Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 288 Did they really kneel?

Am I going to be a father?

Upon returning from the Imperial Academy, Song Ce stared blankly at Chang Qing and asked him, his voice trembling slightly.

"What's wrong? Are you scared?"

Changqing, sitting on the bed, asked with a shy smile.

"Do Father and Mother know about this..." Song Ce asked nervously.

"Xu Shangyi went to announce the good news, so she should know by now." Changqing knew her husband was nervous, so she gently patted the person next to her. "Jingming, come here for a moment."

Song Ce walked over, and as soon as he sat down, she took his wrist and gently placed it on her stomach.

"Is this...is this alright?" Song Ce was very flustered, afraid that he had made too much noise.

"Why are you so afraid of your own child?" Changqing joked. "You've lost your authority as a father."

After taking a while to accept reality, Song Ce finally smiled.

With his arm around Changqing's shoulder and his head resting against his body, Song Ce said with genuine joy, "This is the most important day of my life. In a few days, I will ask for leave from the Imperial Academy and stay home with you."

"You've only just gotten pregnant and you've already taken leave. Are you planning to skip the Imperial Academy for over a year?" Changqing asked.

"Hmm..." At this point, Song Ce said jokingly, "It's said that the National Literature Institute is compiling history, but in reality there's not much to do. There are specialized Grand Secretaries to do the historical writing, so whether I'm here or not... it really doesn't make much of a difference."

After Song Ce went to the National Literature Institute to take up an official post, he realized that there were so many powerful and influential people in our Great Yu who were receiving salaries without working.

Frankly, he seriously doubted that anyone would even notice if he didn't go for several days.

Unbeknownst to me, I had become part of the link in the scientific research article that caused redundant officials and unnecessary expenses.

Seeing him like this, Changqing was genuinely saddened and said with heartache, "Why don't you talk to your father and ask him to make some arrangements for you? Even if it's not in Sheng'an, I'll go with you."

Born into a powerful family, he remained incorruptible, as clean as a blank sheet of paper. Before entering officialdom, he studied diligently every day, passing the provincial examination at the age of fifteen. Although his success in the imperial examination had an element of favor, it was also due to his involvement in a prison case during that period...

It's heartbreaking that such a hardworking person, eager to achieve great things, is wasting his life here because of his status as a prince consort.

It also makes one feel somewhat guilty.

"You're overthinking things again," Song Ce said, pinching Chang Qing's cheek. "Being with you is already enough to make me feel fulfilled and happy."

"Then don't let the Imperial Academy's duty roster be missed. You can ask for leave when I need you," Changqing said.

"Okay, I'll listen to you."

"Then go and greet your father and mother. They also have a lot to say to you."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

After Song Ce got up, he gently touched his wife's belly again before leaving.

He looked back every few steps.

After he left, a palace maid came over and whispered, "Your Highness."

"What's wrong? You look scared?" Changqing asked with a smile.

So she knelt down and said, "Consort Xu asked me to report the good news to the Marquis. I happened to run into several officials who came to pay their respects to the Marquis. After they returned, Consort Xu asked me what they had said..."

Upon hearing this, the princess's face immediately darkened: "Is your master me, or Consort Xu?"

"Princess, I was wrong." The palace maid immediately slapped herself in fear.

After slapping himself several times, Changqing finally said, "That's enough."

"..." The palace maid bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes, and said tremblingly, "This servant will never dare to do it again."

“You could have kept it a secret, but the fact that you told me means you’re not a bad person; you’re just afraid.”

"Yes." Tears welled up in the palace maid's eyes, and she nodded repeatedly.

Xu Shangyi was, after all, a female official in the palace.

Who would dare disobey her?

However, she herself had married into the Song family along with the princess.

What did the Marquis say, and why does Lady Xu need to know?

If she finds out, who should she report it to?
Then wouldn't I become the one spying on Master Song...?

"I don't care what others do," Changqing warned coldly, "but you few, those who came with me after marriage, if you do anything you shouldn't behind my back, you'd better find your own way out."

"Your Highness is so kind, this servant dares not do it again..."

.........

Song Ce went to the study, where Song Shi'an and Song Jing were both present.

"How do you feel about becoming a father?" Song Shi'an asked with a smile.

"I'm very happy... very excited," Song Ce said without any hesitation. "I'm also very grateful to Chang Qing."

What a sweet and kind guy!

"Do you want a son or a daughter?" Song Shi'an asked.

"Either is fine." Song Ce didn't have too many obsessions, after all, he wasn't only going to have one child.

"Ah, this idea is correct," Song Shi'an commented. "Having a boy or a girl is equally good; fewer births, better births, better upbringing..."

"What nonsense are you spouting?" These words immediately triggered the reaction of Song Jing, the feudal patriarch. "It's not like you gave birth to him, why are you so concerned?"

They've even started having fewer children!

What's wrong? The Song family can't afford to support them?

