After speaking for a while, Cui Yingshu prepared to take his leave. “There are still some matters at home to arrange. With such an incident occurring, tomorrow’s court session will certainly cause a great upheaval, and the matter of going to Hubei cannot be delayed. With my teacher and you working behind the scenes, I’m afraid I’ll have to set out in the next day or two.”
He should indeed return home to prepare. Song Chengru nodded in agreement. “However, the Princess need not go. The journey is long and arduous…”
Taking along a woman would always be inconvenient, especially if Hubei was truly as critical as Censor Wang had described. Princess Duanhui going would only expose her to danger—better for her to remain in the capital.
“Naturally.” Cui Yingshu didn’t hesitate. “I’ve already discussed it with the Princess. Right now both Hualuan’s and Jiayan’s marriage prospects need to be considered, so it’s much more convenient for her to stay in the capital.” As he spoke, he looked at Song Chuyi again. “Visit your aunt more often.”
Song Chuyi naturally agreed. After seeing Cui Yingshu off, she turned back to look at her grandfather. “Does Grandfather think this is the time to retreat swiftly with the current, or to advance against the tide?”
When she said this, she was every bit a little fox. Song Chengru laughed and scolded, “What? Are you testing your grandfather now?” He organized the official documents in his hands and looked up at his granddaughter without hesitation. “Should your grandfather retire just because the family has a Crown Princess? Your grandfather has reached this position not by whether there’s some empress or consort in the palace, but through solid political achievements and seniority. What, now that it’s come to this, should I avoid suspicion because of others’ idle gossip? If I truly avoided suspicion, His Majesty would be even more suspicious.”
Song Chuyi said this because there was already some gossip in court directed at Old Master Song, saying that in his early years he had close relations with the Eastern Palace and frequent contact with the Prince of Zhennan’s household—that he was actually an Eastern Palace faction member, and marrying his granddaughter to Crown Prince Zhou Weizhao showed no small ambition.
Someone less resilient would have already submitted a memorial requesting forgiveness and retirement. But Song Chengru had already cultivated himself to be extremely resistant to pressure and exceptionally thick-skinned. He turned a completely deaf ear to such talk, acting as if he were deaf and had heard nothing—having gotten along with Emperor Jianzhang for so many years, although he dared not presume to fathom the imperial mind, he understood one thing clearly: Emperor Jianzhang was an emperor who got real work done. Though he loved immortality cultivation and alchemy, he had never neglected state affairs. Such an emperor naturally favored those who accomplished real work, and he, Song Chengru, had always done exactly that. Moreover, the foundation was already firmly established—he had maintained the posture of a pure minister well before Emperor Jianzhang, and this time the Crown Prince had a stroke of genius—plotting to kill Song Chuyi.
Wasn’t this perfect timing? It gave Song Chengru a ladder to lean toward Emperor Jianzhang—if Song Chengru truly were an Eastern Palace faction member, would the Crown Prince come to kill his granddaughter?
Therefore, Song Chengru treated such talk as mere flatulence. “Previously such talk was quite common, but after Old Du received his reprimand, my ears have been much quieter.”
Song Chuyi couldn’t help but laugh. “Elder Du now probably hasn’t covered his tracks cleanly enough and certainly won’t stir up more trouble. But there are always some ill-intentioned people fishing in troubled waters. To oppose Grandfather, I’m afraid they’ll also make trouble regarding Uncle’s trip to Hubei. Such talk will certainly be brought up again by someone. I’m just reminding Grandfather to be prepared.”
Song Chengru actually hadn’t cultivated such thick skin before. It was mainly because Song Chuyi had instigated him several times. After he had submitted memorials requesting resignation a few times, he understood—Emperor Jianzhang, on the whole, still approved of him.
Since Emperor Jianzhang recognized him as someone who accomplished real work, why should he fear such gossip? Above him was Emperor Jianzhang, below him was Grand Secretary Chang, and he also managed the Ministry of Personnel—why fear these people’s impeachments?
However, Song Chuyi’s reminder did have some merit. There were always those who, instead of properly performing their official duties, wanted to bring down one or two people to make a name for themselves in one battle, especially since he managed the Ministry of Personnel and was a thorn in many people’s sides.
He nodded. “Trying to start with me to obstruct your uncle’s trip to Hubei—Old Du won’t be foolish enough to do that. Now that he can’t rely on Prince Gong, he’s still counting on the Crown Prince. At this time, how would he dare create obstacles for the Crown Prince? What remains are just some small fry who don’t understand the inner workings. Their points of attack will be nothing more than nonsense like our family’s overwhelming power and formation of private factions. Since you’ve reminded me, naturally I’ll have methods to deal with it. Don’t worry. Go to the rear courtyard to see your grandmother—she’s probably worried sick about you.”
Old Madam Song there was truly worried sick. Nanny Huang had made several trips to the front courtyard. Old Madam Song was urging people to go to the front courtyard again to search when Yulan had already lifted the curtain, saying Song Chuyi had arrived.
The moment Song Chuyi entered, Old Madam Song grasped her hand. “Your grandfather really is something—what couldn’t be discussed after you’d tidied yourself up? He had to talk about it at this time.” She looked her up and down before finally breathing a sigh of relief. “Fortunately nothing happened. I don’t know what Brother Jue was thinking as an older brother, leaving you two young ladies in the shop. He was truly confused…”
Xiang Mingzi could only take Old Madam Song’s arm and act coquettishly. “It really wasn’t Big Brother’s fault. Miss Lu was lost, and she came out with us—could we just leave her to her fate? At the time, we didn’t know the fire would spread to Chongyin Workshop, much less anticipate that things would become so chaotic.”
Yes, because of this incident, quite a few people had died or been injured. Old Madam Song chanted Buddha’s name. “Going out for some festive excitement, who would have thought we’d encounter such a thing? It’s truly…”
After saying this, she felt the words were inauspicious and stopped, instead asking Song Chuyi, “I heard that Ye Er is setting out tomorrow? Remember to have Brother Yan accompany your elder brother to see him off. He’s always had a good relationship with your elder brother and Brother Yan. This departure is for several years again—he even came to our house specially the day before yesterday to take his leave.”
Ye Jingchuan had treated Song Chuyi truly impeccably, and was also extremely good to Song Yan. The two families were old family friends, and both Song Jue and Song Yan had good relationships with him. Going to see him off was proper.
Old Madam truly felt Ye Jingchuan was a good person. After Song Chuyi agreed, she chatted with the two sisters, Xiang Mingzi and Song Chuyi, for a while longer. After they dispersed, she turned to instruct the First Madam, “You should also prepare a gift to send to the Prince of Zhennan’s household.”
The Prince of Zhennan’s household had always had a good relationship with the Earl of Changning’s household. Since the Prince of Zhennan’s household could harbor no ill feelings over Ye Jingchuan’s matter, the Earl of Changning’s household should express their position all the more.
First Madam Song had already prepared this long ago. Hearing this, she smiled in agreement, handed the gift list to Old Madam Song to review, and asked, “How about using the pair of jade ruyi that Consort Song bestowed as the first set of betrothal gifts?”
Although the Crown Princess’s status was also precious, Consort Song was after all an elder. Old Madam Song nodded her head.