021
The atmosphere seemed to freeze for a moment.
The court was in chaos, treacherous officials held power, and uprisings broke out everywhere... The rise and fall of the nation brought suffering to the common people.
“It’s the timing, the circumstances, and fate.” Song Ling stood up and looked out the window, her tone filled with a strange emotion. “The world is about to change…”
Now, the King of Qi has declared himself emperor in Yangzhou. Yangzhou is a vast region in the southeast of the Later Jin Dynasty, bordering Cangwu Prefecture to the south, Jingzhou to the northwest, and Shannan Prefecture to the southwest. If the King of Qi takes Jingzhou, he will surely push the three southern prefectures into a desperate situation.
Who wouldn't be envious of an army of 100,000? At that time, the south would have to face an enemy, and the north would be plagued by internal troubles. The southwestern army would inevitably be attacked from both sides. And at this time, could the imperial court really be trusted...? After all, the tragic scene of tens of thousands of soldiers being murdered by treacherous officials when Marquis Wu'an was in the northwest was still fresh in everyone's mind.
Yu Baizhou's hand, which was gripping the note, turned slightly white.
What should I do?
Song Ling stood to the side, quietly watching him. "What does the general mean?"
Yu Baizhou raised his head, his voice heavy and trembling as he looked at her, "If it really comes to that, and I have no choice but to fight for it, what should I do?"
He was just a military officer who rose from humble beginnings to his current position. Making up his mind wouldn't have happened in a moment; he must have pondered it for many sleepless nights.
Song Ling didn't speak, but poured two cups of tea.
He was handed a cup, and drank it down in one gulp.
“Since the general has made up his mind, Ling will definitely do his best to help him.”
She said this in a calm tone, which always gave people a sense of being in control, and even the most nervous person would gradually calm down.
"The King of Qi is a member of the Zhou clan; even if he were to declare himself emperor, he would only be restoring the Zhou imperial family. General, however, is different. If you wish to gain power, you must start from the bottom and work your way up..."
"Overthrow it."
Yu Baizhou looked at her, and her eyes were full of confidence that she had great ambitions and was determined to succeed. Such a talented and resourceful woman would be hard to find even after hundreds of years, and she was incomparable to thousands of men.
"As for the governor of Guangping County, it seems we won't be able to keep it a secret for long. I've sent soldiers to investigate, and there seems to be some unusual activity in Yunzhou these days. Should we do something about it?"
Song Ling lowered her eyes and pondered for a long time before looking at him. "No, let's wait for someone first."
"Waiting for whom?"
"The key person who can solve our current predicament."
When Song Ling entered the courtyard, she looked up at the azure sky. The past few days had been overcast, and the clear sky was a rare sight, with the sunlight almost blinding.
"Have you reached an agreement?"
Chu Zhaoyan sat on the stone steps with her chin resting on her hand, looking rather unladylike, and yawned countless times as she slept.
Yu Baizhou, who followed behind, hesitated before he could introduce himself, but was suddenly interrupted.
"I know you, the famous General Yu. Chu Zhaoyan, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Although she said that, she stood up and bowed, even though she was unwilling. Otherwise, the hidden threat in Song Ling's eyes would have been overflowing.
Yu Baizhou clasped his hands in greeting, "Young Master Chu, it's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Looks like I've come at an inopportune time," a man said with a smile as he approached from a distance, but the warmth in his eyes was gone.
"Heh," Chu Zhaoyan's face fell as she saw Shi Yu step forward, and she lost all interest in being polite. "Seventeen, let's go."
Chu Zhaoyan kept a straight face and moved away from Yu. In the instant the two passed each other, he gripped the dagger in his sleeve, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately did not draw it.
Shi Yu didn't spare a single glance for anyone else; from the moment he appeared, his eyes were fixed on Song Ling. Such attention would certainly be uncomfortable for others, but his gentle demeanor meant that even when he looked at her, his eyes were filled with undisguised tenderness.
