Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 274 Meeting with the Duke of Li

After Sima Yu saw the letter sent by the Prince of Zhongping, he began to act as if he were going to die. It was only after his son stopped him and pleaded with him to return to his room that he calmed down a little.

But the thought of it made him feel wronged.

Wei Ye, how could you be so selfish!
The fact that I told you about interpreting your dream has been leaked.

Can you interpret my dream for me?

I didn't say who leaked it.
There were only three people present.

Me, you, Chen Bao.

Who leaked this information?

You dog emperor, answer me!
You wouldn't ask me to suspect Chen Bao, would you?

The question is, what benefit would it bring to Chen Bao to reveal this?
For eunuchs, unless they were powerful eunuchs who held absolute authority, they often only needed to follow one rule: only do what the emperor told them to do.

"Father, is this related to the fact that we have been staying at home, not going to court, and refusing to receive guests?" the son asked with great concern.

“Child.” Sima Yu looked at him, a bitter expression on his face. “Don’t ask anything. This matter has nothing to do with you. If you have even the slightest interest, you’re not far from death.”

These words terrified him so much that his legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground, trembling. He asked in a tearful voice, "Is it really that serious? Can my Sima family survive this calamity?"

"Yes or no?"

Sima Yu leaned back in his chair, raised his head, and fell into thought.

Since it was the emperor who leaked it, it means that the emperor wanted to do something.

In this dream, one of my sons was instigated by someone to kill another son.

Everyone knows that this "someone" is Song Shi'an.

Furthermore, there is indeed a touch of metaphysics in it.

The emperor had just had a dream, and shortly after, a scholar who wrote "Exhortation to Learning" was selected as the top scholar in the imperial examination.

This is truly a calamity sent from heaven.

Therefore, this dream has at least three purposes.

Firstly, it serves to warn the princes about Song Shi'an.

Secondly, it left Song Shi'an trapped in a self-justification dilemma for the rest of his life.

Thirdly, let the princes compete for Song Shi'an.

Why fight for Song Shi'an, who was the mastermind behind the killing of the prince?
Foolish! He instigated one prince to kill another, not just killed any prince he saw. If you bring him to your side, wouldn't you be able to kill the opposing prince?
Which king, Jin or Wu, didn't want to eliminate the other?

Kill kill kill!

However, the emperor did not tell this to the two kings of Jin and Wu.

But I'm the one who has to say it.

If I say it, I'll take the blame.

Song Shi'an will also hold a grudge against me.

"There's no way out! There's no way out!"

Slapping his thigh, Sima Yu knew he had truly reached a dead end.

"Father! Who can save us?!"

His son also realized that the Sima family might face annihilation, and he couldn't hold back anymore, bursting into tears.

His father was just a turtle shell collector, so how could he have caught the attention of a prince who would try every means to meet him?
Is there a good opportunity to find someone who collects tortoise shells?
"No one can save him..."

Before he could finish speaking, Sima Yu suddenly paused.

He was truly harmed by the dog-like mentality of loyalty to the emperor and serving the country.

He had always placed his hopes for survival on the emperor.

He even considered the King of Jin and the King of Wu.

But aren't they all members of the royal family?

When an emperor becomes responsible for this matter, wouldn't he sacrifice himself?

nobody.

To expect anything from these bastards from the Wei family is simply a sign of a lapse in judgment.

In this matter, we should think about the victims.

Who is the victim of this dream?
Chen Bao!

Although he was a powerful eunuch who committed countless evil deeds, they were all done for the emperor. Therefore, those deeds cannot be considered evil. They were the emperor's grace and might, the true dragon's punishment.

But that doesn't mean he was a treacherous eunuch.

Furthermore, he knew this dream would lead to his death. Did Chen Bao know this dream would grant him a long life?

Even if he was a eunuch and had no descendants, as long as he was human, he didn't want to die.

“Yes, he didn’t want to die.” Sima Yu sat up straight and began to mutter to himself, “Who else doesn’t want to die? Who else is a victim…”

Song Shi'an.

He came up with this name.

Yes, he's far more innocent than I am!

He himself passed the imperial examinations with top honors, protected the north wind for the emperor, and even caused animosity between Qi and Yan during his mission to Yan, thus maintaining peace in the north. Is it reasonable for such a person to be suspected by the old emperor as a traitor who appeared in a dream?

Even if this so-called cursed dream really comes true.

Song Shi'an killed princes, grandsons of the emperor, and even the emperor's life was threatened...

In the dream, did it say he killed the Grand Diviner?

"Dad, are you alright?" The son was a little scared when he saw his father's crazy expression, as if he had achieved some kind of enlightenment.

"It's nothing." Sima Yu looked at his son and waved his hand. "You can go out now. I'll rest for a while."

"Father, please rest. I'll stay here and take care of you. If there's anything you need, please feel free to ask your son."

"Fine, you still have filial piety, unlike someone's scoundrel son." Sima Yu's anger had not subsided.

"Father, you can rest assured."

After all, too many things happened today, and Sima Yu's son was quite scared.

If he went out, what would happen to his father swinging on the roof beam?

…The next day, Yun'er helped Song Shi'an put on his official robes and tidied his clothes and headdress. He then went directly to the residence of the Duke of Li by carriage.

