The moment the door closed, the smile on Dongfang Yukun's face gradually faded.
With a serious expression, he questioned Song Qiming, Did you know that Lord Cai wanted to send you to the southwest?
Song Qiming set down his chopsticks and looked at Dongfang Yukun.
I knew. In fact, it was my idea.
Dongfang Yukun's eyes widened. He stood up abruptly, pointing at Song Qiming, and said, I was just saying that Lord Cai hasn't targeted you since he took power, so why would he send you to the southwest? It turns out you asked for it yourself!
What were you thinking? Even if you're transferred out of the capital, you should have chosen a better place. Did you really have to go be the prefect of Suining?
That place borders the territories of foreign tribes. The people are fierce, and it's a chaotic mix of good and bad. If a war breaks out with the tribes, your situation will be terrible.
Song Qiming reached out and pulled him back down to his seat.
I know martial arts. Even if a fight breaks out, I'll be fine. The southwest may be chaotic, but it also holds great opportunities. I just want to go there to gain some experience.
Dongfang Yukun furrowed his brows tightly.
Does County Princess Linghui know? Can she really be at ease letting you go?
Song Qiming replied with a faint smile, My sister is going too.
Dongfang Yukun's brows relaxed slightly. So the whole family is moving?
Song Qiming nodded. Recently, the Emperor's attitude toward Prince Ying has softened. Coupled with the matters concerning my teacher and Lord Fei, I just wanted to leave the capital and return in a few years.
Seeing that his mind was made up, Dongfang Yukun picked up his wine cup and took a large gulp.
Leaving is fine, and being transferred as the prefect of Suining is considered a promotion. I just feel that the southwest is unstable, and being a prefect there will be very difficult.
Song Qiming raised his cup and clinked it against Dongfang Yukun's. It is exactly because it is difficult that it will be easier to make significant political achievements. I also want to see the southwest for myself; after all, it is a major hidden danger for the imperial court.
Dongfang Yukun looked at Song Qiming, his eyes full of helplessness.
How can you have such grand ambitions at such a young age? Once you actually get to the southwest, you will definitely regret it.
Hearing this, Song Qiming did not know whether to laugh or cry.
You are only two years older than me, yet your way of thinking is exactly like Lord Dongfang.
Turning his head to look out the window, he saw snowflakes falling in thick clusters.
At a glance, the world was completely silent, and the entire capital seemed to be weighed down by the heavy snow.
Dongfang Yukun said slowly, Since I was young, my grandfather and father have placed great hopes on me. I grew up listening to matters of the officialdom, and being constantly exposed to it, I've long grown accustomed to certain things.
Song Qiming twitched the corners of his mouth, turning his head to look out the window as his thoughts gradually drifted away.
The four members of the Song family spent this New Year in a flurry of busyness.
Song Jinzhao was busy handling their businesses in the capital.
Aside from going out for small gatherings with friends, Song Qiming stayed at home to review information on the eighteen foreign tribes of the southwest.
He learned about local customs, even picked up a few phrases in the local dialect, and dug up records of their past grievances, reading them over two or three times.
Song Shixue ran back and forth between the study and the pharmacy, occasionally coming over to ask Song Jinzhao about a few difficult medical cases.
The youngest, Song Anhao, wandered around all three of them.
In the morning, she stayed by Song Jinzhao's side to accompany her as she reviewed the account books; in the afternoon, she stayed in the pharmacy to help Song Shixue pound medicine; in between, she had to study under Song Qiming's watchful eye; and during her free time, she still had to play with Xuetuan.
The busier they were, the faster time flew. In the blink of an eye, it was time for the imperial court to resume official duties after the New Year.
The Ministry of Personnel submitted the compiled list of official transfers from various regions.
At night in the imperial study, a whole row of backlogged memorials from various regions was laid out, with several more stacks piled on the adjacent table.
Xiao Chengjing was hunched over the imperial desk, working diligently. In just one night, Zhao Yande had already trimmed the lamp wick three times.
Seeing that it was getting late, Zhao Yande walked over cautiously to remind him, Your Majesty, it is already the third watch. It is time to rest.
With only a few memorials left unread in the stack at hand, Xiao Chengjing decided to finish them before going to sleep.
