The Prefect was so angry his legs trembled. He had heard of the Grand Grandson’s formidability. Back when the Yangzhou Weaving Bureau incident occurred, Zhang Yuan’s affair caused an enormous commotion – the entire Yangzhou official circle was practically purged. He had only gotten this opportunity to come to Yangzhou by taking advantage of this – and he had gone through connections under Grand Secretary Chang’s patronage.

Only now did he remember that Grand Secretary Chang was currently the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor!

Anxious sweat dripped from his head. The welcoming banquet the next day was arranged with extreme care and grandeur.

Zhou Weizhao did grace them with his attendance, but after just one glance he shook his head: “Too extravagant!” Then with an expression of deep concern for the country and people: “The situation in Xibei is dire, the soldiers don’t have enough to eat… Just speaking of outside Yangzhou City, there are so many refugees too. Behind vermillion gates, wine and meat go to waste, while on the road lie bones of those frozen to death…”

The Yangzhou Prefect nearly burst into tears. The accompanying Garrison Eunuch and prominent officials like the Vice Prefect all wore mournful faces, at a loss. Truly one wrong step led to errors at every turn. Who would have thought that having people pretend to be refugees was wrong, and immediately afterward everything became evidence against them.

Indeed, if Yangzhou had refugees, if things were so difficult, then how could they still arrange such a grand and wasteful welcoming banquet?

The Yangzhou Prefect truly wished he could slap himself. Forcing himself to finish the meal, when he returned he brought up today’s events with his father-in-law: “This matter was bungled! It simply handed the Grand Grandson a ready-made handle!”

Liang Shoufu had eaten more rice and had more experience. Unlike his daughter, he nodded repeatedly admitting fault: “Indeed, it wasn’t thought through carefully enough. Didn’t anticipate it, didn’t anticipate it.”

These words were far too hypocritical. Where was there any feeling that what he did was inappropriate? He just hadn’t anticipated that Zhou Weizhao and Song Chuyi wouldn’t ride in the ceremonial procession, but instead sat in inconspicuous carriages, letting the ceremonial procession enter the city first. Three people in the ceremonial procession had died…

The Yangzhou Prefect couldn’t explain why, but always felt very uneasy in his heart. At any movement, his heart felt as if filled with water, sloshing around making him uncomfortable. He paused, wanting to say something, but seeing his father-in-law’s utterly honest expression, could only close his mouth and say nothing.

What else could he say? His father-in-law’s temperament was just like this – saying anything would be useless.

He sighed and said: “Now that the matter is done, it’s equivalent to leaving a handle in others’ hands. We must make amends.”

If they didn’t make amends, when the capital assigned blame, his position as Yangzhou Prefect would be finished. He had worked so hard to squeeze into this position – rich as flowing oil and comfortable. He was reluctant to give it up.

Liang Shoufu nodded repeatedly: “As it should be, as it should be.” With an extremely honest appearance, he also discussed with him: “In past years when imperial commissioners came to Yangzhou, we were the ones to host them. The day after tomorrow, arrange a banquet at Fenghuang Tower specifically to apologize to the Grand Grandson and Grand Grandson’s Consort.” He also said to the Prefect: “Have Liu’er not stay cooped up at home either. Even if the Grand Grandson’s Consort doesn’t summon her, she must follow protocol and go pay respects, seek an audience, and submit her calling card!”

What the Yangzhou Prefect most disliked about his father-in-law was precisely this point – he never spoke plainly about anything, always had this calculating appearance. The refugee matter before was the same – didn’t discuss it with him at all, creating this current awkward situation that was difficult to resolve. Thinking this, he couldn’t help feeling resentful. He heavily set his cup down on the table and stared earnestly at his father-in-law: “Father-in-law, let me speak frankly with you. This matter you arranged was bungled!” He watched Liang Shoufu’s eyes dart around and deeply despised this merchant reeking of copper who only had money. When he married into the family, his mother had disagreed, saying merchants reeked of copper and lacked integrity. He hadn’t believed it then, but after so many years together, he had truly come to understand. The court was currently in difficulty – they had just mentioned sending an imperial commissioner down, and immediately his father-in-law went to conspire with Yangzhou’s wealthy households, absolutely unwilling to pay out silver no matter what, even willing to do things like injuring or killing the Grand Grandson.

Anger faintly flashed in his eyes, and his words became somewhat impolite: “The Grand Grandson is not just anyone!” He lowered his voice: “In the future he will ascend the throne. If you act like this now…”

Liang Shoufu also put down his cup. His eyes didn’t look at the Yangzhou Prefect, and his voice was sinister and somewhat frightening: “What about how I’m acting now? Opening his mouth demanding silver, wanting to use silver for war. Do you know how much silver that would be?! My ancestors’ accumulated family fortune over so many generations would all have to be thrown in. You think silver falls from the sky?! Now no one knows what the situation is in Xibei. What if it’s like before and the Tatars reach the gates of the capital? How do you know how long this war will last? How do you know we’ll definitely win? Give it this time, there will be a next time. Do you understand?!”

By the end of his speech, he stopped beating around the bush: “In any case, this old man won’t give the silver, and neither will anyone else! This is Yangzhou!” He emphasized once more, looking darkly at the Prefect: “Yangzhou is our territory. It’s not like imperial princes, young masters, and imperial commissioners haven’t died here before. Now the court can’t even take care of itself. Even if they know we have problems, so what? Come settle accounts with us? Aren’t they afraid Yangzhou will also descend into chaos!”

The Yangzhou Prefect hadn’t expected Liang Shoufu’s tone to be so arrogant. His eyes widened, so angry he couldn’t say a single word.

Liang Shoufu, having started speaking, was no longer afraid. He laughed coldly: “In any case, I don’t care. Either he obediently tucks in his head and goes back, or else I’ll make him regret it!”

As for exactly how he’d make him regret it, that he still didn’t say.

On the other side, Chen Dezhong was also saying to Fu Youde: “Looking at this situation, I’m afraid it’s not as simple as just not giving silver – they clearly want to kill people!”

Fu Youde saw even more clearly: “Exactly. If the Grand Grandson’s Consort hadn’t insisted on not going to the front, something would have happened.”

Saying this, Chen Dezhong became somewhat confused: “Then, could it be the Grand Grandson’s Consort anticipated this early on?”

Fu Youde countered: “If she hadn’t anticipated it, why do you think the Grand Grandson’s Consort instructed us so early to follow those troublemakers, note down their whereabouts, and clearly record their residences? She must have anticipated it long ago.”

Jinling had also been difficult about giving silver, but not this difficult. Chen Dezhong was somewhat angry: “With national crisis at hand, who knows what this bunch is thinking! If something happens in Xibei, do they think they’ll be secure? Having silver, they probably won’t have the life to spend it. A bunch of fools!”

No one could understand the logic, but unfortunately, before silver, logic was useless.

Song Chuyi was very clear about this. Looking at the list before her, she memorized each name one by one, then turned back to ask Chen Ping, who had been gathering intelligence: “Not a single one missed?”

Chen Ping hadn’t rested since rushing back from Jinzhong earlier, following Zhou Weizhao and Song Chuyi all the way to Yangzhou. Hearing this, he nodded seriously: “All recorded clearly, not a single one escaped.”