Song Chuyi didn’t know that Princess Consort Zhennan was thinking about past matters again. After saying a few more words, she took her leave from Princess Rongcheng and the Prince Consort. Seeing Song Jue about to return home, she temporarily called him back to remind him: “Elder Brother, still remember to remind Grandfather to be careful.”
The news Ma Changjiang and Ma Wangkun had brought back clearly indicated that Prince Gong planned to make his move and throw the court into chaos. Although she roughly guessed that the targets Prince Gong planned to strike probably had nothing to do with the ministers, it was still better to be cautious in all matters. After all, if Song Chengru, who advocated war, also had an accident at the same time, that would naturally be even better for Prince Gong and his people.
She entered the carriage and had just sat down when the curtain lifted and Zhou Weizhao also followed in. She couldn’t help but be somewhat surprised—he usually rode horses more often, and it was rare to see him in a carriage.
Zhou Weizhao sat beside her without courtesy and sighed: “I didn’t expect it to be Qingbai.”
Actually, it wasn’t that he hadn’t expected it. Among these people, the first one he suspected was Qingbai. After all, Qingbai was his junior martial uncle’s son, and his junior martial uncle had always been ambitious. What he hadn’t expected was that Qingbai could keep his composure so well, and could even directly connect with Han Zhengqing.
Regarding Qingbai, Song Chuyi still felt somewhat uneasy in her heart. Holding her hot teacup, her fingers were ice cold. She lifted her eyes to look at him once, then suddenly asked him softly: “Don’t you think Qingbai died too easily?”
With Han Feng, Cuiting, and Mingtai’s skills, plus having the always cautious and clever Wangyue there, she found it very hard to believe that Qingbai could easily succeed in committing suicide.
“Are you trying to say…” Zhou Weizhao paused and looked at her: “Are you trying to say Qingbai was much easier to deal with than you imagined?”
In fact, this was indeed the case. With just the two baits of Qing Luo and Han Yan, they had hooked him. Song Chuyi nodded without evasion: “It was somewhat too easy to deal with. It doesn’t quite seem right.”
Zhou Weizhao was somewhat puzzled: “What doesn’t seem right?”
It didn’t seem like someone who in the previous life could leak information to others at the final critical moment, leading Zhou Weizhao to his death while still remaining inconspicuous and unrevealed. This matter probably still wasn’t over.
Song Chuyi changed the topic: “In any case, there are some things that don’t quite seem right. Has the Celestial Master just come out from the palace?”
Emperor Jianzhang’s health was increasingly poor. The matter of the Crown Prince and Prince Gong had already greatly stimulated him. Later, Empress Lu became gravely ill, and then there was Han Zhengqing’s rebellion. Those advocating war and those advocating peace in court were arguing endlessly. Even if he were made of iron, he probably couldn’t hold on anymore. When his health was poor, he trusted no one. The one he trusted most was the Celestial Master.
This Celestial Master, who had been appointed when the Late Emperor was alive, had always been extremely trusted by him over all these years.
Zhou Weizhao nodded, thinking of this point also became somewhat distracted: “Yes, Master said… Imperial Grandfather’s health is very poor.”
Song Chuyi frowned: “Does the Celestial Master have a solution?”
Emperor Jianzhang absolutely could not have an accident at this moment. Now while he was still here, the court was already divided between those advocating war and those advocating peace, arguing endlessly. Those advocating war spoke confidently, but those advocating peace also had many valid points—Prince Gong was after all His Majesty’s own son, perhaps he had been bewitched by others. Secondly, the court was truly too heavily burdened now—the Japanese pirate troubles in Fujian, the disaster situation in Hubei, which place didn’t need silver? In Xibei now, the Tartars had already captured Datong, and even Zijingguan was in imminent danger. It was said that it would fall any day now, and then the capital…
If Emperor Jianzhang fell, not to mention Prince Gong’s side would have ulterior motives in sowing discord, even the court’s own side would descend into chaos.
“There is a solution, but Master’s meaning is that we should still prepare ourselves.” Zhou Weizhao’s brow was furrowed rather tightly, rarely without his usual calm and composed appearance.
The four words “prepare ourselves” shocked even Song Chuyi’s heart.
Yes, if Emperor Jianzhang had an accident… Song Chuyi closed her eyes, not thinking about this first. After going to Changning Hall, she asked Imperial Physician Hu about Empress Lu’s condition.
Imperial Physician Hu was still frowning: “Her Majesty’s heart and lung pulses grow weaker day by day. Logically this shouldn’t be so…” He somewhat hesitantly looked at Song Chuyi and Zhou Weizhao: “I don’t know if we servants are poorly learned and incompetent. We’ve changed the prescription several times but haven’t seen any effect. Why not invite Divine Physician Yan into the palace… His golden needle acupuncture is extremely effective…”
Crown Princess Lu had just wrung out a handkerchief and was personally wiping Empress Lu’s face. Her complexion also didn’t look good: “Yes, I don’t know what the reason is. After taking medicine she doesn’t improve, instead she becomes worse day by day. These past few days there have been no waking moments.”
Previously she could still wake once every few hours, later once every half day, and now it was good—it had been several days at once. Up until now she still hadn’t opened her eyes. It was truly too worrying.
Song Chuyi thought very seriously, then agreed with Imperial Physician Hu: “Imperial Physician Hu is right. Since you all have been unable to find a solution, we should still try other methods. Divine Physician Yan’s golden needle acupuncture is extremely good. When His Highness was poisoned in Yangquan, you all couldn’t determine what poison it was. It was only through Divine Physician Yan that the poison was cured.”
Zhou Weizhao looked at her, also nodding: “Since it concerns Imperial Grandmother’s phoenix body, it’s better to be cautious and careful. Why don’t I go ask Imperial Grandfather again, and have my Master also come examine Imperial Grandmother.”
Crown Princess Lu agreed to everything: “At this point, we can only try every method. How can this continue? We can’t even feed her anything…”
If something happened to Empress Lu, then the rumors in the capital would become even more severe. Blocking the people’s mouths is harder than blocking a river.
Zhou Weizhao nodded in agreement: “I’ll personally mention it to Imperial Grandfather.”
Crown Princess Lu watched him leave, then had Imperial Physician Hu withdraw. While receiving the medicine Xie Siyi handed over and carefully feeding it to Empress Lu, she turned to look at Song Chuyi: “Last time didn’t you mention sending the two young highnesses to a country estate? With New Year approaching, I don’t know if sending them there is appropriate or not.”
Song Chuyi went over to give Crown Princess Lu a hand. Hearing this, she sighed: “But having them stay in this palace now isn’t a solution either. Right now the officials of the Ministry of Rites are competing to submit memorials, clamoring to have the two young highnesses punished…”
“So your meaning is that it’s still more appropriate to send them away?” Crown Princess Lu put down the medicine bowl and received the hand warmer Xiangling handed over. She reached out to poke at the ashes inside, her head lowered so her expression couldn’t be seen clearly.
“Send them away.” Song Chuyi agreed: “Right now we really can’t look after them. This is also Imperial Grandfather’s intention…”
Crown Princess Lu didn’t speak. For a moment the palace was so quiet that only Empress Lu’s labored breathing in her illness could be heard. The sound of wind outside the hall was still frighteningly loud. Crown Princess Lu nodded.