Qian Ying was ultimately more adaptable than most. He sighed, “His Majesty’s intention is naturally to prevent this matter from spreading.”
It was understandable when one thought about it. Such a scandal had emerged from the Eastern Palace—if it spread, people throughout the realm would laugh not only at the Eastern Palace, but even more so at Emperor Jianzhang for failing to properly discipline his son. Moreover, for an emperor like Emperor Jianzhang who was fond of cultivating immortality and refining elixirs, he likely could not tolerate having any blemish that would make him unacceptable to the immortals.
Zhou Weiqi wasn’t as clever as Qian Ying. Though still confused and bewildered, he knew that from this day forward, the protective umbrella of the Crown Prince was gone. Feeling disheartened, he looked at Qian Ying and Huang Yiqing with a mournful expression, “I understand what you gentlemen mean, but if Imperial Grandfather truly stops caring about Father’s affairs because he’s angry with Father, then from now on…”
Qian Ying and Huang Yiqing understood his worry. Exchanging a glance, Huang Yiqing was first to console him, “The Prince need not be too disheartened. Though the Crown Prince is indeed useless, that other side isn’t necessarily any better.”
The Prince of Dongping understood their reference was to Prince Gong, but their counsel did nothing to dispel the clouds of his gloom. His face remained bitter, “So what? Imperial Grandfather only has Father and Uncle Prince Gong as legitimate sons. Now even if both legitimate sons are finished, there’s still Zhou Weizhao who has always enjoyed his favor. By following me, you two gentlemen probably have no prospects to speak of.”
Neither Huang Yiqing nor Qian Ying could respond to these words. They too were troubled by this affair. Since Consort Fan Liangdi’s incident, the Prince of Dongping’s advantages had gradually vanished bit by bit. Now even the Crown Prince was finished. Just as he himself had said, he didn’t appear to have much of a future now. But who told them they had already boarded this ship? They were already the Prince of Dongping’s retainers, their involvement ran so deep that it wasn’t something they could withdraw from just because they wished to. Since they couldn’t withdraw, they could only grit their teeth, endure, and fight for their chances.
Therefore, Qian Ying still mustered his spirits to comfort him, “Whether His Highness the Grand Prince’s injuries are serious or not remains without any conclusion. Your Highness need not panic like this. Taking ten thousand steps back, even if things are truly as the intelligence we received indicates, matters haven’t reached their worst point yet—Prince Gong is equally unable to gain any advantage, Prince Su and Prince Lu have never enjoyed favor, and the Eastern Palace still hasn’t been abolished. Things are merely more difficult, that’s all.”
As Qian Ying and the others coaxed the Prince of Dongping, pulling him from the mire, Imperial Physician Yan was treating another imperial grandson Zhou Weizhao’s injuries. He and Attendant Hu worked busily until the sun set before finally settling this young lord properly. When he emerged, an incense for calming the spirit had been lit. Coming out, he sucked in cold air sharply toward Song Chuyi, “Though they’re all external injuries, they look quite horrifying.”
Though he wasn’t a physician from the Imperial Medical Academy, he shared a tacit understanding with Attendant Hu on one point—absolutely never ask questions that shouldn’t be asked. The moment the Empress learned that Zhou Weizhao was injured, she immediately hinted that he should apply his needles slightly off-target. How could he not know there were machinations behind this? Therefore, even knowing Zhou Weizhao’s injuries came under suspicious circumstances, he still didn’t ask a single thing. He only instructed the attending Qing Zhuo and Han Feng, “The diet must be light. The external medicine must be changed diligently three times daily—morning, noon, and evening.”
After the Crown Princess Lu asked once more about the injuries, she dismissed Attendant Hu and Imperial Physician Yan to leave, then pulled Song Chuyi’s hand to go inside to see Zhou Weizhao.
Imperial Physician Yan’s calming incense was quite effective. Zhou Weizhao slept very deeply. The Crown Princess Lu extended her hand to cover his face. Her expression showed nothing, but she turned her head toward Song Chuyi and pulled her lips into an extremely faint smile, “When he was very small, he once encountered wolves too. That was when Rongcheng had just returned from Longhu Mountain. He would run down to the mountain’s foot every day to wait for my letters. Once he lost his way and was still wandering in the mountains at the third watch of the night, unable to leave the forest, and encountered wolves. If his master and senior brothers hadn’t found him in time, he probably would have been gone…” The Crown Princess’s voice was very soft, “He is very afraid of wolves, but now he fears nothing anymore.”
Song Chuyi couldn’t get a word in. She was quite willing to say some words of comfort to Zhou Weizhao’s mother, the Crown Princess Lu, but she had no opportunity. Emperor Jianzhang’s summons had already reached her ears immediately after.
The Crown Princess Lu also couldn’t spare time to share confidences with her. She stood up in panic, grasped her hand, then looked back at her son lying on the bed with closed eyes. Tears suddenly fell from her eye sockets, “It’s all thanks to you…”
She was perfectly clear in her heart. This time Song Chuyi had lanced this festering sore before Emperor Jianzhang to ensure the Crown Prince could never again extend his reach. But by doing so, whether in Emperor Jianzhang’s eyes or the Empress’s eyes, Song Chuyi would appear far too aggressive and pressing.
Song Chuyi herself was actually calm and composed. Standing before Emperor Jianzhang, though her eyes were lowered and restrained, they still shone very brightly. Her movements of paying respects flowed smoothly like flowing water, completed in one breath, showing not the slightest hint of panic.
Completely different from Consort Song—this was Emperor Jianzhang’s first impression. He glanced at Song Chuyi across the desk, seeing her stand so steady and balanced, she was almost identical to her grandfather who had served as an official for many years. He found it quite strange. Both were girls from the Song family—Consort Song advanced and retreated with propriety, understood too well how to write the four characters for “preserving oneself wisely,” but this Sixth Miss Song was completely different from her.
He didn’t speak for a long time. The room was so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Steward An at the side glanced toward Song Chuyi several times, feeling his legs trembling beneath him, but Song Chuyi could still maintain her composure. Eyes observing the nose, nose observing the heart, she didn’t even change her posture once.
Emperor Jianzhang finally put down the brush in his hand, lifted his head to glance at her, and opened his mouth in an unhurried manner, “What do you seek to gain?”
Song Chuyi knew what he was asking. She pressed her lips together and looked toward Emperor Jianzhang, her pair of eyes shining as brightly as the luminous pearl placed on Emperor Jianzhang’s desk, “To preserve my life.” Seeing Emperor Jianzhang raise his eyebrows, she added, “When immortals fight, little ghosts suffer calamity. This subject woman is precisely that unlucky little ghost. His Highness suffered on my account and nearly lost his life as well.” She raised her head, “If I hadn’t told Your Majesty the true circumstances, I fear this life of mine might have silently disappeared at any moment. Moreover, Your Majesty’s sagely wisdom illuminates all things, you are a discerning master—this subject woman dares not conceal anything.”
These formal words were spoken quite beautifully, just like that old fox Song Chengru. Emperor Jianzhang was angered into laughter. He grasped a memorial in his hand and with a slap threw it on the desk, startling Steward An into a stumble. He looked at Song Chuyi with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “According to this, you’re actually doing this for my benefit.”
Emperor Jianzhang had heard many people mention that the Song family’s Sixth Miss was extraordinary. Now seeing her this way, she truly was somewhat extraordinary. An ordinary girl—how could she, after accomplishing such an earth-shattering deed, still stand before him so at ease and composed, speaking these words so steadily and calmly?
His gaze suddenly became sharp as a blade. Across the desk, he let out a soft laugh, “Should I properly thank you then?”