Frost for a Thousand Years

Song Shi'an sat at the desk, but there was no one in front of him, not even the three dogs.

Zhao Han is on her way to bring her here.

In this moment of solitude, Song Shi'an couldn't help but think of all the things that had happened in the past...

Ah, all those past events.

After a while, a woman walked in, led by San Gou.

She wore a gray cloak and a hood that completely covered her head, and her figure was mostly concealed; only her height indicated that she was a girl. Or perhaps, she resembled a somewhat thin man.

She kept her head down and didn't say anything.

"Go out for a moment," Song Shi'an ordered General San Gou.

"My lord." San Gou gave Song Shi'an a wink, pointing at her waist as he subtly reminded her.

The hilt of the sword was already sticking out.

"Get out of here," Song Shi'an demanded impatiently.

"Yes." San Gou could only do as instructed and left the place with some caution.

Then, Song Shi'an continued to stare at the woman, whose clothes were somewhat rough and who seemed to be cosplaying as an Assassin's Creed character, and finally spoke: "Miss Sun."

Upon hearing this address, Sun Jinhua raised her head, took off her hood, and stared straight at Song Shi'an with a sharp gaze, completely devoid of her usual gentleness and sweetness, clearly carrying a hint of 'ruthlessness'.

She looks somewhat similar to Xinyue, especially since she has styled her ponytail up, fully revealing her delicate and beautiful face.

However, their temperaments are completely different.

Xin Yue's ruthlessness is the essence of a killer, the spirit of an assassin.

Sun Jinhua gives people the feeling of 'resentment'.

If the flower resents the butterfly, who will you resent?
"Young Grand Secretary, are you looking for me?" Sun Jinhua asked, staring at the other person.

The way he addressed him as "Young Grand Secretary" was so distant that Song Shi'an felt somewhat ashamed.

But upon closer reflection, he realized he hadn't had any contact with Sun Jinhua, so why did she seem so familiar to him?

All of this stems from past memories; there are various bonds between the two of them.

For example, when he was on his way to conquer Beiliang, on the streets of Sheng'an, this young girl stood in the crowd and secretly bowed to him, at least expressing some sincere feelings.

Song Shi'an avoided the question and deliberately changed the subject, looking at the sword at her waist and saying, "Miss Sun's sword is so beautiful."

Sun Jinhua looked at her, and then suddenly drew her sword.

The blade gleamed with a chilling light, right in front of Song Shi'an. Although he wasn't startled or even surprised, the next second, San Gou rushed in.

"Get out!" Song Shi'an immediately scolded the fiercely protective San Gou in a disdainful tone.

San Gou could only hang his head and retreat dejectedly.

Sun Jinhua held the sword in her hand and walked step by step to Song Shi'an. Then, she held the hilt with one hand and extended it in front of Song Shi'an.

Song Shi'an picked up the sword and examined it repeatedly. He nodded approvingly at the light but remarkably sharp sword: "Is this your private collection?"

“I have loved collecting swords since I was a child,” Sun Jinhua said. “This one was secretly given to me by my brother, Sun Heng.”

Honestly, this older brother is a bit of a fool, but he's really good.

"good."

Song Shi'an returned the sword to her. After she sheathed it, he stood up, walked to the sword rack beside him, picked up the Kui Xing sword that the late emperor had given him when he was ennobled as a count, walked to the table, held the middle section in one hand, and handed it to her: "Although this sword is magnificent, inlaid with gems and gilded, it is somewhat vulgar compared to your sword, which is as clear as a spring among rocks and as elegant as bamboo in the mountains. Of course, the Sun family is the most powerful family in Jiangnan. No matter how expensive this sword is, it is insignificant to Miss Sun. It is certainly not a bribe to curry favor."

"what is that?"

Sun Jinhua didn't reach out, but instead asked a question.

“Sun Jinhua loves swords, so I will give her swords,” Song Shi’an said. “If she likes music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, then I will give her something that I feel I can present to her.”

Only after this point did Sun Jinhua extend her hands and slowly accept it.

Then, Song Shi'an walked back to the desk, sat down, and said without looking up, "Miss Sun, it's not easy for you to come here. Rest for a day. After tomorrow, I will send someone to take you back to Sheng'an."

Sun Jinhua remained silent.

Song Shi'an picked up a brush and, while pretending to work and correct military reports, continued, "You don't need to worry about your father. Although he's very angry, he's all bark and no bite. Besides, your brother misses you very much."

"Young Grand Secretary."

