The day before the Heaven Worship Ceremony.
Emperor Yuanyou, uneasy, summoned Song Yu into the palace and had the Ministry of Rites meticulously explain every detail of the ceremony to him, fearing Song Yu might embarrass him before the people of Great Qi.
Shen Qingping also entered the palace.
In the Qin Prince's Mansion, only Song Shihuan remained, sitting alone beneath the shade of a tree.
The September breeze carried a faint chill. Song Shihuan gazed at the boundless sky for a long while before speaking softly, "Yingchun, accompany me somewhere."
Before leaving, she deliberately took a long detour, visiting every roast goose shop in the southern district. Sanxi ended up carrying no fewer than six roast geese, swallowing hard to suppress his drooling.
Seriously, the aroma was irresistible.
Sanxi wished he could plug his nose—this task was pure torture.
An hour later, the carriage stopped in a desolate field overgrown with weeds, clearly neglected for years.
In one corner stood a small mound of earth. Yingchun's expression shifted as she realized something.
Song Shihuan snatched the roast geese from Sanxi and dashed toward the mound, her face alight with joy. "Grandma, I’ve brought your favorite roast geese!"
Yet a tear slipped from the corner of her eye. It had been so long—across lifetimes—since she last visited her grandmother’s resting place.
Yingchun and Sanxi stood a few paces away, silently watching the young girl kneel before the mound.
"Grandma, Song Ling has been deposed. Those people have left the Eastern Palace. I can finally face you again."
Her forehead slowly touched the ground as she bowed deeply.
"In my past life, I was useless. I wasted your love and guidance." Song Shihuan unwrapped each roast goose one by one. "If you saw me from heaven, would you disown me as your granddaughter?"
Her fingers lightly brushed the mound—this wasn’t just dirt. It held her grandmother.
"You can’t disown me. I’ve already clung to you and won’t let go." Song Shihuan smiled brightly. "If nothing else, you’ll have to forgive me for the sake of all these roast geese."
"Grandma, in this life, I have the most wonderful father. If you were here, you’d adore him too. Next time, I’ll bring him to meet you."
"Don’t worry—those who wronged me will pay a thousandfold."
She chattered on for a long time before standing to clear the weeds from the mound, her hands scratched and bleeding without her notice.
Only at dusk did she finally leave.
......
Song Yu returned to the mansion just as he crossed paths with Song Shihuan. Learning she had visited her grandmother, he simply ruffled her hair gently. "Next time, take me with you."
Song Shihuan smiled and nodded firmly.
What she didn’t know was that Song Yu immediately rushed back to the palace and took one of Emperor Yuanyou’s prized peonies from the imperial garden.
"Your Highness, th-this peony… His Majesty personally tends to it daily," the gardener stammered.
Song Yu pondered briefly. "Liuxi, inform the emperor that with Sanxi guiding me, I need no further directions."
An incense stick later, an enraged roar erupted from the palace.
"That brat dared to steal my flowers?" Emperor Yuanyou’s beard quivered as he glared at Wu Qi. "Does he even strike you as someone with a refined taste for flowers?"
He had waited so long for this rare bloom to blossom, only for a pot to vanish?
"Where did that rascal take it?" The emperor mused—if Song Yu could steal, so could he.
Tomorrow, he’d send Shen Xiao to retrieve it from the Qin Prince's Mansion.
But Wu Qi hesitated. "Liuxi said… the old woman who raised Princess Fuan adored peonies. His Highness wished to offer the finest in gratitude."
Instantly, the emperor’s fury dissipated.
A sigh escaped him. After a long silence, he muttered, "Ask him if one pot is enough."
Where Song Shihuan had stood hours earlier, a man in violet robes now stood.
Song Yu carefully placed the peony beside the mound, his expression solemn.
"I am Song Yu, Ahuan’s father. It’s only right I call you Grandma."
"Today was my fault for letting her come alone. I’ve brought Great Qi’s most beautiful peony for you. Rest assured, I’ll protect her."
A breeze swept through, rustling the peony petals.
......
The next day, the Heaven Worship Ceremony.
The capital’s streets were packed with citizens eager to glimpse their emperor up close.
The imperial palanquin emerged from the palace gates, carried by sixteen men.
Wherever it passed, the crowd knelt and hailed, "Long live the emperor!"
Song Yu’s palanquin followed closely behind, borne by eight men, all the way to the altar.
He stepped down first, assisting Emperor Yuanyou from his palanquin.
Officials of the fifth rank and above stood in wait, alongside countless commoners—the sheer scale of the scene momentarily stunned Song Yu.
"What? Afraid?" Emperor Yuanyou’s eyes gleamed with amusement.
"Your son is not afraid." Song Yu straightened his back. "Today, I walk the altar with you."
"Good!" The emperor gripped his hand. "Stay close."
Drums thundered as ceremonial dancers began their performance.
Under the gaze of Great Qi’s multitudes, Song Yu and Emperor Yuanyou ascended the steps together, reaching the summit.
The scent of sandalwood sharpened Song Yu’s focus.
As the ceremony concluded, the people’s cheers rose like a tidal wave—"Long live the emperor!"—echoing to the heavens.
Emperor Yuanyou glanced back at Song Yu, who stood slightly behind, and beckoned him forward until only a single step separated them.
Pointing into the distance, he asked, "Yu’er, behold our majestic land. Are you ready?"
"Your son is ready."
Though the crowd couldn’t hear their exchange, every eye fixed on Song Yu.
The notorious playboy prince now stood a breath away from the throne.
Not a trace of frivolity remained in his bearing—only an unshakable dignity.
Had the rogue truly transformed into a sage king?
In the crowd, Shen Qingping wept tears of pride, while Song Shihuan stared up at the towering figure of Song Yu, her eyes blazing.
Those who once discarded her like trash now wallowed in the mud.
While the one who cherished her stood exalted above all.
Song Shihuan smiled, her eyes crinkling with joy.
Thank the heavens.
