Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 37 The First Sword of the Great Yu

Wei Yiyuan did not bid farewell to Minister Sun before leaving the residence.

Just as they were about to board the carriage, Sun Qian hurriedly chased after them.

"slow."

Wei Yiyuan did not get into the car, but instead waited for Sun Qian, who was running towards him.

Upon arriving, Sun Qian hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me, my father..."

“No need for formalities.” Wei Yiyuan raised his hand, smiled and said, “I understand Situ’s feelings. This Song family’s top scholar was indeed drunk and acting crazy.”

He was drunk and acting crazy.

Upon hearing these three words, Sun Qian sensed something subtle.

Under what circumstances would one use the phrase "acting drunk and crazy"?
Generally, when someone has made a mistake or said something wrong, and someone wants to excuse them, they say that the person was out of their mind, was talking nonsense while drunk, and ask for forgiveness.

But was Song Shi'an drunk?

Isn't it a deep-seated madness?

"I am truly sorry for neglecting Your Highness today," Sun Qian said with an apologetic smile, "that this banquet has ended on such an unpleasant note."

"It's alright. I'm here today to celebrate Situ's birthday. I've already arrived, and my intentions are fulfilled. Seeing that Situ Sun is in good spirits and health is very gratifying."

After exchanging pleasantries, Wei Yiyuan jokingly asked, "Among the various candidates for Miss Sun's marriage, is there anyone you'd like to choose from?"

"That's what we were originally planning, but with today's commotion... I'm afraid it'll cause some delays," Sun Qian said awkwardly.

"Haha, please tell Lord Situ not to be angry and not to bother with such a junior," Wei Yiyuan said.

"Yes, sir. I will convey your message to my father," Sun Qian said earnestly.

"Then I have some matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

"Respectfully seeing off His Highness Prince Zhongping."

After the other party asked to leave, Sun Qian bowed once more.

Only after he boarded the royal carriage and gradually drove away did he raise his head.

His brows furrowed slowly.

wrong.

Why was the Prince of Zhongping not very 'enthusiastic' towards me?
When we first met, he used a very strong phrase like "leading the scholars of Kyoto".

This signifies his acceptance of his status as a leader of the younger generation.

Can words from a prince be taken lightly?

But now, when I talk to him alone, he offers no evaluation, no approval, and no words of advice.

This Prince Zhongping is going to...

Sitting on the royal throne, Wei Yiyuan closed his eyes to rest.

"Your Highness, that person seems to be the top scholar from the Song family."

At this moment, the guard on horseback beside him whispered to the window of the carriage.

Slowly, Wei Yiyuan lifted the carriage curtain.

On the roadside, the unruly top scholar staggered about, seemingly unconcerned about even the strict rules of etiquette that required adherence to, such as "when the prince's carriage travels, the common people bow and the officials pay their respects."

"Your Highness, should we reprimand him?" asked one of the accompanying imperial guards.

"Didn't you see that the top scholar was drunk?"

After giving a curt reply, Wei Yiyuan lowered the carriage curtain.

The king embarked on a long journey.

Song Shi'an's drunkenness vanished instantly, and his expression returned to sharp and calm.

He stopped and looked back at the location of the Situ residence, his mind resolute.

Fuck your mother, I'm going to blow my mind.

.........

When the Prince of Zhongping arrived at the Prince of Jin's residence, he quickly stepped inside after getting out of the carriage.

"Where is the Prince of Jin?" Wei Yiyuan asked.

"Your Highness, she's in the study. This servant will go and report right away..."

Before she could finish speaking, he headed straight for the study in the Prince's mansion.

Upon arrival, I pushed open the door with a 'thump'.

"Zishang has arrived."

Wei Yixuan, who was practicing calligraphy, didn't even look up. Hearing this arrogant noise, he already knew who it was.

“Brother, what time is it? Why are you still practicing calligraphy here?” Wei Yiyuan walked over to the side.

"An ancient master once taught that practicing calligraphy cultivates one's character."

He continued copying Gu Yixin's calligraphy, completely unfazed. After finishing the last character, he looked up and asked, "When is it?"

"Brother, you certainly can't imagine what happened at Sun Yan's banquet?"

With a mix of excitement and gossip, Wei Yiyuan spoke mysteriously.

"What is it?" Wei Yixuan's curiosity was also piqued.

So Wei Yiyuan recounted everything that happened at the banquet, from the initial seating arrangement to the poem recited by Song Shi'an, without omitting a single detail.

After hearing this, the Prince of Jin was indeed shocked. However, after calming down, he casually asked, "He didn't bow to your carriage, such an offense, and you remained unmoved?"

