“That’s not something we need to worry about.” Ye Jingkuan set down the white porcelain cup in his hand, looking at the peach blossoms blooming profusely by the pond. The spring flowers and green willows were truly beautiful beyond compare. He sighed once before continuing, “Your Highness, this is all we can do for now. As for what remains, let’s see what Minister Cen has to say tomorrow.”
Since Cen Biliang would be the one to take the lead in bringing up this matter, tomorrow they would indeed need to first see how he broached the subject. Zhou Weizhao smiled and nodded, then added, “Right now the Princess Consort is in my mother’s palace. Uncle-in-law, would you like to go see her?”
It must be to discuss the marriage between Ye Jingchuan and Lu Chonghua. Ye Jingkuan smiled slightly and shook his head. “My mother can handle this matter herself—I wouldn’t dare interfere, lest she think I’ve done it poorly.”
Women’s affairs—they always found them troublesome. Sometimes even when you helped, you’d still be criticized for it. Better to keep a distance. However, there was indeed one matter he needed to discuss first with Zhou Weizhao and Crown Princess Lu. Ye Jingkuan asked him, “Now that the Lu family members are all gone, aside from Yunji they have no elders. When the time comes for Chonghua’s side…”
Crown Princess Lu was indeed Lu Chonghua’s elder, but she was merely an aunt. She couldn’t very well be the one to give Lu Chonghua away in marriage. Moreover, they couldn’t appear too eager about this now.
Zhou Weizhao had already discussed this issue with Song Chuyi and said, “Yunji is her older brother. The eldest brother is like a father—it’s time he took up the responsibility of supporting the Lu family. Chonghua’s maternal grandfather’s family will also be entering the capital soon, so we don’t need to worry about that.”
Hearing this, Ye Jingkuan knew they had already thought it through, so he asked no more. Zhou Weizhao was right—sooner or later Lu Yunji would have to hold up the Lu family’s standing. He ought to learn to handle such matters.
After chatting idly for a while, it was soon time to leave the palace. Ye Jingkuan sent word inside and waited at the palace gate for Princess Zhennan, then told her the news that Lu Chonghua’s maternal grandfather’s family would be entering the capital. “Now Mother need not worry. It would indeed look quite improper without any elders.”
Princess Zhennan had already heard this from Crown Princess Lu and went along with his words. “Indeed so.” Then she added, “I heard they’re almost in the capital already. Since they’ll be handling things, we should pay them a visit early. You keep alert—as soon as they enter the capital, send over a card, and take your younger brother to pay them a call first.”
She was not someone who made life difficult for daughters-in-law. Since her son liked this girl, naturally there was nothing to find fault with. She must look after every aspect for her future daughter-in-law.
On the other side, Crown Princess Lu was also remarking to Song Chuyi, “The Princess Consort is truly excellent.” When she had married the Crown Prince to become Crown Princess, it had been rather in name only. With poor health, she had always had few social interactions, and when receiving noble ladies, it was only during festivals when she briefly granted audiences. She hadn’t known that Princess Zhennan was such a reasonable and agreeable person.
Nanny Liang came up to refill their tea. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but smile. “Indeed so. The gift list from Her Highness the Princess Consort was truly startling—extremely generous. When Miss Chonghua marries over there, life certainly won’t be difficult.”
With such a mother-in-law, life would indeed be much easier. Moreover, Ye Jingchuan liked her, and she herself was sensible and skilled at handling matters. Seeing Crown Princess Lu breathe a sigh of relief, Song Chuyi smiled and chimed in with a few agreeable remarks.
When Zhou Weizhao came in and they dined together with the Crown Princess that evening, as they were leaving she asked him, “Didn’t you say something about raising funds? Why has there been no movement on this matter?”
Zhou Weizhao had told Song Chuyi about Song Jue’s visit at the Cui residence, but Song Chuyi had immediately been caught up with Crown Princess Lu and Princess Duanhui’s affairs and couldn’t get away, so she hadn’t been able to ask in detail. Now that Zhou Weizhao finally had some free time, naturally she had to ask.
“Uncle-in-law came to the palace today precisely for this matter.” Zhou Weizhao held her hand and helped her down the stairs. The scenery was lovely, so rather than hurrying back, he took her into the Imperial Garden and sat in the pavilion on the artificial mountain. After instructing Qing Ying to bring tea, he continued, “Uncle-in-law’s intention is for me not to involve myself in this matter, but to let Minister Cen take the lead.”
Song Chuyi understood immediately upon hearing this. Ye Jingkuan was doing this to prevent him from offending people, fearing he would be resented by the salt merchants and their ilk. After all, warfare was no joke, and military expenses were no small sum. Even though the salt merchants were enormously wealthy, if they truly responded to the court’s solicitation, they would still be stripped of a layer of skin. For them, it would be tantamount to having their hearts gouged out.
Zhou Weizhao, after all, had not yet ascended the throne. Even if he truly did ascend in the future, extracting silver from the salt merchants’ pockets would still require extreme caution. The salt merchants weren’t merely salt merchants—the waters behind them ran deep indeed.
“Uncle-in-law’s concerns are well-founded.” She had grown accustomed to calling Ye Jingkuan “uncle-in-law” following Zhou Weizhao’s example, and now it came out naturally without feeling strange. After thinking for a moment, she added, “Minister Cen is already the one making the biggest fuss anyway. Having him come forward to propose this is indeed much better than if you said it.” However, Song Jue was right—since they were beginning to raise funds from the people, they needed to find a way to create momentum, to make people feel that donating silver was only natural and proper.
How to do this was another difficult question. She pondered for a long while before clapping her hands once. Seeing Zhou Weizhao’s burning gaze turn toward her, she smiled, revealing two dimples. “After Minister Cen speaks tomorrow, we can’t just stand by idly doing nothing. We must make a gesture for all under heaven to see.”
In the sunlight, her face was like a water peach on the branch, pink and dewy enough to make one want to take a bite. Zhou Weizhao reached out and pinched her cheek. Seeing her eyes widen, he laughed with a snort. “Very well, so is Her Highness the Grand Princess Consort going to generously open her purse?”
Since they needed to make people willingly part with their money, naturally someone had to set an example. Having the imperial family take the lead would be best.
Song Chuyi blinked at him slyly. “We should generously open our purses, but I shouldn’t be the first to do so. It’s not quite appropriate for me to take the lead—having Imperial Grandmother initiate this would be most suitable.”
The Empress was the mother of the nation. Having her take the lead was naturally best. Although grave mistakes had already been made, people still had to look forward. If one could live, one should live well. Since death was not an option, one must live even better. It wasn’t good for Empress Lu to always carry on in this manner. She needed to come out and shoulder some responsibilities, to let people know she was useful.
Zhou Weizhao understood her meaning immediately upon hearing this. At this time, Empress Lu was indeed the most suitable candidate. She was, after all, the Empress. If the Crown Princess or Song Chuyi stepped forward, it would easily lead people to think too much, assuming they were trying to steal the spotlight.
However, Empress Lu’s temperament had truly changed now. Before, even when enduring, she had her own schemes and methods, and her objectives were usually achieved nine times out of ten. Now, though, she truly seemed afraid, wishing nothing more than to lock herself in Qingning Palace like a snail. To get her to come forward would probably require quite a bit of persuasion.