Cui Yingshu had called Song Yan to tell him to depart for Shuzhong after the Mid-Autumn Festival. “You’re not young anymore. After the new year, you’ll be eleven by nominal age. Though being a child student at ten is remarkable, the example of Shang Zhongyong stands as warning—you absolutely must not rely on your natural talent and neglect your studies.”

Song Yan hesitated somewhat. Though Prince Gong had already fallen and the Crown Prince had become a废人 useless person, Song Chuyi hadn’t yet smoothly married Zhou Weizhao—how could he feel at ease leaving?

Cui Yingshu noticed his hesitation and reached out to rap him on the head, glaring at him sternly. “What are you thinking? I’m not telling you to leave immediately, just that you need to be clear about this in your heart. What happened with Han Zhi before absolutely cannot happen again. The closer it gets to your sister and brother-in-law’s wedding date, the more incidents there will probably be. She may not have the energy to look after you, and your grandfather and the others will likely be busy beyond measure. You must be cautious in word and deed, and not let anyone find an opening.”

Song Chuyi and Zhou Weiqi’s wedding date had already been set for the ninth day of the tenth month. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, it would arrive soon. No matter how worried he was, there was no reason to have Song Yan, her blood brother, not see his sister off to be married. He was merely calling Song Yan over to remind him not to let anyone catch him in a mistake during this period. With so many matters at hand, no one could spare attention for him. He happened to be Song Chuyi’s blood brother—if those people couldn’t deal with Song Chuyi, wouldn’t they naturally turn their schemes on him?

Song Yan breathed a sigh of relief. Not only was he not angry at being underestimated, he actually smiled happily. “So that’s what Uncle was worried about—you can be completely at ease then.” He patted his chest, making a solemn guarantee. “I guarantee they’ll come but never return.”

After turning the tables on Elder Chen in Jinling and cooperating with Song Chuyi to draw out the Crown Prince’s death warriors this time, he had already become a second Song Chuyi. Even Old Madam Song said he grew more like his sister the older he got.

Cui Yingshu didn’t take it seriously, his eyes not on Song Yan as he busily wrote something, absentmindedly nodding. “As long as you understand. Your sister has many matters to attend to, and you’re not young anymore. In the future, you need to stand on your own. If you don’t stand on your own, how can you support your sister?”

Song Yan had understood these principles since childhood, yet still didn’t find Cui Yingshu’s words nagging at all. Anything concerning his sister—no matter how many times it was explained, he never found it tiresome. Instead, he leaned over to see what Cui Yingshu was doing. After looking and not making sense of it, he told him, “Uncle, I need to make a trip to Hubei.”

Cui Yingshu hummed in acknowledgment. Hearing Song Yan cheer, then immediately cut off the sound, he jerked his head up to look at Song Yan, eyes wide as he asked, “Go where?”

Hubei was currently experiencing severe flooding. Because of poor flood control and rampant epidemics, how many incidents had occurred? Recently, Emperor Jianzhang had no time to deal with Prince Gong and the Crown Prince partly because the situation in Hubei had become far too serious. Now at this time, Song Yan eagerly said he wanted to go to Hubei. Try as he might, Cui Yingshu couldn’t think of what reason Song Yan could possibly have that made it absolutely necessary to go to Hubei. He frowned and shook his head. “Don’t even think about going anywhere. I just told you that in these times you must be careful in everything, yet you’re already getting such ideas. Do you know that several counties below have become empty cities? Right now everyone is shirking the appointment as imperial commissioner, yet you’re rushing forward!”

“Hasn’t the imperial commissioner to Hubei already been decided?” Seeing Cui Yingshu’s tightly furrowed brow as he looked over, he quickly said, “I know Uncle is very busy. I’ll just go along to broaden my experience—I absolutely won’t cause trouble.”

The news certainly traveled fast enough. Cui Yingshu slapped the book down on the table and stared at him with a serious expression. “Who told you I’m the imperial commissioner being sent to Hubei?”

This was merely Emperor Jianzhang asking for candidates, and the Cabinet had pushed him forward—whether it would be approved was still uncertain. Song Chengru wasn’t so loose-lipped as to mention this matter to Song Yan.

Song Yan blinked cleverly. “Master said so.”

As soon as he mentioned his master, Cui Yingshu could only shake his head helplessly—Master Qingfeng was truly shrewd. After merely visiting the Song family once and coming back to find two doctors, he had actually thought so far ahead.

After sighing, he still maintained a wooden face and ruthlessly shook his head. “Other matters can be discussed, but this has no room for negotiation. Under no circumstances are you permitted to go. I’ll be back in just a few months anyway—what are you joining in the excitement for? Going all that way and then having to rush to Shuzhong immediately after returning—aren’t you tired from all that tossing about?”

Having said this, he felt strange again. “Why does Master Qingfeng suddenly need to go to Hubei?”

“Master’s younger brother is in Hubei.” Song Yan sighed and looked at Cui Yingshu. “Uncle knows that though Master says he’s alone without attachments, how could he truly let go in his heart? Right now Hubei’s disaster is severe, with bad news being sent to the capital one after another. Master Qingfeng originally didn’t want to trouble you and intended to go by himself. Fortunately, I discovered it.”

Cui Yingshu had studied with Master Qingfeng for so long—of course he knew about the unpleasantness between Master Qingfeng and his younger brother’s family over dividing the family property years ago. Hearing this, he frowned and nodded. “If that’s the case, I’ll have Master come along with me. However… it’s probably a wasted trip anyway.”

The dead were countless, and those fleeing famine and disaster even more innumerable. After the epidemic broke out, it became even worse. Two counties truly had no recourse—everyone fled, and they were burned clean with a single fire.

In such chaos, how could they possibly still find anyone?

“I want to accompany Master.” Song Yan rarely went against Cui Yingshu’s wishes, sighing with an old man’s weariness. “Master treats me extremely well, and I promised to provide for him in his old age and see him through his final days. This is his only concern now—I want to accompany him to fulfill it. By then, your matters will certainly be complicated and busy—you may not be able to look after Master. Better to bring me along. I have Changgui and Changrong with me—I won’t cause trouble.”

What an earnest child. Cui Yingshu looked at him for a while, pondered for a long moment, then told him to go back and ask Song Chuyi’s opinion first. “If your sister agrees, I’ll take you along.”

Master Qingfeng presumably wanted not only to search for his younger brother but also to take Song Yan to properly see this world, to see the various people below. How could Cui Yingshu not want what was best for Song Yan? But Song Yan was still somewhat young. He had originally thought that no matter what, he should wait until after Song Yan passed the provincial examination before having him travel and gain experience. Looking at it now, perhaps he had been too cautious.

Song Yan first breathed a sigh of relief. As for Song Chuyi, he wasn’t too worried—never mind that his sister doted on him, there was also his very open-minded brother-in-law the Grand Prince. Once he got through there, he wasn’t afraid his sister wouldn’t agree. He was just afraid that Cui Yingshu would stubbornly refuse to take him, and then if Song Jue spoke up, he truly wouldn’t be able to go.