Elder Chen roughly understood Yang Qing’s meaning, but as for how exactly to implement it, he still didn’t grasp what strategy Yang Qing was proposing. He furrowed his brow and asked: “A’Qing, don’t keep things hidden. How do we instigate this chaos? How can we determine where to separate them and leak this information to the people from Huangjue Temple?”
Yang Qing didn’t play coy. He sat leisurely in his chair, looking at Elder Chen with a smile: “I’ve heard before that although Song Fifth Master and Madam Cui are also on the boats, the one making decisions is actually Song Sixth Miss. I imagine when returning to the capital, it will remain largely the same. If it won’t change, then Song Sixth Miss is the most crucial figure. The Song and Cui families’ weakness lies with Song Sixth Miss, and as for Song Sixth Miss’s weakness?”
This Song Sixth Miss was truly no ordinary person. Elder Chen slowly sighed. He had kept Chen Mingyu by his side for so long, coming and going, specifically having her listen to Yang Qing and the others analyze the court situation, yet her progress wasn’t great. Her natural talent was only so much—it was truly difficult to advance further. But this Song Sixth Miss was completely different—both intelligent and understanding of how to assess the situation, and she knew how to seize every available force. Using borrowed strength to strike was commonplace for her. She truly wasn’t someone easily dealt with.
He thought for a moment and shook his head: “Who knows where Song Sixth Miss’s weakness lies?” He was someone who had served as Second Minister of the Cabinet, managing major court affairs. How could he pay attention to what some boudoir young lady liked or disliked? Even if this boudoir miss was quite special, he still couldn’t.
Yang Qing smiled like a weasel that had stolen a chicken, with a hint of smugness: “As it happens, this student just so happens to know.”
Elder Chen became interested. He smiled in surprise, leaned back, and sat down in the circular chair: “Oh? Others all say you, A’Qing, are broadly knowledgeable and capable of anything, but I didn’t expect your broad knowledge extended to this degree—you even know about matters concerning boudoir young ladies?”
These words were truly somewhat frivolous and ambiguous. Yang Qing cupped his hands and quickly shook his head: “Not at all, not at all! I pay more attention to Young Master Song Jue, and pulling out the radish brings out the mud—after paying attention to this young master for a long time, naturally I discovered many interesting things.”
This was precisely why Elder Chen liked Yang Qing so much. He truly was an attentive person, always discovering small matters that others couldn’t notice or didn’t pay much attention to. The irritation in his heart dissipated almost completely. With a smile on his face, he nodded at Yang Qing: “Then do tell, let me hear what discoveries you’ve made.”
“Song Sixth Miss has a full younger brother.” Yang Qing composed himself with appropriate deference: “She values this full younger brother extremely, extremely highly. News from Jinzhong indicates that her younger brother Song Yan went along with the Cui family’s bridal escort to accompany the bride.”
What a person fears most is truly having no weaknesses, like being made of steel and stone. As long as she had a weakness, she would be easy to deal with. Yang Qing stood by the window, gently closing it before turning back to look at Old Master Chen: “At that time, if something were to happen on Song Yan’s end, Song Sixth Miss, anxious with concern for him, would certainly abandon her original plan to enter the capital and head straight for Jinling. And if she wants to go to Jinling, she’ll have to change her route.”
Song Chuyi’s position also determined that the Cui and Song families wouldn’t let her go alone. Moreover, the incident would involve Song Yan—Song Fifth Master and the Cui family would have to accompany her to take a look.
At that time, when the Song and Cui families’ fleets had all departed, naturally it would be easier for Huangjue Temple to make their move.
Jinling was originally the place Elder Chen was heading to anyway. Now if they rushed there a bit faster, many matters would be easy to arrange once they arrived. It was truly quite a coincidence—perhaps this was what they called “Heaven never seals off all exits”?
Elder Chen pondered thoughtfully, smiled faintly without committing either way, and continued raising his chin toward Yang Qing: “Then what A’Qing mentioned about not coming away completely without benefits—what matter does that refer to? Benefits from the Eastern Palace are not so easily given.”
After all, His Highness the Crown Prince wasn’t yet in charge. For him to immediately transfer someone from Jinling back to the Cabinet was obviously absolutely impossible. So aside from this, what other benefits could the Eastern Palace give?
“The minor path cannot compare to the major path, yet sometimes it’s an unavoidable means. Since Teacher wishes to bind yourself long and permanently to the Eastern Palace’s boat, if we give our greatest sincerity, the Eastern Palace must also show some corresponding sincerity.” Yang Qing remained unhurried, turning a blind eye to everyone’s varying expressions, and straightforwardly reminded Elder Chen: “His Highness the Crown Prince’s intention is for us to help him obtain control of Jinling’s canal transport and weaving bureaus. Lady Liangdi and His Highness Prince Dongping also frequently have various demands. Major paths and minor paths—they want us to handle both. It’s not that we can’t do them, but we also can’t always do them for free, right? Since His Highness the Grand Prince is selecting a consort, presumably His Highness Prince Dongping, who’s the same age, is about the same time to have a princess consort selected for him as well.”
Fan Liangdi and Prince Dongping weren’t without weaknesses either. At the very least right now, they had instructed Huangjue Temple to carry out the major deed of assassinating the Grand Prince—hadn’t the Chen family already learned of this?
Elder Chen immediately grasped his meaning. The Eastern Palace could disregard their past relationship and abandon them at any time. If they wanted to pledge allegiance, they also needed to first secure some benefits for themselves.
But he had only just been demoted from the capital. Forget whether Prince Dongping and Fan Liangdi would want the legitimate granddaughter of this disgraced Elder or not—even if Prince Dongping and Fan Liangdi truly had this foresight and were willing to agree, they would still need to consider the implications. Otherwise, if the Grand Prince had an incident one moment and the next moment Prince Dongping’s betrothed was his granddaughter, those with ulterior motives would inevitably think too much. Moreover, given the Chen family’s current situation, Fan Liangdi and Prince Dongping might not be willing to relent.
As if seeing through Elder Chen’s thoughts, Yang Qing smiled slightly: “Teacher, we’re not forbidding the Prince from selecting other secondary consorts, nor are we demanding that the Prince immediately finalize the Princess Consort’s selection.”
As long as they made a commitment, that would suffice.
Old Master Chen felt as if he’d received enlightenment. Yes, he had once done so many things for the Eastern Palace, yet hadn’t he still been abandoned when they decided to abandon him? Since that was the case, why not take advantage of when they had requests to seize the initiative for himself? Fan Liangdi couldn’t always expect to conduct business without capital.
After contemplating for a while, he no longer hesitated. With a hearty laugh, he ordered someone to invite Yuanjue over.
Yuanjue arrived quickly. Elder Chen looked at him with piercing eyes, his face still carrying a somewhat genial smile, as if discussing whether the weather was nice today: “Convenience can be given. Perhaps only this old man can provide this convenience. But as for my current situation, I imagine you’re also aware, Master.” Having said this, he raised his head again to look at him: “I wish to obtain a concrete answer from His Highness through your temple. Since His Highness and Lady Liangdi think highly of us, we naturally will comply with all commands. Could you deliver another letter for me, then remain on the boat to await our news? How does that sound?”