Everyone understood this reasoning. Old Master Song comforted her, “It’s not quite like that. Little Yi doing this also has its benefits—the Crown Prince extending his reach everywhere is not a solution. Moreover, the matter in the Northwest cannot be concealed any longer. Rather than waiting until that time when Shaoting will have difficulty managing, better to make the painful resolute decision now to place the Crown Prince’s true face before His Majesty. At this present moment, this opportunity is rare. His Highness the Grand Prince and little Yi were both nearly killed by His Highness the Crown Prince. No matter what, His Majesty won’t feel they have any entanglement with these sordid affairs.”
Song Chuyi acting this way was indeed a matter of having no choice. The Crown Prince’s holes were too difficult to plug. Setting aside whether they were willing to plug them, the reality was they couldn’t be plugged—not even mentioning the Yangzhou corruption case, since that had already passed. But the Crown Prince now openly raised death warriors, colluded with local high ministers, and his outstretched hand was for money. Then there was the matter of Northwest smuggling. Once these matters came to light, the results would be completely different from what had emerged now. Coming to light now, Song Chuyi and Zhou Weizhao were both unable to do anything—it couldn’t be pinned on their heads. Coming to light in the future, it would inevitably implicate them.
Though this was certainly also a reason, Old Madam Song’s brows remained somewhat troubled, “The words may be so, but little Yi clearly did this to vent anger on behalf of His Highness the Grand Prince. Now I finally understand those words she said about how utterly devoted she was to Shen Qingrang in her dream. This girl, when her heart isn’t moved, it isn’t moved. But once her heart is moved, she wishes she could take everything in her hands and present it with both hands before the other person. In her dream, she gave everything she had and ended up in a miserable state. Now, previously she was willing to personally go before the Empress to remind her to punish the Crown Prince for the Grand Prince’s sake. Now she again dares to go against the Empress’s wishes and spread the grievances between Prince Gong and the Crown Prince before Emperor Jianzhang. If in the future the Grand Prince no longer likes her, what will she do then?”
Old Master Song also fell silent for a moment. His young granddaughter’s temperament recently had become vastly different from a few years ago. Previously she would steadily and surely seize every advantage yet not show off or reveal herself. But recently she had increasingly taken risky approaches with her sharp edge necessarily exposed.
He wasn’t worried about the same things as Old Madam Song. After all, he was a man who managed affairs outside. No matter how many times these matters of romantic entanglements were discussed with him, he didn’t think much of them. Zhou Weizhao’s status—how precious was it? If in the future he truly ascended to the throne, could the three palaces and six courts be lacking? He understood this principle well and felt his young granddaughter possessed such keen intelligence, she also knew the importance of advancing and retreating. What he worried about was another layer. Looking at Old Madam Song, he sighed, “You still have the leisure to worry about this. Little Yi clearly has ambitions soaring to the ninth heaven!”
Old Madam Song was startled. She looked left and right, patted her chest while looking at Old Master Song, her lips wriggling for a long while. Finally she let out a heavy sigh, “This too is something that can’t be helped. Following the Grand Prince, if she doesn’t fly to the heavens to become a phoenix, then she must become a chicken awaiting slaughter.”
“Since you know this, you should know their future path will have dangerous straits everywhere. Are you still concerned about these minor details?” Old Master Song stroked his beard, drinking a bowl of tea to soothe his throat, “Let’s get through this present trial first. Their days are ultimately for them to live themselves. Little Yi is a clever child. If matters outside proceed smoothly, the inside naturally won’t be too bad.”
Old Madam Song felt Old Master Song still didn’t sufficiently understand their granddaughter’s temperament. Keeping worries in her heart, unable to speak with others, she could say a few words to her sister-in-law Princess Duanhui and Madam Yu, “Little Yi can be considered to have acted without regard for her own safety for His Highness the Grand Prince’s sake. In the future, we can only hope His Highness will always remember today’s bond of affection. Otherwise, given little Yi’s temperament, how can she live well?”
