The nearly seventy-year-old General Song is a Standard Third Rank military general, commanding fifty thousand elite troops in the Brave Camp. Even in the Capital City, full of high-ranking officials, he is considered a significant minister.
General Song’s reminder was, of course, out of goodwill, a senior’s concern for the younger generation. He did not want to see the promising juniors of the Song Family get caught up in court and political struggles.
As a military general, one should lead troops into battle with pure zeal.
Song Yuan understood the temperant of this elders and sincerely replied, "Thank you, elder uncle, for your guidance. In those years when I worked at the Nanyang Prince Mansion, I received great kindness from the Prince. I watched the Commandery Princess grow up. I have long since made up my mind to devote my life to protecting the Commandery Princess’s safety. Wherever the Commandery Princess is, that’s where this personal soldier commander will be."
"I will not regret it no matter what happens in the future."
General Song’s eyebrows twitched, giving Song Yuan a deep look, and suddenly said, "There’s no need to ntion serving. You are of the age now, why haven’t you married and settled down? There are three kinds of unfilial behavior, and having no descendants is the greatest. Your parents both passed away, and as your elder uncle, I am arranging a marriage for you."
Song Yuan decisively refused, "I am busy all day with work, and I don’t have the leisure to start a family. The descendants of the Song Family are nurous. Even if I don’t marry, the Song Family won’t lack heirs. You needn’t worry about ."
In the Song Family, General Song usually had the final say, but he was quite displeased to be repeatedly refused by Song Yuan.
However, after all, there was a family separation, and they hadn’t seen each other for nearly twenty years. He put on the airs of a senior, and it was up to Song Yuan if he didn’t want to listen, which he couldn’t do anything about.
General Song’s expression turned calm: "As long as you understand everything clearly. One thing I want to remind you, you are you, the Song Family is the Song Family."
"The Song Family has nearly a thousand people, and there are no less than a hundred serving in the military, with five or six military generals above the Sixth Rank. You serving at the Nanyang Prince Mansion and willing to risk your life for the Nanyang County Princess is your own matter. Do not involve the Song Family."
These words showed no rcy at all.
The Song Family today owes more than half of its fortune to the Nanyang Prince. Now that Prince Nanyang has passed, General Song looked down on Jiang Shaohua, the thirteen-year-old now in charge of the Nanyang Prince Mansion, deep in his heart. Even though Jiang Shaohua showed extraordinary skill and shrewdness, General Song did not take it seriously.
Politics is the business of n, the officialdom is a man’s world. What can a little girl achieve, no matter how capable?
Even Princess Bao Hua couldn’t involve herself in politics, what’s more, Jiang Shaohua might ss around for a few days under her title. After a while, when the new emperor ascends the throne, Jiang Shaohua will have to leave the Capital and return to Nanyang County.
The Song Family, even if it has to choose sides, will absolutely not choose the Nanyang County Princess.
Song Yuan did not get angry, cupping his hands in response.
Words that don’t resonate are too many, even half a sentence is superfluous. Song Yuan soon stood up, bid farewell, and left.
General Song watched Song Yuan’s silhouette leave, a flash of anger in his eyes, muttering to himself: "You will regret it one day."
Do you really think it’s easy to provoke Pri Minister Wang? The Pri Minister is temporarily enduring now, but once erupted, it will be like a thunderbolt. A Nanyang Prince Mansion is absolutely no match for Pri Minister Wang.
...
Song Yuan appeared calm, but he was boiling with suppressed anger inside.
Actually, the Song Family is not on the list. Today, he specifically visited the Song Family intending to seek help for the Commandery Princess. Among the top military families in Da Liang, besides the Fan Family, the Zuo Family, and the Bao Family, there’s also the Wei Family, the Liu Family, and the Song Family.
Unfortunately, General Song’s temper is stubborn and tough, clearly showing no support for the Nanyang Prince Mansion. This visit was in vain.
By the ti he returned to the Prince Mansion, it was already dark, and the Commandery Princess had not yet returned. Song Yuan called Sun An over for inquiries: "Did the Commandery Princess send any word back today?"
