The Great Yue Imperial Palace.
"His Majesty is in a good mood today and specifically ordered a fine meal for you," the matron said harshly, her tone dripping with resentment. Being assigned to serve a cripple like this had ruined her life.
The rare scent of fish made Song Yanzheng swallow hard. It had been so long since he'd tasted anything decent.
"You're lucky. Your imperial grandfather has a conscience. Despite the blizzard in Great Yue, he still sent food. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be eating this well now."
The matron fed Song Yanzheng bite by bite, and he gulped the food down without even chewing.
"Slow down. You’re still a prince of Great Qi—surely you’ve had delicacies before. Why act like you’ve never tasted good food?"
The matron shook her head in disdain. Song Yanzheng remained silent, not daring to reveal that he had already been abandoned by Great Qi. If they knew, his life would be forfeit.
After a quarter of an hour, the matron stopped feeding him.
"Had enough?"
Song Yanzheng nodded cautiously.
A sickly sweet smile spread across the matron’s face. "Good. Now, write a letter to the Great Qi emperor, asking for more food. Just dictate it—I’ll write it for you."
Song Yanzheng stiffened.
A letter demanding food from Great Qi on behalf of Great Yue?
If he did this, Song Yu would likely retaliate by taking back the food already sent.
"Do you really want me to write it?" Song Yanzheng asked earnestly.
"Of course. His Majesty’s orders. Write it, and you’ll have meat and fine dishes every meal."
The next day, a letter dictated by Song Yanzheng and penned by the matron was painstakingly sent to Great Qi.
......
Great Qi, Qin Prince's Mansion.
"So it’s a secret technique of the Great Yue imperial family."
Shen Qingping’s throat felt dry from talking. He picked up a teacup and drained it in one gulp. "The 'Eyes of Love and Hate'—such a technique defies morality."
What kind of monsters would devise something like this?
"To use it on one’s own kin, twisting love into hatred… No wonder His Majesty acted so strangely after being afflicted." Song Shihuan’s expression was cold enough to freeze over. "If this gets out, the Great Yue imperial family won’t be able to show their faces in the world."
"The more despicable the technique, the more justified Great Qi’s war will be."
Song Yu smirked. "That Rong Lingchen—don’t kill him yet. At least wait until next year’s campaign, when he can confess to using the technique before he dies."
"Don’t worry, I know my limits."
Song Yu and Song Shihuan both twitched at Shen Qingping’s words.
Limits?
Shen Qingping had never known the meaning of the word!
"How is Rong Lingchen now?" Song Yu asked with a smile.
"The whipping was a bit harsh. Imperial Physician Mei has to personally tend to his wounds now." Shen Qingping sighed as if deeply wronged. "He’s too fragile."
Song Yu and Song Shihuan exchanged a glance that said:
See? Exactly like this.
......
Early December. Song Yanzheng’s "letter" arrived in Great Qi.
"Who wrote this?"
In the court, Song Yu couldn’t believe his ears. Song Yanzheng’s hands were crippled—how had he written it?
Held the brush in his teeth?
If so, he’d have to admit Song Yanzheng was resourceful.
"Someone else wrote it—the Grand Prince dictated it," Wu Qi said, his voice trembling. He cursed Song Yanzheng inwardly for his audacity. Barely in Great Yue a few days, and already begging Great Qi for food on their behalf?
Ungrateful wretch.
"My lords, should we send the food or not?" Emperor Yuanyou’s voice rang out. The officials hesitated.
If they sent it, it would feel like yielding to Great Yue’s demands—they could give voluntarily, but not under coercion.
If they refused, Great Yue might slander Great Qi’s reputation or even execute the Grand Prince, leaving Great Qi humiliated.
As the courtiers exchanged uneasy glances, Song Yu spoke up.
Seeing Song Yu’s eyes instantly redden, even Wu Qi—who prided himself on composure—couldn’t help but widen his eyes in shock.
The Qin Prince’s acting skills… were this good?
"Your Majesty, the blizzard didn’t just strike Great Yue. Several regions in Great Qi are also suffering."
Song Yu launched into his performance. "The Ministry of Revenue has already strained to allocate food for our own disaster-stricken areas. The supplies sent to Great Yue were scraped together from our people’s rations."
Seizing the cue, Shen Qingping stepped forward eagerly.
"Your Majesty, the Prince speaks truly. The blizzards persist in those regions, and the Ministry of Revenue… has no reserves left. This humble official begs Your Majesty to send a letter requesting… that Great Yue share some of their food with us."
Song Yu nearly laughed, quickly lowering his head to hide his grin.
Only Shen Qingping could read his intentions so perfectly.
This was the way—strike back at Great Yue’s shameless demands!
Emperor Yuanyou was stunned. His son and Old Shen’s boy had teamed up for such a bold move.
"Your Majesty, we beseech you—ask Great Yue to aid Great Qi!" Shen Mingwen dropped to his knees with a thud that made the emperor wince. That had to hurt.
"Your Majesty, we beseech you—ask Great Yue to aid Great Qi!"
Following Shen Mingwen’s lead, the entire court knelt.
Though they were ostensibly begging, every face bore a smile.
This was perfect—face saved, advantage gained.
......
Great Yue.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
"What is it, you old fool? Why the panic?" Emperor Mingde glanced at his chief eunuch, leisurely sipping his tea.
By his calculations, Great Qi’s food shipment should be arriving soon.
"Great Qi’s emperor sent a message…"
"Have they obediently delivered the food?" Emperor Mingde chuckled in anticipation.
"No… they’re begging Great Yue to share some of our food with them."
"What?!"
His smile froze. Emperor Mingde’s eyes bulged in disbelief. Since when did Great Qi have the audacity to demand food from Great Yue?
Where was their shame?
"They claim several regions in Great Qi are also suffering from the blizzards. The food they sent earlier was already squeezed from their reserves, and now they’re running out…"
The eunuch didn’t mention that, since the news spread, Great Yue’s commoners had grown even more grateful to Great Qi—for sharing despite their own hardships.
"We have nothing to spare!"
Emperor Mingde waved his sleeves furiously. "Tell Great Qi—not a single grain!"
"At once, Your Majesty."
As the eunuch turned to leave, Emperor Mingde called out again:
"And cut that Grand Prince of Great Qi’s rations. Save the food for our own people."
