On Cui Yingshu’s side, the matters he discussed with Old Master Song were far more complex than the twists and turns of the inner quarters. He furrowed his brow as he wrote a person’s name on paper and handed it to Old Master Song, his voice still rigid and emotionless: “My mentor wishes to transfer Cui Shaoting to Purple Thorn Pass.”

His mentor was none other than the Chief Elder of the Grand Secretariat, Chief Elder Chang. It was precisely because of this additional connection that Song Chengru had dared to entrust the confidential letter to Chief Elder Chang.

Everyone in the room reacted differently. Song Jue was young and the least able to contain himself. He couldn’t help but laugh derisively: “Have a dignified Governor-General of Fujian go to Purple Thorn Pass to serve as a mere garrison commander?”

Just to install one’s own person? But this would undoubtedly reduce someone’s real authority by who knows how much. Wasn’t this obviously offending the Cui family? The Cui family wasn’t stupid—how could they not know which carried more weight, Governor-General of Fujian or a garrison commander?

Song Ren thought even more deeply. Chief Elder Chang truly regarded Cui Yingshu as one of his own people—the Grand Secretariat had already issued an official document ordering Cui Yingshu to assume the positions of Left Vice Minister of Works and Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Insignia. Both of these were lucrative positions, especially Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Insignia. How many people were queuing up waiting for this position? It was probably even more coveted than the Bureau of Appointments and Bureau of Evaluations in the Ministry of Personnel… Since Chief Elder Chang wanted to align with the Cui family, he naturally couldn’t have Cui Shaoting give up substantial power to condescend to serve as a garrison commander.

Song Chengru burned the paper slip in his hand, his expression unchanged as he lifted his chin slightly: “This time the Vice Minister of War was implicated in Xingfu’s matter and fell from grace. Chief Elder Chang wants Cui Shaoting to serve as Minister of War, concurrently holding the position of Supreme Commander of the Three Borders.”

Supreme Commander of the Three Borders! Song Ren and Song Jue exchanged glances, both involuntarily opening their mouths wide.

Cui Shaoting’s anti-piracy efforts in Fujian had been quite effective. In nearly twelve years, even if he hadn’t maintained an undefeated record, his military achievements were still illustrious, with countless enemy heads claimed. He had long held prestige in the military.

While Elder Zhang and Elder Chen were endlessly entangled over the candidate for Purple Thorn Pass, Chief Elder Chang had cut straight to the point and decided on the Supreme Commander of the Three Borders!

Song Chengru looked at Cui Yingshu, who also looked back at him, and stared frankly into his eyes: “What do you think?”

Originally, he had discussed with Cui Yingshu about securing him a position in the Ministry of Personnel. But now Chief Elder Chang wanted him to go to the Ministry of Works. Although the Ministry of Works sounded more relaxed than the other five ministries, in reality it was no simple matter at all.

Tongzhou had been ravaged by Tartar troops and urgently needed reconstruction, not to mention next year’s imperial hunt and the river channels and granaries reported by various prefectures and counties… The intricacies and methods involved were countless. Add to that his concurrent role as Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Insignia, and he would be even more conspicuous.

Cui Yingshu pondered for a long while, finally nodding: “I can accept the Ministry of Works position. As for Shaoting, his anti-piracy efforts in Fujian have already been quite effective. I believe he’s fully qualified for this position.”

Among the several aristocratic families that had survived multiple dynasties, the Cui family had lain dormant long enough. It was indeed time to emerge again—otherwise, they might end up like the Shen family of Shangqiu, nearly wiped out through repeated suppression.

That Cui Yingshu was willing to come and communicate with the Song family was already an unexpected delight.

Song Chengru swallowed his concerns and suddenly asked: “This time the Crown Prince…”

“He was poisoned.” Cui Yingshu was brief and to the point, keeping his voice extremely low: “He’s now in critical condition, barely clinging to life thanks to the imperial physicians’ collective efforts.”

This time, even the composed Song Chengru couldn’t help but gasp, repeating: “Poisoned?!”

