Chun Shan stood by, combing Princess Jiahui’s hair, a hint of worry in her eyes.
Princess Jiahui asked, "What are you afraid of?"
Chun Shan replied, "Might soone make things difficult for you because of Song Min’s people discovering you?"
Princess Jiahui laughed, "So many people like , and there are quite a few who wish I’d speak for them before the Emperor. It’s well-known, after all. Is it possible that every ti sothing happens to them, they have to involve ?"
Thinking this over, Chun Shan’s furrowed brows imdiately relaxed.
Princess Jiahui said, "You’re just overthinking it." She hadn’t spoken to Song Min, rely relayed a few ssages through others; even if Song Min revealed it, there was no evidence.
After saying this, the smile in Princess Jiahui’s eyes suddenly vanished. Whether Song Min lived or died, she didn’t care in the slightest. She just disliked the North being in Song Xian’s hands.
She still rembered over a year ago, eting Song Xian in the North, gently lifting the curtain to reveal half a profile, her brows relaxed, a slight smile on her lips.
She knew when she looked her best, feigning nonchalance as she gently waved the silver bell on her wrist when the carriage slowly passed before Song Xian.
All military generals are highly alert to sound and movent; even the slightest noise would pique his interest. She knew Song Xian would surely glance over.
This glance ant whether she could win over this chess piece.
As Song Xian passed by her carriage, his gaze did indeed fall on her, yet there was a cold, harsh chill amidst that stare, making her unconsciously withdraw her smile.
Then Song Xian left without the slightest pause.
With soone like him in the North, it beca challenging for her to employ her strategies.
Princess Jiahui, as if speaking in a dream, displayed an almost pitiable loneliness on her face, "I am the last bloodline of Prince Guangyang. I only wish to reclaim what is mine. Why does everyone make it difficult for ?"
Chun Shan softly replied, "They shouldn’t."
After a brief pause, Chun Shan continued, "Didn’t the Emperor promise you, Princess, that your husband would beco the Military Governor of the Northwest Guangyang Prince’s territories once they are reclaid?"
Princess Jiahui said, "The Emperor did say that, but do you believe it? In this world, nothing is gained for nothing, unless I achieve great rit in reclaiming those territories."
Chun Shan said, "With your intelligence, Princess, you will surely succeed."
Having lost one battle, the subsequent moves must be taken slowly.
Princess Jiahui asked, "Who exactly is the person helping prepare dicine in Chen Family Village? My father ntioned that Princess Guangyang was engrossed in dicine, seeking dical texts from the previous dynasty. Knowing how useful those texts could be, should I have sought out doctors who benefitted from Princess Guangyang’s favor back then?"
Chun Shan replied, "You’ve already done exceedingly well, finding quite a few of Guangyang Prince’s forr subjects. Fortunately, they are willing to assist you in reclaiming the territories from the remnants of the previous dynasty."
Princess Jiahui nodded, "I hope they don’t disappoint , and don’t bring sha to Prince Guangyang."
Chun Shan finished arranging Princess Jiahui’s hair bun and then brought over a bronze mirror.
Princess Jiahui lifted her eyes and saw the charming beauty in the mirror, nodding in satisfaction.
Chun Shan complinted, "Princess, you are truly beautiful. Don’t worry about the matters in the North. In your charming presence, anything is possible."
Princess Jiahui nodded; if anything was worriso, it would be Song Xian; others, such as Chen Family Village frequently ntioned by Li You after arriving in the Capital City, were rely Song Xian’s tricks.
Without Song Xian, Chen Family Village is nothing.
Princess Jiahui fiddled with her gown’s sash, thinking Song Xian might take another province, but it must not be easy for him.
Song Xian is far in the North; with mountains and rivers stretched between, she is indeed at a disadvantage, yet in the Capital City, Song Xian is no match for her. She would also make soone spark a fire, making Song Xian swallow a fish yet choke on a bone.
At the very least, pinning Song Min’s death on Song Xian would an the Song family father and son would never find peace, and seeds of suspicion would offer an opportunity to others.
...
