Han Zhengqing’s ferocious expression made people shiver with cold even under this bright sun. Vice General Chen’s body trembled, and he responded, then instinctively asked: “Then what about…” He hesitated for a while, then added: “Qingbai’s side—there hasn’t been any news back for a long time, nor from Longhu Mountain.”

Qingbai had been by Zhou Weizhao’s side for a full dozen years, growing up with Zhou Weizhao from childhood. Back when Celestial Master Zhang of Longhu Mountain kept tight security, he had tried repeatedly to kill Zhou Weizhao but never succeeded. With no other choice, he had to settle for the next best thing and began planting people around Zhou Weizhao.

Although Longhu Mountain was heavily guarded, and Celestial Master Zhang wholeheartedly protected Zhou Weizhao, no place was an impenetrable iron slab. He had managed to pry open a crack in Longhu Mountain’s iron slab and bribed Celestial Master Zhang’s much-favored junior disciple Yan Shouning, who had nearly become the sect’s master. He began executing plans of gradual, subtle influence.

Speaking of which, originally Zhou Weizhao should not have survived that period right after descending the mountain—he had already instructed Yan Shouning back then to have Qingbai disclose the itinerary to that fool Prince Duan at an opportune time, wanting to use Prince Duan’s hand to eliminate the scourge that was Zhou Weizhao. But though Zhou Weizhao was young, he was extremely cunning. Along the way, he changed his itinerary seven or eight times in succession. Except for himself, no one knew which road he would take next moment. He arrived safely in the capital.

And after arriving in the capital, Prince Duan’s several attempts to frame him and Grand Empress Dowager Rongxian’s several schemes all fell through. He himself was far away at the border, Elder Lady Fan was powerless, and bit by bit Zhou Weizhao had grown to this extent.

Thinking of the past, he gave a cold laugh: “Don’t contact Qingbai or Yan Shouning anymore.”

Vice General Chen was shocked and looked at Han Zhengqing with great confusion, not understanding why he suddenly said this: “But if we want to take action against the Crown Prince’s son, without Qingbai—”

Han Zhengqing interrupted him before he could finish: “It’s the same without Qingbai and Yan Shouning.”

Between Yan Shouning, Qingbai, and himself, there was a special method of contact. Now it had been a full three months without anyone reporting back—something that had never happened before.

Whether it was because communications were disrupted during wartime or because something had truly happened, being cautious in all matters would never be wrong.

Besides, if he wanted Zhou Weizhao dead, Qingbai wasn’t the only person he had. He had plenty of methods, plenty of better methods than Qingbai. His true trump card—he still held it in his hand without revealing it.

Vice General Chen stood dazed for a moment. Looking up and seeing Han Zhengqing’s indescribably dark face, he shivered and responded affirmatively.

It was Han Zhengqing himself who spoke up: “I have two letters. One you’ll give to Xu Da for him to read. The other—he knows who to give it to.” Han Zhengqing calmed down and instructed: “There cannot be the slightest mistake. If there’s even the smallest error…” Han Zhengqing’s eyes suddenly shot out an oppressive light: “If there’s even the smallest error, I want your whole family’s lives!”

This time Vice General Chen’s tongue could barely straighten. He knew Han Zhengqing was serious. Han Zhengqing didn’t even care about his own sons’ lives or deaths—what about him?

He hastily responded affirmatively, thought it over again and again, felt uneasy about anyone handling this matter, returned to camp and pondered all night, selected his eldest son who had become a centurion, assigned him thirty sharp and capable regular soldiers, and gave him a thousand instructions and ten thousand exhortations to be sure to properly enter the capital and find Xu Da.

When Xu Da was bringing the letter to the capital, something neither big nor small happened in the capital.

For others it naturally meant nothing, but for Grand Lady Lu, it was like a bolt from the blue. With great difficulty, news of Lu Chonghua had been sent from Zhangzhou in Fujian. She happily breathed a sigh of relief and opened it, but the letter said that Lu Chonghua’s ship had been found in the waters off Huizhou, but the ship had already been broken apart. Inside, apart from several corpses that had already rotted and bred maggots, there was nothing. The goods had also been completely looted. It appeared they had been robbed by sea bandits.

Grand Lady Lu’s breath hadn’t completely returned when it got stuck in her throat. Unable to breathe in or out, her pupils dilated, her face turned blue-purple. She was suffocated for a long time before Lu Yunji helped her sit in a chair and pressed on her for a long while. Only then did she catch that breath and come back to her senses, bursting into wailing sobs.

Grand Lady Lu cried her heart out. That night she developed a high fever that wouldn’t break. Lu Yunji ran himself ragged everywhere borrowing physicians, finally borrowing one from the Song family of Earl Changning’s manor. Upon hearing the report, Old Madam Song was somewhat stunned, suspecting she had heard wrong. After asking again, she understood something had happened. She sighed and ordered Madam Song to immediately send someone to fetch Physician Yan.

During this period, everyone had been searching for Lu Chonghua, who had lost contact long ago. Even the Zhangzhou prefect had specially sent a letter back saying they would do their utmost to search. But no one had expected that when news finally came, it would be such news.

Old Madam Song thought about how Song Chuyi and Lu Chonghua had been fairly close, and Cui Huaying also had a good relationship with Lu Chonghua. She first shook her head. When Young Madam Song was about to enter the palace to pay respects, she specially instructed: “Your younger sister surely knows too. You… just say these are my words—life and death are fated, wealth and honor are in heaven’s hands. Tell her not to grieve too much.”

That’s what she said, but how could one not grieve?

Thinking of Song Chuyi, Old Madam Song couldn’t help sighing again and specially instructed Madam Song: “It’s late today, so just send Physician Yan over. Tomorrow you personally make the trip. On my behalf, go visit Grand Lady Lu and properly console her…”

Madam Song agreed. The next day, after preparing things, she arranged to go with Princess Duanhui to visit Grand Lady Lu. Grand Lady Lu wasn’t as devastated as they had imagined. She struggled to gasp a few breaths and grasped Princess Duanhui’s hand, crying and begging her: “The letter didn’t say there was Chonghua’s corpse. Chonghua might not be…” No matter what, she couldn’t say that word “dead.” Her face was completely ashen. She closed her eyes: “Might not truly be… gone… Princess, I’m ill, Mother is also ill. I dare not take my illness to offend Mother. I beg you, please help me tell Mother—have Mother help me…”

The people from the Lu family she could use, she had already used. Now, aside from seeking help from Empress Dowager Lu, she truly didn’t know what to do.

Master Lu had even sent a letter to the capital blaming her, saying it was all her fault, that she dared to indulge Lu Chonghua in running to such a distant place, and should have anticipated such a thing would happen.

She was truly utterly despairing now. If her daughter was dead—she closed her eyes again, simply not daring to imagine.