Master Qingfeng went back and packed his bundle immediately, not delaying for even a moment. However, before leaving, he still remembered he had a direct disciple. He ran to Song Yan’s Chuzhou Hall to have a cup of tea with him, smiling as he said, “I temporarily can’t accompany you to Shu. Along the way, be more careful yourself. There will likely be frequent complications along the road. See for yourself—what needs pruning, prune; what needs trimming, trim. Don’t lose face for us.”

Song Yan understood Master Qingfeng’s meaning and nodded in acknowledgment, respectfully seeing Master Qingfeng off.

The day after Master Qingfeng left, Song Chuyi received the news. Knowing that Song Chengru planned to lure the snake from its hole and let Han Zhengqing’s people make as much commotion as they pleased, she no longer worried much about the peace faction’s recent dominant position in court.

No matter how much commotion they made, pardoning was absolutely unworkable—as long as Emperor Jianzhang didn’t nod in agreement, who could truly order a pardon? No matter how fiercely these people stirred up trouble, they were nothing more than jumping clowns.

She went to see Empress Dowager Lu and then told Crown Princess Lu about going out of the palace. Crown Princess Lu had always never asked many questions or said much about her affairs. Upon hearing this, she agreed without hesitation, only instructing her to bring more people.

Zhou Weizhao had now learned his lesson. The two female Taoist guards he had placed by her side were personally selected by the Celestial Master’s wife—one called Lüluo and one called Lüyuan. Both were much older than Qing Zhuo and the others, now a full twenty-two or twenty-three years old. Whenever Song Chuyi went out now, they accompanied her.

However, just as she had prepared to go out this time, an incident occurred.

The news came from the front hall. Qing Zhuo said that another battle report had been sent from the northwest, but unfortunately this time it wasn’t a victory report. This time a major incident had occurred. Though Yecha was trapped in Qingzhou Prefecture, his younger brother had led the remaining eighty thousand troops straight for Purple Thorn Pass, and Purple Thorn Pass’s defending general Yuan Hong had died in battle.

Upon hearing the news, Emperor Jianzhang was furious. In court, the voices of the peace faction became even louder. Zheng Sansi and others all said that advocating peace wasn’t because they feared the Tatars, but rather for the sake of the common people. They further reasoned that there was no overnight enmity between father and son, and so forth—angering Emperor Jianzhang so much that he threw his memorial right at Zheng Sansi’s face in court and cursed him for selling out and misleading the country.

“They’ve already attacked our territory! Those not of our race must have different hearts! You people are still scheming for peace! How will you have Us face Our imperial ancestors in the future?!”

Qing Zhuo kept his head pressed very low, also appearing quite distressed. “There are also confused people impeaching General-in-Chief Cui, saying that after he led troops to take Suzhou, he made no further progress, but instead gave convenience to Yecha and the others, suspecting he deliberately went easy on Yecha…”

The censors all reported on hearsay—both fragrant and foul came from their mouths.

A cold smile hung at the corner of Song Chuyi’s mouth as she asked Qing Zhuo, “So what’s the situation now?”

Qing Zhuo shook his head and sighed. “His Majesty became angry and had the ringleaders dismissed from office and investigated. The lighter cases and those of advanced age were all carried down to Zuoshun Gate and beaten with the rod…”

Song Chuyi vaguely understood what Han Zhengqing actually wanted to stir up. When it came down to it, this person was actually not much different from Han Zhi—he just liked to add fuel to the flames from behind and watch the waves sweep people up.

She didn’t speak, and Qing Zhuo became somewhat flustered. “So what do we do now? Even the Crown Prince is being criticized…”

Qing Zhuo hadn’t dared tell Song Chuyi that in court today those censors had also impeached the Earl of Changning’s household and Cui Shaoting for being greedy for merit and glory, disregarding the common people, and putting Emperor Jianzhang in an unrighteous position. Even Zhou Weizhao had been impeached in a memorial, saying he was unworthy of being heir apparent yet disregarded the people’s lives and deaths, indulging the Song and Cui families in such and such ways, and so on.

