Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 286 Striving to Strengthen the Song Clan!

Ever since the emperor pulled that stunt, making the two princes kneel before Song Shi'an for a whole night, Minister Sun never attended the morning court session again, although he only did so twice during that period.

As for the Listening Pavilion, I haven't been there for several months.

Although the title of "Three Dukes" is an honorary one, they are still nominally the head of all officials. Some political matters require their opinions to be sought. Even if they cannot make the final decision like Ouyang Ke, they still have some say.

His outburst was clearly a sign of his anger.

He threw a tantrum like an emperor.

Of course, he also knew that in his current position, even if he lost his temper, no one would come to comfort him.

He is a senior member of the CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference).

But he doesn't engage in internal strife.

The emperor's breach of trust is a long-term phenomenon. It's not something that happens immediately; if I'm no longer in court but out of office, does that mean I'm no longer Minister Sun?
As usual, he strolled leisurely in the courtyard.

"Look how fat these fish are!"

Holding a handful of fish food, Sun Situ spoke to Sun Jinhua beside him.

“This fish is indeed very plump and delicious…” Sun Jinhua replied.

"You've made me drool, haven't you?" Sun Situ laughed.

When Sun Jinhua realized that her father had misunderstood her meaning, she was about to explain when Sun Situ said, "I just meant to say that this fish is very fat. There's no hidden meaning. Why are you overthinking it?"

Hearing this, Sun Jinhua finally breathed a sigh of relief.

There's nothing we can do; that's how the children of high-ranking officials are.

I have a feeling that my dad is going to use this incident to teach me something.

A Chinese-style leader who loves giving lectures throughout his life.

“However, this fish is indeed too fat,” Sun Situ said unhappily. “All the fish food I threw in was eaten by this one fish, making it plump and delicious. The other fish, on the other hand, are starving and skinny.”

"Then why don't we feed it more fish food? If it's full, it won't fight with the other fish for food," Sun Jinhua suggested.

"That's a good idea." Sun Situ nodded. "You feed him."

"Yes." Sun Jinhua then asked a servant for fish food and scattered it out so that the other fish could also eat it.

Spending time with my father in such a leisurely manner seems quite nice.

A smile unconsciously crept onto my face.

When Sun Situ noticed a faint scar on her palm, he casually asked, "Does your hand still hurt?"

Sun Jinhua withdrew her hand and shook her head: "Father, it doesn't hurt anymore."

“But do you remember the pain from before?” Sun Situ asked.

This statement is educational.

"Jinhua dares not forget," Sun Jinhua said honestly, bowing her head.

“That’s not something you can get involved in, nor is it something you should get involved in.” Sun Situ continued feeding the fish, not looking at her. “You think that Jia Guihao, having accepted a bribe, will do things for you and won’t dare to make a fuss. But what’s the truth?”

“Many people know about it, and it has caused a lot of trouble for Father and the Sun family…” Sun Jinhua really didn’t expect it to be so serious.

Even the Prince of Jin knew about her affairs.

Then she turned around and told her father.

From the outside, this was just the Sun family making contact with the King of Wu's people, wasn't it?
The court is rife with undercurrents, and a single misstep could plunge one into an abyss.

Although it wasn't a big deal, it did damage my father's reputation.

"Don't be idle all the time, practice the piano more, and don't think about those messy things," Sun Situ admonished.

“Yes.” Sun Jinhua looked at Sun Situ beside her. Because the other party was in such a good mood today, she mustered up her courage and whispered, “Father, is Song Shi’an... really that bad?”

These words wiped the smile off Sun Situ's face.

Sun Jinhua was so scared that she held her breath and dared not speak.

My heart was pounding wildly.

I sensed that I was about to be beaten again.

“You,” Sun Situ slowly turned his head to look at his youngest daughter, and asked with a puzzled expression, “Weren’t you there on her birthday that day?”

"My daughter is here...my daughter is here."

"Then why are you asking such a pointless question?"

Sun Situ was so angry that his face stiffened for a moment. He turned back and continued feeding the fish.

"Your daughter knows she was wrong." After apologizing, Sun Jinhua asked softly, "If Song Shi'an were to come to your residence in person to apologize, would Father forgive him... that boy?"

"A young lady shouldn't use such vulgar words."

Sun Jinhua thought that she could make Sun Situ happy by casually scolding Song Shi'an.

The horse was simply hit on the leg.

"understood……"

She apologized again, looking pitiful.

But seeing that her father didn't speak, a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart.

Could it be that things can be eased?

As long as Song Shi'an can give his father a way out.

"father."

Just then, Sun Heng arrived.

"Brother." Sun Jinhua bowed to Sun Heng.

"It's quite a surprise to see such a big little sister in the manor," Sun Heng remarked with some emotion.

"Then I will appear in front of my brother more often, so that you can see me more often."

Knowing what the other person was implying, Sun Jinhua deliberately retorted before leaving. At this moment, the maid also left.

Only the father and son remained.

"Father." His expression immediately turned serious, and Sun Heng said hurriedly, "Something terrible has happened."