Princess Duanhui and Madam Yu both consoled her, “His Highness is a child with propriety who values bonds of affection. He’s different from others. Moreover, who can say for certain about future matters? We can’t refrain from eating for fear of choking, can we?”
Old Madam Song couldn’t continue speaking further. She listened as Princess Duanhui spoke of Her Majesty the Empress, “She’s so angry she’s fallen ill. These past few days, Princess Rongcheng has been constantly attending to her sickness.”
Two sons—one ruined, the other’s fate still unknown. Even if she didn’t fall ill, she would have to fall ill. Old Madam Song’s brows furrowed slightly, “The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. Her Majesty the Empress should be leading the inner and outer noble ladies in moon worship. In the present circumstances…”
“We still don’t know how it will be. If it truly proves impossible…” Princess Duanhui saw Madam Yu and Old Madam Song both looking toward her, and her voice unconsciously dropped even lower, “If it truly proves impossible, perhaps the Crown Princess will act as substitute.”
Old Madam Song’s brows furrowed even tighter. The palace lacked an Empress Dowager, and the Empress was again gravely ill unable to rise. Having the Crown Princess act as substitute in her duties wasn’t impossible, but at this particular moment, it felt somewhat delicate.
But these worries couldn’t be resolved in just a moment or two. Old Madam Song also didn’t inquire further, discussing with Madam Yu again about Xiang Mingzi’s marriage—besides serving as the Fully Blessed Madam, Madam Yu also concurrently acted as matchmaker. The two families had different customs, and she was the one conveying messages and negotiating between them.
After the arrangements were confirmed and she had just gone to convey the message to the groom’s family, they heard that Minister Li would probably be shifting positions next year—the vacancy for Provincial Governor in Jiangxi, the Cabinet had recommended several people but Emperor Jianzhang was unsatisfied with all of them. Only recently had he relented and allowed Li Yu to fill the position.
When the news arrived, First Master Song and First Madam Song were both somewhat pleased—though it was moving from one location to another, a lateral transfer, Jiangxi had just experienced this incident. That Emperor Jianzhang had appointed Li Yu showed his regard for Li Yu. Once he took up his post in Jiangxi, when his three-year term was complete, he would certainly be promoted.
Old Madam Song originally thought this way too. When Old Master Song returned, she still asked him, “Our family has long had ties of friendship with the Li family. Now we’re about to become marriage relations as well. Now that His Majesty has appointed him to fill Yang Yunyong’s vacancy, does this mean…”
Did it mean he had decided to make Zhou Weizhao the next heir and was specially cultivating a team for him?
But Old Master Song shook his head, “We still don’t know exactly what will be said about Prince Gong at present. Once this matter is concluded, then we’ll see.”
Though logically speaking, since Emperor Jianzhang had used Ma Yuantong as a shield, he had no intention of making this matter big. But after all, the imperial heart was difficult to fathom. No one was a tapeworm in his belly. He currently wasn’t venting anger on Zhou Weizhao, but there was no guarantee for the future.
Moreover, even if the Eastern Palace truly stood as stable as Mount Tai as Song Chuyi predicted, there was still Zhou Weiqi. Whether sons or grandsons, Emperor Jianzhang had many choices. Thinking about these things now was too early.
“The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. Prince Su and Prince Lu have successively entered the capital. I heard tomorrow they can enter the palace to pay respects to His Majesty and the Empress. Regarding Prince Gong’s matter, shouldn’t an explanation be given before Mid-Autumn?” Old Madam Song frowned, “Keeping our hearts suspended day after day like this, we ultimately can’t feel at ease. How anxious must little Yi be in the palace?”
Old Master Song actually wasn’t worried about whether Song Chuyi would be anxious. He went to the washing room to change clothes and emerge again. Feeling his eyelids somewhat heavy, he still mustered his energy to reassure Old Madam Song, “You need not worry about this. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a major event. Before this, there must be an explanation.”