Frost for a Thousand Years

The Empress was very conflicted before coming to Song Jing's place.

He was a man who had said harsh words before and had completely turned his back on them.

But today, because of my son's situation, I had no choice but to come and see him...

But there was nothing she could do; she didn't want her son to never become emperor, did she?

"Du Tang, who are you waiting for?"

After a very difficult struggle, the Empress finally spoke. However, because of her noble status, even though she came with a 'vulnerable' attitude, her tone remained calm and neither humble nor arrogant.

"I told you long ago, I'm waiting to die."

Song Jing opened his eyes and said without any emotion.

The empress had already walked up to him, sat down in a chair, and waved slightly.

The eunuchs and palace maids beside him quietly left.

This could be said to be the emperor's most cuckolded moment.

If such a story of a 'lonely man and woman' were to spread, it would leave a significant mark on history books.

Of course, even if the Empress is well-preserved at her age, Song Jing would not have the slightest evil thought.

He hasn't reached that level of sexual repression.

"You mustn't say that, Your Excellency," the Empress said with a smile, sensing the 'lack of cooperation' in his words. "I said from the beginning that summoning you to the palace had no other purpose than this. The Song family's wealth and status will not be affected, and Shi An will be fine. It's simply to avoid suspicion, and thus I wanted to set an example for the world..."

"what do you want to say in the end?"

Before she could finish speaking, Song Jing interrupted her without any mercy.

These words shattered the empress's arrogance in an instant.

Especially that eye-catching 'you'.

Regardless of the current situation, whether she is the Empress or the Empress Dowager, she should at least be addressed as "Your Highness".

However, Song Jing completely ignored her identity.

She wanted to get angry, but she quickly remembered Ye Changqing's words...

"There is an imperial edict, an imperial seal, and the approval of all officials. Even the Embroidered Uniform Guard read it aloud in the streets of Sheng'an. Your Highness should know that, apart from a few nobles in Sheng'an who do not recognize the edict, it is a fact that Prince Jin is the new emperor. Moreover, their refusal to recognize the new emperor is purely because Prince Jin was supported by Song Shi'an, and they do not have real power in their hands. That's all."

"Even if we acknowledge Ziyu, can Song Shi'an let Zisheng off the hook? You know, Zisheng had his father set up a trap in Huai County to weaken Wei Wusheng's power."

"Of course we won't let him go, but Song Shi'an has never been a reckless man who is swayed by emotions. If he really acted on impulse, he could have directly supported the Sixth Prince to ascend the throne. Why would he need to pretend to let the Prince of Jin ascend the throne? If the Crown Prince could do that, of course he could be killed. But there's no need."

"But if we just compromise with them like this, what will become of my Great Yu Empire...?"

"Your Highness, before you worry about the Great Yu Kingdom, please think carefully: both of your sons are in the hands of others."

This sentence is the core reason why the Empress was able to swallow her pride and ask for help.

Needless to say, the Prince of Jin, who dared to harbor rebellious thoughts against Song Shi'an, immediately became the late emperor.

With the Crown Prince in the hands of the Duke of Li, it was even less likely that he could defeat that powerful minister.

She always felt that the emperor distrusted his sons too much and never truly let them do things or give them enough power.

But now she misses the husband who would always protect their sons no matter what happened...

"I..." Even after being confronted so bluntly, the Empress did not lose her temper. Instead, she spoke quite politely, "I want to say that both the Emperor and I have sons. Why do we have to fight each other without any mercy?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Song Jing was taken aback.

Then, he quickly burst into laughter.

In this mansion, he was essentially imprisoned in a golden cell, completely cut off from any outside information. He had no idea what was happening in the Great Yu Dynasty.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't worried about Song Shi'an, but he couldn't suffer all day worrying about the Song family's fate, so he simply cleared his mind and closed his eyes to rest.

But after the Empress uttered those words of prophecy, he understood everything.

Before, they were incredibly arrogant, acting like it was all or nothing, but now they're telling themselves, 'We shouldn't be like this.'

