Chapter Forty-Six: The Prince Has Overthought, the Grand Tutor Comes to See Lady Lin

"Your Highness, the Grand Tutor has arrived." Just as Zhuo Yue'an was feeling a bit awkward, Shen Zhong suddenly walked in.

"Why is he here?" A round trip to Mount Ling in a single day—doesn't he get tired? Xiao Jingxuan found it strange, and the image of Grand Tutor Song Yunmo's gaze at Su Jingluo flashed through his mind.

"Bring him to the main hall of Jinghong Pavilion and let him wait for me." He hoped Song Yunmo was here for proper business; otherwise, he really would lose his temper.

"Well, the Grand Tutor... is currently chatting with the concubine in Feiyue Pavilion." Shen Zhong was at a loss as to how to explain this peculiar situation to Xiao Jingxuan.

With Lin Feifei? Did the Empress send him? When did those two become allies?

"What are they talking about?" Xiao Jingxuan truly couldn't fathom Song Yunmo's motives.

Song Yunmo was one of the few people Xiao Jingxuan kept his guard down around, for two reasons. The first was the old rumor: whoever wins Yunmo wins the Song family and thus the realm—a prophecy made by a sage when Song Yunmo was seven. Since then, the Song family's rise in officialdom had been unstoppable, and both the former and current emperors treated them with great respect. The Song family never aligned with any faction, yet every faction sought their favor. The second reason was that Song Yunmo abstained from all political affairs, only accepting the position of Crown Prince's tutor. He claimed the Crown Prince was unruly but possessed a pure character. So his involvement in the Crown Prince's trip to Mount Ling wasn't to help him, but rather to extricate the prince from trouble.

Why would Song Yunmo, who never formed alliances, seek out Lin Feifei for a casual chat?

"It seems they're discussing the concubine's maids," Shen Zhong said, equally puzzled by the Grand Tutor's behavior and thus eavesdropped a little.

Discussing maids? Was the Grand Tutor simply bored lately? Was he intent on stirring trouble among his own women or meddling with the capital's households in general?

Yet Xiao Jingxuan maintained a remarkable calm. As long as Song Yunmo didn't set his sights on Su Jingluo, he wouldn't get too agitated.

"Go take a look." Since Song Yunmo wasn't here for him, Xiao Jingxuan couldn't be bothered to meet him and sent Zhuo Yue'an to keep watch.

Xiao Jingxuan lazily rose and left Feiyue Pavilion. Unconsciously, he wandered toward the small courtyard. Halfway there, the breeze sobered him up, and he began to feel disappointed in himself again. Su Jingluo's future no longer included him, so he might as well head to Luo Jing Pavilion to inspect the repairs to Su Jingluo's new residence.

Upon seeing Ruihuan, he inquired about what had happened to Su Jingluo over these years—why, after five years, she seemed like an entirely different person.

He got nothing out of it. Her temperament and interests had remained consistent for five years, her life sincerely arduous yet honest and upright. It was only after hitting her head that her personality changed so dramatically.

That night, Zhuo Yue'an reported back to Xiao Jingxuan: the Grand Tutor had shown not the slightest interest in Concubine Lin, only curiosity about her maids. Lin herself was completely baffled. Before leaving, Song Yunmo called Zhuo Yue'an out from his hidden spot, saying that the New Year was just days away, the Crown Prince had encountered auspicious clouds, and the border troops, having won a great victory, would all return to the capital before the festival. There would certainly be a banquet to reward the army. He conveyed that Xiao Jingxuan must attend the banquet, bringing Concubine Lin along and, moreover, bring as many maids as possible to serve.

What was the Grand Tutor playing at? Xiao Jingxuan immediately summoned Shen Zhong to investigate the backgrounds of all household maids, seeking as much detail as possible.

Sure enough, the Grand Tutor had anticipated the emperor's actions—the next day, invitations were sent out. Su Jingluo, upon receiving hers, was panic-stricken. The Empress had drugged her, and she was supposed to be in a state of dementia; why would she still be invited? Could it be...

She wasn't sure if her fellow conspirators had panicked and abandoned ship. Su Jingluo dared not go out anymore. Zhuo Yue'an mentioned that Xiao Jingxuan had been acting very strange these days, constantly inquiring about steward and maid affairs, interrogating every servant in the household, although no one knew exactly what he was looking for.