Ye Jingkuan first wrote a secret memorial and sent it back to the capital, then personally escorted Prince Dongping, Han Cheng, and their group back to the capital.

Cui Yingshu’s secret memorial arrived before Ye Jingkuan’s. Emperor Jianzhang summoned the Cabinet members and Imperial Grand Prince Zhou Weizhao together to discuss matters in the Imperial Study.

Chief Minister Chang furrowed his brow, feeling the gravity of the situation far exceeded imagination. “Now all at once, we’ve received news from both sides.” When it didn’t come, nothing came, but when it came, news arrived from both Hubei and Jin Province.

Unfortunately, none of it was good news. The life or death of Prince Zhennan in Jin Province was currently unknown and cause for concern, while the situation in Hubei fully demonstrated Han Zhengqing’s wolfish ambitions.

Cen Biliang’s expression was agitated, his beard trembling chaotically. “Datong is the northwestern gateway—we absolutely cannot allow it to be compromised. If Marquis Jinxiang refuses to obey the edict, he should be executed!”

They had already torn off the facade now—what use was there for that superficial veneer of peace and prosperity?

Minister Cen spoke with passionate fervor, so agitated that he coughed several times before continuing urgently, “Your Majesty, if you hesitate when you should decide, you will suffer from the chaos instead!”

When the several of them had learned that Prince Gong had actually escaped on his own, they felt this matter was heading toward disaster. Wasn’t this man simply a traitorous subject? How good it would have been to straightforwardly issue an edict demoting Prince Gong to commoner status, have the Imperial Guard and Ministry of Justice post wanted notices, and bring the matter openly into the light. Instead, they had expended such great effort going in such a large circle.

But thinking privately, Minister Cen felt Emperor Jianzhang’s approach was understandable. After all, these were troubled times—Hubei had suffered disaster, Jiujiang had experienced great floods the year before last and produced a corrupt official of Yang Yunyong’s magnitude, and then there had been the Crown Prince’s stroke and the assassination attempt on the Grand Prince. If Prince Gong’s escape was added on top of all this, with a grand manhunt openly declared, it would be tantamount to indirectly announcing to the world that the imperial family was in complete chaos.

But then was then. At that time, Prince Gong had been isolated and weak, and the Imperial Guard might have been able to solve the problem through covert assassination. Now things were different—Prince Gong had colluded with border officials and was already nearly coming into power. They could no longer indulge and tolerate him for the sake of appearances.

Emperor Jianzhang was far more anxious and furious than Cen Biliang. Forcing himself to remain composed, he decided to issue another imperial edict summoning Han Zhengqing back to the capital, instructed the Cabinet to draft the edict, then added, “As for Prince Gong…”

They had initially announced Prince Gong was dead. If they now issued an open edict denouncing him, wouldn’t that make imperial proclamations seem like child’s play? Emperor Jianzhang was quite troubled for a moment and turned his head to look at Zhou Weizhao. “What does Weizhao think?”

Zhou Weizhao had actually already discussed this question with Song Chuyi many times before and was well prepared. Hearing Emperor Jianzhang ask, he said, “Even if Imperial Grandfather doesn’t issue an edict to inform the realm, when Prince Gong rebels, he’ll still raise the banner of being a dragon’s son and dragon’s grandson. Simply concealing it isn’t a solution either.”

Song Chengru had been maintaining a detached demeanor until now. Hearing Zhou Weizhao state his position while Emperor Jianzhang hesitated, he finally chimed in with agreement. “This subject thinks the same. Since ancient times, all who committed rebellion from below have needed a pretext. Prince Gong’s greatest asset is his identity as a dragon’s son—he won’t be willing to forgo using it. At that time, he’ll certainly direct his attacks toward the Eastern Palace and His Highness the Grand Prince.”

He would certainly bring up all those scandals about the Crown Prince as grounds to attack him, certainly claim the Eastern Palace was eliminating dissidents and bewitching the imperial heart, and so on. Song Chengru didn’t need Master Qingfeng to remind him—he could guess on his own how Prince Gong would whitewash himself.

