Prince Qi's Mansion.
Prince Qi had specifically summoned the advisor who had tried to dissuade him before the hunting expedition. With a disheveled appearance, he spoke, "Mr. Gou, last time I failed to heed your advice and was checkmated. I implore you to devise another strategy for me."
The man addressed as Mr. Gou by Prince Qi pondered for a moment before replying, "Your Highness, may I boldly ask—what is the current state of affairs between you and the Shen Family?"
"From the moment my mother was deposed, the Shen Family abandoned me," Prince Qi said with a self-deprecating smile. "I have no royal heir, and my consort has grown distant from me due to the Cui Family's corpse case. The Shen Family believes I am incapable of producing a legitimate heir."
"Moreover, Shen Hua'er has married into Prince Ping's Mansion..."
Prince Qi didn’t elaborate further. The Shen Family, which had once placed its bets on him, had long since shifted its allegiance to Prince Ping's Mansion.
"Given this, I believe Your Highness's best course of action now is to lie low—stay in the mansion, reconcile with your consort, and ensure she bears a legitimate heir as soon as possible."
Seeing Prince Qi's hesitation, Gou Wu pressed on, "Prince Qin has no heir. That is his greatest weakness."
After an internal struggle, Prince Qi finally resolved, "Very well. I will appease my consort."
"By the way, Mr. Gou, you’ve been at Prince Qi's Mansion for two months now. You are a man of foresight—why did you choose me among all the princes?" Though Prince Qi’s tone was casual, Gou Wu sharpened his focus.
Indeed... no member of the royal family was truly guileless.
"I am somewhat skilled in divination. The aura of prosperity is strongest here at Prince Qi's Mansion."
Hearing this, Prince Qi threw his head back and laughed. "When I achieve my ambitions, you shall not be forgotten, Mr. Gou."
Gou Wu smiled in response.
Prince Qi had not been his first choice.
But Prince Qin outright refused to recruit advisors, and Prince Ping had died young. Prince Qi was his only opportunity to realize his ambitions.
This mess at Prince Qi's Mansion... he would reshape it, step by step.
There was no hurry.
......
"Master, with so many records, how long will it take you to review them all?"
Song Shihuan gasped in astonishment at the sight of Shen Qingping nearly buried under stacks of documents.
Shen Qingping lifted his head with difficulty. "Princess, His Majesty has ordered me to investigate the Shen Family thoroughly. I am currently organizing their affairs."
The Shen Family, a century-old aristocratic clan, had connections spanning all the prosperous regions of the Great Qi Empire.
"What aspect does Master intend to focus on?"
"Salt taxes."
Shen Qingping answered without hesitation. "After reviewing the Ministry of Revenue’s reports for His Highness, I’ve long suspected irregularities in the Great Qi’s salt taxes. But with so many distractions, I haven’t had the chance to properly examine the accounts."
"Princess, a family like the Shen Family cannot withstand a full investigation."
Shen Qingping’s eyes were as sharp as arrows. "So we strike at its core—only then can we uproot it entirely."
"Master, this will not be easy," Song Shihuan said solemnly. "And it is a murky path."
"The Shen Family has thrown its support behind Prince Ping's Mansion, making them our enemies. Sooner or later, they must be dealt with."
Shen Qingping smirked. "So no matter how murky the waters, we must wade through them."
"Then I shall assist you."
Song Shihuan opened a ledger beside her and began reviewing alongside Shen Qingping. Meanwhile, Song Yu, still in his study, was scratching his head over the problems assigned by Shen Mingwen, unaware that his daughter and advisor were once again embarking on a staggering endeavor.
Their investigation stretched into mid-November.
During this time, the Shen Family and Prince Ping's Mansion became inseparably linked. The Shen Family even went to great lengths to secure a tutor for Song Yanzheng’s imperial examinations, determined to push him forward on the scholarly path.
Meanwhile, Shen Lin'er and Song Xiyan reconciled once more, though an awkward tension lingered whenever they encountered Gu Mingzhu at the women’s academy.
One day, Shen Qingping stared at a sheet of paper covered in symbols for a long time.
"Princess, the Shen Family’s network is now clear. Leave the investigation into the illegal salt trade to me."
Throughout history, those involved in smuggling salt dealt with astronomical sums, making the investigators’ lives particularly perilous.
This was a task Shen Qingping would handle alone.
That evening, at Prince Qin's Mansion.
"I wonder what Shen Qingping has been up to lately. I’ve barely seen him," Song Yu muttered between bites of his meal.
"Master has been tasked with investigating the Shen Family. It will likely take a while," Song Shihuan said with concern. "Father, perhaps we should assign some of the mansion’s guards to him. I can’t help but worry."
"Exposing others’ misdeeds is Shen Qingping’s forte. There’s no need to fret, Ah Huan."
Despite his dismissive words, Song Yu quietly assigned a third of the mansion’s guards to Shen Qingping.
Honestly, the Emperor—entrusting such a monumental task as dismantling the Shen Family to Shen Qingping alone? What was he thinking?
He truly had immense faith in Shen Qingping.
Song Shihuan noticed her father’s contradictory behavior but didn’t call him out. Instead, she changed the subject. "Father, it’s already mid-November. The provincial exams are in just over four months. When do you plan to depart for Ji'an Prefecture this time?"
Song Yu’s heart pounded at the question—a universal reaction among struggling students facing exams.
"We’ll leave after celebrating the New Year with your grandfather."
The memory of the old man standing alone and slighted last year was still fresh in his mind.
......
When Emperor Yuanyou learned that Song Yu planned to stay for the New Year, his beard twitched with delight. "Wu Qi, prepare a grand and lively feast for this year’s New Year’s Eve banquet."
Last year, without Yu'er and Ah Huan, he hadn’t the heart for festivities.
"By the way, has there been any trouble from Prince Ping's Mansion? With the New Year approaching, I don’t want any more disturbances." Just the mention of Prince Ping's Mansion soured Emperor Yuanyou’s mood.
What use were so many royal grandsons?
None could compare to Ah Huan.
Wu Qi’s eyes flickered briefly. "Your Majesty, Prince Ping's Mansion has been quiet."
After leaving the palace, Wu Qi touched his chest, where a letter from one of Prince Ping's Mansion’s maids was hidden.
His instincts told him—before reporting to the Emperor, he must first show it to Prince Qin and the Princess.
When the letter reached Song Yu and Song Shihuan, the father and daughter stiffened as they read its contents—details of how Song Xiyan had tormented Song Yanchao.
One recalled the torment Song Xiyan had inflicted in a past life.
The other remembered Song Yanchao’s delirious ramblings...
"No need to trouble His Majesty with such trivial matters. Siblings quarrel—it’s perfectly normal," Song Yu said with a forced smile. "Xiyan is Yanchao’s own sister. How could she possibly harm him?"
"Your Highness speaks wisely."
As the letter crumpled in Song Yu’s grip, the so-called "dream" seemed all the more real.
