Song Chengru spoke with Song Yan through the night. Early the next morning, he went to Ningde Courtyard to see Old Lady Song. After finishing breakfast and waiting for Song Jue to come to pay respects, he asked, "How are things?"

  The gambling den had been shut down, and Magistrate He's men had taken control of everything. Soldiers were searching the auxiliary estates of the Marquis of Jinxiang, making it impossible for Han Zhi to simply vanish. He would surely return to the Marquis's residence to seek help.

  Having quarreled with the Prince of Commandery and Consort Fan, he wouldn't receive any aid from that side either. His only option was to gather money from the Marquis's household and flee west to Han Zhengqing's territory.

  Song Jue nodded. "Last night, the Jinyiwei were already stationed at the entrance of the Marquis's residence. Although the traffic in and out suddenly increased, they were able to identify Han Zhi's personal aide among them. Now the Jinyiwei are following him out of the city."

  The Jinyiwei and Magistrate He's men were determined. No matter how capable Han Zhi was, he was still mortal, and faced with the Jinyiwei, he would be a dead man.

  Old Master Song tapped his fingers on the table and asked Song Jue, "No movement from the Eastern Pace?"

  There should have been some reaction. Although the Eastern Pace could cim ignorance of the gambling den, they couldn't remain indifferent to Zhang Run's situation—after all, Zhang Run was Zhang Yuan's son. If he had evidence of the Yangzhou corruption case and handed it over or was implicated by the Jinyiwei, both Consort Fan and the Prince of Commandery would be in serious trouble.

  Song Jue gnced at Song Yan, then tilted his head to ask him, "If you were the Prince of Commandery, what would you do?"

  They hadn't paid enough attention to Song Yan. First, he had lost his mother at a young age and spent two years recuperating in the Cui family. Later, he almost died in a fire, was sent to Shuzhong to study, and had only returned after three years. Naturally, they had been lenient with him.

  However, some mistakes couldn't be made repeatedly. Song Yan had suffered once and should learn from it, and they should guide him properly.

  In recent days, both Cui Yingshu and Old Master Song had been expining the court's political situation to him, simplifying the events surrounding the Yangzhou corruption case and Cui Shaoting's affairs in the northwest so he could understand the broader context.

  Song Yan now understood why Song Chuyi had used Han Zhi's conflict with the Prince of Commandery to turn them against each other. To deal with a viper like Han Zhi, one must first cut off his escape route. Now was the perfect moment.

  "If I were the Prince of Commandery, I would find a way to silence Zhang Run, regardless of what he might reveal," Song Yan said. When he spoke of "silencing," he no longer felt the initial shock over human life, understanding that, as his grandfather and uncle had said, lives were expendable to some people. "And Han Zhi... he's fallen out with the Prince and has become estranged from Consort Fan. Most importantly, the closure of the gambling den happened just after the Prince of Commandery withdrew his support. Han Zhi will definitely think this is Consort Fan and the Prince kicking him while he's down..."

  Seeing both Song Chengru and Song Jue watching him intently, he carefully added, "If he's captured now, he would likely have nothing to lose. If I were the Prince of Commandery, I wouldn't let him be taken back to the capital alive for interrogation."

  Song Jue shifted his gaze toward Old Lady Song and Old Master Song, unconsciously lowering his voice. "Today, the Prince of Commandery is drinking with Vice Minister Li from the Ministry of Justice at Juyi Pavillion."

  It was rumored that Vice Minister Li's wife had chosen Lai Chenglong's second daughter as a match for their eldest grandson's legitimate wife. The Prince of Commandery's invitation to him at this time was quite telling.

  Old Master Song nodded. "Help them a little."

  Surprised, Song Yan looked up at Song Chengru. "Grandfather, you're saying... we should help them kill Han Zhi?"

  "Can't understand?" Old Master Song accepted a cup of tea from Song Jue, sipping calmly as he looked sharply at Song Yan. "If Han Zhi is brought back, what then?"

  What then? Song Yan froze, taking a moment to unravel his grandfather's words.

  He had never engaged in such political schemes before, and what he had heard in the past few days felt like tales from another world. Now, thinking carefully, he understood. Yes, what would happen if Han Zhi were brought back?

  Even Zhang Tianhe, a high-ranking official with considerable power, had met an inexplicable end at the hands of Xu Liang and Jia Yingxin, with fwless paperwork to cover it up. What chance did Han Zhi have? His power stemmed from the Marquis of Jinxiang's influence and Consort Fan in the Eastern Pace, but now he was on his own, with the Marquis's influence out of reach and Consort Fan eager for his demise.

  Even if he returned, it would be useless.

  And with the personalities of the Prince of Commandery and Grand Secretary Chen at his side, they would never allow him to return alive.

  Seeing that Song Yan had come to understand, Old Lady Song tugged at Old Master Song's sleeve, signaling him to be gentle. Old Master Song nodded, saying, "Remember, think things through and proceed with caution in the future."

  Old Lady Song beckoned Song Yan to her side, and seeing his dejected expression, she smiled. "Everyone makes mistakes. When your grandfather was your age, he only knew how to bury himself in his studies. It wasn't until the family's power struggle, the change in marquisate, and your great-grandfather's severe illness that he became what he is today. A fine sword is honed through hardship, and the plum blossom's fragrance comes from the bitter cold. You made mistakes this time, but you're still young; as long as you learn from them, it's a good thing."

  Guiding a child required a gentle approach, with the grandfather, uncle, and brothers pying the stern roles while she and the granddaughters pyed the gentle ones. Otherwise, if pressured too hard, a good child could be easily damaged.

  Old Lady Song leaned back against the cushion, looking at Song Yan. "And your fellow student..."

  Song Yan had already mentioned the matter to Song Jue, who took over the conversation. "Yan'er ignored him and left him at the gambling den. Later, Magistrate He arrested him as a gambler."

  Old Lady Song exchanged a gnce with Old Master Song, instructing Song Jue, "Have your second brother visit Magistrate He and ensure that man doesn't say anything disgraceful."

  Such a despicable person, faced with this situation, would certainly try to implicate Song Yan to save his own life.

  She gnced at Song Yan and chuckled. "The unfaithful are often the schors. Those who darken their hearts while reading, casting aside the teachings of sages, truly deserve whatever fate befalls them. He brought this upon himself; he has no one to bme."

  Song Yan didn't plead on his fellow's behalf. From the moment he left the gambling den, he had anticipated A Heng's fate. Hearing his grandmother's words, he simply pursed his lips and nodded.