What do you mean?
Song Shi'an won!
It's unbelievable that even with the emperor personally taking action, he still lost to his own son.

This is the emperor, Wei Ye, who was able to seize power back into his own hands and even kill the brother who threatened him.

Song Jing laughed, a very unrestrained laugh.

For the Empress, every laugh of his was like a knife cutting into her flesh.

No, they hung her up naked and stabbed her out piece by piece.

From shame to pain.

An experience unlike anything I've ever had before, from this despicable man.

"Dowager, is it really that funny?"

Despite being so humiliated, the Empress still had to smile apologetically and ask.

"Something must have happened outside Sheng'an?" Song Jing asked. "Of course, the Empress can say it or choose not to. Just like when you came to see me today, I could choose to tell you or choose not to."

"Something has indeed happened outside of Sheng'an..."

Biting her lip, the Empress found it difficult to speak of her husband's crushing defeat. Besides, telling him would only please him, but if she didn't, he wouldn't cooperate.

So, blushing, she could only say, "At the Grand Ceremony of Land Reclamation, Prince Zhongping, Wei Yiyuan, under the pretext of presenting gifts, sent assassins to kill His Majesty, but they failed and were imprisoned. However, he did not repent and secretly conspired with the eunuch Xishan to rebel. Fortunately, Prince Jin made a quick decision, and with the assistance of Wei Wusheng, who was already Prince Qin, and your son, the rebellion was quelled. Then His Majesty personally issued an imperial edict, abdicating the throne to Prince Jin."

"Is the emperor already the retired emperor?" Song Jing asked.

"Yes," the Empress said, forcing herself to remain composed. "Also, the Crown Prince and the Duke of Li did not receive the imperial edict at the Jianxing military camp."

“That doesn’t matter. Whether they accept the edict or not, it won’t affect Prince Jin’s ascension to the throne,” Song Jing said casually. “Since His Majesty has issued the edict, it means that Shi’an has complete control over the grain, and the heart of your Great Yu is also in our hands.”

"Yes."

The Empress did not deny this at all, and then said, "But if this continues, the war will not stop, and both sides will inevitably suffer heavy losses. It is not worthwhile for my Wei family or your Song family, right?"

"The emperor isn't from the Song family, so who's at a greater disadvantage?" Song Jing was completely unmoved by PUA tactics; the empress's scheme of getting him to submit was utterly useless against him.

My Song family isn't even considered a second-rate family in Dayu. Your Emperor's wealth is dozens of times greater than mine.

One for one, you're the one who should be afraid!
“That’s true…” The Queen’s cheeks were trembling, but she was still negotiating patiently. “So I hope there can be a way that satisfies both of us… no, it’s a way that satisfies you first, so that we can calm this chaos down.”

Now, the Queen has no choice but to compromise.

Only if his two sons return to Beijing safely can the story continue.

"Should I be satisfied first?"

Song Jing's face suddenly darkened. He slowly stood up, glared at the woman in front of him, and said solemnly, "My son guarded the border for your Wei family, and cultivated the land to store grain. It is no exaggeration to say that he has made tremendous contributions. But Wei Ye has set up a trap in Huai County, plotting to kill him!"

"Lord..."

His sudden outburst of anger struck the Empress as if she had been struck by lightning, causing her to tremble and stare at him stiffly, unsure of what to say.

"The so-called 'purging the emperor's inner circle' is nothing but self-preservation. If my son does not prevail, he will surely die in Huai County."

Raising his finger at the Empress, who was the mother of the nation, Song Jing said with a chill, "We can talk, but don't you have two sons? I want you to choose between the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Wu."

"Choose, choose what?" the Empress asked nervously.

"choose one."

Song Jing slowly lowered his hand and said sternly, "Live."

The biting cold was terrifying even to the Empress, who quickly stood up and raised her hand, saying, "Your Excellency, please don't do this!"

"Your Majesty, please accept my pleading. You are of noble birth."

Song Jing extended his hand, speaking with remarkable righteousness: "You haven't lost yet. I am in your hands. My entire Song clan is still here, my son Song Ce, my grandson Song Yang. You only need to raise and lower your hand, and they will all die. Don't be afraid, don't be terrified. Please uphold the dignity of the royal family, and let us all go to the underworld together!"

