Han Zhi was ultimately still a scourge. Zhou Weizhao had no favorable impression of this obsessive person, yet just as he had tacitly permitted Song Chuyi to release the tiger back to the mountains and let Han Zhi go to Fujian back then, he now had no objections to Song Chuyi’s current approach either. After a moment of silence, he nodded. “If you think this will work, then so be it.”

However, once this matter was concluded, Han Zhi should never again think of leaving Xibei. Originally, keeping him was to deal with the Fan family. Now that the Fan family had fallen, they would keep him to deal with his biological father. Once all these people had fallen, given Han Zhi’s temperament, he would naturally turn his blade against them. Such a person could not be kept.

Song Chuyi nodded, nestling in Zhou Weizhao’s embrace and closing her eyes with some fatigue. Though tired she might be, her heart felt more at ease than at any moment before. Now everything was different from her previous life—everything was progressing according to her hopes and efforts. She had no reason not to cherish such hard-won days.

Zhou Weizhao helped her undo her hair and personally massaged her temples, his movements gentle and slow. Only after she had fallen asleep did he smile and carry her to place her on the couch, then plant a soft kiss on her forehead.

When he stepped outside, the lights were already brilliantly illuminated. The entire imperial city was shrouded in a hazy sea of lanterns, appearing magnificent and beautiful. He had just crossed through the corridor into the main hall when Prince Dongping came forward to meet him. The prince looked to be in quite good spirits, and after glancing at Zhou Weizhao, he called out, “Elder brother.”

The number of times Prince Dongping had called him “elder brother” could truly be counted on one hand. Even with his exceptionally quick reflexes, Zhou Weizhao was momentarily caught off guard. After a brief pause, he awkwardly nodded and had Prince Dongping sit down before asking, “Is something the matter?”

Prince Dongping did not sit. Somewhat constrained yet very sincere, he looked at Zhou Weizhao and honestly said, “I came to thank you and sister-in-law.”

He was not merely speaking polite words, nor was he trying to curry favor with them. Of course, for Qian Ying and Huang Yiqing, they naturally would be delighted to see him do this and assumed he was indeed trying to curry favor. But only he himself knew clearly in his heart why he was thanking Zhou Weizhao. After a pause, he continued, “Thank you for not letting me be disgraced before all under heaven.”

Zhou Weizhao had never imagined that he would one day be able to interact with Prince Dongping so peacefully. Seeing the slightly awkward and uneasy expression on the prince’s face, he nodded slightly and smiled. “You already thanked me once before. Thanking your sister-in-law is the same as thanking me.” He certainly remembered what Fan Liangdi had done to him and the Crown Princess Consort Lu back then, but just as Song Chuyi had said, Prince Dongping was at most an accomplice, and this accomplice ultimately had not caused them any substantial harm. Moreover, he had reined in at the brink and helped them considerably. There was no need for excessive closeness, but maintaining superficial civility was possible.

Prince Dongping himself shared the same thinking as Song Chuyi and Zhou Weizhao. He might not necessarily be able to be close and intimate with this couple, but as long as they could maintain appearances with each other and he absolutely would not harbor any ill intentions toward them again—this much he could guarantee. This way, his days would be much easier as well.

Since Zhou Weizhao put it this way, Prince Dongping also set down the weight on his heart and mentioned his other purpose for this visit: “Father asked me to invite you over.” When he said this, he was still somewhat cautious. Many things could be treated as though they had never happened, but many more things could never be easily smoothed over. Zhou Weizhao might have no expectations for this half-brother of his and thus naturally no disappointment, but the rejection from the father who had once wholeheartedly wanted him dead was there for all to see.

Yet Zhou Weizhao did not hesitate even slightly, responding briskly with agreement.

It seemed completely effortless for him, which instead startled Prince Dongping, who had expected to spend much effort persuading him. It took him quite a while to catch up with Zhou Weizhao’s footsteps.

The Crown Prince seeking him out did not involve anything particularly important. Having gone through this incident with the Lu family, his resentment toward them naturally had not diminished in the slightest. He opened by asking about Uncle Lu’s fate: “Absolutely preposterous—such a person deserves death!” After saying this, he laughed mockingly and looked at Zhou Weizhao. “I wonder if your mother and grandmother will be soft-hearted as women tend to be. Don’t you go and do something foolish. Such a two-faced creature—his death is his own doing!”

He had never had any favorable impression of the Lu family, so naturally his words would not be pleasant to hear. In reminding Zhou Weizhao, he was also worried that Zhou Weizhao might stumble again because of the Lu family.

Zhou Weizhao’s expression was indifferent, but he agreed quite readily, making the Crown Prince, who had been prepared to lecture further, feel somewhat awkward. He pressed his lips together and looked at Zhou Weizhao with a somewhat strange expression. “Do you know all the procedures for the investiture?”

What he had originally intended to discuss was actually not these matters. Zhou Weizhao sat down beside him and sighed. “If Father has something to say, you might as well speak directly.” Perhaps because the Crown Prince had shown a bit of humanity when Emperor Jianzhang was pretending to be unconscious, the emperor no longer ignored him. Though still cold, he would hint to Zhou Weizhao to treat him well. Zhou Weizhao naturally did not want to leave the world with an impression of being unfilial, so he agreed without any burden. For someone who posed no threat and with whom there had never been any love or hate, he had always been indifferent. Rather, it was the Crown Prince’s sudden stiff attempts at friendliness that he found somewhat hard to digest.

The Crown Prince’s expression became somewhat awkward, but he quickly recovered and finally expressed his meaning: “Your younger brother’s marriage.” He clenched his fists. Though he could now speak some simple sentences, at this moment it was still with some difficulty that he finally managed to say, “Your imperial grandmother is old and cannot manage it. I want to ask Duanhui to handle this matter.”

He felt somewhat embarrassed to broach the subject, but truly had no other recourse. Empress Lu now did nothing but chant Buddhist scriptures all day long, and his own situation was precarious. If Zhou Weizhao did not allow him to handle this matter, he truly would not be able to accomplish it.

Zhou Weizhao looked at him thoughtfully, his gaze making the Crown Prince feel uneasy and restless enough to turn his face away, before he nodded lightly. “Very well. This is not any great matter. I will have Aunt come in to discuss it with you personally.”

The Crown Prince had not expected him to agree so easily. All the arguments he had prepared in advance were completely unused. After a long moment, he nodded in astonishment. Having finished discussing this matter and feeling there was nothing more to say, the two of them sat facing each other awkwardly in silence for a while before he coughed. “Then it’s settled. You should pay more attention to it.” He hesitated for a moment, and for some unknown reason, as if possessed by a ghost, just as Zhou Weizhao had stood up and was about to head outside, he involuntarily blurted out another sentence: “About the past… I’m sorry.”