Zhou Weiqi felt somewhat irritable. Today when he passed by the Ministry of Rites office, thinking that the envoys from the princes had been arriving in the capital one after another, he wanted to inquire and see if he could hear any news. But the result was that he came back having heard a bellyful of news he didn’t want to hear—nowadays what those minor officials discussed most was not the matter of the princes entering the capital for an imperial audience, but rather the marriage alliance between Grand Prince Zhou Weizhao and the Song family.

Although he had been given reassurance by Qian Ying’s words and now had Han Zhengqing as backing, his heart was no longer as anxiously restless day and night as when Fan Liangdi had just died, but there was still some resentment—they were both sons of the Crown Prince, and he and Zhou Weizhao didn’t differ much in age, yet Zhou Weizhao’s wedding ceremony was approaching, while he didn’t even have his wife’s candidate decided yet. He couldn’t help but feel disheartened.

Even after Zhende and Elder Wei came out from the Crown Prince’s study, the boulder in his heart hadn’t shifted at all. Hanging his head somewhat listlessly, he entered the room, called out “Father,” and after performing the ritual greetings, stood silently to the side.

The Crown Prince was somewhat surprised, thinking he must have encountered difficulties with his official duties. He glanced up at him: “Why this listless appearance? Are there difficulties with your duties at the ministry?”

Zhou Weiqi shook his head and looked at the Crown Prince, some grievance showing in his eyes: “Father, Elder Brother’s wedding procession is approaching, yet I don’t even have my principal consort’s candidate decided. I feel somewhat uneasy…”

The brush in the Crown Prince’s hand paused. Seeing Zhou Weiqi’s bewildered and aggrieved expression, his heart suddenly clenched—back when Empress Lu had abandoned him, when he had watched helplessly as Empress Lu carried Prince Gong away, he had also been this bewildered and helpless, uneasy and frightened. Now his son would have to live in the shadow of the Lu family as well. A weird, complex smile appeared on his deathly pale face, the veins on the back of his hand bulging. After quite a while, he threw down the brush in his hand and looked at Zhou Weiqi: “What’s there to be uneasy about? Are you afraid she won’t pick a good one for you?”

He laughed derisively, leaned back against the chair, and beckoned to Zhou Weiqi, calling him to his side. He looked him up and down: “You are my son. Your marriage is naturally for me to decide. What does it matter what she says?”

He fell silent for a while. Seeing Zhou Weiqi still couldn’t raise his spirits, he thought for a moment and asked him: “Which family’s young lady have you taken a fancy to? I’ve asked you several times if there’s anyone you admire, but you never give a candidate. If it were up to me…” He paused and said: “The granddaughter of Chief Minister Chang’s family and the daughter of Guo Huaiying are both excellent.”

Zhou Weiqi looked up with some surprise, not expecting his father to immediately mention these two families—neither of these families was any worse than the Sixth Miss Song that Zhou Weizhao was marrying. But after the initial delight, he became somewhat discouraged again: “But how could Imperial Grandmother agree…”

The Crown Prince’s expression instantly darkened. With a slightly ruthless twitch of his lips, he said: “What does it matter whether she agrees or not? Besides, why wouldn’t she agree?” After saying this sentence, he raised his chin toward him: “Rest assured. I said I wouldn’t let him surpass you, and I absolutely won’t let him surpass you. Think carefully about whether there’s anyone you admire. If not, I’ll make the decision for you.”

Zhou Weiqi was somewhat overjoyed. Even when he went back to see Qian Ying, the corners of his mouth still held a smile: “Father has already begun selecting candidates for my principal consort. From what he says, the families he’s picking for me are all of extremely high status…”

This was sufficient to show the Crown Prince’s regard and affection for him. Qian Ying smiled and congratulated Zhou Weiqi, then said: “I heard that today Lord Zhende and Elder Wei went to see His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness must be sending him to Xiangfan.”

The smile on Zhou Weiqi’s face grew even broader. Although he couldn’t get his hands on this sum of silver, at least he had done the Crown Prince a favor and could fish Wei Yansheng out without getting himself trapped. Moreover, with the Crown Prince personally taking action, it could be considered teaching the Song family and Sixth Miss Song a lesson, letting them know that even if their family was about to produce a Grand Princess Consort, they couldn’t run wild over him: “Father told me about this matter. He said Elder Wei’s trip is to find Hubei Provincial Governor Jiang Tianhua. With Governor Jiang suppressing the matter, the Xiangfan Prefect will have no choice but to release the person.”

Would Song Chengru really dare to directly oppose the Crown Prince then? Qian Ying also thought of this point and nodded, then said: “That may be so, but the Song family ultimately shouldn’t be offended. If they don’t hold this account against His Highness the Crown Prince, I’m afraid they’ll bear a grudge against you. The Minister of Personnel is not easy to deal with. After all, you’re currently gaining experience in the Ministry of Justice. If you offend him, I’m afraid there will be many difficulties ahead.”

Zhou Weiqi didn’t take it seriously. With a mysterious smile, he glanced at Qian Ying: “Teacher need not worry at all. The Song family will very soon be too preoccupied to take care of themselves. How would they dare come after me? Besides, I have Father’s protection—they have no way to deal with me.”

The Crown Prince had indeed been excessively good to Zhou Weiqi recently, as if his eyes completely couldn’t see his other son. Qian Ying vaguely felt the Crown Prince’s behavior was unfathomable, but since Zhou Weiqi said this, he must have received some guarantee from the Crown Prince. He caught the key point and couldn’t help but ask: “Why do you say that?”

Thinking of Zhende who had entered the palace together with Elder Wei, and then considering Zhende’s network of relationships and examination cohort members, Qian Ying’s mouth gaped wide open. He looked at Zhou Weiqi for a long moment, but ultimately didn’t dare voice his speculation—his guess was simply too preposterous. If the Crown Prince truly was as he imagined, wanting to draw Prince Gong in to deal with Zhou Weizhao and the Song family, then… He couldn’t help but remind Zhou Weiqi: “Your Highness should still advise His Highness the Crown Prince. Inviting a deity is easy, but sending one away is difficult…”

Zhou Weiqi valued Qian Ying precisely because of this keen perception and ability to see into people’s hearts. He smiled and glanced at Qian Ying: “Teacher, rest assured. My father has always been prudent in his actions.”

The Crown Prince was different from Fan Liangdi. He had far more people at his disposal than Fan Liangdi, and far greater capabilities. Moreover, he himself couldn’t wait for the Crown Prince to move against the Song family—that Sixth Miss Song of the Song family was simply uncanny. Ever since offending her, nothing he and his mother did had gone smoothly. The Song family wasn’t good either—like the Zhennan Prince’s household, they all stood on Zhou Weizhao’s side.

Qian Ying wasn’t worried about whether the Crown Prince could bring down the Song family—no matter how capable the Song family was, they couldn’t contend with the heir apparent. What he worried about was Prince Gong. If the Crown Prince really used Prince Gong and dealt with the Song family, what about afterward? After Prince Gong dealt with the Grand Prince, the next ones would be the Crown Prince and Zhou Weiqi…