For Han Zhengqing, the elder Fan Liangdi who caused the deaths of his wife and children wasn’t his enemy, Prince Dongping who caused Han Zhi’s death wasn’t his enemy—Empress Dowager Lu who ordered the elder Fan Liangdi’s death and the Crown Prince who failed to protect the elder Fan Liangdi were the true enemies.

Old Madam Song remained dazed for a long while, unable to recover. Gripping Song Chuyi’s hand, she felt it utterly absurd: “In earlier years, I only thought the two Fan sisters were both sources of calamity, but now I know—the younger Fan Liangdi was pitifully tragic! And Han Zhi…”

That one was also unfortunate, being reborn under someone as beastly as Han Zhengqing to be his son. Such a person didn’t deserve to have a son!

Thinking of this point, Old Madam Song couldn’t help but sneer coldly: “His own biological son dies and he feels no grief, yet he’s deeply concerned about this convenient son’s safety. Such a person—he deserves to die with no one to smash the funeral pot or carry his spirit tablet!”

These words were rather harsh, revealing just how deeply Old Madam Song detested Han Zhengqing.

The elder Fan Liangdi truly possessed remarkable means. On one hand, she firmly grasped the Crown Prince’s heart and affixed it to her own son, making the Crown Prince disregard and ignore even his legitimate eldest son. On the other hand, she toyed with Han Zhengqing in the palm of her hand, taking whatever she wanted. Moreover, she still had hands free to torment the younger Fan Liangdi and Han Zhi until they were neither human nor ghost.

With such scheming methods, Old Madam Song felt immensely grateful that Empress Dowager Lu had struck swiftly back then. Otherwise, if this scourge had truly colluded with Han Zhengqing, who knew what disasters she would have caused.

But thinking it over again, she felt perhaps not necessarily so. Had the elder Fan Liangdi been alive, at least she wouldn’t have allowed Han Zhengqing to turn toward Prince Gong. She looked at Song Chuyi and asked: “So now, will you make this matter clear to His Majesty?”

But this matter ultimately concerned imperial secrets—how could it be spoken aloud?

Song Chuyi was also troubled by this very issue. Holding Old Madam Song’s arm, she couldn’t help but sigh: “We’ve only just finished interrogating Nanny Qi. Right now, His Highness and I haven’t decided exactly how to tell His Majesty.”

Old Madam Song also found it thorny. These were all baseless matters. Imperial bloodlines couldn’t be so easily falsified. Prince Dongping was certainly the Crown Prince’s offspring without error. For the sake of his reputation, this matter couldn’t be made public. Once publicized, how would Prince Dongping conduct himself in the future? His Majesty would surely consider this problem. If Zhou Weizhao were to speak up, even with Nanny Qi as a witness, people would inevitably think he wanted to take the opportunity to kick a man when he’s down and attack his brother.

Far away in the front courtyard, Master Qingfeng was covering his teeth, feeling them ache. Too lazy to even eat the walnuts poured before him, he clicked his tongue twice, deeply moved: “Consort Fan Liangdi’s skills truly shook heaven and earth and moved ghosts and gods. With such abilities, yet she was still efficiently eliminated by the Sixth Miss—this is only thanks to Empress Dowager having higher status than the Crown Prince and holding the Crown Prince’s vulnerabilities, forcing him to painfully cut his losses. Otherwise, even if another Crown Princess came along, she probably couldn’t defeat her in intrigue!”

It wasn’t that her methods were insufficient—the key was that the Crown Prince was muddle-headed!

Master Qingfeng’s exclamations aside, seeing Song Chengru and Zhou Weizhao both looking toward him, he still voiced his suggestion: “Just as the Sixth Miss worries, Marquis Jinxiang thinks Prince Dongping is his son. Now that he’s about to rebel, shouldn’t his first priority be ensuring his son’s safety? And how to ensure his son’s safety? Since he’s already torn his face with the court, naturally the safest course is to keep his son by his side. There’s no time for hesitation—now it’s just a matter of who moves faster!”

Everyone present couldn’t help but show sudden changes in expression. What Master Qingfeng said was all too realistic. Han Zhengqing couldn’t possibly allow Prince Dongping to face danger in the court—even if Nanny Qi and the Wang family hadn’t been exposed, hadn’t revealed Prince Dongping’s imagined parentage, he would likely still find ways to contact Prince Dongping.

Master Qingfeng, seeing everyone silent as if they’d swallowed flies, couldn’t help but sigh again: “I fear Minister Han has already taken action, and Hubei has already received the message. Quickly send word to Minister Cui—let’s hope it’s not too late.”

Otherwise, if the Vice Imperial Commissioner truly harbored crooked intentions to move against the Imperial Commissioner, it wasn’t impossible, especially with people sent by Han Zhengqing to help.

Song Chengru was so alarmed he broke out in cold sweat. He finally understood what Song Chuyi had said earlier—how Prince Gong was probably spreading this net toward all of them. In Xibei there was Han Zhengqing. As long as Prince Gong successfully took control of his own fifty-nine thousand plus men and had Han Zhengqing’s help, even the Three Frontiers Governor-General Cui Shaoting’s safety would become a problem. And in Hubei, if Prince Dongping was truly deceived, what would happen to Cui Yingshu? Prince Dongping might even recruit Jiang Tianping, thus colluding with Jiang Tianping to strike first at Cui Yingshu!

When both these places first descended into chaos, Prince Gong could then raise the banner of rebellion. Han Zhengqing’s hundred-thousand-plus troops combined with Prince Gong’s sixty thousand troops, marching northward all the way—the court would be in danger!

Master Qingfeng was right. Now was the time to compare whose moves were faster. Song Chengru straightened his clothing and cap, his expression solemn as he looked at Zhou Weizhao: “Your Highness should report truthfully to His Majesty.”

This wasn’t a matter one person could decide. The slightest error could cause irreparable consequences. If something truly happened because they concealed these connections, then Zhou Weizhao and their entire group would be sinners through the ages!

Master Qingfeng rarely refrained from contradicting them. He sighed and looked toward them: “Good that you know. At this time, it’s not the moment to concern yourself with suspicions or lack thereof. If your momentary private concerns lead to chaos in the realm and suffering for the people, then you’ll all be sinners of Great Zhou. Though what you know now is probably already late, late is still better than not knowing at all. Mend the fold after the sheep are lost—salvage what you can. At the very least, you’ll have some preparation. This matter cannot be delayed. Once you’ve made your decision, report immediately.” He paused for a moment and looked at Zhou Weizhao: “However, Your Highness, you can go together with the Imperial Guard Commander and Vice Commander.”

Otherwise, discovering this matter yet coming to the Song family first without reporting would truly invite suspicion.

What should be said and what shouldn’t, Zhou Weizhao naturally knew in his heart. Similarly, Vice Minister Wang should also be crystal clear. However, though Vice Minister Wang was clear-minded, to avoid him saying something wrong, Zhou Weizhao still specifically had Qing Zhuo go instruct him thoroughly before donning proper attire to enter the palace. Master Qingfeng was right—it was Emperor Jianzhang who had him investigate this matter. Though this affair concerned imperial secrets, Fan Liangdi was already dead. The Crown Prince who indulged Fan Liangdi now lay in bed as a废person. And he and his mother, the Crown Princess Dowager Lu, were even more detested and shunned by the Crown Prince and the elder Fan Liangdi. This matter could be blamed on them even less.