Sun Jinhua suddenly spoke up.

Song Shi'an paused for a moment, then continued writing.

"Why don't you look at me when you speak to me?"

Sun Jin's question made Song Shi'an fidget with his pen. After a while, he put down the pen and, seeing the other person's melancholy eyes, he unusually lost his composure and became hesitant.

“Young Grand Secretary, you hold a high position and great power. It is an honor for you to give me the precious sword bestowed upon me by the late Emperor.” Sun Jinhua looked at the sword in her hand and continued, “I accept it with a clear conscience.”

"It's not a favor, it's just a small gift," Song Shi'an explained.

"And I, a mere woman, hold no official position or rank. Apart from myself, I have nothing. I am simply myself."

Sun Jinhua slowly raised her head, looking at him with great distress: "My sword, the young Grand Secretary is unwilling to accept. Because the young Grand Secretary is afraid of receiving a girl's token."

These words really stung Song Shi'an.

I feel a bit of chest tightness.

“Since that banquet, I haven’t seen the young Grand Secretary many times, nor have I had much of a chance to speak with him. The young Grand Secretary has no responsibility,” Sun Jinhua asked, puzzled. “Then why is the young Grand Secretary afraid of me?”

Song Shi'an truly felt ashamed.

Unlike in modern times, in ancient times, if someone flirted with another and didn't marry him, they would be punished by heaven.

But Song Shi'an also felt wronged, because he had never flirted with her at all.

From beginning to end, it was his father who was constantly outmaneuvering the enemy, which led to a somewhat ambiguous relationship between him and Sun Jinhua.

This is a tragedy caused by politics; the dust of the times weighs heavily on the young girl, like an insurmountable mountain.

“My brother, or my father, may have asked the young Grand Secretary for something, to have you send me back, I know,” Sun Jinhua said. “Originally, I just wanted to run away and rebel against all of my father’s arrangements. But this matter has blown up, and many people have suffered because of me, and have to cross two states to desperately search for me. I’ve thought about it, and Miss Xinyue is right. As a young lady from a noble family, I have been raised and pampered by my parents, and I have benefited a lot. I can’t just abandon all of this and do whatever I want when I need to help my parents.”

This Sun Jinhua, her values ​​are really damn upright.

The fact that she has such a dialectical way of thinking shows that she is truly kind-hearted.

“Young Grand Secretary, sending me back to the capital would waste manpower and delay the southern expedition,” Sun Jinhua said. “Young Grand Secretary, I will return by myself.”

"It's alright, I'll have someone deliver it to you," Song Shi'an insisted.

But as soon as he finished speaking, the other party saw through his lie completely, saying, "Young Grand Secretary, don't worry, I won't run away. I really will go to Sheng'an. You can deliver on the task my father and brothers entrusted to you."

She not only anticipated that Song Shi'an would think she was going to run away, but also made Song Shi'an extremely embarrassed by saying something like, "My father and brothers will still owe you a favor."

This girl really broke Song Shi'an's heart.

"In that case, alright."

Song Shi'an ultimately refused to face her, so he responded with a wandering gaze.

After receiving a reply, Sun Jinhua turned around and prepared to leave.

Only then did Song Shi'an raise his head, able to openly look at the girl's back, feeling quite sad.

Until the other person suddenly stopped and turned around.

In his moment of shock, Song Shi'an saw the other person's heartbroken yet barely holding on face.

The next moment, Sun Jinhua's eyes reddened, and she asked, forcing back her pride, "Jinhua, are you really such a despicable woman?"

……

"General San Gou." When they were outside, Zhao Han found San Gou and addressed him with great humility and honesty.

"Mr. Zhao." San Gou clenched his fists, a gesture of respect.

Song Shi'an had already included him in his staff, so he could be considered one of their own.

"I came here on Lord Ma Xin's orders. And besides me, there were only a few guards," Zhao Han said. "This Miss Sun Jinhua was entrusted to me by Governor Ma, who said that the Junior Grand Secretary had inquired about her. As for her, I didn't find her myself; it was her uncle from the Sun family who protected her. Even here, I haven't spoken a single word to Miss Sun; she's been in her own carriage the whole time. Both my guards and Miss Sun's maids know this."

This passage was so long it was almost painful to read. San Gou frowned, then suddenly realized, "I understand now. Sir wants to avoid suspicion. Miss Sun Jinhua was just asked by Governor Ma to be brought along on the way."

This means that Sun Jinhua is completely innocent.

