After New Year's Eve, Jiang Wan stayed in the palace to recuperate, and the General's Mansion became much quieter.
Song Lin was placed under house arrest and was unable to attend the palace banquet. He has been bedridden for these days, and his injuries have mostly healed.
During this time, Nanshanju visited him twice, bringing with him an unknown martial arts manual.
He said that Song Lin had injured his meridians and could only practice limited techniques. To practice divine skills, he would need to give up some things.
Gu Yurong couldn't understand, but Song Lin was furious and immediately threw the manual out the door.
The hermit of Nanshan was not angry; instead, he gave a strange laugh.
“Master Chen Yi’s martial arts are superb. Song Yu has inherited his true teachings and his cultivation is far above yours. Those ordinary moves are no match for him. Think about it carefully.”
The next day, Song Lin indeed picked up the manual with a sullen face.
His temperament became more irritable and unpredictable, and he locked himself in his room all day.
Gu Yurong was somewhat worried, but she couldn't think of anything to worry about.
Because last night, Song Ziyu brought some news.
"Linglong Pavilion has prepared New Year's gifts for the soldiers, and Mr. Qingwu will personally go to the military camp to distribute them."
Gu Yurong scoffed: "These江湖人 (jianghu people) like to offer small favors to win people's hearts. What is he trying to do this time?"
"I don't know yet, it's probably just some food, shoes and socks being delivered."
Song Ziyu shook his head.
“I don’t like this Mr. Qingwu either. Whenever he gets involved, the General’s Mansion always suffers misfortune. Let him be smug for a few days. Once His Majesty’s decree of punishment comes down, he won’t be laughing anymore.”
Gu Yurong gritted her teeth.
She harbored a deep resentment towards Linglong Pavilion for stealing her imperial merchant status.
"Why endure any longer? Linglong Pavilion will anger the Emperor. Wouldn't it be exactly what His Majesty wants to do if the General taught him a lesson first?"
Song Ziyu listened to what she said.
He remembered the time agreed upon at Linglong Pavilion, and the next day, he arrived at the military camp just in time.
Before even entering the tent, they heard cheers from the soldiers inside, mixed with excited expressions of gratitude.
"Thank you, Mr. Qingwu!"
"Sir, you are kind-hearted. I have no way to repay you, so I kowtow to you!"
"Sir, and me too..."
Song Ziyu was furious.
As expected, Ah Rong was right; this Mr. Qingwu was indeed trying to win people's hearts!
A江湖人士 (jianghu figure) has actually resorted to such tactics in the military camp! Does he intend to seize his troops? His ambition is far too great!
He snorted angrily and walked into the camp.
At a glance, I spotted the young man wearing a moon-colored cloak and a silver mask.
The soldiers sat around him, their faces beaming with simple smiles, their warmth and friendliness unlike anything he had ever seen before.
Song Ziyu was secretly furious and said sarcastically, "What great good deed has Mr. Qingwu done this time? It seems that you have made a lot of money from contracting military supplies, so much so that you can spend it all around you."
The lively atmosphere in the military camp immediately turned cold, and everyone could hear the sarcasm in his words.
Qingwu, however, maintained her smile and composure.
"No, General."
A soldier immediately chimed in.
"Mr. Qingwu didn't send us anything."
Song Ziyu asked, puzzled, "Then what are you all so happy about?"
"Mr. Qingwu has contacted the post stations in various places of Linglong Pavilion. From today onwards, as long as it is a letter from our military camp to our family, it can be sent for free, and goods can also be shipped once every two months!"
The soldier exclaimed excitedly.
"That's great! Now I can write letters to my mother!"
The people around chimed in, "That's right, the postal service in the city charges exorbitant prices for letters; how could we possibly afford that?"
"That's right, my uncle passed away last year, and I only found out two months later. My dad is still scolding me for being unfilial..."
"Don't be sad. Now that you have a husband, you can keep in touch with your family more often!"
"Not only that, it can also be used for shipping! I can send the two taels of silver I earned from last month's assessment to my father..."
The soldiers sat in a circle, chatting enthusiastically.
Song Ziyu's face grew increasingly dark.
Even the smile on Mr. Lian Qingwu's face seemed like a provocation to him.
Remembering Gu Yurong's words, he decided to no longer tolerate it and shouted angrily, "How ridiculous!"
"You audacious Linglong Pavilion, you have ulterior motives and intend to steal military intelligence!"
The soldiers were stunned, clearly not understanding what was happening.
Qingwu laughed and said, "They are just letters from the soldiers home. How can they be considered intelligence? General, you are overthinking it."
"Military correspondence cannot be easily leaked. If it causes war, can you take responsibility?" Song Ziyu pressed aggressively.
The soldiers were completely bewildered.
They were all low-ranking soldiers; how could they possibly know classified information?
Besides, they used to send letters home from the post station without any interference. Why is it different when they come to Linglong Pavilion?
"With ulterior motives."
Song Ziyu looked at the soldiers in the camp with a cold voice and raised his voice.
"What free mail delivery? Where do you think he gets his money? He's been cutting corners on military supplies, making a fortune through dishonest means, and then pretending to do good deeds. He's utterly hypocritical!"
The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment.
The cotton-padded clothes and hats sent by Linglong Pavilion are thick and warm, and you won't freeze when you're on duty outside in winter. How could they be shoddy?
No one knows these things better than the lowest-ranking soldier.
Song Ziyu, relying on his status, never bothered to understand the situation at the grassroots level. He only listened to Gu Yurong's pillow talk and was also misled by Mu Feng, so naturally he did not understand the true situation.
A soldier mustered up the courage to argue, but Mu Feng stopped him by pressing down on his shoulder.
"You audacious Qingwu, you falsified military supplies, profited privately, and stole military intelligence. Your crimes are compounded!"
Song Ziyu drew his sword and strode forward.
"Since His Majesty will punish you soon anyway, I will execute you today as if I were acting on His Majesty's behalf!"
Just as he was about to make a move, Song Yu stepped forward with his sword and blocked his attack.
"What are you doing! Are you trying to rebel?" Song Ziyu roared in anger.
Song Yu calmly said, "Within the military camp, innocent people must not be killed indiscriminately. This is a military order set by my grandfather. Father, please think it over."
He cited General Song's military order, and Song Ziyu was stunned, his face turning red and then black.
Mu Feng stepped forward at the opportune moment and whispered, "General, the imperial edict will be issued in a couple of days. Qingwu will not escape death then."
Song Ziyu gritted his teeth.
"Good! Lock them all up in the rear camp. Once the imperial decree arrives, I, the general, will personally escort them to the execution ground!"
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