Chapter 419: Chapter 402: Good Uncle
The red sun leapt over the roof on the east side, casting a golden glow.
The unrest that had been silent for a day resumed its usual bustle, yet the atmosphere in the Imperial Palace was quite tense.
The civil and military officers were watching the man in the middle, unsure of what to say for a moment. The Imperial Censor stepped forward, "Emperor, I believe it is inadvisable. We are freshly out of turmoil; if this matter is proclaimed to the world, it will surely cause more chaos."
The involvement of three thousand soldiers affects no fewer than ten thousand people, which cannot be ignored.
After long-term oppression, the slaves announced innocent will surely harbor rebellious thoughts.
"I second the motion."
"I second the motion."
"I second the motion."
In an instant, a majority of the officials knelt down. Song Tingfan’s gaze grew ever darker; should they just die innocently?
The bright yellow figure at the top did not speak immediately; this matter was more complex than anyone could know.
Compared to the Commander’s Seal, it weighed much less.
He angrily declared, "No! How can it not be possible? Now that the truth is known, we cannot further chill the heart of the people."
"This matter shall be entrusted to the Prime Minister."
The Prime Minister’s expression changed; it was clearly not a favorable task, and he felt a sinking sensation. The Emperor likely suspected him of colluding privately with the Third Prince.
Naturally, the Emperor noticed but acted as if he hadn’t. "This time General Song has rendered meritorious service. What reward would you like?"
"Thank you, Emperor. I would like to resign and return to my homeland." As Song Tingfan uttered these words, the court buzzed with astonishment.
It’s truly perplexing to resign and return home at the pinnacle of merit.
No one knew that resigning and returning home was Song Tingfan’s greatest wish in life.
Everything is settled now.
Honestly, the Emperor surely wouldn’t want to let him resign; after all, such a leader is hard to come by again.
But after weighing pros and cons, this was the best decision.
"Approved. You shall return home in seven days. However, the requisite rewards still ought to be given, and shall be sent to your mansion later."
"If General Song wishes to return someday, he is always welcome."
By doing this, the Emperor is snapping at the present officials, letting them put to rest any uneasy thoughts.
They are not allowed to act against Song Tingfan.
Song Tingfan wouldn’t fight battles without preparation; he has arranged all these matters long ago. "Thank you, Emperor."
A quarter of an hour later, he walked out from the hall, at which moment Song Tingfan looked noticeably relaxed.
The sun outside was shining brightly.
General Mansion
Lin Qiao was worried whether the matter could be resolved, unable to refrain from waiting at the door. The butler feared she would get heatstroke and asked the maid to hold an umbrella for her.
After a while, a man in official attire strode in. She hurriedly ran to him, "How did it go? Is it possible?"
The plot was too unusual, leading her to suspect there might be a twist.
Gazing at the adorable woman in front of him, Song Tingfan suddenly smiled, "It went well. We’ll go home in seven days." With that, he leaned down and kissed her.
The butler glanced upward, then instructed the servants to disperse.
Lin Qiao’s face lit up with joy, and her heart was at ease. Everything that needed solving had been solved.
A happy ending.
No one could appreciate this moment better than her; her eyes curved delightfully. "Quickly, come in and have breakfast. I steamed buns."
Seeing Song Tingfan extending his hand, she puzzled for a moment, "What’s the matter?"
"Hold."
Song Tingfan didn’t pull her but waited for her to hold his hand. Lin Qiao chuckled helplessly, reaching out to hold him, teasing mischievously, "Good Uncle."
Upon hearing ’Uncle,’ Song Tingfan instinctively resisted; it wasn’t due to past shadows, but he simply didn’t like her calling him that.
He pursed his lips, "Call me husband."
Lin Qiao was caught off guard, sputtering, "Cough, cough, cough..."
Afterwards, her earlobes blushed to their tips.
She wanted to pull her hand back but couldn’t.
Song Tingfan wouldn’t budge unless she called him that, so the two were at an impasse for a moment. Just as Lin Qiao was about to call, his low voice conceded slightly, "Call me next time."
Not now, next time, no matter how long, he would wait.
Lin Qiao hesitated briefly, then leaned closer to him, blinking, "Husband, time to eat." With that, she seized the moment of his daze, withdrew her hand, and ran towards the hall.
By nature, she wasn’t one to be shy.
However, before she had run more than a few steps, she suddenly found herself lifted off the ground. "Ah!" she exclaimed, and on turning, she met the deep eyes of the man that held a gentle intent.
Her heartbeat unexpectedly quickened dramatically.
"Let’s eat later," Song Tingfan said, carrying her into the room.
The ensuing events naturally need not be described in detail.
When the two rose again, turmoil had already begun outside, with the commoners forced to be slaves suddenly being released. Knowing the truth, their anger was understandably immense.
They had been torn from their families, forced into slavery, all innocent and falsely accused.
How could they not hate, longing to kill the wicked?
