Frost for a Thousand Years

"Your Highness, calm down! Your Highness, calm down!"

When Song Shi'an saw Wei Wusheng spinning the top, he was completely shocked.

But what shocked him even more was that Grandpa Xi was so principled, he didn't utter a sound even when he was beaten so badly.

Of course, this may also be related to the fact that the first lash hit his mouth.

Wei Wusheng heard Song Shi'an's voice clearly, but he knew that these insects were causing trouble at such a crucial time for the land reclamation, and it was impossible for them to calm down with just a few words.

What angered him even more was that Song Shi'an, who was always so noble and clean, had to be so subservient to eunuchs just to avoid offending people in the palace.

What's even more unforgivable is that when you try to speak to this eunuch properly, he just sits there half-dead and doesn't respond at all.

They really gave me too much face.

"Does the Great Yu Dynasty support eunuchs like you so that you can rule the world with one hand?!"

Wei Wusheng could even whip Zhao Xiang, so he was even more decisive when facing someone like this who had no connections. He whipped the top until it spun around, and Wei Wusheng rolled on the ground clutching his head, completely ignoring Song Shi'an's attempts to stop him.

He was, after all, a military officer, and with his full suit of armor, Song Shi'an couldn't pull him away at all. He could only watch as Eunuch Xi was beaten, and then a smile he couldn't help but reveal appeared on his face, which was full of fear and sorrow.

That brat Wei is really energetic.

However, after his whip drew blood, Song Shi'an realized he couldn't continue. He immediately stepped in front of Eunuch Xi, spreading his arms wide: "Your Highness! Calm down!"

"..." Just as the whip was about to fall, Wei Wusheng quickly pulled it away after realizing it was Song Shi'an. The whip's arc twisted in the air before being flung aside.

"Imperial Guards, come here!" Song Shi'an shouted again.

The Imperial Guard outside had actually heard the wailing long ago, but he dared not go in without orders. It wasn't until he heard Song Shi'an's voice that he rushed in.

Although he was not someone the emperor could command, and his direct superior was Eunuch Xi, and Prince Wei Wusheng could also be ordered around, a fight had clearly broken out inside, and he had to stop it.

Upon entering the room and seeing Grandpa Xi curled up on the ground like a dead dog, groaning in pain, he was dumbfounded.

"Hurry up and take Eunuch Xi out of here! What are you waiting for?" Song Shi'an said as he stopped Wei Wusheng.

"...Yes!" The Imperial Guards had no choice but to quickly lift Eunuch Xi off the ground and carry him outside.

"It's all my fault, all my fault!" Even though he had been beaten like this, when he stepped out of the door and was met by the eunuchs and the accompanying Imperial Guards, his mind was still perfectly clear. He shouted loudly, "It's all my fault for offending His Highness Prince Zhongshan. Even if His Highness beat me to death with a horsewhip, I deserve it!"

In just a few words, seemingly an apology, the speaker clearly explained what Wei Wusheng had done and publicized it to the public.

Xin Yue, who was rushing over, heard everything and was immediately flustered.

Xiao Wei whipped Grandpa Xi half to death with a horsewhip...

She called him over simply because she felt that if someone from the royal family was there, even if Eunuch Xi was arrogant, he wouldn't dare to do anything.

After all, his title of "Second-in-Command" was aimed at everyone in the world except for the Wei family.

In the eyes of the Wei family, and especially the king, he was ultimately just a household slave.

But Song Shi'an was different. He could argue with the emperor and the crown prince, but he couldn't be tough with the eunuchs.

Anyone who has ever worked knows that the boss isn't scary; the most despicable people are those lowly eunuchs who relay messages.

What Xin Yue was most worried about was that the person who did the beating was a prince, who possessed an invincible body, but Song Shi'an did not...

"Your Highness, what are you doing?"

Song Shi'an looked coldly at Wei Wusheng and asked.

"Do you think this palace can be built?" Wei Wusheng retorted. "Is it possible to use 100,000 people and have the powerful families of Huai County collectively contribute the money needed to build the palace, taking pride in His Majesty's presence?"

"Of course not, the aristocratic families in Huai County have already squeezed out all the money they can."

"So, who will ultimately get this money?" Wei Wusheng succinctly pinpointed the crux of the problem.

Song Shi'an was also speechless.

He closed his eyes, and after a long while, sighed, "Yes, it is the people's heads."

"So, after I beat him up like this, is there still any possibility of this palace being built?" Wei Wusheng asked with a smile.

"That's impossible."

Song Shi'an admitted it truthfully.

The King of Zhongshan had the emperor's chief eunuch whipped, claiming he didn't want to waste resources building a temporary palace. This act was morally justified and placed him on the moral high ground.

