The moon reached its zenith in the sky. A slightly cool breeze blew through the window, stirring the bed curtains. The bells beneath the door curtain swayed gently—the atmosphere was rarely this peaceful. Old Madam Song’s face bore a smile, though tears glistened in her eyes. She pulled Song Chuyi into her embrace, just as she had in her helpless and dependent sixth year, firmly drawing her into her arms and patting her back.

“Xiaoyi, you must live well in the days to come.” She pulled Song Chuyi away slightly, gazing kindly into her eyes. “Some words may be unpleasant to hear, and you may not listen to them now. But Grandmother still must tell you.”

The days of her previous life’s utter defeat grew increasingly distant. Many memories in her mind had already blurred. Much of the time, the inhuman torments she’d suffered in her past life seemed like a dream, hazily unclear.

But there were many things she could never forget, things carved into her bones—like her grandmother’s and father’s cold, stern expressions when she married in her previous life. At the time, she had still been immersed in her overwhelming adoration for Shen Qingrang, not thinking any of this mattered much, only feeling that for Shen Qingrang, for the love she yearned for, she could abandon anything, nothing else was important.

Later she tossed and turned in anguish. Later she fell hard. Finally, amid the coldness of human nature, she understood her grandmother’s frustration at her failure to meet expectations.

Looking at the stack of banknotes beneath the list, her eyes were already brimming with tears.

Old Madam Song just smiled. “Silly child, why cry? What’s there to cry about?” She carefully wiped away Song Chuyi’s tears with her handkerchief. “I won’t repeat what I’ve said before. Your aunt’s and your mother’s examples are right there. You’re a clever child. They both lived poorly—don’t learn from them.”

“I know His Highness the Grand Prince likes you, likes you very much.” Old Madam Song sighed. “But the days ahead are still long, and his status is too special. Xiaoyi, you cannot expect him to only like you. Perhaps right now he only likes you, but in the future, he’ll still meet countless young ladies. Countless people will want to send young ladies to his side…”

Old Madam Song hadn’t wanted to throw this cold water on Song Chuyi, but she understood too well what kind of person Song Chuyi was. With some reluctance, seeing Song Chuyi’s tightly pressed lips, she steeled her heart and patted her hand. “Think about your mother. Placing all one’s joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness on a single man is an extremely frightening thing. Your mother and your aunt were both like this—that’s why they couldn’t go on living after their hopes were shattered.”

“Were they pitiful? Naturally they were pitiful.” Old Madam Song’s final words were decisive. “But in my view, life is far from reaching the point where one cannot survive without a man. Your mother and aunt believed they’d suffered the greatest injustices under heaven, but why didn’t they think—they still had children, they still had white-haired parents? Thinking only of their own grievances, not thinking how pitiable and helpless their fatherless children were, not thinking how desperate parents burying their children felt—would you say they showed admirable courage for true love? No, I think it was extreme foolishness! Xiaoyi, you are a fortunate person.”

Since she was a fortunate person, she shouldn’t demand even more.

Song Chuyi’s hand holding the box trembled slightly. After a long while, she finally responded with a yes.

After talking with Old Madam Song for half the night, Song Chuyi was somewhat lacking in spirit the next day.

Zhou Weizhao’s eyes narrowed slightly. He reached out to check her forehead temperature, and she involuntarily took a step back.

Qing Zhuo was keeping his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, running errands for the two of them—Song Chuyi loved best the crab roe pastries made personally by the head chef at Chongyin Workshop. He knew very well how to maintain good relations with the future Grand Princess, unlike Han Feng who was rather foolish.

With Song Chuyi’s step backward, she accidentally stepped on his foot. He looked up in surprise at his Highness’s expression, then at Song Chuyi’s expression, and with nervous laughter quickly went out the door.

Han Feng was bumped into by him and stumbled. Irritated, he grabbed him. “Where are you rushing off to?!”

Qing Zhuo’s eyes rolled in a circle as he pulled Han Feng aside. “Sixth Miss doesn’t look very happy. I thought I should let His Highness coax her. If I stayed, His Highness definitely couldn’t bring himself to, so I just came out.”

Oh. Han Feng glanced at him and slowly moved aside. His Highness was indeed thin-skinned. Better wait until he’d coaxed Miss Song Sixth before going back in.

Zhou Weizhao’s hand paused slightly, as if not noticing her avoidance. Dimples appeared on his cheeks as he sat down and poured Song Chuyi a cup of tea. “Yesterday I went to see Imperial Grandfather.”

At the mention of serious business, Song Chuyi’s previously distracted manner immediately disappeared, replaced by obvious gravity. She frowned as she looked at him. “What did His Majesty tell you?”

“About Uncle Prince Gong.” Zhou Weizhao stared intently at her. “Imperial Grandfather told me that Uncle Prince Gong privately schemed against the Heir of Marquis Guangping and ran away himself. He also told me that he’s already had Lai Chenglong investigate secretly.”

Emperor Jianzhang’s dream of being a loving father had shattered. The one who gained benefits instead was Zhou Weizhao. Previously, for the sake of Prince Gong and others, and for Dongping and Zhou Weiyun and the rest, he’d had to restrict Zhou Weizhao. But now Prince Gong had ruthlessly slapped his face. Naturally he wouldn’t consider Prince Gong anymore—not only would he not consider him, Prince Gong had now practically become his mortal worry. Counting up several generations, the old Zhou family had never produced such a thing. If Prince Gong truly survived and rebelled, then Emperor Jianzhang as the biological father would become the first emperor of Great Zhou to be fooled by his son and forced off the throne by his son. He couldn’t afford to lose this much face.

Song Chuyi nodded, revealing a somewhat mocking smile. “His Majesty is wise and sage.”

“He’s already had the Prince of Zhennan take the Vice Minister of Personnel to replace officials throughout Jin region anew. He’s also had the Prince of Zhennan take over his fifty-nine thousand-plus guards.” Zhou Weizhao remained composed. Seeing Song Chuyi’s brows relax slightly, he immediately continued, “Whatever he wants to do, lacking over fifty thousand guards, he won’t be able to accomplish anything major.”

That’s why Emperor Jianzhang used the story of Prince Gong being kidnapped by bandits. As long as he remained alive, Prince Gong would never be able to act with proper justification. The Prince of Zhennan taking over these fifty-thousand-plus guards was also justified and proper.

Song Chuyi sighed. “I fear Prince Gong still has another escape route.”

Otherwise how would he have such audacity to burn his bridges?

She vaguely felt Prince Gong’s escape route couldn’t be separated from Han Zhengqing. She couldn’t help reminding Zhou Weizhao, “Actually, regarding the Marquis of Jinxiang’s matter, perhaps we could find an appropriate opportunity to mention it to His Majesty. Everything fears the one-in-ten-thousand chance. Though the Imperial Guard naturally handles matters properly, and Lai Chenglong having received His Majesty’s orders will naturally do his utmost, it’s still that old saying—what if Prince Gong truly finds a loophole?”