Prince Dongping himself had no good solution, but he was also worried that Fan Liangdi would act recklessly—he was getting older now, and after the matter with Elder Chen, he had gained much more experience and lessons. He increasingly felt that what his mother did were extreme methods. It was just that the extreme methods used by this woman were truly not applicable at all times. He often wondered what about such a mother could attract his father’s attention and affection day after day for more than ten years. But a son does not dislike his mother for being unpleasant, and apart from trying his best to act according to his mother’s wishes, he had no better way. Otherwise, once his mother was provoked into reckless action, things would probably become uncontrollable.

He went to find Qian Ying. Upon hearing of this matter, Qian Ying couldn’t help but furrow his brow: “At this time, His Highness the Grand Heir is at the height of his prestige. If something happens to him at this moment, people will inevitably suspect His Highness and Liangdi. The aftermath of the incident when His Highness was poisoned has not yet passed, and the shadow has not yet dispersed. To do it again now would be too hasty.”

He didn’t understand why Fan Liangdi always had to keep targeting Zhou Weizhao. Although the Grand Heir’s status naturally destined him to be a stumbling block for Fan Liangdi and Prince Dongping, this stumbling block actually wasn’t that much of an obstacle—no matter how much he was favored by Emperor Jianzhang, there was one fatal thing: he was not loved by his own biological father.

Because of his experience going to Longhu Mountain, he and the Crown Prince naturally had a rift, and from the looks of it, this rift could never be smoothed over. Since such a chasm existed, why must they care about it? It was nothing more than enduring bitterly for a few years. Once they endured past Emperor Jianzhang and until the Crown Prince held power, what was there to worry about? At that time, whether the Crown Princess and Grand Heir were round or flat, wouldn’t they be left for others to knead as they pleased?

Zhou Weiqi now regarded Qian Ying as a trusted confidant. Although Qian Ying’s words made him somewhat embarrassed, he still endured it and sighed faintly: “Mother’s temperament truly cannot tolerate even a grain of sand in her eyes. She’s also someone who acts arbitrarily and independently. I fear she’ll do what she did to the Marquis Jinxiang’s manor before, and when the time comes, it will be impossible to guard against, brewing an even greater disaster.”

Qian Ying had personally witnessed how Fan Liangdi had driven her own younger sister insane. Upon hearing these words, he furrowed his brow.

Zhou Weiqi coughed and continued: “However, what Mother said also has some merit. When elder brother returns this time, even if he doesn’t say anything openly, he may not refrain from saying a few more words privately to Imperial Grandfather and Imperial Grandmother.”

Although Zhou Weizhao was not at all close to the Crown Prince, his relationship with Emperor Jianzhang and the Empress was very good.

Qian Ying felt that Zhou Weizhao was not the type of person who didn’t know proper boundaries. His estrangement from the Crown Prince was one thing, but he had always understood very clearly his relationship with the Eastern Palace of sharing both glory and disgrace. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have worked so hard back then to repel Empress Dowager Rongxian. He looked at Zhou Weiqi for a long while, then slowly asked: “Then what does His Highness mean?”

Zhou Weiqi should not have been entangled in matters of fraternal killing. What Emperor Jianzhang disliked most was brothers being at odds. He himself had deeply suffered this kind of pain back in the day. But since things had already begun, and there was no way to retreat, they could indeed only follow Fan Liangdi and Zhou Weiqi’s wishes and take a crazy gamble. After all, if they succeeded in the end, it would indeed be a good thing that solved the problem once and for all.

Hearing the meaning in his words, Zhou Weiqi quickly said: “Mother hasn’t thought of any good solution either. She just told me not to worry, that she must eliminate this future trouble. Since she said this, I’m truly too worried, so…”

Qian Ying was somewhat skeptical. In recent days, Fan Liangdi had clearly been peaceful for quite a while. After thinking about it, he asked: “May I ask Your Highness, has Qingning Palace begun making arrangements to select a consort for the Grand Heir?”

