Old Master Song and Song Jue had already begun consciously treating Song Yan as an adult, which was enormously beneficial to Song Yan’s growth. Song Chuyi gently nodded at Song Yan in reassurance. This was a good thing. She couldn’t follow Song Yan around all day, nor could she walk the future path for him. Sooner or later he would have to grope his way forward on his own. Now that he had stumbled once, someone was beginning to teach him how not to fall—this was very good.
After leaving Old Master Song’s study, Song Jue forcefully rapped Song Yan on the head and walked with his hands behind his back, carrying both severity and admonition: “Boy, although I’m taking you out to play, don’t just think about playing. Keep your eyes wide open and see clearly what kind of people are socializing there, what their status is, what they say. When you come back, I’ll question you about everything.”
Song Yan had been somewhat afraid of him these past few days. He nodded repeatedly in haste. Only then did Song Jue leave him and turn to look at Song Chuyi, asking: “How is your situation? With Madam Fang… is it still going smoothly?”
After the incident with Wang Ying, Fang Xiaoru and Madam Fang had become as skittish as startled birds. Under her deliberate provocation, it was no longer possible for them to be completely devoted to Elder Chen. After all, once trust collapses, it’s very difficult to repair. Although an old fox like Elder Chen might also realize this and attempt to salvage the situation, it was still ultimately too late.
Song Chuyi knew that he had been very busy recently with social engagements due to the Yulin Guard matter, which was why he proposed taking Song Yan out to gain experience. She didn’t intend to distract him: “Progress is fairly smooth. Rome wasn’t built in a day. After this deity manifestation, we’ll have a pretty good grasp of what Madam Fang truly means.”
Song Jue rotated his somewhat stiff neck. Hearing Song Chuyi say this, he responded with an acknowledgment, instructed Song Yan to wait for him promptly at noon tomorrow, then took a lantern and went back on his own.
Song Yan held Song Chuyi’s hand and looked up at her with some confusion: “We’ll suspect whether Han Zhi is really dead or not. Won’t Imperial Concubine Liangdi in the Eastern Palace suspect as well? She’s the one who most wishes Han Zhi dead. If they also send people to search for Han Zhi…”
Song Chuyi curved her lips in a smile and bent down to flick his forehead: “That’s why grandfather said to send people to search. Imperial Concubine Liangdi is meticulous in her thinking. Even if she doesn’t think of it in the next day or two, in a few days for the sake of safety she’ll also have Vice Minister Wang’s people conduct another search. This was unavoidable to begin with. But if Han Zhi truly isn’t dead, those who find him fastest will definitely be our people. We’ll seize the initiative, and even if Imperial Concubine Liangdi suspects, there’s nothing she can do.”
After seeing Song Yan back to Chuzhou Pavilion, Song Chuyi had just led Ziyun across the arched bridge when she saw Qing Tao and Luyi already waiting with lanterns at the courtyard gate. She led people into the courtyard. Only then did Qing Ying come out to help her remove her cloak and attend to her washing up. She sat on the footstool herself and spoke to her: “Today the First Madam sent Nanny Jin and Nanny Qin together to Elder Chen’s estate to deliver a calling card…”
Third Madam Chen’s greed had gone too far—she had become so greedily insane that she lost her wits. She actually thought to extend her hand into the Earl Changning Estate, wanting to use Old Madam Xiang to extort Xiang Mingzi’s money. Those hands indeed needed several more needle pricks before she would learn her lesson.
Seeing that she didn’t speak, Qing Ying recounted it like a joke for her to hear: “The Zhao family had indeed considered asking the Song family for help, but recalling past events, they simply didn’t have the face to ask. Hearing that Old Madam Xiang and Third Madam Chen had so shamelessly used their name to cause trouble at the Song family, they were furious. Old Madam Zhao was so angry she wanted to submit a memorial to the Empress.”
Old Madam Chen hadn’t been fond of this concubine-born daughter-in-law to begin with. With a ready-made mistake right in front of her, how could she let it pass? Even Third Master Chen was severely scolded by Old Master Chen, who harshly told him to roll back to Shu and be his county magistrate.
Third Madam Chen had hoped to advance further—it seemed there was no hope for that anymore.
Having finished with this topic, Qing Ying turned to discuss Ma Changjiang and the others: “They’ve already carefully searched near the canal. If Han Zhi truly isn’t dead—”
Song Chuyi’s brow moved slightly as she softly instructed her: “Tomorrow go out and tell Luo Gui to pass a message to Ma Changjiang and the others. If Han Zhi truly isn’t dead, don’t make a move. Just bring the news back.”
Lest they ruin Old Master Song and Song Jue’s plan.
Qian Ying had already anticipated the current chaotic state of the Marquis Jinxiang Estate. As Prince Dongping’s chief clerk, he had never agreed with Elder Fan Shi’s aggressive and unrelenting pressure on the Marquis Jinxiang Estate’s Han Zhi and Little Fan Shi. But after all, he was merely a chief clerk…
Recalling that His Highness the Prince at least no longer obeyed Imperial Concubine Liangdi’s every whim, the worry in his heart reluctantly lessened a bit. He gathered his spirits and asked the steward who had been following him back and forth with extreme attentiveness: “How is the madam now? With the Marquis not in the estate and the young masters also absent, you must properly manage the people below. If there’s any mishap, never mind the Marquis skinning you all when he returns—even His Highness and Imperial Concubine won’t spare you!”
The steward nodded repeatedly like pecking rice. He attentively led Qian Ying and showed him the way, then sighed: “The madam is ultimately a woman of the inner chambers. When people from the yamen came to make inquiries, it wasn’t proper for her to appear. This humble one just returned from the Garrison Command…” He reached this point and was truly somewhat sorrowful: “Our Heir Apparent—we can’t even find his corpse. How can the madam bear such a blow? She’s already sent a letter to the Marquis.”
They couldn’t even find the corpse? Qian Ying, who had just been about to enter the door, halted his steps. Frowning, he turned back to ask: “Among the people the Imperial Guard salvaged, the Heir Apparent’s corpse wasn’t there?”
The steward shook his head with a bitter face: “The number of people was correct, but counting the household servants from the estate side in Tongzhou, there were eight people on the boat in total. Everyone was burned to charcoal. How can anyone distinguish which one is the Heir Apparent?”
Qian Ying felt somewhat uncomfortable in his heart. He clenched his fist and coughed once, then strode into the covered walkway. Looking at the bright white lanterns hanging everywhere, he felt somewhat blinded. He quickly averted his head and stopped looking, first entering the flower hall to wait for Little Fan Shi.
Little Fan Shi was truly haggard beyond recognition. Supported by Qiuju and Qiuhe, she barely managed to greet Qian Ying.
Qian Ying first expressed his condolences, then began to speak of business: “His Highness worries that with no one in the estate to manage external affairs, you’re too busy to handle everything. He specifically appointed this subordinate to arrange and manage dealings with the yamen officials and the Imperial Guard. If the madam trusts me, you may entrust everything to me to handle…”
The prayer beads in Little Fan Shi’s hands spun rapidly. With lowered brows and downcast eyes, she had not a trace of life in her. Even her breathing made people feel pained for her. After a long while, she nodded: “The estate indeed has no one who can step forward to deal with the yamen. Letters have already been sent to the uncles and elder brothers of the second branch…”