Princess Liang (IV)

Bian Hongqiu's personality mirrored that of the old Prince Liang, naturally soft-hearted and gentle, yet his face resembled his renowned mother, a beauty that reached a piercing glare. His almond-shaped eyes were perpetually curved, giving him a warm and affectionate look. His features were naturally feminine, with few strong lines. Song Jingyan had raised him with great care, dressing and grooming like a woman to conceal his true identity. Over time, even knowing he was a man, it was difficult for her not to view him as a woman.

——Of course, this is in the eyes of outsiders. He is like a handful of delicate water that needs careful care.

But in Prince Liang's mansion, he could not avoid the disappointed looks of Prince Liang's former subordinates.

Ever since the death of Prince Liang, Song Jingyan had been the one in charge of the palace. Perhaps even before that, Song Jingyan had won the hearts and minds of many with her wit and tactics. The many girls she had asked Prince Liang to adopt each had their own strengths, and when they rose to prominence, they held up half the Liang Palace.

Therefore, Bian Hongqiu, the "Princess" who had followed Song Jingyan since childhood, was naturally placed with high expectations by her former subordinates.

Unfortunately, Bian Hongqiu was a poor horseman, struggled to lift a heavy bow, couldn't thread an embroidery needle, his eyes hurt from prolonged calligraphy, his history and military tactics were halting, and he couldn't distinguish between rouge and powder. Except for Song Jingyan, who cleaned up for him, he had to hide from the rest. Song Jingyan was always very tolerant, and the other former subordinates privately thought he was a vase to protect the house.

Countless times, Hengbo was sent by Song Jingyan, worried but preoccupied with trivial matters, to guard Bian Hongqiu late at night. Because the princess's madness waxed and waned during her time in Shangyang, Song Jingyan never dared to let Bian Hongqiu sleep alone. She gazed at Meng Shizhuang's profile from this angle, and it overlapped with her own image of Bian Hongqiu trapped in a nightmare.

But she won't be confused.

Because the two are not alike.

Even though Meng Shizhuang's face was filled with pain, he was gritting his teeth and clenching his fists, like a wolf cub whose teeth had not yet grown fully and whose claws were not sharp, but that did not stop him from wanting to pounce and tear apart the things he feared at any time; and Bian Hongqiu was also good-looking when he was afraid - only good-looking. If you leave him alone, one night, he could unconsciously hide from the head of the bed to the foot of the bed, and then be chased from the foot of the bed by the things in his dreams to under the bed, and then wake up in shock.

She looked at the outline of Meng Shizhuang smudged in the shadows, and finally understood why Song Jingyan had put so much thought into leaving Shangyang, planning every step perfectly, but still something went wrong.

Because the rest of King Liang's former subordinates were the same as her.

They all had doubts about Bian Hongqiu.

No matter how great the kindness of the old King Liang was, it would disappear with his sudden death. Bian Hongqiu could not convince the people. Even if Song Jingyan could suppress everyone, it was impossible for people to respect from the bottom of their hearts such a princess who only knew how to write "weakness". People's hearts were divided. Perhaps some of them had long been accustomed to a peaceful life and were unwilling to return to the capital and put their heads on the belt.

Not to mention Song Jingyan's previous decision to hand over all matters to Bian Hongqiu.

Handing it to Bian Hongqiu would be even more dangerous than putting it on his belt.

Hengbo's suspicions were correct. The meeting room was now frozen in silence. The bloody odor in the room rivaled that of Xiliuhai. Song Jingyan's face was filled with cold fury. Shao Zheng's sword slid to her feet, stained with the blood of several people. The men knelt before Song Jingyan in silence, their only response being pleading and shaking their heads in response to her questions.

Song Jingyan didn't intend to just brush it off.

She shook off the hand that was holding her sleeve. "I asked you when we left Shangyang, if you didn't want to follow His Highness to the capital," she paused, "you could just stay at Prince Liang's Mansion in Shangyang. You swore so solemnly that you would follow His Highness, how come you've seen so much along the way and you've already thrown it all away!"

