From childhood to adulthood, besides Lady Fan Junior who had always usurped her position, the person Lady Fan most detested was this second elder brother who only knew how to spend his days with flowers and willows, had not half a bit of real ability, yet only knew how to act coquettish and ask for money to spend. Compared to this annoying disaster, even Lady Fan Junior’s status in her heart would immediately rise three levels. When she had given her instructions, she had made everything clear, repeatedly warning and exhorting her parents that they absolutely must not choose second brother to go. Yet her parents, not knowing if it was because they were old and muddled, had still gone ahead stubbornly… For such a monumentally important matter, they actually dared to let second brother do it, they actually dared…

Nanny Qi could see Lady Fan’s irritation. Lady Fan was rarely irritable—if anxiety showed on her face, she was certainly already angry to the extreme. She didn’t dare keep Lady Fan in suspense any longer and said honestly, “Fortunately the family sent someone to accompany Second Master. Fan San is clever and has already persuaded Second Master to go to Puji Temple…”

They had still been forced to the point of deploying those people from Huangjue Temple. That disaster was just this difficult to deal with… Lady Fan gave a cold “Mm” and then fell silent, her eyes half-closed as if she had fallen asleep.

Yet everyone in the room held their breath, not one person daring to speak. It was still Nanny Fang who gathered her courage to step forward and pour another cup of tea for Lady Fan.

Lady Fan seemed startled back to her senses by this sound. She raised her eyelids again to look at Nanny Qi kneeling on the ground. “The family only sent this much news?”

A few days ago, the victory report from Yangquan had already been delivered to the capital. Even the Crown Prince, who had never been close to the Crown Princess and Zhou Weizhao, had shown some smile on his face. No matter what, Zhou Weizhao had not expended much effort—spending only two months to quell the Yangquan rebellion was a great joy that greatly pleased Emperor Jianzhang and also made the Eastern Palace’s position more stable.

But Lady Fan couldn’t feel happy. Though Lady Lu was not favored, Zhou Weizhao was after all the Crown Prince’s biological son. As the saying goes, even a vicious tiger doesn’t eat its cubs—the Crown Prince might not be able to be as ruthless toward Zhou Weizhao as he was toward Lady Lu. Moreover, men were always particularly tolerant toward their own bloodline, just like Han Zhengqing. Back then he had spoken all those ghostly words about winter thunder and summer snow, yet hadn’t he turned around and given his heart to Lady Fan Junior and her son?

If Zhou Weizhao continued being this capable and outstanding, combined with being the legitimate Grand Prince, and having Emperor Jianzhang and the Empress protecting him plus the allegiance of Marquis Zhennan’s household, then she and Zhou Weiqi couldn’t catch up even spurring their horses. Zhou Weizhao had to die. His being alive was a disaster. It was only a pity that back when he hadn’t yet gained power, they hadn’t been able to finish him in one stroke…

“For now we’ve only received this much news. In the letter Second Master sent back to the family, he said that Yangquan isn’t a suitable place to recuperate. The Grand Prince has just been injured and depleted his vital energy, and Yangquan is still very chaotic, so he will definitely go to Jinzhong to recuperate. Their meaning is to take the opportunity to strike on the road.”

Fortunately, they had already planted a spy by that fellow’s side earlier and also bought people in the Shanxi garrison. Otherwise, even if those people from Huangjue Temple were capable, they would probably only be able to confront him directly. In Lady Fan’s heart, she couldn’t say whether she felt more relief or more worry—anything that involved her second brother, no matter how well discussed beforehand, no matter how seamless the plan, still had to be questioned several times.

“Have the Wang family find reliable people to send a message, saying these are my words—send more people to Yangquan to watch over Second Master. This matter cannot have even the slightest error. If there’s an error—” Lady Fan suddenly let out a light laugh, then her tone abruptly turned severe. “If there’s an error, I may acknowledge him as my second brother, but others won’t!”

It wasn’t that she didn’t promote her maternal family members, but such an important matter truly wasn’t suitable for her good-for-nothing second brother to handle. Once something went wrong, never mind the Fan family—even she would be dragged into it. Though the Crown Prince didn’t like Zhou Weizhao, that didn’t mean he would sit by and watch him die.

Nanny Fang couldn’t help but shudder. Watching Nanny Qi acknowledge the order, she quietly listened as Lady Fan gave Nanny Qi some more detailed instructions, then led Nanny Qi out and personally escorted her out of the palace before finally breathing a sigh of relief.

When she returned to the hall, Lady Fan’s drowsiness had already fled. She was leaning on the couch having Muzhuo use a beauty hammer to pound her legs. Seeing her, she asked, “Is the Prince still in the study right now?”

When Zhou Weizhao’s victory report came back, the one who felt most uncomfortable was none other than Zhou Weiqi. These past days he had been discussing with Qian Ying and the others about hosting a literary gathering—the Spring Examinations had announced their results, making it the perfect time to win people over. Taking advantage of this opportunity to bring these future pillars of the court under his command had countless benefits.

Nanny Fang had always had people pay attention to Prince Dongping’s movements over there. Hearing this, she understood in her heart and nodded unhurriedly. “His Highness has set three days from now to host the scholars on the Jin River. Right now he’s discussing details with Master Qian.”

Actually, there weren’t many details to discuss. Since it was called a literary gathering, naturally it should be conducted elegantly. Qian Ying had always been skilled at these matters of official careers and economics, and had already arranged everything properly.

Yet Prince Dongping’s face still showed no trace of a smile. After Qian Ying considered for a moment, he asked him, “Is Your Highness troubled by matters concerning Her Ladyship?”

Previously he had already advised Prince Dongping that he must keep watch over Fan Liangdi and couldn’t let her have her way in everything. At least in the matter of Marquis Jinxiang’s household, Fan Liangdi had absolutely gone too far. This time Fan Liangdi had again deployed the newly assembled Huangjue Temple people. He sighed.

Zhou Weiqi nodded. “Mother personally went to find Master Yuanjue. I don’t know what she said to Master Yuanjue…” Actually, in his heart he already vaguely had a guess. Previously, Fan Liangdi had told him they couldn’t let Zhou Weizhao live to claim this great merit of quelling the rebellion. So now that Fan Liangdi was deploying Yuanjue and the others, using those death warriors that Master Yuanhui had trained before, what exactly they would be used for was self-evident.

Qian Ying looked deeply at Prince Dongping, then lowered his head and began preparing tea. “Your Highness need not worry. Though this is a life-threatening matter, as long as it’s properly planned… once it’s accomplished, for you it will be an unprecedentedly great benefit.”

Zhou Weiqi understood this point without Qian Ying having to say it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have written a letter repeatedly instructing his maternal grandfather’s side to properly accomplish this matter—ever since Lady Fan Junior’s affair, he and the Fan clan had reached a tacit understanding: matters that hadn’t received his permission, even if Lady Fan had ordered them, could not be immediately implemented.

But calculating the time, it had already been over two months since Lady Fan had the Rongyang Fan clan do this thing. No matter what, news should have been sent back by now. As he thought this, his right eyelid jumped violently.