Zuo Yun's due date was in November. If things moved quickly, Wang Qingyao would already be in Nanzhou by then, so a 'three-day wash' celebration was out of the question. However, Wang Qingyao had prepared a gift nonetheless. She took advantage of the few days she had to arrange matters in Duanjing and personally delivered it to the Duke of Zhongyong's mansion.
Gifts for newborns typically included longevity locks, auspicious locks, gold bracelets, and gold bowls and chopsticks. Wang Qingyao, being wealthy, had prepared them all. Each piece was crafted from pure gold and felt heavy in the hand.
Zuo Yun laughed, "Oh my, you've blinded me with your generosity." She added, "For us young girls, a small pair of earrings or a hairpin would suffice. There's no need to spend so much."
Wang Qingyao smiled but didn't reply.
Fang Yuan knew that Wang Qingyao would be accompanying Xiao Yun to Nanzhou, and she was so envious her mouth was watering.
"Sister Yaoyao, can you take me with you? I'm very well-behaved. Remember when you took me hunting last time? I didn't cause you any trouble at all, I was very good," Fang Yuan cozied up to her, batting her eyelashes and feigning cuteness, trying to melt Wang Qingyao's heart with her charm.
But Wang Qingyao had seen all sorts of beautiful women. Forget appearances; she had seen countless inner selves!
Therefore, she coldly pushed Fang Yuan away and said without hesitation, "You're dreaming. That's Nanzhou, a long journey. Even if I agreed, your brother and grandfather wouldn't."
Fang Yuan knew she was speaking the truth. She was just indulging in wishful thinking. As an unmarried girl, how could she possibly travel such a long distance with someone?
Thinking this, she felt life was so boring and meaningless. Her own life, the first half of Miss Fang's life, had nothing remarkable about it.
Before Miss Fang could finish contemplating her life philosophy, she heard Wang Qingyao continue, "However, we can write to each other. You haven't corresponded with anyone outside Duanjing, have you?"
Fang Yuan's eyes lit up at the mention of correspondence. "Is it carrier pigeons? Should I ask my brother to build a dovecote?"
Wang Qingyao laughed heartily, "No, no. It's not carrier pigeons. We're not writing anything secret. The post station will help us send letters. I'll record my experiences along the way and send them to you. It'll be almost like you're traveling with me."
There was still a difference.
Fang Yuan's gaze turned envious again, wondering when she, too, could travel and sightsee outside Duanjing like Wang Qingyao.
On her way back, Wang Qingyao happened to run into Xiao Yun and Fang Zheng.
For the past few days, Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun had been busy arranging matters in Duanjing, working separately. She hadn't expected to encounter him at the Fang residence.
"I was delivering a meeting gift for Zuo Yun's baby..."
Wang Qingyao started, and Xiao Yun understood. He beckoned her to join him in the study.
Xiao Yun had originally intended to investigate Wei Yu at her suggestion. Now that he was going to Nanzhou, he naturally couldn't. Even if he found anything, sending it via carrier pigeon midway was too risky for interception. So, he decided to hand it over to Fang Zheng.
As they communicated, Xiao Yun learned that the Emperor had asked Fang Zheng to secretly investigate the Second Prince's fall from his horse.
"The Emperor doesn't believe it was an accident."
"Do you?" Xiao Yun asked.
Fang Zheng sneered, "Who benefits the most from the Second Prince's fall is quite obvious."
The Emperor likely harbored suspicions himself, but the Second Prince and Prince Qi were full brothers, and he was unwilling to believe it.
"But why investigate Wei Yu?" Fang Zheng frowned, not finding Wei Yu suspicious at all. How old was that girl? Besides, the Second Prince's accident brought her no benefit. If he hadn't had the accident, she might have become the Empress's sister in the future!
Xiao Yun recounted the events at Prince Wu's warm-up banquet. Although Fang Zheng wasn't present, he had heard about it. However, he didn't know the truth behind it.
Hearing Xiao Yun's account now, he looked surprised.
"How did Wei Yu and Prince Wu collude?"
He had long suspected Prince Wu of playing the fool to hide his strength, so he wouldn't be surprised by any outrageous act.
As for the Wei family...
It seemed the Wei family members were not united.
He wondered if this young girl, Wei Yu, had acted on her own or under the instructions of her elders.
Speaking of the Wei elders, Wang Qingyao remembered the old man, Grand Tutor Wei. The old man had been busy searching for the "eldest prince" and had been very low-key recently, not appearing in public much.
She rubbed her chin, a thought suddenly occurring to her.
Of course, she couldn't voice this thought here; she would have to say it when she got home.
"The Emperor only has a few sons. It's either this one causing trouble or that one setting a trap. Everyone wants to sit on the throne. The temptation of that position is enough to make a person lose all morality," Wang Qingyao stated, her mind already made up. "It's either Prince Qi or Prince Wu. Now it's just a matter of finding evidence."
Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow. Her casual tone suggested that his cousin-in-law seemed to have no reverence for imperial power...
Wang Qingyao, oblivious to any impropriety in her speech, saw Fang Zheng looking at her and added, "It should be fruitful to start from Wei Yu. Xiao Yun has told you, right? We suspect that tiger was a person in disguise."
Fang Zheng nodded. He was a little surprised that she addressed Xiao Yun by his full name. Zuo Yun privately called him "A Zheng."
Comparing the two, he felt his wife's address was more intimate. Xiao Yun probably wouldn't be as good at pleasing his wife as he was.
With that thought, he smiled with a hint of smugness.
Xiao Yun looked at his inexplicably smiling face and twitched his lips. "Crazy."