Song Yan had grown much taller compared to before. His two sword-like eyebrows knitted together, faintly showing traces of becoming an adult. When he walked toward her, Song Chuyi couldn’t help but take a step back.
In her previous life, she had never seen what Song Yan looked like after he had completely grown up—or perhaps she had seen him, but didn’t remember much. Back then, Song Yan, perhaps because he had lost his protection too early, always appeared cautious and bitter, wearing a face full of grievances. He had never been as radiant and cheerful as he was now.
Song Chuyi took a step back, then immediately came to her senses. The corners of her eyes and brows filled with a smile as she reached out to grasp Song Yan’s hand, smoothly patting his head. “Have you packed everything?”
Song Chengru had sent her a message some days ago, saying that they had delayed long enough and could not delay any further. No matter what, after the Lantern Festival, they absolutely had to send Song Yan to Tang Mingzhao in Shu. Right now, the situation in the capital was turbulent, and it was inevitable that some people would have designs on the Song family. As Song Chuyi’s younger brother and the Crown Prince’s brother-in-law, Song Yan’s importance went without saying. Those with designs on him would only increase, not decrease. Though he needed to gain experience, there was no need to risk his safety. It would be better to go to Great Scholar Tang in Shu. Great Scholar Tang was virtuous and highly respected, and in Shu there were people from the Cui family to look after him. If Song Yan went there, he could both study and cultivate himself while avoiding court disputes—it couldn’t be better.
Song Yan nodded, his pair of eyes bright and shining as he looked at Song Chuyi. “I’ve packed everything. Brother-in-law said he would directly give me Cuiting and Mingtai, letting them accompany me to Shu together. The teacher also said those two are good.”
Cuiting and Mingtai had followed Song Yan in Jinling before, so now that they were accompanying him to Shu again, Song Chuyi felt at ease. Seeing Song Yan happy, she couldn’t help but smile as well. “Since you think they’re good, then naturally they’re good.”
After saying this, she turned to look at Song Jue. “Among those in court advocating war this time, some have proposed sending Zhou Weiyin and Zhou Weiyang to the military front to be beheaded as a blood sacrifice before the troops. Is this Grandfather’s idea? Or Elder Cen’s idea?”
Song Jue raised his eyebrows. Seeing that Song Yan was also looking over curiously, he calmly shook his head. “Grandfather isn’t crazy. The better these two princes live, the more it proves how their biological father violates human ethics—not filial to his parents above, not harmonious with his siblings in the middle, and not mindful of his children below.” Seeing Song Chuyi show an expression of “just as I thought,” he coughed once and continued, “Besides… who knows if they truly just want to use these two princes to make an example of, or if perhaps they have other motives?”
Those four words “other motives” were spoken with profound meaning, making even Song Yan shiver involuntarily. After thinking for a moment, seeing that his sister hadn’t interrupted yet, he tentatively said, “I heard the teacher mention this matter…” Seeing Song Chuyi and Song Jue both look at him, he steadied himself and continued, “The teacher said that perhaps the peace faction in court is making more and more of a commotion now, and who knows, there might even be officials of considerable weight stepping forward to propose pardoning Prince Gong and Han Zhengqing.”
Master Qingfeng always saw problems with piercing clarity. Song Chuyi and Song Jue exchanged glances and asked Song Yan, “Did Master Qingfeng say why this is?”
“It’s just like what Brother said earlier!” He clapped his hands, feeling that Master Qingfeng’s analysis made excellent sense. “Isn’t it to get these two princes out of the capital? Others criticizing him, saying he’s heartless—that doesn’t matter to him. After all, someone who doesn’t even want his parents, what does he care about face or reputation? But he only has these two sons. If both of them are gone, even if he successfully usurps the throne, what’s the point? He’s only fathered two sons in all these years—who knows if he’ll be able to father any more? Even if he can father more, can he raise them to adulthood? Even in the imperial palace, being treasured and carefully protected with the utmost care, the number of children raised to adulthood can be counted…” Feeling that Master Qingfeng had gone too far off topic, he omitted some irrelevant words and added himself, “Besides this, they’re also scheming to make things difficult for the princes and cause trouble for His Majesty. After all, the officials advocating peace are increasing more and more.”
The room fell quiet for quite a while, with only the sound of wind outside the window making one’s ears cold. After a moment of silence, Song Chuyi asked Song Yan, “Has the teacher told Grandfather about these things?”
Song Yan nodded. “He has. Grandfather has already gone to investigate.”
With Song Chengru’s shrewdness, he would certainly know that Zheng Sansi’s sudden change of direction, stubbornly insisting on advocating peace, was suspicious. Moreover, on the war advocacy side, without him giving the word, someone actually came up with such a terrible idea as using them as a blood sacrifice—there must be a problem there too.
It seemed that Prince Gong and Han Zhengqing weren’t just making moves within the palace; they had extended their hands into the court as well.
However, starting to deploy their moles in court meant they were running out of patience, didn’t it? She laughed once and looked at Song Jue. “If Grandfather finds out anything, be sure to have him tell me.”
Song Jue naturally nodded in agreement, then told her about matters concerning Mount Longhu. “Wei Zheng and Qing Luo made a trip there, and fortunately they did make this trip…” Seeing Song Chuyi looking thoughtful, he said, “If they hadn’t made this trip, Mount Longhu would really have changed hands. That Zheng Baihu was planning to take advantage of Zhang Tianshi’s absence to rally people and stir up trouble.”
As he spoke, his voice gradually became cold and mocking. “Still the same old tricks, truly worn out. Playing ghost and spirit, saying that the eight characters Zhang Tianshi calculated for you and the Crown Prince were fake, that it violated the mandate of heaven, paying lip service while acting contrary. Saying that your eight characters bring calamity and will harm all under heaven, that Zhang Tianshi and the Crown Prince clearly knew this but helped the tyrant do evil, and so on. He even wrote a memorial planning to submit it. This was to build momentum for Prince Gong. Wei Zheng arrived in time and deceived him in time, managing to intimidate him. He’s already been brought to the capital. I’ve placed him in that residence of yours, and now Ma San and the others are guarding him. Whenever you want to interrogate him, you can go interrogate him.”
The secrets that Qingbai didn’t get to reveal—Zheng Baihu probably knew at least some of them. If nothing else, he could at least be questioned about many of the dark secrets of Han Zhengqing and Prince Gong. Song Chuyi nodded, then asked him, “You didn’t tell him that Qingbai is already dead, did you?”
To question this kind of person, naturally one had to hold onto his lifeline. Qing Luo had mentioned that Zheng Baihu had raised four sons, but the first three had all died, with only Qingbai surviving and growing up to this age. He and his wife’s lifeblood was this son. Using Qingbai to coax him would surely yield some truth.
She now couldn’t wait to prove some of her conjectures.
Song Jue picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of tea, and smiled as he shook his head at her. “Don’t worry, not a single word was leaked. He’s also doing this for his son—otherwise he would have ended his own life. With the capabilities of those from the Celestial Master’s Mansion, Wei Zheng might not have been able to bring him safely to the capital.”