As for this matter concerning the Crown Prince and Prince Gong, Master Qingfeng wasn’t worried at all. Looking at the anxious Master Chang and Master Ying, he finished his chicken leg, plunged his hand into a basin full of hot water, and said with a grin: “You two gentlemen need not worry excessively. However much the current Emperor dotes on his sons, he is still an emperor. Since ancient times, no emperor has ever been able to tolerate people reaching their hands toward him. The Crown Prince and Prince Gong have both reached out. Even if His Majesty wanted to find trouble with Miss Six, he’d first have to deal with Prince Gong and the Crown Prince before him. Things are still far from reaching that point.”

Master Chang was about to speak when Changgui, who served under Song Yan, came knocking rapidly on the door to deliver news: “First Young Master, Fourth Young Master, the martial law in the city has been lifted. The large numbers of Imperial Guards that were on the streets earlier have all disappeared.”

“See.” Master Qingfeng glanced at Song Yan and Song Jue: “Don’t worry. News should come soon.”

Sure enough, in the evening, news came from the palace. The Crown Prince had been poisoned, His Highness the Crown Prince had been attacked in the suburbs, and the Imperial Guard had discovered that both incidents were perpetrated by the same group—remnants of the bandits Ma Yuantong and others, bearing grudges and thus taking such action.

The Imperial Guard had been searching the entire city for people since yesterday, already causing a citywide uproar. Those with sharp eyes knew something major had happened and all restrained their household members from going out to rashly inquire about news or gossip. Bai Dong, however, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. When he heard in the evening that the Crown Prince had been poisoned, he couldn’t help but go to Elder Du’s residence late at night to inquire: “Teacher, this matter wouldn’t be related to the Prince, would it? Didn’t the Prince say before that he would only use a stratagem of sowing discord to provoke conflict between His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Elder Du himself was also deeply worried. Prince Gong had later sent someone with a letter to change the plan, saying to completely eliminate the Crown Prince and Miss Song Six, pin the matter on the Crown Prince, then pin the Crown Prince’s poisoning on Prince Dongping, thereby dragging down the entire Eastern Palace in one stroke. But things hadn’t gone as smoothly as anticipated. Song Chuyi and Zhou Weizhao had successfully escaped, and there had been no definite news from the palace until now…

He had waited a whole day, and on the second evening, he received the high-sounding explanation that it was the work of remnants of bandit chiefs like Ma Yuantong. He immediately felt something was wrong—the normal procedure should be for the Imperial Guard to thoroughly investigate, and even the Three Judicial Offices should get involved. How was it that before any commotion was raised, they were already saying the culprits had been found? Moreover, Ma Yuantong’s group had been dealt with cleanly in Yangquan. Add to that the promise to share profits with the people of Yangquan, and where would there still be any remnants of Ma Yuantong? This explanation might deceive ordinary commoners…

After much deliberation, he still felt somewhat uneasy. When going to the Cabinet for official business, he privately sought an opportunity to find Eunuch An—he had always known the importance of palace eunuchs and deliberately maintained good relations with them. He had some friendship with both the former Xingfu and the later Eunuch An and Eunuch Feng. But this time, Eunuch An avoided him like the plague.

He then understood—he had once served as Prince Gong’s tutor, a fact known to all. Since Eunuch An was so afraid of him… His heart sank, but he dared not pursue palace connections anymore. He went back to discuss with Madam Du and had her make a trip to Earl Changning’s residence.

At this point, he certainly couldn’t go find Imperial Guard Commander Lai Chenglong. Even if he went, he wouldn’t be able to dig out any information from Lai Chenglong—that man was slippery as an eel and had always been very wary of the princes. Besides the directly involved Earl Changning’s residence, Elder Du truly didn’t know where else he could start.

When the First Madam of the Song household entered to report the news that Madam Du had called, Old Madam Song was discussing with Madam Yu about asking her to serve as the matron of honor for Xiang Mingzi’s wedding. Hearing this, a cold laugh escaped from her throat.

“Just say I’m not available and turn her away.” She frowned and continued discussing that day’s matters with Madam Yu: “Should we use that ruby headdress bestowed by Her Majesty, or use the pearl and gold crown bestowed by Her Highness the Crown Princess?”

The First Madam of the Song household knew where Old Madam Song’s anger came from—the wolf pack in the suburbs was most likely inseparable from Prince Gong, and Elder Du was part of Prince Gong’s faction. Coming at this time, even a fool would know why they had come.

After the First Madam left, the smile on Old Madam Song’s face completely vanished: “They’ve come to probe for information.”

Madam Yu also sighed: “A guilty conscience, naturally. Now that the news from the palace is tightly sealed, of course they’re anxious. But the emperor isn’t anxious while the eunuch is—Prince Gong’s side hasn’t shown any reaction yet, but he’s already gotten anxious first.” As she spoke, she paused, then couldn’t help but worry somewhat: “Speaking of which, the Old Master is at Xiyuan Garden for council today, and Xiaoyi and my sister-in-law haven’t sent any news at all. Although the Ministry of Justice has now posted reward notices for Ma Yuantong’s remnants, it’s natural that His Majesty wouldn’t want to air family dirty laundry. But we can’t assume based on this alone that Xiaoyi is truly safe. It’s truly worrying.”

Song Chuyi’s move had really been taken too riskily. She had exposed the true faces of both the Crown Prince and Prince Gong before Emperor Jianzhang’s eyes all at once. It was hard to say whether Emperor Jianzhang would resent her for meddling and turn around to deal with her.

Old Madam Song had already heard Song Jue’s analysis and shook her head: “Don’t fear that. Xiaoyi and His Highness the Crown Prince were innocently victimized. Moreover, she didn’t do anything—she merely told His Majesty the true face of matters as they were. His Majesty won’t punish her for this.”

“What’s to be feared is that Her Majesty the Empress won’t be able to accept it.” Old Madam Song let out a heavy sigh: “Actually, Xiaoyi’s action was indeed too ruthless, pitilessly puncturing in one stroke the illusion Her Majesty had maintained for many years…”

Madam Yu understood Old Madam Song’s meaning. That still wasn’t the most crucial point. The most crucial point was that Song Chuyi, on one hand, without mentioning that she had already handed the living witness over to Lai Chenglong, forced Her Majesty the Empress to make up her mind to take action against the Crown Prince, to ensure this matter was thoroughly covered up, to protect Prince Gong, to ensure the Eastern Palace would be stable from then on. On the other hand, she had Lai Chenglong tell Emperor Jianzhang without reservation about Prince Gong and the Crown Prince’s mutual scheming, letting Emperor Jianzhang see clearly these two brothers’ calculations…

Empress Lu would inevitably feel she had been calculated against by Song Chuyi, and inevitably feel that Song Chuyi wasn’t considering her interests. But in reality, a festering sore could only scab over and heal after being lanced. One could only hope Empress Lu understood this principle.

Old Madam Song had just finished speaking when the First Madam of the Song household hurriedly entered again, running somewhat urgently: “Old Madam, yesterday when we left the palace, we forgot to bring Her Majesty’s bestowals. Her Majesty has specially sent someone to deliver them.”

What bestowals could have been forgotten? Old Madam Song glanced at the First Madam of the Song household and tacitly understood. She slowly nodded: “Please invite them in quickly.”