Chapter 113

Later, Song Zhao took Song Shicheng back to her residence, and couldn't help but reprimand him a few words,

"Father, are you really muddled? What does the Ge family's affairs have to do with you? They have provoked such a great disaster, yet you came to plead with His Majesty for them? Do you think what happened to Mother did not annoy our Song family enough for His Majesty?"

Song Shicheng sighed longly, and said helplessly: "Your elder sister and Young Master Ge have a marriage contract. When she heard about this, she cried and made a fuss, seeking death at home. As her father, what could I do? Could I just sit idly by?"

"We should just sit idly by for this matter!" Song Zhao rarely took a tough stance in front of Song Shicheng,

"The military rations being burned is a major military affair. If handled improperly, it could lead to the execution of entire households! On my way here, Uncle Yin told me that the reason the granary caught fire was because Ge Zhongqi, that prodigal son, was drinking and gambling with the soldiers in the granary. They got terribly drunk and knocked over an oil lamp, thus causing the disaster!

"With someone so negligent of his duties, what good would it do for my elder sister to marry into his family? My sister likes him, but can liking be eaten as food? It seems to me that not only would it not be edible, but it would also likely leave her unable to eat anything!"

Song Zhao was quite angry, her words fierce, like a good daughter who only cared about the Song family.

She held Song Shicheng's hand tightly and pleaded:

"If I were you, I would only hope to see that useless man clearly sooner, annul the engagement, and not let my elder sister marry into his family. It would be best if he died, which would conveniently end my elder sister's thoughts about him!" Every word Song Zhao said was reasonable,

and such obvious truths, how could Song Shicheng, who had lived most of his life, not understand?

He slumped weakly into a chair, rested his palm on his forehead, sighed again and again,

and after a long silence, he suddenly slapped the table hard, extremely frustrated:

"Do you think I want to get involved in this? But now, this is something I cannot not get involved in..."

"Your elder sister... she is bearing that prodigal's child!"

Upon hearing this, Song Zhao was stunned silly,

Her mind went blank, a buzzing sound kept ringing in her ears,

She had to grab the edge of the table and stumble back two steps before she could barely sit down.

"Illicit intimacy leading to a secret pregnancy, my elder sister is from a prestigious family after all, how could she be so muddled as to do something so absurd?"

She acted very indignant, but in her heart she wished Song Yue would hurry up and marry into the Ge family to accompany her beloved husband to the execution ground.

And Song Shicheng?

The last time Song Zhao saw him, he had just started greying at the temples,

but today when she saw him again, his temples had turned all white, his face full of worry.

It was obvious he had been extremely anxious about his useless eldest daughter.

"Things have come to this, as her father I have no other way. The plan for now is for me to first use my position as Duke of Protector to protect the Ge family, then discuss what to do afterwards." Song Zhao asked: "Just now when His Majesty was talking to you, he was very amiable and treated you well. Father, what have you promised His Majesty to make him not pursue this matter?"

Song Shicheng said: "Master Ge has assured me that he can increase the Capital City's grain yield threefold next year. Just now, I pleaded to His Majesty with this reason before getting him to show exceptional favor."

"Threefold!?" Song Zhao was shocked beyond belief, her bright eyes stared roundly, incredulously asking:

"Father! Do you know what threefold means? Most of the Capital City’s grain comes from Yu Province. This year, the Capital City had a severe winter, while Yu Province had a warm winter instead. As a result, the rice sparrows in the Capital City area would definitely fly to Yu Province to spend the winter, so come next spring, the number of rice sparrows in Yu Province will greatly increase.

Rice sparrows mainly feed on rice, so when it's time to sow seeds in spring, the out-of-control rice sparrows would have eaten up all the seeds. By harvest time in autumn, not to mention threefold, I wonder if you and Master Ge could even produce as much grain as this year!"

Song Zhao's analysis was quite reasonable,

and Song Shicheng was no fool either, he understood this reasoning too, but he didn't seem worried about this at all,

"I have considered these matters. Back then when the Capital City had a rice sparrow infestation, didn't the court have counter policies? Getting the common people to catch rice sparrows, paying one penny per bird, and before long the infestation was overcome. I discussed with Master Ge and we can take similar measures to get through the difficulties. Oh well, we'll just take it as spending money to avoid disaster."

"Get through difficulties? Even if father gets the commoners to catch rice sparrows then, the grain yield would at best remain the same, could your catching match their voracious eating?"

Song Zhao pondered briefly, and soon came up with a good solution:

"Father, we want increased grain production, not to maintain it at the same level. Rice sparrows breed very quickly. By the time you start catching them in spring, it would be too late. While they are now spending winter in Yu Province, father should take action now!"

Song Shicheng thought about it and felt Song Zhao's words made sense, so he said:

"After father enjoys the imperial banquet rewarded by His Majesty tonight, I will set off for Yu Province to make arrangements..." "Still waiting?" Song Zhao was visibly anxious. She suddenly stood up and paced around, "Father can have that imperial meal anytime, but now it's already the end of the year, spring will come soon. The longer you wait, the more trouble there will be later! I'm afraid after you finish that comfortable meal, our entire Duke of Protector's residence and the Ge family would have to obediently go in to eat the executioner's meal!"

She clutched Song Shicheng's hand and pleaded:

"Father, the situation is urgent, we really cannot wait!"