Days passed, and under the meticulous care of Mei Zhilin and Yingchun, Song Shihuan had regained enough strength to walk normally, and her face had begun to fill out.
One day, the royal manor welcomed a guest.
"Father, is this the tutor you hired for me?" Song Shihuan eyed the handsome man before her, whose unruly demeanor didn’t quite fit the image of a scholar.
Song Yu stiffened for a moment. "Yes, this is Shen Qingping."
"Tutor Shen, are you a top scholar?"
Faced with such a blunt question, Shen Qingping shot Song Yu a helpless glance—this wasn’t part of the script!
"Ahuan, he may not be a top scholar, but his father was," Song Yu chuckled awkwardly. "His father is Grand Tutor Shen."
"Then Tutor Shen must still be very learned." Song Shihuan saw through their act and suppressed a smile. "I happen to have many questions lately. Please enlighten me, Tutor."
"Of course."
Shen Qingping forced a smile that looked more pained than pleased.
The next two hours were, without a doubt, the most humiliating of Shen Qingping’s life.
"Tutor, what does this passage mean?"
Just as Shen Qingping was about to recite the explanation he’d heard from his father, a foot nudged him sharply under the table.
He turned pale. "This... I’m not entirely sure either."
"Ahuan, I can explain this one."
And so, Shen Qingping watched as Song Yu—this infuriatingly cunning prince—eagerly delivered the very explanation he’d been about to give.
After several such exchanges, Song Shihuan’s gaze toward Shen Qingping grew increasingly peculiar.
"Father, I don’t think I need a tutor anymore." She barely stifled a laugh. "You explain things so clearly."
"A tutor is still necessary," Song Yu declared loftily. "I’ll step in only when he’s stumped."
After all, if Shen Qingping didn’t visit the manor, who would relay Grand Tutor Shen’s insights to him?
"Then I’ll trouble Tutor Shen from now on."
Song Shihuan smiled sweetly at him.
Shen Qingping’s ears burned red, and he shot Song Yu a resentful look.
He’d let the prince have his way this time, but next time...
He’d fight to answer first!
Otherwise, the young mistress would think him a complete fool!
Unaware of his friend’s impending "betrayal," Song Yu basked in the anticipation of more praise from Song Shihuan.
Nearby, Yingchun and Baoxia exchanged amused glances, stifling their laughter.
......
Days later.
Behind an antique folding screen, wisps of steam rose as Yingchun gently scrubbed Song Shihuan’s skin, while Baoxia poured fresh milk into the wooden tub.
Petals floated on the water’s surface, casting a rosy glow on Song Shihuan’s face.
"You’ve finally put on some weight, Mistress," Yingchun said warmly. "You must eat more to grow taller."
Song Shihuan leaned back, eyes closed in relaxation.
"Yingchun, if I eat any more, I’ll turn into a ball."
"Not at all," Baoxia protested. "In time, our mistress will be the most beautiful woman in Daqi!"
She wasn’t wrong.
Before, Song Shihuan had been gaunt, her skin darkened by the sun.
Now, after daily milk baths, herbal tonics, and carefully prepared meals, her body had filled out, transforming day by day.
Her features had softened into striking clarity.
"Mistress, the new dress you ordered has arrived. Would you like to see it?" The Nanny’s voice carried from outside.
"Enough for today."
With Yingchun and Baoxia’s support, Song Shihuan stepped out of the tub. Once dried, Yingchun smoothed fragrant balm over her skin.
By the end of the ritual, Song Shihuan was nearly drowsy.
"Nanny, come in."
The Nanny entered with the dress, but the moment she saw Song Shihuan, she froze as if struck by lightning.
"Nanny?"
Song Shihuan called again.
"Oh!" The Nanny snapped out of her daze, but tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
"Nanny, what’s wrong?" Yingchun and Baoxia tensed, their smiles vanishing.
"Mistress... may I look at you closely?"
The Nanny studied Song Shihuan’s features intently.
Lately, she’d felt an inexplicable familiarity with the young mistress but couldn’t place it—until now.
"Mistress, your eyes... they’re the spitting image of Empress Yuan’s."
Even more so than Prince Song Yu’s.
Song Shihuan’s lips parted in shock. How could she resemble Empress Yuan?
"It’s uncanny," the Nanny wept. "Before, you were too thin to tell, but now—your brows, your eyes, even your lips... just like hers."
"Nanny, but I’m not Father’s blood child."
Song Shihuan’s heart churned. In her past life, no one had ever mentioned this resemblance.
"The Empress is Empress Yuan’s younger sister. You share the Xu family’s blood." The Nanny suddenly knelt and kowtowed three times toward the door. "Her Majesty’s spirit has blessed us."
Moved by the Nanny’s conviction, Song Shihuan began to believe it.
"Nanny, who else remembers Empress Yuan’s face?"
"The Emperor, the Empress, Imperial Physician Mei, and Elder Lady Xu." The Nanny wiped her tears. "Empress Yuan passed when Prince Yu was barely two."
So even Song Yu had no memory of his mother’s looks.
Imperial Physician Mei?!
Song Shihuan’s pulse quickened. No wonder Mei Zhilin had been visiting more often lately, studying her with such intensity.
So that was why.
Gazing into the bronze mirror, Song Shihuan traced her own features.
In her past life, her face had been slashed and her eyes gouged out—was it because someone had recognized this resemblance?
Suddenly, she wanted to laugh at the cruel irony.
She bore no likeness to the Crown Prince or the Crown Princess, yet mirrored the long-dead Empress Yuan.
And now, by choosing Song Yu as her adoptive father, she stood as Empress Yuan’s rightful granddaughter in the family records.
Song Yu, as Empress Yuan’s son, had enjoyed the Emperor’s favor despite his waywardness.
What then for her, who resembled Empress Yuan even more?
Song Shihuan’s blood burned with anticipation.
The Successor Empress, the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess, Song Yanzheng, Song Xiyan, and the two heirs still away from the Eastern Palace...
This time, fate had dealt her every advantage. She was already steps ahead of them all.
"Nanny, let’s pretend we never noticed this."
Song Shihuan’s eyes gleamed with dark resolve. Since Mei Zhilin had also seen it, he would surely report it to the Emperor.
She would wait and see how her grandfather reacted.
