Chapter 537 Tempting Pie
Song Yuntang made a gesture of invitation towards the main hall.
"Eunuch Fan, please come in and sit for a while. The eldest prince left early this morning and no one knows where he is now. It may take some time to find him."
"good."
Fan Chihai followed Song Yuntang towards the main hall.
Seeing this, Lan Xin, who was standing next to her, hurriedly took Zhiruo to make tea.
Fan Chihai sat down in the main hall and said casually, "I heard that Lord Xu has a younger brother. Is Xu's second brother under the command of the General Zhenxi?"
Song Yuntang didn't know why he mentioned Xu Wencheng.
After all, they had never mentioned the name Xu Wencheng in Beijing.
She smiled and said, "My uncle has wanted to be a great general who fights in battles since he was a child. He did join the General of Zhenxi last year. Has Eunuch Fan received any news from him recently?"
Fan Chihai sighed.
"That's a pity." He turned to look at Song Yuntang, "Today, the spies reported that the Western Regions have 500,000 troops approaching the border. The General Zhenxi has only 300,000 men under his command, and the national treasury can't allocate money to buy military supplies and food. Some of the ministers in the court are in favor of war, and some are in favor of peace. They are arguing fiercely."
Hearing this, Xu Yongwang and Jiang looked at each other, both with worry on their faces.
Fan Chihai said this and looked outside the house.
"I don't know when the eldest prince will be back. I have to go back to the palace to report to His Majesty, so I won't wait here any longer. When the eldest prince comes back, I hope the county lady can convey His Majesty's wishes to me."
Song Yuntang stood up with him.
"Okay, take care, sir."
After Fan Chihai left, Song Yuntang thought carefully about his purpose and what he said, then went back to the main courtyard, wrote a letter and gave it to Song Jinsheng.
"Second brother, send a letter to Zhuangzi and ask them to collect 200,000 dan of grain as quickly as possible and ship it to the western border. Also, send this letter and 100,000 taels of silver to Tongqiu City and hand them over to Wencheng in person."
After Xu Wencheng went to the Western Regions, she asked the farm to transport several carts of sweet potatoes over. Some time ago, he wrote back saying that the sweet potatoes were growing well there.
After officially entering the military camp of General Zhenxi, he led his soldiers to participate in several encirclement and suppression operations. Because of his quick reaction and flexible mind on the battlefield, he was highly regarded by General Zhenxi.
Song Jinsheng nodded, glanced at Mu Qiu whose belly was already slightly bulging, and then turned to look at Song Yuntang.
"Tang'er, I'm not in the capital for a while. Please help me take care of your sister-in-law."
Mu Qiu seemed to have not expected that he would suddenly say this to Song Yuntang at the critical moment before leaving.
There is some sweetness and some reluctance in my heart.
"Tang'er is busy enough, don't let her be distracted, I'm fine."
Song Yuntang smiled and said, "Don't worry, second brother. The eldest prince will be back in the palace soon. I will clean up the room you first lived in and give it to my second sister-in-law to live in. Before you come back, my second sister-in-law will live here."
"Why."
With Song Yuntang's words, Song Jinsheng had nothing to worry about.
To a certain extent, his sister is much more reliable than him.
Song Jinsheng looked in the direction of Mu Qiu. Although he was reluctant, he turned around and left with the letter in his hand.
Seeing Mu Qiu staring at Song Jinsheng's back infatuatedly, Song Yuntang couldn't help but step forward and hold her arm, jokingly saying, "If you keep looking, your second sister-in-law will become a husband-waiting rock."
Mu Qiu's cheeks turned red and he quickly looked away.
"Tang'er, please stop laughing at me." After a pause, she continued, "I don't know why, but after I got pregnant, I always have to rely on others."
Song Yuntang smiled and helped her sit down.
"I understand."
She has been through this before, so she naturally knows this feeling.
When women are pregnant and giving birth, their minds are usually sensitive and fragile. Their husbands are the closest people around them, so it is normal for them to want to depend on them.
When she was pregnant with Hao Ting, she also hoped that Xu Qingye would be by her side.
But at that time, she was forced to live in the mountains for about half a year because of Lin Zhaozhao. When she was found by Xu Qingye, she gave birth not long after.
Song Yuntang also sat down next to her.
"Actually, you can ask someone else to do this, but I trust my second brother more."
Mu Qiu expressed his understanding, "It's okay, I'm actually fine. I can share your burden. Your second brother should be very happy, and Tang'er doesn't have to feel pressured."
Just then, Jiang came holding Hao Ting's hand.
"Tang'er, you sent so much food and silver to the border, don't you need the court's permission?"
"Hasn't the court already given its approval?"
Seeing that Jiang was puzzled, Song Yuntang explained to her.
"Your Majesty asked Eunuch Fan to come to the Xu Mansion, not just to summon the eldest prince back to the palace. Otherwise, why do you think Eunuch Fan suddenly mentioned such confidential matters of the previous dynasty as Wencheng and the lack of silver and food at the border?"
If it weren't for the emperor's instructions, Fan Chihai might not have gone through this journey today.
Once the war started, it would take a few months at the shortest and several years at the longest. With an army of 300,000 in the Western Territory, the silver and food she sent would be far from enough.
Jiang nodded and said nothing more.
She didn't understand officialdom, let alone guess the emperor's thoughts.
Right now she only hopes that Wencheng can be safe and sound in the Western Territory.
…
Xu Qingye came back late today.
Song Yuntang stepped forward and helped him take off his official uniform.
"The eldest prince has been summoned back to the palace by His Majesty."
After a moment of hesitation, Xu Qingye finally understood.
"I saw him in the imperial study today."
Song Yuntang put the official uniform on the rack.
"During this period, the eldest prince often pestered you to play chess, and your chess skills improved rapidly. After returning to the palace, it will be difficult for him to have the opportunity to play chess with you again."
"There will be opportunities in the future." Xu Qingye stepped forward and held her in his arms. "Did His Majesty send someone to summon the eldest prince back to the palace? Did he tell you anything?"
Song Yuntang turned around, put his arms around his thin waist, and told him what Fan Chihai had said today.
"I thought the war could start at any time. Given the efficiency of the imperial court, food and military supplies might not be delivered when the fighting starts. So I asked my second brother to raise 200,000 dan of grain and 100,000 taels of silver and send them to Tongqiu City."
Xu Qingye had a plan in mind.
No wonder the emperor felt guilty when he talked to him today. It turned out that he was targeting Tang'er.
"Your Majesty proposed today that I should teach the eldest prince the six arts and explain historical books to him. If he is crowned as the crown prince in the future, I will be his tutor. I have not yet accepted the offer. If I accept it, I will have even less time to accompany you and Hao Ting in the future."
"The cake he painted is quite tempting."
Song Yuntang leaned his head on the man's chest.
"You have been a private school teacher. You are well-educated, courageous and bold. The eldest prince is the one the emperor values the most. He must have carefully considered and weighed the pros and cons of letting you be his teacher. Mother and I will take care of the family affairs. You don't need to worry too much. I don't understand the affairs of the officialdom..."
She looked up at him.
"If you think it's feasible, then accept it."
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