Chapter 156 Arrival at Huaizhou City
By noon, the convoy arrived at the city gate.
Looking at the three words "Huaizhou City" hanging high on the city gate, Song Lingyi's heart was filled with emotion. Suddenly, she heard a warm greeting from the front. She looked closely and saw that the person was wearing a scarlet official robe with a gold belt, and there were many officials following behind him.
Du Xuan stopped his horse beside the car window and whispered a reminder:
"Miss Song, that's Huaizhou City Governor Guo Su, and the one to his right is Sima..."
Prefect?
Song Lingyi looked at the official in the scarlet robe inconspicuously. He was exactly the most ordinary middle-aged man in her impression, fat, with a big belly, a small mustache, and a slightly fawning smile, which was completely different from the word "serious".
Because the Duke of Jin and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had greeted them one after another, Prefect Guo no longer dared to ignore and neglect the Song family as he had done before. He was very enthusiastic, calling them "good nephew" all the time, and talking about the lavish welcoming banquet every other sentence, which made Song Lingyi at a loss and she could only smile.
The group exchanged greetings at the city gate for a while. Prefect Guo turned around, waved his hand, and loudly ordered to let them pass. The officers and soldiers cleared the way and blocked the pedestrians on both sides of the street.
Sitting in the carriage, Song Lingyi experienced the grand occasion of a senior leader coming to give guidance.
Looking at the mighty convoy entering the city, the people in the streets and alleys were talking about it:
"Who's in the carriage? It's such a grand occasion that even the governor came to the city gate to greet us."
"I heard she's the daughter of Captain Song from the north of the city?"
"Which Captain Song?"
"Tsk!" exclaimed the white-haired old man who was sitting at a noodle soup stall eating breakfast. "It was Captain Song who, two winters ago, ignored the opposition of the prefect and the military governor and led his 800 cavalry to support Danyang Commandery!"
"Oh, it's him. But is the daughter of a lieutenant worthy of such a grand ceremony?"
A woman selling vegetables nearby interrupted, "I heard it has nothing to do with Captain Song. His wife is the eldest daughter of the Duke's family. Both husband and wife died last year, so they sent their daughter to Beijing to live with her relatives. Now, she's 'returning home in glory'."
Passersby who were joining in the fun were sighing with emotion. Another young man sitting at a noodle soup stall, seeing the convoy's formation, snorted disdainfully:
"The Song family only has this one daughter. No matter how majestic she is, she is still a poor family. I don't know what she looks like. If she is good-looking, I am willing to take the loss and take over."
"How can you get drunk from eating noodle soup in broad daylight?" The white-haired old man sneered at what he said.
The young man was not used to the tune and said, "If he was really so powerful, why would he return to such a remote place like Huaizhou City? He must have displeased his maternal family and was looking for an excuse to send him back. He was just showing off his power to show off the Duke's Mansion..."
The young man's voice stopped abruptly.
Several people around looked over and saw a young and handsome man in brocade robe holding a dagger to the man's neck.
"What does the Duke's Mansion show off?"
The man in brocade robes stood behind the man, leaned forward slightly, and whispered in his ear, his tone calm but full of pressure: "Keep talking."
"Nothing...nothing..." The young man looked at the dagger at his neck in panic, stuttering, "It's all...it's all nonsense, please don't blame me, sir."
Lu Qian sneered, his tone nonchalant: "You're smart. If you dare to say something unpleasant again, I'll cut off your tongue and no one will dare to say a word."
The dagger was put back into the sheath, and the young man didn't even eat the noodle soup, and slipped away as if escaping. The others watched with their eyes and noses, and dared not discuss the convoy anymore.
It was the bustling morning market, with the streets filled with the sounds of hawking, and no one noticed the little incident at the noodle soup stall.
The convoy rumbled towards the north of the city, escorted by soldiers wherever it went. Although Huaizhou City was not as prosperous as Kyoto, it was filled with a peaceful atmosphere.
A quarter of an hour later, the convoy stopped outside the Song residence in the north of the city.
After a year's absence, everything has changed. Moss covers the steps, and when I push open the heavy door, dust flies. Inside the door, weeds are overgrown, and the scene is desolate everywhere.
"Miss, are we going to stay here tonight?" Hongqi looked hesitant.
When entering the city, Governor Guo said that the Song residence was dilapidated and that he had already booked rooms and a banquet at Minghe Tower. He asked the convoy to go directly to Minghe Tower, but Song Lingyi politely declined. She still understood the principle of "no gain, no early rise".
It would be fine if the officers and soldiers cleared the way, but if the governor Guo took this opportunity to ask her to help "put in a few good words" to the prince and the duke, then the implications would be serious.
"The yard is a bit messy, but the furniture in the room is in good condition. It just needs a little cleaning. But the house is not big and cannot accommodate too many people. There is an inn on the next street. You can send someone to book a few rooms later." Song Lingyi said.
Hongqi replied "yes" and turned around to give instructions.
The Song residence was a double-entrance courtyard, its gray walls and black tiles etched with the ravages of time. Passing through the second gate, there were three rooms in the backyard. The center house was the main house where Song's parents lived, the right wing was Song Lingyi's boudoir, and the right wing was the guest bedroom.
The servants and maids cleaned up the mansion before sunset.
Song Lingyi was sitting in the hall, carefully wiping the vase on the table when she suddenly heard a noise in the courtyard. She looked up and saw that it was Sima Wang who had stood next to the prefect during the day.
Sima Wang walked quietly around the bluestone slabs that the servants had just finished mopping, and stood outside the hall, bowing.
"Miss Song, the governor is hosting a banquet at Heming Tower. Many of Huaizhou's wealthy gentry are attending, and they're all here to celebrate with you. It's almost time, and the governor has sent me to invite you to the banquet."
Song Lingyi gave Hongju a look, and she immediately understood. She cleared her throat and said, "Please go back and tell the governor that there is no reward without merit. My daughter returned to the city to pay respect to her parents, not to make friends with the gentry."
When the Song family was in poverty, these officials and wealthy people never took care of them, but now they want to make friends with them.
"You can't say that. Huaizhou City is Miss Song's hometown. Prefect Guo and Captain Song have known each other for many years. This welcoming banquet is not about utilitarianism, but only about friendship." Sima Wang said.
Song Lingyi placed the vase back on the table and said calmly, "I didn't realize that Governor Guo and my father were old acquaintances. Lord Wang is the Sima, so my father should have a closer relationship with you, right?"
Sima Wang waved his hand and said with a wry smile, "No, I took office as Sima of Huaizhou City in the middle of last year. I haven't met Lord Song in person, but I have heard of his deeds of leading troops to aid Danyang County. He is truly a hero."
After saying that, he changed the subject: "The welcoming banquet has been arranged, and the gentry and officials will soon be here. If Miss Song doesn't attend the banquet, the prefect will lose face and will inevitably have some concerns..."
Seeing that Sima Wang was so insistent, Song Lingyi didn't want to offend Prefect Guo again and again, so she agreed.
When Du Xuan heard that Song Lingyi was going to the banquet, he volunteered to go along. "Local officials are all very smart people. I'll go with you. Miss Song, just tell me if you need anything."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
