CHAPTER 209: CHAPTER 207 PEACE OF MIND

Song Qizheng finished speaking and looked at Song Xian.

A thousand troops, exchanged for peace of mind, can also lessen some guilt? Song Xian met Song Qizheng’s gaze: "The court’s decree states that I will take over the troops, the Song Family’s one thousand men are among them, but if there are confidants of the National Guardian General within the Deputy General and military leaders, the General could pass me the paperwork early.

Since I’ve taken over Baimaling, military affairs are no longer the concern of the National Guardian General."

Song Xian’s words were clearly pointed, cautioning him not to interfere in the matters of Baimaling in the future, so presumptuous and arrogant...

Song Qizheng was just about to take the tea bowl from the table when he heard this and furrowed his brow, anger rising, and he said: "I don’t know whose temperament you’ve inherited."

Song Xian looked straight at Song Qizheng: "Has the National Guardian General ever doubted that I am not your offspring?"

Before coming, Song Qizheng thought about what Song Xian might say, perhaps he would inquire about the assassination attempt years ago, but he never expected this.

Song Qizheng furrowed his brow even deeper: "Do you even understand what you’re saying?"

Song Xian remained calm: "The National Guardian General mentioned compensation, but have you thought about compensating my mother?"

Song Qizheng’s anger could no longer be hidden, he slammed his hand on the table: "Must you argue with me about this here? No matter what your mother’s circumstances are, it has nothing to do with you, and I’ve done nothing wrong by her. You don’t need to question me in this manner."

When escorting Vice General Qiao to the Capital City this time, he had seen Vice General Qiao a few times, and after seeing him, Vice General Qiao showed a mocking smile.

Song Qizheng still remembers that expression to this day. Since Vice General Qiao is a Liao spy, he must have done many things behind his back over the years. When Song Qizheng was assassinated then, it was Vice General Qiao who interrogated the assassin for him.

Even if Song Qizheng had other words to say to Song Xian, he no longer had the desire.

Song Qizheng stood up with a cold grunt and strode out of the second hall of the government office.

Though this wasn’t the Song Family, no one dared to approach when the Song father and son spoke. Qu Chengmei stood waiting in the distance until he saw the National Guardian General leave with a steel-blue face.

It seemed the father-son discussion didn’t go well, County Magistrate Qu sighed and turned back to the second hall.

The second hall was quiet, with Song Xian sitting at the table as usual, flipping through documents as if nothing had happened.

Qu Chengmei stepped forward and explained the office affairs to Song Xian.

The two of them worked for more than an hour before Song Xian finally got up to leave the second hall.

"Sir," Chang An walked forward and said, "Miss Xie did not return to Chen Family Village."

Song Xian’s originally deep eyes suddenly brightened a bit.

Everyone was worried when Song Qizheng and Song Xian stayed in the government office, but Chang An was the only one calm and unhurried. No matter how big the issue, no matter how troubled Sir’s mood, as long as Miss Xie was around, everything would be okay.

Song Xian asked: "Where is she?"

Chang An reported softly: "She was previously at the government office. When the master left, I worried Miss Xie might be concerned, so I said Sir had something to discuss with Miss Xie and invited her to the small courtyard."

Chang An thought to himself that if he foolishly let Miss Xie wait idly at the government office, tomorrow morning he would be off to accompany Mr. Cheng at Baimaling.

Mr. Cheng was only resented by Sir for eating a bowl of noodles, being scorned for so long, running tirelessly outside since the New Year, ruining countless pairs of official shoes, this was a lesson learned.

Song Xian wasted no further time, taking Chang An and a few others back to the small courtyard.

The small courtyard was curling up with smoke, the fragrance wafting from the kitchen in the inner courtyard.

Song Xian stood in the courtyard, watching the smoke, feeling it was softer than a pool of spring water, and he walked step by step forward until he saw the busy figure in the kitchen.

