novelraw Chapter 1730 - 1724: All Talk, No Action
Chapter 1730 - 1724: All Talk, No Action
She never gave up, thinking that a tiger would not eat its cub. Perhaps the child Qi Huan gave birth to back then was still alive, only hidden away by Song Hong, unknown to anyone.
Therefore, Qi Le always kept a presence in the Capital City, watching the Duke Weiguo Residence, hoping that one day she would hear news about the child.
Fortune favors those who persist. After Song Chongjin was recognized by his ancestors, information about Song Chongjin’s age and origin was sent back to the Grasslands.
When Qi Le calculated the age, she realized it matched the child of Qi Huan. Seeing that Song Chongjin came from Jing County, she became even more certain that Song Hong didn’t take the child away but cleverly hid Song Chongjin in Jing County.
That’s why she couldn’t find him all these years.
Upon learning this news, Qi Le felt both joy and sadness.
She wanted to acknowledge Song Chongjin and let him know he had an aunt in this world, but she hesitated due to current concerns. After all, she was now Queen Ah Lan, and Song Chongjin had already graduated and become an official in Great Chu. If others found out, it might bring trouble to him.
And so, Qi Le endured all this time until now when Great Chu was establishing a trade route with the Grasslands, improving relations between the countries. Only then did she cautiously place her people into the negotiation team, and met Song Chongjin.
Qi Le mentioned hearing from her subordinates that Song Chongjin was now the leader of the negotiating team, having considerable influence. She also heard that it was Song Chongjin who proposed the trade route between the two countries, which filled her heart with immense pride and admiration.
Understanding the significance of the matter, which holds far-reaching impact for both the Grasslands and Great Chu, she pledged full support for Song Chongjin, reassuring him that she would be there for him on the Grasslands side.
The previous issues were due to internal struggles within the Grasslands’ high ranks, which she had now resolved, so Song Chongjin need not worry.
As his aunt, she was determined to facilitate the establishment of the trade route between the two countries, offering Song Chongjin a monumental achievement.
Furthermore, she hoped that upon the success of the negotiations, she could meet Song Chongjin in the Wang Capital of the Grasslands.
At the end of the letter, Qi Le expressed that throughout her life, although she was a citizen of Great Chu, circumstances forced her to marry the King of the Grasslands for survival. Yet, she remembered being part of the Qi Family, which was why she never bore children for the King of the Grasslands.
Song Chongjin was her only blood-related kin in this world. Her sole hope now was to assist Song Chongjin in climbing to a high position, overturning the case against the Qi Family, and restoring their honor.
Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin both finished reading the letter and exchanged a glance.
Song Chongjin casually folded the letter paper, placed it back into the envelope, and tossed it onto the table, letting out a snicker.
"My aunt is indeed a clever person, but unfortunately, not a word of truth!"
Wang Yongzhu stood up, tidied his hair, and sat beside Song Chongjin: "Exactly, she glossed over the crucial moments, clearly articulating her own hardship and distress, and then left such a big bait. Does she think we’re three-year-old children? If your aunt truly wanted to overturn the case for the Qi Family, with her position as Queen Ah Lan, she would have revealed the intentions of the two countries to coexist peacefully long ago and worked hard to make it happen."
"Given her status as Queen Ah Lan, regardless of what irreconcilable conflict she has with the Great Chu Royal Family, considering the current Emperor’s magnanimity and methods, he might indeed offer her face and temporarily hold back, overturn the case for the Qi Family. But your good aunt hasn’t made a peep over the years, and now casually tosses the burden of overturning the case onto you!"
"We’ve long planned for overturning the case for the Qi Family, does it warrant her mentioning it? Seems like she’s the only one thinking about the Qi Family? Truly, she’s uttered all the humanly possible words without doing any of the necessary deeds!"
Wang Yongzhu initially thought Qi Le was a cunning, resourceful, ruthless person, akin to a heroine among women.
But seeing the full-blown green tea language in this letter, she seemed to be full of reluctance, with various hardships and difficulties, hence unable to contribute to the Qi Family.
Yet these hardships and difficulties didn’t prevent her from marrying into the enemy’s royalty and becoming a queen!
If she brazenly admitted her desire to live for herself, enjoying wealth and glory all her life, not caring about others’ life or death, Wang Yongzhu would even respect her for her daringness. But in this situation, she merely seemed like a hypocritical Little Ren.
That’s why her words particularly scorned Qi Le.
"Especially that line, about remembering she’s a Qi Family member, hence not bearing children for the King of the Grasslands, is simply infuriating. Since she remembers being part of the Qi Family, why did she even marry into their family? Having married, what difference does it make whether she has children or not? Moreover, if she truly had a heart, truly believed she was bearing hardships and holding on, wouldn’t it be simpler to be more ruthless?"
"Give birth to an heir of the Grasslands, then, using her skills, quietly dispose of the King of the Grasslands, become the Empress Dowager, hold the reins of power in the Grasslands, sign a peace treaty with Great Chu, and ensure no war between the two countries in her lifetime. I would respect her for her ambition and cunning, yet she is a prominent figure."
"Now she brings up such notions, intending to prove what?" Wang Yongzhu scoffed.
Seeing Wang Yongzhu’s attitude, Song Chongjin chuckled: "Why bother with her nonsense? It’s just wasting your energy. I’ve also guessed parts of Qi Le’s intentions. Writing this letter aims to acknowledge me first, facilitate negotiations between the two countries, and open the trade route."
"Secondly, she offers me benefits as inducement, given her position as Queen Ah Lan with considerable power to provide me some advantages, allowing me to rise."
"Thirdly, if our previous assumptions were correct, the item my mother left is of critical importance. The Emperor’s side is likely uncertain whether this item is in the Qi Family’s hands or my mother’s possession, so previously they targeted the Qi Family."
"Qi Le should be fully aware that the item is not with the Qi Family, hence the Qi Family lost any value to her and she let them die during exile without rescue."
"If Qi Le knows the item isn’t with the Qi Family, the only remaining answer is it’s with my mother. So, the so-called escort for my mother likely had other motives. Maybe they sought my mother’s item, but couldn’t approach due to Song Hong’s men by her side."
"They conveniently obtained the news of Song Hong’s intention to remarry and conveyed it to my mother, causing her to angrily sever ties with Song Hong, then flee, granting them the opportunity to approach my mother."
"In the midst, maybe it wasn’t the King of the Grasslands sending people to bring my mother back, but all along it was Qi Le’s people attempting to bring my mother to Qi Le."