Song Jing has never been dishonest.

If he were afraid, he wouldn't have refrained from stopping Song Shi'an when he learned that Song Shi'an was going to Huai County to fight against the emperor, and instead stayed in Sheng'an on his own initiative.

He remembered why he had spent twenty years walking towards the imperial court.

He certainly did not intend to be a servant of the loyal ministers of the Wei family.

Song Shi'an is right.

Then I will dedicate my life to doing what he did right.

I will spill my blood on Xuanyuan!
"Why, why are you Song family members so stubborn and so strong-willed!"

The Empress also lost her composure, almost hysterically questioning, "All you want is for me to conform to the world, all you want is for me to protect myself. Titles, wealth, and a thousand generations—aren't they all worth more than that so-called eternal fame? For this inexplicable thing, why be so disloyal and drag our Wei clan down with you! Is it necessary? Is it really necessary? The people of the Cultivation Palace aren't you, your son, or members of your Song clan. Your hands aren't dirty, your feet aren't muddy. Why do you insist on arguing with the Emperor about right and wrong? Does right and wrong even matter?!"

The empress lacked vision, but was not foolish.

Because she provided the most appropriate example.

The Cultivation Palace is a microcosm of the politics of the Great Yu Dynasty.

This is something that is clearly wrong, but also right.

The mistake was that it was unnecessary.

The point is, it's unnecessary.

There's no need to build a palace that an emperor would only stay in a few times, and that would also affect the large-scale land reclamation project.

But there's no need to offend the emperor over something like this, embarrass the crown prince, or make the officials think you're being unconventional.

Does a famous minister cease to be a famous minister simply because he supervised the construction of a palace?
You want to unify the world, but because you built a palace, you're just short of some grain, and you can't finish it?
He could have easily satisfied everyone and achieved his ambitions.

But he just had to make things difficult for himself.

The Empress's outburst only made Song Jing realize how dazzling his son was.

"Now that you say that, I realize that my son truly cares for the entire land and its millions of people."

Yes, the dust didn't stick to him, the mud wasn't under his feet, and the blood and sweat flowed on other people's bodies. Could Song Shi'an then feel at ease?

Song Jing always felt that the former Song Shi'an was absurd, uncouth, and practically sick to the core.

But now we realize that he is the healthiest person in Dayu.

He possesses a heart as pure as a lingzhi mushroom.

"But he's not the emperor," the empress reminded her. "What emperor wouldn't be afraid if he did this?"

"So what's your choice?" Song Jing asked.

They let her choose again.

The Queen was on the verge of a breakdown.

This person is so sick.

Does it really have to be a fight between us?

"Your Majesty," the Empress said, her eyes glistening with tears, almost pleading, "your son, Song Ce, and His Majesty's daughter had a son, Song Yang. The Wei and Song dynasties are now intertwined by blood. Even if they don't coexist peacefully, they don't necessarily have to destroy each other, do they?"

She finally spoke a human word.

She finally shed her identity as empress and became a mother who humbled herself infinitely.

“Of course not.” Song Jing gradually calmed down and said, “But things must get back on track.”

"How is it right?" the Empress asked upon hearing this. "Please speak, Your Excellency. I still hold great power in Sheng'an. If we can coexist peacefully, you may make your request."

The corrected timeline is here.

Although Song Jing was unaware of what was happening outside, he had a general idea of ​​the situation from the fact that the Empress had come to see him. Sheng'an was leaderless; without the Duke of Li to lead, the nobles were unlikely to be able to maintain order.

In other words, the powerful families suppressed these nobles, hindering their ideas and rendering them powerless to implement them.

"Did Lord Ouyang send the Empress to see me?" Song Jing asked.

Sure enough, Ouyang was with Song Jing.

Actually, Ouyang Ke was not with Song Jing.

But Song Jing wanted to create some confusion at this time, to make her think that they were together.

Then, I became even more afraid.