Song Jingyan always spoke slowly and steadily. No matter how harshly she spoke in the past, her words were always gentle and polite. She had never spoken without thinking like this.

Shao Zheng had just been slapped in the face, and now he lowered his head and didn't dare to speak.

The tea on the table had long since cooled. Song Jingyan took a sip and gulped it down, but the burning sensation in her body didn't subside. She had raised many of the people aboard the ship, and she never wanted to force them to make a choice. But now, she could only speak harshly: "We've already left Shangyang, and there's no turning back. Your Majesty and the Prince of Liang's Mansion are related only to His Highness. Otherwise, how could we, orphans like us, abandon His Highness? We don't even have the right to return to the capital to die!"

"The incident in Ming Hunzhou hasn't happened yet. If you are unwilling to hand over your lives to His Highness, then I will pretend that you have never left Shangyang." The crimes committed by these people could be big or small. No matter what, it was just a case of "dereliction of duty". But the capital was right in front of them. If anyone still despised Bian Hongqiu, or simply wanted to take this opportunity to expose the news of Bian Hongqiu's disappearance, then they would be pushing everyone in the Liang Palace to death.

"If you still want to stay on the ship, think carefully about how you will treat His Highness from now on!"

Song Jingyan threw down the teacup and stood up, casually kicking the sword at her feet away. It seemed that her anger had subsided, but it made people feel even more panicked.

At this time, Mr. Zhou pushed the door open and came in. Seeing the tense atmosphere in the room, he simply bowed and said, "Miss Song, I need to discuss His Highness's injury with you."

Song Jingyan walked to the window with everyone on her back. She pushed it open and a cold voice floated over: "Everyone get out."

Mr. Zhou watched Shao Zheng bend down to pick up his sword, then walked out with the others without a word. He sighed inwardly and walked towards Song Jingyan. He stopped a few steps away from her and said, "Miss Song, that... His Highness is in very poor health." He hesitated for a moment, then addressed her as "His Highness." "His Highness is emaciated. Besides often not being able to eat, he also suffers from serious internal injuries."

"His right hand is definitely beyond repair. The bones in his right palm are completely shattered, the meridians in his palm are paralyzed, and even his forearm is affected. I see he was a swordsman before, but from now on, let alone swordsmanship, I'm afraid he won't even be able to pick up a book."

After hearing this, Song Jingyan was silent for a long time.

Mr. Zhou finished speaking, lost in his own thoughts, his brow furrowed slightly as he considered some possible way to treat Meng Shizhuang. Outside, civilian boats, having been exploring the city for a while, gradually docked at the shore, intending to enter the city. Their boat was at the forefront, its cabin already submerged in water. The broken remains of boats and weapons in the river occasionally bumped into the tower ship, making a gentle noise.

When they reached the shore, the people on the boat were not in a hurry and were still waiting for Song Jingyan to speak.

Song Jingyan listened to the not-so-noisy sound beside her ears, but her thoughts were still in turmoil.

It was not until the water flowing into the boat climbed up to his ankles that Mr. Zhou was brought back to his senses by Song Jingyan's voice.

"Mr. Zhou, do you think that when the princess is ill, she will torture His Highness like this?"

Mr. Zhou was stunned and hesitated, "This... the princess is not in her right mind, so she may not recognize His Highness. That's also possible."

Song Jingyan nodded, "Where did your Highness's internal injuries come from?"

Mr. Zhou immediately understood what Song Jingyan meant. He recalled Meng Shizhuang's appearance. "Your Highness inherited the prince's legacy and wanted to eliminate all foreign threats. He has practiced martial arts since childhood, working day and night, regardless of weather. He has also fought against the barbarians many times, so naturally he has a serious illness."

The sunlight in Ming Hunzhou gradually brightened. Song Jingyan turned around in the light and pointed at the water under her feet. "It's been a dangerous journey. Thank you for your trouble, sir. Please be careful with your steps."

Mr. Zhou repeatedly said he dared not.

