Shen Hua'er's personal maid, Bi'er, entered the room and was met with such a sight that her legs nearly gave way beneath her.
"Your Highness, please don't do anything reckless," Bi'er pleaded softly, her voice trembling. With the Crown Prince also present in the room, she dared not say more. She carefully helped Shen Hua'er down from the chair, her hands unsteady.
Realizing what she had almost done, Shen Hua'er broke into a cold sweat. "Bi'er, I..."
Bi'er leaned close to Shen Hua'er's ear and whispered, "Your Highness, even if you disregard the Crown Prince, you must think of the Shen Family... and the Eldest Imperial Grandson."
At the mention of Song Yanzheng, Shen Hua'er's tears flowed even more freely.
At the very least, she could have married the Eldest Imperial Grandson.
Yet now, she had become his stepmother.
"The Eldest Imperial Grandson is exceptionally gifted. It was only due to the schemes of villains that he suffered," Bi'er reassured her. "With Your Highness's support, there’s no doubt he will rise again. When that time comes, as his legal mother, you too will share in his glory."
"You're right."
Shen Hua'er clutched Bi'er's hand as if it were her last lifeline.
What should have been a tender and intimate wedding night was instead spent in solitude, with Shen Hua'er sitting alone until dawn.
The next morning, Shen Hua'er, in her capacity as the Crown Princess, went to visit Song Yanzheng, who was still bedridden.
Song Yanzheng's face was cold and indifferent, a stark contrast to the gentle refinement he had once displayed. The sight of it nearly shattered Shen Hua'er's heart.
"Yanzheng, I’ve just spoken with the imperial physician. He says you’ll recover fully in another half-month," Shen Hua'er said, dressed in the robes of the Crown Princess. To Song Yanzheng, the sight was nothing short of agonizing.
In the past, the only one in the Eastern Palace who could refer to herself as "this consort" had been his mother.
But now...
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
"Yanzheng, there’s no need for such formality between us." Shen Hua'er sniffled and motioned for Bi'er to dismiss everyone in the room, leaving only Song Yanzheng's personal attendant.
"This consort came today to tell you that His Majesty may be considering deposing the Crown Prince." The words made Song Yanzheng's eyes narrow sharply.
"As the Crown Princess, my fate is tied to yours," Shen Hua'er continued, watching him closely. "The Shen Family has also just been reprimanded by His Majesty. We must find a way to help ourselves."
Bi'er was right. If her husband, the Crown Prince, was unreliable, and the Shen Family couldn’t openly assist, then she had no choice but to rely on the Eldest Imperial Grandson—her nominal son. Only then would she have a chance to turn the tide.
"In my current state, what can I possibly do?" Song Yanzheng gave a self-deprecating smile, his eyes darkening. Only if Ahuan returned could the Eastern Palace have any hope of survival.
"The imperial examinations."
This was the solution Shen Hua'er had spent the entire night pondering.
"Since ancient times, no royal descendant has ever taken the imperial examinations," Song Yanzheng retorted, finding the idea absurd. "Besides, I have no suitable tutor."
"There’s no precedent for legitimate royal descendants, but there is for illegitimate and collateral lines."
The words pierced Song Yanzheng’s heart like a needle.
"The imperial family has many illegitimate descendants. For those who struggle to rise, the examinations are a path forward," Shen Hua'er pressed, eager for his agreement. "Though the Chang Family has fallen from grace, they had connections with many noble houses. If the concubine is willing to intervene on your behalf, she could secure a capable tutor."
"Let me think about it."
"Yanzheng, can the Great Qi tolerate a Crown Prince who remains paralyzed?"
With that, Shen Hua'er rose and left the room, leaving Song Yanzheng with a stormy expression.
She was right. If his father didn’t recover, the Eastern Palace would inevitably change hands.
If he could re-enter the Emperor’s favor through the imperial examinations... perhaps Ahuan, seeing his success, would willingly return to the Eastern Palace.
......
Qin Prince's Mansion.
"Why won’t my right eyelid stop twitching?"
Song Yu rubbed his right eye irritably as he stared at the book before him. The incessant twitching unsettled him.
"How long has Ahuan been in the palace?"
"Your Highness, it’s been two hours," Liuxi replied. The next moment, Song Yu stood abruptly. "Come, I’m going to the palace to check on her."
Purple Dawn Hall.
With Song Shihuan present, Emperor Yuanyou was in high spirits, his laughter filling the room.
Outside, however, Wu Qi wore a troubled expression, clutching a letter from the Eastern Palace as he paced anxiously beneath the eaves.
Should he deliver it?
If he did, he risked disrupting the Emperor’s rare moment of joy with his granddaughter.
If he didn’t, the messenger had insisted the letter was written by the Eldest Imperial Grandson himself—what if it was urgent?
Beads of sweat formed on Wu Qi’s forehead.
"Eunuch Wu, out for a stroll?"
A carefree voice startled Wu Qi so badly he nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Your Highness is here."
"What’s this?" Song Yu glanced at the letter in Wu Qi’s hand.
Wu Qi had no choice but to explain. The next moment, the letter was snatched from his grasp.
Song Yu waved it casually. "I’ll deliver it for you."
Inside the hall, the moment Song Yu entered, Emperor Yuanyou’s smile faded slightly. Had this rascal really come to retrieve the child after just two hours?
"Song Yanzheng’s personal letter."
Song Yu tossed the letter onto the Emperor’s desk before immediately pulling Song Shihuan aside, scrutinizing her from head to toe. Only after confirming she was unharmed did he relax.
Emperor Yuanyou gritted his teeth. As if he would ever harm Ahuan!
The Emperor opened the letter, skimming it at first—but then his eyes widened in disbelief, and he read it again carefully.
"What is it?" Song Shihuan asked, noticing his reaction.
"Yanzheng says he recognizes his past mistakes and now wishes to devote himself to study—to take the imperial examinations."
As he spoke, Emperor Yuanyou shot a meaningful glance at Song Yu.
"What?!" Song Yu nearly leapt to his feet. "That brat Song Yanzheng wants to take the exams too? Trying to steal my chance at the top rank?"
No wonder his eyelid had been twitching.
Emperor Yuanyou rolled his eyes. This fool still thought he could earn the title of Zhuangyuan? The ancestors would have to work overtime to make that happen.
But... if Song Yanzheng also took the exams, perhaps this rascal would take them more seriously. Who knew? Maybe the ancestors would pull through after all.
The Emperor couldn’t help but indulge in the thought.
Song Shihuan nearly laughed aloud. She knew exactly how capable Song Yanzheng was.
In her past life, he couldn’t even write a policy essay without her help. Without expert guidance, he’d be lucky to pass the county-level exams.
Thinking this, she said calmly, "Imperial Grandfather, my father is definitely more talented than Eldest Brother."
Song Yu immediately straightened with pride. "Ahuan is right. Let him take the exams. Just don’t come crying later that his uncle bullied him."
"Imperial Grandfather, will Eldest Brother also be taking the exams under a false name?" Song Shihuan’s eyes sparkled mischievously.
"No need. If he fails, it’s the Eastern Palace’s disgrace," Emperor Yuanyou declared without hesitation, his tone as unapologetic as Song Yu’s.
Unlike this rascal, whose failures would reflect on his own father.
That was entirely different.
