"I deserve death for my crimes."
Ma Liang swiftly stepped forward and knelt, feeling Song Yuding's gaze fixed upon him. A thin layer of sweat formed on his back.
Over the years, more than twenty officials had come to Yongning County, yet only the Prince of Qin had taken that muddy, narrow path.
He could have simply revealed his identity or displayed his wealth to take the main road—so why had Song Yu insisted on...?
Ma Liang's thoughts raced. He needed to investigate.
Wang Shichun, the prefect of Ji'an Prefecture, spoke up in Ma Liang's defense. "Your Highness, all of Yongning County's funds have been spent on the people. If you enter the town, you’ll see for yourself. Even this main road was repaired with Magistrate Ma’s own money."
"Oh? So it seems I’ve misunderstood Magistrate Ma."
Song Yu’s smile didn’t reach his eyes as he entered Yongning County surrounded by his entourage.
The town was even more bustling than what Song Yu had seen the day before. The common folk lined both sides of the road, shouting "Long live!" the moment they saw him.
The cheers echoed to the heavens. Had Song Yu not already sensed something amiss, he might have truly believed this place was blessed with prosperity and talent.
His ancestral home had now been rebuilt into a grand and magnificent temple, where the ancestral tablets of the Song family were enshrined, incense perpetually burning.
One thought crossed Song Yu’s mind: Did this ancestral temple really need further renovations?
At this rate, it would soon surpass the splendor of the Zichen Palace.
Song Yu entered the temple with Song Shihuan to pay respects to their ancestors.
"Honored ancestors, I am Song Yu, and this is my daughter, Song Shihuan." He bowed three times before the tablets. "May you watch over Ah Huan and grant her peace and prosperity. May my father, the Emperor, live a long and healthy life."
"May I succeed in the imperial examinations."
"May Shen Qingping’s head remain securely on his shoulders."
"May Gu Zheng maintain firm control over the military camp."
Song Yu rambled on with his requests until even Song Shihuan couldn’t help covering her eyes and lightly tugging at his sleeve. "Father, aren’t we asking for too much? Won’t the ancestors grow annoyed?"
"Nonsense!" Song Yu declared confidently.
"Ah Huan, you should make your wishes too." His eyes gleamed as he stared at the sandalwood incense in her hands. "This is the true ancestral grave of our Song family. Praying here is more effective than at the imperial mausoleum. We don’t come often—don’t waste the opportunity."
Song Shihuan found his reasoning surprisingly sound.
Thus, she too earnestly spent a long time making her own requests before the ancestral tablets.
Outside, the waiting crowd grew restless, while inside, the father-daughter pair exhausted every wish they could think of.
Only at the very end did Song Yu reluctantly mention Song Ling. "That disgrace to our family, Song Ling, is already dead. If any of you ancestors see him, give him a good thrashing first to vent your anger."
By the time they rose, their knees were red and sore.
Both couldn’t help but think: What a thoroughly satisfying ancestral worship!
......
"Your Highness, Princess, I have prepared a residence exclusively for you both," Ma Liang said, maintaining the appearance of an upright official. "Tonight, we shall host a banquet there to welcome and honor you."
"A welcoming banquet at my own lodgings? No, no."
Song Yu frowned in disapproval. "I am a guest here. As the magistrate of Yongning County, you should host the banquet at your own residence, Magistrate Ma."
"His Highness is right. Magistrate Ma, make the arrangements immediately. We shall accompany His Highness and the Princess on a tour of Yongning County in the meantime," Wang Shichun quickly interjected, not daring to contradict Song Yu.
"Your Highness, my humble home is crude. I fear it would be an insult to you..." Ma Liang hesitated, but Song Yu stepped forward and patted his shoulder.
"Don’t worry. I know you’re an honest and upright official. Even if your home is bare, I won’t feel slighted."
With that, he cut off any further excuses Ma Liang might have made.
Ma Liang hurried off, while Wang Shichun and the others led Song Yu through the streets of Yongning County, chattering nonstop:
"Your Highness, I’ve visited Yongning County many times—it truly is a fine place. Look, there are shops of all kinds here. The food and clothing of the people rank among the best in the entire Great Qi."
"If that’s the case, why hasn’t Magistrate Ma been promoted all these years?" Song Yu asked with a smile.
"He has declined several opportunities for advancement, saying he couldn’t bear to leave the people here."
"So there really are such selfless officials in Great Qi," Song Yu remarked meaningfully. "Earlier, you mentioned you’ve visited Yongning County many times. Did you only ever stroll through the town streets?"
"Well..."
Wang Shichun’s face flushed, but he couldn’t refute Song Yu’s words.
Every time he came, he only toured a few shops under Ma Liang’s guidance—he had never ventured elsewhere.
"And tell me, has Ma Liang ever hosted you at his own residence?"
Silence was the only response.
"How interesting. Truly interesting." Song Yu laughed, but the sound sent a chill down Wang Shichun’s spine.
......
That evening, the Ma residence was adorned with unprecedented grandeur for the first time.
Ma Liang stood outside the gates with his entire family, awaiting the arrival of Song Yu and Song Shihuan. As they approached, Song Shihuan noticed the poised and elegant woman in a cyan dress standing beside Ma Liang.
In the next moment, she broke free from Song Yu’s hand and ran toward the woman.
She even circled her once with deliberate curiosity.
"You must be Lady Ma! Standing beside Magistrate Ma, so dignified and graceful!"
Instantly, the expressions of the Ma household shifted uneasily.
But before anyone could react, Song Shihuan continued, "Before I left the capital, my governess specifically told me to greet Lady Ma. She said you once did my imperial grandmother a great kindness."
"Lady Ma, I—"
Before she could finish her thanks, Ma Liang hastily pulled the woman aside. "Princess, this is... Concubine Feng."
"Concubine?"
Song Shihuan’s face darkened instantly. A ten-year-old throwing a tantrum was simplicity itself.
"Magistrate Ma, you know full well the bond between your wife and my imperial grandmother. Yet you didn’t have her personally greet me and Father? What is the meaning of this?"
After spending months with Emperor Yuanyou, Song Shihuan had begun to carry his imposing aura.
The Ma household immediately dropped to their knees, trembling.
"Princess, my wife is unwell. We feared her illness might spread to you and His Highness, so we didn’t dare let her come out."
"Unwell? Perfect. I’ve brought imperial physicians with me. Let them examine Lady Ma and determine the nature of her illness."
Song Shihuan’s tone was unyielding, her icy glare piercing straight through Ma Liang.
