Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 308 The Emperor Goes Offline
"Your Highness, Song Shi'an went to Sima Yu's funeral to pay his respects."

"understood."

In the Crown Prince's residence, Wei Yiyun sat on the grand chair in the hall, his hands resting on the armrests, his face expressionless, his eyes as still as water.

"General Zhao Yi has stayed at home and has not gone out, and Lord Ye has only been going back and forth between the yamen and the Ye residence. Neither of them has any plans to visit the Crown Prince's residence."

"Ah."

After saying these two sentences, Eunuch Chu withdrew.

The Crown Prince was the only one left in the entire hall.

Just like that, staring straight ahead.

In her mind, she recalled what Song Shi'an had said to her at that very moment on that day.

“Eunuch Chen, although he serves His Majesty, he is still a human being and cannot help but have human emotions.”

I should have known long ago.

At that time, he did not speak generally about those who served the emperor, but specifically mentioned Chen Bao, and with such certainty.

However, Chen Bao was not the only one who served the emperor.

He would replace the eunuch on duty.

Therefore, he not only wanted to remind himself, but also directly mentioned Chen Bao, for fear that he had contacted the wrong person.

The cards are already out in the open.

Even so, she still harbored some illusions—Song Shi'an, perhaps, didn't know?
That's what I'm afraid you'll think.

"Now, do you understand?"

Sitting on the bed, with one hand on his raised knee and staring straight ahead, Song Shi'an's eyes showed no sign of backing down.

He didn't know who knew about his secret meeting with Sima Yu.

He guessed that the emperor probably knew.

The Crown Prince certainly doesn't know.

But the Crown Prince will definitely try to guess.

Because it was he who reminded him to go see Chen Bao.

Then let's stop guessing.

I know everything.

What do you want to do?
"You refuse to play dumb, refuse to deceive yourself, refuse to be manipulated. Do you want me to show you my sincerity in never doubting you about this matter?"

The crown prince narrowed his eyes slightly and asked coldly.

"Yes, you know everything, and you also know that I know everything. So, are you going to continue killing? Like you killed Sima Yu, kill everyone who knows the truth?"

"If I really wanted to kill someone, why would I force Sima Yu to his death! Eliminating Sima Yu was simply to prevent this dream from being used against me, and to prevent you all from being killed!"

"No, it's not that you don't want to kill, it's that you can't do it."

"Yes, I can't kill you all easily. But do you and that arrogant person who disrespects the crown prince and openly forms a faction have even the slightest bit of the qualities of a gentleman who stands out from the crowd, a wise minister who is cautious in solitude, and who is humble despite his achievements?"

"I also wanted to be loyal to Your Highness alongside Wusheng, but who was it that sold me to Yan with the Emperor that day, and who gave up everything to bring me back to Yu?"

"You are determined to side with Wusheng, and even if I did what he did, you would not be grateful!"

"So, did you do it?"

The two, who were not together, gazed at each other as if they were communicating in spirit, confronting each other from afar at the same moment.

Song Shi'an's act of breaking the ice has left both of them with no dignity left.

He could have been a subject who suffered a little injustice, pretending to know nothing, so as not to become that 'rebellious minister who appeared in a dream,' constantly reflecting on himself and proving himself, making himself a loyal minister who was pure and without any impurities or selfishness.

In that case, the Crown Prince would be willing to disregard his father's dream for a while. As long as Song Shi'an doesn't do anything to arouse his suspicion, he will always trust him and give him important responsibilities.

but,
Once suspicion arises, the charge is already established.

"I don't believe that you would still believe I am a loyal subject after knowing about this dream."

"I don't believe that you, knowing about this dream, wouldn't doubt my ambition."

"Then come and kill!"

The crown prince stood up in anger.

Song Shi'an remained seated.

The crown prince, clenching his fists and biting his lip, struggled for a long time before forcefully pounding the armrest and sitting back down.

.........

The emperor's imperial carriage stopped at the entrance to the Zhaoling Mausoleum.

In the shadow of the white marble dragon stele, Eunuch Xi knelt, holding a black fox fur cloak, but was pushed away by a hand as thin as a withered branch.

The twelve white jade beads hanging from the emperor's crown trembled slightly in the wind of the passageway, and the clinking sound startled the sleeping bats in the niche, which swarmed over the gilded imperial inscription "Holy and Divine Talent" on the top of the Nine Dragon Stele.

