Zhou Weiqi almost immediately rejected Huang Yiqing’s suggestion—Fan Liangdi had repeatedly instructed him that some matters could not be mentioned to his father. His mother wanting to keep this silver for him already meant she regarded him as more important than the Crown Prince. He, like his mother, understood his father all too well. What his father feared most was being placed behind others. Once he learned that Fan Liangdi had done so many things behind his back while concealing them from him… He closed his eyes—after his mother’s death, his father being able to suppress the anger in his heart was probably largely because his mother had taken matters into her own hands and repeatedly deployed the Fan family people without consulting him. He could not touch upon this taboo.
Huang Yiqing turned to look at Qian Ying. He felt that Fan Liangdi’s death had already allowed the Crown Prince to vent his anger: “I know His Highness’s concerns, but didn’t Chief Historian Qian also say back then that the reason Liangdi was targeted by the Empress was because Sixth Miss Song exposed the Chen family matter before Her Majesty the Empress? Since His Highness didn’t cause any trouble, it shows the Empress spoke of Liangdi’s actions. Since she spoke of it, what do we have to hide? When the time comes, just say this silver was sought for His Highness’s sake—wouldn’t that settle it?”
After all, the Crown Prince loved money so much. He spoke somewhat euphemistically: “Even if His Highness doesn’t consider your face, for the sake of Liangdi’s hard work, he won’t let this matter fall through.”
The Yang Yungyong affair could be covered up on the surface, but who didn’t know internally that it was the Crown Prince’s greed for money that made Chen Dezhong the scapegoat? Zhou Weiqi felt his face burning somewhat. After an awkward moment, he also looked at Qian Ying: “Does Chief Historian Qian think this plan is feasible?”
After much deliberation, Qian Ying straightened his robes and slowly nodded: “Minister Huang also has a point. His Highness is in need of silver right now—most of Yang Yungyong’s tribute money was taken out by the Crown Prince and given to Chen Dezhong, so that the Imperial Guard and the Ministry of Justice could close the case satisfactorily. This gap needs to be filled precisely at this time. If these two hundred thousand taels of silver can be obtained, His Highness truly won’t pass up the opportunity. If you make your words sound pleasant, first go speak with His Highness about this.” He paused, then added: “When you go this time, besides speaking of this matter, don’t forget to emphasize Sixth Miss Song…”
She was a disaster. Qian Ying’s heart sank when he thought of Song Chuyi. This Sixth Miss Song acted ruthlessly and decisively, striking without ever showing mercy. Previously, Prince Duan, Huangjue Temple, Elder Chen, and now Fan Liangdi—one after another, almost everyone who had plotted against her met with a bad end. Now that she and the Imperial Grand Heir had become a pair, they were a community of interests. She herself already had grievances with Fan Liangdi and the Prince of Dongping. Just thinking about Sixth Miss Song becoming the Grand Heir’s Consort in the future made Qian Ying’s head buzz. Zhou Weizhao alone with the Zhennan Prince’s Manor was already more than people could bear, and adding the Song and Cui families on top of that…
Seeing Zhou Weiqi’s expression become grave, he knew Zhou Weiqi had understood his hint. After thinking for a moment, he said: “The people we have at hand are insufficient, and we’re truly no match for that Sixth Miss Song of Changning Earl Manor—just look at how she can manipulate the Xiangfan Chen family from far away in the capital, and you’ll know how terrifying this young lady is. Since the Song family allows a young lady to wield such great power, it shows how indulgent they are of her. Once she truly marries the Grand Heir in the future, she’ll be no small trouble.”
Huang Yiqing couldn’t help but interject with lingering fear: “Those words are quite right. This Sixth Miss Song is so capable, it’s truly alarming. First there was Fan Liangdi, now it’s you. She hasn’t even married yet and already plans to clear away all the obstacles in the Grand Heir’s path. Such a hidden danger truly cannot be left unchecked.”
Zhou Weiqi himself was even more wary of Sixth Miss Song than the two of them. This girl whom Master Yuanhui and Yuankong had determined possessed two types of fate had time and again ruined the good plans of him and his mother. Since her appearance, almost nothing he and his mother attempted had succeeded. In Yangquan and Jinzhong as well, it was because Song Chuyi interfered that so many complications arose. What’s more, Song Chuyi was doted upon by the patriarchs of both the Song and Cui families, so her actions had never been restrained. Therefore, her destructive power seemed even more terrifying. He nodded, then hesitated somewhat: “But Father has just emerged from the Yang Yungyong affair. It’s precisely a time when he needs to exercise restraint…” He was somewhat worried whether his father would concern himself with Sixth Miss Song’s matters.
Qian Ying smiled: “His Highness has no way to deal with Her Majesty the Empress—after all, she is His Highness’s mother. But what is Sixth Miss Song to His Highness? His Highness treats you and the Grand Heir quite differently.”
The implication was that the Crown Prince wouldn’t have any sentimental attachment to Song Chuyi for Zhou Weizhao’s sake, but would rather, because of his coldness toward Zhou Weizhao, hate everything associated with him.
Since both Qian Ying and Huang Yiqing spoke thus, when Zhou Weiqi went to find the Crown Prince, he first spoke of Wei Yansheng being trapped in Xiangfan. At the end, he looked at his father somewhat hesitantly: “Sixth Miss Song… Sixth Miss Song perhaps because of eldest brother’s affair, harbors resentment toward both Mother and me. Every time she encounters us acting…”
The Crown Prince clasped his hands together, propped them on the desk, and first asked him: “You just said you found the seal?” This was what he cared about most. He couldn’t function without silver, but after the Yang Yungyong affair emerged, all one hundred and seventy thousand taels that Fan Liangdi had previously given him from the Xibei dividends had been used up. He was currently somewhat strapped for cash.
Zhou Weiqi responded without hesitation: “Mother originally wanted to get the silver in hand first while concealing it from you. She was too hasty.” He tried hard to make his words more complete: “Because of the Yangquan and Jinzhong affairs, Mother always felt you would blame her, so she wanted to help you… After her incident, Wei Yansheng told me of Mother’s plan. I also thought that since Mother had already obtained the seal, I might as well try. Who knew…” He lowered his head, wilting like an eggplant struck by frost: “It’s this son who is useless.”
The Crown Prince sneered: “How can this be blamed on you? That Sixth Miss Song of Changning Earl Manor is a demon and disaster, yet they all indulge her. She has people when she wants people, power when she wants power. Who is her grandfather? A cabinet minister, the Minister of Personnel. If she wants to do something, with one command, won’t the Xiangfan Prefect wag his tail like a dog?”
He paused, the veins on the back of his hand bulging as he slowly revealed a cold smile: “You’re no match for her. This kind of baleful lone star—whoever touches her meets misfortune.”
The Crown Prince didn’t dwell at all on whether he truly intended to present the silver to him. Zhou Weiqi was somewhat surprised. He felt his father seemed to have gone mad.