Chapter 56 A Plan Was Set

Wei Changying felt funny, and she asked, “Has it reached such a point?”

“In this way, His Majesty would not promote them to leave Fengzhou.” Wei Changfeng took a sip of tea and said lightly, “Although we still have ways to deal with them, even if they leave Fengzhou, it would be better to keep them in Fengzhou.”

Although his tone was light, he couldn’t cover his worries. Wei Changying turned to him curiously and asked, “What are you worrying about?”

Wei Changfeng looked around. Granny Shi immediately told the outsiders to leave. Madam Song also asked with concern, “Changfeng, what’s the matter?”

“Mo Binwei is unwilling to work for us.” Wei Changfeng sighed helplessly.

Hearing this, Madam Song frowned. Wei Changying asked with surprise, “Why? Is it because of Song Han and Song Duan?” She didn’t care about this kind of matters of the front yard. She thought it was settled long ago. According to common sense, Mo Binwei was at the end of his rope now. If he didn’t accept Wei Changfeng’s offer, he would hardly survive. How could he still refuse to work for him?

“Exactly.” Wei Changfeng nodded.

“These two people can hardly leave now. After a few days, they will be regarded completely as the people who were arrogant with their credits and were useless. Even if we gave them to Mo Binwei for revenge, it would be OK.” Madam Song reminded.

Wei Changfeng said with a wry smile, “Mother, you don’t know. I promised him the same thing. But Mo Binwei wanted justice.”

“Justice?” Madam Song’s face fell slightly. “Does he want to…?”

“Mother, you are right. He wanted to regain his reputation.” Wei Changfeng sighed, “But His Majesty wants to praise Song Han and Song Duan. Now, the imperial edict has arrived. How can I agree?”

Madam Song was a little angry, “This man was unable to appreciate a favor!”

Under the influence of Wei Huan, Wei Changfeng was very tolerant to talented people. So, he persuaded Madam Song, “This common person’s life is miserable. He had a narrow escape from Liao City, ambushed the soldiers with his own talents and courage, and killed the enemy head in person…. Unexpectedly, when Song Han went there, all these merits were given to Song Duan. Mo Binwei was even charged with ‘fear of fighting and running away’! They inverted justice like that. I’m afraid that we would be angrier than him if we were in his position.”

Madam Song was on the side of her son. She snorted, “If you don’t want to use him, he won’t even survive! This matter now involves so much that this common person can hardly imagine! Does he think it’s so easy to recover his reputation?”

“According to Changfeng’s words, Mo Binwei was stubborn.” When Wei Changying heard this, she thought about it and said, “Maybe it was the first time for him to see Changfeng, so he thought there was hope to regain his reputation? After a few days, when he calmed down, maybe he would know the importance. After all, this man was able to command the remnant army of Liao City to defeat the enemy who was stronger and then joined the battle to kill the enemy’s head by himself. He is definitely not a man who has no brain or is too stubborn.”

Wei Changfeng thought for a long time and nodded, “Sister, you are right. I have arranged him in a secluded place now, and he didn’t refuse. On this basis, I still have the chance to make him work for me.”

After hearing that her children agreed to give Mo Binwei more time, Madam Song eased her tone and said, “If so, give him another chance.”

Seeing that Wei Changfeng didn’t have anything else to discuss, Wei Changying asked Madam Song, “By the way, mother, did my eldest cousin meet Zaishui? The Empress and Honored Consort?” She stood behind Old Madam Song for two hours yesterday and had the chance to leave at dinner time. It was nothing for Wei Changying to stand for two hours. But standing for two hours in front of the people of Shen Family… Shen Zhou didn’t say anything else except the polite greeting when seeing her. He then discussed with Wei Huan about the great victory in the north of the province, and didn’t pay any attention to her at all.

But maybe this man was double-minded, paying attention to her manner in private? With such a worry, even if no one in the hall paid attention to her, Wei Changying, who was standing behind Old Madam Song, still dared not relax and neglect. She was standing there uprightly and respectfully.

She was not just standing demurely. She had to take a look at the sideburns and skirts from time to time, in case that the wind blowing in the gate hall would make a mess. She wondered whether it was too rigid to stand like this all the time and whether it was not appropriate to look dignified and reserved all the time. It was just that she couldn’t interfere with the topics discussed by the elders….

Such ideas rolled in her heart, but she didn’t dare to move easily. In addition to being dignified, she took a quick glance at Shen Zhou, lest he noticed that she was not dignified and elegant enough. Being extremely vigilant, she felt that it was much more tiring than practicing martial arts with Jiang Zheng usually.

So when Old Madam Song let her go, she went back to Xianshuang Court and almost fell asleep immediately. So she didn’t know what Song Zaitian and Song Zaishui were talking about.

Seeing that there were no irrelevant people at the moment, Madam Song nodded and said, “Honored Consort is fighting with the Empress.”

