Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 245 The Embroidered Uniform Guard Returns to Sheng'an
King Wu Zhao Yi and Ye Changqing walked together in the alley, their faces somewhat somber.

At that moment, Wei Wusheng walked past him.

"Wu Sheng," the King of Wu called out to him.

Wei Wusheng stopped and gave him a perfunctory bow with both hands before continuing to walk forward.

This scene made the King of Wu lose face.

But at that moment, Ye Changqing pinched Wu Wang's thigh hard.

"You scoundrel!" Even though it was incredibly embarrassing, the King of Wu forced himself to say, "Wait for me outside."

After slowing his pace slightly, Wei Wusheng continued walking out of the alley.

The Prince of Jin's move was indeed well executed.

This created a rift in the relationship between the two brothers.

"Your Highness," Ye Changqing said in a low, serious voice, "please tell the truth."

"it is good."

The King of Wu understood his meaning and nodded.

Then, he quickly walked out of the alley.

At this moment, the group of old ministers behind them, led by Minister Sun, took in the whole scene.

Only Sun Situ dared to laugh.

Your Majesty, you may be a good emperor, but as a father, you are really not as good as me.

The emperor's other two sons, the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Zhongping, walked out expressionlessly, keeping everything to themselves.

But today, King Zhongping was especially pleased that his second brother had truly learned how to retaliate.

If this happens, even if Fourth Brother and Wusheng are brothers, they'll have to break up!
.........

In Wei Wusheng's royal carriage, the King of Wu followed. Upon seeing his younger brother, whose expression was extremely cold, he immediately spoke up to defend himself, saying, "Didn't you see? His Majesty is determined to keep Song Shi'an in Yan. It's not that I'm unwilling to save him."

“Since you, King Wu, know this, why did you still speak out in court?” Wei Wusheng retorted.

"You clearly know everything, so why are you asking me?" King Wu frowned somewhat embarrassedly and clicked his tongue. "Do you think King Jin is better than me? At least he took the initiative to plead for me?"

“I don’t know.” Wu Sheng shook his head.

“He said that to oppose me. He didn’t genuinely want to save Song Shi’an… and it’s not about saving him. Song Shi’an is the prime minister of Yan, not a hostage,” King Wu said earnestly.

These inhuman words silenced Wei Wusheng.

Then, looking at the esteemed King of Wu, he said, "I understand. Fourth Brother wants to be the emperor, so he must obey the emperor. Wu Sheng wants nothing, so I will go and save him myself."

"No!" King Wu cried out anxiously, but he had not yet lost his composure. He said with particular anguish, "Think about it, when has Father ever stopped doing what he wanted to do?"

"Tuntian" (military agricultural settlements).

“That only prevented Song Shi’an from establishing military farms. Today, haven’t all the ministers pledged their loyalty and agreed to cooperate with the military farms?” King Wu said. “Father is wiser than anyone else; he has thought of everything.”

"So, you're not going to save Song Shi'an?"

"I absolutely have to save him!"

The King of Wu immediately blushed, then lowered his voice and said, "You can see that Father's health is very poor. As long as I become emperor, I will definitely bring Song Shi'an back from Northern Yan. Five years, no, at most three years. I swear, I swear to Heaven!"

Wei Wusheng previously thought he understood some politics.

But now, they've been taught lesson after lesson.

The King of Wu is becoming more and more like those people.

He saw himself as a donkey with a carrot dangling in front of him.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Wei Wusheng slowly bowed.

"Wusheng, what are you thinking? Tell your fourth brother," the King of Wu asked eagerly.

"I have no idea, thank you Fourth Brother." Wei Wusheng forced a smile. "I want to go back to the Prince's Mansion to rest for a while."

He issued an order to leave.

"Don't worry, I won't let you down."

After saying this, King Wu had no choice but to leave for the time being.

Wei Wusheng slowly opened his hand, looking at the deep scar on his palm. The next moment, he clenched his fist and slammed it hard onto the carriage.

The solid wood cracked, and his thumb joint also split open, bleeding profusely...

A group of ministers expressed their loyalty to the military-agricultural colonies in the court and advocated for the Song dynasty to grant titles and honors, rendering all resistance futile.

This is a conspiracy.

In the past few days, the news that Song Shi'an was to become the prime minister of Yan State has spread throughout Sheng'an.

The matter was hotly debated in every street, alley, neighborhood, and market.

"Didn't the Yan Kingdom kill our envoy? Why are they still asking Lord Song to serve as their prime minister?"

"Did Lord Song agree?"

"This is the chancellor of a nation at just over twenty years old, second only to the emperor. Who would refuse?"

"Could he be under house arrest in Yan? Should we use him to exchange for the alliance?"

"What I heard was that he wanted to be the one himself, because he was greedy for wealth and honor. The news is certain."

"Nonsense! You've taken money from Minister Sun to deliberately smear Lord Song! Anyone with eyes can see who's happiest when he's not in Dayu. You people who take money and do things have no conscience at all."

"Don't talk nonsense. Do you dare say he doesn't want to be the prime minister from the bottom of his heart...?"

"It's truly disheartening. He risked his life to guard the north wind, only to return to jail. He risked his life on a diplomatic mission, yet some still say he's seeking wealth and power, wanting to become prime minister in another country. I say, since they're all ingrates, it would be better to let Song Shi'an be prime minister in Yan; at least then someone would appreciate him!"

Song Shi'an's reputation will not be tarnished by the malicious attacks of certain influential figures.

