After Du Fangxi left, Song Chuyi went next door to find Zhou Weizhao. Recently Zhou Weizhao hadn’t had any major matters to attend to. Emperor Jianzhang had told him to report to the Ministry of War after his marriage, so he was only showing his face at the Ministry of Rites. In any case, there wasn’t much happening now.
But trouble fell from the sky while he sat at home. He had just left his position at the Ministry of Rites when someone submitted a memorial impeaching him, saying that during his tenure at the Ministry of Rites he had lined his own pockets and used his wedding to amass wealth.
The one making the accusation was none other than Bai Dong, who served under Elder Du.
This impeachment ultimately came to nothing, but Zhou Weizhao eventually resigned from his position at the Ministry of Rites to avoid suspicion. He was extremely clever—when it came to assessing the situation, probably no one could better grasp the proper measure than him.
Song Chuyi had just arrived when Old Kong was already bustling about serving tea, smiling as he said to Song Chuyi: “We’ve prepared some gifts for Miss Mingzi. Although she doesn’t care about such things, it’s a token of our hearts. We ask that Sixth Miss help deliver them.”
Xiang Mingzi liked the scenery of Song Chuyi’s small courtyard. Ever since Han Zhi disappeared, she had often come to play, especially in summer. Under the enormous paulownia tree in the courtyard it was extremely cool, and she would sit there for an entire afternoon to escape the heat. The sour plum drink Old Kong made suited her taste best. Coming and going, she had long since developed some rapport with the people here.
Song Chuyi smiled: “Uncle Kong has a discerning eye. Whatever you choose, she’s bound to like. I’ll thank you on her behalf first.”
Old Kong hunched over and coughed, quickly waving his hands several times: “Thanks won’t do at all! How can the mistress thank the servants? You humble me too much. Please tell Miss Mingzi for me that I congratulate her and Second Young Master Li on a harmonious union lasting a hundred years, together until their hair turns white.” He couldn’t help but add: “With the older sister married off, the younger sister won’t be far behind. I’m counting the days on my fingers.”
Qing Zhuo listened somewhat confused, scratching his head with an innocent expression as he asked: “Uncle Kong, when other people get married, what days are you counting on your fingers? It’s not like you’re taking a wife!”
Han Feng rolled his eyes, not knowing whether to scold Qing Zhuo for being stupid or praise him for being clever. With that prompting, Old Kong could finally say the second half of his sentence.
Old Kong indeed continued with a beaming smile following Qing Zhuo’s words: “I’m counting the days for our Highness! With the older sister married off, and the day not far away either, once I finish counting for the older sister, I should count for the younger sister!”
This made even someone as thick-skinned as Song Chuyi unable to help blushing. Looking at Zhou Weizhao beside her, gradually her face reddened, then her neck and ears all turned red as well.
Seeing the situation, Zhou Weizhao knew that if they teased any further she might become angry from embarrassment. He quickly coughed toward Old Kong, and after Old Kong left, he personally came to lead Song Chuyi to sit: “Uncle Kong has been with me a long time and is wholeheartedly devoted to me. Don’t be angry with him.”
Song Chuyi naturally knew how good Uncle Kong was. Uncle Kong had been given to Zhou Weizhao by Old Master Lu. When they first returned to the capital from Longhu Mountain, the journey was fraught with difficulties and dangers beyond description. They had to avoid Concubine Fan Liang, and still had to pass through the territory of Prince Gong, whose fief was in Taiyuan. If not for Uncle Kong risking his life to protect him all the way, whether Zhou Weizhao could have returned was still uncertain.
Thinking of this, Song Chuyi couldn’t help but recall the cause of Zhou Weizhao’s death in the previous life. It was said he encountered a mountain flood—a natural disaster that couldn’t be avoided. But whether there were also human factors involved was a matter of opinion.
Looking at how those at Huangjue Temple in Yangquan used tactics strikingly similar to mountain floods and collapses in this life, it was truly hard not to suspect Concubine Fan Liang. Previously, Song Chuyi had always thought that Concubine Fan Liang acted because of the Crown Prince’s deliberate indulgence. But later, when she calmed down to think about it, she realized that the matter in the previous life probably didn’t have such a great connection to the Crown Prince—in the previous life, Zhou Weizhao came to the capital to mourn the Crown Prince’s death. The Crown Prince had long since died by then, so why would Zhou Weizhao still be buried by a mountain flood?
If it was Prince Gong’s doing, that also didn’t quite make sense. When Zhou Weizhao returned, he had temporarily changed his route and didn’t follow the planned itinerary at all. Prince Gong had already gone to the capital to prepare to seize power by then—how could he still have the attention to spare for an unfavored Zhou Weizhao who, upon returning, would already be a done deal beyond anyone’s power to change?
Song Chuyi had always been someone good at making connections. In the previous life, she had thought too little, which was why she treated Song Chuning as a sister and treated the ungrateful wretch as her beloved. Ever since thinking too little led to such a miserable death, she had never hesitated to speculate about unrelated people with the worst malice.
And now, for some reason, thinking of Old Kong, she suddenly recalled that thought that had once flashed through her mind but that she hadn’t managed to grasp—perhaps Zhou Weizhao’s death in the previous life was due to a traitor within his traveling party.
And those who could travel with Zhou Weizhao were all people he trusted extremely, just like when he returned this time, those around him were Old Kong and his group, plus Han Feng, Qing Zhuo, Cui Ting, Ming Tai and the others—a group who also knew to bypass Taiyuan.
Song Chuyi felt somewhat restless. If that was the case, then in the previous life, who was the traitor hiding beside Zhou Weizhao, exchanging information with Concubine Fan Liang and her allies? Was this person still hidden beside Zhou Weizhao in this life?
In the previous life, Zhou Weizhao, who was also the Crown Prince’s legitimate son, died, but Prince Dongping kept a good outcome and even took Concubine Fan Liang far away to his fief to live extremely comfortably. While this certainly involved Han Zhi’s management, what exactly did Han Zhi rely on to establish himself with Prince Gong, even eventually rising to Commander of the Imperial Guard?
If her guess wasn’t wrong, it was probably by perfectly handling the hot potato that was the Imperial Grand Prince for Prince Gong, right?
Now that Han Zhi was already gone, and Grand Lady Fan was dead, what about Prince Dongping? What about Prince Gong?
Zhou Weizhao’s death in the previous life had always been a thorn lodged in Song Chuyi’s heart. And the fact that the Crown Prince and Prince Gong had actually used Zhou Weizhao’s life as a chess piece to attack each other this time made her blood run cold and sent chills down her spine.
It was precisely because of this that she had been determined to ensure the Crown Prince and Prince Gong no longer had the ability to reach out.
But it was still a bit short. Emperor Jianzhang was still too perceptive. Song Chuyi looked at Zhou Weizhao’s handsome profile and sighed slightly in her heart. Now that Emperor Jianzhang had become suspicious, it would be difficult to move against either Prince Gong or Prince Dongping.
But she didn’t think her approach was wrong. Although it wasn’t as perfect as imagined, although it was too hasty and appeared somewhat too fierce, the circumstances in this life were completely different from the previous life. The Crown Prince had already openly developed murderous intent. After all, he was the nation’s heir apparent and also Zhou Weizhao’s father—harming Zhou Weizhao would be all too easy for him. If they didn’t eliminate him as early as possible, who knew how many unmanageable disasters he might cause? She would rather be a bit hasty and first strangle this hidden danger, rather than let this hidden danger take root and sprout in the future, brewing an even greater calamity.
Although there were shortcomings, taking it slowly, she would always think of a thorough method to completely deal with all these troublesome flies.