Chapter 17 Song Mingde
Zhao Xuanxu's fingers hanging by his side moved nervously. Prince Yong was standing closest to him and was very observant, so he immediately noticed something was wrong.
He was surprised that Ling Han, who was always dull and cold, could say such offensive words, and was also surprised by the rather sharp and obvious emotional reaction of his third brother.
However, with so many people outside now, there must not be any conflict that would damage the reputation of the court.
Prince Yong raised his hand to block Zhongli He's advance, his expression calm as he smiled and said, "Linghan is foolish. Since the young lady is employed by my third brother, her future in the Twelve Guards must be bright and clear. There's no need for you to worry."
"Your Highness." Guang Qingyu also spoke at the right time, his voice cold, saying: "Those Liao people have already left."
After the crushing defeat, the roaring cheers from the surroundings felt like a slap in the face. The severely wounded Liao soldiers, though unwilling to accept the defeat, had no other choice but to swallow the blood filling their throats and, led by the sinister man, support each other as they left.
"They are extraordinary, definitely not just ordinary merchants." Prince Yong sighed and asked Zhao Xuanxu, "The New Year's banquet is approaching. Third brother, do you think these people are related to the upcoming Liao delegation?"
"If you want to know, ask Song Mingde at the morning court tomorrow." Zhao Xuanxu's eyes held a soft, illusory expression as he spoke slowly, "Spies from other countries have nothing to do with the Three Departments."
This was a rude remark, but King Yong could only smile.
Who in the court, whether civil or military, didn't know that Governor Song was narrow-minded, cruel, and vindictive? It made sense: a crippled man, he could only stalk his power like a wild dog, his eyes red and his mouth drooling. Anyone who dared to look at him or say anything would be pursued and bitten by Song Mingde and his eunuchs like venomous snakes.
In terms of fearlessness and ruthlessness, only Prince Yan can be on par with him.
Prince Yong drank the teacup in his hand, handed it to Gao Shaoshan, turned around and left with Zhongli He and Guang Qingyu, laughing heartily, "Alright, the next person isn't very good. Let's stop watching. Let's go back to the palace."
Wen Yao and the others left. He looked at Gao Shaoshan and then at Zhao Xuanxu and said, "Are we leaving too?"
Zhao Xuanxu's voice softened three degrees as he replied, "Well, it's almost noon, time for lunch."
After leaving the pavilion, Wen Yao realized that the King of Qin had left long ago. Judging from the overturned table and the fruit that rolled all over the floor, the King of Qin must have been in a bad mood.
It was understandable. After all, it was the King of Qin who came up with this method to recruit talents, but in the end, no talents were recruited, and on the contrary, Tianshui almost lost face. The King of Qin had a bad temper, so it was not surprising that he was angry.
Of the four princes, only the Prince of Xiang remained, dressed in finery, his eyes narrowed into slits as he sat cheerfully in his seat. He was accustomed to wealth and luxury, his leisurely and self-satisfied demeanor evident in his sleek figure. He fingered the white jade and gold-inlaid belt around his waist. Beside him sat two angelic-looking women, one playing the qin and the other the pipa. Their romantic and affectionate atmosphere was a stark contrast to the somewhat awkward fighting scene below.
Seeing Zhao Xuanxu and his group walk out, Prince Xiang didn't react at all. He hid in the arms of the beauty and continued to enjoy himself with his eyes closed.
Mounting their carriage, the Feathered Guards circled the lush Cunying Mountain and stopped short on the official road. The teacup on the table swayed, splashing tiny specks of water. Gao Shaoshan, standing nearby, seemed to rein in his horse. A tense voice rang through the curtains, "Master, it's Song Mingde."
Song Mingde?
Wen Yao was stunned.
What a coincidence? She had just heard this name.
A high-pitched sound came from the front, like a poisonous snake hissing and spitting out its tongue as it coiled up along a person's calf.
"We have met His Royal Highness Prince Yan."
Slippery and cold, it makes people shudder and give them goose bumps.
Gao Shaoshan gripped the reins tightly, his face surprisingly alert. He stared at the other man as he slowly steered his horse forward and lifted the curtain hanging in front of the carriage.
Wen Yao sat near the door, his eyes immediately drawn to the eunuch's red and purple robes. The python pattern bared its fangs and claws, and the luxurious jade waist plaque adorned with red tassels was a striking contrast to the eunuch's delicate and handsome face.
She raised her eyebrows and felt Song Mingde's gaze passing over her in an instant, looking at Zhao Xuanxu.
"Your Highness, Prince Yan, His Majesty has summoned you to the palace." Song Mingde sat atop his majestic horse, his arms folded and loosely pressed against the saddle. He neither dismounted nor offered the Prince a smile. His thin brows were relaxed, his lips bright red. He and a group of eunuchs, all mounted on horses and carrying long swords, stood across the road behind him. The officials and their carriages dodged as if they were facing a fierce tiger in a mountain stream.
Perhaps the factory supervisor's minions are three times more powerful than tigers.
"Don't keep Your Majesty waiting any longer." Song Mingde's horse slowly paced and turned around: "Let's go now."
The curtain was lowered, and Wen Yao leaned towards Zhao Xuanxu, her mouth opening and closing as she whispered, "Is he very powerful?"
Zhao Xuanxu thought about it seriously, resting his arms on his knees, and leaning towards Wen Yao: "Well, there are very few factory supervisors in the Tianshui Dynasty who are over 20 years old."
"Does your father think highly of him?"
"Song Mingde doesn't stand on the side of factions; he's just a knife. He uses the factory supervisor to check and balance the three departments. The three departments are the open, and the factory supervisor is the covert." Zhao Xuanxu paused, then commented in four words: "It's quite effective."