"Lord Ouyang proposed sending troops to support the Crown Prince in court, but after discussion, it was agreed that it was not feasible due to insufficient food and military pay," the Empress said.

“Lord Ouyang’s aim is to maintain stability in Sheng’an, which is the same idea as all the officials,” Song Jing said. “Then I think the same way: to stabilize the country first.”

"Your Excellency, how should we decide?" the Empress asked.

"Please have the Empress convene a court assembly tomorrow morning and have the eunuchs read out the imperial edict, honoring Prince Jin as the new emperor," Song Jing reminded her. "And you, too, must be addressed as Empress Dowager."

The Empress knew that once this matter was resolved, Sheng'an would finally find peace.

Those nobles who wanted to rebel could only incur the wrath of the masses.

If the people of Qinzhou still refuse to acknowledge the imperial edict amidst public outcry, they will only be branded as rebels.

"Very well, we will do as the governor says," the empress said.

"Then an imperial edict was issued, releasing the entire Zhu Qing and Qin Kuo clan," Song Jing said.

"Of course," the Empress said. "The court will restore their innocence."

"it is good."

Song Jing slowly sat down in the chair and said nothing more.

"Then, Your Excellency, let's leave the Imperial Clan Court today," the Empress suggested.

"No." Song Jing closed his eyes and said very calmly, "After the imperial edict was read, the Empress Dowager issued a self-criticism edict in the court, all because of your mistakes. You listened to the slander of petty people and doubted loyal officials. Therefore, I was reinstated to my original position as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat."

Empress Dowager, if you kneel down and admit your mistake, this matter will be over.

This step is not merely about humiliation, but about continuing to uphold procedural justice.

He was arrested and imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, then released and continued to serve as a high-ranking official of the second rank in the imperial court. Could there not be a reason for this?

Therefore, Song Jing's stains must be cleansed.

Who can take responsibility?

To directly blame the emperor would be against the proper conduct of a subject.

It's most fitting that the Empress should take the blame.

Having taken the blame, it's unlikely she'll ever be able to disrupt politics again.

"it is good."

What could the Empress do? She could only swallow this bitter pill.

As for how she could take revenge and get back at him, she hadn't thought about that.

Her husband is now an emperor emeritus, and it's uncertain whether he'll even be able to return to Sheng'an alive. As a widow and her child, they'll have no choice but to live under someone else's roof from now on.

Fortunately, Song Shi'an only won the emperor's favor; he did not truly seize power, eliminate the nobles, or unify the powerful families.

Even the emperor is not someone he can bully or trample on at will.

The Empress left the Imperial Clan Court with a heavy heart.

"Queen Mother."

Just as she was about to step out the door, Song Jing reminded her without turning his head: "At your age, having children by your side is a blessing in life. Don't go and ruin this happiness."

Do things honestly, and don't have any crooked thoughts.

"The Grand Hall".

Turning slowly, the Empress looked at his back and said coldly, "I am just a woman who cannot live without my son. As long as you do not harm my son, I will do whatever you say."

.........

Jianxing was a military camp for land reclamation.

Before the case was closed, the Crown Prince received a letter from Sheng Anlai.

To be precise, he had already read Ye Changqing's letter.

But he couldn't accept the other party's response.

Sheng'an could not send any reinforcements; all it could do was prevent unrest in the capital.

So, he was waiting for the empress.

Not long after, it arrived.

But the contents of the letter chilled him to the bone.

What does it mean that an imperial edict has been issued, and that the Prince of Jin is the Emperor of Anshun, has been proclaimed to the world?

What does it mean that the nobles and aristocratic families jointly accepted the decision not to send troops, and that the Duke of Li should return to the capital without taking his garrison troops?

What does it mean that the Empress has become the Empress Dowager, and that the King of Wu is allowed to return to the capital and leave the Eastern Palace to return to the King of Wu's residence?

Mom, did you give it to Song Jing?
This letter looks like it was written by Song Shi'an's father!
No, it is indeed your handwriting.

So, he was the one talking to you, and you were writing it down word by word?

