Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 53 Heading Towards the Imperial Court
"Go down."

After Wei Wusheng dismissed the maid, he sat down, leaving only Xinyue in front of him.

“We have no way of knowing what Song Shi’an is thinking,” Wei Wusheng pondered. “But now that we’re in the capital, it doesn’t seem appropriate for me to take the initiative to approach him.”

“As long as you go to Shuofeng together, you’ll have a chance to talk to each other along the way,” Xinyue said.

"On this trip, I will personally lead the Imperial Guard captains who will accompany the army out of the city. We can spend more time together and trust each other. But I have basically never had any contact with the generals and officials in Shuofeng... Even if I am a prince, I have no experience in governance or military affairs, so in most cases I will not obey me, at least not in my heart."

“But Your Highness has been appointed by the Emperor. If you do not comply, Your Highness has the power to enforce your orders,” Xin Yue said.

"That's natural, but for some things, my direct approach is much less effective."

After thinking it over, Wei Wusheng raised his head and said, "I desperately need a confidant. If Song Shi'an comes for me, why can't he become my confidant?"

The others are not unusable.

But it was definitely not as smooth as using a 'brand new' person.

"Does he really have real skills?" Xin Yue asked uncertainly. "Leading troops into battle is completely impossible without experience."

"Do not."

Wei Wusheng shook his head and suggested, "I think the core of this city defense lies not in 'war,' but in 'governance.'"

After he said that, Xinyue gradually understood.

"The key is how to use all the limited resources we have to resist Qi."

Wei Wusheng was not just a man of passion.

After volunteering, he began to plan seriously.

Then we can draw a conclusion—politics comes first, military affairs second.

“Then perhaps he is that kind of talent,” Xin Yue said.

Even though our first meeting wasn't pleasant.

"This trip,"

Gripping the hilt of the sword at his waist, Wei Wusheng was already eager to meet Song Shi'an: "Our lives are now intertwined."

.........

"What brings you here, sir?"

At the Xuezi Inn, a man dressed in fine silk robes came upstairs, and the waiter hurriedly went to greet him with a smile.

Where does Song Shi'an live?

"Are you looking for Master Song, sir?" the waiter asked after looking you over. "May I ask who you are?"

"Song Jing".

The man said expressionlessly.

Upon hearing this, the waiter was still bewildered when the shopkeeper quickly came over and asked somewhat anxiously, "Is this Lord Song?"

Although Sheng Anling is not a top-ranking official, the name of the mayor of Kyoto is very well-known within the capital city.

This is especially important for those in the service industry.

What if it gets shut down someday?

“Yes,” Song Jing said coldly.

"Young Master Shi An is not at the inn right now; he must have gone out and might be back later..." the innkeeper explained.

"Which room is he in?"

After a moment's hesitation, the shopkeeper extended his hand and said, "Then I'll take you there."

And so, Song Jing was taken to Song Shi'an's room.

As the shopkeeper was about to leave, Song Jing casually tossed out a small bag of silver coins.

"You flatter me. How could we possibly accept money from you, Master Song, who is staying at our inn?"

The shopkeeper, who accepted the money with both hands, quickly declined and tried to return it.

"how?"

Song Jing frowned and asked in return, "A government official stayed at an inn without paying? What's his name?"

"No, no," the shopkeeper waved his hand in a flustered manner. "What we mean is that if the top scholar stays at our inn, our business will be even better during the imperial examinations. We'll be more than grateful."

"Keep it, but don't tell him I'm here." Song Jing ignored the man and sat down in the room.

The other party tactfully left, closing the door behind them.

Song Jing looked around, then picked up a novel called "Fragrant Night" from the table. After flipping through a few pages, he tossed it aside with a look of disgust: "Tsk."

Then, they waited in the guest room.

A long time, a long time.

"The loneliness of that day, the loneliness..."

Holding a novel and steamed buns wrapped in oil paper, Song Shi'an was stunned as soon as he pushed open the door.

Looking at Song Jing sitting in his room, he remained silent for a long while before slowly saying, "Father, you've come."

"Where did you get the money these past few days?" Song Jing asked. "You didn't ask the shops for it, did you?"

“My mother brought it to me,” Song Shi’an answered honestly.

"Before your mother brought it to you, where did the money come from during those days?"

“Wang Shuishan gave it to me,” Song Shi’an explained. “He was also a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) and became a household registration official in the capital. After he went back to inform his father, he will return to Sheng’an to report on his duties in a few days. I will return it to him then.”

Generally speaking, it is particularly difficult to become an official in the capital; only those with family connections can be appointed.

But that's not entirely true.

After all, the higher-ups need people with real talent and ability to do things, and they can't just hire young masters. His article about investigating the population of aristocratic families caught the eye of the head of the household registration office, who recognized his talent in this area and specially asked for him.

We can't change the general environment, but the idea that "we should strive to improve ourselves" is definitely the right thing to do.

"Come here," Song Jing said to Song Shi'an.

Song Shi'an walked over and put the steamed bun down.

He put the newly bought novel aside without feeling any shame whatsoever.

Why aren't you avoiding me?

Song Jing felt that Song Shi'an had really changed. He was reading this kind of novel without any fear of being blamed by Song Jing.
You don't understand, this is called a compliance test.

If you do it too much, you'll become numb to it eventually.

Facing Song Jing, Song Shi'an stared at him for a while, and seeing that the other party did not speak for a long time, he took the initiative to say, "Father, I'm going to Shuofeng."

These words weighed heavily on Song Jing's heart.

Actually, he had already guessed it when Song Shi'an left home in the middle of the night.

In the afternoon, I also heard that the list of notices had been posted at the Imperial Secretariat.

But hearing it aloud still felt incredibly heavy.

The north wind is something no one can withstand.

If the imperial court does everything in its power to save them, there is still a chance.

However, sending only a thousand imperial guards was undoubtedly a drop in the ocean.

"Please tell my mother for me. Comfort her and tell her that I will definitely come back," Song Shi'an pleaded.

"Will he definitely come back?"

Song Jing raised his head, looked at his son standing in front of him, and said solemnly, "Do you know what you are about to face?"

"Ah."

"You're just a county magistrate, what can you possibly control?"

“Father,” Song Shi’an said earnestly, “The Sixth Prince has never held power or commanded an army, and he has no trusted confidants. If I get close to him, he will definitely trust me completely.”

"I guessed that's what you'd think."

His political acumen surprised Song Jing somewhat. But upon closer reflection, the balancing acts and considerations in the "Tuntian Strategy" were entirely political.

However, he still did not approve of such an attitude of risking one's life for wealth.

Looking at this son whom he hadn't even had a chance to get to know properly before he might never see again, Song Jing finally softened: "Shi'an, it took me twenty years to go from the private school to the imperial court. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Faced with his anxious question, Song Shi'an's eyes showed only determination:

"Son, you will certainly not disgrace your father's illustrious name."

(End of this chapter)