Cui Yingshu sat across from Zhou Weizhao. Seeing Zhou Weizhao frown, he couldn’t help but sigh. “Speaking of which, when cutting weeds one should remove the roots. Things have already reached this point. We’ve already torn off all pretenses—all that talk of blood ties and kinship is empty.”
Cui Yingshu was really just speaking casually. He naturally knew things couldn’t be resolved so simply with one clean axe stroke—Prince Gong was still Emperor Jianzhang’s son after all, and Emperor Jianzhang was someone who placed far too much weight on his children. That he could make up his mind to thoroughly destroy Prince Gong’s reputation before all the people under heaven was already extremely difficult. To go one step further and take Prince Gong’s life was truly impossible.
Moreover, in Emperor Jianzhang’s eyes now, both the Crown Prince and Prince Gong were ruthless scoundrels who disregarded brotherly bonds and bloodline affection. Yet Zhou Weizhao had become even more valued by Emperor Jianzhang because of this incident. Emperor Jianzhang felt Zhou Weizhao was benevolent and kind, extremely similar to himself in his younger days—even though the Crown Prince and Prince Gong had gone so far, Zhou Weizhao had never said much about it. When Emperor Jianzhang made decisions, he had never complained or thought the punishments too light.
Favorable impressions accumulated bit by bit like this. Cui Yingshu sighed. Though Zhou Weizhao was young, his skill at calculating people’s hearts was just like Song Chuyi’s—truly masterful. Every step he took was extremely steady and solid. Now he had somehow gained all the advantages and upper hand, yet made everyone feel they were the victims, making people feel guilty toward them. This was a rare ability indeed.
“It’s just a pity that having already used this tactic of retreating to advance, you can’t change faces midway and make people think your previous magnanimity was all an act. Otherwise, you really should clean up the people around Prince Gong. His own reputation is already ruined, but when people become shameless enough, reputation doesn’t matter to them anymore. His Majesty certainly wants to preserve all ten of his fingers intact, thinking that having Prince Gong stay in his fief for life would suffice. But will Prince Gong think that way? He’s not stupid either. Even if you truly intend to let him go, he couldn’t possibly live with his head hanging on his belt.” Cui Yingshu rambled on for a while, then added, “Just look at the Princess Consort of Prince Gong’s current behavior—you can guess His Highness Prince Gong’s own intentions.”
Zhou Weizhao’s focus, however, was not on what Cui Yingshu had just said. His furrowed brow relaxed again as he personally poured a cup of tea for Cui Yingshu. “Uncle, you just said the Princess Consort of Prince Gong first went to Imperial Grandmother’s place, then came to your house?”
On the journey back, Zhou Weizhao had already heard Cui Hualuan pour out her heart. That the Princess Consort of Prince Gong could find out even this detail and exploit it showed she was truly not someone to be taken lightly. If things hadn’t already been made clear with Cui Hualuan, and if Cui Yingshu and Princess Duanhui weren’t both sensible people, the Song and Cui families might have truly developed a rift.
Zhou Weizhao didn’t find the Princess Consort of Prince Gong’s behavior incomprehensible. People were inherently selfish. The Princess Consort of Prince Gong was a very clever person who knew that no matter what, the two sides could no longer shake hands and make peace—it could only be a fight to the death. So given her position, it wasn’t surprising she would engage in such divisive actions.
But Zhou Weizhao minded that she had reached her hand toward Song Chuyi. Sometimes he felt no one understood this young lady Song Chuyi better than he did. This young lady was forbearing and self-controlled. This young lady feared being hurt, yet always felt guilty and uneasy over others’ slightest kindness toward her, thinking to repay them double. When he treated her even slightly well, she wanted nothing more than to bare her heart to him. He often thought he couldn’t let this young lady who had finally opened her heart suffer even the slightest grievance—no matter who it was from, it wouldn’t do.
Cui Yingshu then said, “She dares not target you directly, so she directed all the spearhead toward Xiaoyi. She probably wants to cut off your right arm. Speaking of which, you must prepare in advance.”
He picked up his cup and took a sip. “Actually, I’ve been wanting to say this all along. The path we walk is different from others. Only now have we finally seen a glimmer of hope. But it’s only a glimmer. His Majesty is in his prime—there’s plenty of time to wait. To speak somewhat disrespectfully, if you truly want to establish a firm foothold, you really can’t rely entirely on going it alone.”
Seeing Zhou Weizhao about to speak, he raised his hand and waved it. “I know what you’ve said to Xiaoyi. As Xiaoyi’s uncle, I’m naturally happy. No one hopes for her wellbeing more than I do. But Your Highness, you make her such a grand promise now—if it comes true in the future, naturally that’s good. But if it cannot, wouldn’t that hurt her even more? Since ancient times, which emperor have you seen who remained with one person for life? I’m not trying to throw cold water on you—this simply sounds too fantastical. Xiaoyi is a serious child. If you promise her, she’ll take it seriously.”
Zhou Weizhao frowned at him, his face full of sincerity. “I’m not casually coaxing her. I’m also serious.”
Cui Yingshu couldn’t help but laugh. He had just said this Highness was truly different from ordinary people, with wisdom far surpassing normal people. Now it seemed somewhat naive after all. He set down his cup and looked at him leisurely. “I know you’re sincere in saying this now. But Your Highness, think about it—you’re willing, but is the Crown Princess willing? Is Her Majesty the Empress willing? And will His Majesty be willing?”
How important was succession and heirs for the imperial family? Marrying only one wife sounded like a joke no matter how you heard it. Never mind that upon ascending to the throne one should have three palaces and six courts—even now, once Song Chuyi married Zhou Weizhao, if there was no movement after a few months, Emperor Jianzhang and Empress Dowager Lu would grant Zhou Weizhao secondary consorts. Not to mention all those in the court who wanted to curry favor with Zhou Weizhao—now it was clear the Eastern Palace would be led by the Grand Prince, and Prince Gong had ended up in such a state. Who didn’t know the Grand Prince was a hot stove? Everyone wanted to add firewood. This was human nature.
“Just as I said earlier, those who previously had no plans to tend your stove, if they now want to come pledge allegiance to you, they must first test the waters, right? How can they demonstrate your sincerity in accepting them? Naturally, there’s no method more convenient or mutually beneficial than marriage alliance… Though I’m Xiaoyi’s uncle and hope she gets her wish, this simply isn’t realistic.”
Cui Hualuan was his daughter—he could naturally control her and prevent the Cui family from placing people by the Grand Prince’s side. But what about others? As far as he knew, even the Prince of Zhennan’s manor had such plans. Given the Grand Prince’s relationship with the Prince of Zhennan’s manor, could he truly refuse without giving any face at all? And once the Prince of Zhennan’s manor set a precedent, what about all the others who wanted to solidify their relationship with the Grand Prince? Refuse them all? This was obviously unrealistic and unwise.
Cui Yingshu looked at Zhou Weizhao, his expression very serious. “Your Highness should make things clear to Xiaoyi early on, to avoid mutual disappointment later.”