The parasol tree leaves were blown by the wind, falling in great swathes to the ground. The palm-sized leaves dropped onto the stone table, and before long they had covered both the chess board and the stone table, as if laying a yellow carpet over it.
There was no point in continuing tea or chess. Song Chengru brushed the fallen leaves from his clothing and led them all into the study. His first question was for Song Ren: “I heard the palace will hold a banquet the day after tomorrow evening to entertain these envoys. Have you already spoken with them?”
Song Ren shook his head: “Not yet. I felt this assignment came inexplicably and thought there might be some trick to it, so I planned to come back and ask Father first.”
Though lacking in adaptability, having such rare caution was sufficient for maintaining what had been established. Old Master Song nodded with satisfaction and said to him: “Go. Why wouldn’t you go? Just pretend to be oblivious to the deeper meaning behind this. Since your superior assigned it to you, just do as instructed.”
They would accept the benefit, but this favor—they had no intention of acknowledging it.
Fan Liangdi was ultimately just a woman and thought about matters far too simply and easily. Did she think that by selling a favor, the Song family could just pretend the matter of helping Elder Chen escape unscathed never happened? Where could such a good deal exist?
When it came to double-crossing, Elder Chen and their own grandfather were probably evenly matched. Song Jue and Song Chuyi couldn’t help but laugh. Song Ren thought it over and also laughed, cheerfully responding: “Yes, your son understands. Tomorrow I’ll go to the guest house and speak with the Dongying envoys.”
Song Jue then asked Song Chengru: “Grandfather, when would be the right time for revenge?” They couldn’t just wait dryly for the Chen family to expose their weak points, could they? With Elder Chen’s fox-like temperament and scheming nature, even if Song Jue waited until he was Song Ren’s age, he probably wouldn’t see him make mistakes on his own initiative. Not to mention this old fox was exceptionally cunning and adept at handling matters.
Song Chengru sighed and shook his head, pointing at Song Jue and then looking at Song Chuyi: “In this regard, you’re clearly not as good as your sister. How could opportunities be something to wait for? If you wait, how long will that take? Opportunities must be created by oneself.”
Song Jue immediately understood his grandfather’s meaning. Looking at Song Chuyi who was also smiling cunningly, he knew that these two foxes, one old and one young, having already anticipated Elder Chen’s escape, must have backup plans. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked them: “Then how do we create this opportunity?”
Song Chengru shook his head and refused to say, shooing them out to do their own tasks: “I still have a pile of unfinished business here. If this continues to delay, who knows how late tonight will go. You all go to Ningde Courtyard shortly and tell Old Madam that the evening banquet will still be set up at Chuzhou Pavilion. Tonight is the sixteenth, just right for moon viewing.”
Song Ren stayed in Song Chengru’s study without leaving, but Song Jue pestered Song Chuyi all the way to Ningde Courtyard, walking and trying to pry open her mouth: “Good sister, just tell me what exactly you’re planning to do. Otherwise with this breath stuck in my chest, how can I sleep tonight?”
Zhang Tianhe had already hanged himself, and before dying had signed and sealed his confession. Meng Jiming and Feng Yinglong were birds of a feather, and even the normally upright and strict Tao Dinghu had unexpectedly played deaf and blind, maintaining silence on this matter. Song Jue knew that in such circumstances, trying to drag out the Chen family would be incredibly difficult. But precisely because he knew this, hearing that Song Chengru and Song Chuyi seemed to already have a countermeasure made him even more curious. He followed Song Chuyi step by step for several paces. When Song Chuyi stopped, he immediately tapped her head: “If you keep playing mysterious with me, don’t expect my help next time!”
Song Chuyi was most afraid of Song Jue’s sugar-roasted chestnuts. Hearing this, she immediately raised her hands to protect her head and retreated several steps, looking at Song Jue like a rabbit: “If big brother hits my head again, I’ll go tell grandmother.” But complaining aside, she didn’t hold back what should be told: “Has big brother forgotten that besides Zhang Tianhe, who else suffered disaster this time? The one who lost his office in Taiji Hall and was immediately imprisoned—wasn’t that Wang Ying?”
What about Wang Ying? Song Jue didn’t react for a moment. After pondering for a bit longer, he hesitantly asked Song Chuyi: “You mean Wang Ying can still bite Elder Chen and the others before dying?”
But even if he bit, it would be useless. Meng Jiming, Feng Yinglong, and the others all now spoke with one mouth from top to bottom, deeply understanding the principle of deceiving superiors but not subordinates. They absolutely wouldn’t let what Wang Ying said reach Emperor Jianzhang.
In the distance, Yushu came carrying a lantern. She now served Song Yan, and since she had come, Song Yan must be following behind. Song Chuyi didn’t want to discuss this matter in front of Song Yan and quickly made things crystal clear with Song Jue: “How has brother gotten confused? Wang Ying naturally doesn’t have the ability or courage to bite back, and besides, he’s already dead. Even if he did bite, Meng Jiming and the others would have dealt with it. But he still has a relative by marriage—Fang Xiaoru.”
Fang Xiaoru had followed Elder Chen for quite some years and could be said to have served tirelessly before and behind him, even involving his in-law. Yet when it came time, Elder Chen let go as he should. Fang Xiaoru would discover that Elder Chen had prepared long ago—those who came forward were he himself and Wang Ying and others. Even if something went wrong, Elder Chen had backup plans to sleep soundly.
No one could truly follow someone unconditionally like a lapdog, serving at their beck and call. Fang Xiaoru followed Elder Chen because there were benefits to be gained. Once he discovered he couldn’t gain even these small benefits and his head was at risk at any moment, and that Elder Chen didn’t consider their lives worth anything at all—would he remain so loyal?
Relationships between people were just this subtle. Previously Fang Xiaoru had wholeheartedly handled affairs for Elder Chen, but from now on it might not be so—although he himself had stood by and watched his in-law and his own daughter, son-in-law, nephew and others die without saving them, such people never felt they were wrong and would only push responsibility onto others. Combined with his naturally cowardly and life-fearing nature, he could never again trust Elder Chen as before.
At this time, as long as someone offered him a little benefit while whispering in his ear, he would turn toward others.
Elder Chen thought he could escape unscathed, but he didn’t know that after biting someone, it wasn’t so easy to retract one’s claws and act as if nothing had happened. She had said it before—whoever dared extend this hand, she, Song Chuyi, would dare chop it off!
Now the Chen family had not only extended their hand but was gripping a knife. If she didn’t give them a taste of their own medicine, they would truly think Earl Changning’s mansion was easy to bully.