The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 137 - Covert Battle

After mentally running through every angle, Ye Jingchuan gradually began piecing things together, his initial shock settling into a more composed expression. "So, you're saying Han Zhi has now figured out that it was Sixth Miss Song behind it?"

If so, this could spell serious trouble. While he hadn't interacted much with Han Zhi over the past two years, he'd heard plenty of his reputation—cold-hearted to the extreme. It was rumored that when the Zhang family faced misfortune, Han Zhi didn't even bother with appearances; he directly ordered his people to break off the engagement, driving the Zhang family's young lady to her death.

Such a ruthless, vengeful man wasn't likely to forgive Song Chuyi for killing those close to him, especially when he'd been a target of public gossip for over two years because of it. There was no way he'd let her off easily.

And it was clear now that Sixth Miss Song had handled this independently, without the knowledge of her family elders. If Old Master or Old Lady Song had known, Sixth Miss Song wouldn't be in such a vulnerable position now. This only made the situation more precarious—who knew what extremes that lunatic Han Zhi might go to?

"He's always suspected Sixth Miss Song," Zhou Weizhao replied succinctly, explaining the events that had transpired at the Huangxian Temple. "She reached out to me because she's lost contact with Ma Yongfu's group and needs my help."

"Over half a month with no word?" Ye Jingchuan exclaimed, slamming his palm on the table. "But as soon as you got involved, you found them! I thought that man who just left looked familiar, and now that I think about it, wasn't he the one who once bled a lamb with one hand at the Cui residence? As long as Han Zhi hasn't gotten to them, it's fine. He can suspect all he wants, but without proof, he wouldn't dare touch a young lady of the esteemed Changning Marquis Estate, would he?"

"Just because Song Chuyi knows how to send people to do her dirty work doesn't mean Han Zhi doesn't know how to do the same," Zhou Weizhao said, lifting his eyes to glance at Ye Jingchuan. "If he gets the chance, she might not even know what hit her."

He continued, "Don't celebrate just yet. The man who came just now is Ma San, the leader of this group. He told me they can't find Ma Wangkun. And from what they've observed, it's highly likely Ma Wangkun was captured when he returned to the Huangxian Temple area to gather information."

If Han Zhi had indeed captured him, things could get complicated.

Ye Jingchuan shot up from his seat. "I'll go check out the place you mentioned."

"No need. We already have confirmation from the area." Zhou Weizhao slid a letter across the table. "Han Zhi did capture someone there and even made a show of it, using excessive force and causing enough commotion for everyone to know he caught someone."

He's trying to lure us in? Ye Jingchuan immediately understood, exclaiming, "He's setting a trap! We absolutely can't try to rescue him; that'd just play right into Han Zhi's hands. That guy is so secretive. Just last time at his Tongzhou estate, he scared her so badly she ended up with a fever..."

Zhou Weizhao raised an eyebrow, surprised—there was actually something in this world that could scare her so badly? And to such an extent? He recalled how determined she was to ruin Han Zhi, to the point of risking her life, and thought perhaps it wasn't only because of Eight Miss Song.

"Whether or not to rescue him isn't our decision to make. Since she only asked me to investigate, that's all I'll do," Zhou Weizhao replied with a thoughtful look. "If you're free, why don't you drop by the Song Estate? After all, you're always bouncing around doing nothing; Han Zhi won't keep tabs on you. Go in and tell her that one of her people has been captured. She'll decide what to do."

Song Chuyi was always careful when asking for help, never causing trouble for others. Since she only asked Zhou Weizhao to find someone, that's all he intended to do—nothing more. The young girl had become exceedingly sharp, often hinting at seven or eight things with a single sentence. Given her own plans were unknown, doing nothing was often the most helpful action.

Ye Jingchuan, however, was still somewhat bewildered and glared at Zhou Weizhao. "That's cold-hearted of you! She's stuck in her quarters without any help, and all you do is tell her someone's been captured? Isn't that like leaving her to wander around like a headless chicken? Why not just rescue the man outright?"

Zhou Weizhao sighed. "If she were truly that helpless, she wouldn't have thought of finding me. Think about it—she has plenty of ways to contact me, but why choose such a roundabout method through you?"

Ye Jingchuan scratched his head, a little confused.

"They're probably already in a hidden battle. Yet you still think Sixth Miss Song is some helpless headless chicken." Zhou Weizhao handed him a stack of papers. "The only reason she even asked me for help was because I live next door, so it's easier to overhear things. As for Han Zhi, she's likely already making her move against him. Relax, there's no need for you to worry."

Ye Jingchuan grudgingly agreed, knowing Zhou Weizhao was right. Zhou Weizhao had never been wrong about Sixth Miss Song's abilities. Frustrated, he still muttered, "How can you be so sure? It's not like you can read her mind."

Unlike ordinary people, Zhou Weizhao seemed to carry a different kind of calm, almost as if nothing could ruffle him. Even as Consort Fan stirred up trouble between the Crown Prince and Prince Gong, causing Zhennan King, Ye Jingchuan's own father, concern for Zhou Weizhao's future, Zhou Weizhao acted as though it didn't matter at all.

Ye Jingchuan, still agitated, warned him, "Just don't underestimate them. Who's to say they won't try to do the same thing again, like when they sent you to Mount Longhu all those years ago? The Emperor's getting older... you really should consider your future."

The Eastern Palace had become a cauldron of hidden tensions. Consort Fan's ambitions were never small; after seizing control in Yangzhou, her sights would likely turn toward the Crown Princess and Zhou Weizhao. And the Crown Prince—hardly the most discerning man—even made the Crown Princess beg the Emperor and Empress to send Zhou Weizhao to Mount Longhu. Although much had changed since then and Zhou Weizhao's position was now established, the Crown Prince's deep favor for Consort Fan and her son, Zhou Weiqi, left their futures precarious.