If Zhou Weizhao was gaining meritorious service and also adding an extremely helpful marriage alliance, no wonder Fan Liangdi would hate him enough to wish to eliminate him as quickly as possible.

Zhou Weiqi sighed and nodded: “Imperial Grandmother’s intention is to favor the Song family’s Sixth Miss. Today is the fifteenth, and Old Madam of Earl Changning entered the palace to visit Consort Song.”

If it was the Song family, then Fan Liangdi’s worries were even less groundless. In this recent matter with the Chen family, Qian Ying had watched coldly from the sidelines and had truly broken out in a cold sweat. Although the Song family acted without leaving any trace, he always felt that things happened too coincidentally, so coincidentally that one couldn’t help but feel there was something suspicious within. And when he sent people to investigate, after investigating thoroughly, although they didn’t find any connection to the Song family, they inadvertently discovered Fang Xiaoru’s assignment for next year—he was actually being sent out to Guangdong as a provincial inspector, which was an excellent path. After returning, he would surely be promoted. Given Fang Xiaoru’s relationship with Elder Chen, to still receive such favor from the Song family at this time surely wouldn’t be without reason.

Thinking this way, even Qian Ying became somewhat alert. The Grand Heir’s side already had the support of the Prince of Zhennan’s manor. If the Song and Cui families’ full support was added, even if the Crown Prince held power and ascended the throne in the future, Zhou Weiqi probably couldn’t surpass these great mountains.

After pondering for a moment, he said: “Why doesn’t Your Highness go discuss this with Master Yuankong?”

Huangjue Temple had repeatedly failed at the Song family’s hands. Master Yuanhui and the Three Hardships had all been destroyed, causing great impact. The grievance with the Song family had long since deepened to an irreconcilable degree. It would be better to properly utilize this point and borrow a knife to kill.

Hearing the implication in Qian Ying’s words, Prince Dongping couldn’t help but hesitate somewhat: “But Huangjue Temple has already lost Master Yuanhui and the Two Hardships at the Song family’s hands. I fear they won’t be willing to extend their hand again.”

Qian Ying slowly shook his head: “If Your Highness doesn’t try, how will you know?” If there was no one more suitable, Prince Dongping would inevitably still have to compromise with Fan Liangdi and allow Fan Liangdi to find people. But Fan Liangdi was, after all, a woman of the deep palace, and what she could accomplish was limited. Rely on the Fan family? The Fan family could actually send the pig-stupid Second Master Fan to handle matters—what muddled thing couldn’t they do?

Since Huangjue Temple had desires and schemes, they wouldn’t stop just because they lost one or two people. On the contrary, now Huangjue Temple had thoroughly offended Zhou Weizhao. They had no way back and could only tightly grasp Zhou Weiqi. Whatever Zhou Weiqi wanted to do, they would do their utmost to satisfy.

Hearing him say this, Zhou Weiqi thought about it and could only say: “In that case, I’ll make a trip to Huangjue Temple tomorrow.”

Qian Ying continued shaking his head: “No, it’s no longer appropriate for Your Highness to go now. If it fails again this time, you will definitely thoroughly enrage His Highness the Grand Heir. No matter how much the Grand Heir doesn’t want the matter of Eastern Palace discord to get out, I fear he also cannot tolerate it. You shouldn’t have any more connections with Huangjue Temple. Let me make this trip for Your Highness.”

Zhou Weiqi indeed didn’t want to have too deep an involvement with Huangjue Temple. He now deeply understood the principle that being on the same boat made it difficult to distance oneself. Seeing Qian Ying say this, he naturally went along with the flow and agreed.

It was still early. Zhou Weiqi specifically instructed them to keep Qian Ying for dinner, and also discussed with him the matter of inspecting the grain storage in Tongzhou’s granaries this time, before finally letting him return.