On the contrary, some ordinary people who think that Dayu is utterly corrupt will say: Please speed up!
However, this incident did not provoke public outrage like the previous imprisonment of Song Shi'an.

If things continue like this, it seems the matter is about to be settled...

A fast horse entered from outside the city. Zuo Ziliang, who was on the horse, was almost run to death. He barely managed to keep going into the city.

For six days and six nights, he only managed to catch a short nap each day when the horses rested briefly. Thanks to the high-ranking contact Xin Yue had given him, he had a token and traveled without hindrance, changing horses at least a dozen times before finally arriving in Sheng'an. Without daring to rest for a moment, he used his Embroidered Uniform Guard token to enter the palace.

I request an audience with His Majesty.

Meanwhile, in Xuanyu Hall, the emperor, upon learning of this, was astonished, his pupils dilating in shock: "Zuo Ziliang has returned?"

Chen Bao was also surprised.

He should be in the State of Yan, right?
Why did you come back without permission?

Furthermore, he had a mission on his shoulders: to monitor Song Shi'an.

Returning without permission is disobeying orders, a capital offense!

"Let him in," the emperor said coldly, leaning back on his dragon throne.

After a while, a rather haggard-looking man, whose body seemed about to crack, entered with difficulty and bowed to the emperor: "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

"Why have you returned?" the emperor asked.

"Your Majesty, Song Shi'an has been taken into custody by the Prince of Yan," Zuo Ziliang said directly.

The emperor was not surprised at all by this result.

If Kang Xun doesn't control Song Shi'an, how can he negotiate with me?
The emperor knew without a second thought that Song Shi'an was currently in the palace playing with Kang Xun.

So without even asking, he asked, "What do you have to report?"

Previously, Zuo Ziliang had written a letter delivered by express courier, saying that Song Shi'an had led troops on a mission and had tricked Kang Yi into revealing the royal edict.

The emperor is now asking about events that occurred in the Yan Kingdom.

“Your Majesty,” Zuo Ziliang said truthfully, “when entering Yan, Song Shi’an secretly hid someone in the baggage train to smuggle him through. Then, on Qin Che’s territory in Yan, he staged a near-assassination attempt to frame Qin Che, causing Kang Xun and Qin Che to turn against each other.”

"Did the Yan envoy believe it?" the emperor asked, somewhat speechless.

"Your Majesty, it is absolutely true," Zuo Ziliang said. "The arrow passed right in front of Song Shi'an. If it had been just a few inches off, he would have died on the spot."

Upon hearing this, the emperor fell silent.

Treachery and courage are not related.

"After entering Yan, he bribed Lu Chao and He Ji, and succeeded both times. In the palace, he gave the royal edict to Kang Xun, and the deal was basically finalized... Oh, there's one more thing," Zuo Ziliang said. "Song Shi'an cursed the veteran minister Wang Ding of two dynasties to death in the Yan court."

"..." The emperor was taken aback again.

No wonder His Majesty is making such a fuss. To actually berate someone to death, could this really be true?

"To be cursed to death?" Chen Bao asked, "To be cursed to death in the imperial court?"

“Yes, Wang Ding vomited half a liter of blood on the spot and died instantly. This matter has already spread throughout the Yan Kingdom, and even children in the countryside know about it,” Zuo Ziliang said.

"How did he curse?" Chen Bao asked, knowing the emperor was interested.

Then, Zuo Ziliang told the emperor about Song Shi'an and Wang Ding's arguments for loyalty.

Along with that famous quote.

I have never seen such a shameless person...

"I have never seen such a shameless person..."

As he murmured these words, the emperor smiled.

If Song Shi'an knew he wouldn't be coming back, would she also berate herself like this?

He tried so hard to be the one to take the fall for himself, yet the emperor sent him to Northern Yan. Would the people of the world curse him for that?

meeting.

It's not that the emperor was unafraid of rumors or didn't care about his reputation.

Rather, it is that I am about to die.

What does the emperor's promise have to do with the King of Wu?

"Then why did you come back?" Chen Bao asked.

"Song Shi'an is under house arrest. I don't know what the Prince of Yan said in his letter. I fear he might distort the truth, so I followed Song Shi'an's instructions and returned to Sheng'an to report the intelligence from Northern Yan to His Majesty..."

"Because you think I should agree to this deal?" the emperor asked with a smile.

"I fear that Kangxun is lying, and that other court officials are echoing him..."

"How dare you! How could anyone in the world deceive His Majesty?!" Chen Bao immediately rebuked.

"I don't dare."

Zuo Ziliang quickly lowered his head.

"You know I was going to agree to Kangxun's request, yet you still came back to persuade me." The emperor lowered his head and stared at him. "Are you trying to teach me how to do things?"

"I dare not!"

Under the overwhelming pressure of the heavens, Zuo Ziliang immediately slammed his head into the ground, making a loud bang.

There was already blood on the floor tiles.

He continued, then suddenly kowtowed.

The blood color spread.

The third blow left the victim covered in blood.

If this happens a few more times, I'm afraid I'll get my head blown off on the spot.

"That's enough."

The emperor, though not angry, exuded authority; with a dragon's roar, he brought the man to a halt.

Then, filled with bewilderment, she asked, "Song Shi'an, what kind of monster is he that even you could bewitch him?"

Zuo Ziliang shakily raised his head, looked at the emperor, and dared not speak.

"Did he bribe you? Did he have something on you? Or is he the loyal subject he claims to be?"

After the emperor asked him several questions, Zuo Ziliang slowly lowered his head and said tremblingly, "Your subject admires Song Shi'an."

(End of this chapter)