If the ones taking action were Consort Fan and the Prince of Commandery, then Yuan Hui’s actions would make sense. He had said before that Song Chuyi’s fate required the influence of someone extremely noble to suppress it properly. Among those of extreme nobility, there was no escaping the involvement of imperial offspring—descendants of dragons and phoenixes.

  The Crown Prince's heir was already closely associated with the Song family. To avoid suspicion, especially after the Yangzhou corruption case had just been used to decre their loyalty to the Emperor, the Song family naturally couldn’t rush to marry Song Chuyi to the Crown Prince's heir. Doing so would only validate the widespread rumors: cims of divine destiny, astrological fate, and fabricated camities were all seen as deliberate schemes by the Song family to tie themselves to the Crown Prince's heir.

  The Crown Prince's heir, too, was bound to maintain his distance from the Marquis of Changning’s household.

  On the contrary, the Prince of Commandery, who previously had little interaction with the Song family, could step in at this moment. If he were to both resolve the Song family’s predicament and propose marriage to Song Chuyi, he could not only solve their crisis but also win public favor.

  Old Master Song frowned. Though he couldn’t figure out every detail, one thing troubled him deeply—if what Song Chuyi said about Yuan Hui’s ambition was true, keeping Yuan Hui alive was a great threat.

  Unfortunately, killing someone like Yuan Hui, a renowned monk, was far from an ideal solution.

  He recalled his discussion with Old Lady Song back then, when he had promised that if it were possible, he would let Song Chuyi live her life as she wished—peaceful and untroubled.

  Yet Yuan Hui’s remarks had effectively put Song Chuyi on the spot. Ciming her fate was too ominous and could only be suppressed by someone of great nobility—an emperor’s son or grandson—left little room for the Song family to maneuver.

  Who else would dare take such a "disastrous heavenly star" into their household?

  He began to harbor a quiet but deadly intent toward Yuan Hui. It was clear that Yuan Hui held deep resentment and hostility toward the Marquis of Changning. Yuan Hui didn’t want the Song family to be used by others, but neither did he want them to gain favor with the Prince of Commandery. His ultimate goal, it seemed, was the destruction of the Song family.

  Lost in thought, Old Master Song was startled when Song Jue entered the room. He asked Song Chuyi, "Did you see Lady Fang today?"

  Song Chuyi nodded and expined, "I spoke with Lady Fang and Fang Xiaoru. They’ve decided to align with us. I told her to start by lending money to Third Lady Chen. Once she completes this task, we can discuss further cooperation."

  Old Master Song closed the ledger in his hand, tapping the table lightly as he spoke. "The chief examiner for next spring’s civil service exam in Jiangnan has likely been decided. If nothing changes, it will be Grand Secretary Chen."

  Grand Secretary Chen, seeking to draw closer to Zhou Weizhao and gain his trust after failing to frame the Song family, now needed to prove his worth through other means.

  Although the Chen family contributed to the resolution of the Yangzhou corruption case, Grand Secretary Chen ultimately lost out to Prime Minister Chang. The lucrative posts in Yangzhou were assigned to Lord Chang’s appointees, leaving Lord Chen with little gain.

  Song Jue was astonished. "If he becomes Jiangnan’s chief examiner, doesn’t that make him the teacher of all the southern schors?"

  Indeed, this position was highly sought after. Passing the spring exam smoothly would make Grand Secretary Chen the gatekeeper for all schors from Jiangnan, allowing him to dominate the southern academic circles.

  Historically, Jiangnan had always produced the majority of successful exam candidates, making the region’s chief examiner a coveted role. Grand Secretary Chen’s maneuvering to secure the post at this time was a testament to his capability.

  After a brief silence, Song Chuyi asked, "Grand Secretary Chen must have worked hard to gain Eunuch An’s favor, correct?"

  Since Xingfu’s death, Eunuchs An and Feng had risen to prominence. Both had served Emperor Jianzhang since his time as Crown Prince, earning his trust through years of loyalty and intelligence. Eunuch Feng had taken over as chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, while Eunuch An had been appointed Governor of Nanjing, commanding troops.

  Grand Secretary Chen had always excelled at dealing with eunuchs. His retionship with Xingfu had shielded the Chen family from scrutiny during past investigations by the Jinyiwei. Despite the Chen family’s undeniable ties to the Northwest, neither the guard nor Xingfu caused them trouble.

  Now, with Xingfu gone, Grand Secretary Chen had shifted his focus to currying favor with Eunuch An. Eunuch Feng, being closer to the capital and more cautious, was less approachable.

  Song Chengru didn’t deny Song Chuyi’s observation, effectively confirming it. After a moment, he gnced at the pen rack on the table and smiled. "This is an opportunity."

  While the chief examiner post was highly sought after, it was also fraught with risk. A single mistake could ruin one’s reputation for life.

  Song Jue and Song Chuyi exchanged a gnce, quickly grasping Old Master Song’s implication. This was indeed a golden opportunity. If Grand Secretary Chen were to make a mistake in such a significant role, it could spell the end for the Chen family.

  However, while the idea seemed simple, executing it would be far more challenging. Grand Secretary Chen wasn’t foolish. If he dared take on this responsibility, he must have the skills to see it through. Finding a fw in his pns would be no easy task.

  That said, it wasn’t entirely impossible. As Song Chuyi straightened the pen rack for Song Chengru, she gnced at Song Jue and said softly, "Grandfather means to use the Fang family?"

  Song Jue’s eyes lit up. The Fang family’s recent alignment with them was perfectly timed. Once Lady Fang had proven her loyalty through her actions, they could approach Fang Xiaoru to discuss the matter.

  Old Master Song stroked his beard and ughed heartily. Song Jue and Song Chuyi’s ability to draw such inferences made conversing with them a pleasure.

  "Still," Song Jue cautioned, "how we position the Fang family is critical. They’re the key to unlocking the Chen family’s defenses. We can’t afford any mistakes."

  Securing Lady Fang’s unwavering loyalty to the Song family would take time. This wasn’t something that could be rushed.

  Old Master Song pondered for a moment and shook his head. "The appointment hasn’t been officially announced yet. We’ll finalize our pns once everything is settled. As for today’s matter…"

  He narrowed his eyes at Song Chuyi, a hint of sharpness fshing in them. "Consort Fan has overstepped. She even dared to involve Xiang Mingzi, hoping to pressure the Song family into submission with a two-pronged attack. Her ambition rivals that of any man."

  Song Chuyi saw through Old Master Song’s intentions and realized he was considering using the upcoming court evaluation to cause trouble for the Prince of Commandery’s subordinates. With a sly smile, she shook her head. "There’s no need to rush, Grandfather. Consort Fan’s reach won’t extend much further."