She told Zhou Weizhao everything she had said in Qingning Hall: “There are many in court using the two young highnesses as leverage. Among them are those urging His Majesty to kill them to retaliate against Prince Gong, and also those saying they are after all imperial bloodline. After arguing for so long, His Majesty hasn’t revealed any intentions. A few days ago, didn’t I deliberately mention once about sending them outside the city? I’m afraid at that time they should have already started thinking of methods. After all, they’re Prince Gong’s sons, and one of them is even the legitimate eldest son.”

Zhou Weizhao’s hair was almost dry from being wiped. He sat up and placed the towel aside, touching Song Chuyi’s hair. Just as he was about to say something more, the door outside was already being knocked on urgently.

The people serving at Song Chuyi’s side all had excellent discretion. If it weren’t something important, they would never come to disturb them at this hour. The two exchanged glances, and Song Chuyi calmly called out for them to enter.

Qing Tao stepped forward with hurried steps, softly telling Zhou Weizhao: “Prince Dongping wishes to see you…”

At this hour? The palace gates had already been locked, and the sky had completely darkened. Zhou Weizhao’s brow slightly furrowed. Seeing Song Chuyi also looking over somewhat bewildered, he paused then said: “Invite him to the flower hall. I’ll come out shortly.”

Since returning from Hubei, Zhou Weiqi seemed to have become a different person. Apart from that one time going out to pay respects to Empress Lu, all other times he had only stayed by the Crown Prince’s side caring for him day and night. These past few days with Empress Lu gravely ill, he had started going to Empress Lu’s palace to pay respects morning and night.

On the surface he seemed to have completely transformed. At this hour now, with night already deep, what matter could he have to find Zhou Weizhao for?

Song Chuyi couldn’t figure it out and also wanted to rise and follow Zhou Weizhao out to hide behind the screen and see what was happening: “Let me go with you to take a look…” She was truly somewhat uneasy. In her previous life, Prince Dongping had been the one who laughed last. Although he hadn’t successfully ascended to that position, even after Prince Duan took power and Prince Gong died, he still ended up fine, ultimately becoming Prince Linjiang and bringing Fan Liangdi to his fiefdom to enjoy their blessings.

“Don’t go.” Zhou Weizhao was quick to press her down: “Outside it’s freezing cold. If you come out from under the covers and the cold wind hits you, what if you catch a chill? I’ll go myself. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”

Song Chuyi could only give up, watching Zhou Weizhao leave. Only then did she instruct Qing Ying: “Tell Qing Zhuo and the others to be careful and cautious.”

Although Prince Dongping had voluntarily told Cui Yingshu about Han Cheng’s matter and handed over Han Cheng and the others to Ye Jingkuan, who knew whether he had been bewitched by Han Zhengqing’s words?

Once bitten by a snake, one fears ropes for ten years. In all matters it was better to be cautious. Not all matters could have a second chance. Having already walked to this point, one careless move would be complete defeat.

The light from the man-high auspicious beast-shaped carved sandalwood palace lanterns on both sides of the flower hall illuminated Zhou Weiqi’s face, making it exceptionally pale. Seeing Zhou Weizhao, he stepped forward to meet him, as if not knowing how to begin speaking, momentarily somewhat dazed.

They were brothers, but if you added up their private exchanges, they probably hadn’t exceeded ten sentences total. They truly didn’t understand each other’s temperaments, and truly had nothing to say to each other.

Zhou Weizhao was much more natural than him. He stepped forward two paces, passed him, and sat in the seat of honor, asking: “Coming to find me so late, is there some matter?”

Prince Dongping followed him and turned around to face him. His expression was quite complex, but this complexity was only momentary. He stepped forward several paces. Without sitting down as Zhou Weizhao’s words suggested, he lifted his face to look at Zhou Weizhao. After a long while he said: “I just came from Father’s place…”

He had recently been by the Crown Prince’s side caring for him almost daily, truly attending to matters personally. Even Qing Zhuo upon returning had remarked admiringly that Prince Dongping was a most filial son. Zhou Weizhao made a sound of acknowledgment: “Does Father have any instructions?”

Prince Dongping shook his head. Whether it was from caring for the sick for so long, his lip color was somewhat pale: “No, I came because there are some things I want to tell you.”

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that the two brothers could sit quietly together like this and talk, but now they truly were sitting together. Zhou Weiqi thought for a moment, then started with the Crown Prince’s matter: “About Father’s affairs in Xibei, you know, right?”

Zhou Weizhao naturally knew. To smooth over this festering sore for him, they had expended almost all their effort. He nodded and looked toward Prince Dongping: “I know. Is there something else?”

“Previously when Father contacted Xibei, it was all through my mother.” Zhou Weiqi swallowed with difficulty, then continued in one breath: “My mother in turn went through the Wang family. The Wang family’s relationship with Han Zhengqing is extraordinary—every year they can receive a share of the profits. He has quite a few people in the court, and also people by your side…”

Zhou Weizhao was somewhat surprised. He truly hadn’t expected Zhou Weiqi to have come to tell him this.

Prince Dongping didn’t look at him, keeping his head lowered and speaking to himself: “Back then my mother mentioned to me that your greatest support was the Celestial Master, but this backing couldn’t possibly be reliable for long.”

Fan Liangdi never spoke idly. When she had said to send Han Yueheng for a marriage alliance, she did it. When she said to kill Han Zhi, she killed Han Zhi. When she said to force Little Madam Fan to death, she forced Little Madam Fan to death. She always did what she said she would do.

The Celestial Master had indeed given Zhou Weizhao the greatest protection within his ability starting from when he was five years old. It was very normal for Fan Liangdi to see him as a thorn in her side.

But she had never been able to do anything about the Celestial Master—because the Celestial Master was always highly trusted by Emperor Jianzhang for his ability to write Taoist liturgy and refine elixirs.

So what gave her the confidence to say such a thing? Zhou Weizhao vaguely realized what Zhou Weiqi wanted to tell him. Finally he raised his eyes to look at Zhou Weiqi: “What are you trying to say?”

“I want you to have the Celestial Master be more careful.” Zhou Weiqi met his gaze without evasion: “I heard Grandfather’s health is not very good again, and the Celestial Master has entered the palace to present medicine…”

He lowered his head, his voice unconsciously growing quieter and quieter: “You should still be on guard. Be careful that something goes wrong with the Celestial Master and in the end implicates you.”

Zhou Weizhao was very surprised. He knew that Prince Dongping had refused Han Zhengqing’s offer to take him away, and had even let Ye Jingkuan take advantage of the situation to trap Jiang Tianping. But in his view, as long as one’s brain wasn’t damaged, making this decision was very normal—the Eastern Palace had special internal records documenting these things. His identity was beyond question. If he really had left, it could only be said that his lust for profit had blinded him to the point where he couldn’t even see this basic calculation of advantages and disadvantages.

But while making the decision not to go with Han Zhengqing was certainly normal, specifically coming over to give him this warning was truly rather unexpected.