Even if the Crown Prince and the Emperor wanted to blame him, they could only punish him privately or make things difficult for Wei Wusheng. But building a palace was something that was clearly for his own selfish desires and disregarded the well-being of the people. If he continued to do that, he would be a pure tyrant.

“But,” Song Shi’an said seriously, “Your Highness, do you know why we removed Chen Bao at this time and supported such a treacherous eunuch to take the throne?”

"It's all for the purpose of keeping you and me in check."

Wei Wusheng knew everything, so he said quite firmly, "I am a prince. Whipping a eunuch is not a big deal. Whatever happens, I can handle it."

"Your Highness, this is an act of treason, an act of deceiving Heaven," Song Shi'an reminded him again.

"Then let's bully them."

Raising his hand, Wei Wusheng casually left a comment before turning and walking away aggressively.

After pushing open the door and going out, he encountered Xinyue.

"Your Highness, why did you hit someone?" Xin Yue asked in astonishment.

"I don't want to see him begging for help."

Wei Wusheng replied irritably and walked away.

Xin Yue was completely flustered.

What kind of childish temper is this...?

"How is the lord?!"

As Song Shi'an's personal bodyguard, San Gou rushed over as soon as he heard the news.

"San Gou, you stand guard at the door."

Xin Yue gave a word of advice and then went inside.

She saw Song Shi'an sitting on the bed with a solemn expression. Before she could speak, Song Shi'an said, "Xi Shan said that the emperor will personally visit Huai County during the harvest season, and asked me to mobilize 100,000 people to build a temporary palace before he arrives."

Now, Xinyue finally understands what Xiao Wei meant when he said, "I don't want to see him begging for help."

“Since Xishan represents the Emperor, shouldn’t we ask the Crown Prince for help?” Xinyue asked.

"Would the emperor bring up the matter of building a temporary palace?" Song Shi'an asked.

"..." Xin Yue looked confused. "Is that Xi Shan trying to curry favor with the emperor?"

"How dare Xi Shan, with his many lives, offend me and Xiao Wei?" Song Shi'an asked again.

Xin Yue suddenly realized: "Then the construction of the palace was because the Crown Prince did not issue the Crown Prince's decree."

"The emperor only says one thing: 'I am going to Huai County.' The crown prince only says one thing: 'I want to express my filial piety.'"

“So, building the palace will become your wish…” Xin Yue bit her lip and said resentfully, “and in the eyes of the world, it will be that you want to use 100,000 laborers to please the emperor.”

"If the palace is really built, how can I refuse the emperor's reward?" Song Shi'an asked one last time. "If I don't accept it, how will Jia Guihao and other officials from the Crown Prince's faction accept it?"

Song Shi'an, you must blend in with the world.

"But Your Highness is too impulsive. Since this is clearly the Crown Prince's intention, then slapping Xishan in the face is the same as slapping the Crown Prince..."

Xin Yue paused here, slowly raising her head to meet Song Shi'an's gaze. She said solemnly, "You sent Xiao Wei here so he could beat up Xi Shan."

"Xi Shan got slapped by Wei Wusheng?!"

When the Imperial Guards entered the Eastern Palace to report, the Crown Prince was completely shocked.

Then, in the next moment, he stood up angrily: "How dare he? How dare he?!"

How dare you!

The Imperial Guard, kneeling on one knee with his fists clenched, trembled as he reported.

He had never seen the crown prince so enraged.

Even the murderous intent seemed to shake the palace.

"He knows that Xishan is my person, right?" The Crown Prince clenched his fist, veins bulging. "Even if she's just my dog, shouldn't he at least look at my face before hitting her? Humph!"

Even if a eunuch holds the highest position, to the Wei family, he is still just a household slave.

If you say something wrong, then you can hit me.

However, if he goes on official business, then spanking him is like slapping the crown prince in the face.

"Did Xishan ask for too much bribe?" the Crown Prince questioned.

Although this cannot be said openly, it is even more important not to deceive the emperor. Therefore, the Imperial Guard truthfully stated: "Initially, the chief clerk of the army offered five hundred taels of silver to Eunuch Xi, but the eunuch refused to accept the gift. Later, the accompanying eunuchs hinted that they wanted five thousand taels of silver."

"You beat up Xishan just for five thousand taels of silver? Of course it couldn't be because of that."

The Crown Prince knew perfectly well what was going on and said, "It's still because of the construction of the temporary palace."

The construction of the temporary palace was indeed the Crown Prince's idea.

Even if he was unwilling at all.

When it's finished, and the emperor visits, he'll say, "Why waste so much money?"

But the crown prince understood his father better than anyone else.