Within the palace.
The Emperor sat on the throne, reading the morial submitted by Li You.
The fifty-four-year-old Emperor bore deep wrinkles between his brows, with a clear scar on his forehead, a lasting mark from his youth spent campaigning far and wide.
Every ti the ministers saw this scar, they recalled the Emperor’s contributions to Daqi.
The Emperor asked, "Li You is escorting the captives and will only arrive in the Capital City after half a month. Have all of you thought about how to handle this matter?"
The Minister of the Ministry of Justice first bowed, saying, "Collusion with external enemies is a grave cri that warrants punishnt under Daqi’s laws."
The Emperor hesitated slightly.
The Minister of the Ministry of Justice continued, "This matter is of utmost importance. Though the National Guardian General has done much for Daqi, the court must not be lenient in this case."
Everyone understood these words. Regardless of the reason, if the Emperor gave a lenient hand in this matter, what’s to prevent other Military Governors from acting similarly? Wouldn’t that lead to chaos in Daqi?
Among the officials, an Imperial Censor stepped forward, "Song Min is the offspring of the National Guardian General; General Song Xian is also the National Guardian General’s legitimate eldest son. Had Mr. Li not uncovered this case, General Song Xian’s fate would have been much worse. Truly considering the Nation’s service, justice must be observed."
After a mont of silence, the Emperor finally made up his mind, "Both the case of the Henghai Jiedu Envoy and Song Min’s case must be thoroughly investigated by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice."
The officials responded in agreent.
The Emperor dismissed the officials and turned away from Guanghe Palace.
Sitting on the sedan chair, the Emperor suddenly recalled Prince Guangyang. After Li You went to Zhenzhou, he sent quite a few secret reports to the Capital City. Song Xian has managed Zhenzhou well and even opened the first Official dicine Bureau there.
The villages in Zhenzhou also began collecting dicinal herbs, and the governnt office took steps to prepare docunts for trade caravans.
Was this a sign of using conciliatory thods for governance?
It bears so resemblance to Prince Guangyang’s approach.
The Emperor had once greatly admired Prince Guangyang, only, later on...
The Emperor shook off the thoughts in his mind. Currently, the forr territories of Prince Guangyang are still held in the hands of remnants of the previous dynasty, indicating that although Prince Guangyang’s political views were comndable, they proved ultimately useless.
"Send soone to et Li You swiftly," the Emperor ordered, "Send so food and clothing to Mr. Li, and tell him he won’t be spending Lunar New Year’s Eve in the palace with this year. I will rember his hard work."
The eunuch acknowledged the order.
...
The 29th of the last lunar month.
The children of Chen Family Village gathered to watch the slaughter of pigs and sheep.
Thinking about having at to eat tomorrow, the children couldn’t keep their smiling mouths closed. As they saw their parents and siblings carrying the at in bamboo baskets ho, they imdiately followed, asking, "Mom, is it tomorrow that we eat at? Is it early in the morning or at noon? How much can we eat? Can we eat it all?"
The adults, questioned impatiently, each placed their hands on their hips and chased the children away.
Old Mrs. Chen, overhearing, advised, "It’s New Year’s, and no one is to hit the children; everyone must stay joyful."
"Understood," the won imdiately replied with smiles.
Old Mrs. Chen continued to walk around inspecting; there was no need for her to watch over the at as Chen Yuyu and the others were nearby, ensuring neither would be given less nor more.
It’s once a year, isn’t it?
Old Mrs. Chen decided not to be stingy with Silver Coins for the New Year, yet as she walked back to her own ho, her expression changed.
There was a whiff of at aroma wafting from the small courtyard, alongside sizzling sounds from the kitchen.
Xie Liangchen poked her head out and asked, "Grandmother, are you hungry? Would you like sothing to eat? I’ve made noodles with at sauce."
As Old Mrs. Chen was waging an inner battle with herself, Mrs. Gao entered the courtyard with several others, carrying a cloth bundle and smiling at Xie Liangchen.
"Miss Chen, co here," Mrs. Gao said, "We have sothing for you."
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