Song Anxin frowned. The Liang family of Kyoto? Considering Lord Liang's arrogant tone, it seemed that this person in Kyoto must hold a high position and wield considerable power.
Yan Shuping said to her, "Huiyi, there's no need to worry. You've done a great job in this autumn harvest. His Majesty has promoted you two ranks and even sent Eunuch Qi to deliver the imperial edict to you, which shows that you are highly regarded by His Majesty. Now that you've grown potatoes, a high-yield double-cropping staple food, the Liang family wanted to take credit for you but failed. I'm afraid the Liang family will be in a panic."
Song Anxin nodded. Ultimately, this happened because she was too weak. Anyone with a higher position and more power than her felt they could easily control her.
It seems she needs to climb higher.
She said, "I will ask Eunuch Qi to take some of these potatoes to the capital, and I will also prepare a memorial explaining this."
Yan Shuping nodded: "I will also write a report to submit."
Just then, Granny Wei's voice came from the doorway: "Third Young Master, you've arrived. Are you here to see Yiren? Yiren is inside discussing matters with the magistrate."
“I know, I’ll wait for them here,” Lin Fenghe said.
Song Anxin heard this and said to the outsider, "Feng He, come in. I have finished talking with the magistrate."
Lin Fenghe entered, bowed to Magistrate Yan, and then asked, "Magistrate, is it true that you said you would immediately place me under the command of the Great General if I went to the Northern Frontier?"
"Of course, but have you changed your mind?" Yan Shuping asked expectantly.
Song Anxin's heart skipped a beat.
Lin Fenghe turned to his mother and said, "Mother, your son has decided to go to the northern frontier battlefield."
"Feng He, why did you make such a decision?" Song Anxin asked, her eyes filled with confusion and her brows furrowing.
Lin Fenghe stared at her mother and said, "Mother, the reason why Lord Liang dared to threaten our family and steal our things so openly this time is because our family is not strong enough. I want to become strong to protect our family and make people dare not bully us like this again."
Song Anxin knew that the third brother was the most sensitive and perceptive, and today's events must have provoked him to act this way.
She said, "Fenghe, you can rest assured. Mother will become strong and will protect our family. Don't you only like studying? You don't need to make such a sacrifice."
Lin Fenghe shook his head: "Mother, I can't always let you be our protector. I also want to become stronger with you. I hope that if this happens again someday, I, as your child, can protect you!"
His eyes shone brightly, revealing unwavering determination.
Song Anxin's heart stirred: "Feng He, you can become powerful by studying and taking the imperial examinations, and then you can protect our family."
Lin Fenghe's boyish face darkened slightly as he said, "Mother, I am only a student at the preliminary level now. I still need to participate in the provincial examination, the metropolitan examination, and the metropolitan examination before I can reach the final palace examination."
"On this journey, I not only have to overcome numerous obstacles but also maintain a consistently high ranking on the list to enter the palace examination. Even if I am exceptionally intelligent and reach the palace examination without any unexpected events, becoming the top scholar, it will still take me a full five years. If, like last time, I draw a leaky room and encounter some unforeseen accidents along the way, it will probably take even longer."
He said with a rare hint of urgency in his eyes, "Mother, I don't want to wait that long."
Song Anxin was about to speak when Lin Fenghe stopped her.
“Mother, I know what you want to say. I do like reading, but I also like the feeling of strategizing in military books. The reason I didn’t agree to go to the northern frontier with the magistrate is because I can’t bear to leave you, my elder brother, my elder sister-in-law, my second elder brother…they.” He lowered his eyes, a trace of sadness in them: “I’m even more afraid of never seeing you again, like Father did.”
Today, when Lord Liang ordered the soldiers to draw their swords, I felt both anger and helplessness. I can no longer cower behind you; I don't want to feel that powerless feeling of wanting to protect someone but being unable to.
Lin Fenghe became more and more agitated as he spoke, and suddenly knelt down: "I beg Mother to grant my wish!"
Song Anxin felt a surge of emotion, and her nose tingled with a little soreness. She realized that Feng He was thinking far more than she had imagined. This child was sharp-minded and capable, and often more composed and thoughtful than the average person. She would probably have to bear more in the future.
She helped Lin Fenghe up, her eyes filled with tenderness and love that eventually turned into encouragement: "Fenghe, whatever you want to do, your mother will support you."
Lin Fenghe's eyes instantly lit up with joy.
"Haha, excellent! It's wonderful that you're going to the Northern Frontier, Lin Xue! With your strategic acumen, I'm sure you'll achieve great things on the Northern Frontier battlefield!"
Yan Shuping was overjoyed to see that things had been settled.
Song Anxin: "..." The sadness suddenly stopped.
I almost forgot you were here. You're happy now that you've successfully abducted someone's son.
Yan Shuping coughed awkwardly: "Scholar Song, there's no rush. You can spend some time with your family first. I'll let you know when everything is arranged." He stood up to take his leave: "Lady Hui, I have official duties to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
After saying that, Yan Shuping quickly left, looking as if he was afraid that Song Anxin would beat him up.
Song Anxin certainly wouldn't hit him; she could only silently glare at him. But ultimately, it was her son's choice. She knew that although Feng He was a man of few words, he was the most opinionated, and if he didn't want to, no amount of persuasion from others would change his mind.
Since they had decided to go to the northern frontier, Song Anxin and Lin Fenghe discussed that they would temporarily give up going to the academy, go home to spend more time with their families, and learn martial arts and horseback riding with Qingshan and the others every day. Although he had practiced martial arts at the academy before, he had only practiced for a short time and did not put his energy into it.
Although Lin Fenghe was supposed to be a strategist, having some martial arts skills wouldn't be a bad thing, since swords and spears have no eyes on the front lines.
Just then, the old woman's voice rang out from outside the door: "Yiren, Angui and Anji say they have come to apologize."
Song Anxin asked in confusion, "What crime are you asking for?"
Anji and Angui's voices came from outside the door: "Princess, it's all our fault. It must have been when we were chatting with Achang that we mentioned the potatoes, which made the Liang family want to steal them. We are guilty, please punish us, Princess."
Then came Qingshan's voice: "Princess, we are also guilty. We were careless and allowed the thieves to find out what was going on. Please punish us, Madam!"
Song Anxin opened the door and came out. Looking at An Gui, An Ji, Qing Shan, Qing Feng, and the others kneeling on the ground, she said, "Yes, you are guilty. We will punish you by making you dig up a few more pounds of potatoes tomorrow."
The group looked up in astonishment. What kind of punishment was this?
Song Anxin looked at them and continued, "As the saying goes, there is no such thing as a thousand days of guarding against thieves. It is inevitable for people to make mistakes. The purpose of punishment is to make people aware of their mistakes and correct them. Since you already know your mistakes, there is no need for this punishment."
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