Cui Yingshu's face was grim, unable to say a word for half a day. The person who devised this trap had to know Emperor Jianzhang thoroughly and possess immense patience. They might have even considered using the beauty sent by the governor of Yangzhou to Cui Shaoting as a hidden pawn as soon as the Yangzhou corruption scandal erupted. His thoughts immediately turned to Consort Fan of the Eastern Pace, who oversaw the Yangzhou investigation and helped amplify the scandal.

  However, he quickly dismissed this theory. Though Lady Cui and the empress were close with the Eastern Pace, Zhou Weiqi was also her nephew, and Consort Fan had long sought to leverage that bond. Someone who coveted the power of the Cui and Song families, like Consort Fan, would focus on drawing them closer rather than trying to destroy them. She'd be more likely to ftter and entangle them with marriage alliances, as she had been. Besides, as influential as she might be, she was a woman of the inner pace, restrained by the Crown Princess, and cked the means to orchestrate the downfall of a high-ranking official.

  Song Chengru's thoughts went even further. He recalled that during the Yangzhou investigation, it was Fang Xiaoru who exposed the governor through Zhang Yuan, also escating the scandal. Considering the involvement of the Department of Eunuchs, who had ties to both Fang Xiaoru and the Eastern Pace, he and Cui Yingshu both concluded that it couldn't have been orchestrated by the Eastern Pace. It would be utterly detrimental to their cause to recklessly undermine the Cui and Song families, as it would bring them nothing but harm.

  Tapping his fingers absently on the table, Song Chengru suddenly looked at Cui Yingshu, then gnced at Song Chuyi before asking gravely, "Do you think Yang Xuan's proposal for a trade market is genuinely for the benefit of the border or has a deeper purpose?"

  This was a question of whether Yang Xuan was truly loyal to Cui Shaoting or was being used as a pawn to frame him.

  Cui Yingshu knew little of Yang Xuan's background, only that he came from a military family and grew up working in stables. Cui Shaoting's letters had praised him repeatedly for his skill in caring for the warhorses; since Yang Xuan had taken over, the injury and mortality rates among the horses had sharply decreased. But when asked if Yang Xuan might be a pawn used to ensnare Cui Shaoting, Cui Yingshu found it difficult to say.

  Song Jue, who had been silently absorbing everything, went over the details in his mind before speaking. "One crucial question remains: What does Uncle Cui intend to do? Has he submitted a memorial supporting Yang Xuan's proposal? If his memorial has already reached the capital..."

  Then everyone who supported the trade would be branded as traitors in Emperor Jianzhang's eyes, selling out the country for personal gain.

  This was an attempt to ensnare as many people as possible—Prime Minister Chang had already shown interest in the proposal, considering it a good way to ease both the border tensions and the treasury's burden. If Song Chengru, still unaware of the full implications, also supported it...

  Song Chengru came up with a solution: "The priority is to send someone to the northwest immediately to inform Shaoting that he must not submit this proposal and cannot trust anyone around him!"

  If the proposal reached the Cabinet and then Emperor Jianzhang, any expnation would be futile.

  Everyone present had already considered this right away. But with the enemy in the shadows and themselves exposed, even sending someone to the northwest didn't guarantee they'd reach Cui Shaoting alive. Furthermore, no one knew for certain about Cui Shaoting's current situation.

  Song Jue lowered his head and thought for a moment before decring, "I'll go."

  The person sent to deliver the message had to be absolutely trustworthy and carry enough weight to make Cui Shaoting believe them. However, Cui Yingshu was too prominent a target, and other Cui family members were likely under close surveilnce—the opposition had meticulously prepared for this and wouldn't leave anything to chance.

  But Song Jue also couldn't go. As the eldest grandson of the Marquis of Changning's estate, he was under constant watch. Even Song Chuyi herself was followed, let alone Song Jue. She shook her head, emotionless, as she expined how she had been tracked today. "I've already had people keep an eye on them to see if we can find any clues to lead us further."

  Song Chengru let out a cold ugh, a chill and anger rising within him. "Followed?"

  It was clear that even the Song family had been dragged into this web. Alongside his outrage, he felt a deep sense of arm. It was like waking up in the dead of night to find someone standing by his bedside with a knife. The feeling of having one's neck on the line was unsettling.

  For now, neither the Cui nor Song family members could risk making a move. At this point, even an ordinary servant from either household running an errand might find themselves followed by a rge entourage. Though Ma Changjiang and the others at Song Chuyi's disposal could still be used, it wasn't a secret that she held power in her hands—Han Zhi knew, for instance. If he were involved, then sending her people would be like sending them to their deaths.

  Although they seemed to have hit a dead end, Song Chengru's mind felt sharper.

  "Let's wait until Xiao Yi's people return with news." He straightened his robes and said, "Tomorrow, I'll return to court from leave."

  His presence at court was timely, as it would allow him to gauge the tone of the Cabinet regarding the memorials sent from the northwest and determine if there were any connections to this matter.

  When Song Chuyi returned to her quarters, Ziyun was waiting by the courtyard gate with a ntern swaying in the summer breeze. She walked a few steps forward to greet her and, after assisting her inside, quietly reported, "Miss, we've received word."

  Song Chuyi removed the white jade Chi You pendant from her waist and pced it on the table, nodding. "Tell me."

  "A maid from the west gate came asking for Qingtao, saying Luo Gui was looking for her. I met with him myself," Ziyun began, keeping it brief before moving to the main point. "Luo Gui said that Ma Changjiang urgently sought him out, reporting that the people tailing you circled around the city once and then entered Shizi Pavilion without coming out. Another three or four men followed our carriage until they saw us return home, then dispersed."

  Shizi Pavilion, the well-known eatery with exquisite dishes in the northern part of the city? And they didn't come out?

  "Let's go to Grandfather's," she decided, standing up. She then instructed Ziyun, "Send word to Luo Gui, and have him tell Ma Changjiang to keep watch at all exits of Lion Pavilion tonight—don't leave a single corner unwatched, and don't let anyone escape."