CHAPTER 394: CHAPTER 391 ANXIOUS

Ji Yuan tightly grasped the teacup in his hand, looking lost and without a clue.

Wang Jin turned again to look at Ji Yuan, hearing no response: "Why don’t you say something?"

"I..." Ji Yuan came to his senses as if from a dream, but accidentally knocked over the teacup in his hand, spilling tea down his robe. He hurriedly brushed the water off aimlessly.

Wang Jin looked at Ji Yuan’s useless demeanor and became angry: "Look at you, you have some presence in front of others, but in private, you’re still like this. I don’t even know how you managed to earn military merits in the army?"

Ji Yuan bowed and said, "Second brother’s criticism is right. Shouldn’t we send a message to uncle and let him handle it then?"

After asking for half the day, it was all in vain. Despite father thinking Ji Yuan could help in a crucial moment, Wang Jin waved his hand: "You can leave now, I’ll call you if there’s something."

Ji Yuan said no more, and indeed stood up and walked out.

Watching Ji Yuan’s back, Wang Jin felt that this person was both dull-witted and useless. This matter doesn’t directly involve their Wang Family, but there’s fear that the court will trace through Wei Junshi to Vice General Jiang, and because Vice General Jiang used to work for father, he maintains close ties with the Wang Family.

Wang Jin felt a mess in his heart, not knowing what the outcome would be.

Since the court reclaimed the Eight States, discussions have been on the direction of the Eight States. The Emperor intended to allocate two states to him, but Song Xian and Du Zhuo have consistently refused to budge.

Father and Prince Lu devised such a strategy, using Xiao Xingzong to make the Emperor suspect Song Xian. This way, the Emperor would support the Wang Family, and not only granting two states, but even more might only leave Song Xian to agree.

The best scenario would be for the Wang Family to equally share the Eight States with Song Xian and Du Zhuo.

Though there is no final outcome yet, the momentum seems a bit unfavorable. Song Xian kneeling at the palace gate might have just dispelled the Emperor’s suspicions.

If the Emperor believes this has nothing to do with Song Xian, he will want to find the other mastermind, and he won’t let any clue slip. By then deeply investigating... he might discover the relationship between Vice General Jiang and Wei Junshi, and then suspect the Wang Family through Vice General Jiang...

In this case, wouldn’t they be harming themselves instead?

If the Emperor really found out that the Wang Family was siding with Prince Lu, the Wang Family would be finished.

Wang Jin sat down in the chair defeated, wondering whether he should send a message to father at such a time. If not, waiting like this could lead to a failed situation. If he sends a message and something goes wrong with it, it would become leverage in others’ hands.

Wang Jin thought it over and decided to let his family send a verbal message back, informing father that things have changed.

Ji Yuan left the Wang Family’s courtyard, leading his horse and walking in the wind and snow.

The Wang Family father and son had only met with Song Xian once, and already seemed to be at a disadvantage. Fortunately, he did not take a position in Xizhou, and from now on, he must quickly leave this ship called the Wang Family.

No matter what the outcome this time, he must prepare in advance for himself. He needs a reliable support; the position doesn’t need to be high, nor the wealth immense, but stability before the court and the Emperor, so he can smoothly stretch his wings in the future.

After all, he didn’t involve himself in Wang Jin’s affair too much. He knew secretly how Prince Lu instructed the Wang Family, but always played humble in front of Wang Jin, only listening to whatever Wang Jin said, believing there were ways to get the two states. When Wang Jin got drunk and wanted to discuss in detail, he would pretend to need to relieve himself and steer the conversation away.

Just afraid something might go wrong in between and drag him into it, with his current position, he cannot withstand such turmoil.

But even so... if the Wang Family gets suspected by the Emperor, he would lose a significant support.

The wind and snow blew against Ji Yuan, piercingly cold, even making him, who had trained in martial arts since childhood, unable to help but be moved.