After a long silence, Chief Minister Chang also nodded. “Your Majesty, this matter involves imperial family secrets. Previously, this old subject also thought we should avoid tarnishing Your Majesty’s reputation if possible, but now the situation is beyond control. It’s best to make an early decision.”

Emperor Jianzhang didn’t hesitate. Enduring the waves of pain in his chest, he caught his breath. “You deliberate and present a plan for me to review. Send the edict summoning Han Zhengqing back to the capital by eight-hundred-li express.”

He kept Zhou Weizhao behind alone. After a moment of silence, he said, “I’ve instructed the Imperial Observatory and Ministry of Rites to prepare the ceremonies for investing the Imperial Grand Prince.”

He felt somewhat emotional, looking at his grandson and sighing. “I never thought before that things would come to this point. It is I who have failed your father and uncles.”

He had always considered himself an excellent father. Though he treated each of his children well, he had also established the Crown Prince early on precisely to prevent his children from repeating his own mistakes. But events were unpredictable—things had still reached this point.

The matters with Prince Gong and the Crown Prince had affected Emperor Jianzhang too deeply. He had aged ten years directly, and Prince Gong’s escape from the imperial mausoleum had left Emperor Jianzhang even more mentally and physically exhausted. Zhou Weizhao sighed and personally poured tea for Emperor Jianzhang. “Imperial Grandfather, please take care of your dragon body.”

Though Emperor Jianzhang appeared haggard, his spirit was still quite good. He waved his hand to indicate he understood. “Rest assured, this bit of turmoil cannot topple me.” It was just difficult—as a father betrayed by his own sons, his heart could never fully accept it.

Zhou Weizhao first went to the Office of the Heir Apparent to handle government affairs, then returned to the Eastern Palace. Song Chuyi was keeping Princess Consort Lu company playing chess. Chess was not her forte—her worried, frowning, contemplative expression was truly amusing. Zhou Weizhao felt his previously heavy heart immediately settle back into place. Smiling, he sat down beside her. “Move here.”

Princess Consort Lu glared at him. “A true gentleman observes chess without speaking.”

Zhou Weizhao never put on airs in front of his mother and wife. He smiled warmly. “Mother, forgive her. Her chess playing is even worse than Minghui’s. If you don’t let her win a bit, look how pitiful she is—her little face is all scrunched up.”

Princess Consort Lu couldn’t help but laugh with a snort.

Even Song Chuyi couldn’t help blushing with embarrassment, feeling somewhat angry from shame. But with Princess Consort Lu present, she couldn’t very well lose her temper, so she simply glared at him.

Princess Consort Lu had someone remove the chess board and took Song Chuyi’s hand. “But Weizhao has a point. Despite you coming specially to keep me company every day… actually, enjoying flowers and brewing tea together is also pleasant…”

Song Chuyi’s face flushed even redder. Zhou Weizhao and Princess Consort Lu exchanged smiles.

Zhou Weizhao didn’t want to bring up external matters to trouble Princess Consort Lu, especially anything concerning Prince Gong—he didn’t want to disgust his mother with such things. Therefore, he didn’t mention a single word about the matters discussed in the Imperial Study earlier. He kept Princess Consort Lu company chatting for a while, smilingly recounting some amusing incidents from his duties. When dinner time arrived, he coaxed his mother into happily eating her meal before finally taking Song Chuyi’s hand and bidding farewell together.

Princess Consort Lu had servants prepare several extra lanterns and insisted that palace attendants from Mingcui Palace escort them back.

It was already mid-November. The capital’s snow had come unusually late this year, and only in the past couple of days had thin snowflakes begun to drift down. The palace attendants came out with umbrellas to shelter them. Zhou Weizhao pulled Song Chuyi closer into his embrace and asked softly, “Are you cold?”

Song Chuyi shook her head, then heard Zhou Weizhao say, “Imperial Grandfather said he’s having the Ministry of Rites and Imperial Observatory prepare the ceremonies for investing the Imperial Grand Prince. The Imperial Observatory has already gone to select an auspicious date.”