The main gates of the Earl of Changning’s residence stood wide open to receive the imperial messenger. The one serving as the imperial messenger this time was the newly appointed Director of the Imperial Observatory. Ever since Sixth Miss Song had become famous throughout the capital after her battle with Master Yuanhui due to her extreme fate, he had truly developed a mix of curiosity and apprehension toward this young noblewoman. Whatever schemes and machinations had occurred in between didn’t matter—what mattered was that this Sixth Miss Song was clearly now the victor. Not only had she successfully knocked Master Yuanhui down from being a revered monk to becoming a deceiver denounced by everyone, but even the imperial temple Huangjue Temple showed signs of being destroyed by her hand. And now this Sixth Miss Song was immediately about to become the Grand Imperial Grandson’s Consort. The Director of the Imperial Observatory didn’t need to think carefully to know the twists and turns involved were far from simple.
But knowing was one thing. When he actually placed the imperial edict into this Sixth Miss Song’s hands, he still couldn’t help but sigh that Song Chengru, that old fox, truly had an excellent granddaughter. For no other reason than this: based on his many years of experience reading people, he could not detect even a trace of panic or joy on this Sixth Miss Song’s person. This ability to keep one’s emotions from showing on one’s face, cultivated to this level at her age—he had never seen such a thing before. No wonder she had the fortune to become the Grand Imperial Grandson’s Consort.
Song Chengru personally carried the imperial edict to the ancestral hall. Song Ren and Song Jue first entertained the Director and the other imperial messengers, leading them to Mingjing Hall for refreshments. Old Madam Song led the womenfolk and Song Chuyi back to Ningde Courtyard. She couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief first. Although she had known this matter was certain and settled, the Lu family’s sudden interference had still made her uneasy. Now that the imperial marriage edict had been issued, she could finally set down the heavy stone in her heart. After expressing her emotions for a while, she pulled Song Chuyi aside to ask, “Will you write a letter to your father?”
First Madam Song looked toward Song Chuyi. She knew that Song Chuyi and her siblings had never been close to Song Yi, and although their relationship had somewhat eased these past two years and Yin Yunduan was skilled at managing relationships, this estrangement couldn’t be worn away in just a day or two.
Song Chuyi didn’t hesitate. Song Yi was ultimately her father in name, and when she married, Song Yi was someone she inevitably couldn’t bypass. Upon hearing this, she nodded decisively.
Old Madam Song let out a breath, reached out to touch Song Chuyi’s hair, and asked her again, “Have you sorted out the matter with that Chen family girl?” She had no favorable feelings whatsoever toward anyone from the Chen family. Now that the Empress had chosen to believe Song Chuyi and Fan Liangdi was already dead, Chen Mingyu had lost her original purpose. According to Old Madam Song’s thinking, leaving this person alive in the world would always be a disaster. The blood feud between the two families was now established, almost to the point of a fight to the death. This was not the time to show mercy. Even if Chen Mingyu was just a powerless young girl, she was enough to warrant apprehension.
Thinking of Chen Mingyu, Song Chuyi felt inexplicably irritated. She shook her head and briefly told Old Madam Song about today’s events. “She died cleanly and decisively. I couldn’t extract even half a piece of useful information. I’m just worried about that half seal—if it falls into someone else’s hands, who knows whether it will be a blessing or a curse.”
Old Madam Song’s expression also darkened somewhat. She thought for a moment, then said, “Later, tell your eldest brother to send people to investigate carefully—Han Zhi knew about that estate of yours from the beginning, and if Han Zhi knew, then naturally Prince Dongping also knows. Now that Fan Liangdi is dead and Prince Dongping has lost his own mother because of the Chen family, I’m afraid he won’t let this matter rest. He’s capable of doing anything. If he’s somewhat clever and sensitive, the first thing he’ll do is suspect you. He might stumble onto the truth through blind luck.”
If Zhou Weiqi had heard Old Madam Song’s words, he would probably have to praise her for her prescience. He had indeed immediately suspected Song Chuyi. After experiencing so many events, Song Chuyi in his mind had long ceased to be merely a pampered noble young lady representing family favor. He knew this Sixth Miss Song, besides having a special background, was also very uncanny. At the very least, Prince Duan and Han Zhi could both be counted as having been defeated at her hands. And now, it was his and his mother’s turn.
Although Empress Lu had been angry recently, she had never intended for his mother to die—over all these years, Empress Lu had developed a habit of compromising with the Crown Prince. And the only one who could make her change this habit, Zhou Weiqi thought over and over, was none other than the Song family and Song Chuyi, who were about to board Zhou Weizhao’s ship. No one else had this capability.
Qian Ying also confirmed Zhou Weiqi’s thoughts. “The timing is too coincidental. Sixth Miss Song attends the flower banquet and has a deep conversation with the Empress one moment, and the next moment the Empress acts so decisively against the Liangdi.” He paused, then continued, “Moreover, if you say that Miss Liu knew about Chen Mingyu’s affairs, I would believe it. Didn’t the heir of Marquis Jinxiang say before that this Sixth Miss Song had long established her own forces? Back when the heir wanted to transport her younger sister to Suzhou, the entire group ended up dead on the road. The heir once said that Sixth Miss Song had people do this. If she truly has this capability, then being able to gain the upper hand over our people also makes sense. We conducted this matter secretively. Besides a Sixth Miss Song who’s probably watching us at every moment, I really can’t think of anyone else who would do this. But if it really is Sixth Miss Song…” Qian Ying glanced at Zhou Weiqi, his expression grave as he coughed. “But if it really is Sixth Miss Song, then this person is just too terrifying.”
Calculating carefully, almost every incident was related to Song Chuyi. Starting from Yangquan, every matter was filled with Song Chuyi’s shadow. This Sixth Miss Song was truly not someone to be trifled with. If she truly had this capability, then she was truly too frightening to contemplate—and to make matters worse, this person was an enemy on their side. She had clearly taken her stand with the Grand Imperial Grandson’s faction.
Zhou Weiqi’s gaze was gloomy, his facial expression showing neither more ruthlessness nor more indifference. His previous underestimation of these women’s formidability had truly been his mistake. He should have thought of it earlier—if his mother could interfere in so many major affairs through his father, others might not be unable to do the same. And Song Chuyi’s reach clearly extended even further than his mother’s.
But it didn’t matter. It wasn’t too late to know now. He clenched his hands into tight fists. His eyes, filled with bloodshot veins from too long without sleep, appeared especially fierce and terrifying. He let out a cold laugh, looking toward the outside that was blurred and unclear through the window screen. After a long while, he finally spoke. “It doesn’t matter. Even the most terrifying person has a fatal weakness. You see how terrifying my mother was, right? But my mother—didn’t she also die so easily?”