She was unworthy of Ye Jingchuan’s unwavering devotion. Having loved before, she knew all too well how agonizing it felt to love someone without reciprocation. Many times, Ye Jingchuan’s affection had been an unbearable weight for her. Having received so much help from him, she always hoped for his wellbeing. Now that he could finally move on and have the capacity to care for someone else—this was truly the best thing that could happen.

The carriage traveled swiftly, passing through the seething crowds and winding around the clamorous streets. Finally, it turned into the western district of the city. They switched to another carriage and returned to Earl Changning’s estate.

Nanny Huang was already waiting at the inner gate. Upon seeing Song Chuyi, she rushed forward with an anxious expression, calling out “Your Highness” while guiding her inside. As they walked, she quickly informed her, “Someone from the palace came requesting your return. The First Master and Fifth Master personally received them and have been stalling until now, but they can’t hold them off any longer. People keep coming to urge us from the back.”

That Zhang Tianshi’s tribute elixir was problematic spoke volumes in itself. This could never be Zhang Tianshi’s doing alone. In the eyes of the common people, Zhang Tianshi was synonymous with His Highness the Crown Prince. Whatever he did was naturally closely connected to the Crown Prince.

Therefore, if Zhang Tianshi wanted to harm Emperor Jianzhang, it must have been with the Crown Prince’s instigation from behind the scenes.

Song Chuyi nodded. As soon as she entered Ningde Courtyard, she saw Old Madam Song being supported by the First Madam and Second Lady, waiting anxiously in the corridor. She quickened her pace and walked up to Old Madam Song.

Old Madam Song reached out and grasped her hand. She wanted to say something but ultimately said nothing, simply holding her hand and walking inside. “Change your clothes first,” she said. “Don’t panic, don’t panic.”

First Madam Song’s hands were trembling. Naturally, she had heard the news from outside. Though she didn’t know why things had developed to this point, she sensed the urgency of the current situation. Yet she didn’t presumptuously seek information, nor did she try to betray Song Chuyi as she had done before in her self-proclaimed cleverness.

This wasn’t something a single Song Chuyi could resolve. This was a very large game of chess, clearly aimed at the Song family and the entire Eastern Palace faction. No one could escape it.

Song Chuyi quickly changed into her court robes with Qing Ying and Qing Tao’s assistance. Her departure this time was firstly because she was visiting family, and secondly because the situation in the capital was dire and the Eastern Palace was under heavy criticism. Therefore, she hadn’t brought out her full ceremonial procession. The guards outside were all trustworthy and reliable people.

As Qing Ying and Qing Tao arranged her hair, she turned back to look at Nanny Huang. “Nanny, please go outside and inform my brother, asking him to come see me.”

Although they were both members of the Song family, Song Jue hadn’t stayed home like Song Chengru. He still served in the Yulin Guard, but today’s situation was special. Since Song Chuyi was leaving the palace to visit Earl Changning’s estate, he had switched shifts with a colleague.

Nanny Huang promptly agreed and hurried out. Old Madam Song asked, “You’re calling him here…” She thought of something and looked at Song Chuyi. “Are you afraid someone might be on the road…”

Yin Yunduan and First Madam Song exchanged glances, both showing expressions of terror.

Song Chuyi nodded. When Song Jue arrived, she said, “Han Zhi has confronted me many times but has never gained the upper hand. Prince Gong and Han Zhengqing probably both know about me. Now that the capital has finally descended into chaos, everyone in the Eastern Palace is in danger, and I just happen to be outside the palace. If my guess is correct, they won’t want me to return to the palace alive—they’re too afraid of failure at the last moment. I must trouble you for this journey, brother.”

Song Jue nodded without hesitation. Song Chuyi then instructed Old Madam Song, “The capital will likely see bloodshed these next few days. Grandmother, you must not distress yourself. No matter what happens, you must trust me. I will always be safe and sound.”

As she spoke, Xiang Mingzi rushed in. Her belly wasn’t showing yet, and she remained slender as before. At this moment, she couldn’t care about anything else and grasped Song Chuyi’s hand, her face full of worry.

Song Chuyi placed her hand in Old Madam Song’s palm and solemnly bowed to First Madam Song and Yin Yunduan. “Please, First Aunt and Mother, comfort Grandmother well.” She then said to Xiang Mingzi, “Sister, take good care of Grandmother. No matter what you hear, don’t think too much about it. I’ll be fine, and you all must be fine too.”

Xiang Mingzi suppressed the worry and fear in her heart and bit her lip in agreement. Then she forced a smile. “Yes, rest assured. We’ll all be fine.”

That day, many carriages came and went from Earl Changning’s estate. The servants’ small oil carts naturally attracted no attention. It wasn’t until the vermillion-tasseled canopied carriage pulled by four horses—representing the Crown Prince Consort’s status—emerged that the several people who had been watching the commotion with arms crossed, hidden in the crowd, exchanged glances and quickly scattered in different directions.

Academician Chen was somewhat confused. Beyond his excitement, he felt puzzled. After circling around Xu Da twice, he seemed bewildered. “Instead of pushing with all our might to completely establish the Crown Prince’s crime of treason, why are we diverting our attention to deal with a Crown Prince Consort?”

Xu Da glanced at him. Seeing him jumping up and down so energetically, he felt somewhat irritated and waved his hand dismissively. Watching him step aside, Xu Da snorted. “What do you know?”

This Miss Song Six was no ordinary person. In any case, everything was connected to this Miss Song Six. The Crown Prince’s crimes were already ironclad. Zhang Tianshi was the criminal who personally prepared the elixir. A batch of elixirs containing the same poison was also found in Qingxu Temple where he had been staying. This was enough to prove everything.

And Zhou Weizhao and Zhang Tianshi were grasshoppers tied to the same rope—neither could escape.

Only this Miss Song Six was an extremely difficult opponent. The Young Master had suffered defeats at her hands more than once. Even the great monk Master Yuanhui died at her hands.

To prevent any mishaps, killing her was the way to eliminate all future troubles.

Academician Chen paid no attention to his mockery. Right now, his heart was filled with the relief of having survived a disaster. Although he felt everything had been arranged meticulously and thoroughly, convinced there would be no mistakes, his heart couldn’t help but worry until the dust settled. Now that Celestial Master Taibai had confirmed before the Cabinet officials that Zhang Tianshi had poisoned the Emperor, he could finally truly relax.

Compared to that, what did Xu Da’s mockery matter? After all, he had been mocked before.

He nodded with a full smile, almost ingratiating. “You’re right, I don’t understand. What about the palace affairs?”

He didn’t take the Crown Prince Consort seriously at all. The city was now in complete chaos, with the common people causing major disturbances. A few days ago, the Five Cities Military Command had even clashed with the citizens over the Crown Prince Consort issue, and their office was smashed by a mob. Now that it was confirmed the Emperor had been murdered, the city was in even greater turmoil. The Five Cities Military Command’s street patrols were useless. A Crown Prince Consort with only that small ceremonial procession—what could she possibly do?

What he worried about was how the palace situation would be resolved.

Xu Da slapped the table. “What to do? Don’t the Cabinet ministers know what to do? The Empress is the Crown Prince’s own grandmother, so naturally she can’t handle this matter. At this time, the ministers will naturally recommend a suitable person to temporarily manage state affairs. It will either be Prince Lu or Prince Su.”

After all, Consort Song’s young prince was still too young and knew nothing.