Qing Zhuo looked at his own master with some worry. Carrying the empty bowl out the door, he scratched his head and let out a heavy sigh, causing Han Feng to look at him askance. “His Highness is well now, so why do you still look so troubled?”

Qing Zhuo felt that Han Feng was really too carefree. At this age, not only did he not think about finding himself a wife, he didn’t even worry more about His Highness. From before, he had felt that their master probably needed an extraordinary young lady to match him. His Highness was truly too cold and aloof in temperament, didn’t like to talk much, and was always surrounded by danger—an ordinary young lady couldn’t handle him. But where could such a young lady be found? Looking around, only Sixth Miss Song could truly converse with His Highness. Sixth Miss Song’s status was also appropriate and her looks were beautiful—she was truly the most suitable candidate.

“When do you think our master will finally understand?” Qing Zhuo looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh. “Second Young Master Ye is so attentive to Sixth Miss Song, yet our master…”

He wanted to say Zhou Weizhao didn’t understand romance, but he really was exceptionally special toward Song Chuyi. Apart from Song Chuyi, Zhou Weizhao had never been seen being so close to anyone else, yet something always seemed to be missing…

Han Feng only felt he thought about useless things all day long. Glaring at him, he pointed at the room. “You really are like a dog catching mice—meddling in other’s business. His Highness always has his own plans when doing things. Besides, how can outsiders meddle in such matters? Even Her Majesty the Empress and the Crown Princess can only offer His Highness suggestions, yet you’re being meddlesome.”

Speaking of Her Majesty the Empress and the Crown Princess’s intentions, Qing Zhuo felt even more troubled for his master. Both Her Majesty the Empress and the Crown Princess thought the young lady from the Lu family was good and wanted to select another Grand Princess Consort from the Lu family. But how could there be three consecutive empresses from the same family? Moreover, His Highness the Crown Prince so disliked the Lu family. Compared to his proper maternal family the Lu household, he was instead close with the Fan family to an unknown degree.

Thinking of the Fan family naturally led to thoughts of Zhou Weizhao’s injury this time. If Zhou Weizhao’s injury this time didn’t have the handiwork of that person in the Eastern Palace, he would chop off his own head to use as a ball to kick. Fan Liangdi was so formidable—if the Grand Princess Consort at Zhou Weizhao’s side was still someone who dragged him down, when the time came he would probably be devoured until not even bone fragments remained.

Far away in the capital, Fan Liangdi, who was being feared by Qing Zhuo, covered her mouth and yawned. The weather had warmed recently, and being fond of beauty, these past days she had been unwilling to wear padded jackets anymore. Having changed into garments made of cloud gauze and light silk, she already showed signs of catching a chill.

After soaking in the pool for a while, she felt parched. Before she could give instructions, Nanny Fang had already taken the warm milk from Muzhuo’s hands and passed it over, attending to Lady Fan as she drank. Only then did she softly report, “My lady, Nanny Qi has sent news.”

To facilitate passing messages, Lady Fan had simply bestowed Nanny Qi upon Minister Wang’s household. Later, when Minister Wang was implicated because of Master Yuanhui’s matter, Nanny Qi had remained in the Wang household. Hearing Nanny Fang speak thus, Lady Fan got up, changed her clothes, and came out of the bathing room to sit in the main chamber waiting for Nanny Qi’s report.

“There’s news?” She impatiently told Nanny Qi, who had entered following closely and immediately knelt, to rise. “Is it news from Xibei or news from Yangquan?” After bathing, she was always particularly prone to fatigue—it should have been time to rest long ago.

Nanny Qi’s expression showed some difficulty as she shook her head. “General from Xibei did indeed send a letter back…” She paused, looking up to see Lady Fan’s eyes suddenly brighten, then lowered her head again with trepidation. “But this news isn’t for us… it’s for Second Master Han.”

Ever since she had deliberately sown discord between them, the relationship between Han Zhengqing and the Han family clan members had already broken down. Though they shared the same surname Han and were of the same clan, Second Master Han and Marquis Jinxiang’s household had never had much contact. Lady Fan frowned somewhat uncomprehendingly, then suddenly remembered what Lady Fan Junior had mentioned before—that she had already sent a letter to Second Master Han requesting his help in managing Han Zhi’s funeral arrangements…

All disasters originated from here. If it weren’t for that bitch Lady Fan Junior making such a fuss… Lady Fan’s resentment toward Lady Fan Junior deepened another level in her heart, yet toward Han Zhengqing she felt seven parts anger and three parts grievance—it had always been that whatever she said was final, Han Zhengqing had never contradicted her. But now, just for a Lady Fan Junior, just because of a Han Zhi… She bit her lip, concealing the turbulent waves in her heart, and looked coldly toward Nanny Qi, her voice without the slightest fluctuation. “Is that so? Then what did he write in his letter asking Second Master Han to do?”

Nanny Qi lowered her head even more, her voice dropping as she reported to Lady Fan. “The Marquis wrote in his letter that he has already ordered his son by a concubine, Han Sheng, to return, to have him escort the coffin back to Rongyang, and to observe mourning in a mourning hut on behalf of the Marchioness…”

Having his son return to attend Lady Fan Junior’s funeral, escort the coffin and observe mourning, fearing that Lady Fan Junior would die with her incense line cut off? The corner of Lady Fan’s lips finally revealed an extremely cold smile. After letting out an “Oh,” her tone became even more frighteningly calm. “Besides this, he didn’t instruct anything else?”

Nanny Qi shook her head. “Nothing else. Only separately requested Second Master Han to look after Marquis Jinxiang’s household more, saying that if this year His Majesty graciously permits him to return to the capital, he will certainly repay the favor generously.”

Lady Fan supported her chin with her hand, not knowing what she was thinking. Only after a long while did she change the subject to ask Nanny Qi about the news. “Then what about my maternal family? Do my parents have any news from Yangquan?”

When such an important matter was mentioned, the trusted attendants in the hall—Muzhuo, Lianqiao, Nanny Fang, and the others—all became like wooden figures, eyes on nose, nose on heart.

Nanny Qi’s voice dropped as low as it could go. “The family sent Second Master… Second Master had originally already used the rebels’ hands to assassinate that person, and even had that person poisoned… But later Imperial Guard Commander Lai and the Prince Consort schemed to lure out the rebels, and in the end they also neutralized that person’s poison…”

Nanny Fang expectedly saw Lady Fan’s face darken. Speaking of which, it must be that Madam had acted on her own again. Anyone from the family would have been fine—why did they have to send Second Master? He was someone who accomplished nothing but ruined everything…

Lady Fan’s hands clenched into fists. With great difficulty she restrained herself from cursing “fool” on the spot. Rubbing her forehead, she felt an extreme headache. “Then is there any other news transmitted back from there now?”

If it had been eldest brother instead, this time would have succeeded, and there would have been no need to use backup measures at all. Yet for some unknown reason, Father and Mother actually sent second brother, that fool, to handle such an important matter. He was simply beyond help.