"Something serious has happened?" Sun Situ, who hated people making a fuss, showed displeasure, but seeing that his son was genuinely nervous, he didn't scold him and asked directly, "How serious?"

"Father," Sun Heng reported very seriously, "The transfer order from the Ministry of Personnel has been announced. These should be the personnel selected to carry out this land reclamation project."

"How's the selection process going?"

"Dad, you'd never guess who got promoted." Because the news was so explosive, Sun Heng even dared to play a guessing game with his father.

"Ah."

Sun Situ felt he might really be useless, that even his foolish son was testing him. So, he decided to play along: "There's that Jia Guihao, right?"

"Yes, he was promoted two ranks at once when he took office as the Commandant of Huai County."

"And then there's Fan Wuji and Gao Yunyi, these two rising stars who have joined the Wu King's faction, right?"

"Yes, one served as the chief clerk in the army, and the other served as the assistant clerk in Huai County. Although they were not promoted, they were still considered key positions."

“And there’s that lackey of Song Shi’an, Wang Shuishan,” Sun Situ said.

"He was directly appointed as the county magistrate of Song Shi'an's hometown."

"So, you want your father to guess all the names one by one, so that he'll still be as sharp as ever?" Sun Situ lost his patience; he felt he had really given Sun Heng too much face.

“Father, this appointment only involves a dozen or so people, including Gao Yunyi and Fan Wuji. Seventy percent of them are from the Wu King’s faction.”

"Yes, it's really surprising," Sun Situ said sarcastically. "The Wu King's land reclamation program actually used 70% of the Wu King's party members. How astonishing."

Knowing how his biological father would react, Sun Heng lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "And the remaining 30% are all Song Jing's men."

"..."

Sure enough, Sun Situ's pupils dilated.

I was truly shocked.

Incredulous, he asked, "When you say Song Jing's subordinates, do you mean those close to the Song family, or those who once served under Song Jing and received his favors?"

“Father, the remaining four are all Song Jing’s old subordinates who rose through the ranks to become the magistrate of Sheng’an over a decade ago. Not one of them was not promoted by Song Jing,” Sun Heng said.

"Is this guy really that tough?" Sun Situ really didn't expect it.

He knew that Song Jing had taken this official position in order to cooperate with the land reclamation program.

Therefore, those selected were all capable ministers and virtuous officials who supported land reclamation and had talent in this area.

But that guy, who was always known for being 'kind, selfless, honest and upright,' brazenly took the opportunity to promote four of his students.

Honestly, I can understand why they would put one in.

Four were stuffed in.

Add Wang Shuishan, and that makes five.

This is practically saying that the military settlements were a private matter between the Song family and the emperor.

"How dare you!" Sun Situ was furious. "This guy has really been promoted too quickly, and he's lost his sense of self-worth, hasn't he?"

“It’s all the talk in Sheng’an’s officialdom,” Sun Heng said. “They’re all talking about it in private, that a ‘Prefect’s Party’ will emerge. Some people are even trying to curry favor with officials who previously served under Song Jing.”

“The Prefect’s faction, haha.” Sun Situ laughed, but his laughter was far from composed.

It was more of a resentment.

“Father, with the Song family like this, they will surely be besieged, right?” Sun Heng thought this was a good thing.

"Definitely, absolutely, definitely."

Sun Situ used three words to express his attitude.

But he also knew in his heart that he had no choice but to step up.

Being in the eye of the storm is indeed dangerous.

But what if all the officials in Sheng'an become part of the Prefect's faction?

His own students and former subordinates also went there.

Then, aside from the noble families, the position of the most powerful family in the land would be handed over to someone else.

“There is one more thing,” Sun Heng continued, “The imperial court’s reward to Song Shi’an also included four thousand taels of gold.”

"Your Majesty, you are truly generous."

Although it was a lot of money, Sun Situ was not surprised.

He even thought about the context at the time—"I'll give you 20,000 gold coins. As long as you can make Yan and Qi turn against each other, the rest is yours."

With a sullen face, he impatiently sprinkled fish food into the pond.

The fat fish, twice the size of the others, used its body to push aside the other fish and ate heartily.

Suddenly, Sun Situ threw all the fish food onto the water's surface: "Eat, eat, eat! You'll stuff yourself to death!"

.........

Four officials, traveling in a motorcade, prepared to leave Sheng'an.

However, before setting off, they suddenly hesitated.

So they got off the bus together and started discussing it.

“Registrar Ji… oh, I misread, Prefect Ji,” one of them asked. “Tell me, we’re all the Prefect’s men, wouldn’t it be inappropriate not to pay our respects before leaving the capital?”

Upon hearing this, Prefect Ji quickly pressed his hand down: "Now the Prefect is the Minister of Works, and don't say that we are the Prefect's people. Lord Song promoted us because we are still considered upright officials... Please don't consider yourselves to be part of the Prefect's faction, as this will only cause trouble for Lord Song."

The rest of the group nodded in agreement.

“However,” said Prefect Ji, “Lord Song has been our superior for many years. He has been away from Huai County for who knows how many years… It is only right that we bid him farewell.”

(End of this chapter)