Is the Great Qi Emperor feeling drowsy?
Rong Lingchen was unsettled by Emperor Yuanyou's sudden fatigue. How could he be full of energy one moment and exhausted the next?
Just as Rong Lingchen was about to probe further, Emperor Yuanyou seemed utterly overcome by sleepiness. Without even a word to the others, he departed abruptly. Song Shihuan noticed this and exchanged an almost imperceptible glance with Shen Qingping.
Understanding her silent cue, Shen Qingping swiftly rose and followed the emperor.
"Prince Qi," Rong Lingchen began, sensing something amiss, "before coming to Great Qi, my emperor instructed me to return to Great Yue swiftly. Now that I’ve met with the Great Qi Emperor, I plan to depart for Great Yue at dawn tomorrow."
"So soon?" Prince Qi feigned surprise. "Why not bid farewell to His Majesty in person tomorrow morning?"
"There’s no need to trouble the Great Qi Emperor further."
Rong Lingchen’s demeanor made it obvious he was hiding something.
"Also," he added nervously, "that maidservant Prince Qin took away earlier—could she be released? The Great Qi Emperor himself said she should be freed."
Prince Qi only chuckled.
"Prince Min, you clearly don’t know my elder brother’s temperament. Whether she lives or dies depends on her fate."
If anyone could sway Song Yu’s decisions, the sun might as well rise from the west!
"Prince Min, since you’ve come all this way, why not stay in Great Qi a while longer?"
It wasn’t a request but a firm suggestion.
Rong Lingchen turned toward the voice—it was Princess Fu'an, the most favored imperial granddaughter of Great Qi.
"Escort the Second Princess back to Ping Prince's Mansion," Song Shihuan commanded.
No sooner had she spoken than guards entered and removed Song Xiyan from the hall. Not a single soul spoke in her defense—not even Song Xiyan herself.
Even she had sensed Emperor Yuanyou’s unusual state and dared not make a scene.
"All ministers may retire for the night," Song Shihuan declared, her voice icy. "What transpired here must not leave these walls—lest Qin Prince's Mansion show no mercy."
The officials scrambled to their feet, as though obeying her was second nature. With Prince Qin absent, the princess’s word was law.
Rong Lingchen gaped in disbelief. What exactly wasn’t to be revealed? What had happened at this banquet?
Soon, only the Great Yue envoys and Song Shihuan’s group remained in the hall.
......
"Since when does a mere princess dictate Great Qi’s affairs?"
One of the Great Yue envoys spoke up, baffled but recognizing Princess Fu'an’s hostility toward them.
"Imperial Guards!"
"At your command."
"Escort the Great Yue envoys to Qin Prince's Mansion as our ‘guests,’" Song Shihuan sneered. "You know full well what your kingdom has done."
"As for who rules Great Qi—that’s none of your concern."
The envoys were stunned. The Imperial Guards answered only to the emperor—how could they obey a princess?
"Let’s go."
Shen Xiao’s voice sent a chill down their spines.
"Need help moving?"
His murderous aura was palpable. The guards had failed to protect the emperor under their watch—they would not fail again.
With that, Shen Xiao seized one envoy by the collar and dragged him out. The other guards followed suit, and soon, the hall echoed with the envoys’ cries.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
Rong Lingchen turned to Song Shihuan. Behind her, Prince Qi finally mustered the courage to speak:
"Ah-Huan... may Fourth Uncle leave as well?"
He wanted no part in what came next.
"Of course. Someone, see Fourth Uncle out."
As Prince Qi stepped outside, he nearly collided with Song Yu.
"That maidservant..." Prince Qi ventured.
"Dead."
Song Yu’s expression was cold. "Strangled by my own hands."
......
"Father, he wants to leave."
Song Yu smirked and patted Rong Lingchen’s cheek. "Leave? Do you think Qin Prince's Mansion is powerless?"
"You dare humiliate me? Great Yue and Great Qi are equals!" Rong Lingchen backed away in fear. "When I return, my emperor will hear of this!"
"You think you’ll live to return?"
Rage darkened Song Yu’s features. "What did you do to my father? What sorcery did you use—and how long does it last?"
The barrage of questions left Rong Lingchen dazed.
"Duration?" he muttered.
There was a time limit to the spell?
His dying father had never mentioned that.
"You reckless fool, daring to harm my father. That disgusting maidservant is already dead—and you’ll join her soon."
Rong Lingchen’s legs gave way, and he crumpled to the floor.
How had they uncovered the plot so quickly? The emperor had shown no signs!
"Still silent?"
"No matter. You’re not going anywhere." Song Yu smiled grimly. "Take him away. Let him experience every torture Great Qi has to offer."
"You can’t do this! I’m a prince of Great Yue—my kingdom won’t tolerate this!"
Liuxi hauled him out mid-protest. Annoyed by the noise, he knocked Rong Lingchen unconscious with a chop to the neck. Silence fell.
"Father, let’s guard His Majesty."
......
Emperor Yuanyou slept until midday.
When he awoke, Song Yu and Song Shihuan’s identical faces hovered over him. Both held their breath—had their father/grandfather recovered?
Even Wu Qi’s heart pounded.
"Yu’er, Ah-Huan, why are you keeping vigil here?"
The emperor sat up, cupping Song Shihuan’s face tenderly. "Dark circles under your eyes—did you not sleep all night?"
A tear splashed onto his hand.
"Why are you crying? Who upset you?" Emperor Yuanyou had yet to recall the previous night’s events.
Song Shihuan sniffled. "It’s nothing, Granddaughter is fine."
"Mei Zhilin, enter."
At Song Yu’s call, Mei Zhilin hurried in. After checking the emperor’s pulse, he exhaled in relief. "He seems unharmed."
"Old man, prepare yourself. Great Yue’s downfall begins now."
