Song Chuyi was well aware of the capabilities of those from the Celestial Master’s Mansion. She smiled slightly and recounted what Empress Dowager Lu had said to her today, then admonished once more, “Brother, tell Grandfather that this matter may not be as simple as it seems. Once the truth and the people involved are discovered, don’t act rashly first—wait.”

This was probably just a prelude. Since they had already taken the stage with painted faces, why not let them perform this play a bit longer? At least a few more major characters needed to make their entrance before the curtain could be drawn on this act.

Song Jue agreed, then asked Song Chuyi, “Then those two princes, Zhou Weiyin and Zhou Weiyang…”

Song Chuyi understood his meaning. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Naturally, the better we treat these two princes, the more it demonstrates the court’s benevolence and righteousness, setting off Prince Gong’s heartlessness and lack of righteousness. His Majesty won’t fall for such tricks. Grandfather can just submit his memorial.”

Having finished with that matter, she was still concerned about Lu Chonghua’s situation. After thinking it over again and again, she lowered her voice to tell Song Jue, “In my dream…” She had only begun when, remembering that Song Yan was still beside her, she hesitated.

Song Jue didn’t wait for her to struggle with the decision herself. He first found an excuse to send Song Yan away—not to keep him immersed in honey through ignorance, but because the more he knew, the greater the danger.

Only then did Song Chuyi continue, “In my dream, the Lu family in the end… Elder Master Lu became the Governor-General of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, becoming one of the Eight Great Regional Governors.” Seeing Song Jue raise one eyebrow in surprise, his eyes carrying a trace of bewilderment and a barely perceptible hint of trepidation, she added, “Not only that, Chonghua married Han Zhi and became the wife of the Imperial Guard Commander and Marquis Jinxiang…”

Song Jue only felt his temples beginning to throb violently. He stared at Song Chuyi, and after a long while finally asked, “You mean the Lu family may have something suspicious about them?”

If there wasn’t something suspicious, how could it be that when Prince Duan took the throne, these blood relatives and maternal clan of Zhou Weizhao not only didn’t decline but prospered instead, even becoming Governor-General of Jiangsu and Zhejiang? And why would the Lu family betroth their legitimate eldest daughter to Han Zhi?

Everything here reeked of suspicion. Even with Song Jue’s composure, he couldn’t help but feel his heartbeat skip a beat. He stood up and paced in circles. “The Lu family…” He looked at Song Chuyi. “Have you told the Crown Prince?”

The importance of the Lu family to Zhou Weizhao went without saying. Old Master Lu treated Zhou Weizhao very well. Zhou Weizhao had mentioned several times that it was Old Master Lu who had approached Zhang Tianshi on his behalf, and it was also Old Master Lu who had given Zhou Weizhao all the trusted subordinates he could. Having already done this much, and being Zhou Weizhao’s own grandfather and maternal clan, it would be extremely difficult to make Zhou Weizhao suspicious of them.

If this matter were brought up, even with how much Zhou Weizhao doted on and cherished Song Chuyi, he probably wouldn’t believe it. Not only would he not believe it, he would likely think that perhaps the Song family was sowing discord.

Song Chuyi shook her head. “It’s not quite what you’re worried about, Brother—that he won’t believe it.” When she mentioned Zhou Weizhao, that earlier trace of trepidation vanished completely, leaving only full trust. “What I say, he will believe. It’s just…” The warmth on her face immediately disappeared, becoming extremely cold. “It’s just that the people around him are more or less all connected to Mount Longhu and the Lu family. If he knows, then both groups of people will know. I’ve never believed that Han Zhengqing only planted Qingbai as a mole beside him. Leaving aside everything else, Zheng Baihu couldn’t possibly only have the ability to arrange one person, right? Not to mention if the Lu family truly has something suspicious about them too…”

The implication was that Zhou Weizhao’s surroundings were probably full of traps everywhere. Song Jue’s heart couldn’t help but rise in his throat as he listened. He first instructed Song Chuyi, “You should quietly remind the Crown Prince to let him—”

After saying this, he felt it was improper. As before, when investigating Qingbai, Zhou Weizhao hadn’t had much objection. But if the person was changed to relatives he had depended on since childhood, then it would be different.