Sun An softly reported, "Sent a ssage back, the Commandery Princess is having dinner at Jingyang Palace tonight, so she will return a bit later."
Song Yuan nodded slightly, deploying dozens of personal soldiers to wait for the Commandery Princess outside the palace gate.
They waited for over an hour.
Early spring had already passed, the night wind carried the warmth of spring. On the tall vermilion palace walls, white palace lanterns still hung, illuminating the night.
"The Commandery Princess is here."
One personal soldier excitedly exclaid.
Song Yuan quickly went up to et her.
Jiang Shaohua was clad in plain attire today, her hair as black as ink, her skin whiter than snow, her eyes like lacquer dots. She approached slowly from within the palace gate, instantaneously brightening the scene.
Escorting Jiang Shaohua out of the palace gate was neither Mr. Zhao nor a Palace Attendant, but a tall, long-legged, handso young man with an extraordinary bearing.
It was none other than the Young Master of Duke An’s Mansion, Zheng Chen, who had been to Nanyang County.
Song Yuan, unfazed, bowed his hands, "Greetings, Young Master."
Arrogant Zheng Chen showed courtesy towards Song Yuan, "Commander Song, you may rise."
In his past life, Song Yuan had loyally stood by Jiang Shaohua’s side, shielding her from several assassination attempts. Zheng Chen knew the significance of Song Yuan in Jiang Shaohua’s heart and naturally showed so courtesy.
Jiang Shaohua said to Zheng Chen, "Thank you, Young Master, for seeing off."
The address was unfamiliar, the tone indifferent.
Casting like a chasm between them.
Zheng Chen swallowed the sour anger in his throat, responding with a smile, "I am carrying out Empress Dowager’s command to escort the Commandery Princess. If gratitude is needed, it should be extended to the Lady."
This was deliberately provoking Jiang Shaohua. Both of their backings were Empress Dowager Zheng, making it impossible to fully sever and distance.
For example, tonight, Empress Dowager Zheng summoned Jiang Shaohua to accompany her, naturally summoning Zheng Chen and others to Jingyang Palace. After dinner, casually ordering Zheng Chen to see Jiang Shaohua out of the palace.
Jiang Shaohua pulled her lips slightly and turned away.
Whether Zheng Chen paused or stayed, whether he gazed at her retreating figure, what was on his mind to plan or consider, none of these mattered to her.
After returning to the Prince Mansion, Jiang Shaohua summoned Song Yuan into the study, "Uncle seed in a bad mood today, was it because you were aggrieved at the Song Family?"
Song Yuan did not conceal, recounting what General Song had said, "... in those days, the Song Family didn’t even qualify as a second-rate military family. Thanks to the Prince’s recomndation and support, they have what they do now."
"Receiving great kindness from the Prince, yet not thinking of repaying. Standing by at this ti, it’s truly hateful and infuriating."
Jiang Shaohua looked at Song Yuan and softly said: "Uncle, you need not brood over this matter."
"The Nanyang Prince Mansion has been operating for decades and has quite a few supports in the court. Currently, there’s also the Empress Dowager backing us, and the Crown Prince is very amiable towards the Nanyang Prince Mansion."
"While having the Song Family’s support would be good, not having them on my side isn’t a problem either."
"Having you stand by , Uncle, is worth more than a thousand troops."
Hearing such words, Song Yuan’s face blushed, "The Commandery Princess praises so, suggesting I am unworthy."
Jiang Shaohua pressed her lips into a smile and continued to placate, "I am not rely flattering you, I speak from the heart. If I had to find soone I trust the most, you, Uncle, would be the one. Even Chief Historian Chen does not seem as loyal and dependable in my mind as you do, Uncle."
Song Yuan beca slightly sober at this: "Chief Historian Chen is far in Nanyang, if he were right before you, you wouldn’t say this."
Jiang Shaohua blinked with a smile, "If Chief Historian Chen were here, then I would say that in this world I only trust two people."
Song Yuan chuckled at this.
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