The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Emperor Chu deeply analyzes that if a group becomes leaderless, it will turn into a scattered mess of sand. If they truly grasp hold of this supposedly still alive Cabinet Minister Ning, then the remnant followers of the Xia clan will surely descend into chaos, as Ning was once a power spanning the entire court with unparalleled influence.

As for those remnants of the previous Xia Crown Prince, to be honest, if they wish to restore the country, they must have legitimacy to raise their flag; otherwise, how can they silence the endless chatter?

But whether this person is truly legitimate is all up to those followers to say. He can be, or they can replace him with someone else; the existence of such an excuse is merely to silence the scholars.

And the common people won’t care if he truly has the bloodline of the previous Xia Crown Prince, just as they won’t care who becomes the emperor.

Therefore, compared to this person, if Cabinet Minister Ning truly exists, he is much more important, as he is genuinely connected to the faction of old followers; compared to a mere child, he is far more crucial to those followers.

Emperor Chu inexplicably becomes excited.

”So, if your suspicion is true, this old fellow is now in the city?” Emperor Chu looks at Song Zhiyuan, suddenly calculating with his fingers, saying: ”When that old fellow supposedly died, he was already fifty, right? Now it’s been over twenty years; if he’s not dead, he’d be over seventy, nearing eighty? Wow, such longevity.”

Song Zhiyuan says: ”Whether he is or isn’t still requires thorough investigation. After the Ning family was reduced to commoners, they’ve been farming in their old home in Wuxing. To investigate thoroughly, one must dig up graves and open coffins.”

Emperor Chu: ”...”

Digging up graves and opening coffins—sounds truly grounded yet distinctly vicious.

However, it suits my heart; I quite like this bad character in Prime Minister Song!

”What’s digging up graves? To investigate thoroughly, the entire Ning family, from top to bottom, must be brought back to the capital.” Emperor Chu says calmly: ”I believe that, for any grand ambition, the foundation must remain. If all nine clans are absent, an old man, even if he restored Xia Country, what hope would there be? Surely at his age, he can’t start having offspring again?”

The implication in this is to bring all nine clans back to the capital; without fear of Cabinet Minister Ning not revealing himself unless he is willing to sacrifice the nine clans for the restoration. If he is indeed so great, then let him accept defeat.

Song Zhiyuan says nothing. Since suspicion has arisen and this conversation opened, there must be a conclusion.

He can’t help but wonder what prompted the old minister to fake death—perhaps unwilling to have handed over the Jade Seal back then, exchanging for his family’s safe exit from nobility and sacrificing himself, thus earning the reputation of a loyal, dedicated minister.

Now it seems, loyal he indeed was, merely in a different fashion.

Emperor Chu suddenly thinks of something, pressing his fingertips together, saying: ”If that person is in the capital, does that mean the remnants are also in the city?” He looks to Steward Zhou: ”Go summon the head of the Imperial Guards to come see me.”

Steward Zhou responds, bowing, and withdraws.

By this point, Song Zhiyuan’s role is essentially over; he apologizes to Emperor Chu, naturally for Song Zhiqing’s blindness and folly.

”My young brother is muddle-headed, having mingled with such people around him without realizing, his mind truly lacks a piece, acting without due thought; I humbly ask the Emperor to impose punishment.”

Song Zhiyuan speaks lightly, yet Emperor Chu distinctly detects some explosive air, can’t help but raise his brows—putting eye medicine for his younger brother right in front of me? How could Song Zhiqing’s official path advance?

This fellow surely angered him, right?

Emperor Chu harbors a trace of curiosity, asking: ”Mere spy, not knowingly kept, should he remain unruly, you wouldn’t sever his career prospects over this; what has he done to anger you so?”