Song Chuyi actually had one matter she didn’t know how to handle—this was also the only festering wound left by the Crown Prince that she hadn’t yet exposed before Emperor Jianzhang—the northwest smuggling operation.
This truly was a matter concerning the nation’s dignity. A country’s crown prince colluding with border garrison commanders was already behavior sufficiently striking to draw attention. But the Crown Prince hadn’t merely colluded with the great general guarding the border city—he had actually also colluded with that general and the Tatars beyond the pass, privately trading warhorses, tea, silk, and other goods. The court had already prohibited trade with the Tatars. Once the Crown Prince’s behavior was exposed, the censors would probably each want to ram themselves against the pillars of the Supreme Hall—if a nation’s heir apparent himself disregarded everything and sold out the country, what were those ministers who had learned civil and military arts to sell to the imperial house and work for others supposed to make of it?
The Crown Prince and Prince Gong’s previous behavior of stabbing each other had already disappointed Emperor Jianzhang utterly. Later, after the incident with Prince Gong occurred, Emperor Jianzhang probably no longer held any hope for either of the two legitimate sons born to Empress Lu. If he were to learn that previously the Crown Prince also had colluded with Han Zhengqing to conduct smuggling business in the northwest, profiting from national disaster, perhaps in a fit of rage he truly would conceive the idea of deposing the Crown Prince.
Song Chuyi lowered her voice and explained all the stakes clearly to Lai Chenglong. Finally, looking at Lai Chenglong’s obviously dumbstruck expression, she smiled. “Uncle Lai, you see, even though Prince Gong has already caused a storm throughout the city and directed his spearhead straight at us, do I dare directly tell His Majesty about his collusion with Han Zhengqing?”
Once spoken, the matter of the Crown Prince’s previous collusion with Han Zhengqing would also be exposed.
Lai Chenglong only felt cold sweat about to drip from his forehead. He truly wished he hadn’t come on this trip. Unfortunately, it was now too late to disembark. If things were truly as Song Chuyi said, and Prince Gong had also colluded with Han Zhengqing, then the situation truly couldn’t be optimistic in the slightest.
“What good would it do if I spoke? If I spoke, Prince Gong would still be Empress Lu’s legitimate son. His Majesty would still be angry at Empress Lu—”
And although the Crown Prince was detestable, Zhou Weizhao was also the Crown Prince’s own son!
Song Chuyi smiled brilliantly. It was good that Lai Chenglong would ask this question. She firmly shook her head. “It’s different. How did His Majesty react after Prince Gong rebelled and fled the imperial mausoleum?”
On one hand, he issued orders to kill Prince Gong without mercy. On the other hand, he formally discussed with the Cabinet the matter of establishing the Crown Prince after the new year.
Lai Chenglong’s eyes brightened. “You mean—”
“His Majesty no longer has expectations for Prince Gong. Without expectations, naturally there can be no disappointment.” Song Chuyi’s tone remained consistently calm, so calm it seemed she was discussing an extremely trivial matter. “And we can conveniently use this matter to solidify the fact of Han Zhengqing’s collusion with Prince Gong—everyone knows the Crown Prince and Prince Gong are irreconcilable. Since Han Zhengqing colluded with Prince Gong, naturally he has nothing to do with the Crown Prince. Even if in the future Han Zhengqing or Prince Gong spread words unfavorable to the Crown Prince, we can push it away completely, push it clean, saying they deliberately framed him. Isn’t that right?”
Lai Chenglong finally gained a deeper understanding of a woman’s seven-chambered exquisite heart. He couldn’t help but worry somewhat for the Crown Prince. Marrying such a wife whose heart and liver grew all twisted—he truly didn’t know whether it was fortunate or unfortunate.
Lai Chenglong nodded. Since the words had been made clear, without any hesitation, he stood up and left.
Qing Ying patted her chest, somewhat shaken. “Every time I see that lord, I’m so scared I can’t even speak properly. Miss, you’re quite formidable—not only can you converse with ease, you even dare sell him mysteries.”
Song Chuyi poked her forehead, led her to stand up, then looked back to see Ma San and stopped to ask him, “Are your injuries completely healed?”
Outside the city, Ma San had been injured quite seriously dealing with the people sent by Prince Gong and the Crown Prince. He had recuperated for two or three months and only recently sent word through Luo Gui that his injuries had healed.
Ma San waved his hand carelessly. “All healed, all healed.” At the same time, he pointed to his face. “Being shut up in a room recuperating for two or three months has made me pale! You absolutely must not make me lie down anymore. Even if you have me chop firewood, that’s fine. I’m about to develop illnesses from lying down so much!”
When they first met, Ma San and the others were used as sheep slaughterers and woodchoppers. Qing Ying and Ziyun couldn’t help but laugh. Song Chuyi also smiled, then instructed him, “Later, deliver the people Elder Brother sent together to Lord Lai. Be careful and cautious—don’t let others know.”
At the Earl of Changning’s residence, Old Madam Song had already been waiting for Song Chuyi for quite a while. Finally hearing someone outside call that Sixth Miss had arrived, she felt somewhat relieved. Pulling Song Chuyi’s hand, she complained, “What matter is there that not even His Highness can accompany you? You even had to use your sister-in-law’s carriage.”
Song Chuyi looked around at the people serving in the room. Seeing they had all tactfully withdrawn, she embraced Old Madam Song’s arm and acted coquettishly. “Walls have ears. The other party could even have people infiltrate something as major as our family’s celebratory banquet and tamper with the food. Being a bit more careful is never wrong.”
When Old Madam Song brought up this matter, her expression changed. She let out a cold snort, her hatred somewhat grinding her teeth. “If not to root out these demons and monsters, we should have poured a bowl of poison down her throat right then and thrown her into a black coal mine to make her unable to live or die! To actually do such vicious things!” After cursing, she asked again, “You went to see Lord Lai—what was it for? Isn’t Lord Lai currently openly idle at home?”
Song Chuyi recounted what she had said when meeting Lai Chenglong. There was nothing to hide from her grandmother. She honestly explained her plan. “We must first properly handle this last mess left by the Crown Prince. Otherwise, I’m afraid it will ultimately bring disaster upon ourselves. Lord Lai agreed. Once the Heir of Marquis Guangping confesses, he’ll likely expose quite a few people. Pulling up the radish brings out the mud—Prince Gong’s eyes and ears left in the capital can also be mostly eliminated. And it conveniently binds him together with Han Zhengqing.”
Regardless of whether Han Zhengqing could currently help Prince Gong or not, first solidifying this matter before Emperor Jianzhang—Emperor Jianzhang would naturally first issue an imperial edict summoning Han Zhengqing back to the capital. If Han Zhengqing returned, there were plenty of methods to kill him on the road back. If he didn’t return—that would confirm the Imperial Guard’s accusations against him. He would be a traitorous subject defying orders. Cui Shaoting, as the Supreme Commander of the Three Borders, could also justifiably move against him. Either way, he absolutely had to die.
Whether to cleanly eliminate this hidden danger left by the Crown Prince or simply to deal with Han Zhengqing, this potentially troublesome disaster, currently it was best to accomplish everything through Lai Chenglong’s hands.
Prince Gong had set up a ready-made scheme. How could she not let Prince Gong have his wish?
“Lord Lai agreed?” What Old Madam Song worried most about now was whether Lai Chenglong would agree. After all, when all was said and done, this was a major matter. Lai Chenglong’s record was also quite clean—he might not be willing to take such a great risk.