Silence fell over the room.
If they were outside the palace, they would still have a way out, but Consort Xiao Xian and the Fourth Prince were both inside the palace, and they couldn’t even plant anyone inside.
“They won’t be in danger for now. In a few days it will be the palace banquet on New Year’s Eve, Yue’er, you go and speak to Duke Ding and ask him to remind Consort Xian and the Fourth Prince.”
Song Wan Yue nodded her head.
“Both of you go back, Song Yin stays behind and accompanies me for the next game, Yue’er, you go and make a medicinal meal for Grand Great Grandfather,”
The tiredness on his face was obvious and several people could see it, knowing that he had something to say to Song Yin.
When everyone had left, the old man asked Xu Liang to guard the entrance to the courtyard and solemnly said, “I want to know, how much leverage do you have in your hands?”
This matter is a big gamble for the Xu family, if you win the gamble, the Xu family can still be as famous as before, as the world’s top literati; if you lose the gamble, the Xu family will not leave a single dog or chicken behind.
He was too old to die, but Yue’er was still young, Cotoneaster was still young, and he could not let these children go to the Yellow Spring with him.
Song Yin did not hide.
Hearing that he only had 2,000 people, the old man’s brow furrowed for a moment, then quickly relaxed again; this was for the best, not many people would die because of this.
“The emperor is already suspicious,in the end it is not certain who will lose and who will win. If we lose, I have only one request for you, take Yue’er and go far away, don’t come back in this life, and don’t mention revenge again.”
Song Yin got up and bowed Avray, his tone was very certain, “Grand great grandfather don’t worry, we won’t lose, and I won’t let you lose your lives.”
……
Half an hour later, Song Wan Yue brought over the boiled medicinal meal, and the old man was the only one in the room.
Song Wangyue put the medicinal food down, took a small bowl and served some, put it into a spoon and handed it to the old gentleman with both hands.
The old gentleman took it, took a bite and nodded his head, “Delicious.”
Although it was a medicinal meal, it did not taste medicinal and even had a hint of sweetness.
Song Wan Yue sat down opposite him, her eyebrows arched, “If it’s delicious, you can eat more, I’ll make it for you every day from now on.”
The old man swallowed the medicinal food in his mouth, “I heard you bought a lot of New Year’s goods?”
“It’s not all New Year’s Eve goods, I bought something I liked when I saw it, my aunt gave me 30,000 taels of silver.”
“Grand-great-grandfather still has more here, it’s in a box in the cupboard, go and get it yourself.”
Song Wan Yue’s eyebrows curved into crescent moons, “Then I’ll have to take more.”
“You really need to take more before grandpa is happy.”
He knew that Song Wangyue had been fined three hundred thousand taels, and although he didn’t have that much, he still had a few tens of thousand taels.
After eating, the grandparents and grandchildren spoke for a while longer, and the old man went to rest before Song Wangyue went to Meng’s place.
The old man went to rest before Song Wan Yue went to Meng’s place. Meng was also in her fifties and was tired from the carriage ride, so she was lying on a soft couch to rest.
Song Wangyue took a few quick steps and held her down, “Just lie down.”
Her granddaughter seemed to have lost some weight again, and Meng was distressed. She took her hand and let her sit beside her, instructing Sister Wu to bring over a box and put it in her hand, “This contains 300,000 taels of silver.
Song Wangyue didn’t feel polite, “Thank you, Grand Grandmother.”
“You’re welcome to give it to Grand Grandmother, right, do you know when your cousin will be back?”
Although she loved Song Wan Yue as much as she loved her grandson, she had not seen him for more than half a year and missed him so much that she thought she would see him when he returned. But Meng always felt that there was something different. Cotoneaster was a sensible child, and even if he came back, he would write to the family in advance to tell them exactly when he would return.
Song Wan Yue was not at all faint-hearted, “It should be just in a few days.”
Meng was worried that something had happened to Xu Cotoneaster, although no one had told her Song Yin’s true identity or what they were going to do, from the time Song’s family moved to the county town and that Master Chu was guarding the mansion with his men, she knew that something must have happened.
However, if Yue’er didn’t say anything, she would just pretend she didn’t know, lest Yue worry about her.
“What about you guys, when are you going back for the New Year?”
“Big brother is not completely well yet, so we might not be able to go back before the year, so we will go back together after the New Year.”
“That’s good, it’s just a pity that Song Si ……”
The company has been studying hard for more than ten years, and it was hard to enter the officialdom, but because of the family’s business even lost the official.
“Big brother is open-minded, saying it’s good to go home and farm.”
“It’s a pity for him to go home to farm, he could have gone to the college to help.”
The emperor had only dismissed Song Si from his official position, he did not say he could not become a teacher.
“Big brother said he’s been too tired of being an official for the past few years, so he can just go home and rest.”
……
Coming out of Meng’s courtyard, Song Wan Yue went to the courtyard where the guards were staying.
Song San greeted them with his men, “Dongjia.”
Ten men had come, all personally chosen by Master Chu.
Song Wangyue nodded and walked into the house, and Song San followed with his men.
Song Wangyue took her seat, “Has anything happened at home recently?”
Song San replied, “Everything is fine at home, Master said for you not to worry about home, with her around, nothing will happen, and also said for the few of us to stay in the capital to help you.”
“After dinner, you will go back to South City, all be vigilant.”
“Yes.”
……
The entrance to the palace.
“Commander Sun, go back.”
The young eunuch on guard greeted attentively.
Sun Qi was the commander of the Praetorian Guard and was highly valued by the Emperor.
With a slight nod, Sun Qi walked out of the palace gate, reached the hitching post, untied the reins, rolled onto his horse and struck off.
It was noon, and in time for the New Year’s Eve, there were many pedestrians on the street. Sun Qi bypassed the main road and took the side streets, and after crossing two alleyways, he became aware of someone following him.
He didn’t panic and continued to walk unhurriedly. After turning down a few more alleys, he reached a secluded spot, turned his horse around and looked at the person following behind him.
It was a teenager.
Seeing him turn his horse around, he did not panic and stopped his horse to meet his eyes.
Appreciation flashed through Sun Qi’s heart, even those old foxes in the court would not dare to look at him like this.
“Your Excellency has followed me all the way, I wonder what you want to do?”
The young man didn’t say anything, he just raised his hand and tore a human skin mask off his face.
Seeing his face clearly, Sun Qi’s eyes glared round, “You ……”
“I would like to ask a favour of Commander Sun.”
It took a long time for Sun Qi to find his voice, “You, you say.”
“Concubine Xian and the Fourth Prince are in danger, I would like to ask Commander Sun to protect them.”
Her Highness Consort Xian is in danger?
Commander Sun’s grip on the reins tightened, “I know, I will keep an eye on the movements of Kunli Palace, you …….”