The two of them kept walking inside.

After a long while, they finally reached the main tomb.

The outer coffin is made of ebony covered with gold lacquer, and the dragon eyes are inlaid with pearls.

As the emperor's eyes met the dragon pearl, a lingering, reluctant light appeared. The old man had never felt such sorrow.

"The construction of this imperial mausoleum cost a full fifty thousand taels of gold," the emperor said. "Xishan, am I that kind of tyrant?"

"Your Majesty is not a tyrant. Your Majesty is the most virtuous, benevolent, wise, and powerful ruler of our Great Yu!" Xi Shan knelt behind him, praising him with tears streaming down her face.

"Of course I am neither a tyrant nor a foolish ruler," the emperor said, quite indignantly. "Throughout my life, I have been diligent and frugal, never slacking off in the slightest. The number of concubines, maids, and eunuchs in the palace is the fewest in any dynasty. Apart from military campaigns, I have never used the pretext of a southern tour for sightseeing. I only wanted to die with a little more dignity. But that Yixuan has repeatedly hinted that the national treasury is empty and that the construction of his mausoleum is costly. Does he have even a shred of filial piety?"

Xi Shan lowered her head, not daring to say anything out of turn.

"And then there's Yiyun," the Emperor continued, listing his sons. "He claims he's here to relieve my worries, but all he wants is to be different from his brother and appear more filial. Before he became Crown Prince, when did he ever think of being truly filial to his mother and father if he didn't benefit from it?"

The emperor was not satisfied with either of his two sons.

He increasingly missed the former Crown Prince and Prince Ning.

Or perhaps, he is searching for illusion in the real world.

He wanted a crown prince who was responsible, capable, and sentimental.

After much thought, he actually found it...

"Ji Yuan, you have excellent taste."

The emperor never expected that his most outstanding prince would be a spoiled brat who had almost been abandoned.

"Your Majesty," Xishan whispered from the side, "news just came that Song Shi'an attended Sima Yu's funeral."

Upon hearing this, the emperor's lips curled into a smile: "This old good-for-nothing actually has some guts."

Xishan didn't quite understand.

Song Shi'an attended Sima Yu's funeral. Why was Sima Yu the one who had the courage to attend?
Could it be that Sima Yu hadn't revealed this dream to any of the princes before...

I only told Song Shi'an!
"You should have guessed most of it by now, right?" the emperor asked.

"..." Startled by the question, Xishan quickly replied, "This servant dares not make any presumptuous guesses!"

"Here, it's just you and me," the emperor said, looking at him. "Chen Bao was unwilling to serve me, so I exiled him. Now, are you willing to serve me?"

"This servant is willing! Whatever Your Majesty commands, this servant will do with all my might!"

Xishan expressed his loyalty in great effort, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Xi Shan." The emperor smiled, looking at him at his feet, and suddenly asked, "Do you think I trust you?"

"..." Xishan was stunned, not quite understanding.

"At this moment, only you and I remain in the main tomb of the imperial mausoleum," the emperor reminded him. "When have I ever traveled without the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Only then did Xishan understand what the emperor meant.

Even if I had ten thousand lives, I wouldn't dare to have the thought of assassinating the emperor. But which emperor wouldn't bring some personal guards when he travels?

Furthermore, there are only the two of them here right now.

All their conversations were known only to them; even 'heaven' could not overhear them.

"Your Majesty trusts me so much... I could never repay you even if I died." After choking back a few sobs, Eunuch Xi said sincerely, "I am willing to share Your Majesty's burdens."

With a resolute gaze, he looked at the emperor.

The emperor smiled calmly and turned his head to the side.

This secret was thus revealed to another person.

The eunuch, who had been listening the whole time, was almost dumbfounded. The more he listened, the more shocked and terrified he became...

No wonder that old fellow Sima Yu would rather die than compromise with the Crown Prince and side with him.

This is not a matter of taking sides.

If it only involves Song Shi'an, then it's fine.

It's nothing more than how he manipulates the government.

Even if it involves the struggle for the throne, it's just his personal issue.

But in this dream, Song Shi'an instigated a prince to force the emperor to abdicate with a sword in hand!
Sima Yu cannot afford to offend anyone.

Therefore, death was the only option for him.

The only struggle he could make before he died was to stick with Song Shi'an.

