Colluding with the enemy, betraying the nation—these were the two things Emperor Jianzhang hated most. Touch them and death was certain.
This young lady from the Earl of Changning’s estate, only eight years old, yet knew how to strike a fatal blow, leaving absolutely no escape route for others.
Zhou Weizhao suddenly raised the bamboo tube in his hand. The ink monkey that had been clinging to the pen holder with its round eyes darting about cleverly scurried back inside in a flash.
“After the incident with Qi Shengyuan last time, I found it strange why the Earl would have such a young girl like you undertake such a major task. Now it seems he truly has a discerning eye for talent.” Zhou Weizhao set the bamboo tube upright on the desk. “However, I find it somewhat peculiar—you seem to be clever in a way that’s rather astonishing.”
Song Chengru and Old Madam Song had both said that excessive intelligence bordering on the supernatural, for a young girl with insufficient age and experience, could bring fortune or disaster in unpredictable measure.
Song Chuyi kept her head lowered without answering.
“Some secrets that even the Imperial Guard might have difficulty uncovering, you seem to have at your fingertips, reciting them like a family treasure. Moreover, without restriction of time or place. Could it truly be because Heaven treats you with special favor?” Zhou Weizhao looked straight at her, his gaze containing a hint of inquiry. “Or is it that the old Earl and Old Madam Song truly devoted all their efforts to teaching you?”
Song Chuyi waved her hand, signaling Qing Tao and Hong Yu to withdraw, then turned to look at Zhou Weizhao herself.
“I heard that the Grand Prince stayed at Longhu Mountain for a full seven years. I wonder if during those seven years, Your Highness heard any strange tales or unusual accounts?” Song Chuyi walked unhurriedly to his desk, facing his eyes directly with frank fearlessness. “I encountered just such strange occurrences.”
Yes, no matter how clever one was, there were many things that cleverness alone couldn’t explain—such as knowing about personnel appointments far away at the border passes. Some matters even Song Chengru probably didn’t know. Yet she knew them, which would indeed arouse suspicion in the future.
Zhou Weizhao watched her with interest for a long while, then nodded with a smile. “Tell me about it.”
“I had a dream.” After deliberating for a long time, Song Chuyi recounted the events of her previous life, mixing truth with fiction, then curved the corners of her mouth. “That’s how it is. Your Highness guessed correctly—no one is born knowing all matters under heaven. I merely benefited from the light of that dream.”
She was smiling, yet not necessarily happy. Just now, a flash of sadness in her eyes was followed by relief.
Such complex emotions, like that somewhat frightening intelligence, should not belong to a young girl.
Zhou Weizhao suddenly extended the bamboo tube in his hand toward Song Chuyi. “I’ll give you this little trinket.”
Ink monkeys were already rare, worth a thousand gold pieces and difficult to acquire, yet he gave it as casually as if presenting a common white rabbit.
Song Chuyi hesitated without reaching to accept it.
“Don’t worry, I’m not charging you extra.” Zhou Weizhao pushed it forward again, seeming to be in excellent spirits. “As for the dream you just mentioned, I believe it.”
Finally receiving a definitive statement from this difficult master, Song Chuyi breathed a sigh of relief and reached out to accept the bamboo tube.
“Good, now let’s continue discussing this Tatar raid incident.” Zhou Weizhao sat leisurely in his chair, looking at Song Chuyi across the desk. “Xingfu has operated in the court for many years, and with Prince Duan’s assistance, has considerable influence. Relying solely on this godson Inspector won’t be enough to bring him down. Do you have other backup plans?”
This was also why Prince Duan could so easily gain approval last time for increasing his household guards and budget, and was later his support for smoothly leaving the capital to return to his fief.
After all, Xingfu was a favored person before His Majesty, enjoying great trust from the Emperor.
Song Chuyi lowered her head as if contemplating for a moment, then revealed a confident smile.
Whenever she smiled, she would reveal two small dimples beside her cheeks, accompanied by her pointed little canine teeth, adding a few touches of youthful charm.
“This Inspector is not a person of high moral character. Since he could attach himself to Xingfu for power and position, naturally he could also attach himself to others to save his life. As for Xingfu, holding the Directorate of Ceremonial, his daily crimes are too numerous to record. Your Highness need only find the most fatal point—that will be sufficient. Moreover, in my dream I obtained another piece of information: Xingfu has maintained correspondence with the Tatar Grand Preceptor. If these letters could be brought to light, even immortals couldn’t save him.”
She was smiling, yet everything she said was about delivering fatal blows.
Zhou Weizhao finally felt his intuition was absurdly accurate. It seemed his master wasn’t entirely deceiving him after all. He had known this Sixth Miss was quite extraordinary, and now seeing her, it was indeed the case.
“After all, he’s followed Imperial Grandfather for decades, and Imperial Grandfather is someone who values old sentiments. What if afterward he remembers his good points—” Zhou Weizhao tapped his fingers on the table. “Wouldn’t that be troublesome?”
“I wonder if Your Highness still remembers that Miss Chen from last night?” Song Chuyi played her final card. “She is the legitimate granddaughter of the Second Grand Secretary, and together with her brother, she nearly died at the hands of Tatar raiders at the villa. Last night I already revealed to her about the album drawn by that Inspector. I believe Elder Chen will have his own judgment.”
Elder Chen supervised the Censorate. When the time came, the swarm of Censors would drown Xingfu in their criticism. Even if His Majesty ultimately spared his life out of old sentiment, he could no longer remain safe and sound.
Thinking things through so thoroughly, no wonder she could negotiate terms with Ye Jingchuan, making him willingly agree to run errands and save people for her.
Zhou Weizhao nodded, then turned to discuss Song Chuyi’s matters. “Since the person you’re saving must hide from your family elders, it shows your household isn’t necessarily as harmonious as it appears. Seeing that you already conduct yourself much more freely than other young ladies from inner chambers, this indicates your old master and mistress should value you greatly. How is it you still have matters to conceal from them?”
“This is precisely what I need Your Highness’s help with.” Song Chuyi’s words were exceptionally brief, yet their meaning was very clear. “Because of having such a peculiar dream, I also know many secrets from the inner chambers. Since Your Highness understands me so well, you should also know I have a stepmother, correct?”
Many things need not be said explicitly—hinting was sufficient.
Among the stepmothers in the capital, Lady Li’s reputation had always been first-rate. Yet it turned out there were also secrets within, not fit to share with outsiders.
So the claim that her grandmother favored her and personally kept her by her side to raise—perhaps that didn’t quite match reality after all.
The window was blown back and forth by the whistling wind. Qing Tao and Hong Yu had already anxiously knocked on the door several times.
Having reached this point in the conversation, Zhou Weizhao summoned them in.
“Miss, Nanny Xu came to say the Prince Consort and the Young Master are looking for you.” Hong Yu read the situation carefully. Seeing Zhou Weizhao’s expression held nothing unusual, her own manner relaxed considerably compared to earlier.
Song Chuyi thus took her leave of Zhou Weizhao. As she emerged, she saw the young Daoist who had earlier led the way swiftly gliding into the room.
Faintly, she heard him mention something about Tatar raiders gathering.
Someone had probably heard the news and wanted to catch everyone here—Ye Jingchuan and even Zhou Weizhao—in one fell swoop.
Not knowing whether this matter was related to Song Ren and Song Jue seeking her out, Song Chuyi didn’t dare delay. She went directly to the flower hall to see Song Ren.