Before he even arrived, someone came forward to greet him at the entrance. After Song Shi'an lifted the carriage curtain, the person bowed and said, "Young Master Song has arrived. I am Wu Qiong."

He was the youngest son of the Duke of Li, and also the legitimate son.

This is the most valuable thing.

Generally speaking, the youngest son is usually born to a concubine.

After all, it is very dangerous for older mothers to give birth.

In ancient times, women in their forties were considered to be of advanced maternal age.

More importantly, it is quite rare and admirable that such a top figure, at that age, is still living with his original wife, who is a star.

Of course, I can spend my whole life with Xinyue.

"I've met the young master."

Song Shi'an quickly got out of the car and bowed to him.

Although he was a nobleman and a powerful figure in the Great Yu, this man was the eldest son of the Duke and could not be treated with disrespect.

In addition, they were very polite.

Don't be pretentious.

"You're too kind. You're now the leader of the young people in Sheng'an."

"The Wu family is the leader of all the powerful clans in the world."

After exchanging pleasantries, Wu Qiong led Song Shi'an into the residence. She then asked with considerable curiosity, "Young Master Song, why are you dressed in your official robes?"

"After all, it was the Duke who summoned me. I thought there was official business to discuss, so I came in my official robes... Is it a misunderstanding?" Song Shi'an asked with a hint of nervousness.

"No, it was my fault for not having my servants explain it clearly. Please forgive me."

Wu Qiong smiled apologetically.

And so, Song Shi'an was led to the main hall.

The one sitting up there is the Duke of Li.

Wu Qiong smiled and nodded in acknowledgment before leaving.

"Song Shi'an pays his respects to the Duke."

Song Shi'an was very respectful and bowed to him upon seeing him.

This thing looks like a piece of pale blue iron, covered in frost, with cold white vapor slowly emanating from it, giving off a particularly strong sense of oppression.

After all, he was a powerful figure who single-handedly destroyed two countries.

"Shi An." The other person's cold face suddenly broke into a kind smile, and they even called him by name, "That Jidu... oh, it's called Xincheng now, how's it doing there?"

"It's already a rather magnificent and prosperous northern city, and you would never guess that it was once burned to the ground," Song Shi'an joked. "However, it was burned down again before I left, and the area around the prefectural governor's residence is quite a mess."

“Most of the powerful and influential families of Ji County are gone. The Ji County of today is no longer the Ji Kingdom of the past,” said the Duke of Li. “However, as an important border city, it is natural that there will be spies from the Yan Kingdom infiltrating it. You should have taken precautions beforehand.”

He is educating himself.

There was no awkward praise; instead, it made people feel close to it.

"Shi An is too young; he almost caused a major disaster."

"What calamity?" the Duke of Li joked. "Kang Xun... oh no, what's his name again?"

"Kang Yi and Kang Qing."

"Oh right, that Yan prince, he's dead, so what?" said Duke Li. "What I'm saying is that you should be prepared. What if you were the one attacking him?"

"I am deeply moved by the Duke's concern."

"And another thing," the Duke of Li said, rising from his seat, walking to his side, and patting him on the shoulder. "Being young is a good thing."

Song Shi'an lowered his head and nodded in response.

"Have you eaten?" asked the Duke of Li.

"We've eaten."

"Okay, then come walk with me."

"Yes."

Song Shi'an then reached out to help the Duke of Li, and the two walked out of the main hall.

I strolled through the courtyard.

As expected of the Duke's mansion, it possesses the prestige of the second-in-command of the founding of the dynasty, something the Song family mansion cannot match at all. It can be said that compared to the imperial palace, it is at least smaller in scale, and some of the ceremonial objects and symbols are not from the imperial court. Apart from that, it is practically a small palace.

It was comparable to the Yan Palace of Conson.

But Conson was, after all, a monarch with an army of 100,000.

"So, what do you think of me?" Duke Li suddenly asked.

"Shi An dares not speak presumptuously, for you are both a Duke and an elder."

"Then tell me about the people of Qinzhou," the Duke of Li joked in a rather friendly manner. "These are the people who, even after suffering defeats, escape punishment and can continue to lead troops in the future."

"This is the reality of the Great Yu Kingdom, and it is not appropriate for Shi An to judge its right or wrong."

"But you want to change this national situation."

The Duke of Li spoke these words quite calmly.

“This Great Yu cannot be changed by Shi An alone.” Song Shi An said without any fear, “It requires His Majesty, and it also requires a noble person like the Duke of Li.”

In short: Da Yu definitely needs to change.

"Yes, these people are indeed somewhat incompetent these days." Duke Li nodded, then looked at Song Shi'an and asked, "Then do you know why His Majesty still keeps the nobles of Qinzhou alive?"

"Please enlighten me, Your Excellency," Song Shi'an said politely.

"It's not just noble families; in fact, all aristocratic families in the world are like this."

With a slight furrow of his brow, the Duke of Li said sternly, "But those who are truly loyal to the Great Yu and willing to fight to the death for Yu are not all of them."

"Shi An is also willing to fight to the death."

Song Shi'an stared at the Duke of Li, his gaze unwavering, and said, "Shi'an, you can also be loyal to Yu."
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(End of this chapter)