"Does your head still hurt?"
It hurts even more now! Jiang Yuan sighed inwardly, then buried her head in Song Yansi's arms, peeking out her fluffy little head at him, and said coquettishly, "It doesn't hurt anymore now that you're here."
Jiang Yuan was very satisfied with how adorable the little girl looked.
He lightly tapped the tip of her nose, then stopped answering. Since she was willing to act, he would play along.
At the end of the month, a shocking event occurred in Lin'an that stunned the court and the public. Even Jiang Yuan, who had been reborn, could not have foreseen it and was so shocked that he knocked over his teacup.
The case of Wei Zhijing's brother-in-law and Wang Chude's youngest son was originally just a murder case, but Wei Zhijing insisted on protecting his brother-in-law, which aroused some suspicion. Song Yanji was determined to ignore it. Wei Zhijing was a former minister of the emperor and was not well received by Mo Ze and his group of ministers who had followed Li Sheng to build the country. The factions in the court were becoming increasingly heated. Although Song Yanji's actions were impeached many times for no reason, he also won the favor of Mo Ze's faction and his prestige rose.
Unexpectedly, the more they investigated, the more problems they uncovered. Song Yanji's spies were everywhere, making rapid progress. One night, they even led a team to break into Wei Zhijing's brother-in-law's mansion and dug up ten large chests of gold in the backyard. With everyone watching, they couldn't hide it anymore.
"My lord, my lord!" Wei Zhijing's attendants practically tumbled and crawled into the hall.
"Speak!" Wei Zhijing paced back and forth, knowing something was wrong from his attendant's expression, but he couldn't help but ask, "What is it?"
"I heard there was gold and a letter too." The servant knelt on the ground, his face full of lingering fear. "Luckily, it was only a letter to you, Master."
Wei Zhijing staggered two steps, barely managing to steady himself on the octagonal table, his fingers trembling slightly. "Go! Check what else is there!"
"Sir, the person cannot be saved!"
"We have to protect it, even if we can't! Otherwise..." Wei Zhijing's heart was in turmoil, then suddenly he thought of something, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "Otherwise, then..."
When his attendant saw him make a throat-slitting gesture, he immediately understood what he meant and nodded vigorously.
"Make it cleaner."
Wei Zhijing finally couldn't hold back any longer and was about to take action.
Song Yanji folded the note into a single piece and threw it into the brazier. He turned to look at Zhong Ru, whose expression was inscrutable, and every word he said pierced Zhong Ru's heart. "You risked your life for him, but in the end, he still treated you like dirt and discarded you like trash."
"He's my brother-in-law!"
"You think your sister can live as before even if you're gone?" Song Yansi sneered. "After all, your sister isn't the rightful Mrs. Wei. Even if she were to disappear without a trace, no one would notice."
Looking at Zhong Ru, Song Yansi continued, "Cooperating with me might offer a glimmer of hope."
Blood dripped down his face, turning Zhong Ru's vision crimson. His heart was filled with despair, and the last glimmer of hope he had was shattered by Song Yansi. "What do you want?"
Knowing that he had exhausted himself, Song Yan whispered in his ear.
Zhong Ru's eyes widened, finally settling into incredulous horror. "Song Yansi! You've gone mad!"
“You’re all insane.” Song Yansi reached out and wiped the blood from his eyelids. The blood smeared on the back of his fair hand, making it look sinister. “It was only a matter of time, why not bring it forward? You should know that you’re a doomed player.” He stared into Zhong Ru’s eyes and said, word by word, “After this is done, I will give you a thousand gold pieces to help you and your brother disappear from the Liang and Wei kingdoms. How about it?”
Two days later, Zhong Ru died suddenly in prison. Although Wei Zhijing's move resulted in the death of his brother-in-law, it also revealed more flaws. Song Yanji followed the clues and eventually intercepted the letters between Wei Zhijing and Wei Guo.
Thus, a murder case was directly escalated into accusations of Wei Zhijing betraying his country, with irrefutable evidence that shocked the entire Southern Liang Dynasty.
Before Li Sheng could even react, something happened in Shuobei.
"The strategic map of Shuobei has been exposed, and the Wei army is moving in unopposed. Their garrison has been attacked, and General Liu An has died for his country!" The news from the front lines was more and more serious. Li Shenglong was furious and smashed countless porcelain bowls.
"Your Majesty." After Li Sheng smashed another inkstone, a gentle voice called from behind. The curtain fluttered slightly, and a beautiful figure slowly came into Li Sheng's view. "It's almost dawn."