Absurd, utterly absurd.

"What did Her Majesty the Empress say?" asked the Duke of Li, who was sitting to the side.

"..." The Crown Prince, or rather the King of Wu, was now somewhat afraid of this man, so he forced a smile and said, "Duke, I suddenly had an idea. Why don't I return to the capital first, take control of the military in Sheng'an, and then send troops to suppress the rebels?"

"Whose suggestion was this?"

The Duke of Li's face darkened, and he questioned him in a very serious manner.

A murderous intent emanated from him, which even frightened the King of Wu.

It's as if he's asking, "Who came up with this terrible idea? I'm going to kill their whole family."

"This……"

"Your Highness," the Duke of Li said, "after you return to Sheng'an, in what capacity will you be? Do you believe that with your prestige, you will be able to control all the troops?"

The King of Wu was able to do so before.

But that was because the emperor appointed him to oversee the country.

His power was granted by the emperor.

Now that he's going back alone, there's nothing he can do.

They could only stay in the imperial city and wait for the real emperor to come and kill them.

Of course, what angered the Duke of Li was that this kid wanted to run away.

If he runs away and then backs down in Sheng'an, acknowledging the Prince of Jin's imperial status, then he will become the only rebel.

"Your Majesty, this is just a thought I had. If Your Majesty thinks it's unacceptable, then we won't do it," King Wu quickly said with a smile.

This Duke of Li has changed; he is no longer the same person as the former 'Prime Minister'.

Because the emperor still held real power before.

But now, he doesn't respect himself as the crown prince at all.

He was just using him as a bargaining chip in his war against Song Shi'an.

"Your Highness." The Duke of Li had no time to play games with this kid and said, "Please allow me to see the Empress's letter."

"The Empress's letter says..."

Because some of the contents of the letter completely contradicted what the Duke of Li thought, the King of Wu was reluctant to let the other party see it.

Until the Duke of Li extended his hand and looked at him.

"..."

How could we have suffered such humiliation? How could we have fallen to such a state?
Quite embarrassing, the King of Wu picked up the letter.

The eunuch, assessing the situation, took the letter and presented it to the Duke of Li.

Then he started reading.

As he watched, his expression grew increasingly grim: "This Hua Ying, she's utterly useless."

You insulted my mother?!
King Wu was truly enraged by being named in this way.

In a fit of anger, he got angry for a moment.

“We can’t count on Sheng’an.” The Duke of Li clenched the letter into a ball and tossed it aside. He then said to the Prince of Wu, “Your Highness, the only way to win now is for you to personally lead the army and avenge His Majesty.”

The problem has now become quite simple and straightforward.

Whoever wins the battle will own Dayu.

As for the emperor, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Prince of Qin, Song Shi'an, and that retired emperor.

If we win, why not kill them all?

Tyranny cannot conquer the whole world, but it can hold a considerable territory.

"Duke, I will do whatever you say."

The King of Wu had no opinion of his own and accepted everything.

A major battle is about to break out.

Simultaneously,

On the opposite bank of the Chishui River in Beiliang, in the Qi army camp.

Ji Yuan and Chen Xing were in a military tent, looking at a huge sand table.

"What's going on here?" Chen Xing asked, quite puzzled. "The entire Northern Liang army has come out and is deployed along the river. If we lose this battle, does that mean we should just give up the whole of Northern Liang?"

Ji Yuan shook his head, lost in thought.

I'm thinking about it seriously.

After a long, long silence, he said suspiciously, "Could this be a surrender?"

"what?"

Chen Xing was completely stunned, not knowing how he figured it out.

The two armies were separated by a river and were heavily patrolled, making it difficult for messages to travel.

Moreover, the current intelligence, at least in terms of public opinion in Nanshuo County, indicates a fervent desire to defend the territory and resist the enemy, with no indication of any intention to surrender.

"They're just making fun of me."

Ji Yuan drew his sword from his waist, pointed it at the camp on the opposite bank of the river, and said, "Persuade the Yu army to surrender. If they refuse, we will send troops tomorrow." (End of this chapter)