I Built a Territory in Ancient Times Chapter 121

Chapter 121

Ming Yu chuckled and rubbed his hands together, “Brother, don’t you want to make big money? Opportunities are for those who are prepared. If you miss a good chance now, it will be hard to come by again. A small investment now could bring unimaginable returns in the future!”

Ming Yu continued to coax. Ming Ye smiled and shook his head, “I’ve already prepared everything for you. The profits from the two rounds of western goods and the profits from my land and shops—I’ve already given you what you’re entitled to. You can’t disappoint me now!”

Ming Yu gave him a thumbs-up and praised, “You’re the best, Brother! You’re wholeheartedly supporting your brother. With that alone, I can’t let you down, can I? Don’t worry, in two years, you’ll just be sitting back and counting the money.”

“Counting the money?!” Ming Ye thought. “As long as I don’t lose out, I’ll be satisfied. But since Ming Yu is so confident, I can’t bring myself to discourage him.” He smiled and remained silent.

“How are you able to gather so much money? Can you tell me how you managed to come up with it?” Ming Ye asked, curious about Ming Yu’s methods.

Lately, the officials had been avoiding Ming Yu, and Ming Yu was still calm enough to go around looking for people to play chess with. Ming Ye couldn’t help but admire his confidence.

Ming Yu shook his index finger mysteriously, “I have my ways. There are plenty of people giving me money. Those who don’t know better, we don’t have to worry about them. They’ll regret it later.”

He paused, then scratched his head and added, “Oh, there’s one more thing I forgot to ask. Brother, do you know someone named Song Lian?”

At this, both Ming Ye and Xu Xi froze, not understanding why Ming Yu suddenly mentioned this person.

Xu Xi’s face changed slightly, his expression stiffening, while Ming Ye looked evasive, as if lost in thought. The two exchanged a glance, and Ming Ye cleared his throat, asking, “Why do you ask about him, fourteenth brother?”

Ming Yu observed their expressions, taking a sip of tea without revealing his thoughts. It seemed the Eldest Princess had chosen the right person to inquire about. Judging by their reactions, it was clear that Ming Ye knew Song Lian, and perhaps there was even a close connection, or else they wouldn’t have behaved this way.

Ming Yu narrowed his eyes. “So, does this mean Brother knows about it?”

“Uh!” Ming Ye, caught off guard by Ming Yu’s sudden question, realized it was too late to deny it. He could only force himself to speak, “This person was quite a famous talent in the capital years ago, so of course, I’ve heard of him.”

“Oh? Then tell me about this person!” Ming Yu urged.

Xu Xi, confused by Ming Yu’s attitude, also asked, “Your Highness, this person has been missing for a long time. Why are you asking about him now?”

Ming Yu had nothing to hide and began explaining, “It was when I encountered Song Lian in Liangzhou that I decided to inquire about his past. Normally, someone famous like him in the capital would be known by others, yet the people I sent to inquire about him were reluctant to speak his name. I even asked the Eldest Princess about it, but she refused to answer, only saying I should ask the Crown Prince or the Third Prince.”

“This Anping… always causing trouble for me,” Ming Ye muttered under his breath, unsure of how to proceed. He hesitated for a while before speaking again.

Xu Xi, after a brief silence, stood up and said, “Years ago, he was just an aspiring scholar who came to the capital for the imperial exams. He gained some fame for his essays, which made him quite popular…” He paused, looking at the Crown Prince with a complicated expression, before continuing, “Then, during the exams, there was a cheating scandal that caused quite an uproar. Somehow, he got caught up in it. Later, His Majesty personally decreed that he was never to enter the capital again, nor to take the imperial exams.”

Ming Yu, though outwardly carefree, was observant and could sense that something was off. If it were really that simple, why did the Crown Prince look guilty and avoid eye contact? If the Crown Prince didn’t know Song Lian, Ming Yu would never believe it. No wonder the Eldest Princess wanted him to come directly to ask the Crown Prince.

Ming Yu tapped his chin, smiling in a way that was neither amused nor serious. “Brother, is that really the case? I was always in the palace back then, unaware of such matters. But, if it was just a case of cheating during the exams, being expelled from the exam hall would suffice. Why would the Emperor decree that he could never enter the capital again? And, since he was so well-known for his talent, how could he have been involved in cheating? If he was wrongfully accused, why wouldn’t the Emperor investigate further instead of exiling him?”

Ming Ye, feeling uncomfortable under Ming Yu’s gaze, knew he couldn’t avoid answering. He finally said, “The matter is complicated. But I never thought he would end up in the borderlands. No wonder, I even sent people to his hometown to search for him, but there was no trace. We, the royal family, have wronged him.”

“Your Highness!” Xu Xi tried to stop him.

Ming Ye waved his hand, “Hearing this news about him now really makes me feel emotional. Although it’s an unpleasant family matter, Fourteenth Prince isn’t an outsider. There’s no harm in telling him. Song Lian’s decision to go to the borderlands or even defect to the enemy—he must have had his reasons, and I bear some responsibility for it.”

Xu Xi fell silent, shaking his head and sighing.

Ming Yu’s curiosity was piqued, and he couldn’t suppress his growing desire to know more. “What exactly happened? You know yourself, the key to winning a battle is understanding your enemy. Only by understanding them can you confidently overcome them. Come on, Brother, tell me!”

The Crown Prince gazed into the distance as if lost in thought. Just when Ming Yu was about to urge him again, a deep sigh escaped his lips, and the Crown Prince spoke softly, “Song Lian was exceptionally gifted, his talent unmatched. Now that he has defected, it is truly a loss for the Great Yan. You should be cautious as well.”

Ming Ye’s words made Ming Yu realize that he had already been warned, and he nodded in acknowledgment.

