Wife, Don't Be Like This!

Chapter 101 - The Live-in Son-in-law, the Lowest of the Low

The plotting and scheming between the big shots in the imperial court was staged every day. However, no matter who it was, they had to admit that physical destruction was absolutely the best means of solving a problem.

Although it was a bit undignified.

In the imperial court, the debate over Song Yan's matter was endless. As for the recommender, Yang Jingshuo, and the three clans of Yang Siye, Yang Zhongning, and Yang Cheng'en, no one mentioned them again, as if they had been forgotten.

The five thousand Wokou defense soldiers also caused a debate.

Mainly, the Minister of Revenue stood out and said one thing: "No money!"

Right now, even the military pay for the major border armies was a bit hard to issue. Where would they find the money to establish a Wokou defense force?

Therefore, under the clever suggestion of Fang De, the military pay regulations and the appointment of generals for the five thousand Wokou defense soldiers were all to be decided by Princess Anning, Luo Yuheng, herself. At the same time, the military pay was also to be raised by Luo Yuheng herself.

……

The weather on this day was not bad. A thick fog had risen in the morning, which only gradually dispersed at the Hour of Si (9 - 11 AM).

At this time, it was just after the beginning of autumn, only half a month in. The scorching heat of summer had not yet completely dissipated, mixed with the coolness of autumn. White clouds stretched across the sky.

The willow leaves on the bank of the Yi-Luo River were dyed golden.

Kong Chan sat on the riverbank, her two small feet dangling and swinging gently. She had already taken off her shoes and socks. The tips of her toes would inadvertently touch the river water, creating ripples.

She was humming a rustic folk song from some unknown place, with a bit of an accent. Although it was hard to understand, it was crisp and pleasant, like an oriole.

Gu Banxia sat on the grass by the river. Song Yan, as usual, was lying on Gu Banxia's lap. It was soft and very comfortable. Her scallion-white fingers gently caressed Song Yan's scalp and hair.

Song Yun was dead, Song Zhen was dead, Yang Miaoqing was dead.

Revenge was not something to be rushed. Although more than half of his enemies were still left, the only ones still in Ningping right now were Song Hongtao and Song Lu.

But before all these sons were dead, Song Hongtao still had to live. As for Song Lu, there was temporarily no opportunity to make a move.

Song Lu seemed to have sensed something and had been staying at the academy during this time, almost never returning to the Duke's mansion.

Song Yan also had a rare moment of leisure. A family outing, for him, this was a somewhat novel experience. In two lifetimes, this was the first.

Songzhou was originally a relatively prosperous place. In addition, the Wokou attack had been repelled some time ago. Now, the entire prefectural city was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

One could often see families of two or three, dressed in clean clothes, playing in the water. Little children held their parents' hands, toddling along, or played in groups of three or five on the grass by the riverbank. The crisp sound of laughter echoed continuously in his ears.

Even Luo Caiyi and Luo Qingyi were no exception.

This was the ancient times. If this were his previous life, the adults probably wouldn't have let their children play by the river like this.

Although it was an outing, the younger sister-in-law was the same as usual, hugging her longsword and leaning against a willow tree, her eyelids slightly closed, a cool appearance.

Luo Yuheng, on the other hand, was leaning lazily against a rock. She was, after all, not a little girl like Kong Chan. She wouldn't do something like taking off her shoes and socks to play in the water.

At this moment, Luo Yuheng was no longer the heroic and dashing figure from that night, but had returned to her usual lazy and elegant temperament.

By her side, her head handmaiden, Li Qingyue, was waiting on her.

Luo Yuheng had eight personal handmaidens. This Li Qingyue was considered the oldest, perhaps even a little older than Luo Yuheng.

Although her looks were ordinary, she was clever and skillful, and was quite liked by Luo Yuheng.

The two were whispering something, and from time to time, a burst of cheerful laughter could be heard.

Occasionally, one could see a painted pleasure boat going back and forth along the Yi-Luo River. Occasionally, the wind would blow, and some early-yellowed fallen leaves would dance in the air. Sometimes, when the angle was right, they would reflect a dazzling golden light.

There were also some scholars gathering by the riverbank.

Looking up, one could also see some refugees in ragged clothes, begging among the crowd.

Perhaps because of the happy mood, they could all manage to beg for a little food or some copper coins.

"There are quite a few more of these refugees."

After a couple of glances, Song Yan retracted his gaze and muttered in a low voice.

"The Young Master-in-law may not know, but most of these refugees are from Liaodong," Gu Banxia sighed faintly and said in a low voice.

"Liaodong?" Song Yan thought for a moment.

If looking at the map from his previous life, the position of the Ning Kingdom was probably a piece of land centered on the Southern Zhili region, to the right and above it. Among the four kingdoms of the Central Plains, the Ning Kingdom's area was relatively small, and Liaodong was located in the far north of the Ning Kingdom, bordering the areas of Goryeo, Silla, and the Jurchens.

