"Why did you come here?"
At the entrance of the imperial mausoleum, Song Yu stood holding an umbrella, waiting for Song Shihuan to emerge.
Seeing him, Song Shihuan quickened her steps and threw herself into Song Yu's arms. "I missed Grandmother, so I asked Uncle to come pay respects to her with me."
"You little rascal."
Song Yu playfully tapped her delicate nose. "This prince isn’t afraid of the Xu family."
"I know. My father fears nothing in this world."
Song Yu glanced back at the mausoleum before leading Song Shihuan away.
The atmosphere in the carriage was quiet for most of the journey.
"Father, do you secretly visit Grandmother often?" Song Shihuan asked softly, having noticed the signs of frequent offerings at the mausoleum.
"Nonsense."
Song Yu’s stubbornness was most evident in his words. "There’s a memorial tablet in the mansion. Paying respects there is enough."
"Oh?" Song Shihuan deliberately drew out the syllable. Unfazed, Song Yu added, "If you want to come next time, I’ll accompany you."
"Thank you, Father!"
Song Shihuan smiled, pressing her lips together. Through the carriage window, she caught sight of bustling shops along the street. "Father, do we own many shops too?"
At this, Song Yu’s invisible tail practically wagged with pride. "Of course! When I first established my household, His Majesty gave me all the shops and estates from Mother’s dowry."
(Though the old man added a few of his own as well.)
Song Shihuan’s eyes sparkled. "Then our mansion must be overflowing with silver?"
Song Yu nodded smugly.
Internally, Song Shihuan rolled her eyes. Not at all—she had seen the ledgers, and they were riddled with deficits.
"Father, could you hire an accounting tutor for me? I’d like to learn how to manage the books and see just how much wealth our mansion truly holds." She grinned mischievously. "And if we own any cosmetics or clothing shops, I could pick whatever I want, right?"
"Anything for my A-Huan." Song Yu agreed readily, convinced that the Qin Prince's Mansion was wealthy enough to sustain a lifetime of luxury.
Eager to flaunt his riches before his daughter, Song Yu hired an accountant the very next day.
"Father, don’t leave yet!" Song Shihuan called out as Song Yu tried to slip away.
"A-Huan, what else do you need?" Song Yu flashed a toothy grin. It was an odd-numbered day—he had already secured permission to go out and enjoy himself.
"Stay and learn with me. I’m afraid I won’t understand alone."
Faced with her pleading expression, Song Yu couldn’t resist.
In an instant, he forgot all about Shen Qingping, who was waiting outside with his head held high.
Satisfied, Song Shihuan nodded. The mansion’s staggering deficits would hit harder if her father calculated them himself.
Besides, a man destined for greatness couldn’t afford to be clueless about finances.
Otherwise, he’d be swindled out of every last coin, blissfully unaware as he counted money for others.
......
The abacus beads clattered noisily in the Qin Prince's Mansion, while Xu Jinruo’s investigation finally yielded leads.
"You’re saying my wife visited the palace twice before the incident?"
Xu Jinruo twisted the jade ring on his thumb, his gaze dark and unreadable.
"Yes. Once to Kunning Palace, and once to the Eastern Palace."
"Any unusual activity in the main courtyard lately?" Xu Jinruo already had his suspicions.
"The maids in the madam’s quarters have been in unusually high spirits."
"That venomous woman!" Xu Jinruo shot to his feet, slamming the table before storming toward the main courtyard.
There, Lady Xu was leisurely sipping warm wine when Xu Jinruo barged in, startling her so much she forgot to greet him. He snatched the cup from her hand and smashed it to the ground.
"You schemed to have Jiao'er killed!"
"My lord, I would never—"
Before she could finish, Xu Jinruo seized her throat. "I wouldn’t confront you without proof. Confess now, or I’ll write a letter of divorce this instant."
He released her, and Lady Xu collapsed to the floor.
"It... It was Her Majesty the Empress and the Crown Prince who told me to teach that wild girl a lesson, to avenge Princess Fuyun."
"And you sacrificed Jiao'er for it?" Xu Jinruo laughed bitterly, fury burning in his eyes. "I never knew the woman I shared a bed with was so heartless."
"Targeting a royal princess isn’t simple!" Lady Xu’s voice turned frantic. "Who else could we afford to lose but Lin Jiao'er?"
Seeing her utter lack of remorse, Xu Jinruo spoke coldly. "Someone fetch paper and ink. I’m writing the divorce."
"Enough of this foolishness!"
Elder Lady Xu’s voice cut through the tension. Lady Xu scrambled toward her like a drowning woman clutching at straws. "Mother, I have children—think of their future!"
Elder Lady Xu sighed heavily. "What a wretched mess."
"Mother, I cannot share a roof with this viper any longer."
"And what of your children? Your son must still enter court service, your daughter must marry into a noble family!" Elder Lady Xu tapped her cane against Xu Jinruo’s leg. "Your priority should be His Majesty’s displeasure toward the Xu family."
"Mother..." Xu Jinruo shuddered.
"From now on, keep your distance from Kunning Palace and the Eastern Palace." Elder Lady Xu’s aged eyes gleamed with clarity. "The Xu family’s wealth and status won’t diminish if we do nothing. The real danger lies in fools who can’t resist meddling."
"But the Eastern Palace—"
"Xu Jinruo, when Kunning Palace and the Eastern Palace urged your wife to avenge Princess Fuyun, did they spare a thought for our family? No—they banked on His Majesty’s mercy for the late Empress’s sake."
Agony flashed in Xu Jinruo’s eyes. Why did it have to be his Jiao'er?
......
"Princess, Minister Xu has taken leave, claiming illness."
Yingchun’s eyes danced with amusement. "The Xu residence has shut its gates to all visitors—even the Eastern Palace’s messengers were turned away."
Song Shihuan nodded. "It seems Uncle’s wrath won’t be directed at us, then."
Good news indeed.
Just as she turned a page in her book, an anguished roar echoed through the mansion, startling her so badly the book slipped from her hands.
"These accounts must be wrong!"
Song Yu trembled as he jabbed a finger at the ledger, glaring at the tutor. "Are you even qualified to teach this?"
"Your Highness, the calculations are accurate."
Refusing to believe it, Song Yu redid the sums himself—only to turn ashen-faced. "A-Huan, you try."
When repeated attempts yielded the same result, Song Yu’s eyes blazed with fury.
"Those thieving dogs! They’ve embezzled half my fortune!"
