Having lived two lifetimes totaling nearly fifty years, Song Chuyi had never enjoyed this treatment of being carefully held in someone’s arms as if cradling a priceless treasure. Her nose bumped against his shoulder—though it hurt a bit, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but lift upward. Her previously anxious heart instantly settled back into her belly. She felt as if she were both floating on clouds yet her feet weren’t unsteady, firmly planted on the ground.

Zhou Weizhao soon released her. After she bid farewell to Ma San’s family, he personally accompanied her back to the Earl of Changning’s residence.

Old Master Song had his rest day at home today. Hearing that the Grand Prince had personally arrived, he inevitably came out to greet him together with Song Jue and Song Yan, leading the whole family in respectfully paying their respects before inviting him to stay for a meal.

Zhou Weizhao had originally arranged to meet with Lai Chenglong at noon, but the moment his gaze touched Song Chuyi, the word “no” that had already reached his lips unconsciously took a detour and smoothly became “yes.”

This left Old Master Song uncertain how to react—he had never expected this Highness to be so informal. Though they were already betrothed, after all, first, they weren’t yet married; second, the Grand Prince had a body worth ten thousand gold pieces and should maintain some dignity; and third, Song Chuyi had just returned home—her own family should be allowed to talk with her.

But since he had already agreed, they could only carefully prepare. First Madam Song immediately busied herself. Fortunately, the household had just recently entertained Princess Duanhui and the Eleventh Princess who had come visiting, so they hadn’t yet relaxed and managing it wasn’t too lacking in propriety.

In the front, Old Master Song invited the Grand Prince to sit in the study. Zhou Weizhao had just settled when he beckoned to Song Yan and asked him: “Is Cuiting serving you well?”

Upon returning from outside the city, Zhou Weizhao had completely given Cuiting to Song Yan. Though Song Yan already had Changgui and others by his side who were clever and knew some martial arts, compared to those like Cuiting who had trained since childhood, they were still far inferior. Cuiting had also accompanied Song Yan to Jinling before. Thinking it over, Zhou Weizhao gave Cuiting to him, specifically to protect his safety.

Song Yan hadn’t been present for that time Zhou Weizhao jumped into the lake at Tianshui Town, but this time encountering wolves in the wilderness, he had truly witnessed with his own eyes how Zhou Weizhao risked his life to protect Song Chuyi. Thinking back on it, he felt much closer to Zhou Weizhao. Just as Master Qingfeng had said—in this world, no matter how precious a woman was to a man, after a few times of novelty, they no longer took her seriously. Even if she were a celestial immortal, she would only be treasured for a fleeting moment. Yet Zhou Weizhao could repeatedly abandon his own life to ensure Song Chuyi’s safety. This attitude toward women alone was far beyond what other mediocre men could compare to.

Where could one find someone like him who treasured his sister like the apple of his eye? There was one ready-made right here. Therefore, when Song Chuyi wanted to enter the palace to take risks, he hadn’t voiced any obstruction. Both sides were giving, making them increasingly understand the other’s value.

He pulled back his wandering thoughts and smiled at the Grand Prince: “Very well. Master Qingfeng is extremely fond of him.”

Master Qingfeng truly did like Cuiting, not because he was a good person, but because his wall-scaling and roof-walking skills were truly impressive. Master Qingfeng most loved the douhua from a certain household on the main street or in the alleyways. In the past, when he had servants buy it and bring it back, it would always be cold by the time they returned. Since Cuiting arrived, there was no longer this worry—when he returned, the chili oil poured over the douhua was still steaming.

Zhou Weizhao smiled at him, then turned to talk with Old Master Song: “Rest assured, Imperial Grandfather has already made his decision. My father will just be like this. His life is not in danger, but from now on, other matters—he can no longer do them. As for Uncle Prince Gong—” Seeing Song Chengru, Song Jue, and Song Yan’s ears all perk up, he didn’t keep them in suspense: “After his illness recovers this time, leaving his legitimate eldest son in the capital, he must return to his fief.”

Song Chengru tapped his fingers on the table: “I heard from Chief Minister Chang that according to what the Ministry of Finance reported, Prince Gong’s personal guard army has been reduced by half. Also, two more gold mines were discovered under Prince Gong’s jurisdiction, and now the Ministry of Finance has sent people down to take them over. Is it because of this matter?”

This was indeed not much different from what Master Qingfeng had envisioned. The Emperor couldn’t very well let both his sons be ruined. Being able to keep his son intact while binding his hands and feet was indeed a good choice for Emperor Jianzhang as both father and emperor.

Before Zhou Weizhao could respond, he heard Song Jue coldly interject from the side: “I’m just afraid Prince Gong won’t be willing to let it go.”

If he were willing to let it go, Elder Du wouldn’t be running after their grandfather every day.

This time, however, Elder Du no longer had the leisure to inquire after news from the Song family’s side. The information he wanted had all been gathered. What troubled him now was how to persuade Prince Gong. Prince Gong had simply walked into a dead end. With great difficulty, he had sent a message to Prince Gong, telling him to find a way to write a letter to send out asking the Crown Princess née Lu for help, and he would help him deliver it. Yet Prince Gong had no reaction whatsoever. Not only that, but he reportedly lost his temper badly in private and even burned the letter in a frenzy. This couldn’t help but make him anxious—not only anxious but also somewhat indignant. Prince Gong’s recklessly radical behavior of heeding Han Zhengqing’s instigation to lay such a large chess game—poisoning the Crown Prince to frame the Grand Prince, using the Crown Prince’s hand to eliminate the Grand Prince according to plan, and finally dragging Prince Dongping into this mad behavior—had already greatly annoyed Elder Du. It was just that he was in too deep to extricate himself. If Prince Gong was finished, he was finished too. There really was no other good method, which was why he worked so hard to think of solutions for Prince Gong. Who would have thought Prince Gong would be so stubborn, refusing the opportunity placed right before his eyes and forcefully pushing it away? This truly gave him a solid bout of anger.

He couldn’t help but seek out Chief Councilor Ling again through roundabout means, telling him to absolutely persuade Prince Gong not to let him get stuck in a rut. So many years of management destroyed in an instant—how unwilling that must make one! Could it be he truly wanted to spend his whole life in Taiyuan as a vassal prince? If his ambitions had originally been only this limited, why would he have spent so much effort helping him all these years?

Prince Gong’s residence was no longer the Prince Gong’s residence of before. Everywhere were eunuchs and fire-tenders, with Imperial Guards shuttling back and forth. The stated purpose was to protect Prince Gong’s safety, but in reality, it was to keep watch over him. Chief Councilor Ling wanted to find an opportunity to tell Prince Gong these things. It took him two or three full days before he could finally speak with Prince Gong alone for a while.

Who knew that he had just begun, had only managed to mention the four words “Crown Princess née Lu,” when Prince Gong went mad, grinding his teeth and swearing he would absolutely never follow the method Elder Du suggested. When he said this, he was truly so resolute that it startled Chief Councilor Ling into a daze.