Steward An lowered his head, wishing he could shrink into a crack in the floor. For those like them who served as eunuchs at the sides of noble personages, three principles must be carved into their very bones—cautious in speech, cautious in conduct, cautious in thought. That he could follow Emperor Jianzhang to this day meant he had already cultivated these three principles to perfection. But no matter how perfectly refined into mastery, he still didn’t want to hear such shocking and sensational matters.
Song Chuyi’s face still showed no signs of fear. Steward An swept a glance over her and could only recite prayers to Buddha in his heart, thinking this Sixth Miss Song truly was extraordinarily composed. In a trance, he recalled that matter with Consort Xian from back then. At that time, for the sake of the Ninth Princess, Consort Xian had come to petition His Majesty to let Song Chuyi serve as the Ninth Princess’s dowry companion. Back then, this Sixth Miss Song had also been like this—face not flushed, heart not racing, appearing as though Mount Tai could collapse upon her yet she would remain unmoved. Truly, Old Master Song had taught her well.
Emperor Jianzhang let out another soft snort. Though this cold snort wasn’t loud, it fell upon Steward An’s ears like a clap of thunder. He was nearly startled into jumping up, and only with great difficulty did he steady his composure, quietly glancing toward Song Chuyi. Fortunately, Song Chuyi was obedient this time and properly knelt down. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
Song Chuyi knelt on the ground looking at Emperor Jianzhang, neither saying yes nor no, “This subject woman dares not respond to Your Majesty’s words.”
She knelt upright and straight, like that pot of cloud-mist pine placed in the corner of the study—graceful in posture, pleasing to the eye, making it difficult for one to feel ill will toward her. Emperor Jianzhang clasped his hands behind his back and paced to the window, “Oh? Why dare you not?”
Song Chuyi showed not the slightest hesitation, “This subject woman acted on her own initiative and first told Her Majesty the Empress. Her Majesty the Empress has already made the resolute decision to sever the wrist like a brave warrior. But this subject woman did not tell her that she had also truthfully reported everything to Commander Lai.”
The young lady before him was as slippery as a loach, and her words were impeccably flawless. She was clearly speaking the truth, yet it made one unable to become angry. This too could be considered inheriting Song Chengru’s true teachings—that old fox also bore this same disposition in the Cabinet. Emperor Jianzhang let out an intrigued “oh,” “So you still know this point. Are you not afraid the Empress will be angry? Are you not afraid I will kill you to silence you?”
The four words “kill you to silence you” came out lightly, carrying no weight. Emperor Jianzhang’s expression was also relaxed and carefree, as if he were merely making a joke. Yet it still startled Steward An into trembling all over, nearly breaking out in cold sweat.
The room fell eerily silent for a moment, then Song Chuyi’s voice immediately rang out, “I am afraid.” She looked at Emperor Jianzhang honestly, “But this subject woman is even more afraid that if I don’t truthfully report to Your Majesty’s sage hearing, I will die even faster.” She looked at Emperor Jianzhang and seemed to smile bitterly with helplessness, “Who told Your Majesty to betroth this subject woman to His Highness the Grand Prince as the Grand Princess Consort?”
Yes, who told Song Chuyi’s lot to fall precisely on Zhou Weizhao? The Crown Prince had never liked him. Emperor Jianzhang himself also knew that even ten fingers had long and short—though palm and back of hand were both flesh, there were still distinctions of soft and hard. But dislike was one thing; no one would think to gouge out their own flesh or sever their own finger. Yet the Crown Prince had done precisely such a foolish thing.
Song Chuyi could even speak words like “when immortals fight, little ghosts suffer calamity.” Now hearing her speak this way again, Emperor Jianzhang didn’t find it particularly remarkable, “Your courage is quite different from your elder sister’s. But you also know you’re about to become the Grand Princess Consort—to bring your future father-in-law’s faults before me like this, are you so certain I won’t abolish the Crown Prince in a fit of anger?”
Steward An’s right eyelid twitched violently. He held his breath and restrained his presence, wishing he could become invisible at this moment.
“This subject woman dares not think so much.” Song Chuyi still knelt perfectly straight, “As I told Your Majesty, both His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness Prince Gong are Your Majesty’s sons. When they engage in their power struggles, using the lives of this subject woman and His Highness the Grand Prince as pawns in their game, this subject woman has nothing to say and no recourse. But I must at least try. Your Majesty’s sagely wisdom illuminates all things. This subject woman can only petition Your Majesty’s sage judgment. Moreover…” Seeing Emperor Jianzhang turn his head, she immediately finished the second half of her sentence in one breath, “Moreover, a festering sore must ultimately be lanced before there can be hope of recovery.”
Emperor Jianzhang glanced at the confidential report on his desk. It had been sent up by Lai Chenglong. Inside it contained evidence of the Crown Prince raising death warriors, as well as previous correspondence between the Crown Prince and local high officials like Yang Yunyong. Over all these years, the Crown Prince’s hands had never been idle.
Song Chuyi spoke truly. In the past, he had always felt this festering sore would heal on its own, but he had never considered that festering sores could also ulcerate and suppurate. If he didn’t lance it and apply medicine, perhaps even the entire arm would become useless. Now that it had been lanced in time, it could at least be considered mending the fold after sheep were lost—not yet too late. At the very worst, the conflict between these two troublesome sons had been brought to the surface. After this clash of swords and blades, it would be impossible for such farces to occur again.
Serious illness required strong medicine. Empress Lu’s resolution this time was most appropriate. Otherwise, he estimated he wouldn’t have so easily overcome that barrier in his heart—no matter which emperor learned that someone coveted his authority, he wouldn’t be pleased, even if that person was his own son.
“You are very clever, and you understand very well how to fathom the thoughts of a father.” He finally concluded with one statement, “But you must know, you won’t be able to accurately read my thoughts every time. At this moment I find you clever and lovable; the next moment perhaps I’ll want your life.”
This was a warning not to recklessly try to divine the imperial heart. Song Chuyi accepted the teaching, knowing she had passed this trial. She respectfully lowered her head in acknowledgment.
Upon leaving, Song Chuyi went to the Crown Princess Lu’s Mingcui Palace. The Crown Princess Lu received the news and personally came out to greet her. Seeing her, she finally relaxed with relief.
“Weizhao has awakened.” She squeezed Song Chuyi’s hand, “Just now he was asking after you. I haven’t yet told him that you’ve already informed Lai Chenglong of everything. After taking his medicine, he fell asleep again.”
While speaking, they had already turned past the screen. Song Chuyi glanced at Zhou Weizhao lying on the bed, genuine laughter appearing in her eyes. She extended her hand to feel his forehead temperature, only then feeling relieved. She turned her head back to speak with the Crown Princess.
“His Majesty had actually already made his decision long ago. He summoned me only to decide my life, death, and fate, that’s all.”
She spoke these words very lightly, as if she were speaking not of her own life and death but of some trivial matter. Yet the Crown Princess Lu heard them with her heart trembling in fear. The tiger’s tail was not so easy to grasp. This time Song Chuyi had both stuck her neck out as the first bird and done the most disagreeable thing, inevitably causing Emperor Jianzhang to feel she was deeply scheming. She extended her hand to grip Song Chuyi’s hand, “It truly was too risky. Father Emperor will certainly suspect your Song family of being wildly ambitious, wanting to use this matter to step on the Crown Prince and Prince Gong while currying favor with Weizhao to rise with the tide.”
If things had gone poorly, perhaps Song Chuyi might not have been able to walk out intact today. The Crown Princess Lu’s palms slightly perspired. After a long while, she finally sighed.