Since the victorious campaign in the North began, things have been particularly unfavorable these two years, and attempts to strategize against the North have repeatedly failed. Yang Wu was stripped of the title of Commandery Princess, Song Xian successfully seized control of the Eight States, and the Wang Family didn’t even have a chance to act.

Song Xian seems able to foresee everything, always blocking their paths one step ahead.

Before his wings are fully grown, he needs to leave the Capital City; Yuezhou is a perfect place. He must quickly finalize the marriage with Meng Changshu.

He was already optimistic about this match before, and now knowing Meng Changshu is close with Princess Jia’an, he might even get news on Song Xian and Princess Jia’an through Meng Changshu.

Thinking of this, Ji Yuan decided not to mind the Wang Family, but to focus entirely on Meng Changshu. As long as he can secure Meng Changshu, previous gains and losses can be ignored.

He knows that Meng Changshu goes to Jinfu Temple on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month to pray for her family. There are two days left until the fifteenth, so he must prepare well.

...

Xie Liangchen woke up early. After Cheng Yanzhao came yesterday, half the residence turned lively, which eased the blow from Song Xian’s ordeal a lot.

Later, she simply let her younger brother call Hei Dan into the room, and they all ate a big pot of noodles with shredded meat.

After everyone finished the noodles, she used a big pot to make golden yellow rice crackers.

If Song Xian could get up, he would definitely guard the noodles and rice crackers jealously, unwilling to let Cheng Yanzhao eat them. In the end, the two adults were no match for Zigeng and Hei Dan, the two children.

Having finished washing up, Xie Liangchen went to see Song Xian.

Song Xian hadn’t had a fever last night, so he should be fine. It’s just unclear whether his wounds were hurting badly.

On the battlefield, she didn’t intervene, but now, under her watchful eye, she naturally had to make Song Xian as comfortable as possible.

Xie Liangchen walked into the courtyard and was greeted by Chang An.

"How is it?" Xie Liangchen asked, "Did the master sleep well last night?"

Chang An replied, "Not very soundly. He got a bit warm in the latter half of the night, but master wouldn’t let me call the Commandery Princess. By dawn, the warmth had subsided."

Xie Liangchen nodded.

Chang An continued, "Master woke up early, and had me help him change into a fresh robe."

Song Xian got up early and dressed, obviously worried she wouldn’t come in if she found him still in bed.

Chang An finished and stepped aside, his every move measured perfectly, leaving Xie Liangchen no chance to show her uneasiness in front of Chang An.

Xie Liangchen lifted the curtain and walked into the house. Reaching the inner room’s entrance, she pondered whether she should fetch the medicine box from the outer room first. During this hesitation, a hand reached out from inside, grasping her wrist.

Before she could even scream in surprise, she was embraced into a warm hold.

"Liangchen, it’s me."

Song Xian’s voice sounded above her, his hand gently massaging the back of her head, softly comforting her.

Xie Liangchen looked up, staring straight into Song Xian’s clear eyes: "How are you standing already?"

"I’ve rested for a night," Song Xian replied, "I wanted to get up yesterday, didn’t dare... I finally waited till you’d come, but you stood at the door talking with Chang An, reluctant to come in. If it took any longer, I was about to go out to find you."

Xie Liangchen blushed. She had said only one sentence to Chang An, yet it seemed as long as half a day with Song Xian’s words.

Xie Liangchen asked, "Do your wounds not hurt anymore?"

Song Xian shook his head: "At the moment, I don’t feel it."

As Song Xian spoke, he lowered his head. Xie Liangchen felt his warm breath fall on her ear, a faintly cool pine scent mingled with the smell of medicine.

"Liangchen, you smell nice." Song Xian deeply inhaled.

"It’s the scent from the soapnut ball," Xie Liangchen couldn’t help but give Song Xian a slight push: "Go lay down soon, father still has to come see you later. In this state, you should be returning to the Song Family to recuperate, right?"

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