However, the crown prince had no intention of letting him go...

what about me?
"Xi Shan," the emperor said calmly, as if sensing the fear in his eyes, "Chen Bao knew before you, or rather, he knew the whole story. And he refused me; isn't he the one who deserves to die the most?"

"..." Xi Shan suddenly realized.

Chen Bao was also worried that he would end up like Sima Yu, so he simply abandoned the situation, deliberately sending a message of goodwill to Song Shi'an and withdrawing from the conflict. Logically speaking, he did indeed deserve to die.

But now, he's been sent to the imperial mausoleum, and they even sent Zuo Ziliang along to protect him...

"He felt that I thought he knew too much and that I would take him with me when I died, so he was unwilling. He didn't want to be my weapon anymore."

Raising his finger, the emperor gently tapped his chest and asked, with a wronged expression, "But did I kill him? Did I harm him?"

"Chen Bao is a narrow-minded and petty man who doesn't understand His Majesty's benevolence!" This was the kind of promise Xi Shan wanted. "This servant is willing to share His Majesty's burdens. Whether it's Sima Yu, Song Shi'an, or that ungrateful scoundrel Chen Bao, this servant will keep a close eye on them at all times!"

"anything else?"

The emperor asked.

"..." After swallowing, Xi Shan said, "Sixth Prince, this servant will also keep an eye on things."

"After today, I will issue an edict appointing the Crown Prince as regent," the Emperor said. "The affairs of the palace will be entrusted to Lian Zhong, and you will do your utmost to assist the Crown Prince."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Moved, Grandpa Xi kowtowed in gratitude for the Emperor's grace.

The meaning of this sentence is already obvious.

Even if you know all this, you won't have to be buried with me when I die.

Now that the Crown Prince has ascended the throne, you will be Chen Bao, serving by his side.

The palace has changed its appearance.

A fresh start.

As for his life.

It all depends on whether he can survive when he fights those people.

As for Chen Bao's life, it's only temporarily spared; it all depends on whether he can tolerate it.

This is the best outcome—everyone fights based on their own strength.

Be willing to admit defeat.

"Your Majesty, should we still be wary of Sima Yu's family and relatives?" asked Eunuch Xi.

“If he had revealed this dream to his family, he wouldn’t have committed suicide. Since he’s dead, it means that apart from Song Shi’an, the secret has been kept,” the emperor said.

"Your Majesty, will he say anything to Song Shi'an?" Xi Shan asked cautiously.

"Sima Yu simply told Song Shi'an about this dream and let him make his own decision."

At this point, the emperor's face darkened, and he solemnly said, "But, there are probably some things about Sima Yu that even Song Shi'an cannot guess."

This does not mean that Sima Yu's talent surpassed that of Song Shi'an.

Rather, Song Shi'an had only met him a few times, but Sima Yu knew him too well.

Having interpreted dreams and performed divination for so many years, he is perhaps the person in the world who understands emperors as well as Chen Bao. In fact, because dream interpretation involves so much psychology, he sees things more clearly and accurately than Chen Bao.

“That servant girl sent someone to keep an eye on his son.”

Although Xi Shan knew that doing so might not be very meaningful, and that Sima Jin might know less than she did before she heard the Emperor finish speaking, she couldn't be sure what important last words Sima Yu might have left before his death.

"Song Shi'an is highly talented, but more importantly, he has a courage that ordinary people do not possess," the emperor said.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Xishan promised. “This servant will keep an eye on him, but will not pressure him.”

“You can’t force him. If you really push him to that point, it will be beyond your control,” the emperor said. “For now, treat him as a loyal subject.”

Frankly speaking, even without this dream, the emperor would still be wary of him.

He single-handedly mobilized the entire Northern Liang with Wei Wusheng, forcing the whole country to resist Qi.

"Yes," Xishan replied honestly.

"Get up," the emperor said casually.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xi Shan stood up and stood next to the emperor.

At this moment, the emperor asked in a very kind manner, "Starting tomorrow, you will be the Crown Prince's man. If there is anything you don't understand, you can ask now."

"..." There were too many things he didn't understand, so he dared not ask everything. He cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, this servant wants to ask, does the Crown Prince know... Did Your Majesty tell this servant about this?"

The emperor laughed and said, "Do you know why I didn't just tell him about the dream and let him take precautions?"

"Your Majesty is wise, and this humble servant is foolish and dares not presume to know Your Majesty's intentions," Xi Shan said.