Seeing that San Gou said this, Zhao Han became even more serious and spoke again: "General San Gou, please convey my words to the young Grand Secretary in their entirety."

San Gou was a little reluctant, but still said, "Then, sir, could you say it again?"

……

Song Shi'an was leaning back in the chair in front of the military desk, holding the hilt of his sword, drawing it out and putting it back on repeatedly, his expression quite somber.

At this moment, San Gou walked in and asked Song Shi'an, "Lord Marquis, did Sun Jinhua just enter the military camp like that?"

“Yes, she will follow us on our southern expedition.” Song Shi’an said, “You should send a few reliable brothers to keep an eye on her, and make sure she doesn’t get hurt in the slightest, otherwise I and Sun Situ will have no way to explain it.”

"My lord," San Gou suggested, "although she looks somewhat like Lady Xin Yue today, she is, after all, a young lady from a noble family. Bringing her along on a large-scale military campaign would be quite a burden. My lord, her safety cannot be fully guaranteed. Perhaps we could send her to another city along the way?"

"You think I don't know?" Song Shi'an raised his head and asked in annoyance.

San Gou was scolded again, lowered his head, and after a while muttered softly, "Lord Marquis, are you in a bad mood today?"

His tendency to lose his temper so easily is really unlike him.

"You'll understand when you get to my age," Song Shi'an sighed.

Unfortunately, it's unlikely that San Gou will reach his age.

How can a person grow backwards?
"By the way, Lord Marquis, Zhao Han has some words he wants me to convey to you, and he wants me to say them completely, without omitting a single word," San Gou said.

“Then tell me the whole story,” Song Shi’an said, looking at him.

In this way, he conveyed Zhao Han's instructions to him as completely as possible, without missing a single word.

Song Shi'an listened calmly. After he finished, he held the sword, still fragrant with the scent of Sun Jinhua's small hand, and sheathed it, saying expressionlessly, "Oh."

.........

Yangzhou, Quyang.

The Sun residence.

Sun Yu was Sun Jinhua's great-uncle, and also Sun Situ's uncle.

However, he was not much older than Sun Situ, only five years older.

His family and the Sun Situ family had long since separated. In such a top-tier family, once the collateral branches grow strong, the smaller branches can also rise and become a powerful clan that commands respect in the region.

Due to the requirements of family strategy, Sun Yu and Sun Situ were stationed in opposite directions, one in the south and the other in the north.

The Sun family, including the Grand Tutor, held political positions and developed their influence within the imperial court.

Sun Yu was in charge of Yangzhou, leading other local powerful clans.

Even a high-ranking official like Ma Xin, who held the highest rank, had to pay a visit to this old man before arriving in Yangzhou.

If the bigwigs in this area don't get through, then Ma Xin will find it difficult to establish himself.

“Grandfather,” a servant approached him and reported, “Song Shi’an’s army is less than three hundred li away from Chen Huo, but Chen Huo still hasn’t raised any anti-Song slogans.”

Upon hearing this, Sun Yu frowned, his expression becoming extremely serious.

As soon as he raised his hand, the person next to him presented him with a teacup with both hands.

As he touched the teacup lid, he nodded to himself, "What kind of person can remain unmoved when the enemy is at the gates and he's been branded a traitor?"

If the other side claims to have quelled the rebellion, and you don't respond with other political slogans, then where is the "legitimate cause" for your army?
You can't use passive-aggressive tactics in politics.

Song: You are a traitor to the country!

Chen: Oh.

"Could it be that the Duke of Zhangping doesn't want to fight and is planning to negotiate with Song Shi'an?" he asked.

“Of course we don’t want to fight,” Sun Yu said. “And Song Shi’an doesn’t want to fight either.”

"Two people who don't want to fight are getting closer and closer..."

"They've run into each other so close together," Sun Yu said coldly. "What are those two up to?"

“They have no choice but to fight this battle,” the steward said. “I will do my best to get those people to intensify their efforts to stir up trouble.”

“That’s natural,” Sun Yu said. “However, more than the Duke of Zhangping, I’m curious about what this young Grand Secretary is thinking.”

Just then, a servant arrived at the door: "Grandpa, something's wrong."

Sun Yu nodded.

Then Jia Cheng went over and let the man in.

So the servant reported to Sun Yu: "Miss has gone to Song Shi'an and stayed there to go on the expedition with the army."

Upon receiving this news, Sun Yu finally smiled.
-

I recommend a great book: an invincible harem novel. It's incredibly powerful and very much a harem story. (End of Chapter)