Song Chuyi thought for a moment, then told him about the matter. Seeing him furrow his brow, she said: “Same as last time, this is merely my speculation. I’m sending Ma Wangkun and Ma Changjiang to confirm this speculation. If things truly are as I expected, Fan Liangdi has delivered a handle right into my hands. She’s a madwoman—” She lifted her eyes to glance at Zhou Weizhao, still remembering how he’d looked that day when his fever wouldn’t break, her heart surging with lingering fear: “She dares to do anything. If she gets her hands on such a large sum of silver, her appetite will only grow bigger and bigger. I fear what she does next time will be even more insane.”
Song Chuyi had never liked listening to opera before—in her previous life when she died, the Duke Yingguo’s residence had been hosting an opera troupe, and whenever she heard those lingering melodies, she felt chilled to the bone, as if they were singing out her entire life. Just as she used to fear marriage—after taking a fall, one learns the pain. Once you know pain, you fear being hurt again, so you simply don’t reach out that hand to grasp it.
But Zhou Weizhao was the person she wanted to reach out and hold onto now—from the moment she fell into the water thinking she would surely die, when Zhou Weizhao unhesitatingly jumped in after her and reached out to grasp her hand, she knew that in this life, aside from Song Yan, she finally had another person whose hand she wanted to hold no matter what.
Later, when she was recuperating with Zhou Weizhao in Tianshui Town, an opera was being performed at the magistrate’s old residence—they were performing “The Butterfly Lovers.” There was one line sung by Liang Shanbo about Zhu Yingtai that shocked her profoundly. It seemed to go: ‘Mother brought back Yingtai’s letter, words of comfort written on the page. She said though close as neighbors, we’re far as heaven and earth, unable to meet. Though her body hasn’t come, her heart has already arrived. I see only the words “cherish yourself” filling the entire page, she hopes I’ll overcome disaster and escape misfortune.’
Perhaps the soul dwelling in her body was too old, making her increasingly understand the weight of those two words “cherish yourself.” In this life, she also hoped Zhou Weizhao could cherish himself and be safe and sound.
And she never wanted the incident at Tianshui Town to happen a second time. Fan Liangdi had done wrong and naturally should pay the price for that mistake. If the Crown Prince wouldn’t exact this price, she would demand it herself.
Zhou Weizhao roughly understood what Song Chuyi wanted to do. Previously, Song Chuyi had been wholeheartedly trying to use Han Zhi to strike at the Fan clan and Fan Liangdi, and had revealed this information to him. But now, Song Chuyi could no longer wait until that time—Han Zhi was at sea, his whereabouts uncertain and extremely cunning, not so easy to find. Sun Ergou had gone and even now, it was said he’d joined the pirates, but had never seen Han Zhi. He’d only met one or two of Wang Lun’s other adopted sons, showing how difficult the progress was.
He could feel Song Chuyi’s wariness and fear of the Crown Prince and Fan Liangdi in her heart. He couldn’t help sighing softly: “Master once told me that someone like me could only marry someone broad-minded to live life together. Anyone slightly more sensitive would probably have a hard time.” He looked at Song Chuyi and lowered his eyes: “Just like my mother. If she were a bit more foolish and dull, it would be fine, but she happens to be clever. This cleverness makes her see my father very clearly. The more Father dotes on Fan Liangdi’s mother and son, the more she feels I’m being wronged. But I myself actually don’t care that much.”
He felt Song Chuyi’s hand move in his palm and smiled gently: “Just like you, Xiaoyi. I don’t hope you all will feel I’m being wronged. Actually, I don’t value his favor that much. I already have so much—having Mother and you is enough.”
This wasn’t a question of worth or not worth, but of fairness or unfairness. Song Chuyi spoke solemnly: “I will stand together with you. No matter when, I want to stand together with you.”
There is a kind of love in this world that might be called evenly matched. I don’t want to surpass you, but I want to do my utmost to strengthen myself to shield you from wind and rain.
Zhou Weizhao couldn’t help laughing, looking at this little cat who had bared her claws, and said gently and slowly: “I will also forever stand together with you.”
In the evening when Zhou Weizhao went to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress, the Empress specially called him over: “After Eleven’s tea gathering ended, from what she said, it seems Sixth Miss Song didn’t cause any trouble this time.”
Even the Empress herself felt that Song Chuyi was truly somewhat different, at least not like ordinary young ladies. She didn’t want to issue an imperial edict without knowing anything, in case Miss Song was unwilling and got stubborn—that would hurt Zhou Weizhao’s face.
She had specially sent Princess Rongcheng and Eleventh Princess to sound things out, and combined with what she’d heard at Consort Song’s place about the Song family’s attitude, she felt this marriage could probably succeed. The gloomy mood she’d had these days from arguing with the Crown Prince had dispersed somewhat, and her face showed a gentle smile: “In a few days, I’ll have her come in to chat with me, and let your mother take a look too. If your mother approves, shall we settle this matter?”
Recently, Emperor Jianzhang had also become concerned about his grandson’s marriage, telling her to properly select a few candidates. She had already agreed.
Zhou Weizhao listened with a smile for a while, then nodded with a smile: “Whatever you decide is fine.”
Zhou Weizhao didn’t look very much like the Crown Prince. He actually took more after Crown Princess Consort Lu. Looking at him, the Empress felt her heart soften several degrees. She pressed her lips together several times, wanting to speak but stopping.
She wanted to advise her grandson not to resent his father, not to take this incident to heart, but in the end she couldn’t bring herself to speak—from Dragon-Tiger Mountain until now, she had seen with her own eyes how difficult each step this child had walked was. His father had never shown him favor, watching coldly as he stumbled along this perilous path. Now he wouldn’t even give him justice. What face did she have to open her mouth to plead for his father? Moreover, Zhou Weizhao was truly too perceptive a child—before you even opened your mouth, he probably already knew your meaning.
The words reached her lips but took a different turn. The Empress leaned forward, grasped her grandson’s hand, and patted it: “You like her—Imperial Grandmother knows. Since you admire the young lady, live well together in the future.”
This point didn’t need the Empress’s reminder at all. Zhou Weizhao nodded firmly: “Imperial Grandmother, don’t tell Imperial Grandfather that I took a fancy to her myself.” He sighed and sat down beside the Empress: “After all, I received much help from the Cui family when I was in Jinzhong, and returned to the capital together with the Cui and Song families. Although I myself am upright and don’t feel there’s anything wrong, it wouldn’t be good if Imperial Grandfather felt in his heart that the Song family was scheming.”
The Empress naturally understood this point. Since she would follow Zhou Weizhao’s wishes and select Song Chuyi, she would naturally have reasonable justification before Emperor Jianzhang. She smiled and nodded: “Don’t worry. You’ve reached the age, marriage is natural. Your Imperial Grandfather even reminded me about it before. Sixth Miss Song’s status is also appropriate—choosing her originally wouldn’t be problematic.”