Yusheng was so distressed she was on the verge of tears. “The young mistress was folding paper boats with Miss Yunxiu to prepare for tonight’s ntern release. Our mistress thought she’d bring back a few green plum branches to pce in a vase at home. But after walking for a while, she twisted her ankle—it hurts even with the slightest movement. We didn’t dare help her up, afraid we might worsen the injury…”

  The back mountain of Huangjue Temple was vast, with red plums pnted in the central area and green plums in fenced-off plots on either side. Clearly, Xiang Mingzi had gone in that direction.

  Remembering Old Lady Song’s instructions, Song Chuyi immediately stopped Yusheng’s tearful rambling and sternly asked, “Who else was with the young mistress when you left?”

  For a dy from an established family, it was unthinkable to leave her unattended. If something were to happen, no amount of expnation could clear the situation.

  Startled by the rebuke, Yusheng paused before responding. “Yu Qing was also with her…”

  Song Chuyi didn’t rex at the answer and quickly stepped out of the plum grove, leading Qingying and Ziyun briskly toward the southern green plum grove. Yusheng hurried ahead to guide them, continuing to grumble, “It’s all because of that cat that suddenly appeared! It nearly pounced on the young mistress’s face and scared her so badly. That’s how she twisted her ankle—right at a downhill slope where it’s easy to lose your footing.”

  Song Chuyi’s expression grew more severe. By the time she arrived at the location Yusheng mentioned, she was nearly running. She immediately spotted a figure dressed in a blue-green robe stepping toward Xiang Mingzi, who was sitting on the ground with no sign of Yu Qing nearby.

  Her heart sank. Raising her voice, she called out, “Cousin!” and quickly made her way downhill, holding onto tree trunks for bance. She reached Xiang Mingzi at the same time as the man in the blue-green robe.

  When Xiang Mingzi saw her, she looked as if she were about to cry out of grievance. Clinging to Song Chuyi’s arm, she tried to stand, only to falter in pain. “A cat startled me, and I twisted my ankle. It hurts terribly.”

  Song Chuyi gnced at the young man standing stiffly behind Xiang Mingzi, around the same age as Song Jue, and patted Xiang Mingzi’s hand. “It’s alright, it’s alright. I’ll have someone fetch a bamboo litter. Don’t move around for now, or it might get worse.”

  Zhou Weizhao arrived just behind Song Chuyi. Spotting the man, he was momentarily stunned before addressing him knowingly, “Yan Sheng?”

  Wei Yansheng had already knelt, pulling back his robe. Only after Zhou Weizhao gave him permission to rise did he stand, brushing the snow off his knees with an embarrassed smile. “I didn’t realize Your Highness was also admiring the plum blossoms in the back mountain. I lost a bet with Shen Qi and the others, and the loser had to come up here to pick some green plums.”

  The expnation sounded pusible enough. Hearing the surname Wei, Song Chuyi couldn’t help thinking of the uninvited Lady Wei and began to connect the dots. Once Wei Yansheng made a hasty retreat and disappeared from sight, she turned to Xiang Mingzi and asked, “Didn’t you say Yu Qing was with you? Where is she?”

  Xiang Mingzi looked around, frowning with growing frustration. “She said she was worried Yusheng might get lost and went to find Aunt and Uncle…”

  Her gaze lingered in the direction Wei Yansheng had disappeared and then toward where he had come from. Her brows furrowed even tighter before she let out a cold ugh. “It seems Yu Qing wasn’t going to find Aunt and Uncle at all but went to fetch that Wei gentleman.”

  Irritation and anger bubbled up as she realized she had been maniputed. “I didn’t think…”

  Zhou Weizhao gnced at them and then turned to Qingzhuo and Hanfeng, instructing, “Go find the guest monk and have him bring a bamboo litter immediately.”

  Back in the meditation hall, Lady Wei had already taken her leave. First Lady Cui and Lady Yu were discussing the upcoming sermon with Lady Song. Seeing this sudden commotion, they immediately stood, while First Lady Song looked especially anxious.

  Xiang Mingzi was the apple of Old Lady Song’s eye. If First Lady Song had brought her out in good health but returned with her injured, Old Lady Song would undoubtedly pce the bme squarely on her.

  When they learned the circumstances, First Lady Song clenched her teeth in fury. “No wonder she kept hovering around me like a ghost, pressuring me to let you all wander off! A cat suddenly appearing? What a convenient coincidence! It’s clearly a trap set by someone!”

  The timing of Wei Yansheng’s appearance was too perfect, arousing suspicion.

  First Lady Cui immediately sent someone to fetch medicinal ointment to promote circution and reduce swelling. Huangjue Temple was well-stocked with such remedies, often used by nearby families for sprains as long as there were no broken bones.

  Experienced attendants Nanny Jin and Nanny Qiu examined Xiang Mingzi and, after confirming no bones were broken, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

  While First Lady Cui, Lady Yu, and First Lady Song busied themselves with Xiang Mingzi’s injury, Song Chuyi turned to Nanny Xu and quietly instructed, “Nanny, send someone to find out where Yu Qing has gone. Once you find her, have her brought back immediately.”

  Meanwhile, Qingzhuo and Hanfeng took the opportunity to report to Zhou Weizhao about the conversation between Lady Fan and Han Zhi. After finishing, Qingzhuo gnced at the snowy ndscape outside and asked, “Since the Lady of Jinxiang Marquis’s household has decided to use such a desperate method to retaliate against the other side… what about Han Zhi?”

  Zhou Weizhao raised his brows slightly, surprised by the revetions. He hadn’t expected such an old grudge to surface. For Consort Fan to make such a reckless move at this critical juncture, it seemed she had lost her reason entirely. Eight years ago, she would never have made such a foolish decision.

  When Song Chuyi returned, he had Qingzhu repeat the words overheard at Chongyin Tavern. After some thought, he asked her, "What do you think? If we fan the fmes behind the scenes..."

  Song Chuyi looked into his eyes and slowly shook her head. "Your Highness, it’s not the right time."

  At least, not yet. Let alone whether Lady Fan could truly tear away Consort Fan’s facade— even if she succeeded, the Crown Prince might not fully believe it.

  Consort Fan had been deeply intertwined with the Crown Prince for so many years, practically to the point where he obeyed her every word. If they were even slightly careless and she turned the tables, the losses would outweigh the gains.

  She paused, and suddenly her eyes lit up. "Have someone keep an eye on Han Zhi. Right now, he must be even more furious than when he first learned that Consort Fan targeted him. Since Lady Fan is willing to risk her life, his anger will only grow stronger..."

  Zhou Weizhao understood her meaning. He lowered his eyes and remained silent for a while before asking, "And after that, we do nothing?"

  "No need to act for now." Song Chuyi picked up a teacup and took a sip of hot tea, her eyes bzing as she stared at Zhou Weizhao. "Han Zhi has nowhere else to turn. Since Lady Fan told him under no circumstances to go to the Northwest, if he wants revenge, what other path does he have?

  As for Consort Fan, she’ll soon be exhausted dealing with Lady Fan’s provocations. You don’t need to get involved at all. Let the Crown Prince develop suspicions of her on his own— that is the wisest course of action."