After Zhou Weizhao deliberated with Fu Youde for half the day, there was no time to interrogate the spies Lai Chenglong had captured, no time to hear what Lai Chenglong said about knowing how to resolve the Hongfa matter. First, he laid out before them what Vice Minister Wang and Nanny Qi had confessed. Lai Chenglong, despite having been immersed in the Imperial Guard for so many years and having encountered numerous bizarre and unconscionable affairs, was still stunned speechless by this news. Only after Chen Ping patted his shoulder did he react.
These women of the inner quarters were truly, one after another, shrewdly formidable. Though they had no place in the outer court, if they became unhappy, probably all the officials conducting affairs in the outer court would be gone—all poisoned to death at home.
He thought this way, yet his mind turned no less swiftly. Knowing this matter truly couldn’t be delayed, he temporarily set aside his own affairs—speaking of which, these matters seemed scattered, but ultimately they were all the same matter. After His Majesty made his decision, voicing his own suggestion would be just as well.
Emperor Jianzhang was in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Recently the situation in Hubei had grown tense, and trouble had erupted in Fujian as well. He was extremely busy, reading memorials until midnight every night, and still had to divide his attention to manage matters concerning Han Zhengqing and Prince Gong. He was incomparably weary.
After reading the memorials submitted by Lai Chenglong and Chen Ping, his impatience with Prince Gong and Han Zhengqing finally reached its peak. Not only weariness, but his vigilance had also risen to its zenith.
What Zhou Weizhao and Master Qingfeng could think of, he naturally could also think of, and from his perspective, he considered it even more seriously—Han Zhengqing had already believed Prince Dongping was his son and had poisoned the Crown Prince through Prince Dongping’s hands, proving he had long colluded with Prince Gong. Prince Gong’s ability to devise such vicious schemes might well have come from his suggestions.
And Prince Gong’s final determination to escape from the imperial mausoleum probably couldn’t be separated from Han Zhengqing either. Since it couldn’t be separated, then now that Prince Gong had vanished without trace and even the Imperial Guard couldn’t track him down, could it be he had gone to find Han Zhengqing?
The imperial study was frighteningly quiet, with only the occasional crisp bird calls from outside the window. After a moment, Emperor Jianzhang finally made a sound, breaking this painting-like silence: “He dares to even think it.”
He actually dared to think it. Though the Crown Prince was currently out of his favor, the Crown Prince was his biological son! The heir apparent of Great Zhou. Han Zhengqing actually fantasized about cuckolding him, and moreover wanted to support the cuckold he imagined to compete with his grandson for the throne. Where did he get such brazen audacity?!
Emperor Jianzhang was furious to the extreme, yet the expression on his face became mild to the utmost instead. He swept his gaze over everyone present and first asked Lai Chenglong: “Still no news from that group sent out?”
Lai Chenglong’s spirits lifted. He shook his head and explained the method he’d thought of: “However, this person Hongfa is extremely filial. According to Dazhi, their mother suffers from a strange illness. Only by obtaining a particular antidote from the True Man Taibai in Jinzhong can her pain be suppressed. Back when we went to Yangquan to quell the rebellion, Hongfa once obtained a bottle, but that bottle of medicine has been used up. He must go obtain new medicine.”
Emperor Jianzhang shifted his gaze to Chen Ping: “You set out today, personally make a trip to Jinzhong. Travel light with few attendants. Once you arrive locally, deploy the local garrison troops. Also, the Cui family in Jin region—you must capture that Hongfa and extract Prince Gong’s whereabouts.”
Though perhaps it was already late, it might not be beyond salvaging—knowing Prince Gong’s whereabouts and then assassinating him would also be good.
Chen Ping received his orders, and then heard Emperor Jianzhang continue: “As for Hubei…”
Whether Dongping knew or didn’t know now, he must first be brought back to the capital. When necessary, he would also serve as leverage to threaten Han Zhengqing—for instance, using him to coerce Han Zhengqing to return to the capital. In this capital city, those surnamed Han and his clan members were of no use whatsoever to Han Zhengqing. A person like him was cold-hearted and cold-blooded. He could sit by and watch even his biological son without concern, let alone clansmen?
He made his decision: “Send Jingkuan. Have him personally make a trip to Hubei.”
Having Dongping go to Hubei back then was truly too mistaken a strategy. Had he known earlier—but even a thousand gold pieces couldn’t buy hindsight. Moreover, Prince Dongping being an imperial grandson was correct. Who could have anticipated back then that Prince Gong would be so bold as to even commit such treasonous acts? His gaze darkened as he instructed Eunuch An to urgently summon Prince Consort Ye Jingkuan to the palace.
After in-depth discussions with Ye Jingkuan, that evening he immediately urgently summoned five Grand Secretaries to the palace for deliberation.
Song Chuyi, hearing the news, set down the book in her hands and let out an extremely soft, extremely light breath of relief. A crescent moon hung on the treetops. Winter nights had already become somewhat freezing. Ziyun handed over a purple-gold carved beast hand warmer and gently pulled her cloak tighter: “The study is cold. Why doesn’t Your Highness return to the bedchamber to wait for His Highness? If His Highness returns, naturally news will be sent in.”
Zhou Weizhao had also been kept in the imperial study for audience, and deep into the night had not yet returned.
She wasn’t the only one worried. Xiangling from Mingcui Palace also came to request her presence: “Her Highness is extremely worried and doesn’t know what has happened. She requests you come and converse together.”
Song Chuyi nodded, first returning to her bedchamber to change clothes. Just as she was about to leave, Qing Ying entered somewhat anxiously, glanced at Song Chuyi, and after catching her breath, leaned close to her ear and lowered her voice: “Your Highness, Ma San sent in a message. Things haven’t gone smoothly with Ma Wangkun and Ma Changjiang.”
Previously Princess Duanhui had borrowed them to deliver messages to Jinzhong, but no news had come back until now. Finally news had come back, but listening to it, it didn’t seem like good news at all. Song Chuyi raised her hand to stop her and glanced at Xiangling.
Xiangling was extremely tactful, smiling as she stepped ahead first, leaving space for the mistress and servant.
In her previous life, internal traitors had occupied an extremely significant factor in Zhou Weizhao’s death. Though now Qing Luo and Han Yan could also be considered spies, that was different. There must be other spies around Zhou Weizhao and Crown Princess Dowager Lu. Though the people around Zhou Weizhao and Crown Princess Dowager Lu now were all longtime servants, caution makes the boat sail ten thousand years—this principle was always correct.
The lanterns in the corridor swayed left and right in the north wind, their flickering light and shadow casting on the ground making one dizzy. Qing Ying couldn’t spare a glance, first telling Song Chuyi: “Ma Changjiang and Ma Wangkun sent back a letter using code words. According to them, Prince Zhennan likely faces great danger.”
Song Chuyi’s brow jumped sharply, immediately followed by her right eyelid twitching madly.
Prince Zhennan facing great danger? If something happened to him, it meant Prince Gong had very likely already seized military and even political power in Taiyuan. Otherwise, how could Prince Zhennan, a dignified Imperial Commissioner conducting affairs by imperial decree, face great danger?!
And if Prince Gong had already seized control of the sixty thousand troops stationed in Taiyuan, what would he do?! Song Chuyi’s expression grew grave as she led Qing Ying and Qing Tao first toward the Crown Princess’s Mingcui Palace.