"It's Liaodong." Yang Siyao on the other side also frowned slightly and sighed:

"The weather this year is a bit abnormal. In the past, early autumn was still very hot and dry, but this year there is already a hint of coolness."

"It's like this in Songzhou. It's naturally even colder over in Liaodong. I heard people say that two freezing rains have already fallen there, and there has already been frost."

"As for the places further north of Liaodong, it has even started to snow. Because the snowfall came too abruptly, countless cattle and sheep of the northern barbarian Xiongnu and the Liaodong Jurchens have frozen to death."

"In previous years, they would often only come south to plunder in the winter. This year, it has started early."

Although she was talking about something like being plundered, Yang Siyao's tone was exceptionally calm, as if she were already used to it.

"There should be border armies, right?"

"The military pay can't even be issued. How many soldiers are willing to go and resist the iron cavalry of the Jurchens? Even if they were really willing to resist, could soldiers with empty stomachs hold them off?" Yang Siyao shook her head, her gaze drifting towards those refugees:

“I heard that the Jurchens have already broken through several cities."

"Wherever they go, not even chickens or dogs are left."

"There were also a few border army units that resisted to the death, but they were all scattered. Among these refugees, there might be former border soldiers. How pitiful."

"As for the imperial court, those ministers naturally won't care about these small matters. After all, even if the Jurchens are cruel, they are only plundering the Liaodong region. It's impossible for them to reach Dongling. They naturally wouldn't care."

The two worlds, in the end, are different.

"Has there been any news from the Yang family recently?" The topic was too heavy, so Song Yan changed it.

"Not for the time being. But to the Yang family, I am just a tool. It's impossible for them to tell me many secret matters. But based on my understanding of those people in the Yang family, after suffering such a huge loss this time, they will absolutely not let the matter rest."

"Perhaps they have already started to move, it's just that we don't know about it yet."

Song Yan committed this matter to his heart.

A thousand-year-old aristocratic family like the Yang family, if they were to really retaliate, their methods would certainly be quite cruel. He had to be on guard.

Just then, a voice came from not far away: Read full story at novèlfire.net

"...Although Song Yan and Luo Yuheng have rendered meritorious service in resisting the Wokou, to slaughter over ten thousand Wokou, a large portion of whom were burned to death by a raging fire, this action is too venomous and is detrimental to the harmony of heaven.”

"These barbarians are not born this way. It is all because they are uneducated. We should apply benevolence and righteousness, and use the classics and rites to civilize them. Only then can those barbarians understand what benevolence and morality are. As the saying goes, 'If barbarians enter the Central Plains, then treat them as one of the Central Plains.' This is the righteous path."

The abrupt voice was loud and sonorous. Even if you didn't want to listen, it drilled into your ears.

Song Yan was a little curious. Looking up, he saw that it was that group of scholars. Among them, a youth in a gray cloth long robe was sitting by a stone table, his expression serious, his mouth full of benevolence and morality, his voice sharp, his expression agitated.

Especially when he noticed that the gazes of the surrounding crowd were all on him, he became even more impassioned, as if he really enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention.

Yang Siyao, Gu Banxia, even the younger sister-in-law leaning against a tree hugging her sword, and even Luo Yuheng not far away, almost all frowned in unison.

Song Yan also couldn't help but laugh.

No way, has Confucianism degenerated so quickly? The ancestors of Confucianism were all formidable men. How many years has it been, and the Confucian students of today have already become like this?

Let alone Song Yan's group, even many of the tourists nearby had looks of displeasure on their faces.

However, the other scholars beside him clapped their hands in praise:

"What Brother Linghu says has won my heart. Our Great Ning is a land of rites and etiquette. How can we be trapped by mere hatred? As the saying goes, 'when will the cycle of revenge ever end?'"

"Although the Wokou are mostly cruel, we must also hold a benevolent heart. Only by repaying injury with kindness can we let those Wokou understand what benevolence and righteousness are. When the Wokou are also influenced by the Four Books and Five Classics, they will naturally possess benevolent thoughts, and from then on, the Wokou scourge along the coast will be completely eliminated."

"I wonder what Brother Linghu's opinion is of this person, Song Yan?"

The scholar in the gray cloth robe gave a disdainful smile: "A live-in son-in-law, the lowest of the low."

"This person used fire to burn and kill living beings. He is cruel by nature. What is the difference between him and a beast? Since he could defeat the Wokou, why not let them leave, to display the style of benevolence and righteousness? If he could let the Wokou feel benevolence, they would naturally not invade again."

"The Songzhou Provincial Governor, Fang Hai, actually wants to request a reward for such a mass murderer. Truly muddle-headed and incompetent. He must know that we scholars are the future of the Ning Kingdom."

"In my opinion, this kind of person should be arrested and handed over to the Wokou for them to deal with. Otherwise, the Wokou will surely harbor hatred. If the Wokou gather an army of one hundred thousand to take revenge, how can Songzhou resist?"

Song Yan suddenly smiled. Is this the Yang family's revenge?