“Just handing over this roster, I’m afraid, won’t have much of an effect.” Seeing Lai Chenglong’s interest stirred, Song Chuyi poured cold water on him again: “After all, the people on this list are all either wealthy or noble. When the time comes, Xu Liang and Jia Yingxin will merely be dismissed or demoted without it hurting them much, and these people along with them won’t let Uncle Lai off. If you want to completely crush Xu Liang and Jia Yingxin without offending this group of people, you still need to think of another method.”
Lai Chenglong knew she was right. He had fought and struggled through so many years on the battlefield, yet he always felt that what he learned there wasn’t as much as what he learned in a single day in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. These people’s hearts—who knew how they grew—they always could think of ways with nine curves and eighteen bends to harm and scheme against others.
He nodded, collected his thoughts, and asked her: “I understand what you mean. Since you’re saying this, what good method do you have to tell me?”
“I heard that the Feathered Forest Guard will soon be going to the Qingxu Temple to survey the terrain and arrange hidden sentries to welcome Master Zhang. Speaking of it, New Year is approaching, and Master Zhang coming to the capital must certainly be to burn sacred texts and deliver golden elixirs for His Majesty. His Majesty will surely personally go to Qingxu Temple to see him…” Song Chuyi watched as Lai Chenglong couldn’t help but widen his eyes, so she lowered her voice even more.
Even someone as skilled in martial arts as Lai Chenglong had to listen patiently and extremely carefully to hear what she said next.
“If at that time the Feathered Forest Guard’s defense deployment map were to be leaked out…”
Just with this one sentence, Lai Chenglong immediately stood up abruptly, looking at Song Chuyi with some disbelief yet extreme delight, almost unable to restrain himself from calling out “Excellent!” This was truly a wonderful plan—find a few courtesans to get the person in charge of the defense map drunk, after which the defense map would naturally go missing. When the news leaked out, this person would naturally have hell to pay. But equally, Xu Liang and Jia Yingxin who had pulled strings to stuff him into the Feathered Forest Guard—even if they didn’t die, they’d shed several layers of skin. For a bit of petty profit, they dared to stuff people into the Feathered Forest Guard that protected Emperor Jianzhang’s safety!
At that time, when the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigated, they would discover that these two people didn’t just stuff people into the Feathered Forest Guard, but also the Golden Militant Guard and the Embroidered Uniform Guard…
Lai Chenglong slapped the table, suppressing his laughter as he looked at Song Chuyi. He finally understood why Cui Shaoting had awkwardly told him back then that if he encountered any difficult problems, he should go find this little girl. This little girl truly was no ordinary person.
Seeing he understood, Song Chuyi smiled and nodded: “It’s getting late. I should return to the residence, otherwise the maids in my courtyard probably won’t be able to hold out much longer. Uncle Lai must seize the opportunity—if you miss this village, there won’t be this shop.”
After Lai Chenglong left, Ma Wangkun wiped the cold sweat that had seeped out on his forehead, nearly collapsing to his knees with weak legs. Compared to Cui Shaoting, he was much more afraid of Lai Chenglong. Back when he was still in Fujian, he had heard of Lai Chenglong’s reputation. Cui Shaoting won through clever strategies and mostly recruited bandits and brigands after frightening them into submission. But Lai Chenglong was different—he had always been swift and decisive, beating them to death. Even now, many people in that area of Fujian still remembered his reputation.
Song Chuyi stood up and walked out through the covered corridor bridge, instructing Ma Wangkun as she walked: “Don’t go out much lately. Things are almost wrapped up. When Ma Changjiang and the others return, all of you go stay in Tongzhou for a while.”
Ma Wangkun responded with a “Yes,” then told her somewhat worriedly: “Miss, recently the heir of Marquis Jinxiang has been making frequent moves. When you had me monitor Xu Liang and Jia Yingxin, this Marquis Jinxiang’s heir’s people were in frequent contact with them… Will this matter provoke him again?”
All things considered, this Han Zhi was even more frightening than Lai Chenglong—truly like a killing god emerged from hell, making people shudder with cold.
Song Chuyi’s movements paused slightly, then she shook her head: “He’s merely running errands for people, covering up criminal evidence for his father. It shouldn’t be for other reasons. But to be cautious, leave the city quickly to avoid the limelight. Don’t attract his attention.”
By the time she passed through the west corner gate where the night-duty women let her through to return to Guanju Courtyard, the Earl of Changning’s residence was already brightly lit with lanterns. Several perpetual lamps on the arched bridge and fashionable gauze lanterns hanging from trees decorated the Earl of Changning’s residence into a sea of lights, dotted everywhere in a dazzling display.
Ziyun had long since taken a cloak and lit a lantern waiting for her at the door. Seeing her, she breathed a sigh of relief and immediately came forward to drape the cloak over her, while welcoming her inside and chattering with complaints: “Just earlier, Fourth Young Master came by once, saying he wanted to invite you over to taste the crispy apple pastries that Yushu just got from Old Madam. How could I dare say you hadn’t returned yet? I could only say you had already gone to bed.”
Song Yan truly was a troublesome child. Song Chuyi couldn’t help but laugh: “Alright, alright, I know Ziyun has been wronged. Next time I’ll try to return earlier.”
“There’s going to be a next time?” Luyi carried in hot water, unable to restrain herself from blurting out: “Miss, you’re really going to be the death of Sister Ziyun and me. How can we withstand Fourth Young Master’s persistent pestering? Miss, please show some restraint. Wait until Fourth Young Master returns to Shu before causing such commotion!”
Qing Tao suppressed a laugh as she came forward to help Song Chuyi wash her face. Hearing this, she also joined in persuading: “Luyi spoke too hastily, but she’s not without reason. Otherwise, when Fourth Young Master discovers it, who knows how the situation will be resolved.”
Song Chuyi had no way to deal with these few. Letting Qing Tao apply the pearl and jade cream, she leaned back on the bed and asked them: “I wasn’t here in the evening—did anything get delivered?”
Cui Shaoting’s reply should arrive in these few days. Yu Shi would certainly send it over to her. Cui Huaying was also about to be married off. If nothing unexpected happened, she should be sending her an invitation in the next couple of days as well.
Sure enough, Ziyun came over holding a pile of invitations: “This is the invitation from your cousin, saying she’s getting married and inviting the sisters to sit together. There’s also an invitation from Miss Han of Marquis Jinxiang’s residence, saying she’s inviting you to drink chrysanthemum wine and admire chrysanthemums…” She paused, then hesitated for a moment before opening that gold-embossed, extraordinarily ornate invitation, exclaiming in surprise and asking Luyi: “Who sent this in? I didn’t see it this evening…”
“What is it?” Song Chuyi craned her neck to look, and the smile on her face vanished completely clean.
It was an invitation sent by Second Miss Shen of Duke Yingguo’s residence, saying that the new sister-in-law was thin-skinned and inviting everyone to a crab banquet together.
Meaning it was actually an invitation from that Miss Tong of Marquis Wuning’s residence? But—that Miss Tong of Marquis Wuning’s residence was thin-skinned?
Ziyun tossed that invitation aside, complaining huffily: “Their family wants to show off their new daughter-in-law—what does that have to do with us? Once we go, I’m afraid it will be another scene full of trouble. Better not to go.”