Old Madam Song wasn’t merely discussing Zheng Sansi’s future fate. Song Chuyi placed her teacup on the kang table and looked at the embroidered narcissus vase arrangement on it. Understanding Old Madam Song’s meaning, she shook her head. “Grandmother, it’s not the right time.”

Emperor Jianzhang’s patience with the Lu family had run out, as had his patience with Empress Lu. This was understandable. Empress Lu’s maternal family, as well as Empress Lu herself and even her two sons, were truly too disappointing. The bloody political turmoil in court and the warfare in the northwest could truly be attributed to Empress Lu’s failure to properly educate her sons.

The reason Emperor Jianzhang still endured and let the Lu family die with dignity was solely for Zhou Weizhao’s sake.

At this moment, if Zhou Weizhao still tried to plant people in court with the idea of consolidating his own position, Emperor Jianzhang probably couldn’t tolerate even him and would truly destroy before rebuilding—first deposing the Empress, then deposing the Crown Prince.

Never underestimate an emperor’s pride. That Emperor Jianzhang could still exercise such patience was already completely beyond expectations. This was probably thanks to Emperor Jianzhang losing his mother at a young age and becoming accustomed to endurance.

Regarding the candidate for Minister of Revenue after his retirement, Song Chengru clearly thought along the same lines as Song Chuyi. He looked at Qingfeng, who had returned travel-worn and hadn’t even had time to change his clothes yet, then looked at Zhou Weizhao and said solemnly, “Your Highness, this old minister will say one more thing—absolutely do not interfere in the matter of the Minister of Revenue. Even if His Majesty asks your opinion, just say you don’t understand.”

Although Zhou Weizhao was the victim, the ones who harmed him were from his mother’s maternal family. This relationship was truly tangled beyond sorting. Once Emperor Jianzhang truly harbored resentment in his heart, he might very well transfer his anger to Zhou Weizhao. Interfering with the appointment of major court officials at this time would be truly unwise.

Qingfeng pulled out several pine nuts from his pouch and shelled them. After finishing, he tossed them all into his mouth together and swallowed them in one gulp with tea water. Only then did he nod in agreement with Song Chengru’s words. “The Old Master speaks reasonably. In the future, you should learn from the Crown Prince of the past. As for the northwest, as long as the warfare proceeds smoothly, Grand Commander Cui will eventually return. Everything cannot be rushed. Right now, stability should be paramount.” He too was worried for Zhou Weizhao. The problem was that the troublemakers weren’t from some other family, but from his own maternal family. This matter was truly…

Even the deepest grandparent-grandchild affection couldn’t withstand such repeated friction. After speaking, Qingfeng nodded again. “However, what you and the Crown Princess did this time was correct—steeling your resolve to uproot them cleanly in one stroke, rather than having them constantly pop up from time to time to disgust people. If such things happen again in the future, no matter how much His Majesty values you, he probably couldn’t pass his own test. Now that these matters are finished, don’t slack off either. The investiture ceremony on February twenty-first should still proceed as scheduled. During this period, cultivate your character and spend more time with His Majesty.”

“As for Prince Su and Prince Lu…” Qingfeng didn’t consider himself an outsider at all. Seeing Song Chengru and Zhou Weizhao both looking at him, he said, “This time they didn’t cause trouble—at least not on the surface. Why don’t you interact with them more? It’s certainly good that they don’t cause trouble, but if they could actually do something, that would naturally be even better. How about having them take a stance?”

Song Chengru’s eyes brightened. Understanding Qingfeng’s meaning, he slapped the table. “Yes! It would be very appropriate to have these princes who are Prince Gong’s elder brothers take a stance. With them coming forward—”

Qingfeng laughed, his laughter quite cheerful. “Old Master, I haven’t finished yet. Not just Prince Su and Prince Lu—how did you forget there are two other excellent ready-made candidates? They must all be put to use.”

Zhou Weizhao set down his cup and fixed his gaze tightly on Qingfeng. Instantly grasping Qingfeng’s meaning, he asked, “Sir, you’re referring to Prince Gong’s two sons?”

“Exactly!” Qingfeng showed a mocking smile, unabashedly sneering. “On my way to Fujian, I heard about the terrible idea those court people came up with, saying something about how Prince Gong’s heir and the little prince bore great crimes and should be sent to the northwest to make an example of them. Nonsense!” He cursed, then continued, “The ones who advocated for this were also Scholar Chen and his group, right? From this perspective, Prince Gong does want his sons after all. I reckon he can’t afford not to want them—these are his only two sons. If they die, he might not be able to produce new ones.” Having finished his sarcastic remark, he got to the main point. “These two are truly hot potatoes. Keeping them in the capital and providing them with good food and drink? Can’t swallow that grievance, and though they’re still young, their father did rebel, didn’t he? But kill them? The world would inevitably think His Majesty and you too heartless. Better to find a way to settle this matter and eliminate one source of taboo.”

Song Chengru already understood what Qingfeng intended to do. “Have them take a stance like Prince Su and Prince Lu?”

“Not just take a stance.” Qingfeng was decisive. He pulled out a walnut from his pouch and cracked the shell. “For the February twenty-first investiture ceremony, how about having Prince Gong’s heir and the little prince attend together? Then have them serve His Majesty during his illness. Their father is a traitor, but they aren’t. Submit a memorial drawing a clear line with Prince Gong and severing the father-son relationship—wouldn’t that show great righteousness and understanding?”

This was truly killing without seeing blood. This way, forget about Prince Gong immediately becoming the laughingstock of the world with everyone wanting to condemn him—even if in the future Prince Gong somehow had incredible dog-shit luck, everyone would still remember he had two sons who righteously destroyed their kinship ties and severed their relationship, refusing to acknowledge him.

This way, Prince Gong would truly become a lonely man whom neither father acknowledged nor sons wanted. Since ancient times, it’s been said that those who follow the Way have much support, while those who lose the Way have little. When even his own sons look down on him, what capability could he possibly have left?

The room fell quiet for a moment. Qingfeng didn’t mind at all. “Prince Gong’s heir and the little prince are in an awkward position. This way would also be for their benefit. At worst, in the future they could at least end up demoted to commoner status and wouldn’t have to lose their heads along with their rebellious father, right? For them, this is also a good thing. His Majesty will understand. It’s just that this matter shouldn’t be brought up by Your Highness. Better if you go speak of it personally.” He looked at Song Chengru. “You’ve always been His Majesty’s devoted minister. Otherwise, His Majesty wouldn’t have chosen the Sixth Miss to be Crown Princess. This matter won’t do if anyone else brings it up. If Your Highness brings it up, His Majesty will think you’re too calculating. Better if you speak of it—straightforward and open, so no one can pick out any faults.”

Song Chengru immediately agreed. “I’ll also have Sun Xiangqing polish the writing for the two young highnesses.” Have the Minister of Rites cite classics and condemn Prince Gong until he’s worse than pigs and dogs. It must be suitable for all ages, so that even women and children can understand upon hearing it, thoroughly vilifying Prince Gong so completely that he can never turn things around for all eternity.