When news spread that Zhang Tianhe had confessed to all charges under torture in the Ministry of Justice prison, Song Chuyi was playing chess with Song Chengru. She had learned many things in her previous life, but when it came to the art of chess, she truly had no talent to speak of. At this moment, being forced into retreat step by step by Song Chengru, upon hearing the news she simply tossed her chess piece back into the basket and reached out to Song Chengru for payment: “Grandfather, you lose. A bet is a bet—you promised a piece of Huangtian jade. No cheating.”

Song Ren and Song Jue on the side couldn’t help but laugh. Song Jue reached out to tap Song Chuyi on the head: “Grandfather was letting you win. Do you think Grandfather truly doesn’t know the tricks in this? Don’t push your luck.”

After saying this, he became somewhat curious and asked Song Chuyi: “Grandfather and Father guessed there would be a scapegoat pushed forward in this matter because they knew well that Elder Chen has deep connections, with the Eastern Palace and Xibei forces deeply entangled behind him, and those people wouldn’t let anything happen to him. You clearly said in your dream there was no such matter, so how did you know that Zhang Tianhe would ultimately be the scapegoat to take the blame?”

Because the Imperial Guard was not a monolithic entity either. After all, Lai Chenglong was a latecomer who had been promoted to Commander, while the position of Commissioner had been occupied by Chen Xiang for a full six years before that. Six years was enough time to accomplish many things—and Chen Xiang was someone who had fought his way up from the battlefield, treating his subordinates with considerable brotherhood. The people of the Northern Pacification Office had always been utterly loyal to him, even willing to risk their lives for him.

No matter how capable Lai Chenglong was, there were times when his reach fell short—just as before Chen Xiang’s downfall, even when Lai Chenglong helped Song Chuyi, he had to be cautious and careful, not daring to confront Chen Xiang directly.

After Chen Xiang’s death, Lai Chenglong was promoted to Commander, but both Assistant Commanders below him were people Chen Xiang had personally promoted back in the day. Moreover, Chen Xiang and Han Zhi had a decent relationship. Who was Han Zhi’s father? None other than Marquis Jinxiang Han Zhengqing, who was also implicated in this matter. Furthermore, there was Fan Liangdi of the Eastern Palace and Prince Dongping—how could these people allow years of cultivation in Xibei to end in failure? Even if not to win over Elder Chen, who had disciples throughout the court as an aid, they still had to protect Han Zhengqing.

Song Jue actually understood this reasoning even without Song Chuyi explaining it, but hearing Song Chuyi lay it out clearly, he felt a breath stuck in his throat, unable to go up or down—those people had dug such a huge pit for them, nearly wiping them out completely, and now merely pushing out a scapegoat wanted to settle the matter. What was vexing was that they truly could accomplish this. No matter whose shoes one stood in, it would be disheartening.

Song Chengru patiently collected the chess pieces one by one, placing them back in the basket. Seeing Song Jue looking somewhat dejected, he spoke up to remind him: “In the way of officialdom, what’s most feared is losing one’s composure. The struggles and enmities in the official arena often cannot be repaid immediately. The grudge with the Chen family is certainly established, but how to repay it, whether to repay it—one must first observe the situation before making calculated moves. Look at that old fox Elder Chen. He’s been dissatisfied with Shaoting for stealing the fat piece of meat since years ago, yet he was able to endure until three years later when the timing was right before making his move. When the move failed, he still had backup plans and withdrew cleanly—that’s true skill. Acting on momentary anger cannot sustain one in the official arena for long. You must all remember this point.”

Song Ren and Song Jue immediately straightened and respectfully received the instruction, both affirming in unison.

Song Ren hadn’t been too involved in this matter before. He had been busy with the Ministry of Rites’ protocols for Prince Dongping’s investiture. Now suddenly having a flash of inspiration, remembering what the Vice Minister had instructed today, he told Old Master Song: “By the way, Father, today Vice Minister Wang asked me to make a trip to the guest house to meet with the Dongying envoys and draft the protocols for their palace tribute presentation.”

By rights, such matters should indeed be handled by people from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Since Song Ren was serving in the Ministry of Rites, doing this matter seemed perfectly proper on the surface, with nothing apparently amiss. Song Chengru raised an eyebrow: “Since he asked you to go, just go. Is there something wrong?”

“It’s not exactly that there’s something wrong, but previously Vice Minister Wang had always personally handled communications with the Dongying envoys. The gifts and tribute items brought by the Dongying delegation were all personally managed by Vice Minister Wang. Now he suddenly assigned me to do this and also wanted me to say a few more words to the Dongying envoys.” Song Ren furrowed his brow and finished speaking in one breath: “He told me to praise Ninth Princess’s virtues more before the Dongying envoys, telling them that currently the most favored princess in our Great Zhou is this Ninth Princess born of Consort Xian.”

The reason this daimyo, who had temporarily defeated other warlords and held the greatest power, came to seek marriage with a Great Zhou princess was precisely to use Great Zhou’s influence to secure his current position. Naturally, he hoped to marry a princess valued by Emperor Jianzhang. For Vice Minister Wang to have Song Ren go tell the Dongying envoys such words…

Song Chengru didn’t speak for a moment.

Song Jue and Song Chuyi exchanged glances, also somewhat hesitant: “Why would Father suddenly be switched to negotiate with the Dongying delegation, and why specifically have Father say such words?”

Song Chuyi looked at Song Chengru, and seeing Song Chengru also look toward her, couldn’t help but smile with eyes curved: “Isn’t this Vice Minister Wang most concerned about this Prince Dongping’s investiture ceremony?”

Song Ren felt as if awakening from a dream—what he couldn’t understand before now all made sense.

This was clearly Prince Dongping deliberately showing goodwill to Earl Changning’s mansion—Consort Xian and Ninth Princess had recently been in frequent contact with the Shen family of Shangqiu and had tense relations with Consort Song and Eleventh Princess. Prince Dongping truly intended to use this matter to send Ninth Princess off for the marriage alliance while conveniently selling a favor to Earl Changning’s mansion and Consort Song.

This Fan Liangdi and Prince Dongping were truly a marvelous pair—on one hand holding onto the Chen family to prevent them from being completely trampled by the Song family, while on the other hand not planning to abandon the Song family either. Straddling both sides yet standing at the center of each, not worried at all about capsizing.

If Zhou Weizhao truly died at the hands of this mother-son pair in the previous life, it wasn’t really unjust—being so thoroughly considerate and skilled at conducting themselves, this mother-son pair had previously coaxed the Crown Prince into circles, eager to serve them while casting the Crown Princess and Crown Grandson aside. Later they could still thrive under Prince Duan’s command—they truly had real ability.

But in this life… at least let these two stop playing the pig to eat the tiger. A wolf in sheep’s clothing was always a wolf. Thinking to hook them with such small benefits, making her and Earl Changning’s mansion along with the Cui clan serve as their vanguard? Delusional!