"Today, you all seem particularly sharp-eyed and clear-minded."
Song Yu swept his gaze across the assembly. In the past, court officials would immediately lower their heads and avoid his gaze out of guilt, but this time...
Watching the ministers stare at him with bright, eager eyes, Song Yu twitched the corner of his mouth.
This sudden change was rather unsettling.
A soft chuckle broke the silence. Shen Qingping seemed to realize something and turned to glance at his father. Meeting Shen Mingwen’s knowing look, Shen Qingping understood.
"Your Highness, your heroic efforts to save the people of Laijin Prefecture from disaster have earned you the deep respect of your fellow officials."
"Yes, yes, deep respect indeed."
Even Shen Qingping, who was usually avoided like the plague, now basked in the courtiers' admiration. Song Yu raised a hand to touch the corner of his lips.
Stubborn mouth, don’t you dare curl up!
Or else he’d lose the dignified bearing befitting the Prince of Qin.
Half an hour later, Emperor Yuanyou finally arrived, accompanied by Song Shihuan. The emperor never once let go of her hand along the way, so the grandfather and granddaughter walked side by side into the hall.
The sight sent shockwaves through the room.
Walking shoulder-to-shoulder with the emperor—what an extraordinary mark of favor!
"Wu Qi, place a chair beside my seat for Ahuan. Today, she will dine with me."
Emperor Yuanyou paid no heed to the stunned expressions of his ministers, simply leading Song Shihuan to the high seat. Only when settling in did he spare Song Yu a glance.
Well, it seems the old man has found a new favorite—his granddaughter—and cast aside his son.
"Today’s banquet is held to welcome the Prince of Qin and Princess Fu’an back to the capital. Their efforts in ensuring Laijin Prefecture survived the flood disaster were indispensable."
The emperor’s voice rang out, heralding the beginning of rewards.
"At the start of the year, when the Prince of Qin departed for Ji'an Prefecture, I entrusted him with the Crown Prince’s seal—not as a temporary measure, but as a permanent arrangement. From now on, the Prince of Qin shall hold authority equal to the Crown Prince, overseeing the affairs of the six ministries and governing the Great Qi dynasty."
Entrusted...
Even Shen Qingping widened his eyes at the emperor’s blatant favoritism. Who in their right mind would gift the Crown Prince’s seal as a mere token?
"Princess Fu’an deserves the highest merit."
The aged emperor turned to the young girl beside him, his affection genuine and profound. If not for Ahuan’s timely premonition of the disaster, Laijin Prefecture would have been doomed.
Ahuan was the fortune-bringer of Great Qi.
"I hereby grant Princess Fu’an an estate of ten thousand households, with Laijin Prefecture as her fiefdom, to be sustained by its tributes."
"Her daily provisions shall match those of a princess, and she shall be granted a dragon-embroidered palanquin for her travels."
The emperor’s voice echoed through the hall.
All eyes turned to the eleven-year-old princess. Such lavish rewards left nothing more to bestow—what could possibly surpass this?
"Thank you, Imperial Grandfather."
Song Shihuan bowed, only to be gently steadied by Emperor Yuanyou once again.
"Child, is there anything else you desire?"
He was eager to give her everything within his power.
"With Imperial Grandfather, Imperial Father, and my teachers by my side, I lack nothing."
Song Shihuan smiled, her almond-shaped eyes curving sweetly, though a shadow of sorrow lurked beneath.
What she truly wanted was for every last person in the Ping Prince’s Mansion to suffer a fate far worse than her past life.
But this was her own reckoning to settle—she would do it herself.
......
Three rounds of wine later, the banquet was in full swing, music and dance filling the air.
Yet the courtiers sat frozen, their minds still reeling from the emperor’s staggering rewards.
The Crown Prince’s seal—handed over just like that?
Even Laijin Prefecture, a land of prosperity—given away without hesitation?
Meanwhile, the faces of the Ping Prince’s household and Prince Qi had darkened to the extreme. Prince Qi, in particular, drowned his frustrations in cup after cup of wine, his drunken demeanor drawing silent disapproval from the officials.
Prince Qi was truly unfit for greatness!
And so... their fervent gazes returned to Song Yu. How had they failed to see before that the Prince of Qin was the most suitable candidate for the throne?
Recalling Shen Mingwen’s words, the ministers’ minds buzzed with fresh schemes.
"Your Highness, allow me to toast you."
An elder who had previously spoken in Song Yu’s defense rose and approached him. "Should you ever wish to study any texts, I am at your service."
"I, too, propose a toast. Recently, the clamor over cricket fights and rooster battles in the capital has worsened my headaches. I intend to petition His Majesty to ban such frivolities from the city—what does Your Highness think?"
"Your Highness, I’ve recently read a historical text detailing ancient emperors’ strategies for governance. I would be honored to present it to you."
One by one, the officials crowded around Song Yu, their words laced with thinly veiled concern that he might revert to his old, idle ways—and their desperate attempts to steer him toward scholarly pursuits.
Watching Song Yu besieged by well-wishers, Song Shihuan couldn’t help but laugh.
"Ahuan, you’ve grown thinner."
An unwelcome voice cut through her mirth. Song Shihuan’s smile vanished instantly. "Eldest Imperial Grandson."
Song Yanzheng wore the mask of a doting elder brother, his eyes brimming with pity. "Had I known, I would have accompanied you to share your burdens."
"Second Imperial Grandson did join me—only to make things worse."
At the mention of Song Yanchao, Song Yanzheng’s expression faltered. "Yanchao acted wrongly, and he has been punished accordingly."
Now, the household turned a blind eye to Xi Yan’s harsh treatment of Yanchao.
"Ahuan, we are siblings by blood. I truly care for you."
"Care for me?"
Before Song Shihuan could respond, a voice laced with mockery interrupted. Gu Mingning smirked at Song Yanzheng. "Eldest Imperial Grandson neither fretted over the princess nor sent her any comforts in Laijin Prefecture. Empty words of concern are nothing but a joke."
"Gu Mingning!"
Gu Zheng’s heart nearly stopped in fright.
"Your Majesty, my son speaks out of turn. I beg for your punishment."
Strangely, Emperor Yuanyou and Shen Mingwen both felt an odd sense of satisfaction at Gu Mingning’s audacity.
So, it wasn’t just their own sons who caused trouble.
"Enough. Mingning has been stationed at the northern borders—he’s unaccustomed to courtly decorum." The emperor’s bias was plain as day. "However, Yanzheng, Mingning does have a point. Refrain from invoking kinship in front of Ahuan henceforth."
Had he not seen how they once scorned her?
"Yes, Grandson understands."
Song Yanzheng shot a venomous glare at Gu Mingning, only to be met with a defiant stare in return.
A toothless, ailing tiger—one strike from his staff would finish it.
What was there to fear?
Song Shihuan watched Song Yanzheng’s retreating figure in silence, her eyes dark with calculation.
The imperial examinations... they were the carefully laid trap she had prepared for him.
She would savor every moment of his slow, inevitable downfall.
