Reborn Song Qingshu: Besieging Bright Peak at the Start

Chapter 67 Wandering Around

The next day, at dusk, the setting sun sank in the west.

As Song Qingshu walked down the street, all he could hear was the sound of horses' hooves. Squads of Mongol soldiers, spears in hand, rode their horses and patrolled back and forth along the street.

Pedestrians on the road all walked quickly with their heads down, not daring to breathe loudly.

The city was under much tighter security than usual.

Naturally, it was because the fire at the Ruyang Prince's Mansion and the rescue of the martial arts prisoners at Wan'an Temple last night caused such a huge commotion.

Avoiding the patrolling soldiers, Song Qingshu arrived at the restaurant where he had drunk with Zhao Min the previous night in no time.

As usual, he went upstairs and asked for the same private room by the window. He ordered the same dishes as last night, and told the waiter to bring a pot of tea first, as he was waiting for a friend and would serve the dishes after the friend arrived.

Song Qingshu sat down by the window, drinking tea and watching the flow of people outside, waiting for Zhao Min.

As dusk crept in, lanterns were hung up one by one at the shops along the street, but that charming and agile figure was nowhere to be seen.

He frowned slightly and tapped the table lightly with his knuckles.

Given Zhao Min's intelligence and pride, even if something had delayed her, she would not have remained completely out of contact. Could it be that what happened last night implicated her?

After waiting a while longer, no one came to the door.

Song Qingshu didn't wait any longer. He took out two coins, placed them on the table, and got up to go downstairs.

Standing under the eaves of the restaurant, the evening breeze ruffled the hem of his clothes, and Song Qingshu's eyes flickered slightly.

Should we leave now, or go find that girl?

After a moment of hesitation, he couldn't suppress the lingering concern in his heart.

He finally turned around and headed towards the Ruyang Prince's Mansion.

The Ruyang Prince's Mansion, with its vermilion gates and high walls, is imposing and majestic.

Although the fire from last night has been extinguished, charred marks remain around the area. There are three times more guards in front of the mansion than usual, and they all look solemn. Ordinary pedestrians are shouted at and driven away by the soldiers from half a street away.

However, according to the setting of the martial arts world, no matter how much defense there is, it is useless.

Song Qingshu, however, did not rush to sneak into the mansion.

He remained hidden in the shadows, his gaze fixed on the stone steps in front of the Prince's Mansion.

Prince Wang Baobao, whom they had met the previous night, was standing respectfully in front of the mansion gate with a middle-aged man in a purple robe and a resolute face.

The middle-aged man who could elicit such treatment from Wang Baobao must undoubtedly be the Prince of Ruyang.

Judging from the posture of this father and son, they seem to be waiting for someone.

Before long, the sound of gongs clearing the way came from afar, and a grand procession of ceremonial guards arrived, complete with banners and canopies, surrounded by dozens of guards with swords, and in the middle of them was a large sedan chair carried by eight men, adorned with gold and silver, its scale far exceeding that of ordinary princes and nobles.

With such high-class taste, it's no wonder that the Prince of Ruyang personally came to greet him.

The sedan chair landed steadily in front of the mansion gate. The curtain was lifted, and a middle-aged man with a fair complexion and a plump figure stepped out.

The fat man had a smile on his lips, and his eyes and brows were smooth and worldly, yet he also carried a hint of arrogance of someone in a superior position.

Prince Ruyang and Wang Baobao immediately stepped forward, cupped their hands and smiled, saying, "We are so grateful for the honor of Your Highness's presence. We apologize for not welcoming you sooner."

The Seventh Prince waved his hand and laughed loudly: "Chahan, you're too kind. Our families are not at all formal."

Then, Prince Ruyang personally led them into the mansion side by side.

Song Qingshu's eyes flashed, and he decided to follow them and eavesdrop.

With a swift movement, he leaped over the courtyard wall like a wisp of smoke and followed the footsteps of the group to the front hall.

He lay on the beam, holding his breath, and heard every word of the conversation in the hall.

The fat man sat in the main seat without any hesitation, while the Prince of Ruyang and his heir were placed in the guest seats.

The group chatted about trivial matters in the court, and the atmosphere was quite pleasant when the fat man's smile suddenly vanished. He said in a deep voice, "Chahan, there was a rebellion in the capital last night. Even your Ruyang Prince's Mansion was flooded. This matter has caused quite a stir in the city and has even alarmed the palace."

The Emperor is furious and very dissatisfied with you.

The Prince of Ruyang's expression changed slightly, and he then cupped his hands and said, "I failed in my duty to protect you and have failed Your Majesty's grace. I deserve to die a thousand deaths."

"Ah, I know you've always been loyal." The Seventh Prince's expression softened again, and he waved his hand.

"Last night's events happened suddenly. Those江湖草莽 (jianghu caomang, meaning unscrupulous and cunning individuals) are unpredictable and difficult to guard against. It's not entirely your fault."

"I spoke highly of you before the Emperor, which calmed him down considerably, and he temporarily suppressed the decree to hold you accountable."

.

Prince Ruyang quickly rose and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Your Highness."

"Talking about these things between us would only create distance."

The Seventh Prince gestured for him to sit down, then changed the subject again.

"But there is another matter that is giving His Majesty an even bigger headache."

