An imperial commissioner was an imperial commissioner—never had anyone heard of a principal and deputy distinction. Moreover, Prince Dongping was after all a prince of noble rank, the Emperor’s own grandson. If disagreements arose, whose word would prevail—Cui Yingshu as the principal commissioner, or Prince Dongping as the deputy commissioner with his dragon and phoenix blood? Even though Cui Yingshu was always resourceful and adaptable, he couldn’t help but stand frozen in shock at Emperor Jianzhang’s inspired stroke.
Cui Yingshu thought for a long while, somewhat unable to figure it out. “This isn’t Prince Dongping deliberately arranging this for the Wei father and son, is it?”
Ever since the Crown Prince’s incident, this previously highly prominent youngest son of the Crown Prince had become extremely low-key, to the point where people almost forgot his existence. Why would he suddenly pop up again just when everyone was about to forget this person?
Song Chengru himself actually couldn’t quite understand it either, but understanding or not understanding was one thing while experience was another matter. After all, having clawed his way up through trials and tribulations, his analysis of such matters was always stronger than others. He stroked his beard and looked at Cui Yingshu. “I’m afraid it’s both. If His Majesty hadn’t permitted it, why would Prince Dongping become deputy commissioner? When all is said and done, it’s actually still that sentence I said before—with the Crown Prince and Prince Gong falling into misfortune together, the only one who benefits is His Highness the Grand Prince. It’s truly unavoidable that His Majesty would become suspicious of His Highness.”
There was no emperor who wasn’t overly suspicious. Now that his sons were finished one after another, instead it was the grandson generation beginning to emerge. Although Emperor Jianzhang had always doted on him, as an emperor, how could he not think more deeply about it?
Many things were fine when not pondered, but once pondered, there were always pieces of evidence to satisfy that bit of suspicion in one’s heart.
This was also the result they had anticipated when they agreed to let Song Chuyi expose the Crown Prince and Prince Gong’s affairs. Cui Yingshu made a gesture inviting Song Chengru to go ahead, following behind him. “Prince Dongping isn’t a muddleheaded person either.”
Growing up under Grand Consort Fan’s instruction, he couldn’t be muddleheaded. Moreover, just looking at the past—when Grand Consort Fan was still so arrogant and domineering, he still knew to cherish his reputation, never causing any bad reputation. When supervising and investigating Elder Chen and Yang Yunyong’s cases, he also performed quite properly, very much to Emperor Jianzhang’s satisfaction. This showed the person was no pushover.
Rather than going to Hubei with some ignorant pushover, Cui Yingshu preferred dealing with a clever person. After all, clever people knew how to calculate gains and losses—even for his own sake, to ensure Jiang Tianping would forever swallow the secret of the Wei father and son going to Hubei, Prince Dongping should know what to do.
Now, though Zhou Weizhao certainly feared that the Crown Prince still had matters that would displease Emperor Jianzhang being exposed, wasn’t Zhou Weiqi equally worried? When all was said and done, they were both the Crown Prince’s sons. If Emperor Jianzhang truly became utterly disappointed in the Crown Prince, even to the point of deposing the Crown Prince and Empress, then as the son the Crown Prince once most doted upon, his fate wouldn’t be any better than Zhou Weizhao’s—it might even be worse.
Therefore, after Cui Yingshu’s initial shock passed, he quickly accepted this reality. “His Majesty naturally has the intention of further reprimanding me, but since Prince Dongping could already handle the relationship between Yang Yunyong and Elder Chen’s matter with the Crown Prince, surely he won’t fail to know how to respond this time? As long as he’s not someone who doesn’t know what’s good for him, this is actually a good thing.”
Yes, indeed it was a good thing. On one hand, it could accord with Emperor Jianzhang’s wishes and set his mind at ease. On the other hand, Prince Dongping probably couldn’t wait to cooperate with him in dealing with Jiang Tianping and the Wei father and son’s matter, thoroughly sweeping away hidden dangers.
Song Chengru nodded. “As long as you have this understanding in your heart.”
Cui Yingshu knew what Song Chengru was worried about and advised him: “You needn’t worry either. As I said before, His Highness and Xiaoyi are both people with proper judgment. They know in their hearts what should be done.”
Since Zhou Weizhao could previously win Emperor Jianzhang’s favor through the Crown Prince’s rejection, naturally he could regain it anew in the future.
The evening banquet was completed with apparent harmony and great liveliness on the surface. After seeing off Cui Yingshu, Princess Duanhui, and the Yu family mother and daughter, with First Madam Song leading her daughters-in-law and grandsons withdrawing, only then did Old Madam Song look toward Song Chengru. “What happened during the feast?”
Everyone in the room was someone who could be consulted, so Old Master Song had nothing to hide. “His Majesty has issued an edict appointing Prince Dongping as deputy commissioner to assist Yingshu in going to Hubei together for disaster relief.”
Song Ren was somewhat surprised, then furrowed his brow. “Imperial commissioners are divided into principal and deputy? And the deputy commissioner’s identity is that of imperial noble blood—when these two commissioners have differing opinions, whose word prevails in the end?”
Did Emperor Jianzhang want Hubei to be well, or want Hubei to be unwell?
Song Chuyi’s reaction was much calmer than Song Ren’s. She lowered her head to look at the multicolored tassels hanging from her waist. “His Majesty wants to let His Highness know he still has other grandsons.”
Emperor Jianzhang had already separately warned Cui Yingshu and Song Chengru, who were about to become in-laws with the Grand Prince, and now was directly hinting to Zhou Weizhao through Prince Dongping.
It seemed he truly was quite shaken by the Crown Prince and Prince Gong’s affairs.
Song Chengru also looked directly at Song Chuyi. “What you say is correct. In His Majesty’s prime and vigor, he naturally isn’t pleased to see all advantages tilting toward one person.”
Even if that person was originally his intended heir—one mountain cannot contain two tigers. This was an unchanging law throughout the ages.
“However, this also isn’t a bad thing. After all, they’re both sons of the Eastern Palace. By elevating Prince Dongping, at least His Majesty has no intention of abolishing the Eastern Palace. And as long as the Eastern Palace isn’t abolished, His Highness the Grand Prince is always the legitimate heir. Occupying this legitimate status, as long as he doesn’t make missteps, there’s nothing to fear.” Song Chengru sighed. “It’s just that in the future, we should all be more restrained. Don’t create any more incidents.”
When in adversity, naturally one had to use any means necessary to climb out of adversity, even if the methods were somewhat intense. But once one gained the advantage, everything should be more moderate—leaving room for maneuver was the proper bearing one who accomplished great things should have.
Song Chuyi knew Song Chengru was admonishing her. She responded with a smile: “Grandfather, rest assured. I understand.”
Song Chengru couldn’t help but smile as well. Although he’d always felt that with Song Chuyi’s capabilities and her temperament of repaying every grievance, maintaining a low profile was truly very difficult—he’d even thought to have Old Madam Song advise Song Chuyi—in the end he wasn’t at ease. Now that Song Chuyi said this herself, he was completely reassured—what Song Chuyi said she would do, she had never failed to accomplish.
He nodded and patted Song Chuyi’s hair. “Since you say so, Grandfather can be at ease.”
Old Madam Song couldn’t help sighing. “It’s also fortunate we laid so much groundwork before. Otherwise, the situation would only be worse than now.”