“Yes, it’s almost dawn.” Li Sheng pressed the throbbing veins on his forehead, his voice full of exhaustion. “These past few days, I’ve become increasingly reluctant to attend court. Every piece of news from the front lines chills my heart.”
A pair of soft hands covered his forehead, gently rubbing it, her voice sweet and gentle, "Why should Your Majesty worry alone? Aren't there many ministers in the court who can share Your Majesty's burdens?"
"Although there are many ministers, very few are actually capable of serving."
Li Sheng pondered carefully in his mind. Once Shuobei was breached, the Wei army would march south and reach Moze in less than two months. Moze was originally his fiefdom, and many of the families of his former officials were in Moze. This place must not be breached, and the only obstacle in between was Chaisang.
Song Yansi.
Li Sheng was somewhat hesitant. Logically speaking, Song Yanji, a young hero, was the best candidate for the campaign. When he raised an army to seize the throne, Song Yanji served as the vanguard and made great contributions. It was indeed a bit of a disservice to place him in Lin'an for the past two years. But unexpectedly, he was also good at getting along with everyone and was very successful in controlling the imperial guards in Lin'an.
Li Sheng couldn't explain why, but he had an instinctive distrust of Song Yanji. However, regarding the generals in the court, after the Wei Zhijing incident, he dared not use the old officials, and the group led by Mo Ze was somewhat indecisive.
"Sijun." Li Sheng pulled her hand down, gesturing for her to sit beside him. "If there is a tiger, it can ward off wolves, but it can also easily become a threat. What should we do?"
Gu Sijun was taken aback, then realized that Li Sheng was referring to Song Yanji. She pretended to be confused, and after a moment said, "It is better to let a tiger go into the mountains than to keep it by your side. After all, the mountains are dangerous and its life or death is unknown, while keeping it by your side means you can only keep it in the dark."
Li Sheng's eyes flashed, as if he had thought of something. He quickly rummaged through the mountain of memorials until a vermilion mark caught his eye: Meng Xizhi.
The great general of the state of Wei.
Li Sheng had a vivid memory of this person, who had single-handedly entered the military camp to assassinate him but managed to escape unscathed.
Li Sheng pondered for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before sending someone to summon the eunuch who was drafting the decree. The inner palace was forbidden from interfering in politics, and Gu Sijun naturally could not stay any longer. She bowed and left the inner palace.
Gu Sijun moved with graceful steps. She was the most favored by Li Sheng among the beauties who entered the palace. It only took her a little over a year to go from Shunchang to fifth-class Ronghua. If it weren't for the weakness of her maternal family, she would probably have been a third-class Jieyu long ago.
Gu Sijun was tactful and worldly-wise. Old Madam Yang saw that she was intelligent and naturally helped her a lot. As a result, she was at the height of her fame and did not suffer much in the palace.
She retreated to the inner room, and just as the palace maids were about to step forward to serve her, she waved them off.
Whenever something came into Song Yanji's hands, Gu Sijun would always think it over carefully. Treason was no small matter, and Song Yanji's investigation was thorough, with solid evidence, so it seemed he hadn't tampered with anything. However, his mistake was that he investigated too thoroughly, each step seemingly unintentional yet also deliberate, the evidence pieced together seamlessly.
If he were allowed to stay in Lin'an, he would surely be rewarded handsomely. He currently controls the Imperial Guards of the capital, and this move has won the favor of Mo Ze's old officials. It would be entirely beneficial to him, and he would likely gain even more power and influence.
If he were to leave Lin'an, the only place he could go is Shuobei. However, Shuobei is currently in turmoil, and if he were to lose, he would likely find it difficult to recover. Even if he were to win, he would only gain military merit. At that point, to prevent him from becoming too powerful, he would be recalled to Lin'an and given a powerless title of Earl or Marquis. By then, the Imperial Guards in the capital city would probably have a new commander.
As the evening clouds gradually dispersed, a young eunuch hurriedly emerged from the palace and headed towards the outside.
Chapter 24 The Journey to the North
"She does have some tricks up her sleeve."
"Gu Ronghua's side is impenetrable; we can't get our hands on them."
“She always wants to outdo me in everything, so she certainly won’t keep me in Lin’an.” Song Yansi wasn’t in a hurry after hearing the news. “However, whether I stay or not, it will be beneficial to me at this time.”
A knock came at the door, and Du Shui's voice sounded cautiously from outside, "Master, Madam sent someone to ask if you would like to have dinner in the courtyard or by yourself."
Jiang Yuan is probably bursting with curiosity again, wanting to come and find out more.
Song Yansi stood up and straightened his clothes before slowly saying, "I won't go to Madam's place today. I'm going to study tonight."