Ming Ye then continued, “His appearance was outstanding. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have attracted so much attention back in the capital.”

He smiled awkwardly and explained, “Back then, whenever Song Lian went out, women—young and old—would gather around to watch him. The handkerchiefs and sachets he left behind were countless. You’ve seen him, so you can probably imagine the scene.”

Ming Yu nodded. Song Lian did have a refined, ethereal presence, and his treatment back then could easily be compared to that of a celebrity in later times.

“His poetry and essays had a unique, calm style. Elegant and graceful, his works were praised by everyone. Every time he published a new piece, within a day it would be sung throughout the streets and inns. Even noble ladies rushed to get their hands on the latest works.”

Ming Yu clicked his tongue. It seemed that good looks really did make all the difference.

Ming Ye smiled bitterly. If he hadn’t met him that day, maybe none of this would have happened. Perhaps he wouldn’t have been exiled to the border. He could have passed the exams, or perhaps taken a minor official position in the capital and spent his days in the Hanlin Academy, slowly rising in rank. Or he could have become a small local official, governing a region and benefiting the people.

When they had once drunk together, he had jokingly said he hoped to see Song Lian triumph in the exams and parade through the streets of Chang’an, enjoying the flowers of the city for a day.

Things did not go as planned. Everything that happened afterward was so surreal that, to this day, he still could not understand how things had turned out the way they did.

“I once had a close relationship with Song Lian. I never mentioned my identity in front of him, and he only thought of me as an ordinary scholar. We often drank together, talked about the current political affairs, and he had insightful thoughts, being able to point out the flaws in the current governance. He had ambition and hoped to serve the court and country with his knowledge. He was indeed a very talented person, and after a few interactions, I was deeply impressed by his abilities. At that time, I thought I could recruit such a person to my side, and if I had his assistance, with someone like him as a right-hand man, my power would not be too weak.”

“However, the news soon reached Third Prince. You know him well—ever since we were young, he always found ways to take anything that belonged to me. This was no exception. He prepared a great gift and personally visited Song Lian, inviting him to join his faction. Song Lian was just a scholar, not yet having taken the imperial exams, so how could he just casually join a faction? After all, the examinees were all under father’s patronage, and if he expressed his intention to follow a prince now, it would not be viewed favorably. If father heard about this, Song Lian’s future would be uncertain. He was a clever person, and of course, he understood this, so he politely declined.”

“By all rights, this should have ended here. He could have waited until after the exams, and then made a decision. But his refusal angered Third Prince, and with Third Prince’s jealousy of our closeness, he schemed to harm Song Lian.”

“At that time, I had no knowledge of these events. It wasn’t until Third Prince’s plot unraveled that I understood. But by then, it was too late. Father, upon learning of this, was enraged, and I was placed under house arrest for three months. Song Lian, too, was implicated due to exam fraud.”

Ming Ye spoke with obvious regret in his voice. “He was dragged down because of me. With his talents, he would never have been involved in such a thing. When I received the news, it had already caused quite a stir. I knew father wanted to see Song Lian dead, but Song Lian was innocent, and I couldn’t just watch him die because of me. I knelt outside the Deyu Palace for three days before father relented, changing his verdict and sentencing Song Lian to never enter the capital or sit for the imperial exams. Sigh! If not for me, how could Song Lian have suffered such a fate?”

“Your Highness, this is not entirely your fault. You have done your best. If anyone is to blame, it is Third Prince for his cruelty,” Xu Xi comforted him.

After this incident, in order to protect the royal family’s reputation, and perhaps as a means to protect the crown prince, the emperor used the exam fraud as a cover-up and issued an order that no one should mention Song Lian again. This prevented the matter from escalating further, as otherwise, the crown prince would likely have been implicated as well.

Ming Ye shook his head. “I owe Song Lian. I had planned to send someone to find him after he returned to his hometown and offer him compensation, but I never heard from him again after he left the capital.”

Ming Yu had been listening attentively to the crown prince. It was clear that the prince had left out many details. These were likely difficult things to say aloud. There was no doubt that Third Prince had targeted both the crown prince and Song Lian, but what exactly was the nature of the conspiracy? What had happened between the crown prince and Song Lian that had caused such a fury from the emperor?

Ming Yu thought for a moment. He vaguely remembered the incident where the crown prince had been placed under house arrest. It had created quite a stir, with the entire palace in shock. Everyone wondered what could have happened to cause such a punishment, and soon after, the emperor ordered that the matter be kept quiet, and then things calmed down.

Unfortunately, back then, he hadn’t paid much attention to it.

Now, trying to gather more information, Ming Yu found he could no longer do so. He was troubled by the situation. Song Lian had gone to the Suixi Kingdom, with no possibility of returning. The crown prince said the royal family owed him. Ming Yu didn’t fully understand, but he still disapproved of Song Lian’s defection. However, everyone had their own path, and no one could be forced into a different one.

“Fourtheen Brother, I have a favor to ask of you,” Ming Ye hesitated.

Ming Yu came back to his senses. “Ah? Brother, just tell me. I will not refuse anything I can do.”

“About Song Lian defecting to the enemy… I know I shouldn’t interfere, but if possible, if he hasn’t done anything treacherous, could you let him go?” As he spoke, he realized it was inappropriate and shook his head with a bitter smile. “I’m asking too much. Here’s the thing, if you encounter him, could you take a letter for me?”

Ming Yu nodded. “Sure, but I don’t know when I’ll see him next.” However, he believed that the next time the two armies met, they would inevitably cross paths.

Ming Yu didn’t voice this thought. The crown prince was compassionate and already felt guilty towards Song Lian. If he were to say this, it would probably be very heartbreaking.

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