When Song Chengru returned home, he first personally went to find Master Qingfeng. By seniority, Song Chengru, Master Qingfeng, and Tang Mingzhao were all of the same generation. However, ever since Song Chengru’s ancestors had the incident of fighting over inheritance and being demoted in rank, he became particularly mindful of power and influence, single-mindedly pushing his way upward. Naturally, he couldn’t compare with these two recluses who devoted themselves to scholarship. But though he couldn’t compare, Song Chengru had always greatly admired them. Though these two didn’t enter official service themselves, the disciples they taught could each and every one stand out.

At this moment, he went to Master Qingfeng’s courtyard and saw Master Qingfeng buried in a pile of books. He raised his eyebrows and asked: “Master, what are you doing?”

Master Qingfeng was already quite familiar with him. Being Song Yan’s master, he didn’t stand on much ceremony with Song Chengru. He lifted his head and nodded at him as acknowledgment: “Organizing these books properly so they won’t be eaten by insects later.”

He also invited Song Chengru to sit, then himself emerged from the book pile to sit across from Song Chengru and asked him: “Lord Song passed through safely, so why do you still look so worried?”

You see, this was why even Chief Minister Chang, after hearing news that Master Qingfeng was at the Song residence, had become much warmer toward Song Jue and Song Yan. With someone like Master Qingfeng—whose thoughts were as transparent and exquisite as Yang Xiu of Cao Wei—present, as long as they learned even one or two parts of his abilities without Yang Xiu’s self-important cleverness, these two young men’s futures would absolutely not be poor.

Song Chengru stroked his beard and sighed. There was nothing to hide from Master Qingfeng. Looking at Master Qingfeng’s otherworldly bearing, he said: “His Majesty seems to harbor dissatisfaction toward His Highness…”

Though Song Chuyi had already anticipated that Emperor Jianzhang now held Zhou Weizhao in suspicion, and Song Chengru had long been mentally prepared, when Emperor Jianzhang’s neither-cold-nor-warm words came down today, they truly left him somewhat dizzy and disoriented. The warning meaning was simply self-evident, and he was truly rather unsettled.

Master Qingfeng waved his hand, set down the teacup in his hand, glanced at him, and laughed with a snort: “Isn’t this a matter of course? In anyone’s position, no one would feel at ease allowing others to sleep soundly beside their bed. Why must Lord Song think so much at present? Didn’t His Majesty speak quite clearly? He wishes you to always maintain this caution.”

Master Qingfeng tapped the table before him: “His Highness also has this caution, and moreover allows you to have this caution. Isn’t that settled then?”

Song Chengru understood the logic himself, but whenever he thought about how his family had already placed all their bets on Zhou Weizhao, to say his heart was at peace would indeed be false—watching Zhou Weizhao’s circumstances, he truly worried greatly in his heart.

“Don’t worry that His Highness will anger His Majesty.” Master Qingfeng lowered his eyes and smiled: “This Highness is a clever person. At his age, few are this clever. Look at young Yan—though his natural gifts are outstanding, his experience is obviously insufficient. But this Highness is different. His thoughts are penetrating yet he can maintain his true nature—this is extremely rare. With this rationality present, he won’t be like the Crown Prince. Lord Song need not worry. In a few more years, there will be even less need to worry.”

Song Chengru always spoke just enough and stopped there. He sighed and said no more, then asked Master Qingfeng: “When will Master depart?”

“This is why I say Lord Song, you’re a clever person.” Master Qingfeng was already smiling: “Your Sixth Miss is also truly clever, but regarding young Yan, she still can’t bring herself to be ruthless. What’s the point of keeping a young man tied to one’s apron strings? I’ll take him to Hubei for a trip, then go directly from Hubei into Shu. In terms of experience, he’ll pass that test. After reading books for a few more years and returning to take the examinations, by that time the situation will have stabilized, and Crown Prince and his elder sister will precisely need people—how could there be no time for him to be useful? One must take a long-term view.”

Song Chengru deeply agreed. Both Cui Yingshu and Cui Shaoting, whom Master Qingfeng had guided, were so outstanding. For the final disciple he personally acknowledged, he would only be even more attentive in teaching. With this opportunity, Song Chengru naturally absolutely couldn’t miss it.

He spoke briefly with Master Qingfeng, then went to sit with Old Madam Song for a while.

Old Madam Song was just discussing with First Madam Song the red envelopes for those coming from the groom’s side to fetch the bride that day. For the Song family’s other young ladies’ weddings, there were precedents to follow, so the size of the red envelopes could be determined accordingly. But this time, calculating the Li family’s side including the matchmaker and go-between, there would actually be twenty-one people coming, inevitably requiring an increase in the number of carriages for seeing off the bride from the bride’s side as well.

After finishing these discussions, it was already nearly dinnertime. First Madam Song hurriedly rose to arrange the evening banquet—Cui Yingshu and his wife, along with Madam Yu, were all coming for dinner tonight. Though the dishes and such were already arranged, she still had to personally check again to feel at ease.

Song Chengru then told Old Madam Song about Emperor Jianzhang’s words today. They were an old married couple, and his old wife wasn’t someone without knowledge—there were no words that couldn’t be said.

After finishing, he shook his head: “There are still several years of days to endure ahead. I hope Xiaoyi will restrain that temperament of hers.”

Otherwise, if she continued to explode at the slightest touch like before, that would be no good thing. Calculating these years, thinking carefully, many matters were actually related to Song Chuyi—for instance, the Ninth Princess’s marriage alliance, Noble Consort Xian’s fall from favor—traces of Song Chuyi could be found in all of them.

Though strictly speaking, Song Chuyi never actively provoked anyone, and to outsiders it seemed even more unrelated to Song Chuyi, when things happened too often, it was still easy to make people weary.

Clearly, Emperor Jianzhang was now gradually beginning to grow weary.

This was precisely the time to conduct oneself with a low profile—they couldn’t stir up any more trouble, couldn’t stir up any more trouble… Song Chengru felt this was truly rather difficult for his overly clever granddaughter.

Yet Old Madam Song appeared much more open-minded than him. She wasn’t worried in the slightest: “Xiaoyi is a clever child. When to relax and when to be cautious, she knows in her heart.”

Otherwise, Song Chuyi wouldn’t have told Yin Yunduan to return home and have Countess Guangen agree to Madam Du’s matter. In the past, how could Song Chuyi tolerate having such a thorn by her side? Wasn’t it because she knew times were different now? Previously, with crises lurking everywhere and being so young, where could she spare the attention to care about reputation or not? Now that the road had been mostly paved, naturally she knew the principle of stopping to rest for a while.

Old Madam Song had always unconditionally trusted her granddaughter. Fortunately, Song Chuyi had never disappointed her. Song Chengru worried once, and hearing Old Madam Song speak thus, could only let it rest for now. Yet he still instructed Old Madam Song to carefully explain things to Song Chuyi in detail. Song Chuyi was naturally clever, but sometimes even the cleverest people had their tempers, and once temper flared up, whether clever or not, it might not necessarily be of use.