Song Chuyi sighed and looked at Zhou Weizhao, her voice involuntarily dropping lower. “When I received the information, I actually didn’t quite believe it.” As she spoke, she gave a self-deprecating smile. “I thought that my father was already the most irresponsible father in this world, but I never imagined there could be someone like the Crown Prince who fathers children this way.”
Like the vast majority of people in this world, she had been convinced that in her previous life, the one who had made a move against Zhou Weizhao was Prince Duan, was Shen Qingrang. But no matter what, she could never have anticipated that it would actually be the Crown Prince.
She raised her head and suddenly changed the topic to ask him, “That letter—who do you guess wrote it?”
Zhou Weizhao sighed. “Naturally it was Prince Gong. The Crown Prince wanted to provoke Prince Gong into making a move to deal with you and strike at me, while simultaneously having Prince Gong completely offend both your Changning Earl Manor and the Cui family. Prince Gong isn’t a fool—how could he possibly fall for that? Naturally he thought to give him a taste of his own medicine, turning it around to make me and him become bitter enemies instead.”
He referred to the Crown Prince as “the Crown Prince” and no longer called him father—this already clearly demonstrated his attitude. Song Chuyi only felt heartache for him. Beyond heartache was a belly full of grievance. “Earlier, Ayan warned me that the Crown Prince would probably make a move. I still thought the Crown Prince would at least restrain himself somewhat. But Master Qingfeng also cautioned me that one must always guard against others. I thought about it—indeed, this was sound reasoning—so I asked Commander Lai to investigate. With this investigation, I discovered something was amiss.”
So it was Lai Chenglong who had made the move. No wonder Song Chuyi could set up an ambush in advance with sufficient personnel, even controlling the entire temple. Zhou Weizhao nodded. “But it was still somewhat risky. He is, after all, the Crown Prince, and he’s also the person behind Marquis Jinxiang’s manor and the Fan family. These two families are no easy marks. Since he can keep both families under his control for his use and even hide it from Father Emperor while restraining Mother Empress…”
Ma San had already dragged his captive past not far from them. Song Chuyi glanced their way, then returned her gaze to Zhou Weizhao. “I also made full preparations. Ayan had people from my uncle and grandfather at his side, and I myself had Ma San and the others. If these still weren’t enough, I specially went to borrow some archers from the Prince Consort’s manor guards. But even so, it was still very dangerous. The Crown Prince is indeed as you said—far from simple.” She couldn’t help feeling somewhat ironic. “He actually raises death warriors just like Prince Duan. If the Emperor were to find out about this, would he still live?”
Not only did he raise death warriors, he actually dared to deploy this batch of death warriors at the foot of the Son of Heaven to deal with her. Had he lost his mind?! On one hand provoking Prince Gong, wanting to use Prince Gong to deal with people, yet not thinking about what to do if Prince Gong didn’t take the bait. Song Chuyi’s cold smile intensified. “Moreover, he simultaneously sent the Wei family to Xiangfan. The Xiangfan Prefect may indeed be no match for the Hubei Provincial Governor, but unfortunately, the officials in this world aren’t limited to governors and prefects. Has he forgotten who the eunuch stationed in Hubei is?”
Zhou Weizhao had been busy recently with Ministry of Rites affairs, but this didn’t mean he knew nothing of outside matters. He glanced at Song Chuyi, unsurprised. “So you already knew about this matter too? The Hubei stationed eunuch is precisely Hu Ting, the adopted son of Xingfu from back then, the only one who escaped from the Xingfu case. My father having Lord Wei go smooth over relations with the Hubei Provincial Governor may be workable, but he forgot that Hu Ting followed Xingfu back then. He’s very clear about my father’s network of connections. With both Wei father and son going to Xiangfan, no matter how stupid he is, he should know the matter can’t be disconnected from the Eastern Palace. And if it can’t be disconnected from the Eastern Palace, he’s very likely to throw in some obstacles.”
“Ever since you told me about the Xiangfan matter, I knew the Crown Prince might intervene—Dongping doesn’t have the capability to extract people from the authorities. With his personality, he would definitely seek help from the Crown Prince. Even if in the end the Crown Prince doesn’t help, given his regard for silver, he would develop an aversion toward you and the Song family in his heart.” When Zhou Weizhao mentioned the Crown Prince, his expression was blank. “Originally, I was thinking to simply use Hu Ting’s hand to deal with the Wei father and son. The Crown Prince has no way to handle Hu Ting anyway. But from the looks of it now, there’s no such necessity.”
He told Song Chuyi about Yang Xuan’s death. Looking at Song Chuyi, his eyes still appeared gentle, but the words that came out carried not a trace of warmth. “He’s still struggling on his deathbed. Thinking that with Yang Xuan dead, he can have Han Zhengqing withdraw and save the Fan family, save this shield he finds very convenient to use. Then he makes a move against you, thinking to ruin my marriage. This should only be the first step, right? Next, after something happens to you and the Song family, the Cui family, and Prince Gong become sworn enemies, he would free up his hands to deal with my mother and the Lu family.”
The hand Song Chuyi had in his palm moved, slowly grasping his hand. “Early discovery has its benefits. The Yang Xuan matter happens to be a good excuse to eliminate the Fan family—and it also happens to solve a difficult problem for the Prince Consort. As for the Crown Prince…” Song Chuyi paused. “As for the Crown Prince, back then the Empress thought that holding his weaknesses in her hand would make him restrain himself somewhat. If she knew that even with these weaknesses, the Crown Prince still isn’t someone she can control, I think she should be able to make up her mind, shouldn’t she?”
Zhou Weizhao nodded. “I’ll go speak with Imperial Grandmother myself.”
Between a son who has already gone mad and might drag everyone into the abyss, and a grandson deeply favored by Emperor Jianzhang, Empress Lu should know what choice to make.
Song Yan finished directing Changgui to clean up the aftermath completely, then frowned as he looked at Song Chuyi. “These death warriors are extremely expensive to train. The Crown Prince must have invested considerable effort in them. Now that they’ve all gone without return, the Crown Prince will probably react immediately. If you want to make him behave, I’m afraid you need to move quickly.”
Zhou Weizhao stood up and nodded at him. “Let’s return to the city now.” He looked at the sky that had gradually darkened, his brow furrowed tightly. “It’s already getting late.”
The sun had gradually sunk westward. If they set out now, they could still make it into the city before the gates closed—he absolutely could not let Song Chuyi stay at the temple for another night as originally planned. The Crown Prince was not like Consort Fan Liangdi. He was even more ruthless than Fan Liangdi. After waiting so long without anyone returning to report, he would surely know something was wrong. Just as Song Yan said, they didn’t have much time.
Song Yan immediately understood his meaning and nodded. “Let’s discuss everything after we enter the city.” There were too many variables out here. Just as Zhou Weizhao worried, if the Crown Prince had not just this one move and there were subsequent responses to deal with, then if they couldn’t enter the city after the gates closed, the situation would become serious.