Since the departure date for Song Yu and Song Shihuan's return to the capital was set, Emperor Yuanyou suddenly felt a renewed sense of anticipation, and his mood improved considerably.
The most direct beneficiary of this was Wu Qi.
"Eunuch Wu, you must be losing fewer strands of hair these days, eh?"
Shen Mingwen chuckled as he spoke, only to see Wu Qi's eyes light up, his voice instantly rising several notches in enthusiasm. "Grand Tutor Shen! His Majesty is reviewing memorials at the moment. This servant will announce your arrival at once."
"Ah, I wasn’t—"
Shen Mingwen’s expression swiftly turned to horror, his words left unfinished as Wu Qi hurried into the hall. A sense of foreboding settled in his heart.
He had only come to ask Wu Qi to forward a few memorials on his behalf...
Not to personally face the Emperor!
A few moments later, the smile had transferred from Shen Mingwen’s face to Wu Qi’s. "Grand Tutor Shen, His Majesty requests your presence."
Shen Mingwen gritted his teeth and nodded.
"Many thanks, Eunuch Wu."
This was infuriating!
Wu Qi grinned, his eyes narrowing in satisfaction. Though the Emperor’s mood had improved, he certainly wouldn’t refuse having someone else divert His Majesty’s attention for a while.
Wu Qi exhaled deeply in relief.
At least he could relax for half an hour.
......
Time flew by, and soon it was the day Song Yu and Song Shihuan were set to depart from Laijin Prefecture.
Before dawn, the two had already prepared to leave, hoping not to disturb the peace that had finally settled over the disaster-stricken people.
Yet when their carriage reached a street corner, a torch suddenly blocked their path.
Then came a second... and a third...
The flames illuminated the entire street as bright as day.
"Your Highness, My Lady, many citizens have come to see you off."
At Liuxi’s words, Song Yu and Song Shihuan opened the carriage window.
What greeted them was a sea of people lining both sides of the street, their faces filled with deep reluctance. Some children even burst into tears.
Their parents had told them that the Qin Prince and Lady Fuan were their guardian deities—yet now, these protectors were leaving.
"We commoners thank Your Highness and My Lady for your boundless kindness."
The crowd spontaneously knelt, stubbornly insisting on sending them off in this manner.
"Can’t the Prince and Lady stay?" A child’s innocent plea made the people silently lower their heads, wiping away tears.
"Child, the Prince and Lady must protect the entire Great Qi."
Song Yu and Song Shihuan stepped out of the carriage, walking slowly forward as the people of Laijin Prefecture knelt in farewell. Wherever they passed, the citizens pressed their foreheads to the ground, their right hands still holding torches aloft to light the way.
This was an unprecedented send-off, a scene never before witnessed in history. The crowd stretched like a winding serpent, accompanying them all the way to the city gates of Laijin Prefecture.
"Your Highness, My Lady, this journey has truly been a great act of virtue."
Shen Qingping glanced back at Laijin’s city walls.
To win the hearts of the people—this was the very essence of it.
......
Meanwhile, the capital was shrouded in an eerily strange atmosphere.
Officials who had been "intimidated" by Shen Mingwen began speculating about the possibility of Song Yu refusing the crown prince position. Recalling his usual unconventional behavior, they grew restless.
"Steward Liu, the Prince and Lady have rendered great service in disaster relief. We wish to prepare modest gifts for them and seek your advice on their preferences."
The steward stared at the crowd of officials gathered outside the Qin Prince's Mansion, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. What was this? Had he seen a ghost in broad daylight?
"Ahem."
A rustling sound followed as the Nanny stepped forward, whispering into the steward’s ear, "These people surely have ill intentions."
Hadn’t they repeatedly impeached the Prince in court before?
With this in mind, the steward nodded subtly, his gaze turning wary.
"Esteemed officials, my Prince’s sole preference is raising the Lady."
Having said this, he shot the Nanny a triumphant look—his answer was flawless, revealing nothing of significance.
But the officials were stumped.
Raising the Lady?
Such a peculiar preference left them at a loss. There was no way to curry favor with the Prince unless they turned to Lady Fuan...
Thus, another official ventured,
"Then... what are Lady Fuan’s preferences?"
Without batting an eye, the steward declared loudly,
"My Lady’s sole preference is raising the Prince."
The questioning official nearly fainted on the spot.
One raised the Lady, the other raised the Prince—there was simply no gap for outsiders to squeeze in.
As the officials slunk away in defeat, the steward and Nanny spat scornfully in their direction.
"Dream on if you think you can scheme against our Prince and Lady!"
With that, the gates of the Qin Prince's Mansion slammed shut—cold and merciless.
......
At the Purple Palace Hall.
Upon hearing the report from the imperial guards, Emperor Yuanyou nearly spat out his tea.
"The Qin Prince's steward truly said that?"
"Your Majesty, every word is true."
A burst of laughter followed, the Emperor’s crow’s feet deepening with mirth. "What a perfect 'sole preference'!"
"The wisest decision I ever made was registering Shihuan under that rascal’s name."
His discernment was truly unmatched!
Wu Qi lowered his head, silently thinking that it was the Lady who had chosen the Prince. If he recalled correctly, the Emperor had repeatedly made her confirm her decision, fearing the Prince would corrupt her!
"Wu Qi, select some rewards from my private treasury and send them to the Qin Prince's Mansion."
"Your Majesty, the Prince and Lady have yet to return to the capital..." Wu Qi couldn’t help but interject.
"I’m rewarding the steward."
Wu Qi was speechless.
Even a mere steward from the Qin Prince's Mansion could receive treasures from the Emperor’s private collection—items ordinary families would enshrine in their ancestral halls.
"This servant will go at once."
Inside, Wu Qi wept. After decades of serving the Emperor, he had never received such a reward!
......
As Song Yu and Song Shihuan’s return drew nearer, Emperor Yuanyou grew restless.
"Gu Zheng and Gu Mingning’s troops move slowly. Let the Prince and Lady go ahead—they’ll arrive faster that way."
In the hall, Shen Mingwen’s face stiffened.
If only the Emperor could hear himself. If Gu Zheng learned of this, he’d probably drown his sorrows by drilling troops for three straight days.
"Your Majesty, the imperial guards report the Prince and Lady will reach the capital the morning after tomorrow."
"The morning after tomorrow..."
Emperor Yuanyou clicked his tongue. Still too slow.
Had Shihuan lost weight? Did she miss her Imperial Grandfather?
