Chapter 23: His Men Are All Wingmen

Song Shiwei knew immediately upon hearing the news that Concubine Qin and Song Shilan were up to their old tricks again. She understood this mother-daughter pair all too well; they were the type who would scheme regardless of the circumstances, and even worse, they always believed their plots would succeed.

"What have they done this time?" she asked with a flat tone.

The station master looked disgusted and spoke with clear loathing, "That pair is trying to use the servants passing through here, promising them great rewards if they help them with certain tasks." If he hadn't repeatedly warned the staff, some might have actually been bought off by the promise of these supposed favors.

Song Shiwei understood immediately; she could guess exactly what they intended to use the station staff for.

"Station master, I actually think what Concubine Qin and Song Shilan are doing is quite fine." She wore a strange, knowing smile. "That pair has too much energy; it would be good to wear them down a bit."

The station master was a clever man and understood her intent at once. "You are absolutely right, Miss Song. It is indeed time to properly exhaust their energy."

Song Shiwei took a tael of silver from her sleeve and pressed it into his hand. "Please accept this, Station Master. I am asking you to handle this for me, so I cannot show up empty-handed. Besides, my family is still imposing on your hospitality."

The station master accepted the silver without hesitation. His look toward Song Shiwei changed; this was the true bearing and cultivation of a noblewoman from a prestigious family, unlike Concubine Qin and Song Shilan, who only offered empty words and looked down on people like them.

"Miss Song, the woodshed is often used to store odds and ends; it's quite a chaotic place," he remarked suddenly.

Song Shiwei understood perfectly. She feigned surprise, "Is that so? In that case, I imagine Concubine Qin and Song Shilan will find it hard to eat or sleep well." On this road of exile, she would no longer be held back by concerns for her family’s or her father’s reputation, nor would she worry about others using her actions against her.

The station master caught her meaning instantly. "Miss Song, it won't be as simple as just not eating or sleeping well. People are always coming and going in the woodshed; if they aren't careful, something serious could happen."

"They are, after all, prisoners," Song Shiwei said. "It wouldn't be good if something truly went wrong."

The station master realized exactly where the line was drawn. "Understood, perfectly understood."

After thanking him once more, Song Shiwei went to look for the men sent by the Prince of Ding. Since Concubine Qin and Song Shilan wanted to cause trouble, she would let them cause all the trouble they could handle. Not knowing where the Prince’s men were stationed and fearing she might draw attention, she circled the area before returning to her room.

She thought for a moment, then took the token from her spatial storage and tapped on the window. "Is anyone there?"

Before the sound had faded, she saw a young man with a cheerful face hanging upside down outside the window.

"Miss Song, do you need something?" He smiled kindly, giving off an easy-going vibe. "I am Ling Ze."

Noticing his quick glance at the token, Song Shiwei held it out for him to see. "You may check it first to ensure this was indeed given to me by the Prince of Ding."

Ling Ze waved his hand to decline, grinning. "I only need one look at this token to know it belongs to His Highness. Is there something you need, Miss Song?" Perhaps Yang Hu was right—the Prince truly felt differently about her.

Song Shiwei put the token away. "Was the incident with the sweet potatoes your doing?"

Ling Ze scratched his head. "Yes. His Highness ordered us to ensure your safety. When we realized there was something wrong with those sweet potatoes, we took measures to handle it." Truth be told, that young man had been far too conspicuous; from the moment he entered the station, he had acted shifty and guilty, which naturally drew their attention.

Song Shiwei’s expression darkened. "Did you find out who was behind it?"

"Not yet," Ling Ze replied. "But I suspect that since they failed once, they will try again."

Song Shiwei agreed, which was exactly why she wanted to identify the culprit as soon as possible to make the necessary preparations. "May I ask about the current situation in Mingdu?"

She hadn't gathered much useful information from Concubine Liu, but she couldn't blame the station master for that; given his position, there was no way he could access more sensitive news.

Ling Ze nodded. He studied her for a moment with an unreadable expression before saying, "That day, Cui Jing refused to submit to Princess Anning. She had him whipped dozens of times, and he is still at the Princess's estate recovering."

Song Shiwei’s hands tightened, and her heart gave a sharp, painful jolt. Her face remained emotionless, but her tone carried a hint of hatred. "Cui Jing deserves it. However, as long as the Princess hasn't tired of playing with him, he won't be in any real danger."

It was well known that Princess Anning had many male favorites—some she chose herself, some sent by families hoping to curry favor, and others she seized by force.

Seeing her reaction, Ling Ze understood that while she still held a shred of feeling for Cui Jing, it was overshadowed by resentment. Most importantly, it meant she would never choose him again. In that case, the Prince had lost one of his greatest rivals. Excellent!

"Miss Song, in my opinion, it won't be long before Cui Jing submits to the Princess." He dropped to the ground and leaned casually against the window. "She promised him that if he obeys, she will grant him high office and help the Cui family reach even greater heights."

Song Shiwei forced herself to ignore the ache in her heart. She looked at the young man with a calm gaze and said, "What is the meaning of telling me this? If you are trying to test me, there is no need. My relationship with Cui Jing is one of irreconcilable hatred."

Ling Ze quickly replied, "You misunderstand me, Miss Song. That is not what I meant. I only meant to say that Cui Jing and the Cui family are walking toward their own destruction."

Song Shiwei looked puzzled.

Ling Ze explained, "Ever since your family was raided and sent into exile, the Emperor's attitude toward Princess Anning and the Cui family has changed. Unfortunately, they haven't realized it yet and are still living in a fantasy world."

This was exactly the kind of information she needed. She sat up straighter, her voice dropping. "Is the Emperor planning to target the Princess or the Cui family first?" Before he could answer, she corrected herself, "No, that's not right. The Princess still has great utility to the Emperor; he wouldn't dispose of her at a time like this. So, he intends to eliminate the Cui family to prevent them and Cui Jing from using the Princess's influence to grow strong enough to threaten him."

Ling Ze clapped his hands, his face full of admiration. "You guessed it perfectly, Miss Song!"