She had just said they shouldn’t harbor mutual hatred toward each other, and that as long as nothing had come of it, they could part ways and be done with it. She hadn’t expected that they would turn around and send her such an unexpectedly grand gift.

It must be because she had treated them far too well, so they had forgotten the words she had spoken when she first kept them on.

She had said that she was their mistress. She had always remembered it, but they had all forgotten.

They were Zhou Weizhao’s people. Old Master Song was somewhat surprised: “People given by His Highness, how could they…”

Song Yan immediately interjected with a cold snort: “The snake trying to swallow the elephant—insatiable greed. They were originally given to brother-in-law by the Heavenly Master’s wife from Longhu Mountain. Brother-in-law didn’t want them, so he turned around and gave them to Elder Sister to serve her. Later, during that incident on Zhuque Street, Qing Zhuo overheard the two of them complaining because brother-in-law was too devoted to Elder Sister, and told brother-in-law about it. Brother-in-law took them both away.”

Qing Zhuo had always been eager to ensure that everything his own master did for Miss Song Six reached the Sixth Miss’s ears. He had repeated it again and again to Song Yan, wanting Song Yan to know just how good this future brother-in-law was to Miss Song Six.

Old Madam Song understood as soon as she heard: “Ridiculous.”

Song Jue’s brow was covered with a layer of frost. He straightened his robes and stood up: “Since it’s them, I’ll go ask His Highness exactly where those two were sent off to.”

Only by knowing where they were sent could they follow the vine to find the melon and investigate exactly who they had gotten entangled with—and those who would use the hot spring villa to cause trouble, aside from Prince Gong, he really couldn’t think of anyone else.

Previously they had said there was Prince Gong’s spy within the Imperial Guard. Now it seemed that it wasn’t only the Imperial Guard.

However, he was also somewhat confused: “Even if Prince Gong uses this to attack Xiaoyi as the Lone Star of Heavenly Calamity, what use is it? What exactly does he want to accomplish?”

By rights, the Song family should never be a target worthy of Prince Gong’s hatred. Given his current predicament, shouldn’t he most hate the Empress and Emperor Jianzhang right now? Even if not them, shouldn’t it be Crown Princess Lu and Zhou Weizhao? Why would he target Song Chuyi’s reputation?

Such an antiquated trick had already been used by Master Yuanhui back then, and facts had proven it was fundamentally useless.

But Prince Gong wasn’t a fool. If he was doing this, naturally he had his reasons for doing so.

Old Madam Song was also somewhat puzzled: “Right now the marriage is just one step away from completion. No matter how they cause trouble, this is a marriage whose eight characters have been matched by the Imperial Observatory and already reported to the Imperial Ancestral Temple—it won’t fail midway. The Imperial Family can’t afford to lose that face! But since even we can think of this, there’s no reason Prince Gong couldn’t think of it. What exactly does he want to accomplish?”

“They’re probably not targeting me.” Song Chuyi flicked away a petal that had drifted onto her skirt from the flowerpot on the table, her eyes darkening: “Grandfather, do you still remember how the last emperor of the previous dynasty lost his kingdom?”

Old Master Song’s brow twitched heavily. How could he possibly not remember? Before the last emperor lost his kingdom, strange omens appeared throughout various regions, including one particular incident—the imperial mausoleum of the previous dynasty experienced earth tremors, which people took as an inauspicious omen.

Then the founding Emperor of this dynasty rose up in rebellion, crusading against the last emperor’s incompetence and immorality.

If this matter was truly related to Prince Gong, then this incident was merely a beginning.

Old Master Song’s expression suddenly changed. He looked at Song Chuyi, his demeanor dark and inscrutable. After a long while, he finally asked: “You think Prince Gong is imitating the Founding Emperor?”

Spreading rumors everywhere, disturbing the people’s hearts, creating all sorts of strange phenomena, first winning people’s hearts through public opinion?

Song Chengru was shocked and alarmed, and for once, anger and astonishment appeared on his usually impassive face.

Song Jue and Song Yan exchanged glances, both feeling their scalps tingle.

Song Yan was the first to speak: “Should we investigate the source of the rumors?”

These kinds of rumors that needed deliberate spreading always required someone to exaggerate and promote them, so they weren’t impossible to trace. For instance, last time when Madam Wei was spreading rumors about Song Chuyi’s fate, they caught her by staking out the teahouse.

Song Jue shook his head, his voice somewhat low: “I’m afraid it’s useless. This incident occurred at the hot spring villa. The commotion was so great at the time, I heard that officials from several surrounding counties went to help. Even though the imperial mausoleum has heavy troop protection, they can’t control those craftsmen’s mouths. Once it spreads from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, there’s no need for the mastermind to deliberately send people to promote it—those busybody common people can already vividly fabricate an entire story.”

It was unlikely they could make progress from that angle. Song Jue narrowed his eyes: “Better to first go ask His Highness exactly where those two people were sent. Find them first.”

It seemed this was the only method for now. The feeling of being splashed with dirty water was truly terrible. Song Chengru glanced at Song Chuyi, his complexion iron-blue—he was thinking even more seriously than Song Jue and Song Chuyi. Prince Gong had gone through such painstaking effort to do all this, fearing that using the Song family was merely an opening move. But using the Song family for this opening move was already terrifying enough.

A moment later he recovered—regardless, properly handling the upcoming grand wedding ceremony was the priority. As for other matters, they could only investigate slowly.

He nodded at Song Jue: “Brother Jue, go and ask. As for the other people in Xiaoyi’s quarters…” He glanced at Song Chuyi: “Although you trust them, it’s never wrong to be extra cautious in all matters. Keep a closer eye on things.”

Song Chengru emphasized his tone again, looking toward Old Madam Song: “Instruct the eldest daughter-in-law that when hosting the banquet at home, she must be cautious and then more cautious.”

On that day, according to custom, Zhou Weizhao would also be taking the noon banquet together at the bride’s family home. If some other incident were to occur, everything would truly be finished.

Old Madam Song didn’t need his reminder—she had already raised her vigilance to the utmost. Her previously relaxed mood instantly plummeted to rock bottom. There were so many people, both openly and covertly, who wanted Prince Gong’s life, and the arrangements could be considered thorough. Yet even at such a tense time when every rumor caused alarm, Prince Gong could still exert such tremendous power and accomplish so many things.

She couldn’t help but break out in goosebumps all over. She lowered her voice and asked Old Master Song: “Wasn’t it said before that Elder Du had already pointed out the path to His Majesty, and quite a number of people were arrested?”

Song Chengru’s expression became even more severe: “There are always fish that slip through the net.”

However, it didn’t matter. Since there had been action, there would always be traces left behind. Song Chengru snorted coldly, pressed his lips together, and looked at Song Chuyi: “I’ll go discuss this with Chief Minister Chang.”

Song Chuyi furrowed her brow: “Grandfather’s meaning is to have the Chief Minister publicly refute the rumors?”

“No.” Song Chengru shook his head: “Rumors are such that the more you try to stop them, the more people think there’s truth to them. Moreover, right now we don’t know where their follow-up move is. Countering rashly and countering incorrectly would be problematic too. I plan to use Chief Minister Chang’s name to deploy Imperial Guards to protect the Earl’s mansion’s security.”

After all, this was the grand wedding of this dynasty’s Crown Prince’s grandson and his consort. All the guests attending would be either wealthy or noble. If any incident were to occur…