Compared to Song Chuyi’s recent leisurely days staying home behind closed doors, or at most visiting Madam Cui for a chat, Chen Mingyu had recently been so busy her feet barely touched the ground, running to the study almost every day.
Old Master Chen had so many granddaughters, yet had always indulged her the most. Ever since Chen Mingyu drew the phoenix crown in the lot selection as a child, he had doted on her with special favor. Places like the study were often open to her, and in recent years with plans to help her reach the summit, he naturally wanted her to learn more things—compared to that girl from the Song family, his own granddaughter indeed seemed somewhat impatient, and her methods were rather unrefined.
In the future after entering the palace, there would still be a long, long road to walk, and countless beauties to contend and maneuver with. With only this bit of scheming and cunning, she couldn’t survive. Therefore, heeding Old Madam Chen’s words, he had recently been frequently taking her in and out, constantly giving her earnest admonitions and teaching her various principles.
But Chen Mingyu’s mind was clearly not on these matters. In her view, in the life she had lived until now, her greatest enemy, her greatest threat was Song Chuyi alone. As for the others, whether it was the Ninth Princess or Han Yueheng, hadn’t she led them all around by the nose? Only Song Chuyi—this person seemed born specifically to counter her, excelling at everything beyond her. From childhood she had displayed astonishing talent and intelligence, and as she grew older, even her appearance became increasingly stunning. Such a person was the true thorn in her side.
Old Master Chen perceived her thoughts and earnestly admonished her: “What is there to compare? When has your grandfather ever deceived you? What should be yours is yours—no one can snatch food from your mouth. But if something shouldn’t be yours, we needn’t force it either. If one road is blocked, isn’t there another? Right now the Prince title has already been conferred. We’re just waiting for the Bureau of Astronomy to calculate an auspicious day before going to the Imperial Ancestral Temple for the enfeoffment ceremony. What matters most for young ladies is to be serene and refined. You must have methods and schemes, but you must bury them deep in your heart and never let them show. Since ancient times, those who aspired to that position who were impetuous all failed. Only those who could endure and maintain composure could stand firm. Not to speak of distant examples, why not just look at our current Empress? She also came from the Prince’s residence. Speaking of it, Noble Consort Xian had prior affection with His Majesty, yet Empress Lu never competed for temporary gains or losses, and never fought or struggled with her over anything. How is it now? Living in this world, the most important thing is to keep one’s composure. Once you lose your composure, it’s easy to become confused, and once confused, you’ll inevitably do irrational things.”
Back when the Crown Prince’s life hung by a thread several times, born as a sickly child, countless people instigated Emperor Jianzhang to establish another Crown Prince. Though Prince Gong was a legitimate son, he was ultimately young. The loudest voices were instead for Prince Duan and Prince Lu—who didn’t know the hidden schemes there? Noble Consort Xian, relying on having borne two healthy and favored sons, truly couldn’t suppress her nature for quite some time. But Empress Lu could endure, immovable as a mountain, never going before His Majesty to complain about anything, which instead made His Majesty feel he had wronged her.
Elder Chen truly hoped his granddaughter could master such skills—immovable as a mountain yet able to overturn heaven and earth. He reached out to close the book and asked her: “Have you taken my words to heart?”
The vermillion beauty mark between Chen Mingyu’s brows made her seem almost otherworldly, looking like a celestial maiden descended from the Nine Heavens. Hearing this, she slowly raised her head to look at Old Master Chen and asked him: “Does Grandfather mean that whoever I marry, I should stand on their side in the future?”
But how could that be possible? She knew her own grandfather—he had never been one to put all his eggs in one basket.
Elder Chen indeed looked at her and slowly shook his head with a smile: “That depends on whether you and your husband are worth having your grandfather stake the entire Chen family to gamble with you both.” If they won, naturally everyone would be happy with inexhaustible glory and wealth, but if they lost, it would be total ruin involving nine generations of the clan.
Chen Mingyu bit her lip for a long while, her mind momentarily not even thinking of Song Chuyi’s affairs—she had always believed in her grandfather. Whoever he said to deal with would be dealt with; whichever family he said would suffer misfortune would suffer misfortune. Grandfather never fought battles without confidence. Thinking this way, she felt Song Chuyi who was almost rushing toward the Yellow Springs wasn’t worth worrying about anymore. Instead she had the spirit to think of other matters. Looking into Elder Chen’s eyes, she boldly revealed her thoughts: “Granddaughter feels that the Imperial Grand Grandson will be the one who laughs last.”
In terms of legitimate status that was naturally so. Moreover, the Imperial Grand Grandson was personally brought up by Zhang Tianshi. In the eyes of Great Zhou’s common people, he was tinged with a somewhat mysterious aura. Many believed he was the Son of Heaven designated by the divine.
But this Imperial Grand Grandson was different from Zhou Weiqi who was about to be enfeoffed as Prince Dongping. Whether he had stayed too long in the Daoist temple and become foolish, or was truly too aloof, he had always maintained a distant and lukewarm attitude toward the Chen family.
The Chen family had expressed their intentions so clearly, yet the Crown Princess and Imperial Grand Grandson had not relented.
In that case, what did legitimate status matter? If the benefits ultimately wouldn’t reach the Chen family, better to take a risk and bet on other options instead. After all, they were gambling anyway—until the very end, how could they know which house would open?
Of course, these were all matters for later. Elder Chen smiled: “That also depends on who can promise our family more benefits, who will treasure you more preciously before deciding.”
Chen Mingyu lowered her head and fell silent. She knew her grandfather, grandmother, and mother were completely different people. The words they spoke were never without purpose and were rarely changed.
Just like how Old Madam Chen had recently been frequently taking her in and out of the Eastern Palace to visit Liangdi Fan.
The study door was knocked upon. Old Master Chen glanced at her: “Alright, go to your grandmother first. Tell her that I’m on night duty at the Grand Secretariat tonight, so there’s no need to wait for me for dinner.”
Chen Mingyu responded in acknowledgment and pushed open the study’s back door, just in time to hear Fang Xiaoru’s startled and extremely delighted laughter: “Master! Cui Shaoting really submitted a memorial! Let’s see if they don’t die this time!”
Cui Shaoting had fallen for the trap. He truly submitted the memorial about the trade market. He truly believed Yang Xuan’s lies. Chen Mingyu immediately stopped in her tracks. Through a crack in the door, she saw Fang Xiaoru joyfully handing something to her grandfather.
Elder Chen opened it and examined it carefully, then indeed smiled: “Even tigers nod off sometimes. Cui Shaoting, clever all his life, muddled for a moment, truly fell into the trap. Once this memorial is submitted through the Grand Secretariat tomorrow, the Cui clan is finished!”
Chen Mingyu closed the door, pressed her ear against it to listen for a while, revealed a satisfied smile, and walked back to Old Madam Chen’s room. Indeed, ginger becomes spicier with age. Once Grandfather made his move, both the Cui and Song families would suffer misfortune together.