Old Madam Song had drunk two full cups of tea before she finally felt her body warm up somewhat. Curled up on the couch, she closed her eyes drowsily. She was truly somewhat unsettled by Empress Lu’s words.
Although she knew the Empress’s decision certainly couldn’t be made right now, and Song Chuyi’s future couldn’t possibly be settled today just because she had come to Qingxu Temple together with Chen Mingyu, the taste of having one’s fate held in someone else’s hands was truly rather unbearable.
Yulan tiptoed out and waved her hands at Song Chuyi and Xiang Mingzi, glancing back inside: “She’s finally dozed off for a bit. Old Madam is somewhat mentally exhausted, so let her sleep a while longer. Besides, it’s still early.”
All along the corridor hung a line of lotus lanterns, presumably specially prepared for today’s ceremony of purification and prayer blessing for the ladies. Looking through the daylight, one could see various beauty paintings on the hazy lotus lanterns, reflected against the mountain’s pine forest waves—quite elegant and serene. Seeing this increasingly magnificent view, Xiang Mingzi pulled Song Chuyi outside to walk, holding several parts anger in her heart that couldn’t help but show on her face: “What exactly does the Empress mean by this?”
Having stayed by Old Madam Song’s side for so long, she was clear about Old Madam Song’s intentions, knowing that Old Madam Song planned to marry Song Chuyi into the Zhennan Prince’s residence. Now seeing the Empress constantly elevating both her and Chen Mingyu, her heart was anxious and worried: “Isn’t this just stirring you and Chen Mingyu up to compete and fight?”
The relationship between the Chen and Song families had basically already torn apart. Now with the Empress saying such things, wouldn’t the Chen family—which coveted the position of Imperial Grand Heir Consort—regard Song Chuyi as a thorn in their eye and flesh they wished they could remove? Originally Song Chuyi was about to go to Jinzhong, but now this matter had erupted. Once this happened, how many eyes would gather on Song Chuyi again? Just thinking about it made Xiang Mingzi feel vexed on Song Chuyi’s behalf.
Song Chuyi herself was somewhat more philosophical about it. She patted Xiang Mingzi’s hand and counseled her in return: “What’s meant to be a blessing isn’t a disaster, and a disaster that’s meant to be can’t be avoided. Since the matter has come to our door, blindly hiding and complaining are both useless. Moreover, Grandmother is right—the Empress’s move now is merely to tell the Song family that she has this intention, warning the Song family not to casually settle my marriage. For now she won’t do anything. After all, the Imperial Grand Heir is a rare commodity to be hoarded. She’s reluctant to settle on a candidate right away.”
Qing Zhuo happened to be running over from the front courtyard to bring Song Chuyi news. Hearing these words, something felt off no matter how he listened—what did it mean to call the Imperial Grand Heir a rare commodity to be hoarded? He scratched his head, feeling that Sixth Young Lady Song didn’t seem very happy about the Empress valuing her, yet he didn’t dare ask more questions. He stood honestly before Song Chuyi and told her: “Sixth Young Lady, everything is prepared. Ma Wangkun and Ma Changjiang have taken your things and left ahead of schedule.”
Bringing Ma Wangkun and Ma Changjiang openly and publicly was always inappropriate. Although Han Zhi was no longer around, the monks at Huangjue Temple still knew Ma Wangkun and the others’ background. Now with the tense situation in Xibei, if someone used this as an excuse to accuse Cui Shaoting, saying he was raising private soldiers, that would create great trouble for Cui Shaoting. This trip to Jinzhong also required thinking of ways to find some more capable and useful people to keep close by. Although Ma Changjiang and Ma Wangkun were good people and competent, their backgrounds weren’t exactly clean after all, and they had all fought on the front lines before. Even though their identities had been legitimized, if someone with ulterior motives dug them up and said all sorts of things to Emperor Jianzhang, it would easily invite trouble for Cui Shaoting.
Song Chuyi nodded to indicate she understood. Seeing Qing Zhuo standing still without moving, she raised her eyebrows somewhat puzzled: “I said that after completing this task you could return to His Highness’s side. Why are you still not moving?”
Ma Changjiang and Ma Wangkun had already boarded the boat yesterday. Qing Zhuo should have come to report the news yesterday. Deliberately delaying until today was already somewhat strange. Now that he’d finished saying everything and still wasn’t leaving, Song Chuyi was somewhat perplexed.
Qing Zhuo sighed and told her: “Sixth Young Lady, our Highness has ordered both Han Feng and me to follow you. This journey may not necessarily be safe for you.”
Xiang Mingzi was so frightened her face turned somewhat pale. Originally, seeing that Qing Zhuo and Han Feng were the Imperial Grand Heir’s people, she had hoped they would stay as far from Song Chuyi as possible. Now hearing Qing Zhuo’s words, she hurriedly asked: “What do you mean it may not necessarily be safe? Could it be that someone will—”
“You’ll be traveling by water route.” Seeing Song Chuyi looking thoughtful, Qing Zhuo’s expression became serious as he lowered his head to stare at his own toes, trying to explain things clearly and thoroughly: “Right now bandits are rampant on the water routes. Just some days ago, the wife and son of the Zhenjiang Prefect were killed by river pirates while escorting a coffin back to Jinling. Even now their bodies still haven’t been found. Given your special status, and the fact that Madam Cui will be traveling with you—if you encounter river pirates, it could be very troublesome. Therefore His Highness’s meaning is to assign Han Feng and me to your service.”
Qing Zhuo and Han Feng had both come down from Longhu Mountain. Since childhood they had trained in martial arts on Longhu Mountain. Moreover, they were the Imperial Grand Heir’s people. When ordinary officials along the route saw them, they would naturally give them some face. The journey would be much more convenient and safe.
Song Chuyi was somewhat moved by Zhou Weizhao’s good intentions, but in her heart she raised her guard and vigilance to the highest level—Qing Zhuo’s words were truly somewhat suspicious, as if the emphasis fell on that latter phrase about Madam Cui. Could it be that someone wanted to target Yu Shi?
Xiang Mingzi was so nervous her fingers were trembling. Gripping Song Chuyi’s arm, after a long while she finally asked her: “Tell this matter to Grandfather and elder brother. Otherwise, how can we feel at ease letting you go to Jinzhong?”
Going to Jinzhong was originally to celebrate a birthday and also to avoid the spotlight for a while. Now before even setting out on the road there was already an ambush waiting. Put on anyone, they would probably be uneasy.
Song Chuyi knew that speaking of this matter would be useless. Since the Imperial Grand Heir had Qing Zhuo say this, he must have received word.
She was still in a daze when suddenly a loud announcing voice came from outside. Xie Siyi from the Empress’s retinue personally came to her courtyard to deliver the Empress’s reward.
It was a phoenix nodding gold hairpin and a pair of pink and green tourmaline bracelets that shone brilliantly in the sunlight, their radiance almost burning people’s eyes.
Such a lavish reward made Song Chuyi recall the reward she had received before going to the hunting grounds last time. She couldn’t help but smile bitterly—this had gone in a circle and returned to the starting point. Back when she set out for the hunting grounds, the palace seemed to have also sent out such an exceptionally generous reward. At that time it was the Imperial Grand Heir who deliberately had the Crown Princess increase the reward to help her out of a difficult situation. This time it was the Empress wanting to pull her into the game. Truly, human calculations were inferior to heaven’s calculations.