When the news reached Jiang Yuan's ears, she was so angry that she ate two more golden thread rolls that night.
In the third year of Kangwu, the Liangwei War broke out. Meng Xizhi defeated Shuobei and his army reached Jiangjiu. The next step was Chaisang. Li Sheng felt a deep sense of crisis. At the same time, Yang Qian submitted a memorial, making Song Yanji's northern expedition seem like a done deal.
The imperial edict arrived swiftly, bestowing upon Song Yanji the title of Second-Rank General and ordering him to lead 200,000 troops to attack Wei, departing in three days. As a family member, Jiang Yuan was naturally required to remain in Lin'an. Firstly, it was safer there, and secondly, having her family under the Emperor's watchful eye would put Li Sheng at ease.
As soon as Song Yansi entered the courtyard, he saw the maids bustling about, helping him pack his belongings. Jiang Yuan, dressed in a moon-colored long robe, sat on a stone bench, giving instructions incessantly, while wisps of incense smoke rose from the square table beside her. He stood there at the doorway until Zhu Chuan noticed him first, at which point Jiang Yuan turned her face. Her face was as beautiful as a spring breeze caressing a lotus blossom—that would perfectly describe the moment.
Jiang Yuan was curious why Song Yansi didn't come in. Seeing him smiling and looking over, she felt it wouldn't be right to sit alone any longer. She quickly got up and took small steps to Song Yansi's side, looking up and laughing, "The date was set too hastily. Let me sort things out first, so that we won't be missing anything later."
"You don't need these on the battlefield."
"Of course I need them!" Jiang Yuan took his arm and followed him into the inner room. "These clothes are all newly made, soft and warm. I chose light gray fabrics, not too flashy." She didn't say the last part, but she knew he'd buy them anyway, even if she didn't bring them for him. The jade in her arms felt a little cold. Jiang Yuan hesitated for a long time, but still decided she should return it to him.
"What is this?" Song Yansi glanced at the ancient seal lying in her palm, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.
Of course, it's to humbly do you a favor. Jiang Yuan thought this but didn't dare say it aloud. After organizing her thoughts, she said, "I'm in Lin'an, and I don't need this. Rather than keeping it in my hands, I'd rather you have it. I just hope that when you return, you won't forget me." As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly, and a glint of light appeared in them, as if she was about to cry.
"Well done," Jiang Yuan thought to himself, even feeling a little moved.
Song Yansi, as if he had guessed it all along, smiled and said, "Who said we were going to keep you in Lin'an?"
Jiang Yuan was taken aback. "Since ancient times, when generals went to war, their families had to stay in the capital." Seeing him smile without answering, Jiang Yuan felt uneasy. This smile of his was most likely not a good sign!
That night, Jiang Yuan suffered from insomnia, a rare occurrence. She nestled in Song Yansi's arms, her long, drawn-out breaths swirling around her head. In the darkness, her eyes were wide open, her eyelashes fluttering incessantly. Her mind raced, calculating the situations she might encounter in the future, and the more she thought about it, the more lucid she became. For some reason, she suddenly blurted out...
“Middle separation…”
She called out to him very softly. In her past life, she always liked to call him that when she was troubled. But later, she realized that all her troubles were caused by him. Over time, she remembered it and stopped calling him that.
After calling out that name, Jiang Yuan fell silent. Yes, what was there to say? She sighed softly and tried to pull away from Song Yansi's embrace; he was holding her too tightly, and she couldn't sleep.
As soon as Jiang Yuan moved, Song Yansi tightened his arms, pulling her firmly into his embrace. Jiang Yuan's forehead just touched his chin. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"You're not asleep?" Jiang Yuan asked in surprise. He was lying next to her, motionless, so she naturally assumed he was already fast asleep.
"She's asleep." Song Yansi parted his thin lips slightly and then pulled Jiang Yuan closer to his chest. "She woke up when she heard you call her."
"You're lying." Jiang Yuan was a little out of breath, turned her face away, snuggled into his arms to find a more comfortable position, "My voice is so soft, you're clearly not asleep."
Jiang Yuan rarely joked with him in this tone. Even when she was being noisy, she would always try to read his expression. Song Yansi quite liked this unrestrained feeling and smiled in agreement, "You already know, why are you asking? If I don't lie to you, who else would I lie to?"
Jiang Yuan was speechless for a moment, and after chuckling for a long time, she couldn't find a rebuttal. Finally, she turned her head away and said, "I'm sleepy."
It has a bit of a child throwing a tantrum.
