Chapter 99 Entrustment
"The Crown Prince and the Crown Prince are not only ruler and subject, but also brothers," Sun Wei said. "The Crown Prince cherishes this friendship. If the Grand Tutor wants to persuade the Crown Prince to become a traitor, he will have to instigate a conflict between the two. But the Crown Prince has always been steadfast and will not allow the Grand Tutor to act so capriciously. The Grand Tutor and the Crown Prince are now master and disciple. I do not wish for you two to become enemies, and I think the Grand Tutor would not want that either."
Zhou Chang sneered.
"In that case, why would I accept him as my disciple?" he said angrily. "It's all your fault. You forced me back to this dangerous place and refused to let me show my skills! You don't have to rush to Xunyang Palace. Now that you've ruined my plan, you must send me back to Mount Lu!"
Sun Wei said, "It was the princess who brought the Grand Tutor back, not me. Besides, what's wrong with the Grand Tutor coming back? The princess has already found a famous doctor for him. If she can extend his life, isn't that a great kindness?"
"You've pissed me off today. Even a famous doctor couldn't save me," Zhou Chang said. "Aren't you afraid of the princess? I'll tell her when I get back that you dared to disrespect an old man like me. I'll see how she'll deal with you."
Sun smiled. "If I could really get the Grand Tutor and the Princess to have a heart-to-heart talk, the Princess wouldn't have had time to thank me, so why would she vent her anger on me? Grand Tutor, you're being childish again."
Zhou Chang hummed slowly and ignored her.
Sun Wei knew he was just being eloquent, so she continued, "The late king is the late king, and the crown prince is the crown prince. The Grand Tutor must have known long ago that the crown prince had no intention of rebelling, yet he still favored him. Besides repaying the late king's kindness, he must have also seen the precious qualities of the crown prince. I hope the Grand Tutor will teach according to his aptitude and not act recklessly and ruin this talented individual."
Zhou Chang was very interested: "What is your relationship with the prince? Why are you so nice to him?"
"Didn't the Grand Tutor say that I was the reincarnation of the Crown Prince's biological mother?"
Zhou Chang sneered.
"I have a serious question for you, Grand Master," Sun Wei asked. "Grand Master, what do you think the Crown Prince should do if he wants to assist the Crown Prince and revive the government?"
"The court's chronic illness stems from a weak foundation. For too long, the royal military power has been lost, hampered at every turn by the powerful families. To break this impasse, the most urgent task is to consolidate and expand the power within our grasp. Although the Crown Prince now controls the Northern Palace and the Crown Prince controls Jiangzhou Prefecture, the court is plagued by numerous factions, many of whom command their own armies. The Crown Prince's troops are merely a facade for him, and are far from sufficient to unify the country."
Indeed, Sun Wei thought to himself, Zhou Chang really understands the ways of the world.
"Then, Taifu, where do you think the Crown Prince should start next?"
Zhou Chang glanced at her and said, "You have such a remarkable family background, why don't you tell me what you think?"
Sun smiled and pointed to a stone platform between them.
"Taifu, why don't you write down your thoughts with me and see if we agree?"
Zhou Chang did not refuse and put down his fishing rod.
The two of them dipped their fingers in water and wrote on the stone platform.
Then, they looked at each other.
All I saw were the words "Hui Ji" written on them.
Zhou Chang was extremely surprised, and when he looked at Sun Wei, his eyes finally became serious.
"Tell me your reasons," he said.
"The Three Immortals Sect's rebellion has barely subsided, and Kong Qi is still gathering strength on the island. I once divined that he won't return to Kuaiji until next spring, when the weather warms up. Until then, the Crown Prince could seize the opportunity to enter Kuaiji. If successful, not only would Kuaiji be brought under his wing, but Kong Qi could also be prevented from making a comeback. He could even follow the clues and eliminate both the Three Immortals Sect and Kong Qi in one fell swoop—killing three birds with one stone." Quelling the rebellion would greatly benefit the people, the court, and the Crown Prince himself.
Sun Wei quickly complimented him, "Taifu truly cares about the world. I admire you very much!"
Zhou Chang looked quite pleased.
"That being said, Wang Han is no incompetent man. If he were to discover that the Crown Prince had gone to Kuaiji, he would probably send someone to fight for him."
Sun Wei said, "This matter is nothing to worry about. Wang Han will be very busy in the next few months. As long as the prince keeps a low profile, Wang Han will have no time to worry about it."
Zhou Chang was quite interested: "Are you someone else?"
Sun Wei was confident, "The Queen Mother's birthday is approaching, and it's time for Jiankang City to watch the excitement again. The Grand Tutor will know soon."
Without waiting for Zhou Chang to ask again, Sun Wei continued, "Even if Wang Han is too busy to take care of things, the Crown Prince is currently in mourning and cannot exercise his authority, nor can he appear in Kuaiji. Therefore, I would like to ask the Grand Tutor to arrange for a trustworthy stranger for the Crown Prince. Let this person be in the open while the Crown Prince stays in the dark, so that the Crown Prince can display his power."
"You've said everything," Zhou Chang said unhappily. "Since you have so much on your mind, why don't you just tell the prince directly? Instead, you've asked me to pass on your message."
"I am only a step-consort, and I have no kinship with the Crown Prince." Sun Wei continued to flatter, "But the Grand Tutor is different. The Crown Prince would never dare to disobey the words of a teacher like the Grand Tutor."
Zhou Chang looked at her and stroked his beard.
"So, the prince doesn't really trust the princess..."
——"...Madam has always told me to trust you, and I did, but have you ever trusted me? If you don't trust me, then what is there in the Yuzhang Palace that is worth your nostalgia?"
Sun Wei was silent for a moment, then said, "If the Crown Prince didn't trust me, why would he allow me to stay in the palace? And why would he have intervened on my behalf yesterday? But the Crown Prince also has his own principles. I dare not interfere in matters of military and national importance. I only care about whether things can be accomplished. How they are accomplished is not my concern."
Zhou Chang nodded slightly without saying much.
"It's getting late, I should go back." Sun Wei stood up and said, "In a few days, I will leave for Xunyang Palace. It would be better if the prince does not come with me this time to avoid any complications. If the Grand Tutor sees the prince, please mention it."
Zhou Chang agreed.
"From now on, the prince will have to trouble the master."
After she said that, she bowed solemnly and turned away.
Zhou Chang watched her figure disappear outside the courtyard gate. After a while, he sat back up and swung his fishing rod.
"Did you hear everything?" he asked.
Sima Jun walked out from the corridor not far away.
He looked in the direction Sun Wei left without saying a word.
Zhou Chang said, "I have already answered all the questions you asked earlier. She also asked the questions you didn't ask. This concubine in your mansion is as capable as a military advisor. Why don't you listen to her?"
Sima Jun walked across the stone bridge and sat on the stone where Sun Weiluo had just sat.
"I don't know what she wants." He said lightly.
Zhou Chang glanced at him.
"People born into a royal family always have the same problem as you," he said. "On the one hand, they take all the benefits for granted, and on the other hand, they think that others who treat you well must have ulterior motives."
Sima Jun then said, "I have never..."
Zhou Chang waved his hand: "Forget it. She can help you, that's all. Why bother with such trivial matters? Would you care about such things with your subordinates?"
"But she is not my subordinate." Sima Jun retorted.
"Then who is she?" Zhou Chang asked back.
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