At the same time, both Emperor Yuanyou and Song Shihuan held their breaths.
Song Shihuan's palm, clasped with Song Yu's, grew slightly damp with sweat. She had thought her father brought her into the palace merely to seek justice for her.
Never had she imagined it would come to this...
Her heart trembled with excitement.
Emperor Yuanyou was hardly any calmer.
Unable to remain seated on his throne, he stood up abruptly. "You ask what kind of crown prince I desire?"
Song Yu nodded.
Seeing the seriousness in Song Yu's eyes, Emperor Yuanyou composed himself. "I am the founding emperor of Da Qi. Before the dynasty was established, wars were endless, and the people starved. Thus, I endured patiently, guiding Da Qi through decades of development."
"Now that Da Qi prospers daily, what I seek is no mere ruler to maintain the status quo, but a wise sovereign who understands the way of governance and can lead Da Qi to expand its territories."
From the very beginning, Song Ling had been a reluctant choice.
He had given Song Ling ample time to grow, yet the results were far from satisfactory.
Emperor Yuanyou's words echoed through the Zichen Hall.
Song Yu clicked his tongue, a roguish grin spreading across his face.
"Seems like Song Ling doesn’t measure up, then."
His demeanor turned carefree again, drawing a glare from Emperor Yuanyou, who felt a pang of disappointment. He had thought this rascal might—
But the next moment, Song Yu spoke again, locking eyes with the emperor.
"One shouldn’t hang themselves on a crooked tree."
"Father, why not consider me instead?"
Instantly, a brilliant light flickered in Emperor Yuanyou's eyes.
Struggling to suppress a smile, the emperor cleared his throat. "You’ve refused to study since childhood, never even dabbled in military strategy. How can I trust you’ll meet my expectations?"
Song Yu lifted the hem of his robe and knelt.
"Father, teach me."
As Song Yu pressed his forehead to the ground, Song Shihuan saw it clearly—Emperor Yuanyou's eyes glistened with tears.
......
The imperial guards unearthed a male corpse from Mrs. Qiu's dowry estate. Combined with the striking resemblance between the young man and his sister, Song Shihuan's name was completely cleared.
The entire capital fell silent. Everyone knew that, given the temperaments of the emperor and Prince Qin, Wu Ming's execution was only the beginning.
The true reckoning was about to unfold.
The first to face judgment was the Jianjia Palace.
"Imperial decree—"
At the sound of Wu Qi's voice, Consort Mei, lying ill on her bed, flinched like a startled bird. Ever since hearing of Wu Ming's public execution, she had been bedridden.
Supported by her maids, she knelt on the floor.
"Consort Mei, née Shen, has acted with selfish motives and moral corruption. She is hereby stripped of her title and rank, demoted to the cold palace, and forbidden to leave for life."
Consort Mei's face froze, her eyelids twitching with terror.
"No... His Majesty wouldn’t do this to me."
She shook her head frantically. "I’ve served His Majesty for decades and bore him Prince Qi. How dare you, a eunuch, forge an imperial decree!"
Wu Qi's lips curled into a cold smirk.
"Escort Lady Shen to the cold palace."
Since rising to the position of chief eunuch, no one had dared call him "eunuch" to his face.
With a meaningful glance at his young apprentice, Wu Qi sauntered away.
The palace had no shortage of ways to torment someone in secret.
News of Consort Mei's banishment spread like wildfire across the capital, sending Prince Qi's Mansion into a panic.
"What do we do now? What can we do?"
Prince Qi paced anxiously, while the Princess of Qi stood by, her face etched with grief. Her father had been executed, and her entire family was now imprisoned in the imperial prison.
Not a single member of the Wu family had been spared.
"Father, I’m scared..." Song Xiyao, who had never witnessed such turmoil, sobbed and clung to the Princess of Qi.
"Quiet! Your sniveling is disgraceful." Prince Qi, already agitated, grew furious at the sight of her.
"Why vent at Xiyao? If you have the energy, use it to beg His Majesty for mercy," the Princess of Qi snapped, shielding her daughter.
Prince Qi's veins bulged at his usually obedient wife's defiance.
"Beg for mercy? What crime have I committed?"
"Then why are you so worried? I’m the one who should be afraid." The Princess of Qi laughed bitterly. "You and your mother sent my father to Qin Prince's Mansion without even consulting me. Now that your mother has fallen, you think you can wash your hands clean?"
A sharp slap landed on the Princess of Qi's face.
Song Xiyao stifled her cries.
"What good does hitting me do?" The Princess of Qi, now beyond caution, spat, "I regret it—the moment I saw that portrait, I should have urged my father to see His Majesty instead of telling you."
Amid their argument, another imperial decree arrived at Prince Qi's Mansion.
For the first time, Prince Qi felt his legs tremble as he knelt to receive it.
......
After Wu Qi finished reading the decree, Prince Qi exhaled in relief.
It was only a flogging.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered me to oversee the punishment before returning to the palace. My apologies." With that, the imperial guards stepped forward.
In an instant, Prince Qi was restrained.
Each strike of the cane drained more color from his face.
Twenty-nine lashes in total.
Exactly one more than Song Yu had once endured.
Wu Qi, recalling how Prince Qin had insisted on the extra stroke yesterday, lowered his head to hide his amusement.
The prince could be remarkably petty at times.
By the end, Prince Qi was barely conscious. Wu Qi then delivered the final blow.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has declared that in three years, you will be sent to your fiefdom."
Three years—the time Emperor Yuanyou had granted Song Yu to prove himself.
The word "fiefdom" struck Prince Qi like a thunderbolt.
It meant he would never touch the throne.
The absurdity of it all overwhelmed him. He had lost his chance at becoming crown prince over a mere scheme against a princess.
If only he could turn back time...
As Wu Qi prepared to leave, the Princess of Qi hurried after him, pressing a heavy purse into his hands. "Eunuch Wu, what is His Majesty’s stance on the Wu family now?"
Wu Qi weighed the purse, his gaze turning cryptic.
"His Majesty will likely pass judgment on the Wu family at tomorrow’s court session."
Judgment.
The Princess of Qi's heart clenched, her smile strained.
"As for this silver, I dare not accept it."
After years in the palace, he knew precisely when to refuse bribes.
No matter the sum.