Song Shi'an then stopped arguing.

After all, if I keep arguing, I'll be pressured to get married.

"Don't go to the Chinese Literature Museum for now. I'll go and say it for you. Just stay home and keep Changqing company," Song Jing said.

“I said the same thing, but Changqing told me that career comes first and he didn’t agree,” Song Ce said.

"What a good sister-in-law." Song Shi'an was a little touched. "Changqing is indeed very proper, so just listen to him." Song Jing nodded.

"Father, then I'll go with Mother..."

Before he could finish speaking, Song Shi'an stopped him: "Jingming, there's something I need to tell you."

Song Ce stopped in his tracks and noticed that his father and brother had the same expression, which was somewhat somber.

"What happened?" Song Ce asked seriously.

“The officials that Father promoted are going to Huai County to take up their posts. They’re leaving today,” Song Shi’an said. “And just now, they came to the Song residence to say goodbye to Father.”

"Is everyone here?"

"Yes."

“This is only human nature…” Song Ce understood and felt that they should be treated well.

Although he never held any real position, he was very clear about one principle: if you don't have anyone who is of one mind with you, you can't accomplish something.

No matter how resourceful Song Shi'an was, it was impossible for him to accomplish the entire task of military farming once he took office in Huai County.

Knowing this, His Majesty, being wise and powerful, entrusted the power to recommend officials to their fathers.

The emperor was ruthless, but not incompetent.

On the contrary, the level is extremely high.

Moreover, they are extremely tolerant.

"As they left, they knelt down and kowtowed to their father."

"Is this so..."

"Changqing's palace maid is here to deliver good news to Father."

"..." Upon hearing this, Song Ce froze. Looking at his brother and father in astonishment, he asked nervously, "Brother, Father, what do you mean?"

“Jingming, don’t overthink it,” Song Shi’an said. “Changqing is perfectly fine, but that Consort Xu did indeed send a message to the palace.”

“It’s true,” Song Jing echoed.

“That’s not a good thing…” Song Ce frowned, looking quite troubled, his expression not very pleasant. But for the sake of the family, he raised his head, “I should talk to Changqing about this.”

“Jingming, our family is in a bit of a predicament right now, so we’re going to have to put you in a difficult position,” Song Shi’an said.

"Yes, I understand perfectly."

Song Ce nodded and was about to leave when Song Jing grabbed his hand: "What, are you going to question them?"

"No, it's not an interrogation..."

"I'll teach you how to do it." Song Jing said to Song Ce after a moment of contemplation, with a stern face. "Don't mention this to Changqing. Don't try to probe or hint at it either. From now on, you only need to do one thing: treat her well. If there are any issues at home, just talk to her about them."

"Huh?" Song Ce didn't understand what the point of doing this would be.

They didn't do anything.

"As expected of my father." Song Shi'an understood and said with great admiration, "In the future, if anything happens in the family, whether it's about our mansion, relatives, or even some difficult things, confide in Changqing and discuss it with her."

"..." Song Ce was even more confused. "It's possible, but the problem from before hasn't been solved yet, has it?"

“Although Changqing is a princess, she is your wife. Since she is your wife, she belongs to the Song family,” Song Shi’an said.

"Oh I see."

This leads to a paradox: the powerful minister the princess married later became emperor.

Will you die for your country, or become empress?

Of course, it hasn't come to that point yet.

But Changqing was already very happy to marry a handsome and powerful nobleman.

Only by treating her well and making her feel like she's part of the family will she share both honor and disgrace.

The princess cannot inherit the throne of the Great Yu Dynasty.

But the Song family's legacy can be inherited by the princess's son.

This move was intended to make the princess realize that Lady Xu was the enemy who was destroying her happy marriage.

"I understand." Song Ce understood.

Song Jing didn't say anything more.

Song Shi'an, on the other hand, said with great admiration, "Dad, you're really a master of romance."

"..." Song Jing was speechless.

"Father, there is still so much I can learn from you."

Song Ce bowed respectfully in a very serious manner.

"Hey! Who told you to learn this stuff?"

"Father, no wonder that mistress is one of the five prominent families in the capital, and she keeps referring to our Song family in our household. You are quite shrewd."

"What do you mean by 'methods'? Get out of my way."

"Yes, that must be Father's sincere love for Mother."

"You get out of here too!"

.........

"Your Majesty, after Ji Shao and the others went to the Song residence, they left after only a short talk with the Song father and son. Before leaving, they all knelt and kowtowed to the Song father and son," reported Eunuch Xi. "Song Shi'an then told them to pay their respects to His Highness Prince Wu. Song Jing also said that they should not feel ashamed of their lowly status and dare not go. Without His Highness, they would not be where they are today."

"It's not about bowing to Song Jing."

Of all those words, the emperor only gleaned one sentence, and asked in a deep voice, "Or is it to pay homage to the Song family father and son?"

(End of this chapter)