“The Cabinet issued an official document today, saying they’ll first escort A’Hong to the capital for trial.” Princess Zhennan’s face was full of worry. She looked at her son with trepidation and fear: “If we still can’t get news about those secret letters, won’t we just be fish on a chopping block at the mercy of others?!”

She actually wanted to ask again whether those secret letters truly existed. If these secret letters really did exist, how could there be not a single trace of information about them? They said the letters might be in the hands of that niece left behind by the Su family, but even Chen Xiang hadn’t found a single clue.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help feeling even more anxious and distressed. She had originally wanted to take advantage of Duke Yingguo’s banquet to ask Song Chuyi about the news, but who knew she hadn’t even seen Song Chuyi’s face, and First Madam claimed to know nothing about it.

Ye Jingkuan was actually more optimistic than Princess Zhennan—Song Chuyi had absolutely no need to fabricate such a lie to deceive people. Moreover, even Chen Xiang had come out to help search for the letters, which further proved that these letters existed. Right now, the most urgent matter was to find these letters.

He consoled Princess Zhennan with gentle words for a while, then frowned: “Mother, I know you’re anxious and concerned about Uncle and Jingchuan’s safety, but you mustn’t lose your composure too much. Logically speaking, Duke Yingguo’s residence has no connection to this matter. Don’t you think they’re being somewhat too nervous?”

Princess Zhennan hesitantly nodded. She also felt that Madam He seemed somewhat overly nervous, appearing even more anxious about this matter than she herself was, even repeatedly visiting their residence to ask First Madam to arrange and facilitate Song Chuyi’s attendance at the Duke Yingguo’s banquet.

“You must be on guard against others.” Ye Jingkuan patted her hand: “Mother, you absolutely must not throw yourself into disorder. Father is handling matters outside, and I’m here too. Now that things have reached this point, the Crown Prince and Xingfu are already locked in a struggle to the death, and many people are trying to find solutions. Taking ten thousand steps back, even if we can’t find the secret letters, there are still methods without the secret letters. From now on, you should keep your distance from the Princess Consort of Duke Yingguo.”

Princess Zhennan had always listened to her eldest son’s words. Hearing him say this, her heart settled considerably. Though still uneasy, she ultimately nodded.

Ye Jingkuan was just consoling his mother when he heard Ye Jingchuan’s loud voice calling from far away.

“Mother! Mother!” Ye Jingchuan swept in like a gust of wind, arriving before Princess Zhennan and Ye Jingkuan in an instant. With some urgency, he asked: “I heard that Song Liu encountered trouble at Duke Yingguo’s residence today. What exactly happened?!”

His own affairs hadn’t even been sorted out yet, but he had the mind to care about others. Princess Zhennan glared at him with displeasure: “In such a rush, you don’t even know to greet us first, just to ask about this matter?”

Ye Jingkuan’s heart stirred. He made a sound of surprise and also turned to look at Princess Zhennan: “Mother, something happened at Duke Yingguo’s banquet today? And it involved Song Liu?”

Hearing her eldest son ask so seriously, Princess Zhennan’s earlier thoughts of complaining about her younger son dissipated. After organizing her thoughts slightly, she shook her head: “I also heard it from Yunxiu on the way back. She doesn’t know much either and spoke rather incoherently. It seems a young maid from Duke Yingguo’s residence gave something to Sixth Miss Song that angered her. Later it even alarmed the elders and Duke Yingguo’s Heir Apparent. Yunxiu and the others were all invited to leave for garden touring and boating.”

Ye Jingkuan had met Song Chuyi a few times and spoken with her several times. He knew Song Chuyi was absolutely not the type to act rashly without purpose or to raise a great commotion alarming the elders just because a maid made a mistake. He couldn’t help frowning tightly.

Princess Zhennan perhaps didn’t quite believe that such a young girl as Song Chuyi could have any effect on the situation, but he couldn’t ignore this girl who was not ordinary at all.

Ye Jingchuan had already begun clamoring: “What little maid serving improperly angered her—that’s all spread by Duke Yingguo’s residence! Today I was playing perfectly well with that fellow Shen Qi when he was suddenly called away by Chen Mingyu’s maid. After that, we heard something had happened on the young ladies’ side. If it wasn’t that fellow and Chen Mingyu stirring up trouble, I’ll cut off my head and use it as a stool!”

“How would you know!” Princess Zhennan poked his forehead with her finger and scolded him with displeasure: “Speaking so rashly without evidence—if it turns out not to be true, wouldn’t you have offended both the Chen and Shen families at once?”

Ye Jingchuan sneered: “When those two get together, they collude like wolves and jackals—what bad things can’t they do?!”

After the Tongzhou incident, Chen Mingyu had become the typical figure of a serpent-hearted person in his mind. To expect him to think well of her was absolutely impossible.

Ye Jingkuan patted his back once, then turned to look at Princess Zhennan: “Regardless, since we know something happened, given the friendship between our two families, going to visit and inquire is normal. Mother, why don’t you take Jingchuan tomorrow to pay a visit.”

Princess Zhennan knew her son spoke reasonably. Thinking this could also be a good opportunity to ask again about the secret letters, she nodded repeatedly.

Ye Jingkuan then led Ye Jingchuan out, instructing as they walked: “When you go tomorrow, don’t just focus on playing. Our two families are close friends, so presumably they won’t deliberately have you avoid the sisters. When you get a chance, probe Song Liu’s attitude.”

The Tongzhou affair was promoted entirely by Song Chuyi, the ideas were all hers, and the matter of the secret letters was leaked from her mouth. Since there was also news that the secret letters were in the hands of that niece from the Su family… it wasn’t hard to guess how Song Chuyi knew about the secret letters—it was extremely likely that Miss Su had told her.

Now the Crown Prince and Xingfu were locked in a power struggle. Whoever found the secret letters first would seize the initiative.

Ye Jingchuan was somewhat dismissive. Although Song Chuyi had told him about the secret letters, if Song Chuyi had known where the secret letters were at the time, she would have said so long ago. Why would she have concealed it until now?

“How is the investigation of that Supervisory Censor going?” he asked Ye Jingkuan: “Wouldn’t going after him work just as well? After all, his hands aren’t clean either, and those ledgers are ironclad evidence.”

Ye Jingkuan glared at him: “Where is it as easy as you say? The man disappeared without a trace long ago. Do you think Xingfu and the others haven’t thought of this?! Whether he’s alive or dead right now is still uncertain.”

Bringing up this matter, Ye Jingchuan also felt somewhat irritable. He snorted and said nothing.

Xingfu and his group had secretly colluded and associated with the Tartars, yet wanted to push them out as scapegoats. He held a bellyful of anger in his heart. He wasn’t an ignorant wastrel and knew he had indeed caused a great disaster this time. If not for his father’s and Princess Sister-in-law’s sake, he might have already been thrown into the imperial prison.

“I understand. I’ll ask Song Liu.” He responded in a muffled voice.