funny.

"I'm sorry," Song Qin lowered her head and explained, "but I didn't hear anything..."

"Then why do this?"

"..." After being asked this question, Song Qin explained, "Someone came to the manor today. After talking to Father, he has been frowning ever since. He didn't eat and he and Song Ce kept talking in the main hall."

"Oh, so you're worried about Dad, right?"

“Father has so many worries, he can’t possibly keep track of them all,” Song Qin said. “But Song Shi’an has been gone for so long, and it’s such a secret matter, it’s causing Father so much trouble, so I’m a little worried that it might be related to him…”

"Are you and your brother that close?" Wei Wusheng asked with interest.

"It's alright, I guess."

Actually, it was just average, or rather, normal.

The two did not interact much at the mansion.

But on the day Song Shi'an was about to go to his death in Beiliang, he suddenly hugged her and Song Ce and said, "Brother will always love you..."

"Then promise me that this will be a secret and you won't reveal it," Wei Wusheng said seriously, looking into her eyes.

Song Qin looked up, and her cheeks flushed slightly when she saw the other person's face. She then nodded and said, "Yes, I won't tell anyone."

Mysteriously, Wei Wusheng lowered his voice and said, "The King of Yan wants to keep your brother as the prime minister in Yan, but don't worry, we are working on a way to make sure he doesn't stay there."

"..." Song Qin was quite surprised that it was such a thing. However, she quickly calmed down, pursed her lips, and gave him a very reserved bow, "Thank you...you care so much about my brother."

The girl was so adorable that Wei Wusheng felt as if he were seeing Changqing again when he was a child.

That is, her sister-in-law.

Even though they are about the same age now.

"Hold on."

Wei Wusheng rolled up his sleeves.

Song Qin just stared blankly until the other person took out some loose silver and held it out to her.

She weakly extended her palm.

After handing the money to the other person, Wei Wusheng said affectionately, "Tomorrow, go to the market with Changqing and buy some good food."

(End of this chapter)