Song Yao earnestly analyzed for her sister and two brothers with rigorous logic.
“You see, if he’s both a gambling addict and undoubtedly has faults, then nine times out of ten he must have enemies. Whether they’re major or minor grudges doesn’t matter – having them is enough.”
Since he already has enemies, wouldn’t dying be quite normal?
When the time comes, she could just send someone to kill him – a simple matter of slitting his throat.
Moreover, Second Brother knows about this. With Second Brother involved, the authorities won’t arrest people indiscriminately. This way, they can eliminate someone without wronging anyone else. What a brilliant idea!
…
Seeing that neither her sister nor her two brothers supported her idea, Song Yao cleared her throat lightly again to ease her embarrassment.
“Actually, well… it’s not like there aren’t more gentle approaches.”
“Didn’t you say he’s a gambling addict? Then we could trouble ourselves to set up a scheme where he gambles away his own life. Gambling addicts – when they get bloodshot eyes from gambling, there are plenty who would chop off their hands or feet without regard for their lives. Ahem, right?”
“Makes sense.”
The one who responded was Song Ye. The frivolous young master thoughtfully stroked his chin, thinking his younger sister’s idea was excellent.
Little Sister’s approach targeted the root cause – sufficiently sinister, ruthless, vicious, and clean, with no worries about consequences. Excellent, excellent – he’d learned something new again!
Song Wan once again patted her younger sister’s head, her willow-like eyebrows slightly furrowed with concern.
People say one takes on the color of their company – how true that was. Younger Sister had only been married to the Crown Prince for a few days, yet her words and actions already carried shadows of His Highness’s brutality. If this continued, what should they do?
The weather was hot, and Song Lin happened to have a folding fan in his hand. Song Lin, known in the Ministry of Justice as the Smiling King of Hell, tapped his younger sister’s head with the fan, amused.
“How did you become so full of wicked ideas?”
Song Yao immediately pretended to be obedient, her eyes and face full of innocence, looking at her two brothers and then her sister – the very picture of a naive, innocent, kind-hearted younger sister.
The three siblings were well aware of their younger sister’s true temperament, so Song Lin didn’t dwell on this matter and instead brought up what was truly important:
“Consort Ning and her two children’s affairs are unimportant. The reason I specifically asked you to come back is that your elder brother has a request for you, concerning Father.”
Song Yao:…
Despite the hot weather, Song Yao got goosebumps from her Second Brother’s overly polite words. Rubbing her arms, she spoke bluntly with distaste.
“Second Brother, if you have something to say, just say it. Don’t use your official court manners on me – it’s quite off-putting.”
Song Ye: “Exactly, since when did you become so formal with Little Sister?”
Then, mimicking in a strange, exaggerated tone, “Your elder brother has a request for you”
Song Lin:…
Song Ye’s head received a tap from Second Brother’s folding fan, and he settled down.
Song Wan, being unmarried and in her own courtyard, didn’t have as many reservations. Laughing, she reached out to pat her third brother’s head in consolation.
Song Ye: “Elder Sister is still the best to me. Don’t worry, Elder Sister – if Consort Ning’s daughter doesn’t heed the warning and dares to visit your clinic again, I’ll have someone break her legs so she can’t go anywhere.”
Song Wan smiled gently and patted her brother’s head again: “No need. If she really comes again, breaking her legs is such a small matter that your elder sister can handle it herself.”
While these two siblings were talking, the other brother and sister began discussing serious matters.
Song Lin: “I plan to have Father step down.”
Over the years, Father had become increasingly ineffective in his position as Chancellor, and the Emperor had long intended to demote him.
After the Crown Prince married our youngest sister, Father became swollen-headed in his official career, which not only displeased the Emperor but also drew considerable private criticism from his colleagues.
Now Father has almost all his attention focused on Consort Ning, even asking him to secure official positions for the concubine and her gambler son from a previous marriage.
