The Prince Zhennan’s manor had also caught wind of the news that the cabinet intended to have Cui Yingshu succeed to the position of Vice Minister of Works and Junior Minister of the Imperial Treasury. The Princess Zhennan was pleased that Yuan Hong and Ye Jingchuan had both managed to avoid responsibility. Upon hearing this latest news, she merely smiled, personally serving a cup of tea to Prince Zhennan as she remarked with some feeling, “After all this twisting and turning, that little girl turns out to be the cleverest of them all. Not only did she keep the Earl Changning’s manor uninvolved without arousing suspicion, she’s also brought such joyful news to her maternal family.”

Prince Zhennan took a sip from the cup before setting it down. At these words, a trace of amusement appeared on his typically stern face. “Any girl who can manage that precious son of yours and have him willingly run errands back and forth—how could she be a fool?”

This was teasing about Ye Jingchuan going to teach Shen Qingrang a lesson, then returning and insisting on visiting the Earl Changning’s manor. Princess Zhennan found it both exasperating and amusing, and couldn’t help but speak up in defense of her son. “You make it sound as if he’s only my son. Don’t you also indulge him?”

Fortunately, though Ye Jingchuan was impulsive and possessed the naive chivalry of youth, he wasn’t someone who simply loved fighting for its own sake. This time he’d even outwitted Chen Xiang and Xing’an, captured Shi Tongzhou, and gone to find Cen Biliang.

Princess Zhennan looked at Prince Zhennan with a smile full of pride. “Besides, he hasn’t turned into a wastrel, and he’s devoted to serving the country loyally. Why shouldn’t I treasure him?”

The smile on Prince Zhennan’s face gradually faded. He glanced at the official documents on the table and suddenly sighed.

Ye Jingchuan had indeed not become a wastrel and was full of passionate loyalty, but ultimately he still possessed a youth’s temperament. If it weren’t for His Highness the Grand Prince and that little girl mediating the Tongzhou incident, ten lives wouldn’t have been enough for him to lose.

“He’s determined to go to the battlefield. Can you bear to let him?” He stared intently at Princess Zhennan, emphasizing his words as he repeated, “Although Xingfu and Shi Tongzhou played a role in this Zijing Pass affair, it also shows that Jingchuan is after all young with shallow experience and easily provoked. Are you truly at ease sending your precious son to the battlefield?”

The bandit troubles along the Fujian coast were far more dangerous than guarding the pass—real combat with swords and spears was inevitable. After the Zijing Pass incident, Prince Zhennan had genuinely begun considering sending Ye Jingchuan for some real experience.

Princess Zhennan bit her lip, then after a moment made up her mind. “He has absolutely no interest in the scholarly path. If he doesn’t take this route, won’t he just pass his life in mediocrity? The title belongs to his elder brother. If he doesn’t work hard to carve out his own path, can we protect him for his entire life?”

It was precisely this consideration that made her willing to agree to sending Ye Jingchuan to guard the city with Yuan Hong.

These words from Princess Zhennan aligned perfectly with Prince Zhennan’s own thoughts. He regarded his wife with appreciation, and only after a long moment did he nod. “If that’s what you think, then let’s fulfill his wishes. Whether he can distinguish himself will depend on his own efforts.”

Though willing to let her son go out and establish merit, Princess Zhennan couldn’t bear to have him truly start as a common soldier. Hearing this, she became somewhat anxious. “Didn’t we agree earlier that if he really goes to serve in Fujian, we’d first give Cui Shaoting advance notice?”

Cui Shaoting was after all the Governor-General of Fujian—bluntly speaking, the true lord of Fujian. If he could find a position under Cui’s command, he’d advance more quickly.

“We should inform him, but people’s influence wanes when they leave. Cui Shaoting will likely be promoted soon, and whether his word will still carry weight in Fujian after that is uncertain.” Prince Zhennan coughed, and seeing Princess Zhennan looked somewhat surprised, he sighed. “The Zijing Pass incident caused such a huge disturbance. Although His Majesty has always disliked warfare, it’s quite another matter when someone rides roughshod over your head without provoking anger. If Zijing Pass is like this, it’s easy for His Majesty to become suspicious of other Northwest passes as well. If my prediction is correct, after thirty years, we’ll have a new Supreme Commander of the Three Frontiers.”

Thirty years ago, the Supreme Commander of the Three Frontiers who had struck awe throughout the land was none other than the previous Prince Zhennan.

Looking through the current court’s military officers who could both fight and lead troops while also having proper military examination credentials, there was only Cui Shaoting. Therefore, when the cabinet first let slip any hint, Prince Zhennan immediately caught the scent and deduced the likely candidate.

Princess Zhennan listened with some confusion, but she did grasp that Cui Shaoting was about to assume the position of Supreme Commander of the Three Frontiers, and couldn’t help feeling shocked. If this were true, the Cui family would rise even higher.

“Regardless, we truly owe much to that young lady from Earl Changning’s manor this time.” Princess Zhennan composed herself, and after brief consideration said, “She’s helped us so much, we can’t show nothing in return. Though the Empress Dowager’s approval is difficult to obtain, at least we’re not entirely helpless. How about tomorrow I take Jingchuan to visit their manor, and also look in on their eldest daughter-in-law?”

When it came to mutual assistance, it was all about give and take—through such exchanges, both sides’ relationship would naturally grow closer.

Setting aside how Ye Jingchuan would need the Cui family’s care in Fujian in the future, just for the sake of maintaining good relations with Earl Changning’s manor, it was indeed necessary to visit more frequently.

Princess Zhennan looked at Prince Zhennan with some uncertainty. “I’m thinking of asking the Princess—if she’s also in the palace on the fifteenth, perhaps she could help?”

Although Princess Rongcheng maintained her own residence, she still came to stay at the manor from time to time. Since His Majesty had personally promised her the position of matriarch of the Ye family, asking her to help with family matters would surely not meet with refusal.

Prince Zhennan felt this move was somewhat unnecessary. Though Princess Rongcheng was indeed the Empress’s own daughter, the Song family also had Princess Duanhui who was extremely close to His Majesty. What Princess Rongcheng could help with, Princess Duanhui might not be unable to assist with.

However, it was still a gesture of goodwill. After some thought, he nodded in agreement.

His thoughts went deeper than Princess Zhennan’s. In the current situation, though the Song family was inclined toward the Crown Prince, they weren’t making it obvious and could always let go and maintain their footing.

But Prince Zhennan’s manor, because of Princess Rongcheng, had long been bound together with the Crown Prince, unable to break free.

That boy Jingchuan was so concerned about Sixth Miss Song, and behind Sixth Miss Song stood the Cui clan like some colossal entity. If they deepened their relationship with the Earl’s manor and truly became in-laws in the future, it would naturally add another layer of protection for both the Crown Prince and Prince Zhennan’s manor.

They had been talking for a while when they heard from outside that the Prince Consort had arrived. They couldn’t help but exchange glances, both somewhat surprised—at this hour, Ye Jingkuan was usually at the Capital Guard Office conducting business. Why had he returned now?

Ye Jingkuan didn’t beat around the bush. After hastily paying his respects, he got straight to the point: “His Highness the Crown Prince is gravely ill.”

Prince Zhennan had received this news earlier himself. Thinking the imperial physicians’ consultation had produced results, he shot to his feet in alarm, staring intently at his son.