Who had such audacity? And would it be as Song Chuyi’s dream described—related to the affairs in the northwest? No, rather, could it be that Prince Duan, seeing that Xingfu wouldn’t work out, had made his move?

Thinking of this, Song Chengru suddenly felt it necessary to warn Cui Yingshu: “The Northwest Governor-General Zhang Tianhe is also newly appointed and not long in office. Previously he nearly faced a military mutiny over military provisions… Now with the Purple Thorn Pass incident erupting suddenly, I’m afraid the situation in Gansu and Shaanxi is also unstable. If Shaoting truly goes, he must make thorough preparations.”

It was probably precisely because of the unstable situation there that Chief Elder Chang thought to have the well-disciplined Cui Shaoting assume the post.

Seeing that Cui Yingshu seemed somewhat distracted, Song Chengru knew he hadn’t grasped his meaning. His knuckles rapped on the table, producing a crisp sound: “Fengming, it seems you don’t understand Little Yi as well as Thirteenth Maiden does.”

When Cui Yingshu mentioned the Crown Prince’s poisoning, Song Chengru had already guessed seven or eight parts of Madam Cui’s purpose in coming. She must have wanted to ask Little Yi whether she had any memories regarding the Crown Prince’s poisoning.

Cui Yingshu didn’t understand why the topic had suddenly jumped from matters of state to his own niece. He looked up somewhat bewildered at the three generations of Song family men, all smiling with pride.

“The Crown Prince has been poisoned. Thirteenth Maiden must be beside herself with anxiety. At such a time, why isn’t she staying at the Eastern Palace or Qingning Palace, but has instead come specifically to find Little Yi? Aren’t you curious why?” Seeing him show signs of comprehension, Song Chengru suddenly laughed: “So you really didn’t know.”

Cui Yingshu truly didn’t know. Although he treated Song Chuyi and Song Yan like his own children, he didn’t interact with them as much as his wife, Madam Cui. After entering the capital, he had been constantly busy with official duties. Many things Madam Cui told him, he knew; those she didn’t tell him, he was truly in the dark about.

But now, hearing Song Chengru speak this way, he recalled the connections—at the time, not only his wife, but even the Imperial Grandson, after a period of anxiety, had also mentioned Little Yi’s name…

He had always thought Little Yi was naturally intelligent. But thinking back now, the Cui family had devoted all its clan resources yet couldn’t verify the whereabouts of Lianyi and the others. Yet in the end, Lianyi had been found by a child. Not only that, she had single-handedly uncovered the truth of Cui Shi’s death, efficiently rooting out Li Shi and holding all the evidence in her hands, forcing the Li family to bow their heads…

Now thinking about it, apart from coming forward to lay everything out before the Song family on his behalf, they seemed to have done almost nothing!

Seeing that he seemed to have figured it out, Song Chengru invited him to dine: “They must be anxious waiting. The girls have already come to urge us three or four times. Why don’t we go eat first? We can continue discussing after the meal.”

Song Ren and Song Jue also quickly stood. Song Ren had known Cui Yingshu since their youth and couldn’t help teasing: “After all these years, you’re still the same—when you’re thinking about something, you forget to eat.”

Cui Yingshu’s doubts grew even stronger. He didn’t understand why Madam Cui, clearly knowing that Little Yi was far more intelligent than ordinary people, hadn’t mentioned it to him. But at this moment, being in the Song household with the Crown Prince’s poisoning weighing overhead and the Cui family’s future prospects at stake, he couldn’t very well ask anything. He simply made a mental note of this matter, thinking he should first go question his cunning little fox of a niece and see just how intelligent she was, intelligent enough to earn a second glance even from her high-minded grandfather.

Author’s Note: I’m recommending a supernatural fiction I’ve been following recently, which I’ve also recommended before: “Ghost Business: Mengpo’s Bar.” No mistresses, no melodrama, earnestly written supernatural stories. If you’re into this sort of thing, you can go find it to read~~~

Also, sending you all kisses and love. In a few days I’ll start the triple update debt repayment. Please subscribe, please subscribe!