From small things, one can see great ones. If we continue to let Father’s current thoughts and actions go unchecked, they will eventually bring disaster upon the Prime Minister’s Residence.
Song Yao’s eyes lit up as she reached a conclusion: “Has Second Brother finally decided to get promoted?”
With their eccentric father holding a high position, and many clansmen from both the Song family and their eccentric mother’s maternal family serving as officials at court, they were already conspicuous enough. Song Lin had long found it difficult to advance further.
Later, when she married the Crown Prince, the Song family became even more prominent.
For Song Lin to climb to a higher position, someone of roughly equivalent status in the Song family would have to step down. Otherwise, if someday the accusation of “merits overshadowing the sovereign” were levied against them, the Song family would be finished.
Song Lin: “Yes, so I need you to discuss this matter with His Highness.”
It wasn’t appropriate for Song Lin to personally discuss such matters with Nangong Yi. Although they were brothers-in-law, the distinction between sovereign and subject remained.
If he went to speak with the Crown Prince about this, His Highness might not believe him. Those in high positions of power share a common flaw—they tend to be suspicious.
Moreover, since he and Father were father and son—aside from the imperial family, what son would want to see his father step down?—it was more suitable for their youngest sister to bring this up than for him to approach His Highness.
“Alright!” Song Yao agreed readily.
She was in extremely high spirits, having waited for this day for far too long. She had long hoped that Second Brother could replace their eccentric father!
Although the Minister of Justice wasn’t a higher position than the Prime Minister, it was still better than having their eccentric father remain as Prime Minister without performing the duties of one, only to someday incur the Emperor’s displeasure and bring punishment upon the entire Song family, right?
Furthermore, when she returned to her maiden home in the future, she wouldn’t have to keep up appearances anymore. Her elder sister and third brother would also be able to live more comfortably in this household.
“Haha!”
Thinking of this, Song Yao couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
Song Lin smiled wryly, feeling helpless: “We don’t even know if this matter can succeed or if His Highness will agree, and you’re already celebrating?”
Song Wan, wholly dedicated to medicine and unfamiliar with court affairs, didn’t participate in the conversation.
But Song Ye understood, and since this matter concerned him as well, he clasped his hands solemnly and bowed deeply.
His posture was so formal it was almost as if he were about to kowtow to Song Yao: “Younger sister, whether your third brother has any chance of pursuing an official career in this lifetime depends entirely on you!”
If the Prime Minister’s Residence was going to become the Minister of Justice’s residence anyway, what harm could there be in one more person entering officialdom?
Shouldering this heavy responsibility, Song Yao put away her smile and said seriously: “I’ll try.”
Although she knew Nangong Yi was fond of her, since this involved court politics, she still felt somewhat uncertain and didn’t dare to guarantee success.
Time flew by, and night fell.
The Eastern Palace was brightly lit. With the Crown Princess absent, the entire Eastern Palace had become much quieter. During the day, the Crown Prince was busy with official duties outside, and after returning, he had been handling documents in his study until now.
“Creak.”
The door opened, and Nangong Yi emerged from the study. The full moon hanging high in the dark sky indicated how late it was.
Withdrawing his gaze, he led his attendants back to the bedchamber. After bathing and changing clothes with the help of his servants, he extinguished the lights and retired. About half an hour passed, but he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
…
It was too quiet, and too lonely.
He had grown accustomed to her presence every night—a presence he had waited over ten years to obtain.
Another cup of tea’s time passed, and Nangong Yi opened his eyes, the narrow Phoenix Eyes gazing at the canopy above without a trace of drowsiness.
Rising, the loosely worn undergarment draped over his frame grew even more disheveled. Nangong Yi remained motionless in this posture on the bed for a long while.
After what seemed an eternity, he lay down again.
Only this time, he shifted positions—not to his usual spot on the outer side of the bed, but to the inner side where Song Yao usually slept. Soon after, he closed his eyes and drifted into peaceful slumber.