“If it were a normal day, he would naturally not allow it.”

Wei Yiyuan said with a smile, "But today, he just put on such a wild show under the pretext of being drunk. It was quite a performance, how could I bear to let him not have a dignified ending?"

"You are quite modest."

"Then what do you think, Your Highness Prince Jin?" Wei Yiyuan asked curiously.

"Why shouldn't a man carry a hunting hook and seize fifty states beyond the passes? Please ascend the Cloud Pavilion for a moment, for which scholar has ever become a marquis of ten thousand households... This is indeed a magnificent and spirited poem."

After carefully reading it, the Prince of Jin gave it such high praise.

"He was neither arrogant nor humble at the banquet, and his talent was on full display. Without a doubt, he will soon become the most influential figure in the capital," Wei Yiyuan said confidently.

"This also offended Minister Sun to the death."

"That is precisely his purpose. And that is precisely Sun Situ's purpose as well."

"What are your thoughts?" the King of Jin asked.

When asked, Wei Yiyuan, who already had ideas, spoke his mind: "Second brother, at this time you must treat scholars with respect and personally receive Jieyuan. It must be a grand occasion. Of course, grand occasion does not mean excessive gifts, but simply that meeting him is giving him face. The main thing is to let everyone in the capital know that Song Shi'an has already joined your ranks."

"Wouldn't it cause trouble to recruit this madman?"

"He's not arrogant, Second Brother."

The earnest Wei Yiyuan persuaded, "If he really was an arrogant person, he should have been angry when the seating arrangement was being made. Why did he have to endure it until the very end?"

"He just wants to be famous."

"Second Brother's illustrious name."

Wei Yiyuan nodded and continued, "The military farms are something Father wants to do, which will inevitably infringe on the interests of the Sun family in Yangzhou. When we report on our duties in a few days, Father will definitely choose a county to let them accumulate enough political achievements, and then entrust them with important responsibilities a few years later. Since they are the kind of people Father wants to use, you should use them, Second Brother."

After careful consideration, the Prince of Jin said, "Choosing him means that we cannot choose Sun Qian."

"Give up on Sun Qian."

Wei Yiyuan said with certainty.

His purpose in going there today was to recruit Sun Qian.

But along the way, he changed his mind.

"No, no." After raising his hand and struggling for a moment, Prince Jin said, "I cannot choose between these two options. I must receive Song Shi'an."

"..." Upon hearing this, Wei Yiyuan became somewhat anxious and asked, "What if Fourth Brother goes to see him?"

"Then let him go."

The Prince of Jin remained calm in response: "Give him the reputation of 'accepting many retainers'."

My father is getting old and his health isn't so good anymore.

At this critical juncture, Zisheng's willingness to confront such a prominent figure demonstrates his ambition.

This is what the Prince of Jin thought.

Wei Yiyuan knew what he was thinking.

If you do nothing, you won't make a mistake.

However, the fourth brother is also a legitimate son and has the legal right to inherit.

How can we do nothing?
"Second Brother," Wei Yiyuan said anxiously, looking at him, "you can't wait for Father to pass the throne to you."

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Jin's face darkened. He raised a finger and said in a serious, low voice, "Zishang, you are not allowed to say such things again!"

.........

"Why shouldn't a man carry a hunting hook and seize fifty states beyond the passes?"

"Please ascend the Cloud Pavilion for a moment, for which scholar has ever become a marquis of ten thousand households?"

"This poem by the top scholar is truly full of heroic spirit!"

"Moreover, at the Situ residence, he actually uttered such arrogant words as 'What does your birthday have to do with me?' Has he always been this brave?"

"This man is destined to be a hero!"

"Doesn't the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan hold any allure for him?"

"He's still too frivolous and arrogant, too young and ignorant. That Minister Situ is one of the Three Dukes of the court; so many people are trying to curry favor with him!"

"Does this mean that the Song family of Huai County is going to have an affair with the Sun family of Yangzhou?"

Before long, the events of the birthday celebration had spread far and wide, becoming the talk of the town.

While listening in a private room by the window of the restaurant, Wei Wusheng, who was "disguised" there, felt his heart burning with passion.

The female guard in men's clothing sitting opposite her remained as aloof and silent as ever, acting as a quiet listener.

"His Majesty needs a sharp sword for the land reclamation reform, and he became that sword!"

Wei Wusheng's feelings for Song Shi'an went beyond mere interest or admiration.

He wanted to see what kind of face this person had.

What kind of heart do you have?

To be able to say such a thing.

"Xinyue."

After a fierce internal struggle, Wei Wusheng looked up at the girl in front of him and said, "Go and see him for me."

(End of this chapter)