Regardless of anything else, the facts were clear before everyone’s eyes. The Earl Residence’s carriage had merely suffered an unprovoked disaster while passing by. The Deputy Commander of the Five City Military Commissioner’s Office demanding that Song Chuyi, a young lady of the Earl Residence, go to the government office was already forcing the impossible. Now with the Crown Prince’s Heir present to maintain order, having Song Chuyi’s party go to the office was obviously even more impossible.
The Deputy Commander’s face looked unpleasant. He was about to say something more to salvage the situation when the sound of horses neighing came from the distance. Everyone craned their necks to look, only to see it was actually an old acquaintance.
Qin Chuan’s face showed delight. Excitement even colored his voice with some spirit as he reported to Song Chuyi with agitation: “Sixth Miss, our eldest young master has arrived!”
Song Jue!
Counting the days, he should indeed be returning to the capital around these few days. He must have heard the news and rushed over without stopping. A genuine smile bloomed on Song Chuyi’s face.
With the Song family’s people having arrived, the Deputy Commander’s desire to take people away became even more of a pipe dream. At this point, he couldn’t help but give up on the idea and stepped forward to exchange greetings with Song Jue.
Song Jue first led people to pay respects to the Crown Prince’s Heir, then unhurriedly verified the situation at the scene with the Deputy Commander. With a serious expression, he said: “My Earl Residence’s carriage was struck by an unidentified horse in the street. How can we know if it was an accident or deliberate? What the Deputy Commander just said also makes some sense. However, my younger sister is after all a young lady of the Earl Residence, and her age is truly too young. Having her go to the government office really doesn’t make sense. I have already sent someone by fast horse to Shuntian Prefecture. Presumably people from Shuntian Prefecture will arrive shortly. I must request the Deputy Commander to remain as a witness.”
Shuntian Prefecture?!
In one move, he escalated the matter to Shuntian Prefecture and defined the incident as someone perhaps deliberately using a mad horse to crash into the Earl Residence’s carriage.
The Deputy Commander’s face grew long as he stiffly nodded.
Song Jue no longer paid him any mind. He turned back to bow in gratitude to the Crown Prince’s Heir: “My younger sister is young and easily frightened. If not for Your Highness’s mediation, this matter would likely have been difficult to resolve properly. I am truly grateful.”
The Song family was indeed skilled at raising children. Zhou Weizhao pondered thoughtfully, reaching out in a gesture of support. His clear, handsome features instantly filled with a smile: “Captain Song is too polite. It was my duty.”
He glanced at the vermillion-tasseled canopied carriage ahead that was nearly smashed to pieces, and the smile on his face deepened slightly.
This young lady of the Song family was also quite interesting. If she had been sitting in that luxurious, regulation-compliant carriage ahead when the incident occurred, then at this moment she wouldn’t be able to wait intact for her elder brother’s arrival.
Knowing the person had not fallen into Prince Duan’s hands, he understood to quit while ahead. After brief consideration, he took his leave: “Imperial Grandfather is still waiting for me on urgent business. Since someone from Shuntian Prefecture is coming, I shall take my leave first.”
Because Song Chuyi was an unmarried young lady of the inner chambers, she did not need to come out specifically to pay respects.
Song Jue led people in bowing their heads in obeisance, seeing off the Crown Prince’s Heir. Only then did he turn back and have people inspect the carriage.
Fortunately, Song Chuyi’s carriage driver had stopped quickly, and the carriage had not suffered any damage. He asked Qing Tao through the curtain about Song Chuyi’s condition, then turned to instruct Lin Hai, Qin Chuan, and the others to remain and wait for word from Shuntian Prefecture, while he himself led people to escort the carriage back to the residence.
The people from the Five City Military Commissioner’s Office wanted to obstruct them but had no justification. They didn’t dare truly clash head-on with the Earl Residence, and could only helplessly watch as the Song household’s party instantly departed cleanly.
Song Jue escorted her to the second gate. Not having time to say more than a few words, he hurriedly led people out again.