“In the early years, there was something strange about the death of the sixth prince. Although the abandoned consort Huo, once ranked among the top four imperial consorts like Honored Consort Deng, she was cowardly because she was born by a concubine. Especially after she gave birth to the Princess Lingxian, she was getting less favor from the emperor. She always lived peacefully with the princess Lingxian.” Madam Song took a sip of tea and continued, “What’s more, Ji Ying’s medical skills were so good that he could easily poison the sixth Prince and was not caught by anyone. Besides, what could he get if he helped Mrs. Huo poison the sixth prince! Later, something happened to the abandoned Empress Qian. We all thought it must be Qian who worried that the sixth prince would win the favor of the emperor and shake the position of her son as the Crown Prince. So after poisoning the sixth prince, she slandered Mrs. Huo and Ji Ying. Now it seemed that Empress Gu was also involved.”

Listening to the story, Wei Changying had a headache. Then she said, “How can something that happened so long ago be not over yet? Why is my cousin implicated in?”

“It is still far from the end!” Madam Song shook her head and said, “Princess Deng only had one son, the sixth prince. Whoever killed the sixth prince, she will fight with her life to revenge for the sixth prince! So it seems that Deng Zongqi still has some credibility.” Madam Song regarded her children as her life, so she could understand Empress Deng’s eager feeling of revenge after she lost her beloved son.

“By the way, mother, the Jade Pendant with Yellow Sparrow Carrying Lucid Ganoderma.” Wei Changying suddenly thought of it and reminded her, “Was it given to Deng Zongqi by the second cousin?”

Madam. Song frowned and said, “Don’t mention the jade with Zaishui. Your eldest cousin was very unhappy yesterday. But he didn’t lose his temper because he was at our house. When he returned to the capital or wrote back, maybe there would be another scene.”

Wei Changfeng and Wei Changying were surprised and asked, “Why?”

“Do you know how Deng Zongqi knows about the Jade Pendant with Yellow Sparrow Carrying Lucid Ganoderma?” Madam Song snorted, “It’s because of the wife of your second cousin. After she got married, she found that your second cousin had collected the jade pendant in a separate box, and told the servants not to touch it. She didn’t know that your second cousin collected some of the things of his brother and sister when they were young and thought about them. She suspected that your second cousin had any love affairs before he married her. She didn’t ask your second cousin. When your second cousin didn’t look at the jade pendant, she took it out and secretly inquired about it among the servants of the Song Family. Your aunt died long time ago. Now the Song Family is in charge of the wife of your eldest cousin. She knew about the jade pendant. After hearing the news from the servants, she told Duanmu the reason. Duanmu finally put the jade back!”

“Your eldest cousin also heard his wife mentioned in private, but he didn’t pay attention to it. Yesterday, talking with Zaishui, I mentioned that your second cousin is not familiar with Deng Zongqi at all. But where did Deng Zongqi get such a jade pendant so similar to the Jade Pendant with Yellow Sparrow Carrying Lucid Ganoderma? Thinking about it, only when your second cousin’s wife was jealous and made many servants know about the jade pendant. Gradually, the news was spread out! Luckily, it was not a big deal this time. Otherwise, it would be a disaster for Zaishui and our family.” Madam Song sighed, “Duanmu is really not virtuous!”

After hearing this, Wei Changying and Wei Changfeng were also unable either to cry or to laugh, saying, “She was funny. She could simply ask the second cousin. Why bother?”

Wei Changying continued to ask about Song Zaishui’s marriage, “Now, did the eldest cousin stop mentioning Zaishui’s engagement with the Crown Prince?”

“If he still says so, I’ll ask him how he did his elder brother’s duty.” Madam Song snorted as if yesterday she had scolded Song Zaitian to get a satisfying promise. She said, “The current problem is how to terminate this engagement.” After a pause, Madam Song sighed, “Just now, your grandfather’s letter arrived. He agreed with your grandmother. This needed to be done with the help of the Deng Family.”

Wei Changfeng concentrated for a moment and said, “This is a bit troublesome. Deng Zongqi’s words before are just a statement on behalf of Honored Consort. It’s not easy to really terminate this engagement.” The plan of going to the capital on the right time and bumping the emperor with her destiny to avoid marrying to the Crown Prince was put forward by Honored Consort Deng. Although Deng Zongqi said that the Honored Consort was sure of her promise, he would not show her the final card. In fact, he might not know, but how could the Song Family fully believe it with the words of this younger generation? If the Honored Consort misjudged, the Song Family would lose a daughter!

At that time, should Song Zaishui help the Crown Prince or entrap him?

Therefore, the reason for the cancellation of the engagement must be thought up by Song family and the Deng Family took the blame.