Wen Yao was amused by his words, baring his teeth under the mask, and a smile leaked out from the mask: "Why, you can't do anything to him?"
Zhao Xuanxu was not discouraged. He pursed his lips and smiled at Wen Yao, his right cheek slightly concave. He whispered, "Yes, but it's very troublesome."
Wen Yao was a little surprised by the subtle dimples on his face. Zhao Xuanxu smiled often, but she was seldom so close to him that she had never noticed.
Wen Yao was just about to say, "Little brother, you actually have dimples," when the carriage, which was moving fast, stopped abruptly.
"Ayao, let's go." Zhao Xuanxu's breath touched Wen Yao's mask, and even through the layer of cold metal, Wen Yao felt an itch on her face. "The imperial city is ahead. According to the current rules, we can't take a carriage."
"Oh, okay." Wen Yao asked, "Then shall I go in with you?"
"Um."
Wen Yao lifted the curtain and jumped out of the carriage, ignoring Gao Shaoshan's attempts to stop him, and swiftly moved the footstool down. Zhao Xuanxu paused, holding up the hem of his clothes, and with a slight frown, he stepped out of the carriage without saying anything, skipping over the footstool and standing on the ground. He lowered his brows and smoothed out the wrinkles on the hem of his clothes with his fingers.
Song Mingde also dismounted. He stood in front, surrounded by numerous eunuchs, nonchalant and full of pomp. The palace guards nearby came to greet him, bowing and nodding, their eagerness and attentiveness more like that of eunuchs.
Carrying weapons, I cannot see the emperor's face.
Gao Shaoshan untied his sword and tossed it to Lingyuwei. Unlike the other swordsmen in the Jianghu who treated their swords like wives and didn't have the habit of forbidding anyone but themselves from touching their swords, Wen Yao also took off her Xingyi Sword and handed it over. But when she turned around, she saw Song Mingde staring at her motionlessly.
Song Mingde said in a deep voice: "Who are you and why are you entering the palace wearing a mask?"
Wen Yao said, "I have sores and pus on my face, so I need to wear a mask to cover it up. If I take it off, I'm afraid it will disturb the nobles in the palace." She didn't even blink, her tone was sincere, and her answer was extremely fluent.
Song Mingde looked at her for a while, said nothing, turned around and walked in with two teams of eunuchs.
The Tianshui Dynasty Imperial Palace covers a large area. Fortunately, the Yonghe Palace is close to the Chongyun Gate in the south. Wen Yao walked past two towering walls and followed Zhao Xuanxu around several turns. From a distance, he saw the majestic Yonghe Palace with a bronze bell hanging from the ceiling.
She lowered her eyes and counted in her mind.
One, two, three... Over 170 guards were hidden in the darkness. There were archers in the attic, and the ground beneath felt empty, suggesting there were many secret passages, perhaps even guards.
Zhao Xuanxu, the unreliable emperor father, is actually quite afraid of death.
"Ayao, you and Shaoshan go to the side hall to rest first, and I will come to find you." Zhao Xuanxu's voice came over.
Wen Yao came back to his senses and responded.
Zhao Xuanxu paused, as if thinking of something. He walked over and took out a bulging brocade bag from his sleeve and placed it in Wen Yao's hand: "The palace kitchen can deliver food. It's lunchtime now, Yao, don't delay, go eat first."
After saying this, he turned around, walked past the factory supervisor who had a puzzled look on his face, and walked straight up the dragon-shaped white jade steps in front of the Yonghe Palace.
Wen Yao felt the heavy weight in his hand, lowered his head and rubbed the drawstring of the brocade bag to see that the full golden melon seeds almost overflowed from the bag without the restraint of the drawstring.
"This--" Wen Yao was surprised: "So much?" What is the kitchen in this palace cooking, dragon liver and phoenix marrow?
Gao Shaoshan came over, touched his chin, and said, "It's a bit too much. Although there are many lucrative places in the palace, it's not necessary to eat a little bit of food... Hey, Commander Wen, let's go, I know this place well, you can treat me to a meal."
It wasn't her gold anyway, so Wen Yao agreed very happily, and the two turned and left.
Song Mingde, who was still standing there for some reason, was completely ignored for the first time in all these years by a left general and a guard.
Song Mingde tilted his head, feeling that it was a bit absurd.
Anyone entering the palace would be at least somewhat nervous, if not terrified. Gao Shaoshan knew that the dog Zhao Xuanxu had brought back from western Sichuan was loyal but a bit of a fool. But the woman who suddenly appeared beside Zhao Xuanxu also had an unusual reaction.
The young eunuch beside him carefully glanced at his face and whispered, "Godfather, His Royal Highness Prince Yan has left."
Song Mingde stared coldly at the empty space behind Wen Yao. His magnificent dragon robe was like a piece of gorgeous cloth, stretching out a hollow arc across his thin body.
"Those Liao people were defeated by her?"
"Yes." The young man considered and said hesitantly: "And judging from the attitude of King Yan just now, it seems, it seems that he is with her--" Perhaps because it was too unbelievable, he could not continue.
Song Mingde suddenly smiled, his bright red lips resembling the red snout of a snake: "It seems he has feelings for her."
He seldom smiled, only feigning a smile in front of the Tianshui Emperor and Empress Dowager. So the Governor's smile instantly shocked everyone around him, as if they had seen a tiger baring its fangs. A cold light flashed before their eyes, and they stiffened their necks and lowered their heads without moving.
"What a good handle, what a good handle." Song Mingde sighed twice. But at the end, his expression suddenly changed. He waved his sleeves and turned to walk up the stairs, leaving only one sentence: "Find an opportunity to test her background."
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