What he cared about was not whether he was comfortable living in the palace, but whether he had the filial piety to do so.

He is still just the crown prince. As long as he serves the emperor well and provides enough emotional support before his death, his succession will be secure.

Everyone knows this will be a waste of resources and manpower, and everyone knows that in the end it will all fall on the shoulders of ordinary people.

But he wanted to be emperor, and he was determined to become emperor smoothly.

However, these few lashes were not entirely meaningless.

At least, there's no need to build another palace.

And my wish has been fulfilled. Father, you see, I originally wanted to build you a palace, but Song Shi'an and Wei Wusheng disagreed. It has nothing to do with the Crown Prince.

However, one code equals one code.

"Is it Song Shi'an who is unwilling, or Wei Wusheng who is unwilling?" the Crown Prince asked.

"..." The Imperial Guard struggled to speak, but still managed to say, "Initially, it was the Prefect... Song Shi'an and Eunuch Xi who discussed it privately. Song Shi'an was indeed reluctant to build a temporary palace, but he only bargained with the Eunuch, hoping to reduce the size of the palace, keeping only the main hall up to standard. His attitude was quite earnest, even somewhat..."

"What is it?" the prince asked.

"Humble".

Upon hearing these two words, the Crown Prince's heart tightened, and he closed his eyes briefly: "But Wei Wusheng remained neither humble nor arrogant."

"After listening at the door for a while, His Highness rushed into the gate and questioned the eunuch several times about whether he had an imperial edict or a decree from the Crown Prince, and whether he was trying to curry favor with His Majesty by advocating the construction of the palace. Then he began to whip the eunuch," the Imperial Guard said, trembling.

"..." The Crown Prince fell silent again, then said, "Xishan has already arrived at the palace, right?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Let him go see His Majesty first."

The crown prince turned away, unwilling to face him.

.........

Xishan was carried on a stretcher all the way to the outside of Xuanyu Hall.

Then, supported by a eunuch, he staggered down and walked into the hall.

As soon as he entered, he told the eunuch to release his grip, preparing to kneel before the emperor: "This servant greets you..."

Before he could finish speaking, the old and somewhat weary emperor on the dragon throne interrupted in a hoarse voice, "Xishan, there's no need to kneel. Help him up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xi Shan was already seriously injured and couldn't kneel down at all.

"Guards, prepare a seat for me, right opposite me," the emperor said.

Upon hearing this, Xishan immediately declined in fear, saying, "Your Majesty, how dare I, a mere eunuch, sit opposite you? Even if you gave me ten thousand lives, I would not dare to have such thoughts."

"Don't say that." The old emperor looked at him with great heartache and said, "You suffered for me. This beating was for the Wei family. It pains me to see you like this. I am ashamed."

The emperor's words moved Xishan to tears.

The emperor reached out his hand and comforted her, saying, "You've knelt before me for half your life, and bowed beside me for half your life, yet I've never really looked at your face properly. Xishan, sit there."

"Thank you, Your Majesty... Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xi Shan choked up and could hardly speak.

After being helped to sit down by the eunuch, he used a handkerchief to wipe away his tears for a long time.

Finally, I was able to speak.

"Your Majesty, this servant shouldn't have spoken to Prince Zhongshan like that..."

"Alright," the emperor interrupted again, speaking very seriously, "Stop speaking up for that scoundrel. Things are as they are. I won't drag you into this, but I also need to discipline my own son."

Xishan didn't say anything more.

This is the emperor's family matter; he has no right to plead for Wei Wusheng.

He never intended to plead for leniency.

Wei Wusheng deserves to die, he deserves to be torn to pieces!

"I know that the Crown Prince simply wants to fulfill his filial duty," the Emperor said. "I have lived a frugal life and have never enjoyed anything. The completion of this land reclamation project is a good thing. The Crown Prince wants me to spend my old age happily and peacefully, and he is not wrong."

Thinking of the grievances suffered by the Crown Prince, Xi Shan continued to cry.

"Song Shi'an was also strongly opposed to building the temporary palace, wasn't he?" the emperor asked.

When asked about this, Hee-sun recalled the scene when Song Si-an rushed in front of her and spread his arms to protect him.

So, with a slightly defensive tone, he said, "Although Lord Song is reluctant, he only wants to reduce the scale..."

"Xishan, why wasn't Wei Wusheng there when you went there, but he suddenly appeared when you were discussing things with Song Shi'an?" the emperor reminded her.

One sentence left him stunned.

Could it be that……

"Hey."

The emperor sighed softly, then remarked with emotion, "Lord Song will surely become a renowned minister in the future; he is teaching the Crown Prince how to be an emperor." (End of Chapter)