Song Chengru was already waiting at Ningde Courtyard. Upon seeing Song Chuyi, he first didn’t rush to question her. He waited for Old Madam Song to look her over from top to bottom and confirm she was uninjured before breathing a sigh of relief.
Old Madam Song also couldn’t help but feel lingering fear. She turned to reproach Song Chengru: “Fortunately she was clever. Otherwise, I told you this matter was inappropriate—how could you have her do it…”
Song Chuyi smiled slightly and shook her head: “Grandmother, I’m fine. I wasn’t injured at all. The carriage was already padded with felt all around, and there was a carriage ahead blocking. I was only jostled for a while.”
Song Chengru stroked his beard and nodded: “I’ve already sent A Ren to Shuntian Prefecture. This time, no matter what, we must thoroughly investigate the origins of that horse. A mad horse on the main street—the Five City Military Commissioner’s Office cannot escape responsibility in the first place. Yet they wanted to take the victim back to the government office. The entire street full of people saw this clearly. The censors will have something to do again.”
The people from the Five City Military Commissioner’s Office arrived too coincidentally, and their attitude was too obvious, making it impossible not to arouse suspicion.
Song Chuyi frowned as she briefly recounted how the Crown Prince’s Heir appeared to mediate. In the end, she said with some worry: “I keep feeling that His Highness’s timing and location of appearance were too coincidental. But he only returned to the capital less than half a month ago. If his intelligence network is really already this extensive, that would be too frightening…”
Only Old Master Song, Old Madam Song, and herself in the household knew about this matter. Even if First Madam and the others guessed something, they absolutely wouldn’t speak of it outside. Her trip to Zhiyuan Escort Agency had no warning signs whatsoever. How could the Crown Prince’s Heir obtain information and happen to appear there?
Upon hearing this, Song Chengru couldn’t help but fall silent. He naturally understood what it meant if the Crown Prince’s Heir’s appearance was related to Prince Duan. Moreover, the Crown Prince’s Heir had helped resolve the situation—was this a test and attempt at alliance?
“No matter what, let’s first resolve the matters at hand.” Song Chengru sighed, feeling somewhat troubled: “Now Qi Shengyuan is also in our hands. If they want to set up a trap through Wang Jinsi, it’s no longer possible. I’m afraid they’ll become desperate and strike at me directly.”
Just like in the previous life, it would either be military provisions or embezzlement. Finding a breach through a Minister of Revenue was indeed the most likely approach from what could be seen now.
Song Chuyi carefully went through the matters once more, then suddenly asked: “Grandfather, have you already registered and catalogued the confiscated property from the Su family?”
When the Su family’s household was raided, the family property didn’t match the account books. Song Chengru had been quite troubled over this for some time.
Song Chengru had a moment of insight and also guessed this was the best point of attack. He nodded with a smile full of old fox cunning: “My sleepless efforts this past month weren’t in vain. Now the accounts all match up with what was confiscated and stored in the treasury, and they bear Chen Xiang’s personal signature. If something happens to me, Chen Xiang probably won’t be able to escape involvement either.”
The Imperial Guard was not to be trifled with. Normally when there was nothing happening, they watched with predatory eyes waiting to bite off a piece of your flesh. How much more so when waiting for you to climb over their heads and act wildly?
Even though Prince Duan was of imperial blood, so what? The former Prince Tai and Prince You had also been imperial relatives—hadn’t they likewise been brought down by the Imperial Guard?
Old Madam Song also breathed a sigh of relief. Thanks to the Imperial Guard’s protection, Prince Duan probably wouldn’t forcefully gnaw on their household’s hard bone.
However, she still couldn’t help feeling somewhat anxious. This time they had luckily gained the initiative and dodged disaster. What if next time they didn’t have such good fortune?
“Who knows how the Crown Prince’s health actually is…” She said this with deep worry, shaking her head: “Prince Duan is so impatient. I’m afraid the heavens truly will change.”
Song Chengru was much calmer than Old Madam Song. Some things you couldn’t avoid even if you tried to hide. Moreover, he wasn’t the only one with such troubles. Hadn’t the Minister of War’s household also had an incident a few days ago?