"It was Song Yanzheng who spoke out of turn and committed grave offenses—what does this have to do with you?"
Upon hearing Emperor Yuanyou's words, Wu Qi, already bowing deeply, bent even lower.
Throughout history, struggles for the throne have always been perilous, with some even descending into bloody conflicts like the infamous "Nine Dragons Contending for the Throne." Yet when it came to the Great Qi...
With the Emperor showing such favoritism, how could anyone else even dream of competing for the throne?
"But I still acted impulsively. From now on, Song Yanzheng will be nothing but a cripple."
"Shen Hua'er accused him of having an illicit affair and even claimed he murdered his own parents. There’s just no evidence yet. If there were... I wouldn’t spare his life either."
Emperor Yuanyou personally helped Song Yu to his feet. "Rise. You did nothing wrong in this matter."
"You and Ah Huan must both live long and prosper."
By now, Emperor Yuanyou had completely given up on the Ping Prince's Mansion, no longer considering its inhabitants as his own descendants.
"Thank you, Father."
Song Yu, a grown man, had tears welling in his eyes. Seeing this, Emperor Yuanyou quickly instructed Wu Qi to take him to a side chamber to change his clothes.
"Go now, don’t catch a chill. After you’ve changed, I have a few memorials I’d like your thoughts on."
That night, at the Qin Prince's Mansion.
"The Prince didn’t even get a shoe thrown at him?"
A look of astonishment flashed in Shen Qingping’s eyes—was the Emperor’s favor truly this overwhelming?
"I was fully prepared to take a shoe to the face, but alas..." Song Yu reclined in his chair, looking every bit the carefree lord.
"Alas, Song Yanzheng pitied me too much to let me suffer such humiliation."
Song Yanzheng? Pitying the Prince?
Shen Qingping’s lips twitched repeatedly.
"Did Song Yanzheng speak out of turn, just in time for His Majesty to overhear?" Song Shihuan chimed in, her mood clearly at its peak.
Song Yu blinked in surprise. "Ah Huan guessed it all."
"Father is wise and mighty, so as his daughter, I must be clever and quick-witted too."
Song Shihuan’s words had Song Yu grinning from ear to ear.
As the night deepened, Song Shihuan returned to her own courtyard.
Steam rose from the bathtub as a pair of delicate, fair hands idly played with the flower petals floating on the water’s surface.
"The Young Mistress seems in excellent spirits today."
Yingchun spoke softly, carefully adding more warm water to the tub.
"Indeed, something wonderful happened."
She had thought her schemes would only cost Song Yanzheng his legs at most, but today, her father had delivered an unexpected blow—severing Song Yanzheng’s hands as well.
With this, half the vengeance from her past life had been exacted.
......
"Eunuch Wu, does His Majesty still inquire about those six matrons in the Ping Prince's Mansion?"
The next day, after court adjourned, Song Yu cheerfully intercepted Wu Qi.
"Your Highness, His Majesty no longer speaks of matters concerning the Ping Prince's Mansion."
In other words, Emperor Yuanyou had no desire to hear another word about the Ping Prince's Mansion. His greatest mercy now was allowing its inhabitants to live out their days there in obscurity.
"In that case, I’ll take those six matrons for my own use."
Wu Qi’s brow twitched. "Those matrons have always been under Your Highness’s command."
Satisfied, Song Yu sauntered back to the Qin Prince's Mansion with leisurely strides.
"Well, Your Highness? How did it go?" Shen Qingping asked eagerly.
"Those six matrons now belong to the Qin Prince's Mansion."
Song Yu waved a hand dismissively. "A trivial matter, settled in an instant."
"Then may I ask Your Highness to issue another order—ensure those matrons receive no better treatment than Song Yanchao and Song Yanming."
Shen Qingping’s gaze darkened. "Say it’s to 'temper their resolve and weary their flesh.'"
"How ruthless."
"But oh, how satisfying."
Song Yu promptly relayed the instructions, then stretched out with immense relief.
"What about Song Xiyan?" Song Yu suddenly realized they’d overlooked the most crucial target.
"As for Song Xiyan... that depends on Your Highness."
"What do you mean?" Song Yu was baffled.
"If Your Highness succeeds in becoming the top scholar next year and is named Crown Prince, a general pardon will surely be declared. By then, releasing Song Xiyan from the Ping Prince's Mansion will give us ample opportunity to catch her in a mistake."
"With no backing left, how would she dare make a mistake?"
Shen Qingping coaxed patiently, "Your Highness, to make her err, the Qin Prince's Mansion could become her backing."
Then, when it came time to punish her, they could turn on her.
That would make the revenge all the more devastating.
"A few days ago, you said this would be easy. Now I believe you."
Song Yu gave Shen Qingping an approving thumbs-up.
......
Just as Song Yu felt their retaliation against the Ping Prince's Mansion had reached a satisfactory milestone and prepared to refocus on the imperial exams, divine retribution descended upon the Ping Prince's Mansion.
"Concubine, the young master is burning with fever, crying uncontrollably!"
A servant rushed in panic to report. Lady Chang shot to her feet. "Has the mansion’s physician been summoned?"
"He’s already seen the young master."
"Help me there at once." Lady Chang steadied herself. Ever since discovering Song Yanzheng’s poisoning attempts, she had Chang Ling'er and Ah Shun live together, fearing the foul schemes in Li Garden might harm the child.
Yet now...
Lady Chang hurried to Chang Ling'er’s courtyard. The moment she arrived, Chang Ling'er threw herself into her arms, sobbing. "Ah Shun... he suddenly became like this. Will he... will he be alright?"
At first, Chang Ling'er had resented the child, scheming relentlessly to make Mei Xiang miscarry before the birth.
But once the child was born and raised by her side...
And now even called her "Mother."
She truly wished to raise Ah Shun as her own.
"Don’t panic. Let’s hear what the physician says."
Lady Chang patted Chang Ling'er’s shoulder reassuringly, then turned to the physician. "How is the young master?"
The physician looked as if he’d rather dash his head against a wall.
"My lady, my skills are insufficient. The young master suffers from a severe childhood fever—one misstep could be fatal. I beg you to summon Imperial Physician Mei at once."
Lady Chang’s pupils dilated in shock. Ignoring the pouring rain, she stumbled toward the mansion’s gates.
"My lady, let me hold an umbrella for you!" A maid chased after her into the downpour.
At the gates of the Ping Prince's Mansion.
From behind the locked doors, Lady Chang pounded desperately.
"The young master has a raging fever, and our physician is helpless. His life hangs in the balance—I beg you, send for Imperial Physician Mei!"
The guards dared not take this lightly:
"All matters concerning the Ping Prince's Mansion now fall under Prince Qin’s authority. We will report to His Highness at once."
Lady Chang collapsed weakly to the ground. Song Yu despised the Ping Prince's Mansion—why would he lift a finger to save its only heir?
......
Qin Prince's Mansion.
"Song Yanzheng’s son is ill?"
Song Yu’s brush paused, leaving a blot of ink on the paper.
"The guards reported it’s a life-threatening childhood fever."
"Fetch Mei Zhilin immediately."
Song Yu didn’t hesitate for a second.
Watching Liuxi hurry away, Shen Qingping lowered his head, masking the darkness in his eyes. "Why save the offspring of the Ping Prince's Mansion?"
"The child is innocent."
Shen Qingping’s gaze gradually cleared.
Yes. This was the true Prince Qin of Great Qi.
