Like Madam Qin—traveling throughout these magnificent rivers and mountains, with leisure and contentment in her heart—what need was there for men and wealth or status to fill it? She paused, smiling as she squeezed Song Chuyi’s hand: “I want to go see Zhangzhou.”

This topic shift was rather abrupt. Song Chuyi almost failed to react, hesitating for a moment before asking: “Zhangzhou?”

Zhangzhou was Prince Duan’s former fief, located in Min region. She’d heard the coastal raids were also quite severe there. What would Lu Chonghua, a woman, be doing running to such a place? Before Song Chuyi could speak, Empress Dowager Lu up ahead was already leading Consort Song, Consort Liang, and several other consorts in full ceremonial dress as they entered. Everyone naturally bowed down in worship.

Empress Dowager Lu wore a phoenix robe, with an exquisitely beautiful red gold crown inlaid with rubies in a floral pattern on her head. With a smile playing at the corners of her mouth, she graciously and nobly exempted the titled ladies from full ceremony, and warmly exchanged pleasantries with several of the elderly madams.

Old Madam Song was naturally among them. She bowed slightly and respectfully thanked Empress Dowager Lu for her consideration. When Empress Dowager Lu inquired about Xiang Mingzi’s wedding, she answered everything: “After Mid-Autumn comes the Double Ninth Festival. We’ve set it for the day after Double Ninth. The entire household from top to bottom has been thrown into a flurry of activity.”

Empress Dowager Lu smiled: “With joyous occasions at home, no matter how busy one is, the heart is still happy. Old Madam must still take care of your health.”

She had already received her daughter’s advice and naturally wanted to elevate the Song family’s status. She understood this point—even if Princess Rongcheng hadn’t come to advise her, she knew that the Song family absolutely could not be offended now. With the Crown Prince already fallen and Prince Gong gone to the Imperial Mausoleum, she now could only rely on Zhou Weizhao. She could only hope he would be steady and stable. Though she was dissatisfied with Song Chuyi, she absolutely couldn’t do something like publicly undermining Zhou Weizhao.

Therefore, she even specifically beckoned Song Chuyi forward, took her hand and inquired about her wellbeing for a while, before finally allowing her to return to her seat: “In a few more months, you should be sitting at this palace’s lower seat alongside your mother.”

Crown Princess Lu wore a smile on her face, gently nodding at Song Chuyi.

The feast had already been announced above. Seeing the people offering toasts without end, Song Chuyi found an opportunity to ask Lu Chonghua again: “Everything was fine—why must you run off to Zhangzhou?”

Since Lu Chonghua had decided, there was nothing to hide from her: “Our Lu family ancestors are said to have made their fortune starting from Zhangzhou. Zhangzhou is different from both the place where I grew up and the capital. Grandfather said many people there go out to sea, bringing back numerous rare treasures and curiosities. I greatly yearn for it.”

She hadn’t expected that Cui Hualuan, personally taught by Madam Qin herself, had never developed thoughts of traveling, yet instead it was Lu Chonghua who yearned for it and was putting it into action. Song Chuyi felt somewhat envious of her carefree spirit and couldn’t help but smile broadly: “I once met Madam Qin. After returning and meeting you, I always felt you were endearing. Thinking about it now, perhaps it’s because you and Madam Qin share the same aspirations, unlike ordinary women.”

Lu Chonghua wasn’t modest: “I’ll take that as a compliment.” She also turned her head to tell her: “If you’re willing, shall I go ask Elder Sister Du for you? It’s much more convenient for me to visit the Du family.”

After all, with the title of the Empress’s grandniece, the Du family only wanted to curry favor with her. Her visiting the Du family was naturally extremely convenient.

What Lu Chonghua said made sense. The Du family’s young lady was indeed an intelligent person who saw the situation clearly, and moreover Miss Du’s interests didn’t align with the Du family’s. She smiled: “But I heard that the son born to Du Daye’s outside woman has already been given to Madam Du to raise?”

This was also why Song Chuyi hadn’t objected after Yin Yunduan notified the Earl’s wife to refuse this marriage match. Most women in the world were in weak positions, like Madam Du—having had no son for many years, unable to hold her head high in the Du family, and therefore suffering much grievance. But suffering was one thing—most women would rather suffer than separate, preferring to live on while compromising. If Du Daye was willing to let her live with dignity and even give her the son to raise, she would naturally be more than satisfied with this life.

And as a filial daughter, if Du Fangxi’s mother was doing well, naturally she wouldn’t develop any dissatisfied thoughts toward the Du family anymore.

Lu Chonghua shook her head: “You don’t know yet? After that outside woman went to Shuntian Prefecture to file a case, both Elder Du and Du Daye were impeached by the censors. This case was handed to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation. It seems the commotion was too great—the child lost his mother and couldn’t see his father, was so frightened he couldn’t sleep night after night. Madam Du took over his care.”

Song Chuyi then understood. Madam Du had naturally come up empty-handed again, getting nothing in the end. No wonder Du Fangxi wanted to seek another way out.

But Du Fangxi was truly too clever—when she wanted to find a way out, she only bit at the bait Madam Du extended, not at all afraid of being hooked and unable to break free.

Just not disdaining that Earl Guangen’s manor had already declined, knowing to have herself fulfilled through Lu Chonghua’s words, and smoothly establishing connections while not letting Madam Du and Elder Du feel she was disobedient or seeking another path—this cunning was already frightening.

Song Chuyi looked at Lu Chonghua, then thought of Du Fangxi. Fortunately these two young ladies had no designs on Zhou Weizhao. Otherwise, they would truly be headache-inducing existences.

Lu Chonghua had already spoken to this extent. Song Chuyi naturally wouldn’t fail to do this good deed of winning hearts that had been delivered to her door. She nodded: “I understand your meaning.”

Speaking to this point was enough. Lu Chonghua hummed in agreement, smilingly waved the fan in her hand, and spoke more idle gossip with Song Chuyi: “When I go to Zhangzhou, I’ll bring you back some novel curiosities. I heard they’re all things we don’t have in the Central Plains.”

Because of the earlier incident of the Crown Prince and Grand Heir being ambushed, to comfort people’s hearts, the Mid-Autumn banquet was held in an extremely warm and harmonious manner. The two of them speaking in whispers wasn’t particularly conspicuous. Song Chuyi couldn’t help but remind her: “Recently battle reports from the coast have been frequent. Even if you must go, wouldn’t it be better to wait until later?”

But Lu Chonghua wasn’t afraid in the slightest. She shook her head: “Though both my elder brother and mother remain in the capital, I won’t stay. Staying too long is a calamity.”

Song Chuyi immediately knew she was referring to Empress Dowager Lu. Though Empress Dowager Lu certainly relied on Zhou Weizhao, in her heart Song Chuyi was no longer the pleasing little girl who brought only benefits and no harm as in the beginning. She naturally wanted to place people she liked around Zhou Weizhao. And what candidate could be more suitable than Lu Chonghua?

Though Princess Rongcheng had repeatedly dissuaded her and this matter hadn’t been brought up again for the time being, there was no guarantee Empress Dowager Lu wouldn’t scheme in the future. Better to avoid it from afar now—never mind that she had no thoughts of opposing Song Chuyi and didn’t even like Zhou Weizhao. Even if she truly did, she absolutely wouldn’t be stuffed to Zhou Weizhao’s side in such a detestable manner.