Chapter 345: The Emperor Can Be Very Poor

Song Huihe heard this and her expression stiffened slightly, then she said, "Please, Your Majesty, give me another chance, let me go see my father; if I still cannot persuade him, this concubine will give up."

Song Huihe, although not very familiar with court affairs, also knows that once Suizhou falls, the Song family's surrender or being taken by Xiao Shen is only a matter of time.

Suizhou is far away, and Song Huihe is not well acquainted with the clan elders; she lacks the ability to sway them, but with her father right before her, she still wants to try again.

Rong Luoge looked at Song Huihe, her expression serious, and said, "Consort Hui, we have been together for many years, and we each know a bit of each other's temperaments. Suizhou has fallen; to be frank, even I do not know the current state of the Song family there."

Song Huihe's face bore heaviness, and she nodded, "I know the Empress's words are true; before I was ignorant and often clashed with Your Majesty. Now that You are still willing to give me a chance, I am truly grateful, Your Majesty."

At this point Song Huihe gave a wry smile, "To be honest, Your Majesty, in a great clan like ours, my father may hold the title of Marquis Ningyuan, but the real authority lies with the head of the Song clan. Therefore, my father cannot decide the affairs of the Suizhou Song family, nor can I. Even though I am Consort Hui, before the clan elders I am just a junior, nothing at all."

It is the clan's wealth, manpower, and influence that makes her the illustrious Consort Hui; if the clan were dissatisfied and withdrew support, she would be no different from an ordinary woman, with no means to stand in the Hou Gong.

"This concubine cannot save the Suizhou Song clan, but I cannot stand by and watch my father die for them in the capital. If they truly cared about my father and my life, when Lord Xiao's army reaches Suizhou they would not have opposed it without hesitation; there would be no room for negotiation."

Rong Luoge, upon hearing this, finally understood Song Huihe's disappointment: fundamentally, Song Huihe is upset that their branch, situated in the capital under the Emperor's watchful eye, sees the Suizhou Song family fighting the imperial army.

In fact, when the Suizhou Song family made that decision, they had already disregarded the fate of Song Huihe's branch.

Being abandoned by one's own clan, without hesitation or any room for compromise, is indeed very sad.

It truly is a hurdle that cannot be crossed lightly.

"Since you have already made your decision, this palace hopes you will not regret it, Consort Hui. In a lifetime one constantly faces choices at crossroads. Go then; this time I grant you permission."

"Thank you, Empress," Song Huihe said respectfully, bowing, then turned and left.

She left the palace, rode a rickety carriage to the prison, and followed the guard into the cell block; stepping on the stone steps, she walked all the way to the door of her father's cell before stopping.

Marquis Ningyuan narrowed his eyes slightly; when he lifted his head and saw the newcomer, he was momentarily stunned, then sprang to his feet, "Huihe, why are you here? Did something happen? No, how are you able to leave the palace again?"

Song Huihe listened to her father's concerned words, her eyes reddening slightly, suppressing the bitterness in her chest, and said, "Father, Suizhou has fallen."

Marquis Ningyuan's expression hardened, his demeanor wavering, and after a while he spoke, "The city fell? Then …"

"Father!" Song Huihe interrupted, "When Suizhou decided to confront the imperial army, did they ever consider your life in the capital? Our branch has been abandoned by them!"

Marquis Ningyuan clenched his teeth, refusing to speak, his pallor tinged with a bluish hue. He rested his shoulders against the stone wall and slowly closed his eyes.

"Father, you know what I tried to advise you last time; what do you think now? Last time you wouldn't agree, I didn't press, but now the Suizhou war has concluded and you still haven't made a decision?" Song Huihe's eyes reddened as she spoke, "Think of your mother still waiting at home, the younger siblings; if you remain obstinate, we will truly follow Suizhou's doomed path."

"What do you know?" Marquis Ningyuan rasped, "Suizhou is our family's root; a tree without roots cannot live, a person without roots cannot stand."

"But when they resisted the imperial army, did they ever consider our lives? Father, you are now deep in prison, and your daughter's days in the Hou Gong are also hard. This time, thanks to the Empress not striking me down but instead letting me persuade you to turn back, I don't blame you for missing the previous chance. I know you are a man of sentiment and righteousness, yet the Suizhou affair clearly treats us as discarded pieces; if you remain obstinate, you will only lead our whole family to be buried with Suizhou. Is that what you wish to see?"

Song Huihe's face was wet with tears, her voice choked, "I ask for nothing now; I only wish that you, mother, and our younger siblings be safe. Father, His Majesty is not a ruthless man; if you are willing to turn back."

Marquis Ningyuan looked at his daughter cradled in his palm, crying like a tearful person; her days in the palace would only become harder. After a long pause he sighed, "I understand, you may go back."

Song Huihe watched her father, who seemed ten years older in such a short time, and reluctantly turned, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, "I will stay and talk with you a while longer; I don't know when we will meet again. Father, let me tell you about the latest happenings in the palace."

Marquis Ningyuan, who always cherished his daughter, heard her words, understood she wanted to chat, and without hesitation said, "Speak, I am listening."

What could be new in the palace? It's just that Empress Rong is too meddlesome.

"Father, do you know that Princess Consort Qi has taken refuge with the Empress?"

"What?"

"You didn't know? Prime Minister Yun is shrewd and cunning; if Princess Consort Qi had done this before, he certainly would not have agreed, yet this time he said nothing."

"Really?"

"Of course it's true; could I be lying to you? Prime Minister Yun may be shameless, but he did not stop his own daughter, which shows he already intends to retreat. Father, Suizhou's walls are tall, wide, and sturdy, yet Lord Xiao's few cannons blasted them open; even the world's great families, however strong, could not withstand His Majesty's artillery?"

"Even if His Majesty has cannons, are they made without food or drink? How much silver would that cost?" Marquis Ningyuan couldn't help but blurt out.

The Emperor can be very poor!

If the great families could unite for a protracted war, the final outcome is truly hard to predict.

"The Empress's cloth has already been exported to the southern regions; the profit is modest, yet His Majesty and the Empress's reputation soars like a magpie. Craftsmen who have fled and returned across the nation increase daily. Now the Empress has also produced printed hemp cloth; do you know what that means?"