"Your Highness, Your Highness, what's wrong?" The maid frantically called for the imperial physician. Song Yanzheng's face darkened like a burnt pot as he glared at the shameless man before him. "Are you Mei Xiang's brother?"
"Yes, yes, that's right," the man fawned. "I heard Mei Xiang gave birth to a healthy son for His Highness. This is truly a blessing for our whole family. Just now, the prince mentioned that the young master bears some resemblance to this humble commoner..."
"Silence."
Song Yanzheng's temple throbbed with barely restrained fury. "Mei Xiang died in childbirth. The young master has been registered under Lady Chang, the princess consort, and has nothing to do with your family."
"How can that be?"
The man was nothing but a scoundrel, and seeing such immense fortune slipping away, he refused to back down.
"Yanzheng, this is rather unfair of you," Song Yu interjected leisurely.
Encouraged by the Qin Prince's support, the man quickly added, "Your Highness, my sister gave her life to bring this child into the world. Even if he’s registered under someone else’s name, shouldn’t I, as his uncle, at least be allowed to see him? Blood ties cannot be denied."
"Guards, beat him out of here!"
Song Yanzheng had completely lost his composure.
What should have been a joyous celebration had turned into chaos, all because of the Qin Prince and his daughter. Now, his child was being linked to such a despicable family.
He had lost the upper hand.
If he dared claim now that the child resembled the late empress, Song Yu would surely accuse him of disrespecting her memory.
As the man was dragged out, the commotion startled the infant in the cradle, who began wailing loudly, plunging the scene into further disarray.
"Tsk. I can’t stand the sound of a baby crying. Since His Majesty has nothing to do today and asked me to bring Ah Huan to the palace, we’ll take our leave now."
Song Yu delivered another casual yet stinging blow to the Ping Prince's Mansion.
Earlier, the Ping Prince's Mansion had claimed Emperor Yuanyou was too busy with state affairs to attend the celebration. But now...
The attending officials, all sharp-witted, quickly grasped the emperor’s stance. The moment Song Yu and Song Shihuan left, the ministers rose to excuse themselves.
Within half an hour, nearly all the guests had departed.
"Are you leaving too, Mentor?" Song Yanzheng asked darkly, eyeing the bruised and battered Censor Han.
"Your Highness, heed my advice—do not provoke the Qin Prince's Mansion until you are strong enough. Otherwise, my injuries and today’s humiliation will be your fate as well."
Speaking aggravated his wounds, and tears welled in Censor Han’s eyes.
Who could understand the pain of being ambushed, beaten black and blue in a sack?
......
In the Purple Palace Hall.
"You’ve shown rare cleverness today," Emperor Yuanyou remarked, lips curling in amusement as Song Yu recounted the events with vivid detail.
"Not just anyone can resemble Mother," Song Yu scoffed. "It’s clear the Ping Prince's Mansion doesn’t truly care for that child—only how to use him for their own gain."
The words struck a chord with the emperor.
"Not only scheming but also short-sighted," Emperor Yuanyou observed pointedly. "My fondness for Ah Huan isn’t solely because she resembles your mother. It’s because she is an exceptional child."
His gaze drifted toward Song Shihuan, practicing calligraphy behind the screen. "To think even my affection has been calculated upon by the Ping Prince's Mansion."
Emperor Yuanyou's displeasure was evident—not a single reward was sent to Ping Prince's Mansion even after the child's full-month celebration. This blatant humiliation left Shen Hua'er in a daze, drifting between consciousness and unconsciousness.
"My lady, what should we do now?"
"No need to rush. The child is still too young to show anything. Once they grow older and start speaking, we’ll bring them to the palace often. If the child is sweet-tongued, won’t His Majesty dote on them?" Shen Hua'er struggled to sit up. "But this time, Ping Prince's Mansion has been publicly shamed before the court officials. Yanzheng, you must bring honor to our family in the imperial examinations."
"Yet His Majesty still hasn’t bestowed a name upon the child."
The sound of the infant’s cries pierced the air again, making Shen Hua'er’s head throb. "Take the child to the courtyard where Mei Xiang used to live and raise them there. As for the name, let’s give them a milk name for now."
"Call them Ah Shun—may Ping Prince's Mansion have smooth sailing from now on."
......
At the Shen residence, tranquility quickly returned after Shen Qinghui’s departure.
"Third Master, Ping Prince's Mansion sent assassins after the young lord’s maternal uncle. Should we...?"
In the study, Shen Qingping was dutifully reviewing memorials when the servant spoke. He lifted his head, sharpness gleaming in his eyes.
"Find a corpse to pass off as the man. Let Ping Prince's Mansion believe he’s already dead."
A faint smile curled Shen Qingping’s lips. "Then hide the real man somewhere outside the capital. He might prove useful later."
"Understood. This servant will see to it immediately."
Interrupted from his work, Shen Qingping stretched and made his way to Shen Mingwen’s study.
"What is it?" Shen Mingwen guessed the visitor without even looking up.
"I merely wished to inquire about His Highness’s recent studies."
At Shen Qingping’s words, Shen Mingwen’s brush paused mid-stroke. "I’ve been so preoccupied with your elder brother’s affairs that I haven’t yet annotated His Highness’s practice essays."
Shen Qingping nodded and seated himself, murmuring softly,
"I heard Lord Ye sent several more practice books to Guo Mansion. At this rate, when His Highness achieves the top rank in the imperial examinations and is asked about his mentors, I wonder if he’ll name you or Lord Ye."
The remark instantly stirred Shen Mingwen’s competitive spirit.
"Tomorrow, I’ll send a few practice books to Qin Prince's Mansion. His Highness has been idle lately—he should devote more time to study."
Satisfied, Shen Qingping smiled. "Then I’ll thank Father on His Highness’s behalf."
Meanwhile, Song Yu, who had been resting with his eyes closed in Qin Prince's Mansion, sneezed loudly.
......
In early June, the Gu Family publicly announced a martial arts tournament for marriage, to be held on the twentieth of the month in their training grounds.
To martial artists, the Gu Family’s prestige rivaled that of Shen Mingwen and Ye Shijie among scholars. Overnight, the capital teemed with warriors.
Every street buzzed with talk of the Gu Family’s tournament.
"If one marries Eldest Miss Gu, can they charge across battlefields like the men of the Gu Family?" A reserved-looking young man stopped at a crossroads and asked quietly.
"Of course, the husband of Eldest Miss Gu would do so."
At the crowd’s affirmation, the young man’s eyes lit up with brilliance.
"Young master, you seem to be from outside the capital. Did you travel all this way for the tournament?"
The youth nodded. "Could you point me toward the Gu Family’s residence?"
Upon hearing that he was heading to a martial contest, the crowd eagerly pointed the young man in the right direction.
With polite thanks, the youth shouldered his pack and set off toward the Gu estate.
A marriage tournament?
He had strength to spare.