Song Jingyan waded in the water, where a broken arrow feather floated. The tower ship sank diagonally. The inland river in Ming Hunzhou was not very deep, and the ship was too large, so it would probably run aground here. Shao Zheng appeared at the door of the wing again, with silent urging. Behind him, Qiuhe and Qinhe, one carrying the other, prepared to help Meng Shizhuang off the boat.

Song Jingyan lifted the hem of her skirt, dodged Shao Zheng's hand that was trying to help her, and ran into Bian Hongqiu's room.

The boat sank faster and faster, and was already at the bend of her calves. Shao Zheng couldn't catch her in time, so he hurriedly followed, "Jingyan!"

Song Jingyan turned a deaf ear to him. She stood in Bian Hongqiu's room, her chest heaving slightly. She noticed a hairpin left behind by the departing person, and reached inside with great effort. Shao Zheng tightly hooked his arm, "The ship is sinking!"

She swung it gently, "It won't sink to the bottom."

However, Shao Zheng did not let go. He looked past Song Jingyan and looked into the house. He saw the hairpin that Song Jingyan wanted to pick up. He exerted a little force with his palm and pulled Song Jingyan backwards. He strode across the water with big strides, splashing water on his face.

Song Jingyan took the plain hairpin and recognized it as one that Bian Hongqiu had carved himself. The craftsmanship was clumsy and the carving was crude, but Bian Hongqiu loved it and always wore it unless he had to go out.

Shao Zheng also recognized it. The ship swayed in the water, hit somewhere under the shore, made a dull sound, and stopped moving.

As Song Jingyan said, the ship will not sink again.

He was filled with mixed emotions, and couldn't tell if he was regretting something. He could only say weakly, "Your Highness is blessed by heaven..." He couldn't continue. Song Jingyan didn't have the energy to argue anymore. Her shoulders sank, and she said, "Let's go."

After breaching the city gates, the soldiers who had still managed to resist retreated like a tide. They removed their armor and knelt quietly on the ground. Xi Zhongting walked through the deliberately cleared avenue, occasionally catching a glimpse of one or two secretly looking up, their gazes filled with resentment and despair. The common people and the soldiers knelt together to greet them, their expressions identical.

The guards around Xi Zhongting were enraged by this look. They drew their swords, the sharp edges shining on the man's neck, and spoke coldly: "The court has recovered the lost territory, but you are not happy but sad. What's the reason?"

The people kneeling on the ground either sneered or showed disdain, but they tried their best to suppress it. Then they forced a smile, and each word sounded like a pre-written script: "I dare not. The court has sent troops to return to Ming Hunzhou. I am overjoyed. The prefect of Ming Hunzhou has absolute power..." The person who spoke clenched his hands at his side, and the words seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth. "They forced us to use 'life-buying money' to kill people who come and go, and they are tyrannical and their crimes are too numerous to list..."

He paused again, and a few unwilling tears fell on the blue bricks.

Then, he insisted on finishing his words: "Please, sir, make the decision for me."

After this person finished speaking, the people who were also kneeling on the ground began to speak in agreement.

Xi Zhongting took a closer look, but he no longer remembered these faces. These people asked him to make the decision, but their expressions were conflicting. Rather than letting him make the decision, they were more likely to rush over and stab him.

He raised his hand to stop the guard's movements: "Who is the current governor of Ming Hunzhou, and where is he now?"

There was a silence all around. Finally, the leader spoke up, "The current prefect is the daughter of the previous one. She was appointed prefect by mistake. Now that she knows the situation is hopeless, she must be worried and anxious on the city wall."

Hearing this, Xi Zhongting laughed softly.

"Chen Muchan, the former prefect of Hunzhou in the Ming Dynasty, had his fame and honors taken away by his husband and imprisoned in his backyard. Later, his husband embezzled bribes and withheld disaster relief grain. Her daughter gathered evidence and went to Beijing alone to file a complaint, seeking justice for the people and her mother. She then accompanied her mother to Hunzhou in the Ming Dynasty, holding an eighth-rank official position. Since taking office, she has achieved remarkable political achievements."

"Are you saying that her character has changed drastically and her crimes are heinous?"