Something seemed to have fallen in the study. Bending down to pick it up, Chen Mingyu, who had been searching for letters from Fujian, overheard her grandfather's deep, powerful voice drifting clearly to her ears.
"Are you certain Cui Shaoting won't suspect anything? He's not the type to be distracted by beauty. Over the years, plenty of people tried to pce women by his side while he was in Fujian, but he never fell for it. And you've cut off his messages for over three months without him noticing? That's not like him at all. You'd better be careful that you don't end up tangled in your own trap."
Cui Shaoting? Cui Shaoting! The current Commander of the Three Border Regions, formerly the Governor of Fujian, wielding great authority, and reted to Song Chuyi! Why would her grandfather mention him, and in such a tone? Keeping low, Chen Mingyu squatted behind the bookshelf, covering her mouth and widening her eyes, feeling as though she was about to stumble upon something monumental.
A smug ugh followed, and a man's voice dismissed the concern. "That's because the fools who tried before sent him trash. Do you think those noble and self-important gentlemen care about women from the red-light districts? My approach was different. I chose a girl from a fallen family, forced to the brink by the Tatars—a pitiable damsel in need of rescue. Those high-minded gentlemen love nothing more than a chance to py the hero."
It was the voice of Fang Xiaoru, the man who often visited te at night, sometimes requiring her brother to escort him out. Chen Mingyu covered her mouth tightly, stealing a gnce out from behind the bookshelf, and indeed saw her grandfather's figure along with Fang Xiaoru's face.
Fang Xiaoru's expression was filled with self-satisfaction, his hands braced on the table as he spoke confidently of his handiwork. "As for the three-month silence... I exchanged some messages with the Tatar Grand Marshal, arranging for him to harass the border from time to time. I also tipped off Yang Xuan about the frequent horse thefts. With him busy building the Great Wall and dealing with the seasoned officials like Han Zhengqing, there's hardly any time left for him to think about when he st communicated with the capital."
This move was brilliantly executed, pushing Cui Shaoting to exhaustion. Lord Chen, stroking his well-kept goatee with a satisfied smile, gave a slight nod. "Don't be overly confident yet. We'll know more once Yang Xuan's proposal goes through tomorrow. The Emperor is sufficiently agitated now, and since Ye Jingkuan and Lai Chenglong have secretly left the capital, they should be well along in their investigation by the time Cui Shaoting submits his memorial. That's when we'll celebrate."
Grandfather is plotting against Cui Shaoting?! Chen Mingyu blinked, momentarily stunned, and remained crouched in silence behind the shelf.
Fang Xiaoru quickly adopted a more respectful demeanor in front of his mentor, replying emphatically and boasting of his accomplishments. "Teacher, you have nothing to worry about when I'm handling things, do you? I've kept my involvement hidden all the way from Yangzhou. Even Old Fox Song hasn't noticed that I've been nudging events along in the background. My tongue is skilled enough to bring the dead to life! And I haven't forgotten your instructions—I'm keeping a close watch on every cat and dog in the Song and Cui households. Just yesterday, when one of their young dies went out, my men shadowed her the entire time. No matter how clever they may be, they can't predict the future, can they? We've operated completely in secret this time; by the time they realize, they'll already be in the halls of the underworld."
Elder Chen casually picked up a memorial, flipping through it before tossing it back on the table with a cold ugh. His eyes held a steely glint as he sneered, "The Cui family, clinging to Prime Minister Chang in hopes of presenting themselves as loyal subjects, while also cozying up to Princess Duanhui and the Eastern Pace. And to top it off, they have the Song family by their side, hoping to increase their influence. They're reaching too far. Trying to unseat me with their connections to the Eastern Pace? Not a chance. This time, with the vacancy in Yangzhou, one position for one candidate, Prime Minister Chang won't get away with monopolizing it. Cui Shaoting's transfer from Fujian to the northwest disrupted countless of my interests, and now he's trying to pull the same trick again. This time, I'll make sure they all fall ft on their faces!"
It had taken a tremendous effort to pry the salt and maritime trade in Jiangnan from the grip of Prince Duan and Prince Gong, only for the appointments he wanted to arrange to be pushed behind those of Prime Minister Chang's disciples and old associates. How could he be content with that? Wasn't it just making a wedding dress for someone else to wear?
Sensing the moment, Fang Xiaoru quickly poured him fresh tea, bending over with a smile. "This is far more than just making them stumble. For a while now, we've been openly and covertly instructing various censors to submit scattered memorials, stirring up the Emperor's ire bit by bit. Look at how the Yangzhou corruption scandal implicated Prince Duan, and yet the Emperor didn't hesitate to deal with him, despite the recent war in Fujian. How much less mercy will he show to Cui Shaoting? If he's proven guilty of both smuggling and colluding with the enemy, it won't just be the Song family—Cui's cn, which has flourished unbroken for over four hundred years, will be rooted out completely!"
Chen Mingyu's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. Now she understood her grandmother's advice about striking where it hurts most. All her past efforts had been trivial in comparison, mere petty troubles for the Song family and Song Chuyi. But her grandfather? He was aiming for the life of the entire Cui cn and the Song family! Even Princess Duanhui and her husband had been accounted for in his scheme!
Her heart raced, a mixture of fear and uncontrolble glee rising within her. What good was Song Chuyi's intelligence if her family was destroyed? She'd be nothing but a criminal's daughter, destined for the lowliest life, whether in the brothel or sold as a sve. The thought of this outcome made Chen Mingyu almost shiver with satisfaction.
After a pause, Lord Chen's voice echoed again. "Go back now. Tell Wang Ying and the others there's no need to submit any more memorials. Too much is as bad as too little—don't let Prime Minister Chang or Old Song catch wind of anything. And another crucial thing: that border area must be tightly guarded! Make sure your informant is vigint. Not even a mosquito from the capital should reach him. If there's a slip-up, I'll say this now—don't expect mercy from me!"