He swallowed his previous words and changed tack. “Never mind, I’ll discuss it with the Prince Consort.”

He would ask Ye Jingkuan to be more attentive, and at least first ensure the Crown Prince’s safety.

Song Chuyi wasn’t too worried that they would harm Zhou Weizhao—Zhou Weizhao’s martial arts skills were extremely good, and ever since he had been poisoned in Yangquan and suffered for it, Zhang Tianshi had simply sent a letter to Master Taibai. The two old men researched for quite a while and created antidote pills of unknown composition for Zhou Weizhao, which he never left his person for a moment. On this point, even Qing Zhuo couldn’t control Zhou Weizhao, much less get close to the hollowed jade sachet with its hidden mechanisms that contained the pills.

What she worried about was that the Lu family would harm Zhou Weizhao by other methods—Han Zhengqing was an extremely paranoid and twisted person, probably even more terrifying than Han Zhi. When he wanted to harm someone, he usually wouldn’t let you die so straightforwardly; he would certainly make you wish you were dead instead.

She repeated Prince Dongping Zhou Weiqi’s warning again, then looked at Song Jue. “It’s no longer very convenient for me to meet with Commander Lai—recently there are quite a few censors in court keeping watch on the Eastern Palace. Even if I go out a few more times than usual, I’ll be impeached. Brother, go meet with Commander Lai for me, and ask him to help me thoroughly investigate the Lu family.”

Her eyes flashed as she looked at Song Jue. “And the matter of Lu Chonghua’s disappearance in Huizhou—I always feel there’s something about this. The Lu family’s reaction was too strange. Eldest Madam Lu is desperately trying to find her, but Elder Master Lu acts as if he’s washing his hands of it, treating it as if nothing happened, straightforwardly saying that Lu Chonghua is already dead, and even blaming Eldest Madam Lu for indulging Lu Chonghua. This isn’t right.”

This indeed wasn’t right. Lu Chonghua was, after all, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Lu family, Elder Master Lu’s legitimate eldest daughter. Previously when Elder Master Lu came to the capital, he had even planned to marry her to Zhou Weizhao. By all reason, she should have been treasured like a pearl or gem. Having heard there was no corpse, by all reason his first reaction should have been the same as Eldest Madam Lu’s—to search everywhere for her. How could he declare without a second word that his daughter was dead?

Song Jue went through this in his mind and immediately had already formulated a response strategy. He nodded at Song Chuyi in agreement. “The matter of the Lu family, every detail—I’ll have Commander Lai investigate. As for Lu Chonghua’s matter…” He thought for a moment. “I’ll have Master Qingfeng go.”

Song Chuyi was somewhat surprised. “Master Qingfeng? But he still has to accompany A’Yan to Shu!”

“It was he himself who said he won’t go to Shu for now.” Song Jue couldn’t help but feel helpless when thinking of Master Qingfeng. “He’s always been someone who can’t sit still, as you know. Now that the capital is in turmoil with rising winds and surging clouds, he had originally planned to go to Hubei to stir things up—how could he possibly be content now to accompany A’Yan to avoid the storm?” Seeing Song Chuyi frown, he comforted her, “Don’t worry too much either. It doesn’t matter if Master Qingfeng can’t go along. Grandfather has already decided to have Master Ying accompany A’Yan. It’s the same. As for Master Qingfeng… after handling matters in the capital, it won’t be too late to send him there.”

Putting it this way, Master Qingfeng was indeed the most suitable candidate. When it came to sharp perception, understanding people, and gauging human hearts, no one was more skilled than Master Qingfeng.