"Sharpening and honing".

Quite decisively, the emperor said succinctly, "And he is now ready."

Of course, that's all the skill he has; he'd still be at a disadvantage if he really fought those old fogies.

So now the emperor is going to put the game on hold and let the crown prince take over.

"Your Majesty, this servant has another question..."

"Say it directly."

Since the emperor was so open-minded, Xishan boldly spoke up: "From tomorrow onwards, I will begin to serve His Highness the Crown Prince. If His Highness were to ask what instructions His Majesty has given... what should this servant say?"

Ultimately, it was because they were worried that the Crown Prince was not heeding the Emperor's wishes.

What if the crown prince is truly foolish?

Then you'll ruin yourself too.

"It is entirely up to the Crown Prince to decide."

His tone grew increasingly firm, and the emperor said sternly, "Though I am old, I am still of use."

.........

"So, after you became Song Shi'an's wife, it became impossible for me to learn anything from you, right?"

In the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion, sitting in the main hall, Wei Wusheng asked Xin Yue, who was standing in front of him with a puzzled expression, dressed in an elegant plain robe and with her hair loose.

“Your Highness said it yourself, to avoid suspicion, I will not come to see you alone in the future,” Xin Yue said.

"..." Wei Wusheng was speechless for a moment, then raised his hand and said, "Fine, I was presumptuous. I won't invite you here again. But today, I just wanted to ask you a few questions so that I wouldn't feel so confused."

“Your Highness, please speak,” Xin Yue said. “But there are some things I truly cannot say.”

“I understand, you have Lady Song Shi’an’s position.” Wei Wusheng didn’t press the matter further, and said, “Chen Bao was exiled to the imperial mausoleum, Sima Yu died, and only Song Shi’an went to pay his respects in the whole city. Then His Majesty issued an edict yesterday appointing the Crown Prince as regent. Can these major events be connected as a whole?”

"Let's not talk about that for now," Xin Yue said. "Your Highness, do you know why Song Shi'an is avoiding you?"

“I know, a wise ruler and virtuous minister.” Wei Wusheng said speechlessly, “He and I fought to the death to defend Beiliang, and then he went on a mission to Yan, and I rushed to Yan’s aid. Just because I didn’t take bribes, just because I didn’t mince words, I was labeled a faction member and a usurper. Is that reasonable?”

"unreasonable."

"You know that too..."

"But he cherishes you."

Wei Wusheng: "..."

“There are many wise ministers, but only one wise ruler,” Xin Yue said bluntly. “Your Highness is the real threat to the Crown Prince.”

If you two don't separate, the Crown Prince will kill you.

Unable to refute, Wei Wusheng asked again, "What about the questions I asked earlier?"

"The answer is still the same: he cherishes His Highness." Xin Yue said, "It's safer if His Highness doesn't know."

"Good good."

Wei Wusheng finally understood what Song Shi'an thought of him: "Do you think Wusheng is pitiful, so you need to protect him like this?"

“Your Highness, as the Prince of Zhongshan, how could you be pitiful…” Xinyue replied softly.

"Then besides the King of Zhongshan, what else do I have?"

Xinyue: "..."

"Alright, I won't make things difficult for you anymore. Go back now."

Wei Wusheng understood that this was no joke, after all, someone had already paid the price with their life for it.

Just then, a eunuch hurried over from a distance outside the hall.

Because the door was open, Wei Wusheng had already seen it and reminded Xinyue not to speak.

"Your Highness," the eunuch announced as he entered, "His Highness the Crown Prince invites you to a gathering at the Eastern Palace tonight."

"Alright." Wei Wusheng finally got someone's approval and readily agreed, then asked with concern, "Besides me, how many other people did the Crown Prince invite?"

"Besides His Highness, there is only one other person."

The eunuch lowered his head and whispered, "Song Shi'an, Lord Song."

""! ""

.........

With his hands on his hips, Song Shi'an stood in front of the bronze mirror, looking himself up and down.

"Twenty-one years old, third rank, earl."

As he recounted his achievements, Song Shi'an revealed a rather satisfied smile.

"But I'm more satisfied with this face."

From any angle, Song Shi'an is a handsome man.

It's no wonder that even a cold-blooded killer like Xinyue could show her a soft and gentle side.

After a moment of self-reflection, he straightened his hat one last time and then turned around.

"The Feast at Hongmen, here I come."

(End of this chapter)