"What do the other ministers think?"
Song Yu's words made the officials' hearts leap to their throats. Just moments ago, they had been lavishing praise on Prince Qin without restraint. If they didn’t act now...
Wouldn’t that be slapping their own faces?
With this in mind, one courtier reluctantly spoke up, "I... I am also willing to follow the Qin Prince's Mansion and donate grain and silver for the people of the northern frontier."
One after another, voices rose in agreement, and Song Yu grinned so widely his teeth were on full display.
Many hands make light work—this collective effort would amass no small sum.
"Father, since the court officials are generously contributing to aid the northern frontier, the imperial family must not lag behind. I propose that the Ping Prince's Mansion, Prince Chu's Mansion, and Prince Qi's Mansion should also donate a portion of grain and silver, joining the officials in this endeavor."
Song Yu didn’t even spare the distant Prince Chu's Mansion in its fiefdom.
"Prince Qin is right. The imperial family must not only contribute but contribute substantially. I, too, will allocate funds from my private treasury to stand with all of you."
Seeing Emperor Yuanyou take such a stance, the ministers who had "bled" silver felt somewhat comforted. Their losses were minor compared to the princes, who would have to shed far more.
Song Yu nodded solemnly. "Then, on behalf of the other princely mansions, I thank Your Majesty for this opportunity—especially the Ping Prince's Mansion, with its many imperial descendants. Surely, they will be even more generous."
Emperor Yuanyou lifted his gaze slightly.
How had the Ping Prince's Mansion offended this troublemaker again?
Given the Ping Prince's Mansion’s current state, parting with silver would be no different from parting with life.
......
Ping Prince's Mansion.
"What? The Ping Prince's Mansion has to donate silver?"
Shen Hua'er nearly exploded at the news. These days, the mansion barely scraped by on its stipend and meager shop earnings. With Song Ling dead, few were willing to invest in their fading fortunes.
Yet, Song Yanzheng and the others still spent extravagantly—so much so that she had even dipped into her dowry to cover their expenses.
"All civil and military officials are contributing. During the morning court, Prince Qin specifically mentioned that the Ping Prince's Mansion, with its many imperial descendants, would surely be even more generous."
Hearing the servant’s report, Shen Hua'er could no longer stay seated.
"Just say the prince has passed, and the Ping Prince's Mansion has no silver to spare."
Before the words had fully left her lips, a disapproving voice cut in. "Wouldn’t that make the Ping Prince's Mansion a laughingstock? Even if I later earn the title of top scholar, people will only remember us as paupers."
"Princess Consort, you must not let immediate losses cloud the bigger picture."
Seeing Song Yanzheng’s furrowed brow, Shen Hua'er laughed bitterly.
"Yanzheng, where in this mansion is there any extra silver? Helping the northern frontier? If we donate, we’ll be left with nothing but the wind to drink."
"Where has all the mansion’s monthly income gone?" Song Yanzheng eyed Shen Hua'er suspiciously—had she embezzled it?
Understanding his implication, Shen Hua'er felt her heart turn cold. "Someone, bring the mansion’s account books for the Eldest Imperial Grandson to see."
"Every month, your tutoring and social expenses, Third Imperial Grandson’s indulgences, and the young mistress’s artistic pursuits are all recorded here."
With that, she stormed off in a fury.
All her efforts to manage the mansion’s affairs, only to be met with suspicion?
That evening, Song Yanzheng summoned Song Yanming and Song Xiyan to the main courtyard for dinner. Seeing Shen Hua'er, now wearing a forehead band and looking ill, he felt a rare pang of guilt.
"Princess Consort, today was my fault."
Song Yanming and Song Xiyan, unaware of the earlier conflict, remained silent—especially Song Xiyan, who had been avoiding Shen Hua'er ever since rumors spread of her competition with Shen Lin'er.
"After careful consideration, the Ping Prince's Mansion must still donate—not just donate, but donate more."
Let the people see which imperial descendants truly cared for them like their own children!
Then, turning to Song Yanming and Song Xiyan, he added,
"From now on, Yanming, no more reckless feasting with those noble brats. And Xiyan, drop the unnecessary arts—mastering one is enough."
"Why?" they protested in unison.
"No reason. For the Ping Prince's Mansion’s reputation, you must make sacrifices."
They left without another word, resentment boiling in their hearts—though Song Yanzheng paid it no mind.
In the end, he alone would inherit the Ping Prince's Mansion.
"Return the account books to the princess consort. Thank her for managing things for us siblings."
......
The next day, the fundraising began in earnest.
"Don’t crowd, line up one by one. The Qin Prince's Mansion will record every donation of silver and grain."
Song Shihuan stood at the mansion’s gate, beaming at the endless stream of donors.
At this rate, the grain alone could feed the northern frontier for half a year.
Gu Mingning, meanwhile, was stunned. "All this... is for the northern frontier?"
Before he could finish, Shen Qingping flicked him on the back of the head. "What? Don’t want it?"
"I do! I do!"
Gu Mingning had never seen anything like this. "I’m just... overjoyed. Little Lord Shen, why does the princess call you ‘teacher’?"
"What, do I not look like someone who could instruct a princess?"
Shen Qingping kicked him lightly. "Five years in the northern frontier, and you’ve learned nothing."
"Heh, Uncle Shen."
Gu Mingning didn’t mind the kick—it felt familiar, like the old days when his reckless uncle had dragged him into mischief.
The way Shen Qingping had been acting lately, he’d only dared call him "Little Lord Shen."
In just two days, an enormous sum of silver and countless grain had been raised.
In the courtyard, Song Yu flipped through the donation records, his gaze settling on one page.
"Liuxi, note that the Qin Prince's Mansion donated one tael more silver and one extra sack of grain than the Ping Prince's Mansion."
A joke—would he let those wretches from the Ping Prince's Mansion outshine him?
He’d openly suppress them.
"As for the rest, record it under the Gu Family’s name."
"At once, Your Highness."
Liuxi scribbled away, already imagining the ridicule the Ping Prince's Mansion would face once this list circulated.
Unlike previous modest escorts, this time, four thousand soldiers were mobilized to guard the silver and grain.
The massive convoy prepared to depart for the northern frontier.
"Your kindness will not be forgotten. Please accept my gratitude."
Gu Mingning bowed deeply to the assembled crowd.
"Who knows when we’ll meet again? I look forward to the day the northern frontier thrives." Song Yu waved. "Take care, Mingning."
Far from sorrowful, Gu Mingning was practically vibrating with excitement.
People of the frontier!
Your mountains of silver and grain are on their way!
