Young Master Liang was far more sensible than his father Liang Shoufu. The Prefect barely had to waste any words before he immediately agreed to give the silver. His son was currently in Song Chuyi’s hands, and with his weak constitution, this was his only precious son—also the Liang family’s legitimate eldest grandson. He didn’t want to lose his father and then lose his son too.
Moreover, Zhou Weizhao having the Prefect come ask him was really just going through the motions. If he dared say no or harbor any crooked thoughts, this entire household would probably all die.
This time, Madam Liang couldn’t utter half a word of objection either. Previously, she had assumed that both Zhou Weizhao and the Crown Princess Consort were young, and having heard along the way that they treated officials with extreme kindness and affability, without the slightest airs, she had truly believed they were inexperienced and naive, thinking to scheme against them. Who could have imagined they were not lambs for the slaughter at all, but clearly wolves that devoured people?
Young Master Liang moved very quickly, mobilizing all the silver the family could spare. He was afraid he hadn’t mobilized enough. Facing his continuously weeping wife and mother, he grew quite impatient: “Silver, silver—doesn’t our family have enough silver to last us ten lifetimes? Why do we need so much silver? Without your lives, how would you spend it?!”
Having shouted the household into silence, he sent the three hundred thousand taels in banknotes he had raised to the official residence. This man had already taken over much of the family business and had long since become extremely smooth and tactful. Now middle-aged and living in comfort and luxury, compared to his stubborn father who hoarded silver, he was much more magnanimous, and his mouth was extremely eloquent. Before Zhou Weizhao, he only said this silver had long been intended for donation, that serving the country loyally was proper and right, and so on. Finally, he added: “These banknotes are from Baofu Bank—payable on sight. You can take them directly to Jinji and exchange them.”
Though both surnamed Liang, their conduct and behavior were entirely different. Zhou Weizhao had someone accept the banknotes, said a few words, then without further ado had Chen Ping bring out Young Master Liang and hand him over to the elder Liang.
Young Master Liang expressed profuse gratitude. Leaving the gate, he heard his son ask why he had agreed to give the silver again.
He ignored Young Master Liang. The things Liang Shoufu had done deserved death a thousand times over. Zhou Weizhao only taking his life alone was already showing exceptional mercy beyond the law.
Song Chuyi found it quite remarkable to hear that Young Master Liang had come to deliver silver so quickly. Hearing Zhou Weizhao say with a smile that Young Master Liang knew how to talk, she also smiled: “Hearing you put it that way, it seems he really is quite different from his father. However, good bamboo shoots can come from bad bamboo—Young Master Liang is a sensible person, which does save us trouble.”
The Liang family delivered the silver with great fanfare, and the others weren’t fools either. One after another, they came to the official residence to deliver silver.
What moved Song Chuyi most was Madam Wang. Her family came from traveling merchants and had many properties in Jinji. She had already brought out Jinji’s seal stamps, saying that with these seals, she could mobilize all the Wang family’s grain stores.
This was even more useful than silver. In these times, having silver didn’t necessarily mean you could buy grain. Song Chuyi was quite moved and specially summoned Madam Wang before leaving: “I used my power and position to pressure people and threatened you with your son. I didn’t expect you to not hold grudges, not only donating silver but also additionally giving so much grain—”
Madam Wang sat slightly askew, shaking her head directly at Song Chuyi, her face full of sincerity: “I should be thanking the Crown Princess Consort instead. My family situation—it’s hard to explain in a few words. Honestly, if the Crown Princess Consort hadn’t stirred up such a commotion, my mother-in-law still wouldn’t have made up her mind to completely divide the family, and this silver wouldn’t have reached my hands. Now the silver’s been donated, I’ve gained reputation, and the family’s been divided. In the future, I won’t have to fight with my elder uncle and younger brothers-in-law over the estate, nor let my son see others’ faces or be coerced by them. As for those grain stores in Xibei—I won’t hide it from you, even if I wanted to mobilize grain, I’d have to be able to actually do it. It’s better to give it to the soldiers to use. This is also my way of thanking the Crown Princess Consort.”
Since Madam Wang spoke so honestly, Song Chuyi couldn’t very well say anything else. But she still went back and mentioned it to the Empress and Crown Princess. The Empress specially issued an edict bestowing an official title upon Madam Wang.
People had always said Yangzhou was the hardest place to extract silver from, but this time Yangzhou yielded the most silver. Such an amount equaled two years of taxes that Yangzhou had previously submitted. The Minister of Revenue was so delighted his eyes turned green. Looking at His Highness the Crown Prince, his gaze was bright, hoping that when the Crown Prince needed silver again, he would make another trip somewhere and dig out another three to five million taels of silver.
Empress Lu’s heart, which had been fearful and anxious for several months, finally settled. The recent news from Xibei had all been good—Han Zhengqing had been half-dead but they caught a living captive, and even Prince Gong had been captured alive, not allowed to die.
Though she hated to the extreme this unfilial and disobedient son who had caused a great war, hearing he hadn’t died, she breathed a sigh of relief. However, when people came to ask about Prince Gong’s affairs again, she refused to say another word.
Just as Princess Rongcheng had advised her when entering the palace—as Prince Gong’s mother, she had already been criticized plenty for failing to raise him properly. If she spoke out more now, those criticizing her would likely increase.
Moreover, Prince Gong didn’t deserve anyone speaking on his behalf anyway.
She therefore simply felt happy for Zhou Weizhao instead, specially having Song Chuyi come discuss the marriage between Ye Jingchuan and Lu Chonghua. She didn’t mention Prince Gong at all. This son had committed so many evils—honestly, she herself knew she shouldn’t be thinking of any way out for him.
What way out could there be? For such an irresponsible traitorous minister who had brought such catastrophic disaster and caused such tragic consequences throughout all of Xibei, the best outcome would be public beheading. Otherwise, it wouldn’t appease the anger of all under heaven.
She never went to Emperor Jianzhang’s place to inquire about Prince Gong. However, from Princess Rongcheng’s words, she heard that Prince Gong had already been escorted to Langfang and would enter the capital soon.
When these words were spoken, Song Chuyi was just discussing additions to Lu Chonghua’s dowry. The items she listed were all excellent. Empress Lu, looking them over, only said they were good, then smiling, she also listed out an inventory herself. Only then did she give an “oh”: “When he enters the capital, you need not go see him.”
Princess Rongcheng had previously worried Empress Lu was hard-mouthed but soft-hearted. Only at this point did she believe she had truly hardened her heart toward Prince Gong. Smiling, she told her mother “alright.”
Coming out, she said to Song Chuyi: “You were probably out of communication on the road before, but from the time you arrived at Yangzhou city, Prince Gong was already being escorted back from Jinji. The Shanxi Provincial Commander personally escorted him back. There’s also Han Zhengqing—I heard he nearly died—” Speaking of this, she asked Song Chuyi: “Was it Han Zhi who did it?”
Ye Jingkuan had also later learned of Han Zhi’s affair. Princess Rongcheng speaking of this didn’t surprise Song Chuyi at all. She lightly nodded, then said: “I’ve already instructed Sun Ergou—after the deed is done, Han Zhi need not remain alive.”