"Father, you're awake?"
Seeing Song Yu regain consciousness, Song Shihuan immediately forgot about the troublemakers outside and rushed to his bedside. "Father, how are you feeling now? Are you still unwell?"
"I'm fine."
Song Yu reached out and ruffled Song Shihuan's hair, undoing Baoxia's careful styling in a few strokes, leaving it tousled. "I heard everything you all said earlier. A-Huan’s plan is good. When the time comes, I’ll personally go to the magistrate’s office to confront them."
"Father, I can handle this matter. You should focus on recovering."
Song Shihuan’s heart ached as she looked at Song Yu’s pale lips, tears beginning to fall uncontrollably.
She hadn’t cried yesterday when she brought Song Yu back.
She hadn’t cried when she realized he was burning with fever.
But now, when Song Yu smiled and said he was fine, she couldn’t hold back.
"Why are you crying?" Song Yu tried to sit up to comfort the girl, but found he lacked the strength. Helpless, he turned to Shen Qingping, who had been silent beside them. "Help me cheer her up."
"Your Highness, this is one matter I can’t assist with."
Shen Qingping pursed his lips. Even in this state, Song Yu was still thinking about confronting others in court.
"The Toad Palace incense worked well. My illness wasn’t because of the foul examination cell—it was because it rained the night before, and I stayed up worrying the rain would soak the exam papers." Song Yu explained haltingly. "I made A-Huan worry. That’s my fault."
Even the proud Prince of Qin, who usually carried himself with unshakable arrogance, could lower his voice to console someone. If word got out, the entire court would be stunned.
"Then Father should rest properly and recover before doing anything else." Song Shihuan’s voice trembled with tears.
"I have a body of iron. By tomorrow, I’ll be lively enough to buy pastries for A-Huan."
Song Yu deliberately teased her. "Since I’ve taken Guo Feng’s name, I must clear his reputation. It’s a matter of honor between men."
Shen Qingping smirked. Quite the chivalrous code.
......
Word of Song Shihuan and Shen Qingping’s actions spread, and the rampant rumors came to an abrupt halt. No one dared to discuss the matter further.
Those who had gossiped now regretted it deeply—how could they have forgotten that Ji'an Prefecture still housed these two formidable figures?
Inside an inn:
"Brother Zheng, thank goodness the Princess and Lord Shen hadn’t yet left Ji'an Prefecture and were willing to speak up for Brother Guo." Ling Ming gripped his cup tightly. As fellow examinees, they understood each other’s struggles all too well.
Had misfortune befallen them, they too would have been powerless.
"Indeed. We all know Brother Guo’s character—he can withstand scrutiny."
Zheng Fang, having learned from past experiences, had grown more composed. "Brother Ling, we’ve only reached the provincial exams, yet the hidden daggers are already countless."
"In that case, we must live true to ourselves."
Zheng Fang clenched his fists beneath his sleeves. "I’ve recorded everyone who spread rumors about Brother Guo these past few days. Let’s present the list to the Princess and Lord Shen."
"Agreed!"
The next day:
Shen Qingping had a chair brought to the magistrate’s office gates, where he sat waiting for those willing to give their testimonies.
But by midday, not a single person had shown up.
Shen Qingping laughed in exasperation. "These people have no backbone. They’re bold enough to spread rumors but too cowardly to face me."
"My lord, someone compiled a record of those who gossiped about Guo Feng. Here’s the ledger."
"Who did this?"
Shen Qingping raised an eyebrow. At least it saved him some effort.
"Zheng Fang, the scholar."
"Good. Bring everyone listed here before me."
Shen Qingping skimmed the ledger. Zheng Fang... now there was an interesting man.
He might prove useful.
......
"Why are you arresting me? On what grounds?"
"Officer, I’m an honest citizen! What’s the meaning of this?"
The guards ignored the protests and dragged the offenders straight to the magistrate’s office.
"What, must I personally invite you?" Shen Qingping smirked. "Didn’t you hear the Princess’s order? Guo Feng’s case is to be thoroughly investigated."
"You must have solid evidence of Guo Feng’s misconduct, so I’ll need to verify your claims."
At his words, the crowd shrank back. They had no proof—only hearsay.
"Last year, the Great Qi Dynasty formally criminalized rumor-mongering. If your words are baseless, you’ll pay the price."
Shen Qingping offered the reminder with mock kindness.
"Take them inside and interrogate them one by one. Record their statements. If anyone refuses to cooperate, I’ll handle them myself."
With that threat, who would dare resist?
Within two days, Shen Qingping had unraveled the web of rumors, tracing them back to their source: several fellow examinees.
Outside the county office, a crowd of onlookers gathered.
"You’re not even from Yong'an County. How do you know so much about Guo Feng?" Shen Qingping slammed the gavel. "Confess now!"
"My lord, these are all verified facts! I have relatives in Yong'an, so I know more about Guo Feng."
"That’s right, I also..."
Seeing their stubbornness, Shen Qingping’s gaze turned pitying. And now, making his grand entrance:
"This humble subject seeks justice, my lord!"
Song Yu, still weak from illness, approached and made as if to kneel.
"Guo Feng, you’re unwell—no need for formalities. Someone, fetch him a chair!"
Shen Qingping nearly panicked. If the prince knelt to him today, he’d never hear the end of it once Song Yu recovered.
"Thank you, my lord."
Song Yu slowly took his seat, shooting Shen Qingping a look that said, You’d better be grateful.
"You accused me of misconduct. Today, I’ve come to refute your claims point by point. Speak."
Song Yu fell silent, waiting for their accusations.
But as time passed, none of them dared utter a word.
"Have you gone mute? My time isn’t yours to waste." Shen Qingping’s patience wore thin.
"I’ll speak! I’ll speak!"
"Guo Feng once lost all his silver gambling and got into a fight."
"Oh? That’s because I caught someone cheating. The gambling den owner even returned my losses. Go ask him if you don’t believe me." Song Yu brushed nonexistent dust from his sleeve.
"Continue."
"Someone saw Guo Feng forcibly take a girl selling herself to bury her father. She cried and resisted, but it was useless."
"A lecher had his eye on her, and she was too naive to realize. I gave her silver for the burial and sent her to an embroidery workshop. You can verify that too."
One by one, Song Yu dismantled their so-called "evidence."
Half an hour later, the accusers collapsed in a sweaty heap.
"Any more? If there is, speak up quickly. The magistrate will see justice served for you."
Song Yu spoke in a low, chilling tone, his laughter laced with scorn.
