Purple Palace Hall.
Emperor Yuanyou appeared to be reviewing memorials, but his gaze kept drifting toward Song Yu.
This rascal had somehow managed to win widespread public favor just by visiting a gambling den.
Truly, fortune favors the unprepared.
"Shen Xiao, inform Prince Qin about the situation in Great Yue."
Upon hearing this, Shen Xiao detailed the current power struggles within Great Yue's imperial court to Song Yu, who stood frozen in place after listening, uncharacteristically silent.
Seeing this, Emperor Yuanyou set down his memorials. "Bloodshed in imperial succession disputes is nothing unusual throughout history. You must grow up quickly, Yu'er."
The Emperor assumed Song Yu was shocked by the brutality of throne contention.
Yet in the next moment, Song Yu suddenly spoke: "Imperial Father, you must live a hundred years."
"Though your son is reckless, I know full well that without your protection all these years, I would never have reached this point." Song Yu's expression turned solemn. "Father Emperor, you must remain healthy to keep shielding your son and Ah Huan."
For a moment, Emperor Yuanyou felt his throat tighten with emotion.
But before the Emperor's moved feelings could linger, Song Yu fully processed Shen Xiao's words: "So because of Great Yue's internal strife, Rong Sheng wants to strengthen his position by marrying Rong Lan to me?"
"What shameless scum."
All filial piety vanished from Song Yu's face as he trembled with anger. "Father, you've seen Rong Lan yourself. If I married such a wife, my mother wouldn't rest peacefully in heaven."
Now thoroughly softened by Song Yu's earlier words, Emperor Yuanyou declared with imperial authority:
"Set your mind at ease. This imperial marriage will never be approved."
Yu'er was his chosen crown prince.
Yu'er's wife would become Great Qi's future empress - how could a foreigner hold that position?
Only then did Song Yu fully relax. Remembering the Champion Tournament matter, he indignantly added, "That Rong Sheng is so petty, insisting Great Yue's envoys serve as judges for the Champion Tournament, claiming it would be unfair to Rong Lan otherwise."
"Let him have his way."
Emperor Yuanyou showed no concern. "Ah Huan will shock them all soon enough."
He knew exactly how brilliant his precious granddaughter was.
If Rong Lan insisted on provoking her, she'd have only herself to blame when Ah Huan retaliated.
......
Prince Chu's Residence.
"Your Highness, the Princess said you may rest if the practice becomes too strenuous."
In just a short time, the Princess of Chu had stopped forcing Song Xiling to practice dancing as before - now it was Song Xiling herself pushing through the pain with gritted teeth.
"Nanny, I can practice a while longer."
When this reached the Princess of Chu, her eyes reddened:
"We've failed Xiling."
If they hadn't been implicated in the Cui family corpse case, if the Prince hadn't been caned and ordered to leave for his fiefdom in three years...
They wouldn't need to keep their heads down like this now.
After much deliberation, the Princess went to Song Xiling's courtyard.
"Mother, let me perform for your critique." Song Xiling smiled upon seeing her.
But the Princess grasped her hands instead. "My child, for this Champion Tournament... you needn't fight for first place."
"Mother, I don't understand."
Song Xiling's eyes glistened, her legs still numb from practice.
"The Great Yue princess is participating. If you defeat both Song Shihuan and her... you'll earn the enmity of both Prince Qin's household and Great Yue. Your father believes it wiser to conceal your abilities this time."
Song Xiling's composure shattered.
"The Champion Tournament is about fairness! If I win, people would praise me for bringing honor to Great Qi! Every eligible girl in Great Qi is preparing with all her might!" she cried out. "What does the Great Yue princess's enmity matter? Uncle and elder sister are broad-minded - would they resent me?"
"This is your father's decision—"
"You're being unreasonable!" Song Xiling tore at her dance costume. "First you forced me to practice, saying it was for my good. Now when I could earn real recognition, you tell me to hold back. Is this for your benefit or mine?"
The ripped costume fell to the ground as Song Xiling ran sobbing to her room.
Why couldn't she have a father like Uncle?
The Princess of Chu wept silently over the discarded dance attire.
......
Meanwhile, Prince Qin's residence basked in harmonious atmosphere.
"The Champion Tournament has two rounds," Shen Qingping announced clearly. "The first tests Four Books and Five Classics, judged by six examiners: my father, the women's academy principal, one instructor, and three from Great Yue."
"The second round evaluates music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Only the top ten from round one advance. Each contestant chooses one discipline, judged by... twenty renowned scholars, only three from Great Yue." His eyes shone as he looked at Song Shihuan. "I'm among those twenty."
Shen Qingping swelled with pride - even those critics now acknowledged his musical mastery.
Song Shihuan arched an eyebrow. "Only three Great Yue judges among twenty?"
"Those are the only qualified ones they have," Song Yu added. "Otherwise, with Rong Sheng's needlepoint-sized grudges, would he ever agree?"
"Ah Huan, you must thoroughly crush Great Yue's arrogance."
Song Shihuan's eyes curved in amusement. "As Father commands."
Time flashed by, and soon the first round commenced at the women's academy.
Contestants bent over examination papers at their desks while judges waited in another room to begin grading immediately after.
Each paper would receive scores from all judges, determining who advanced to round two.
The list would be announced that very day.
Outside, crowds packed the streets, determined to wait for results.
Song Yu napped in his carriage, book covering his face.
"His Highness seems quite confident in the young mistress," Shen Qingping remarked.
"Naturally. Just wait - Ah Huan will top the list."
Shen Qingping nodded agreement.
......
The questions posed no challenge to Song Shihuan, especially the policy essays which she answered at merely eighty percent effort.
Rong Lan also completed her paper with remarkable speed.
When the incense burned out, all papers were collected anonymously for grading.
Not until sunset did the academy gates reopen.
Yet both Shen Mingwen and the principal emerged looking thoroughly aggrieved.
"Now announcing qualifiers for round two," declared the principal, hands trembling with anger.
"First place: Great Yue's princess."
The crowd erupted in uproar.
"Second place: Third Princess."
......
By the time the ninth name was called, Song Shihuan's name still hadn't been announced.
Song Yu's expression shifted abruptly, and he immediately rushed out of the carriage.
Just then, the headmistress's voice rang out once more:
"Tenth place—Lady Fu'an."
