When Song Shuyu saw what was written on the note, jealousy and hatred flashed in her eyes.
She tore the note to pieces in a few quick motions and threw the scraps away.
“That calamity star actually dares to compete with me!”
Song Shuyu angrily kicked a stool.
“No! I absolutely can’t let that calamity star compete with me!”
Biting her finger, Song Shuyu began thinking about what she should do.
She recalled the lessons her grandmother, her second uncle, and the others had taught her.
“As long as Prince Ling values you, no one can take your place.”
“All you need to do is win the prince’s favor and put him first in everything.”
“What Prince Ling values about you is your status as a bringer of good fortune. So you must ensure that everything goes smoothly for him.”
………
Among all this information, Song Shuyu had singled out one crucial word.
Prince!
She remembered how Xiao Yunming now didn’t even dare to meet her.
She remembered how Xiao Yun’an hated her so much that he gnashed his teeth, yet still didn’t dare do anything to her!
She also remembered Xiao Yunlin’s foolish appearance.
Song Shuyu couldn’t help shuddering.
In a daze, she suddenly understood a certain truth.
Perhaps, in her father’s eyes, she wasn’t that important after all.
Xiao Yunming and Xiao Yun’an were still his biological sons, yet even they had ended up like that.
She wasn’t even his biological daughter!
But how could she preserve the wealth and status she enjoyed now?
She had to make her father believe that she was the most important person to him!
If she wanted to accomplish that, she had to bring him good fortune.
Song Shuyu hesitated.
How was she supposed to bring someone good fortune?
People had always called her a lucky star, but she hadn’t actually done anything!
Song Shuyu nearly bit her finger numb.
Forget it!
She would go see her father first!
With that thought, Song Shuyu quietly opened the door and peered outside.
It was the height of summer, and it was noon. Other than the chirping cicadas, there wasn’t a soul in the courtyard.
Looking at the scorching sun in the sky, Song Shuyu gritted her teeth and stepped outside.
A wave of heat rushed toward her.
Song Shuyu felt as if she were an ice cube about to melt.
Sweat immediately broke out on her forehead.
Large drops rolled down her face.
“Maybe I should go later?” Song Shuyu argued with herself.
“No. If I wait until later, I definitely won’t be allowed to leave the rear courtyard again.”
With that thought, Song Shuyu gritted her teeth and quickened her pace.
By the time she finally reached the front courtyard, she was nearly in tears.
It had only been a short distance, so why did it feel as though she had walked for an entire day?
She was exhausted!
And so hot!
She wanted ten cups of iced drinks!
Dragging one foot after the other, Song Shuyu finally reached the entrance to the study.
The guards stopped her.
“You! Go announce me!” Song Shuyu bent over and panted heavily.
After saluting, the guard entered the study.
Prince Ling was sitting inside, staring blankly into space.
After the imperial physician had examined him, he had told Prince Ling not to overthink things.
He had also advised him to relax properly and stop staying up late.
What nonsense!
Prince Ling was disdainful.
If he hadn’t thought much of it the first time he vomited blood, then after it happened a second and third time, he knew something was wrong.
Who remained perfectly healthy while constantly vomiting blood?
Either there was something wrong with his body, or else……
Prince Ling recalled the scene of the emperor vomiting blood after he had poisoned him.
Could it be that he had inhaled some of the poison powder when he administered it?
But after examining him carefully, the imperial physicians had said that he hadn’t been poisoned.
Prince Ling couldn’t figure it out.
Moreover, he could clearly feel that he was becoming increasingly lacking in energy.
Especially in a certain area.
Prince Ling wondered whether he was simply too exhausted.
After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to give himself a few days off and see how he felt after getting some rest.
However, a person accustomed to being busy became restless the moment he had nothing to do.
At that moment, a guard entered to report, “Your Highness, Commandery Princess Funing requests an audience!”
“Let her in.” Prince Ling gave his permission.
The guard bent at the waist and withdrew, and Song Shuyu entered the room.
Not daring to act presumptuously, Song Shuyu knelt properly and paid her respects.
“Rise.” Prince Ling studied Song Shuyu and frowned.
Whenever he had gone to Song Shuyu’s courtyard in the past, he had always been in a hurry.
He had never paid much attention to her.
But taking a proper look at her today……
Why did she resemble a lump of…… well, ahem.
After Song Shuyu stood up, she secretly examined Prince Ling.
When she saw that his complexion didn’t look very good, she asked, “Father, I heard that you were ill?”
“Are you feeling better? You must get plenty of rest!” Song Shuyu offered her concern in a docile voice.
A flicker passed through Prince Ling’s eyes.
It seemed like a very long time since he had heard words of concern like these.
“Mm. Did you come here for something?” Prince Ling kept his emotions hidden.
Song Shuyu hesitated. At present, she instinctively felt very afraid of this father of hers.
“I only heard that you were ill, Father, so I came to see you.”
“This is a sachet I made for you. I filled it with herbs that can cool the body and relieve the summer heat.”
Feeling extremely uneasy, Song Shuyu took the sachet from her sleeve.
The last time a sachet had been involved, Princess Consort Ling had been slapped by her father.
Princess Consort Ling had fallen ill after that. Aside from her own children, she refused to see anyone.
Although Song Shuyu had been delighted that Princess Consort Ling had suffered a setback, she never wanted to touch needlework again.
However, needlework was the only thing she knew how to do that could help her win Prince Ling’s favor.
She had made this sachet while Chunxiao was still there, after Chunxiao persuaded her to do so.
As it happened, she had found it today.
When Prince Ling heard the word “sachet,” his expression turned somewhat unpleasant.
However, Song Shuyu’s words had also reminded him of something.
Back then, the other princes had come to the capital to celebrate the emperor’s birthday.
Now that the emperor was unconscious, he naturally wouldn’t be holding a birthday celebration.
Since the emperor’s birthday had already passed, shouldn’t the other princes return to their fiefdoms?
That wasn’t right.
Prince Ling shook his head.
They could use caring for the emperor as an excuse to remain in the capital.
Prince Ling then recalled that the guards he had sent to intercept the grain shipments had failed.
They hadn’t found another opportunity afterward, either.
Could it be that he was going to let Fifth Brother have his way?
No!
Prince Ling weighed whether he needed to use the hidden piece he had kept in reserve.
As he thought, he subconsciously picked up the sachet from the desk and squeezed it in his hand.
Seeing her father suddenly sink into thought, Song Shuyu didn’t dare interrupt him.
Curious, she looked around at the furnishings in the room.
Prince Ling finally decided to activate the hidden piece.
Whether his Imperial Father was truly alive or merely pretending to be unconscious, he couldn’t allow Fifth Brother to succeed!
Once Fifth Brother was dealt with, taking care of Sixth Prince would be much easier.
Having made up his mind, Prince Ling was just about to summon someone when he saw Song Shuyu staring curiously at a painting on the wall.
“What are you doing?” Prince Ling asked, his tone tinged with displeasure.
Song Shuyu turned to look at him. “Father, I’ve seen this painting at Grandfather’s place too!”
