Xie Changshen stood in front of the Emperor’s bed for a long ti. The Emperor lay there with his eyes tightly closed, breathing faint and rapid, showing no signs of waking no matter how he spoke.
Since entering officialdom, Xie Changshen felt this mont was infinitely long.
He saw Empress Xu in the side hall. Empress Xu sat there with the Heir of Prince Qi curled up in her arms, like an orphan and widow suffering from oppression.
Xie Changshen saluted the Emperor and Empress before exiting the main hall.
"Pri Minister Xie."
The officials followed all the way, eager to ask Xie Changshen what to do next.
"I’m old," said Xie Changshen, "these matters should be discussed by everyone!"
Empress Xu’s intentions were very clear. After being exposed by Li You, she outright stopped concealing, gripping the Heir of Prince Qi firmly and refusing to let them speak.
A posture of ’those who comply prosper, those who resist perish.’
Empress Xu hadn’t yet seized the throne but already saw herself as the Emperor, with the Heir of Prince Qi looking terrified, as if utterly at a loss.
Empress Xu concealed her pursuit of Prince Qi from the Heir of Prince Qi and wanted them to accompany her in staging a grand drama. In the past, there were Empress Dowagers who held their younger brothers hostage but at least they could bear the ignominy.
But the current Empress Xu... before the new Emperor even ascended the throne, she was hastily throwing bla onto the not yet deceased Emperor and these ministers, which was rather unsightly.
The Xu Family and Empress Xu always prioritized interests, never doing a good deed over these years, everything catered to the Emperor’s whims.
And the Heir of Prince Qi, is there truly no consideration at all?
If he follows Empress Xu, not only will he likely et an unhappy end, but such a person controlling the court may bring disaster to the people.
"Pri Minister Xie, slow down," the eunuch suddenly called out to Xie Changshen, "Her Majesty the Empress requests your presence for a talk."
Xie Changshen halted his steps.
The changes within the palace were too great; many palace attendants and eunuchs were detained, and Du Zheng was evidently constrained. This all required explanation, soone to bear responsibility.
The Empress’s "support" at this ti was to conveniently deflect bla in the future.
Inviting him into the situation so respectfully inevitably felt amusing.
"I’m afraid just won’t suffice," Xie Changshen looked at the Six Ministers behind him, "Please join , let’s discuss what to do next."
Several results might occur.
Firstly, bringing Prince Lu or Prince Qi into the capital.
Secondly, killing Prince Lu and Prince Qi to support the Heir of Prince Qi.
Thirdly, serving the Xu Family, aiding Empress Xu in seizing power.
The first path isn’t impossible, but the court fought with Prince Lu and Prince Qi’s forces, many officials offended Prince Lu and Prince Qi. If they ascended, those who sided with the court would surely be retaliated against. Moreover, whether Prince Lu or Prince Qi, there likely would be disputes.
The second path, supporting the Heir of Prince Qi requires killing Prince Qi. After the Heir of Prince Qi ascends, will he avenge his father?
The third path, with the Empress Dowager in power, behind it follows the struggle between the Emperor and Empress Dowager...
So which choice to make?
Who can possibly straighten out the present chaos?
Strong soldiers, aligned hearts...
Xie Changshen stood once again in front of the main hall, a na suddenly flashed in his mind, at this point in Daqi, one who could contest, aside from Prince Lu, Prince Qi, and the Xu Family, was Song Xian.
After Li You fled north, was he seeking out Song Xian?
With Li You’s words, Song Xian could raise troops from the North, power falling aside, and outsiders wishing to seize power naturally could be overthrown.
"Pri Minister Xie, what troubles you?"
The Minister of Rites stepped forward to support Xie Changshen.
Xie Changshen shook his head: "It’s nothing." He just suddenly felt that a complete change might be brewing.
...
Ten days later in Zhenzhou.
Old Mrs. Chen looked at the well-organized soldiers and horses, the Song Family Army had grown substantially compared to years ago when they resisted the Liao people.
Her grandson-in-law mounted the war horse. The troop would start their journey south today.
Song Xian glanced at Xie Liangchen not far away and nodded to her.
This ti when he returns from the campaign, everything should be settled.
Hei Dan was a bit excited and also regretful, if only he were two years older, he could mix in the ranks and follow his brother-in-law into battle.
He saw so familiar faces within the troops, those were the people from Zhenzhou Village.
Chen Zigeng, just returned with Mr. Dongli from outside, walked to Xie Liangchen’s side and whispered: "Don’t worry, sister, Du Jiedu Envoy, Zhaoyi Jiedu Envoy, and Pinglu Jiedu Envoy are also dispatching troops."
Xie Liangchen nodded, besides them, Qin Maoxing was also leading troops south, along with warships departing from Cangzhou.
Song Xian’s figure was becoming distant; Xie Liangchen saw soone riding towards them, it was Song Qizheng.
Song Qizheng dismounted and approached Xie Liangchen. She and Chen Zigeng imdiately saluted.
"I ca to see Zhe." Song Qizheng looked at the little child in Xie Liangchen’s arms.
Even with such cold weather, the child seed unafraid, his eyes curiously fixed on the distant Song Family Army.
Song Qizheng reached out to touch the wool felt hat on Zhe’s head, then gingerly pinched his little face. Looking at Zhe like this, Song Qizheng rembered how Song Xian looked as a child, also with big eyes, always looking up to et his gaze.
Song Xian was also smart; he taught Song Xian swordsmanship, only needed to demonstrate twice for Song Xian to nearly morize it, and by the ti he returned, Song Xian had practiced skillfully.
Song Qizheng also recalled how Old Mrs. Song used to say, Song Xian didn’t like studying and didn’t want to join the military when grown, but he wished to please him by morizing the lessons left by teachers and practicing swordsmanship and boxing and kicking.
Yet at that ti, because of stubbornness and prejudice in his heart, he pushed Song Xian far away.
Zhe suddenly laughed and extended his arms towards Song Qizheng.
Before Song Xian went to war, he briefly held Zhe while wearing armor. Zhe found the seemingly hard clothes curious, but before he could fully understand them, Song Xian handed him over to the nurse, making him fuss for quite a while. Now seeing Song Qizheng also wearing armor, Zhe wanted Song Qizheng to hold him.
Song Qizheng didn’t understand the past events but faced with the suddenly enthusiastic Zhe, his eyes reddened, as if he had returned to the past when Song Xian was young, he could still have a chance to change everything.
Song Qizheng reached out and held Zhe, Xie Liangchen did not stop him, thus handing Zhe over to Song Qizheng.
"Be careful," said Song Qizheng, "don’t let him get hurt."
Zhe’s hand grasped a corner of the armor.
Song Qizheng’s eyes were full of love: "When grandfather returns, won’t you have grown a lot taller? By then, when the weather warms, grandfather will take you to fly kites, when a bit older, grandfather will teach you to write and practice martial arts, just like your father when he was young."
Zhe didn’t understand, but he followed Song Qizheng babbling cheerfully, as if agreeing.
After quite a while, Song Qizheng reluctantly handed Zhe back to Xie Liangchen: "You’ll need to take care of both the old and young at ho; it must be hard for you."
Xie Liangchen saluted Song Qizheng: "Father, take care and return safely."
Song Qizheng nodded: "I’ll look after A Xian; don’t worry!"
The Song Family Army gallantly departed from the North, Xie Liangchen turned too, for she also had her tasks to attend to.
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