The second time I shared a carriage with Song Chengze, the atmosphere was much more relaxed than the last time. The Ruiwang Mansion and the Huainan Marquis Mansion were both in the east of the city, but they were in opposite directions from the direction of the Imperial Palace. If Song Chengze still entered the palace from the east gate, he would have to go around it.
"Don't you suspect that Ms. Zhang is from Prince Jing's Mansion? My people are still investigating and the specific situation has not been reported yet. Why do you want to take her with you?" Song Chengze watched Ms. Zhang and Ms. Li, as well as Mother Liu and Yuanyue got on the carriage at the back.
"If you want to fish, you have to have something to eat. She's been in the palace for so many years, who knows if there are other people? If I treat her coldly all of a sudden, it will arouse their vigilance, which will put us in a very passive position."
Song Chengze hummed, "Are you planning to use her? Have you figured out a way?"
"Not yet. There have been so many things going on recently. I want to wait for the news you get back." Meng Qi looked up at Song Chengze, thought for a moment, and then said, "Not only her, but everyone else in the mansion, I want to find out the inside story."
"Who do you suspect?" Song Chengze frowned. He knew that there must be people from other mansions in his mansion. Just like he said before, he also had people in other mansions.
"If I say that I won't believe any of them until I have my own confirmation, what will the prince think?"
Song Chengze was stunned for a moment, then asked softly, "Every one?"
Meng Qi nodded. "Yes, everyone, including Madam Hai and Madam Li, has always been by your side. In today's ever-changing world, who can guarantee absolute loyalty? Furthermore, for so many years, the inner chambers of the palace have lacked a set of rules or a permanent head of household affairs. With each household running its own affairs, people's hearts change. I promised you, and I dare not promise anything else, that I will hand over a clean inner chamber to the next generation... to you. I can still do it."
Song Chengze said, "It's just like this. You're working too hard, both in the palace and in the mansion."
Meng Qi breathed a sigh of relief. It was really nice talking to Song Chengze. He didn't defend the two people she had just mentioned, but instead thought about the problem from her perspective.
She had deliberately mentioned Madam Hai and Madam Li, because besides Zhang Decheng, these two were the only people who had always been by Song Chengze's side. Zhang Decheng wouldn't have anything to do with her, and she couldn't possibly extend her influence to the outer courtyard, so if Song Chengze didn't object or question her mentioning these two people, then the others wouldn't matter at all.
Just as she had imagined, working with someone like him was truly a joy, no need to beat around the bush. Meng Qi thought that if she could accomplish a few more major feats and uncover more traitors, Song Chengze would definitely trust her completely. When she could participate in the discussions in his outer study, she would have achieved her goal.
"With the prince's words, no matter how hard it is, it's okay as long as the prince believes in me."
Song Chengze smiled slightly. "Of course I trust you. Go ahead and do it. If you need anything, just go find Zhang Decheng. The inner courtyard of the Rui Palace really needs to be properly organized."
Meng Qi nodded, "There's one more thing I want to ask Your Majesty."
"you say."
"How did you know my mother's birthday is today?"
Song Chengze looked Meng Qi in the eye. "If there's anything else happening in the Meng family in the future, don't hide it from me. Tell me and I'll figure out how to handle it. There are some things you don't have to bear alone, okay?"
When Meng Qi heard Song Chengze say this, her eyes suddenly became red. What could be more joyful than getting others' understanding after doing something yourself?
"Yes, I understand. From now on, whether it's something that the mansion or the Meng family encounters that I can't solve or that requires the help of Your Majesty, I will definitely tell you."
Song Chengze hummed, looked at Meng Qi who lowered her head and said, "I heard it from Mr. Zhou Er."
"Zhou Yu?" Meng Qi raised her head and asked.
"Yes, he wants to find a gift for the Crown Prince's wife." After saying that, he looked at Meng Qi meaningfully.
Meng Qi felt a little embarrassed when he looked at her, "Well, that must have been what my second sister told him."
Song Chengze saw her eyes darting around but not daring to look at him, and he just thought it was cute. "Your second sister stays at home all day, how could she have time to talk to him about this?"
"Ah? Then how did he know?"
"I heard it from Gao Yang."
"Gao Yang?" Meng Qi felt that the name sounded familiar.
"Yes, the son of Minister Gao Zhan," Song Chengze said. Before Song Chengze could say anything else, Meng Qi interrupted, "The Empress's nephew who climbed up the roof and pulled the tiles off the house?"
When Song Chengze heard her describe Gao Yang like this, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, "You know about him too?"
"Of course, Zhou Yu was hanging out with him at that time. You also know about my past with Zhou Yu. It's not that I pay much attention to it, but I always hear about them getting into trouble together."
Song Chengze nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "Is it because Zhou Yu gets along well with them that you want to break off the engagement with Zhou Yu?"
Meng Qi looked up. They had never discussed anything about her and Zhou Yu. If this were her past life, she would have avoided discussing it with Song Chengze. But in this life, she knew early on that everything about Zhou Yu was just a facade. He had already become Song Chengze's disciple, something she was happy to see. At least, Meng Wan wasn't marrying a fool, and he would provide her with a good life.
"Half and half. He's always getting into trouble. He's been sleeping with prostitutes at such a young age and never does anything serious. And you know how messy the Shen County Prince's Mansion is. And I don't get along with the Third Miss of the County Prince's Mansion. For all these reasons combined, I hate him."
Seeing Song Chengze nod slightly, Meng Qi thought for a moment and said, "It seems that I know so much about Zhou Yu's misbehavior. I'm afraid that Hu from the Prince's Mansion deliberately let me know."
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