Ye Jingchuan knew this person Sun Ergou—he had encountered all of Song Chuyi’s capable subordinates. Thinking that he hadn’t seen Sun Ergou for quite some time, he couldn’t hide his shock, looking at Song Chuyi and then at Zhou Weizhao: “You two, this is…?”

To actually have Sun Ergou infiltrate the pirates and become a pirate himself—Ye Jingchuan thought of how his father and elder brother had always spoken of an inevitable battle with the Japanese pirates, clenched his fist, and seemed to gain some understanding.

Song Chuyi had already lowered her voice and smiled at him: “Sun Ergou is a clever person. When the time is ripe, he’ll naturally come find you. Lord Guo also knows his identity. If you have any news of him, please be sure to notify me.”

Naturally Ye Jingchuan had no reason to refuse. He nodded, finally looked them over once more in a circle, then leaped onto his horse and galloped away.

After returning to the city, they heard news that Cui Yingshu, Vice Minister of Works and Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Insignia, had been appointed as Imperial Commissioner and would depart immediately for Hubei to strictly investigate Provincial Governor Jiang Tianping’s concealment of disaster reports and burning of commoners.

Zhou Weizhao couldn’t help but sigh: “Originally I should have gone, but now Uncle is going and must shoulder yet another risk.”

Since Jiang Tianping had dared to conceal disaster reports and even imprison Chen Tao and the Censorate official, and having heard that Wang Yu had already reported the Hubei matters to the Emperor, he certainly wouldn’t be willing to sit and await his doom. Cui Yingshu was the Imperial Commissioner with the authority to act first and report later. Upon arrival, naturally the first thing would be to prosecute Jiang Tianping, lest he say things he shouldn’t say.

Zhou Weizhao’s voice couldn’t help but lower further: “He’s left behind so many messes, all of which we must clean up.”

The Crown Prince was truly too skilled at causing problems. Often, just as they finished patching up one hole on this side, a hole he’d already poked on that side would collapse again, requiring more patching. Zhou Weizhao was truly exhausted from rushing about: “What a pity it cannot be avoided.”

Being in this position, as the legitimate son of the Eastern Palace, his status destined him to have no choice but to compete. Otherwise, whether it was Prince Gong or his younger brother Prince Dongping who ascended, he would have only one outcome.

He grasped Song Chuyi’s hand, his tone containing a trace of imperceptible weariness: “Xiaoyi, aren’t you tired?”

Zhou Weizhao rarely spoke such dispirited words or displayed such a dejected attitude. Song Chuyi knew that the Crown Prince’s previous attempt at assassination had ultimately affected Zhou Weizhao—any human being couldn’t possibly remain unmoved. Back when Song Yi favored Song Chuning and trusted her wholeheartedly, that taste of heartbreak and disappointment had always remained etched in her memory. Even though much time had passed and Song Yi had later realized his mistake, when she occasionally recalled it, she still felt unwilling to accept it and found it difficult to be at peace.

She supported Zhou Weizhao’s hand as she descended from the carriage. Seeing that Ma Wangkun and Ma Yongfu had already come forward, she gave them a smile and instructed them to investigate the Du family matter for her, then sat with Zhou Weizhao in the pavilion and curved her eyes toward him: “Tired? Even if I don’t go looking for trouble, trouble constantly comes looking for me. Thinking carefully about it, naturally I’m tired.”

“But speaking of which, in my dream, I didn’t even have the opportunity to be tired.” Song Chuyi reached out to pour him a cup of tea, looking frankly at him: “In my dream, you also didn’t have the opportunity to be tired. At least now we still have the strength to fight back. In this lifetime, there’s probably no one who isn’t tired. But at the same time, there are many things worth being tired for—for instance, the Crown Princess, for instance my younger brother, for instance ourselves. I always feel that everything Heaven bestows upon us has a price. Since we’ve already obtained these things, we shouldn’t demand more. Look, even His Majesty, honored as the sovereign, doesn’t he likewise have plenty of things that tire him?”

When Song Chuyi spoke, she always sounded old beyond her years, not at all like a young girl. If she were a normal young girl, how could she say such things at this moment? Zhou Weizhao looked at her and suddenly smiled, involuntarily reaching out to pinch her cheek—he used to always pinch his cat like this.

Having lived two lifetimes, Song Chuyi had never had anyone pinch her cheeks with such an intimate gesture. For a moment she was somewhat dumbfounded.

Zhou Weizhao thus smiled even more happily, feeling the gloom in his heart swept completely away, even his voice tinged with joy: “Yes, you’re right. I retrieved a life, and I still have Mother and you. Even if it’s tiring, it’s a sweet burden.”

He swept away his previous dejection and continued reaching out to pinch Song Chuyi’s other cheek, unable to help sighing.

How truly strange—he had just been perfectly happy, and in the blink of an eye his expression changed again. Wasn’t it said that only women’s faces were like June weather, changing at a moment’s notice? How did Zhou Weizhao also have this problem? Song Chuyi couldn’t quite understand.

Zhou Weizhao stroked his chin and asked her: “What date is it today?”

“The sixteenth of the eighth month.” Song Chuyi raised her head to look at him: “Such a major incident just happened yesterday—how can you not even remember the date clearly?”

Zhou Weizhao thus made a distressed expression: “It’s precisely because I remember clearly that I’m anxious. When will the sixth of the tenth month arrive?”

Song Chuyi’s face immediately flushed bright red, like peach blossoms on trees in early spring, pink and tender, fresh and radiant.

Zhou Weizhao knew when to stop and didn’t tease her further, instead turning to speak with her about proper matters: “Having Ma Wangkun and the others investigate the Du family matter—do you find Chonghua’s words credible?”

Lu Chonghua wasn’t stupid. Having told this matter to Song Chuyi, she naturally also had to mention it to Zhou Weizhao. Otherwise, if Song Chuyi failed to accomplish it later, or if the matter ultimately didn’t turn out satisfactorily, wouldn’t it appear that she had sabotaged things through meddling?

Song Chuyi brushed back the loose hair by her ear. Her face was still somewhat red. After remaining quiet for a moment, she nodded: “If it’s truly as Chonghua said, then this Miss Du is actually quite a good person. In any case, my family’s elder brother also needs to marry—who he marries makes no difference, doesn’t it? With the Guangen Earl Manor’s current status, being able to marry the legitimate eldest daughter of an Elder’s family would truly be marrying up. If she can establish herself…”

The implication was that if Du Fangxi could truly establish herself and become close to the Song family, she would naturally be happy to facilitate this matter.

“Previously everyone only remembered my fate configuration. Although Master Yuanhui and others were suppressed, actually regarding such matters, who wouldn’t think about them more in their hearts?” Song Chuyi gently shook her head: “Since Madam Du has the intention to use this matter to grow close to me, I naturally couldn’t ask for more. With Madam Du leading the way, in the future my reputation will presumably improve considerably. As for Miss Du, she should know that her ability to escape the Du family doesn’t rely on Madam Du’s kindness, but rather on my fulfillment of her wish.”

Killing two birds with one stone—on the surface accepting Madam Du’s goodwill and setting Madam Du’s heart at ease, while also borrowing Madam Du’s hand in the future to win people’s hearts, and simultaneously fulfilling Du Fangxi’s wishes, allowing her to achieve her heart’s desire while laying the groundwork for dealing with the Du family in the future.

Zhou Weizhao didn’t feel there was anything wrong with his fiancée’s deep scheming. Only with deep schemes could one protect oneself.