Since the plan had already been decided, Crown Princess Lu personally selected several reliable people to escort Zhou Weiyin and Zhou Weiyang out of the city. She also didn’t forget to assign them two imperial physicians. During the New Year period the weather was exceptionally cold—adults could barely withstand it, so if the children’s health took a turn for the worse without physicians at their side, that wouldn’t do.

After giving instructions, she looked at Song Chuyi with some vexation and sighed: “I originally thought, no matter what, innocent children…” She changed her tone and continued: “But thinking about it, what the court officials say also makes sense. Though they’re young, they are after all the sons of a rebel. Prince Gong is disloyal and unfilial. With their status, staying in the palace is indeed rather awkward. Forget it.”

Song Chuyi made a sound of agreement: “When Imperial Grandmother wakes, we’ll explain it to her properly, and she’ll understand.”

These exchanges left the listeners confused, as if in a fog. Xiangling was somewhat puzzled, looking at Crown Princess Lu with eyes full of confusion: “Your Highness, isn’t it just a matter of sending the two young highnesses out of the city? Why does it trouble you so?”

Their status made staying in the palace awkward in the first place.

Crown Princess Lu propped up her head without speaking. After a long while, she instructed her: “Go supervise things. Make sure all the two young highnesses’ belongings are taken along, so they can travel comfortably.”

This statement was even stranger, making one’s eyelids jump for no reason. Xiangling knew something was wrong but didn’t dare ask further. She curtsied in acknowledgment and hurriedly turned to go to the side hall to relay the orders.

Within just two hours, everything had been organized. Crown Princess Lu watched Zhou Weiyin and Zhou Weiyang kowtow with faces full of terror, waved her hand and said a few words to them, then summoned the Jinwu Guard Centurion who would escort them out of the city. Seeing that the time was about right, she ordered them to depart.

Song Chuyi instructed Qing Ying to send a letter out to Ma Wangkun, having him watch over the country estate.

Qing Tao was confused by Song Chuyi’s scattered instructions, not quite understanding what Song Chuyi was trying to do. Seeing Song Chuyi loosen her clothes and nestle on the daybed under a soft quilt reading a book, she somewhat hesitantly stepped forward and asked: “Miss, what are you doing?”

This habit of calling her “Miss” had been corrected thousands of times, yet somehow she just couldn’t change it. Ziyun came in just in time to hear it and reminded her: “If Nanny Xu hears, she’ll scold you.”

Qing Tao stood still and laughed for a moment, then helped Song Chuyi by placing the filled hot water bottle under the covers. Only then did she turn back to organize Song Chuyi’s jewelry: “This is only in private that I can’t help calling her that. His Highness doesn’t say anything either.”

“What don’t I say?” Her words had barely fallen when Zhou Weizhao entered from outside. In the blink of an eye, he had already passed the four-panel gold-painted plum blossom and snow screen. In good humor, he asked: “Are you servants gossiping about me again?”

Zhou Weizhao had always kept his distance from Song Chuyi’s maids. Taking the initiative to ask a question already startled Qing Tao. Before Zhou Weizhao, she lacked the ease she had in front of Song Chuyi. She retreated two steps and stood firmly, her face still wearing a smile, but her demeanor had already straightened: “I wouldn’t dare…”

Zhou Weizhao didn’t much care. He stepped forward to look at what book Song Chuyi was reading, then turned and went into the washroom.

Nanny Xu followed in closely behind, lowering her voice as she stood beside Song Chuyi, bending down to ask her: “Your Ladyship, where will His Highness rest tonight?”

The movements in Qing Tao and Ziyun’s hands both paused—Song Chuyi had her monthly courses. By rights she shouldn’t serve Zhou Weizhao. According to the palace matrons’ rules, at such times others should serve, or separate lodgings should be arranged. Nanny Xu had already mentioned this to Song Chuyi yesterday.

Having been busy all day with Qingbai’s matter, Song Chuyi had truly forgotten. Hearing Nanny Xu say this, she first froze, then put down the book in her hands and frowned in thought.

In truth, while it was called thinking, her mind was actually completely blank. She couldn’t think of anything at all.

In her previous life when Shen Qingrang had brought concubines into the residence one by one, she hadn’t been this sad and distressed—truly sad and distressed, without even seeming to feel anger.

Before Nanny Xu could persuade her further, Zhou Weizhao had already emerged. His dripping wet hair was wrapped in a towel he held. In a few steps he was before Song Chuyi, then turned his head to look at them and ordered: “You may withdraw.”

Nanny Xu looked at Song Chuyi once more, then led Qing Tao and Ziyun in withdrawing.

Once everyone had withdrawn completely, Zhou Weizhao stuffed the towel into Song Chuyi’s hands and looked at her with a smile: “Wipe it for me.”

Like a small child, with a pair of clean and transparent eyes, clear without any impurities.

Song Chuyi’s heart softened at being looked at with such a gaze. Immediately afterward, her eyes felt sore. She pressed her lips together, received the towel, and helped him wring the water from his hair. For a long while she didn’t speak.

Zhou Weizhao sensed something was wrong. Lying on her lap, his eyes that had been looking at her now stared at her unmoving. Lying on his back, he reached up to touch her eyes: “Why are you unhappy?”

Song Chuyi smiled and turned the topic elsewhere: “Do you think these people will take the bait?”

Zhou Weizhao looked at her carefully. Under his scrutiny she turned her head away. He sighed silently in his heart, but still followed her words and nodded: “Now Prince Gong has already established his foothold in Xibei. I heard the Tartars’ proclamation denouncing our Great Zhou has already been issued, saying that we Great Zhou are treacherous, closing the border markets and killing quite a few Tartars. Having walked this far, anyone with eyes knows what relationship Prince Gong has with the Tartars. Since he’s already become a traitorous subject and rebel, someone who could even help him poison their master would naturally consider everything for him. With such a good opportunity, how could they miss it?”

Song Chuyi also didn’t think Prince Gong truly wouldn’t care about these two sons—sons weren’t something else that you could have just by wanting them. He only had these two sons in total. If both died, whether he could have more later was uncertain.

Moreover, if he truly didn’t care about his sons’ life or death at all, when he achieved his goals later and spoke eloquently, the common people and ministers would probably have to carefully evaluate what kind of person he was and feel lingering fears—even a vicious tiger won’t eat its cubs. How could someone who could abandon and disregard even his own biological sons possibly love the people as his own children in the future?

So Song Chuyi guessed that in addition to poisoning Empress Lu, the person Prince Gong had planted beside Empress Lu should also have the task of taking his two sons away.

While lowering her head to dry Zhou Weizhao’s hair, she also laughed: “Moreover, I’ve added more weight to the scales. After discussing with Mother, I put on a show. Prince Gong’s people probably think we’re preparing to eliminate these two young highnesses as quickly as possible…”

This way, they wouldn’t even have the chance to prepare, to cautiously plan before acting. Because in their eyes, if they acted a bit later, the people might no longer be there…