Song Chengru came out after changing into everyday clothes and heard Old Madam Song speaking with Song Chuyi: “Since it’s been decided, then the sooner the better. Once the matters here in the capital are settled, we’ll send A’Yan over.”

They were discussing Song Yan going to Shu. Though she had anticipated that Song Chuyi would eventually agree, she hadn’t expected her to make the decision so early. As Song Chengru emerged from behind the gauze partition, he noticed the faint dark circles under Song Chuyi’s eyes and called out to her.

“Is Grandfather off duty today?” Song Chuyi quickly stood up to pay her respects, then asked with some confusion, “Recently the Cabinet should be busy beyond belief—how could the Grand Secretary bear to let you come home?”

Although the matter with Xingfu was concluded, the vast web of people implicated beneath him ensured the affair couldn’t be resolved simply. Just the list of Xingfu and Xing’an’s accomplices alone was thick enough to pile up an entire table. The Imperial Guard had been surrounding numerous noble households in the capital these past days and arresting many people—it was a time of universal anxiety.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet was overwhelmingly busy dealing with Xingfu’s mess. The Prefect of Tongzhou and the group guarding the granary naturally deserved rewards, but there was no conclusion on whether Ye Jingchuan’s group should be punished or rewarded. Elder Chen naturally advocated for rewards, while Elder Zhang nearly went so far as to bite off Elder Chen’s ear, believing that Ye Jingchuan was after all the catalyst who had invited the wolf into the fold, and at most could only be considered as having atoned for his crimes through merit. But these were all minor matters—what truly gave everyone headaches was the question of who should fill the position at Zijing Pass.

The Ministry of War had provided several candidates. In terms of qualifications, they were all sufficient, but the waters behind each ran rather deep. The Cabinet was full of old foxes—who couldn’t see through that? Therefore no decision had been made even now.

Thinking of these matters, Song Chengru couldn’t help but shake his head with a laugh: “If they don’t let people take days off, how can anyone withstand their constant chaos day after day?” After joking, he turned to ask Old Madam Song, “Since we’ve decided to send A’Yan to Shu, have we decided who will escort him there?”

Old Madam Song pondered for a moment, then said, “We’d thought it through beforehand—if he really goes, Qin Chuan must make the trip with him. That half-grown boy from the Qin family is also clever; having him serve as A’Yan’s book boy and stay by his side would be good. The Tang family has many rules and says they have plenty of servants there, so one is only permitted to bring a book boy.”

Song Chengru nodded thoughtfully, then looked back at Song Chuyi: “Since they have such rules and we’re sincere about seeking a master for him, we should lower our heads and accommodate them somewhat. Moreover, their stipulation is also to prevent Brother Yan from having the spoiled airs of noble families. If he can truly learn something, it would be good for him.”

Song Chuyi naturally knew this was all for Song Yan’s future benefit. She genuinely didn’t want her younger brother raised to be mediocre and incompetent like in her previous life, and even less did she want him to become a wastrel like Shen Qingrang and his ilk. Hearing this, she nodded emphatically.

Song Chengru and Old Madam Song exchanged glances, both smiling with some relief.

Old Madam Song then quietly brought up other matters: “That day you didn’t know—I was truly frightened and anxious the entire day, didn’t even dare close my eyes.”

He himself had broken out in a cold sweat that day, let alone Old Madam Song. Song Chengru patted Old Madam Song’s hand.

“It truly was dangerous. If not for Grand Secretary Chang’s secret letter at the final moment, whether Xingfu could have been brought to justice would still be uncertain.” Old Madam Song sighed, feeling deeply frightened in retrospect. “Fortunately, Xiaoyi and you had made plans early on, otherwise the consequences would have been unthinkable. However, Chen Xiang ultimately came to no harm. He suspected before that the secret letter was in our hands. Now that the letter has been submitted, even though it was through Grand Secretary Chang’s hands, he may not fail to suspect us.”

Though everyone knew Chen Xiang couldn’t be separated from Xingfu, Chen Xiang happened to be the Commander of the Imperial Guard and had always acted cautiously, leaving not a single handle for others to grasp. At most, people could say they were rather close, but without substantial evidence, there was absolutely nothing anyone could do about him.

“Striking the tiger but only halfway—when it recovers, things will become difficult.” Old Madam Song couldn’t help but worry. “We should still prepare early.”

However, Song Chengru didn’t take it to heart. Smiling, he glanced at Song Chuyi, signaling her to explain to Old Madam Song.

Song Chuyi then smiled and linked arms with Old Madam Song, showing a rare playful smile these past days: “You needn’t worry about this. Grandfather had anticipated early on that Xingfu and Chen Xiang might not be caught in one net, so he made two-handed preparations. When this secret letter was handed to Grand Secretary Chang, we’d already agreed on the explanation—even to His Majesty, there must be an account. Therefore when it was given to Grand Secretary Chang, we’d already told him that he obtained this letter from Su Yi and the others, and it has absolutely nothing to do with us.”

Since this item, after going round and round, was still actually in the Su family’s hands, it proved that when Madam Su had cried and protested her innocence before him, it was all false.

So even if Chen Xiang wanted revenge, he should go find the Su family—what did it have to do with their Song family?

Old Madam Song suddenly saw the light and couldn’t help but smile: “You two, one old and one young, are truly mischievous!”

Her last bit of sympathy for the Su family had completely vanished after Madam Su revealed the matter of the secret letter to Chen Xiang. If the situation were reversed today, the Su family would certainly let their Song family die without hesitation, so she didn’t feel there was anything wrong with pushing the matter onto the Su family. After all, the letter truly did belong to the Su family, and saying it was obtained from Su Yi would be easiest for someone as suspicious as Chen Xiang to believe.

The hearts of those men in the Su family were rotten through and through—having this fate today was their karmic retribution.

Before long, First Master Song entered with Song Jue and brought up the Imperial Guard’s movements today: “Today they surrounded the Earl of Jinxiang’s manor. They didn’t confiscate property though—I heard it was by imperial edict to rebuke the Earl of Jinxiang, saying his conduct was improper and he accumulated wealth unscrupulously.”

The Earl of Jinxiang’s manor was the natal family of Duke Yingguo’s old madam. That they too had been implicated made Old Madam Song furrow her brow: “No wonder the Princess Consort of Duke Yingguo’s manor has been coming to our house so frequently—so they truly are involved with Xingfu’s affairs.”

Song Jue sneered: “Though they didn’t completely cast their lot with Xingfu before, they still gained many benefits riding Xingfu’s favorable winds. Now that Xingfu is finished, naturally they’re more anxious than anyone. The Earl of Jinxiang has now suffered a rebuke as well. Given your relationship with Duke Yingguo’s old madam, I’m afraid she’ll come personally to seek your intercession and probe for information.”

“Not necessarily,” Song Chuyi smiled and picked up his words. “She is after all Dowager Consort Zhuang’s elder sister—she might go seek Dowager Consort Zhuang instead.”

And Dowager Consort Zhuang had always maintained an extremely good relationship with Empress Dowager Rongxian. Given Shen Xiaohai’s personality, it would be impossible for him not to use this connection.