“The Deng family was just an aristocratic family, which was inferior to the level of the Song Family. If they succeed easily, it would make people suspicious and bring shame to the Song Family.” Madam Song lowered her voice and said, “Your eldest cousin had an idea that he’ll let Deng Zongqi quickly get well and catch up with his companions. He and Zaishui will be waiting for Zhong Xiaoyi’s family members to pass by Fengzhou in our house. They will join them then and go to the capital together!”

Wei Changying thought for a moment and said, “Ah, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. I’ll learn from the abandoned Empress Qian.” Madam Song said, “Lady Zhong is on the side of the Empress, and comes from a humble background. This is on the surface. Deng Zongqi will do something in secret. The Deng Family is the in-laws of His Majesty. Even if the matter is investigated to the end, only Deng Zongqi will be punished. For the sake of honoring empress dowager, His Majesty will not do anything to the Deng Family!”

Wei Changying and Wei Changfeng looked at each other and understood her meaning: Lady Zhong was on the side of the Empress, and she came from a humble family. Once her family members were convicted of murdering the Crown Princess, not only the Empress would be struck, but also they wouldn’t offend other gentry families. They wouldn’t contract enmity because Song Zaishui couldn’t become Crown Princess. In this way, the criticism of the Song family among noble families would be reduced to the lowest level. So when Standby Guards went to Qingzhou to find Lady Zhong’s family members, it was a good opportunity for the Song Family. Maybe this opportunity was also created by Honored Consort Deng.

The capital was so far away. And it was impossible to find out the truth in Fengzhou. People could only speculate about it.

Speaking of this, Lady Zhong was also a poor woman. The Empress flattered her, but it was Honored Consort who agreed to take her family members to the capital. Now the Song Family didn’t want their daughter to be the Crown Princess, and they thought of her family.

However, in the great Vii Dynasty, where only family status was valued, ordinary people like Lady Zhong were just struggling to survive in front of these powerful families.

Wei Changying and Wei Changfeng were happy for Song Zaishui, “Cousin Song doesn’t need to be the Crown Princess!”

“Isn’t it?” Madam Song narrowed her eyes. Her face was with light joy and more worry. She sighed softly, “If Empress Gu really killed the sixth Prince… It will be better if the Empress and the Crown Prince are both struck.”

Wei Changfeng didn’t know why and looked at his mother, but Madam Song didn’t have mind to talk. She said listlessly, “You two shall go back first. I have something else to do.”

After being sent out, Wei Changfeng asked her sister suspiciously, “How can my mother expect the Empress and the Crown Prince to fall?” Although Madam Song hated to let her loved niece marry to the dissolute Crown Prince, she had never been as young and vigorous as Song Zaishui and Wei Changying. How could she care about what would happen to Empress Gu and the Crown Prince? What was the matter today?

Wei Changying thought for a moment and seemed to understand. But she glanced at her brother and said, “I know something about it…. But I won’t tell you!”

“…” Wei Changfeng looked at her speechless, “Then I’ll ask our mother later.”

“Don’t! Didn’t you see that our mother was in a bad mood?” When Wei Changying heard this, she quickly stopped him and whispered, “And don’t ask grandma. I’ll tell you in short. Didn’t Mother just say that? The death of the sixth Prince got Ji Ying the official of the Imperial Hospital and his family affected. If Ji Ying hadn’t died for that, our father would have recovered. My mother used to think that the sixth prince was killed by the abandoned Empress Qian. Haven’t Qian and her son already been punished? But she didn’t expect that Empress Gu was also involved! Those who did harm to Ji Ying did harm to our father indirectly. Do you still want to ask our mother and make her unhappy again?”

In those days, the Wei Family had not invited Ji Qubing to treat Wei Zhenghong. It was just because they did not believe that his family suffered a great change when he was 11, and he could only practice medicine alone at the age of 15 after being left alone for four years. But if Ji Ying had been still well, not to mention whether Ji Ying could cure Wei Zhenghong or not, Ji Qubing would have had the name of “the eldest grandson of Ji’s family who was carefully taught by the Ji Ying, and the lineal descendant of Ji Family which had a history of 100 years.” Even though he just turned 15 years old, with Ji Ying’s endorsement, the Wei family would find him to have a try.

If it weren’t for this matter that she still bore grudges, how could Old Madam Song rush to make use of the current favorable situation when the Song Family wanted to cancel the engagement, instead of leaving it behind at once? According to the fact that the descendants of the Wei Family were still young and weak, they needed to hide their capacities and bide their time.

Part of the reason was that both Old Madam Song and Madam Song were the daughters of the Song Family, and the Wei Family and the Song Family had always been in a great relationship. But the most part of the reason was that she hated that those who murdered the sixth Prince and planted Shu Consort Huo and Ji Ying, indirectly hurt Wei Zhenghong!

Hearing that, Wei Changfeng changed his face.