With sleeves rolled up, exposing a slender wrist, she scattered noodles into the pot.

The misty smoke blew onto her cheek, and she slightly turned her face to see him.

Xie Liangchen naturally said: "Chang An mentioned you rushed back to Zhenzhou and haven’t eaten yet, I cooked some noodles, it’ll be ready soon."

Song Xian had indeed been busy these days, having to take over Zhaozhou affairs and the Baimaling camp. Although the spring planting was under Qu Chengmei, some matters needed his oversight, but he didn’t mind it; he was accustomed to this from his previous life.

But standing quietly here and looking at the person in front of him, Song Xian felt he had lived his previous life in vain for decades.

The swallows flying out under the eaves still have a day to return to their nest, yet he had always been like an arrow leaving the bow, always going but never returning.

A simple bowl of noodles with a rich aroma.

Egg whites were added when kneading the dough, the noodles were as white and clean as silver, with wild green onions sprinkled on them, making people feel hungry just by looking at them.

Song Xian picked up his chopsticks, then put them down, looking at Xie Liangchen: "Let’s eat together!"

Xie Liangchen wanted to refuse.

Song Xian looked at Chang An: "Is there enough noodles? Have Chang An and the chef come over, if it feels inappropriate, we can set up a screen." He personally saw her cooked a lot, seemingly intended for others too.

If Xie Liangchen minded the rules, she wouldn’t be appearing in public all day, especially since when Song Xian dined at Chen Family Village, everyone sat together.

With this said, Xie Liangchen had no reason to refuse.

The chef didn’t know what the master intended, sitting down nervously, couldn’t help but secretly look at the master’s expression.

Song Xian picked up his chopsticks and flipped over a few wontons under the noodles, he picked one and brought it to his mouth, it was lamb-stuffed, and he faintly smiled.

The chef happened to see this smile, although unaware of the cause, she felt relieved, her heart settling.

The meal was somewhat strange, Chang An and the chef lowered their eyes, suppressing their breath, making Xie Liangchen momentarily feel as if only Song Xian and her were in the room.

The Commander Song, who hadn’t had an appetite for over a month, ate three bowls of noodles. When serving the third bowl, Xie Liangchen almost wanted to stop him, no matter how well the noodles were digested, they couldn’t withstand the large bowl Song Xian was using.

After the meal, Chang An placed down the tea and turned to leave.

Xie Liangchen said softly: "Earlier the National Guardian General came for the matter of Baimaling camp, right?"

Turns out she was worried about this, Song Xian slightly curved his lips and said: "Not entirely."

Xie Liangchen’s eyes were bright, seemingly filled with brilliant moonlight, she leaned against the back of the chair, listening quietly, her expression more relaxed than before.

The joy in Song Xian’s heart stealthily increased a bit more: "After Vice General Qiao was caught, Song Qizheng should have realized something. I suspect it’s related to his previous assassination, as he thought the person orchestrating everything behind the scenes was me, now he has other thoughts."

As soon as Song Qizheng spoke, Song Xian understood what he meant.

Showing indications beforehand, to avoid discovering later that he wrongly blamed him, making Song Qizheng as a father far too embarrassed.

Song Xian paused for a moment and continued: "He also mentioned Baimaling, trying to persuade me not to be hasty."

Xie Liangchen and Song Xian exchanged glances: "It’s indeed not a good time now."

Song Xian understood what Xie Liangchen was worried about, his smile grew deeper: "In my previous life, I didn’t predict the sudden unrest in the Northwest, but I had already written a proposal preparing to eliminate the remnants from the previous dynasty. Even without the unrest, I could have still held the Northwest firmly.

In this life, if the day comes when I must mobilize troops, I will definitely return victorious."

Xie Liangchen listened to Song Xian speak, his words faintly exuding arrogance and imperiousness.

For the first time, she found these words didn’t make her uncomfortable, instead, they brought a bit of peace of mind.