Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi couldn’t help but exchange glances before hurrying forward to pay their respects.

Cheng Shao’s expression was somewhat grave. He nodded toward Zhou Shaojin and said to Cheng Chi: “Come with me. I have something to discuss with you.”

Zhou Shaojin entered the room.

Cheng Shao stood under the pomegranate tree in the courtyard and asked Cheng Chi: “Have you been in contact with people from the Seventh Prince’s mansion recently?”

Cheng Chi had no intention of hiding it and nodded.

Cheng Shao said: “A few days ago, there was an urgent eight-hundred-mile dispatch from Zigong. Laborers rioted and many died. The Emperor was furious. Some officials submitted memorials saying this matter is related to the Seventh Prince. You should review your own affairs carefully and avoid getting implicated.”

Cheng Chi raised an eyebrow: “Salt wells? The Seventh Prince is taking a cut from them?”

“Most likely.” Cheng Shao said. “The national treasury’s tax revenue cannot be reduced, so they can only collect more, which naturally causes public resentment.” He then warned him: “This matter can be major or minor, but judging from the Emperor’s intentions, he wants to use this to clean up corrupt officials. Don’t put yourself in the line of fire.”

Cheng Chi suddenly thought of what Zhou Shaojin had said about events from her previous life and smiled: “Second Uncle, others say you’re detached and lofty, but I think you’re more indifferent, aren’t you?”

Cheng Shao, however, said: “What exactly are you trying to say?”

Cheng Chi smiled: “I just feel that sometimes there are matters where a single word from you could benefit the common people, yet you maintain your silence. If you say it’s to remain in the Emperor’s favor, that doesn’t seem entirely the case…”

Cheng Shao said: “When water is too clear, there are no fish. For some matters, if you don’t do them, others will. But as long as they don’t endanger the foundation of the state, I can tolerate them.”

Cheng Chi asked: “Then what constitutes the foundation of the state?”

Cheng Shao replied: “When the people cannot make a living.”

Cheng Chi smiled: “What about if the sovereign is incompetent? Does that count?” As he spoke, his tone paused before continuing: “Or rather, what if the sovereign lacks virtue?”

A sharp glint flashed in Cheng Shao’s eyes. He said: “This also doesn’t concern you? Don’t forget, you’re now a member of the Cheng clan. One misstep could lead to the entire clan’s destruction. I don’t care how you shake heaven and earth outside, but you cannot implicate the family. The family includes not only your brothers but also children who understand nothing.”

Cheng Chi smiled: “Rest assured, I also have a wife and child to care for. I’m just a bit curious. I feel that if the sovereign lacked virtue, you probably wouldn’t be so calm and composed, would you?”

Cheng Shao didn’t deny it, saying: “Sometimes the thoughtless actions of those in high positions cause many troubles that shouldn’t have arisen. So a sovereign’s lack of virtue is often the root cause of people’s inability to make a living.”

“I understand!” Cheng Chi said lightly, his expression showing undisguised melancholy.

Perhaps he had no intention of hiding it.

Cheng Shao had always known his nephew’s abilities. Watching him, his heart couldn’t help but jump with worry: “Has something happened?”

Cheng Chi hesitated somewhat.

Cheng Shao simply stood there impassively, waiting for his answer.

Cheng Chi hadn’t expected Cheng Shao to persistently wait for an answer. Somewhat helplessly, he said: “I’ve discovered that the Crown Prince has a heart condition. But the Fourth Prince knows about this.”

Cheng Shao was even more confused: “What does this have to do with the Seventh Prince?”

Cheng Chi was somewhat surprised: “You know the Crown Prince is ill? Why haven’t I heard you mention it before?”

“This isn’t exactly good news,” Cheng Shao said. “The Emperor hasn’t said it explicitly, but his words hint at it. Do you want to get involved in the succession issue? I think you’re being too hasty. The Emperor is in his prime—at minimum, within the next ten years, everything will be peaceful and stable. Rather than worry about who will succeed, I think you’d be better off remaining still and acting only when necessary—as long as you can accomplish real things, whoever becomes Emperor will need to use you. Why take this risk? Besides, you still have Elder Brother above you. When it comes to choosing sides, he’s probably more anxious than you—having reached his position as merely an auxiliary Grand Secretary, once the heir apparent changes, he won’t have the luxury of not choosing a side.”

But Cheng Chi’s thoughts were occupied by the fact that Cheng Shao had known about the Crown Prince’s illness all along. He didn’t give much thought to the issue of choosing sides, pondering: “Besides you, do you know who else knows about the Crown Prince’s illness? According to law, with such an illness, the Crown Prince cannot inherit the throne…”

Cheng Shao hinted: “But the Crown Prince has a good son.”

In other words, the Emperor had no intention of having the Crown Prince succeed him at all.

This also aligned with imperial statecraft.

Heaven has no two suns.

According to what Shaojin said, the Emperor indeed had nearly ten more years to live. By then, the Crown Prince would be a man past forty, while the Imperial Grandson would be in his prime youth. The Crown Prince’s illness would drag on for at most a few years before the Imperial Grandson could smoothly succeed. In fact, if the Crown Prince passed away, the Imperial Grandson would be just right to ascend. This would also avoid suspicion between father and son.

In reality, the Crown Prince did indeed die before the Emperor, but what no one anticipated was that the Imperial Grandson also died before the Emperor.

Cheng Chi smiled: “You understand the Emperor best. If both the Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson die before the Emperor, who would the Emperor choose as heir?”

Cheng Shao’s eyelid twitched: “What do you mean by this?”

