The opera troupe quickly began performing in the capital.
When the show started, Song Yu even personally mingled among the crowd to listen for over an hour.
"Father, won’t we be recognized?"
Song Shihuan glanced nervously at the dense crowd around them and lowered her head in embarrassment.
If people found out they had come to listen in person... it would be utterly humiliating.
Song Yu, however, appeared entirely unbothered. "Don’t worry, Ah Huan. I’ve never been to such a place before—no one will recognize me."
Previously, when he wanted to enjoy music, he had always gone to the Yingchun Pavilion.
Hearing this, Song Shihuan secretly rolled her eyes. Her father’s reputation in this regard was, after all, rather notorious.
The curtains lifted.
The show began.
Commoners loved nothing more than royal scandals, and the audience listened with rapt attention, occasionally murmuring in awe.
"So we’ve all misunderstood Prince Qin all these years. He’s actually a good man."
"Exactly! What if his reputation as a wastrel was just an act to survive under his stepmother’s control?"
"What a tragedy—the legitimate son of Empress Yuan, robbed of his rightful future."
Every word from the commoners reached Song Yu’s ears, and he nearly teared up. Finally, someone understood him.
This feeling... was exhilarating!
"Ah Huan, the truth is, I was never a wastrel. What you saw before was all an act—I had to protect myself," Song Yu declared solemnly.
Beside him, Shen Qingping’s face turned purple from suppressed laughter.
If the prince could pretend to be a wastrel, then so could he, Shen Qingping!
"I’ve always thought so," Song Shihuan said, her almond-shaped eyes glistening with admiration. "Father explains history books to me and knows everything under heaven. I knew you just didn’t want others to find out."
"Good child."
Seeing her complete belief in him, Song Yu felt a rare pang of guilt.
He made up his mind!
From this day forward, he would redouble his efforts. No distractions would be allowed into the Qin Prince’s Mansion.
He would erase his past "glorious achievements" and ensure the next opera sung of Prince Qin’s brilliance and heroism.
Song Shihuan struggled to suppress her laughter.
Upon returning to the mansion, Song Yu immediately locked himself in his study, while Shen Qingping hurried off to review official documents, leaving Song Shihuan standing there, bewildered.
The effect...
Was it perhaps too effective?
......
Before Song Yu could spend even an hour in his study, a servant informed him that someone from the Prince Qi's Mansion had arrived.
"Who is it?" Song Yu didn’t even look up, his nose practically buried in a book.
"Your Highness, it’s the Princess of Qi."
Hearing this, Song Yu patted Shen Qingping. "Come, you’re coming with me."
After all, she was a woman—it wouldn’t be proper to meet her alone.
In the front courtyard, the Princess of Qi stood stiffly, visibly uneasy in the unfamiliar surroundings. When Song Yu and Shen Qingping arrived, she quickly rose to her feet.
"Elder Brother, Lord Shen."
"What brings you here today, Sister-in-law?"
Song Yu’s bluntness made the Princess of Qi falter. "Mother Consort Mei sent me to ask... if you have any plans to take a wife? The Shen Family has an unmarried daughter, virtuous and intelligent. If you’re willing..."
"Stop!"
Song Yu cut her off. "The Shen girl—Shen Hua'er, isn’t it?"
The Princess of Qi brightened, thinking he might be interested.
"If I recall correctly, the Shen Family originally wanted her to marry into the Eastern Palace," Song Yu said, a flicker of anger crossing his face. "Back then, Shen Hua'er was a frequent visitor to Kunning Palace."
"That... that’s not true at all! Hua'er only went to accompany Xi Yan."
"Let me be clear—I have no intention of marrying. Tell Consort Mei to abandon this idea."
The Princess of Qi left the Qin Prince’s Mansion in disgrace.
The moment she was gone, Song Yu exploded.
"Shen Qingping, did you see that? Every family trying to marry their daughter to me now is scheming against me!"
He pointed furiously in the direction the Princess of Qi had gone, his hand trembling with rage.
Shen Qingping nodded in deep agreement.
"They want to use women to weaken my resolve and drag me back to my old ways," Song Yu ranted. "But I won’t fall for it!"
"Women will only slow me down on my path to greatness."
He issued a decree: henceforth, any visitor must state their purpose upfront. If they came to propose a marriage alliance, they would be thrown out immediately.
What a joke—his own father hadn’t conquered the realm until his thirties. That meant now was the prime time for him to strive, with not a moment to waste.
"Your Highness, you’re absolutely right. I’ll make the same announcement when I return home—no more marriage proposals!"
The two men exchanged a determined glance and nodded fiercely before marching back to the study.
......
A few days later, it became clear to everyone that Song Yu had no intention of marrying.
Consort Mei in the palace grew restless.
At the Purple Dawn Hall:
"Your Majesty, Consort Mei is waiting outside."
"Let her in." Emperor Yuanyou, now advanced in years, spent most of his time in the Purple Dawn Hall, rarely seeing his consorts—some went months without an audience.
Consort Mei entered with a bowl of ginseng soup, the picture of gentle devotion. "Your Majesty, affairs of state are important, but you mustn’t neglect your health."
"You’re thoughtful."
She naturally began grinding ink for him. After decades by his side, Emperor Yuanyou indulged her with a few more words than usual.
"All is well. Both I and the Prince Qi's Mansion are doing fine."
"Your Majesty, now that Prince Qin’s name has been cleared, I thought... his mansion lacks a caring mistress. Shouldn’t we select a proper princess consort for him?"
At the mention of Prince Qin, Emperor Yuanyou’s smile faded.
"Consort Mei, let Prince Qin decide his own affairs."
Stunned by the emperor’s blunt refusal, Consort Mei paused in her grinding.
"But Your Majesty, I’ve heard every family that recently sought his hand was turned away."
"Then he doesn’t wish to marry."
Emperor Yuanyou’s patience was wearing thin. "If there’s nothing else, you may return to the Reed Palace."
"Your Majesty—"
"Wu Qi, escort Consort Mei out."
Once she was gone, Emperor Yuanyou set down his vermilion brush and sighed heavily.
He knew his own son’s temperament better than anyone—stubborn as a mule.
If not for that, years ago, he wouldn’t have personally forced that palace maid to drink the abortion concoction, declaring that not just any stray child could bear the name of Song Yu.
But could you force an ox to drink water if it wasn’t thirsty?
He was at his wits’ end...
