Zichen Palace.
"That scoundrel is getting praised too?" Emperor Yuanyou nearly jumped out of his seat upon hearing Wu Qi's report. "He didn’t even draw his bow once during the hunt, yet people are singing his praises like this?"
"Your Majesty, everyone assumes the young mistress’s skills were honed by Prince Qin."
"Nonsense!" Emperor Yuanyou scowled. "A-Huan clearly inherited her archery talent from my bloodline."
As for that good-for-nothing’s actual capabilities, he knew better than anyone.
Wu Qi promptly lowered his head. The crux was that Prince Qin hadn’t sent anyone to clarify the situation—clearly, he was content to let the misconception stand.
"Your Majesty, while people credit Prince Qin for her training, achieving flawless archery ultimately depends on innate talent. In the end, they’ll still trace it back to you."
Song Yu puffed his chest proudly while Wu Qi desperately smoothed over his words.
"Hmph!" Emperor Yuanyou snorted. That scoundrel was just lucky to have a daughter like A-Huan.
Before Wu Qi could steady his nerves, commotion erupted outside the hall. Rushing out, he nearly lost his composure.
Shen Mingwen and Gu Zheng were both staring at him with blazing intensity. "Eunuch Wu, kindly inform His Majesty of our request."
"Today, I must plead with the Emperor again to let the young mistress become my disciple," Gu Zheng declared, shooting a glare at Shen Mingwen.
"His Majesty won’t agree," Shen Mingwen retorted with equal venom.
Caught between these two titans, Wu Qi trudged back inside like a man condemned.
"Your Majesty, Grand Tutor Shen and General Gu have arrived... regarding the young mistress."
Heaven help me. The Emperor’s mood had better stay pleasant, or us attendants will suffer.
As Shen Mingwen and Gu Zheng entered, Wu Qi silently prayed.
......
"Your Majesty, here is the martial training regimen I’ve prepared for the young mistress. I sincerely wish to take her as my disciple. Such prodigious talent would be wasted if not properly nurtured!"
Gu Zheng presented his meticulously crafted plan. Shen Mingwen took one glance and exploded.
"Gu Zheng, are you trying to monopolize all her time?"
What about him?
"Martial training requires undivided dedication to reach mastery. Grand Tutor Shen, did you have time for poetry during your scholarly pursuits?"
As the two teetered on the brink of another quarrel, Emperor Yuanyou rubbed his temples.
These were pillars of the court, yet they were squabbling like children over tutoring his granddaughter. Was this necessary?
"General Gu."
The Emperor cleared his throat. "If you agree to limit A-Huan’s martial training to one day every three, I’ll grant your request. But the final decision rests with A-Huan herself."
"Why three days?" Shen Mingwen blinked, uncomprehending.
One day for him, one for Gu Zheng—that made two. Where did the third go?
Emperor Yuanyou snatched up an inkstone, poised to hurl it before remembering Shen Mingwen’s aged reflexes. Grudgingly, he set it down.
"Have you forgotten me? And Prince Qin—do you think he’d consent to just two days?"
Gu Zheng glanced between them, baffled.
Something was afoot between the Emperor and the Grand Tutor that he didn’t grasp.
"I accept," Gu Zheng agreed after a brief pause. Half a loaf was better than none.
Leaving Zichen Palace, Gu Zheng floated on air.
"Grand Tutor Shen, don’t begrudge me too much. Surely you’ll find a scholarly prodigy someday. Then you’ll understand my eagerness today."
Shen Mingwen responded with a dry chuckle.
He’d staked his claim long before Gu Zheng.
"General Gu, I’ll take your blessing to heart."
Shen Mingwen could already picture Gu Zheng’s face when the truth came out.
"It’s getting late. I must visit the Qin Prince’s Mansion. Farewell."
Gu Zheng departed whistling cheerfully, oblivious to the sly smirk curling Shen Mingwen’s lips.
......
Qin Prince’s Mansion.
"One day of martial training at the Gu residence every three?"
Song Yu crossed his arms, scrutinizing Gu Zheng.
"If A-Huan struggles, you won’t chase her with a rod like you did Mingzhu, will you?"
He remembered Gu Mingzhu’s tearful complaints all too well.
"Of—of course not!" Gu Zheng dabbed at nonexistent sweat. "I’ll impart everything I know with utmost patience."
"A-Huan, what do you say?"
Song Yu turned to Song Shihuan, mirroring the Emperor’s deference to her wishes.
"I’d be honored to study under General Gu."
Song Shihuan stepped forward and bowed deeply.
What she lacked most was combat experience—precisely Gu Zheng’s forte.
Overwhelmed, Gu Zheng stumbled over his words. "Young Mistress, I—I swear to dedicate my all to your training!"
Gu Zheng drifted away in a daze. Song Shihuan dashed to the mansion’s lakeside, trailing her fingers through the water.
Though the lake had claimed her in a past life, she now gazed at it without fear, her eyes alight with joy.
"The Emperor is my grandfather. My father holds the Crown Prince’s token."
"Grand Tutor Shen, head of scholars, teaches me letters."
"General Gu, foremost among warriors, teaches me arms."
"The future chancellor is my mentor."
"Yingchun, I’m so happy."
She was the most fortunate young mistress in all of Great Qi.
......
While Song Shihuan basked in bliss, the Ping Prince’s Mansion was shrouded in gloom.
"My lady, the Third Prince’s grandson has barely eaten for days."
"After that disgrace, loss of appetite is the least he deserves," Shen Hua'er snapped. "His petty schemes have tarnished both our family names!"
Not just the Ping Prince’s mansion—the Shen Family’s reputation was also in tatters.
Faced with this tangled mess, Shen Hua'er felt exhaustion weigh her bones.
"I’ll write Father again. Perhaps he has a solution."
Meanwhile, back at Zichen Palace...
Shen Qingping received an urgent summons.
"Your Majesty wished to see me?" Kneeling, Shen Qingping kept his gaze lowered.
"The Shen Family grows restless."
Emperor Yuanyou flipped through a dossier, his brow furrowing at records of frequent exchanges between the Shen Family and the Ping Prince’s Mansion.
"The Shen Family is an ancient lineage," Shen Qingping said carefully. "Their influence in court runs deep. Half-measures won’t suffice."
"Then eradicate them root and branch."
"Shen Qingping, I charge you to investigate the Shen Family in secret. Gather irrefutable evidence. I want them gone from the capital."
Darkness pooled in Shen Qingping’s eyes.
"Your servant obeys."
Toppling a dynasty-spanning clan would require bloodshed.
But since the Shen Family chose the Ping Prince’s side...
So be it.
