“You’ve grown up,” Consort Fan said, stepping forward a few paces and staring at him without hesitation. “You should know by now what can and cannot be said. I am your mother, and if my reputation is ruined, it doesn’t just affect me—it affects you first and foremost.”

  Zhou Weiqi gritted his teeth, looking at her without saying a word.

  Consort Fan sat by the southern window, her pale hands calmly picking up the scattered chess pieces on the board. After a moment of silence, she said softly, “No matter what, everything I do is for you.”

  Zhou Weiqi pressed his hands against the table, choking as he looked at his mother, despair and helplessness filling his eyes. “But you’ve ruined me... Everything you’ve done will make Father despise me.”

  Consort Fan’s movements didn’t falter. “Which is why we must find a way. Compining about fate won’t solve anything. Bming me won’t change what has happened, will it?”

  Zhou Weiqi couldn’t think of anything more to say. Things had reached this point—what else could he say? Even if what Consort Fan said was true, that Lady Fan had mixed truth with lies in her accusations, what did it matter? She had burned herself to death, leaving no chance to dispute her cims. No one would doubt the words of a dead woman.

  Consort Fan quietly pced the chess pieces back into their basket, then stood and walked to Zhou Weiqi’s side. In a low voice, she said, “I’ve already written a letter to your grandmother. What that madwoman did is indeed repulsive, and her words were vague and full of insinuations, leaving me with no way to refute them. But honestly, can a simple gold hairpin with my childhood name engraved on it really prove I’ve done something shameful? Things in this world are never that straightforward.”

  Zhou Weiqi looked up at her, frowning in confusion. “You’re saying…”

  “I’m saying that the hairpin has actually always been with my mother. The one in her possession was deliberately forged to frame me,” Consort Fan said, lowering her gaze to hide the coldness in her eyes. “When the time comes, my mother will present an identical hairpin…”

  Zhou Weiqi rasped, “And the music, ‘High Mountains and Flowing Water’? Can you even py it?” He chuckled bitterly, staring at his mother. “Can you?”

  Consort Fan smiled, pcing her hand on the guqin by the chess table near the southern window. She looked back at him. “After all these years, your father’s favorite pastime has always been listening to me py the guqin. What do you think?”

  Other than this hairpin, Lady Fan had never managed to get any substantial evidence against her. Yes, she had been caught off guard this time, a hunter struck by their prey. But it didn’t matter; even in death, that fool couldn’t drag her down.

  After finishing her expnation, seeing Zhou Weiqi calm down considerably, Consort Fan stood gracefully and looked at him with a composed gaze. “The pns we made earlier must not be neglected. The year is drawing to a close, and the ledgers and dividends from the Northwest should be arriving soon. When they do, you’ll take them to your father. With your grandmother’s support, your father will forgive you.”

  Having spent so many years in close proximity to the Crown Prince, she understood him better than he understood himself. She knew exactly how to manipute him.

  Mentioning the Northwest ledgers made Zhou Weiqi think of Han Zhengqing, and the thorn in his heart stabbed deeply. He remained silent for a long time, ultimately asking nothing further. Even with Lady Fan dead, Consort Fan was still so certain that Han Zhengqing would follow the pn and adhere to past practices. Zhou Weiqi couldn’t fathom the source of her confidence, nor did he want to.

  “For something so trivial, you’ve fallen into despair like this. What will you do when faced with greater storms in the future?” Consort Fan said, scolding him as she continued. “That other one is only a year older than you but so much more composed. Do you know how many dangers he faced on his journey back from Mount Longhu? Have you thought about it? Yet he returned safely without a word. Think about it—over the years, hasn’t your father gone from ignoring their mother and son to gradually paying more attention to them?”

  Zhou Weiqi’s heart tightened. She was right. If it weren’t for his success in handling the Yangzhou corruption case and the Northwest matter, his father’s favor would have been fully captured by Zhou Weizhao.

  Thinking back, Zhou Weiqi’s risky move against Prince Duan and the Yangzhou matter had all been prompted by Zhou Weizhao’s earlier exploits. The incident in Tongzhou, where the Tatar rebellion was suppressed, had earned Zhou Weizhao extraordinary merit. Overnight, the citizens of the capital and Tongzhou praised the young and exceptional heir apparent who had returned from Mount Longhu.

  Zhou Weiqi said nothing, but Consort Fan could tell he was taking her words to heart. She didn’t wait for him to speak and continued, “There’s still a long way to go, and there are many more things for you two to compete over. He may have the reputation of being chosen by destiny from Mount Longhu, but Great Zhou isn’t only full of Daoist believers. Many follow Buddhism as well.”

  Zhou Weiqi’s thoughts shifted, and after a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Are you referring to Yuanhui?”

  Yuanhui, originally aligned with Prince Duan, had recently shown goodwill toward Zhou Weiqi for reasons unknown. During their st visit to Huangjue Temple, Yuanhui had even personally approached Zhou Weiqi to offer his help.

  Consort Fan nodded, gncing at him. “Master Yuanhui is a renowned monk. If he’s willing to guide you, you’ll benefit greatly.”

  “Next year is the spring imperial examination. You should start paying attention to who will be the chief examiner. Build connections early with the schors who succeed next year. Establishing a good reputation among the literati will only help you,” Consort Fan reminded him. “And as for your marriage, your grandfather has already asked twice about the marital prospects of that person from Zhang Tianshi’s side. Since he’s asking, the other princes and imperial grandchildren of appropriate age won’t be overlooked. Given your current circumstances, it’s critical for you to secure a strong marriage alliance.”

  The Chen family, pying both sides, was hesitant. They appeased Zhou Weiqi on one hand but hesitated to commit, eyeing the situation with Zhou Weizhao on the other. Displeased, Consort Fan decided to throw this problem to Yuanhui.

  Zhou Weiqi quietly looked at Consort Fan, feeling she was oversimplifying the situation. Even if his father had no concrete evidence, even if the Fan family cleaned up her reputation, suspicion once pnted in a man’s heart would never go away. She would never again regain the unquestioning trust his father once had in her. Yet, she seemed oblivious to this reality.