However, Song Ling was not used to it. The Shi Yu of the past would never look at her so intently. It had only been three years since they last met, and she wondered why he had changed so much.
Yu Baizhou, standing to the side, had his right hand clenched into a fist behind his back. His body was tense, and his eyes were constantly watching the man not far away. How could he not know what kind of look that was? It was precisely because of this that he disliked this person even more.
"Please sit down," Song Ling said, sitting down on the stone bench. "If you want some tea, please pour it yourselves."
"Brother Jinzhi, have you come to say goodbye today?" Shi Yu has always been unrestrained and travels around. In the past, when he was in Huailai, he was often seen but never saw anyone.
Now that all the cities in Shannan Prefecture are under lockdown and the cure for the epidemic is almost ready, he will probably continue his travels.
“No,” Shi Yu smiled, “I plan to stay and open a clinic in Guangping County.”
Song Ling paused slightly. "That's fine too. If you need any help, just let me know."
"Haha, of course. When have I ever been polite to Seventeen?"
Yu Baizhou clenched his hands, but he couldn't join in their conversation, so he felt a nameless irritation and grievance, which made his expression even colder.
Seeing his reaction, Song Ling sighed inwardly, "In this year of famine, the people are already struggling to make ends meet and lack food. Could the general take some soldiers to the south of the city to distribute porridge?"
"The prefectural governor's office has surplus grain. Remember to sprinkle some sand and stones on it. This porridge should be distributed to the people who truly need it."
Yu Baizhou frowned slightly. "This is not a long-term solution."
"But we have to get past the hurdle in front of us first."
After sending the person away, Song Ling put down her teacup.
"General Yu has already left. What exactly do you want to say to me?"
Song Ling calmly asked him, seemingly dissatisfied with his behavior just now, "You two have no connection, so why did Brother Jinzhi make things difficult for him?"
If Shi Yu interrupted several times just now, and considering the situation when they first met a few days ago, how could Song Ling not see that Shi Yu was deliberately making things difficult for Yu Baizhou?
“Besides, he is my lord. Even out of respect for me as the head of the pavilion, you shouldn’t do this.”
Shi Yu paused, her lips moved, "I understand." But now, her words were all about protecting that person, how could he not be jealous?
His eyes were dark and unfathomable. She should have been his... but only for a moment before he suppressed that anger.
“Jinzhi,” Song Ling took out a jade pendant and placed it on the table, “you left without saying goodbye back then, but deliberately left this jade pendant behind.”
"I've never understood what it means."
"It's best to return it to its rightful owner now."
The white jade was flawless, yet it was somewhat dazzling at this moment.
Song Ling got up and left without looking back.
Shi Yu clutched the jade pendant in his palm, clenching his teeth, his eyes reddening with surging emotions. He had raised her single-handedly; how could he not know…
And how could someone as intelligent as her not notice his unusual behavior?
She simply didn't want to expose his ugly thoughts, nor did she want to shatter the memories between them.
But he had already come this far, with no turning back. Why not give it a try? Shi Yu put the jade pendant into his clothes; compared to anyone else, he had a natural advantage.
So what if he's despicable? Seventeen always has a soft spot for him. Otherwise, if it were anyone else, she would have definitely turned on them today… She still treats him differently, doesn't she…?
When Shi Yu stood up, he raised the corners of his lips and resumed his gentle and refined demeanor.
Meanwhile, Song Ling, who had just stepped out of the courtyard, saw Yu Baizhou leaning against a tree outside the gate.
He didn't say anything when she came out, just stared at her with his eyes, seemingly without any emotion.
But Song Ling could clearly see the grievance and frustration in him. It was quite a contrast to see such a majestic and imposing person in him.
Why are all these girls so troublesome? Song Ling suddenly thought of Wang Zhiyan. If it weren't for their unfortunate fates, a girl as efficient as her would be much more desirable.
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