"Wake up." Song Yansi pinched the tip of her nose and forced her to turn her face. "I have something to tell you to wake you up."
Jiang Yuan rolled her eyes at him in the darkness, rubbed her nose, and said unhappily, "Just say what you want to say, why do you keep pinching my nose?"
Song Yansi suddenly leaned closer, their noses touching, his fingers gripping Jiang Yuan's head to prevent her from backing away. "I have petitioned His Majesty, and he has granted permission for you to come with me to Chaisang."
"Want to go together?" Jiang Yuan quickly braced herself against his chest, pushing him away slightly. Even though she couldn't see Song Yansi's expression in the darkness, Jiang Yuan still stared intently at him, asking curiously, "But I..."
Before he could finish speaking, Song Yanji interrupted him, "You have no children, what use are you to keep them?"
With just a slight hint, Jiang Yuan understood that her so-called family member was nothing more than a burden to Li Sheng.
In her previous life, she had no children, so she brought Song Yanji's illegitimate children back from the border to replace her and stay in Lin'an. Li Sheng naturally turned a blind eye and allowed her to go to the battlefield with Song Yanji. In this life, the situation is exactly the same. She is still childless. In Lin'an, her marriage was arranged by the emperor. Song Yanji was not yet thirty years old and could not have illegitimate children. But outside Lin'an, far from the emperor's reach, it's impossible to expect someone to risk their life on the front lines without leaving any offspring. Rather than letting him go, it's better to keep her by Song Yanji's side. Besides, after so long, whether she can have children is still unknown to Li Sheng. The only difference is that this time Song Yanji is willing to take her with him.
"It turns out everyone thought I couldn't have children." Jiang Yuan was a little depressed. She had heard these words before, and even her mother had privately consulted several remedies. Although she wanted to have children later, Jiang Yuan still felt a little wronged when everyone thought that way.
"So what if you can't have children? You are my wife, and no one can surpass you." Song Yansi didn't care about offspring. He hadn't hidden the fact that Jiang Yuan had taken medicine from him, but he was already twenty-one. If it were anyone else, it would have caused a great disturbance in the household long ago. But Song Yansi still seemed indifferent.
“If you want a child, I’ll stop taking the medication.” Jiang Yuan hesitated for a long time before gritting her teeth and saying, “I’m healthy, I should be able to get pregnant.”
“It’s not a good time to go to war.” Song Yanji’s voice drifted into Jiang Yuan’s ears, and the room fell silent. After a while, Jiang Yuan heard him add, “It’s uncertain whether he will come back.”
Jiang Yuan was taken aback, then realized that the north was now engulfed in war. Because she had memories of her past life, she was convinced that Song Yanji could quell the chaos and return in triumph.
But how could he possibly plan the battlefield? Even Song Yanji himself had survived by the skin of his teeth. Jiang Yuan felt she had forgotten something; she only remembered his cruelty in the latter half of his life, but forgot that this land was originally forged by his blood.
On the day Jiang Yuan left Lin'an, a light drizzle was falling from the sky. The streets of Lin'an were unusually quiet, with people holding oil-paper umbrellas, their eyes filled with anticipation and bewilderment.
Jiang Yuan only brought Zhu Chuan and Bi Fan with her. As for the fragrant curtains and warm clothes, she left them in Lin'an, just like her choice in her previous life. Jiang Yuan lifted the curtain and looked at the two people desperately wiping away their tears. She smiled and waved her hand, and then tears inexplicably fell down her face.
She hired the best doctor for the household, and before leaving, she made a threat: if she returned and anyone in the household died of illness, he would never be allowed to stay in Lin'an City again. As for Granny Ren, Jiang Yuan simply had her carried to an estate outside the city to live out her days. She dismissed or gave away the concubines in the household, no longer caring what others said; Jiang Yuan was determined to leave Zhang Xiang and the others with a clean and peaceful residence.
Song Yanji was under military orders and could not accompany Jiang Yuan north, so he left a few trusted confidants and went to Chaisang with Mu Qie ahead of her.
Jiang Yuan and his group traveled at a very fast pace. Jiang Yuan had served in the army in his previous life, and apart from feeling slightly unwell at the beginning, he felt sorry for Bi Fan, who vomited all day long in the carriage. Jiang Yuan couldn't bear to see her like that, so when they arrived in Yunzhong, he insisted on resting for a few days before setting off again.
Yunzhong is still several hundred miles away from Chaisang. Even traveling day and night, it would take almost ten days to get there. Bifan has been vomiting so much these days that Jiang Yuan insisted on stopping to let her recuperate and also to find someone in Yunzhong.