“In this way, Your Highness will not only obtain provisions, but also deal a blow to the Ministry of War’s morale.”
“When the time comes, we can…” Song Jiang drew a finger across his throat.
“With no one to lead them, the other soldiers will certainly be unable to continue on to the border.”
“Then the Fifth Prince will either have to send someone else to serve as commander, or go into battle himself!”
As soon as Song Jiang finished speaking, the other advisers nodded one after another.
“Not a bad plan!”
“Killing three birds with one stone!”
“Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!”
Everyone praised Song Jiang’s idea without reserve.
Seeing that everyone agreed, Prince Ling thought the plan was excellent as well.
“Someone!” Prince Ling called toward the door.
Song Shuyu heard that her second uncle was discussing matters with her father in the prince’s residence.
She secretly tried to make her way to the study, but a maid stopped her.
“Get out of my way!” Song Shuyu angrily shoved the maid.
The maid did not budge an inch.
“Princess, you must stay in the rear courtyard.”
After Song Shuyu returned, she had lain in bed for several days before finally getting up.
Before, at least Chunxiao had been there to talk to her and keep her company.
But this maid had been sent by Nanny Rong.
She rarely spoke and always wore a long face.
Song Shuyu disliked her intensely.
When Song Shuyu refused to eat, the maid did not try to persuade her.
When Song Shuyu refused to get out of bed, the maid simply sat by the door and embroidered.
But the moment Song Shuyu tried to go to the front courtyard, the maid would stop her.
The maid was older and stronger. Song Shuyu could not beat her; instead, she only ended up exhausting herself and making her hands ache.
Song Shuyu was furious. “I am the mistress here! I can go wherever I please!”
“If you stop me again, I’ll report you to Father and have him cane you!”
The maid shrank back.
The Crown Prince had not only come to see the princess once—every few days, he also sent people to deliver little gifts to her.
It was more than enough to show how important the princess was to the Crown Prince.
However, Nanny Rong had instructed her to keep a close eye on the princess and make sure she did not make any mistakes.
What was she supposed to do?
Seeing that the maid had fallen silent, Song Shuyu seized the opportunity and ran out.
The maid hurried after her.
Song Shuyu was plump, and after only a few steps, she was already gasping for breath.
The maid caught up with her in two or three strides.
“Princess, what do you need to do in the front courtyard? I can go for you.”
“Look, your foot has only just healed. What if you rub it raw again?”
“And it wouldn’t be good for a young lady to be left with a scar.” The maid tried earnestly to persuade her.
Song Shuyu happened to be tired, so she stopped.
“Fine! I want to see my second uncle. Go and call him!” Song Shuyu put her hands on her hips, her attitude extremely haughty.
“Your second uncle?” The maid’s face filled with astonishment.
The Crown Prince was the second son.
But shouldn’t the princess be calling the Crown Prince her father?
The maid did not know much about Song Shuyu’s identity.
All she knew was that this princess had been bestowed upon the Crown Prince as his adopted daughter by imperial decree.
Song Shuyu spotted a stool nearby and plopped herself down.
“Yes! Hurry up!”
The maid hesitated for a moment, then called over a rough servant girl to watch Song Shuyu.
“I’ll go at once. Princess, please wait here in the rear courtyard.”
The maid hurried away. She needed to ask Nanny Rong for instructions first.
In the study, the discussion had ended, and the advisers began leaving one after another.
“Song Jiang, stay behind.” Prince Ling called him by name.
The other advisers cast Song Jiang envious glances.
Song Jiang straightened his back even more.
He felt that the Crown Prince was beginning to value him more and more!
Only after everyone else had left did Prince Ling turn his gaze to Song Jiang.
“I hear your elder brother has come to seek refuge with you?”
Song Jiang froze for a moment, then bowed to Prince Ling.
“Your Highness, that is correct.”
Prince Ling smiled. “He who recognizes the times is a wise man. Not bad.”
The moment Song Jiang heard this, he immediately bent at the waist.
“Your Highness, my elder brother has done a great deal to prove his allegiance.”
Prince Ling looked thoughtful. “Oh?”
Song Jiang understood the meaning behind that single word and immediately recounted everything his elder brother had done, sparing no detail.
“He had men drill numerous holes into the base of Xianyang’s city walls.”
“With just a light blow from the outside, the walls would collapse.”
“If we were attacked by an enemy, Xianyang could easily be breached…”
Song Jiang listed the details one by one, and the smile on Prince Ling’s face grew more and more satisfied.
“Very good!”
“Since he truly intends to pledge his allegiance, bring him to see me tomorrow.”
Prince Ling remembered that he needed to coax Song Shuyu.
Song Jiang froze for an instant, then bowed to Prince Ling.
“Yes. I will certainly bring him.”
Prince Ling waved his hand. Song Jiang bowed and withdrew from the study.
Once outside, Song Jiang was filled with regret.
He had become too pleased with himself, which was why he had put in a good word for his elder brother.
His elder brother had once served as a ninth-rank county magistrate.
If the Crown Prince took a liking to him, wouldn’t that put him below his elder brother?
No!
He had to think of a way to ensure that his elder brother could never rise above him.
It had taken him so much effort to finally make an impression before the Crown Prince.
Prince Ling’s personal attendant entered the study, his face full of confusion.
“My lord, the Song family is nothing special. Why go out of your way to show them favor?”
Prince Ling gestured for the attendant to clear the table.
Ever since he had gone to see Song Shuyu, he felt that his luck had begun to improve.
Aside from the fact that he still occasionally coughed up blood.
The imperial physician had examined him and said it was caused by the overly dry weather, combined with excessive worry.
“I lack capable men at my side.” Prince Ling calmly picked up a document from beside him.
At first, Prince Ling had kept Song Jiang because of Song Shuyu.
He wanted Song Shuyu’s good fortune, but he was also worried that her heart did not truly belong to him.
Keeping Song Jiang around would help him coax her.
Children would naturally grow attached over time.
There was another reason, one Prince Ling had told no one.
It was because of another child.
Princess Changle!
Prince Ling was deeply suspicious by nature.
When Song Shuyu had first come to stay with him, things had indeed gone smoothly for him.
But afterward, misfortune had struck him repeatedly.
This made Prince Ling suspicious.
He suspected that Princess Changle might actually be the true bearer of good fortune!
Prince Ling had discovered that Prince of Pingyang had initially suffered one mishap after another—falling into a pond, sustaining serious injuries, and so on.
Yet afterward, Prince of Pingyang had experienced no further disasters.
That did not fit the claim that he was a jinx.
If anything, Song Shuyu seemed more likely to be one.
His Prince Ling’s residence had now become a complete mess.
The imperial throne, which he had originally been certain was his for the taking, had also begun to slip out of his grasp.
Even his secret attempt to harm the emperor had failed.
It was as though some unseen force were constantly obstructing his path to success.
Better to kill a thousand by mistake than let one escape.
Prince Ling decided that he had to find a way to make Princess Changle side with him as well.
However, he had arranged for Changle to be registered under Prince of Pingyang’s name.
The only person who could persuade Changle to turn against him was one of her relatives.
That person had once been Song Jiang.
Now, it was her biological father—Magistrate Song.