But Song Chuyi had already guessed most of it. She would find it strange if Zhou Weizhao weren’t impeached. Wasn’t this exactly what Han Zhengqing wanted? Prince Gong no longer wanted reputation or face, but Han Zhengqing still thought about reputation and face, wanting to trample Zhou Weizhao into the mud.

“Now still isn’t when the commotion is at its worst.” Song Chuyi glanced at him. “Don’t panic first. When that time comes, it won’t be too late to panic then. Since you’ve come, why not accompany me out for a trip first?”

Qing Zhuo had always been very obedient to Song Chuyi. Seeing her so composed, he also breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing her say she wanted to go out, he was somewhat bewildered. “To the Lu family?”

Though Eldest Madam Lu was extremely unwilling to believe the news of Lu Chonghua’s death, there had been no news for so long. Even Elder Master Lu had sent word to the capital telling Eldest Madam Lu not to make a fuss. Eldest Madam Lu and Young Master Lu would soon be returning to their hometown.

Song Chuyi shook her head. She had gone to see Eldest Madam Lu once, but Eldest Madam Lu wouldn’t even see her, saying she was too ill to even rise from bed, drowsy and dazed.

With the Lu family’s attitude like this, if she went too often and the Lu family truly had something suspicious about them, it would instead alert the enemy.

“To the residence by the Great Immortal Huang Temple.” Song Chuyi said, letting Qing Tao drape a scarlet felt cloak over her. She tightened the hood, the layer of white fluffy fur trim making her face appear even smaller, only palm-sized.

Song Chuyi hadn’t been to the residence by the Great Immortal Huang Temple in a long time. Last time Qingbai had died next door. Qing Zhuo also hadn’t been there in a long time. Upon hearing this, he made a sound of acknowledgment and didn’t ask what Song Chuyi was going to do, happily trotting along behind her. In any case, his prince trusted his mistress greatly, so he greatly trusted his mistress. Wherever Song Chuyi said to go, he would just follow.

As usual, they first went to Princess Rongcheng’s residence, then changed to an ordinary carriage from the side gate of Princess Rongcheng’s residence before going out, only then turning toward the Great Immortal Huang Temple.

Qing Tao knocked on the door, and Ma Wangkun immediately removed the threshold with nimble hands and feet, allowing the carriage to drive all the way through the middle gate. Only then did Song Chuyi descend from the carriage.

“We calculated you should be coming and have been waiting every day.” Ma San came out beaming to greet them. “Happy New Year to you.”

This was the first time Song Chuyi had seen them since the New Year. Hearing them say this, she also smiled and nodded, instructing Qing Tao to take out the prepared gifts. The gifts for Ma Wangkun and Ma San’s daughters were especially substantial. Both their wives hurriedly came in to kowtow.

Song Chuyi excused them all. After exchanging a few pleasantries, only then did she ask Ma San, “Where is the person?”

“In the side room at the back.” Ma San responded. “Sun Zhaodi is guarding him. Will you go over, or shall I go bring him here?”

Qing Zhuo tilted his head, not understanding who this “him” referred to. He looked at Song Chuyi and then at Ma San, his face full of bewilderment.

Sun Zhaodi was Sun Ergou’s biological younger sister. Her mind wasn’t quite right, but precisely because her mind wasn’t quite right and she was exceptionally earnest, she had excellent martial arts skills. Before leaving for Fujian, what Sun Ergou couldn’t put down most was her. He had repeatedly entrusted Song Chuyi to take good care of her. Hearing that Sun Zhaodi was guarding, Song Chuyi smiled slightly. “Let’s go over then.”

Qing Tao also smiled. “We brought new clothes for Sister Sun. She’ll definitely like them.”

But this time when they reached the back courtyard, after Ma San called out, Sun Zhaodi didn’t come out joyfully to greet them as before. The courtyard was very quiet, with not a single human sound coming out.

Ma San walked quickly a few steps and pushed open the courtyard gate. When he turned his head back, his gaze was rigid and his expression as ugly as if he had seen a ghost.