After Song Chuyi had solemnly finished her instructions, Song Yan happened to enter, followed by Princess Rongcheng. Princess Rongcheng entered in a hurry, breathless. Once she steadied herself, she looked at Song Chuyi and said, “News has arrived from the northwest. The Prince Consort heard that you and Young Master Song are both at the residence and wants you to come listen as well.”

News from the northwest—after all this time, Song Chuyi and the Song family, like ordinary people, had only heard news of the great victory at Suzhou. Apart from this news that everyone could know, Cui Shaoting had not sent any more messages to the capital. When Ma San and Ma Wangkun returned, they had mentioned that Cui Shaoting didn’t trust the channels for sending messages. Unless it was news that everyone under heaven could know, he would absolutely not send word to the capital.

But now, how was there news again? The two exchanged glances, both stood up, and without pausing in their steps, followed Princess Rongcheng to the secret chamber behind the study.

The person who came claimed to be an attendant of Han Zhengqing’s son, Han Yang. Just hearing the name first frightened Ye Jingkuan into glancing at Song Chuyi. Han Zhengqing, the two words “Han family”—truly made one’s heart tremble with revulsion just hearing them.

However, though the man looked somewhat clever, his eyes were still relatively clean, and he didn’t seem like someone who would inspire disgust. Moreover, since he dared to come, there must be a reason. Seeing that neither of the Song siblings reacted, Ye Jingkuan first nodded and asked him, “What news have you come to report?”

The man looked somewhat troubled. He and his brother had come to the capital disguised as disaster refugees fleeing from the northwest. Though it had been relatively smooth, after traveling this whole way, his brother was already gravely ill and was currently staying in a ruined temple outside the city. He himself had sores on his feet and pus flowing from his hands. If the people of this Princess’s residence hadn’t been without prejudice, he truly wouldn’t have been able to enter the Princess’s residence, much less see the Prince Consort. He looked at Ye Jingkuan and first mumbled, “The Marquis told me to come find you, and also told me to deliver the message to the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess…”

Song Jue had sharp ears. Upon hearing this, he found it curious. The “Marquis” he mentioned couldn’t possibly be Han Zhengqing—unless Han Zhengqing had lost his mind, he wouldn’t have his son send someone to Ye Jingkuan, unless it was for assassination. He consciously or unconsciously pulled Ye Jingkuan back a step and asked the man, “Which Marquis? If you have something to say, speak directly. I’m the Crown Princess’s older brother, and the Prince Consort is the Crown Prince’s uncle. If we hear it, it’s the same.”

The man was indeed clever. Seeing Song Jue’s manner, he knew they had become guarded. He immediately became anxious and took out the jade pendant Marquis Dingyuan had given him to show them. “Marquis Dingyuan! Marquis Dingyuan sent me. I’m not a spy!”

Hearing the three words “Marquis Dingyuan,” all three were shocked. They stared at him for a long while without coming back to their senses. After a long time, Ye Jingkuan finally asked, “Marquis Dingyuan—he’s alright?”

The man wiped the cold sweat that had seeped out on his forehead and quickly shook his head. “He’s fine, he’s fine.” Not daring to delay, he explained how Marquis Dingyuan had persuaded Han Yu, how he and Han Yu together had persuaded Han Yang, and how they now planned to work together to deceive the White Stork at Weihai Guard and coordinate with Prince Zhennan from inside and outside to rescue Jinzhong. Only then did he say, “It truly was Marquis Dingyuan who sent me…”

The jade pendant Marquis Dingyuan had given was one that Prince Zhennan had sent years ago. Ye Jingkuan recognized it at a glance, his heart beating fiercely, almost weeping with joy. “This is truly Marquis Dingyuan’s item! My father personally gave it to him back then.” He immediately asked the man, “What else did Marquis Dingyuan say when he sent you?”

Though he had always felt that his father must still be alive and fine, the longer there was no news, the more afraid he became. The people he had sent out had all disappeared without a trace like stones dropped into the sea. He had long been beside himself with worry. Now hearing this news, he felt as if a huge weight had lifted from his heart.

The man relayed Marquis Dingyuan’s instructions, then said, “That’s the matter. The Marquis told me to tell the Crown Prince that Han Zhengqing’s movements are probably significant, and to have His Highness be very vigilant. Apart from this, there’s nothing more.” He spread his hands. “As for the matter between the Marquis himself and the Prince, he said that planning depends on people but success depends on heaven. If it succeeds, naturally that’s good. If it doesn’t, it’s also dying loyally for the country.”

So he had come again to give warning. What kind of methods did Han Zhengqing have left to deploy? Song Jue’s brows furrowed deeply. He returned home with Song Yan, and after learning that Song Chengru would be home in the evening, went straight to the study.

He first relayed what Song Chuyi had said about the Lu family matter. After hearing Song Chengru say to thoroughly investigate the Lu family and Lu Chonghua’s disappearance in Huizhou, he acknowledged it. Only then did he bring up how someone in court this time had instigated Emperor Jianzhang to kill his grandsons. “Marquis Dingyuan specially sent someone to the capital just to give a warning. I keep feeling the matter isn’t simple. Do you think this could be a beginning?”

This grandson’s nose had always been much more sensitive than ordinary people’s. Song Chengru looked at him with satisfaction and nodded. “If I haven’t guessed wrong, this is indeed only a beginning.”

As he spoke, he put down the book in his hand, pointed to a seat beside him and had him sit. After waiting a while for Master Qingfeng to arrive as well, he said, “What Xiao Yi means by not alerting the enemy is also what I mean. Han Zhengqing wanting to cause trouble in court—this is merely a beginning. Let them make trouble. Destroy before establishing… This festering sore must first be lanced at the root before medicine can be applied.”

Song Jue didn’t quite understand. Master Qingfeng tossed the walnut shell in his hand at him and shook his head to remind him, “Young Master doesn’t understand? What’s so difficult about this? Actually, speaking of it, it’s very simple. The fiercer the commotion and the bigger the disturbance, the better we can find out exactly which people are still working for Han Zhengqing and Prince Gong.”

Song Jue suddenly understood. “Xiao Yi said that if Grandfather finds out the truth, notify her as soon as possible…”

Song Chengru stroked his beard. “That was the plan originally as well. And wouldn’t you know it, we’ve already discovered some things. For example, Zheng Sansi advocating peace is because Grand Secretary Chen instigated him.”

As he spoke, he added to Song Jue, “Since Xiao Yi has asked you to investigate the Lu family matter, you go investigate the Lu family first. As for these matters in court, they can all be set aside for now… His Majesty naturally cannot possibly truly agree to kill the two princes and send them to the military front. And since he cannot agree, that group’s follow-up moves will come. We need not panic at all. What we should worry about now is rather that if there truly are still hidden dangers around the Crown Prince, they must definitely be investigated thoroughly.”

Though Song Chuyi understood the twisted thinking of someone like Han Zhengqing and felt he would certainly make people unable to live or die as they wished, who knew whether Han Zhengqing might this time think to simply and efficiently go straight for Zhou Weizhao’s life?

This risk could not be taken.

Seeing Song Jue agree, he looked at Master Qingfeng again. “Then I’ll trouble you to make this trip.”

Master Qingfeng didn’t feel troubled in the least. He was quite happy. “I’ve long wanted to take a look at the Lu family. This time, I must take a good look.”