The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Emperor Chu was awakened from his dragon bed by Eunuch Zhou, feeling somewhat drowsy and puzzled as he was informed of Song Zhiyuan’s visit.

”What time is it?” Has the court session begun this early?

Eunuch Zhou respectfully replied, ”Reporting to Your Majesty, there’s still an hour before the court session begins.”

Emperor Chu got down from the dragon bed and extended his hand, allowing the eunuchs to step forward to change his clothes and assist with his freshening up.

”It’s not time for court yet, why is he here? Oh, I heard that Master Buhui entered the Prime Minister’s Mansion yesterday to treat Madam Song; could it be that Madam is unwell and he’s here to request leave?”

Eunuch Zhou said, ”That doesn’t seem to be the case. If it were to request leave, he would have sent someone. Coming here at this hour must mean something urgent.”

Emperor Chu half-squinted his eyes and said, ”Let Prime Minister Song come in to speak then; it’s cold outside, no need for him to catch a cold.”

”Yes, Your Majesty.”

Song Zhiyuan, dressed in his court attire, entered following Eunuch Zhou after being summoned.

Emperor Chu had already freshened up and was being assisted by a palace maid kneeling to organize his boots and the hem of his dragon robe. Seeing Song Zhiyuan enter, he said, ”What matters couldn’t wait until after the morning court session and made you rush here so early?”

Song Zhiyuan remained silent.

Seeing this, Emperor Chu raised an eyebrow and waved his hand; everyone withdrew silently, leaving only Eunuch Zhou standing at a distance.

Only then did Song Zhiyuan lift his robe and kneel down.

Emperor Chu’s eyelid twitched—this setup suggested something serious.

Song Zhiyuan first apologized, then began to speak of Bai Shuilian’s background, her actions after entering the mansion, his suspicions, and a series of arrangements.

”...I sent three groups to investigate, and only from the words of a blind and disabled woman did we manage to dig up some background, and trace some clues from a thread. Because there is no substantial evidence, we did not dare to report until now.”

Emperor Chu said, ”Stand up and speak; though we’ve laid a dragon rug, these white jade bricks are cold in the dead of winter.”

Song Zhiyuan thanked him and stood up.

”So there’s a result, confirming she’s a spy from the Xia clan?”

Song Zhiyuan nodded and went on to describe the setup for the sting operation.

”A small courtyard in the west of the city, not very conspicuous, moved in less than half a year ago, inhabited only by dead guards and spies—the secret chamber is empty.”

Emperor Chu felt a bit regretful, ”You broke their nest but didn’t catch anyone. They’re like eels, really slippery.”

”Not a nest, just a liaison point; that’s not the main issue,” Song Zhiyuan shook his head.

Emperor Chu was surprised, looking over with his teacup in hand, ”What do you mean?”

”I suspect that Cabinet Minister Ning didn’t die.” He laid down the books he was holding and handed over a volume on unofficial history, expressing his suspicion.

”Oh, huh?” Emperor Chu widened his eyes, forgetting to drink his tea, ”Who do you say didn’t die?”

”The Grand Secretary of the Xia Dynasty, Ning Hongde.”

Emperor Chu’s pupils constricted, setting down the tea, receiving the unofficial history volume, he said, ”That’s impossible; my father personally witnessed his last breath and burial.”

Song Zhiyuan lowered his eyes, ”In the Green Forest, there are many skilled individuals. If a spy can perform Disguise and Shrinkage, it’s no exaggeration for someone skilled in medicine and poison to concoct a fake-death elixir.”

Emperor Chu pressed his lips together, flipped through the unofficial history, finding obvious traces of readers and a pervasive smell of decay.

Following Song Zhiyuan’s directions, he turned to a certain page where a line of text had been rewritten. The handwriting matched the scripts of Cabinet Minister Ning he’d seen before, the hooks in the characters were identical.

”Cabinet Minister Ning was the least willing to surrender yet personally surrendered the Jade Seal. If he’s not dead, then Xia Yu’s remaining forces are most likely organized by him.” Emperor Chu tapped the table, narrowing his eyes, ”If we can find that old fox, then...”

The old forces could collapse without being attacked, right?