Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

Chapter 2172: AngerEditor: Henyee Translations

Sun Pu likely suffered a significant defeat, hence resorting to these words as a shield.

Despite their absurdity, as long as they came from the Sun family, who would dare question them?

Sun Pu was merely protecting his pride.

He couldn’t be entirely faulted. He’d led a sheltered life, shielded from the cruelties of the world and the sting of defeat.

Perhaps this incident would serve as a valuable lesson, fostering his growth. If so, the trip wouldn’t be in vain.

As for the loss of tens of thousands of troops, the Second Prince empathized with General Sun’s pain. Yet, he maintained a pragmatic outlook. War inevitably entails losses; it’s essential to glean lessons from such experiences.

Ultimately, victory belongs to the resilient.

In the grand scheme, forgiveness reigns supreme.

Upon their return to Wuchang, over a month had passed since Sun Pu relinquished his armor and army.

The Second Prince couldn’t contain his impatience to address the matter at hand.

As he delved deeper into the investigation, his frustration and remorse intensified.

Yet, he recognized the indispensability of the Sun family’s support. Without them, his power would diminish significantly. Though he had previously voiced grievances to General Sun, he now opted for a brief reprimand of Sun Pu. Issuing a decree mandating official authorization for mobilizing more than 10,000 troops was a direct response to this incident.

Sun Pu felt a twinge of discomfort, but he knew better than to protest.

Subsequently, the Second Prince resolved to recruit Shao Yunduan.

He convened a meeting of ministers to strategize the recruitment process—selecting emissaries, determining the offered position, establishing boundaries for negotiations, and more.

General Sun and Sun Pu remained silent.

The Sun family harbored considerable dissatisfaction.

Shao Yunduan’s triumph over Sun Pu signified a defeat for the Sun Family. Naturally, they were not inclined to welcome him.

Yet, Sun Pu’s clandestine mobilization of troops constituted a grave transgression. This was not a matter of a few thousand soldiers, but tens of thousands—twice over. The scale of his actions was undeniable.

Yet, Sun Pu treated the matter with disdain, as if it were mere child’s play.

Consequently, he suffered humiliating defeats on two occasions.

Such recklessness compounded his guilt.

The Second Prince’s lenient response—scolding rather than severe punishment—was already a generous gesture. Given this, what right did the Sun Family have to oppose the Second Prince’s decision to recruit Shao Yunduan?

Sun Pu seethed with hatred, plotting his revenge. Perhaps it was for the best. When Shao Yunduan arrived in his domain, Sun Pu would settle the score.

In Wuchang City, Shao Yunduan was a nobody, no match for the might of House Sun.

Even if the Emperor favored him, he stood no chance against House Sun.

After days of deliberation, a plan was finalized. The Second Prince dispatched the loyal Left Assistant Minister of Rites, Lord Yang, to Huaixi Province with an imperial edict. Prefect Liu, a seasoned official with extensive knowledge of the region, accompanied him, serving as a mediator.

Prefect Liu’s familiarity with the area made him an ideal intermediary.

The Second Prince highly valued Shao Yunduan and hoped he would align with him. The imperial decree offered numerous benefits and promises, including the forgiveness of any past enmity with the Sun Family—never to be mentioned again. Additionally, Assistant Minister Yang was instructed to present Shao Yunduan with lavish gifts, including gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, and even two young and talented palace maids skilled in song and dance.

One had to know that the Emperor would not easily reward the palace maids to his ministers. Therefore, this was a huge favor!