Old Master Chen hadn’t expected such an important matter to occur this very night. Even someone as steady and experienced as he couldn’t help but feel anxious. “Are all the loose ends handled? Don’t let anything go wrong at the last moment…”
Not a single one of those foxes in the Song family was easy to deal with—this was Old Master Chen’s deepest conviction now. Though young in age, Old Master Chen didn’t underestimate Song Yan because of it. Song Chuyi had already shown extraordinary wisdom when she was even younger than him. Unfortunately, he hadn’t taken seriously a girl from the inner quarters back then, which led to repeated setbacks. Song Yan was not only male but also studied under Tang Mingzhao. Under Song Jue’s guidance this past year, he had matured considerably. Old Master Chen paced several steps behind his desk before stopping. “Don’t let it backfire and end up worse off. That bunch from the Song family won’t let this go easily.”
Yang Qing didn’t take Song Yan seriously. Admittedly, the Song family’s younger generation was indeed excellent enough. For instance, Song Jue, who at such a young age could keep his emotions hidden, always wearing an inscrutable mask—he was indeed a troublesome existence. But if one had to fear even a green youth who hadn’t even grown all his feathers, what business did one have mixing in the treacherous world of officialdom? Wouldn’t it be better to just surrender and curry favor with the Song family early on? Besides, he never fought a battle he wasn’t confident of winning. Having followed Song Yan for so long, he believed he had thoroughly grasped Song Yan’s capabilities. After all, he was just an eleven-year-old child. Though those around him were shrewd, they couldn’t keep up with the succession of events happening too quickly. He had deliberately arranged things in rapid succession, escalating the conflicts between Song Yan and Young Master Wang time and again, precisely to deny Song Yan time to think and make him act most impulsively when he couldn’t react in time.
“Teacher need not worry.” Yang Qing bowed deeply to the ground, his face showing the relaxed smile of complete confidence. “The male companion who has recently enchanted Young Master Wang has already been bought by us. As long as Song Yan dares to board the boat today, he won’t be able to escape implication.”
Old Master Chen squinted at him for a while before asking aloud, “You said before that their dispute would lead to Song Yan killing Young Master Wang. How exactly this killing happens is still a question. Poisoning would inevitably leave traces. When the coroner examines the body, I fear the Song family would use the opportunity to shift blame to the boat’s cook. How do you plan to frame Song Yan and make the Wang family certain he was the killer?”
They had to quickly stir up the Wang family’s fury in a swift battle, at least to the point where everyone knew Song Yan had killed his cousin-in-law by marriage. Then they would provoke panic in the Cui and Song families and draw Song Chuyi and the Cui family members who were still on the road to come.
The sky had already turned completely dark. Yang Qing looked at the lanterns lighting up outside and said softly with a laugh, “On such a dark and windy night, though the Jinling canal is crowded with pleasure boats, in the flickering lamplight, people can’t see very clearly. By then, only a male companion, Song Yan, and Young Master Wang will be on the boat, and Young Master Wang will happen to be pushed into the water and drowned… Teacher, tell me—who would be more suspicious: Young Master Song, who obviously doesn’t get along with Young Master Wang, or the male companion who depends on Young Master Wang for his livelihood?”
Only then did Old Master Chen relax slightly. He sat down in his armchair and pondered carefully for a while before asking Yang Qing, “Tonight?”
His Highness the Prince had already sent a letter urging them to hurry, saying that according to their earlier calculations, Zhou Weizhao’s fleet had almost reached Tianshui Town. At this moment, if something happened to Song Yan and the Cui and Song family fleets separated from Zhou Weizhao’s fleet, it would be the perfect time to strike. Moreover, according to Prince Dongping’s account, His Highness the Crown Prince would likely even send some people to escort the Cui and Song family members to Jinling. He looked at Yang Qing, deeply feeling he had found a remarkable treasure.
Yang Qing nodded affirmatively. “Tonight. By now, Song Yan should have already boarded the pleasure boat.”
Speaking of which, this was also why Yang Qing felt Song Yan couldn’t compare to Song Jue. After all, he was still too young with insufficient experience. At a time like this, he clearly should have avoided Jinling City and left far away. Though that Cui family member was his cousin, the Cui family would naturally handle it themselves. As an outsider of a different surname, no matter how close the relationship, what use could staying in Jinling serve? Wouldn’t it be more proper and justified to wait for the Cui family to come handle it? But this was also because young people all harbored heroic dreams. Thinking of this, Yang Qing smiled faintly.
Now that the trap had been designed, they only needed to wait for someone to walk into it themselves. Old Master Chen patiently waited for news together with Yang Qing when suddenly he remembered something and said with a smile, “That matter I mentioned to you last time—your teacher’s wife has sent a reply.”
Last time on the boat, Old Master Chen had wanted to take him as an adopted son, which he had declined. Later, Old Master Chen said he would betroth his granddaughter to him. Though Yang Qing had been noncommittal at the time, after returning and thinking it over, he felt it highly inappropriate. The generational difference would be two ranks all at once. Moreover, even if the Chen family wanted to win over someone like him, they would probably only offer a young lady from a side branch or born of a concubine. Such young ladies had big tempers and looked down on everyone—he knew he couldn’t handle that. But before he could tactfully voice his refusal, Old Master Chen stroked his beard and smiled. “Your teacher’s wife’s meaning is that Mingxin from the second son’s family is quite good. She too grew up listening to the words of the sages. Her needlework and appearance are excellent in every way, and her temperament is gentle—she’s perfect for you.”
Actually a legitimate granddaughter?! Yang Qing had thought at best it would be the daughter of the deceased Third Master. He opened his mouth in some surprise but couldn’t get out the word “no.” Not a distant Chen family relative from a side branch, not Chen Mingqing whose father was convicted of crimes, but the biological daughter of Old Master Chen’s only remaining son!
Setting all that aside, if Chen Mingyu truly married Prince Dongping as planned, he would be Prince Dongping’s brother-in-law! This was something he hadn’t dared dream of for so many years, yet now there was an opportunity to rise to the heavens in a single step.
This temptation was truly too alluring. Yang Qing couldn’t help but be moved. He weighed the pros and cons in his mind countless times. In just a brief moment, he made up his mind, respectfully bowing deeply to the ground again. “Thank you for Teacher’s regard!”
Old Master Chen smiled as he helped him up, stroking his beard and shaking his head. “What regard or not? From now on, we’re family. Prepare yourself—there will be a special examination next year. Feel free to take the test.”
A starving camel is still bigger than a horse. Though Old Master Chen had lost power, after all, he hadn’t been completely demoted with no chance of recovery. His fellow examination year graduates in the court still remembered some old affection. Yang Qing understood immediately, his heart so excited it was beyond words. Clenching his fists, his emotions surged. When he had been down and out, living in a temple with desolate graves and lonely tombs as companions, he had sworn to become someone above others. Now, that day had finally come.