Now, rebels are rising up in the south and repeatedly invading our borders. As the Grand Marshal of all the armies in the land, you bear a heavy responsibility.

Many in the court seized the opportunity to slander you, saying that you were hoarding troops and were ineffective in suppressing bandits. I, the king, am under pressure from the entire court to ensure that you are stationed in Dadu and in charge of military affairs. You must not make things difficult for me.

These words, a perfect balance of soft and hard, first curtly appealing to goodwill and then issuing a warning, were handled with just the right touch.

The Prince of Ruyang understood perfectly, but his face became even more respectful: "I will always remember Your Highness's kindness in helping me."

"We must reorganize our troops and quell the rebellion as soon as possible to repay the Emperor's grace and the Prince's kindness."

Upon hearing this, the Seventh Prince's smile became more genuine. He patted his round belly and laughed, "What's this talk of helping each other out? Our two families will be bound to become husband and wife sooner or later. I just hope that the date can be set soon."

"This marriage will strengthen our ties, and I'll certainly look out for you in court from now on. What do you say?"

After a moment's thought, the Prince of Ruyang cupped his hands and said, "It is my daughter's good fortune to be so kind to you, Your Highness."

He sighed inwardly. As a member of the royal family, the Seventh Prince's words and actions could directly influence the emperor's decisions.

Although he was also a prince, he was a prince of a different surname who was enfeoffed based on his military achievements. He held a large army and was already feared by the royal family, and was at risk of being purged at any time.

In addition, the lack of breakthroughs in suppressing the rebellion over a long period of time has led to the court being constrained at every turn and repeatedly reprimanded by the Seventh Prince.

His words made it very clear that only if the two families were to become in-laws through marriage would he be able to maneuver before the emperor and protect the lives of the entire Temur clan.

If not for the circumstances, he really wouldn't want to force his daughter to marry that young prince.

"good!"

The Seventh Prince clapped his hands and laughed, "So, is that settled then?"

"It can definitely be determined."

The Prince of Ruyang gave a bitter smile.

"It's just that my daughter has been spoiled by me since she was a child. She has a very wild nature and runs around outside all year round without any manners."

"I fear she might act impulsively and disobey Your Highness's good intentions."

"It's okay for a young girl to be a little temperamental."

The Seventh Prince chuckled and said, "Once the wedding date is set, we can teach him slowly."

"Your Highness is right, that's what I think too," Prince Ruyang nodded.

"She has been confined to her residence today, and is not allowed to leave without my order."

Once she settles down and becomes more settled, we can proceed with the betrothal and name-asking ceremonies, ensuring that the auspicious date is not missed.

The Seventh Prince's smile widened. The marriage alliance was partly due to his son's infatuation with Zhao Min, and it would fulfill his son's wishes.

On the other hand, his real purpose was to win over the Prince of Ruyang, who held great prestige in the army and commanded a large army. By forming a marriage alliance, he could secure this power and further solidify his position in the court.

Song Qingshu, who was on the beam, heard it clearly. No wonder Zhao Min broke her promise; she had been confined to her quarters.

His brows furrowed again. There was never any Seventh Prince in the original story. Was it he who had flapped his wings and caused the plot to go astray?

He didn't linger any longer and quietly slipped out while the others in the hall were drinking and chatting.

Song Qingshu casually pointed to a lone maid and asked her where Zhao Min lived, and found the place in no time.

The courtyard gate was locked with a heavy lock, and warriors guarded the outside. Not wanting to cause any trouble, Song Qingshu lightly touched the top of the ten-foot-high courtyard wall with his toes and landed silently inside the courtyard.

The light in the main room was on, and a slender figure was reflected in the window paper, pacing back and forth, clearly restless. Four old women and two maids were guarding outside the door.

He silently knocked down several servants with a flick of his finger.

Song Qingshu walked to the window and gently tapped the windowpane with his finger.

The footsteps inside the room suddenly stopped, followed by Zhao Min's angry voice: "I'm not seeing anyone!"

"It's me," Song Qingshu said in a low voice.

There was a moment of silence in the room, then hurried footsteps sounded, and with a creak, the window was suddenly pulled open.

Zhao Min stood inside the window, dressed in a light blue casual outfit. Her eyes, which usually held a sly smile, were now wide open, filled with astonishment.

She had clearly gotten ready to go out long ago; her hair was a little messy at the temples, and her eyes still held lingering anger and grievance.

She was angry not only about not being able to keep the appointment, but also about her father's unquestionable marriage decree in the afternoon and the sudden confinement order.

"Why are you here?"

She blurted it out, her voice brimming with barely concealed surprise, then pursed her lips, quickly turned her face away, and gave a nonchalant snort: "I thought you'd left long ago because you couldn't wait for me."

He spoke calmly, but his fingertips gripped the windowsill tightly.

After the confinement order was issued, her father ordered someone to seal her internal energy. She was anxious and angry, and spent the whole afternoon making a fuss, without even stepping out of the courtyard gate.

As time ticked by, she felt flustered and anxious, fearing that Song Qingshu would get annoyed. She was filled with frustration and had nowhere to vent her anger when she never expected him to barge into the Ruyang Prince's residence and stand in front of her.

Somehow, most of the grievances and anger in my heart dissipated, replaced by a warm feeling that crept up my chest.

Looking at her profile, Song Qingshu said something contrary to his true feelings: "I—I just wandered around aimlessly after dinner."