The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 167 - Reassured

If he had once hesitated about taking on this case, Song Chengru now felt completely at ease. The focus had shifted entirely. Emperor Jianzhang's attention was no longer on whether the Crown Prince had plotted against his brothers but solely on Prince Duan.

To be able to manipulate both the southern and northern trade routes, exert power over Zhangzhou, and demand exponentially increasing military funds every year—what was he really up to? What were his intentions? In the past, Emperor Jianzhang, having endured hardships as a prince and crown prince, went to great lengths to treat each son fairly. But the revelations about Prince Duan made him painfully aware of the brutal truth that in an imperial family, familial affection meant little. No matter how loving a father he was, he could not allow his son to harbor such ambitions.

As he packed his belongings for his departure with Grand Secretaries Chen and Du the next day, he thought it best to call in Song Jue, who promptly brought Song Chuyi along. After a long, silent stare, he asked her, "Are you frightened? You've looked worn out these past few days."

Although his granddaughter was usually brave, this involved the Emperor's son, and with so many people seizing the chaos to add fuel to the fire, it was natural for her to feel unsettled.

Song Jue, sitting nearby, glanced at Song Chuyi and answered for her, "She's not frightened. She even dared to confront the Ninth Princess—what could scare her? She just feels a little guilty."

This realization brought him some comfort. He knew his sister was highly capable, but he'd always had a deep-seated concern—she cared too little for others outside the family, almost as if other people's lives meant nothing to her. Now that he saw she wasn't entirely indifferent to the lives of others, he felt relieved. After all, she was still a young woman; no matter how competent she was, a touch of empathy would allow her to live a better life. A soft heart gave hope to the future. Otherwise, what good was capability and strength if it only led to a life of self-inflicted suffering?

Song Chengru paused, quickly understanding, and asked with a frown, "Is this about the recent reports from Fujian of the Japanese raids and the death tolls?"

It made sense now. As brave as his granddaughter was, facing something that brought about the deaths of hundreds or thousands of people would surely stir her emotions.

Song Chuyi nodded, unable to shake the image of Lady Yu and First Lady Cui's sighs from her mind over the past few days. They were right—how many lives were lost over her single plan, her one word?

In her past life, no matter how foolish she had been, she had never caused harm to anyone. Perhaps that was why she had been given a second chance. Yet in this life, her hands had become stained with lives—how many would she have to atone for in the next to finally be free?

Song Chengru patted her head gently. "Don't trouble yourself over this. You know Guo Huaiying's character, don't you? If he had really allowed the Japanese to massacre his people, would he have taken it lying down? Years ago, the village at Tongshan was slaughtered by Japanese raiders, leaving only the weak, old, and sick to be relocated to a nearby village. But Prince Duan covered it up, never allowing the incident to be reported. Guo Huaiying simply seized this opportunity to expose the situation. You can rest easy."

Song Chuyi breathed a sigh of relief, though she couldn't help but feel exasperated at Guo Huaiying's audacity. He was certainly someone who refused to suffer any loss, likely coordinating with the pirates to land at the already abandoned Tongshan.

Seeing the color return to her face, Song Chengru smiled and gave them another reminder. "The Emperor is likely not returning to the capital anytime soon, so the spring hunt will go on as usual. It's been three years since the last hunt, and any mishap would be considered an ill omen. Be cautious while you're here, especially you, Xiao Yi." He pointed to Song Chuyi, cautioning her earnestly. "While Noble Consort Xian and the Ninth Princess may not harm you outright, they can certainly cause you trouble in private, so you need to stay alert."

As for Han Zhi, Song Chengru was unaware of his granddaughter's formidable adversary, so he hadn't accounted for him.

Meanwhile, Grand Secretary Chen did not forget to remind Chen Mingyu to be careful with her words and actions. "What business did you have mentioning the Fujian affair to the Ninth Princess? You only wanted to take the opportunity to drag the Ninth Princess and Noble Consort Xian down, but that's not a matter for you to concern yourself with."

Young ladies should be refined and composed. While learning some defensive skills to secure her position was fine, now was not the time to show her cunning. If the Crown Prince and Zhou Weiqi noticed, they might unconsciously begin to keep their distance. Chen Mingyu thought she was helping them, but what man truly favored a woman full of schemes?

Chen Mingyu twisted her handkerchief in her hands, feeling indignant, but she kept silent, unable to find the right words to argue. In her view, Sixth Miss Song was not an easy person. Whether it was with the Tongzhou affair, the Shen family, or her recent confrontation with the Ninth Princess, Sixth Miss Song had shown no restraint. Yet Zhou Weizhao still treated her differently, never distancing himself. This proved that His Highness favored someone who could genuinely assist him. Her actions were merely to demonstrate to the Crown Prince's heir that Song Chuyi wasn't the only one who could be of help.

Understanding his granddaughter's thoughts, Grand Secretary Chen sighed and shook his head. "I know what you're thinking. Once this matter settles, I'll observe things further and arrange it for you. But for now, remain composed and avoid these underhanded maneuvers."

The Crown Prince had certainly noticed his contributions to the Yangzhou affair, and surely the Crown Prince's heir had taken note too. With the Chen family's loyalty so evident, they should earn the Crown Prince's and heir's genuine support. Furthermore, with Prince Duan's misfortunes piling up, if he returned to the capital and presented these offenses clearly, it would only strengthen the Crown Prince's position. There was no need to stir the pot by provoking Noble Consort Xian and the Ninth Princess, risking unforeseen complications.

But Chen Mingyu didn't see it that way. Bowing slightly to her grandfather and murmuring her assent, her intentions remained unchanged. After all, even Old Lady Chen had only taught her to wait for the right moment for a decisive strike, not to spare any rivals.