Cheng Chi said: “Tomorrow is a rest day. If you hadn’t come, I would probably have gone to find you anyway. I’m thinking of ending the Seven Stars Hall in my hands. But what to do with the people of Seven Stars Hall is a big problem. I originally wanted to find ways to eliminate some of the truly vicious ones, let those unwilling to retire from the martial world go as they please, arrange appropriate positions in the guard stations for those willing to wash their hands of the profession, and for those unwilling to go to guard stations, arrange for them to become constables at various yamens. But if they’re willing to become constables, they’ll have to leave their hometowns. Although I can falsify their records to make their backgrounds look clean, most of their neighbors probably know what they used to do…”

The Seventh Prince commanded the Xishan Military Camp.

Cheng Shao breathed a sigh of relief: “You don’t need to ask the Seventh Prince for this matter. Give me the list and I’ll arrange it.”

Cheng Chi smiled: “That’s good. In a couple of years when I’ve determined the personnel, you can slowly help arrange placements.” He then asked about the succession issue again: “There’s no need to mention the Crown Prince’s health. I’m not optimistic about the Imperial Grandson succeeding by skipping over several uncles.”

But Cheng Shao had no intention of discussing this further with Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi said: “It’s not that I want to meddle, but Elder Brother has followed Yuan family’s lead all these years. Yet on the matter of Elder Brother entering the Grand Secretariat, Yuan Weichang secretly reached an agreement with Shen Minzhi. This was originally understandable—from Yuan Weichang’s perspective, he has his own plans and strategies. But Yuan Weichang didn’t leak any hint of it. I’m just afraid that when Elder Brother is forced to choose a side, he’ll be trapped by Yuan Weichang.”

Though Cheng Shao also had reservations about Cheng Jing’s abilities, he said: “When you were chosen by Second Great-Uncle, you were too young. Your Second Brother is honest but not sharp enough. Your Elder Brother was relatively stronger and willing to help clan members…”

Wasn’t this choosing the tallest among the short?

Cheng Chi scoffed: “Why didn’t you do it yourself?”

“I’m too aloof, unable to compromise and blend in with the dust,” Cheng Shao said seriously. “Besides, I think my current position is best. I can show my face before the Emperor when there are matters and when there aren’t, I’m far from the Six Ministries and Three Judicial Offices, putting the Emperor at ease. I can also give you all reminders to avoid stepping into quagmires you can’t escape from.”

That was true.

Having someone like Cheng Shao was like adding wings to a tiger for the Cheng family members’ official careers.

“As for choosing sides,” Cheng Shao thought and thought before saying: “I actually think you should talk with Dalun—he’s at the Crown Prince’s Household Administration. You could interact with the Fourth Prince. The Fourth Prince grew up in Kunning Palace and has an extraordinary bond with the Crown Prince. If the Imperial Grandson somehow cannot ascend, the Fourth Prince has the greatest possibility. If the Imperial Grandson ultimately ascends, the Fourth Prince is guaranteed to be a wealthy and noble prince.”

Listening, Cheng Chi’s ink-black eyes suddenly became even more profound.

He said: “You favor the Fourth Prince?”

Cheng Shao looked at Cheng Chi meaningfully and said: “Don’t you also favor him? Otherwise why would he send gifts for Yun Ge’er’s hundred-day celebration?”

Only then did Cheng Chi’s heart begin pounding violently.

He took several long breaths before his emotions returned to calm after quite a while.

But Cheng Shao felt they had already talked too deeply today and said: “You don’t need to worry about your Elder Brother’s side—I’ll remind him.” He then changed the subject: “Liao Shaotang returned home to take the examination. Before he left, I gave him several volumes of examination essays. I wonder how he did?”

Having learned what he wanted to know, Cheng Chi no longer dwelled on the topic of the heir apparent. He smiled: “Before he left, he came to bid me farewell. I also gave him some advice, telling him to send us word whether it’s good news or bad.”

Cheng Shao said: “His essay foundation is quite good, and the Liao family aren’t commoners either. I imagine they were prepared.”

Cheng Chi said: “If he makes the list this time, I suggest he take the examination together with Jiashan next year. One person taking it is an exam, two people is also an exam. With you helping predict topics, it’s better than buzzing around like headless flies.”

Cheng Shao laughed: “Even just for your sake, if he takes the next examination, I’d still have to help him predict topics. You’re quite good at putting people to work!”

As they spoke, the curtain of the main room lifted and Chenxiang emerged. Knowing that Cheng Chi and Cheng Shao were talking, she didn’t approach but stood far away on the covered corridor, calling out loudly: “Second Elder Master, Fourth Master, Old Madam asks whether you’ve finished talking. If you have, please come inside for tea. She wants to send someone to fetch Young Master Abao and Young Master Aren so everyone can dine together tomorrow.”

“Wonderful!” Cheng Shao knew that as he grew older, Abao and Aren would need to be looked after by Cheng Jing and the others in the future. The more frequently they interacted, the better their relationship and the deeper their affection. “I think the weather should be good tomorrow. Why don’t we go boating at Shichahai?”

If they went boating at Shichahai under Old Madam Guo’s name, Zhou Shaojin would have to arrange related matters.

Cheng Chi said: “I think we should just go boating at home. My mother-in-law, younger sister-in-law, and younger brother-in-law are also here. With so many small children, I’m afraid we can’t look after them all at Shichahai.”

“That’s fine too,” Cheng Shao smiled. “I’ll make a painting for the children.”

His calligraphy and painting were both considered exceptional, and having received the Emperor’s praise, they could be said to be extremely rare.

But Cheng Chi said thoughtfully: “Let’s also call Gu Dalun over.”

Cheng Shao clapped his hands: “Excellent, excellent. We might as well invite Sons-in-law Yuan and Peng as well.”