Lu Chonghua had never known what exactly Song Chuyi wanted to do. At the beginning, while traveling on the road listening and watching, she only heard rumors upon rumors unfavorable to Song Chuyi and the Eastern Palace, thinking Song Chuyi and Zhou Weizhao had been schemed against, their reputations deliberately damaged.

But even after returning and learning that it wasn’t actually like that, that all of this was intentional on Song Chuyi’s part, deliberately indulged, she still didn’t quite understand. Only at this moment, when Qing Tao brought this news, did she look toward Song Chuyi: “So there are still people by the Celestial Master’s side…”

This game of chess was truly played on a grand scale. What Han Zhengqing and Lady Fan originally sought was truly… Ye Jingchuan took over Lu Chonghua’s words: “Then what now? Lure the snake out of its hole?”

Yes, they had thrown out the bait for so long, given so many benefits, also shown enough weakness. These big fish should come out now, should come out to show off.

Lure the snake out of its hole—exactly these four words.

Song Chuyi smiled at him: “Yes, now of course we wait for people to run out on their own.” She looked toward Lu Chonghua. “How could we catch them all by trying to capture them ourselves? Moreover, after catching one there would be a second. You never know exactly how many people are still hidden around you, so simply don’t bother catching them—better to lure them out themselves.”

Now was the time. A hint of flush appeared on Lu Chonghua’s pale face. She laughed somewhat excitedly: “Then don’t you have to suffer some hardship?”

Ye Jingchuan could now keep up quite well with their line of thinking. Hearing Lu Chonghua say this, he also turned his head toward Song Chuyi: “Everything’s been prepared and arranged, right? Don’t let something like a palace coup happen… Prince Lu, Prince Su, and Consort Liang’s side…”

Not expecting Ye Jingchuan to have progressed to this degree upon his return, not only drawing inferences but also thinking so far ahead from just a few sentences, Song Chuyi was somewhat surprised. She glanced at him before coming back to herself: “Everything’s prepared. This time relying on ourselves alone, we couldn’t lay such a large net. Thanks to the cooperation of Chief Minister Chang and Minister Cen, with them present, all nine gates are secure. Prince Lu and Prince Su needn’t be worried about either. With my eldest sister watching Consort Liang, nothing troublesome can happen.”

Since she had thought things through thoroughly, and had Chief Minister Chang and others controlling the situation, plus her own brother’s clear capabilities, and Song Jue held high position and great authority in the Feathered Forest Guard, Ye Jingchuan also breathed a sigh of relief.

“Good then.” He lowered his voice. “Since such a major incident has occurred, His Highness must certainly be in a flurry now, having become the target of all criticism. Soon you’ll definitely be mentioned by people too. You should quickly return to the palace.”

Qing Ying also came forward nodding: “We came out under the banner of visiting Miss Mingzi. Right now there are definitely many people surrounding our residence…” She spat on the ground, extremely indignant. “Earlier it was just speculation, yet the common people already treated you as the likes of Daji and Baosi. Now that it’s confirmed His Majesty was poisoned, doesn’t that tell them the other rumors are all true too? They certainly wish they could devour you alive. Moreover, we’ve been out too long. To prevent unexpected changes, we should return quickly.”

Lu Chonghua also reacted, already standing up: “It’s just that now news has spread that His Majesty was truly harmed by Zhang Tianshi. I don’t know if there will be obstacles at the city gate. You won’t encounter any trouble entering the city, will you?”

If someone had incited the fact that Song Chuyi had left the city, then at this time, even if she were a fool she wouldn’t have to pay any price. Lu Chonghua was afraid that the traitor by Zhou Weizhao’s side even knew Song Chuyi’s itinerary.

Song Chuyi immediately understood her meaning and quietly reassured her: “The matter of your return, I’ve even hidden from His Highness and Her Majesty. No one knows I came here. Rest assured. The one guarding the city gate is my grandfather’s sworn friend’s son. There won’t be any obstacles.”

Having said this, she had Qing Tao drape her cloak over her, then instructed Ye Jingchuan: “Chonghua will trouble Second Young Master Ye to look after more. Recently there probably won’t be anyone temporarily coming to make trouble for you. Now in these times when people’s hearts are in panic, even if someone comes to the capital to report that you abandoned your post, no one should pay attention. You can settle here for a while first. Wait a few more days, when the good show is staged, then you can come watch.”

Lu Chonghua agreed and repeatedly urged her to leave quickly, afraid that if she delayed returning it would cause trouble. But Ye Jingchuan hesitated for a moment, pressed his lips together, and hesitantly called out to Song Chuyi. Lowering his head, he said: “Her injuries have never fully healed…”

Song Chuyi stopped in her tracks and looked at Lu Chonghua behind Ye Jingchuan, who was staring wide-eyed in shock.

But Ye Jingchuan couldn’t care about these things, somewhat anxiously: “She was very seriously injured at the time. She barely survived after recuperating for over three full months, but she’s never completely recovered. Even now she still has frequent heart palpitations and chest pains, often unable to sleep the entire night. So I was thinking, could Sixth Miss ask Her Majesty to help think of a way to have Imperial Physician Yan take a look.”

Song Chuyi looked at him for a moment, seeing Ye Jingchuan’s ears were completely red, and Lu Chonghua had also transformed from shock to being at a loss. Suddenly she smiled, truly smiled with genuine delight: “Alright.”

She had Qing Ying leave behind a bottle of Spirit Nourishing Pills, then looked at Lu Chonghua once more and said earnestly: “Take care. I’ll come to fetch you in a few days.”

Lu Chonghua, holding the porcelain bottle, also smiled at her, standing straight and firm: “Good. I’ll wait for you to come fetch me. You must keep your word.”

Qing Tao’s courage had actually never been particularly great, but for some reason, this time she didn’t feel that the current oppressive situation made her unable to breathe or afraid. She looked at Song Chuyi, her eyes shining brightly: “Miss, tell me, has Second Young Master Ye… has he fallen for Miss Chonghua?”

Qing Ying’s hand, which was smoothing Song Chuyi’s hair, paused. She made a sound of surprise: “What?” She looked at her own young lady’s expression, somewhat hesitant: “This isn’t very likely, is it?”

Second Young Master Ye clearly extremely liked their young lady. Thinking this, she immediately froze again. But perhaps not—back then, Second Young Master Ye’s eyes could never see other young ladies, like a block of wood. When had he ever opened his mouth to show concern for others? Yet now he was asking for a physician for Miss Chonghua right in front of their own young lady. Miss Chonghua herself hadn’t even thought of this matter, yet he had kept it in his heart.

Song Chuyi’s lips carried a smile. She opened her closed eyes, thought for a moment, then said: “Probably… yes.”

This was a good thing. Ye Jingchuan was much better than that pervert Han Zhi. Han Zhi fundamentally didn’t like women at all, and his personality was sinister and obsessive. In the previous life, Madam Han—Lu Chonghua—always wore an expression of worried brows and unfurrowed spirits.

How wonderful now. All matters had changed. In this world, there was originally nothing that would remain eternally unchanged.