On New Year's Eve.
Emperor Yuanyou seemed particularly cheerful today, strolling through the imperial gardens early in the morning.
"Wu Qi, not having to attend court is truly a relief," the Emperor remarked.
Hearing this, Wu Qi couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Emperor Yuanyou. The Emperor, advanced in years, only had these few days at the start of the year to enjoy some leisurely mornings.
The rest of the time, he had to endure the endless squabbling of his ministers in court.
What a hardship.
Then again, as a servant, wasn’t Wu Qi in the same boat?
Instantly, his pity for the Emperor faded.
Better to save some sympathy for himself.
"Where’s your mind wandering off to?"
A booming voice startled Wu Qi so badly he nearly shrieked. "Your Highness... What brings you here so early?"
And without bringing Princess Shihuan along?
A flicker of suspicion rose in Wu Qi’s beady eyes.
"Father seems to be in high spirits," Song Yu remarked, following Emperor Yuanyou’s gaze. "A pity the lake is frozen—otherwise, we could’ve fed the fish."
"Speak if you have business. If not, scram," Emperor Yuanyou snapped, his tone turning frosty after confirming Song Yu had come alone.
"The Xu Family sent word that Elder Lady Xu is gravely ill. She wishes to see me and Ah Huan."
Of all days, today? Emperor Yuanyou frowned instinctively. After the incident with the deposed Empress, he held little goodwill toward the Xu Family.
"Fen'er was Fen'er. The Xu Family is the Xu Family," he muttered under his breath.
"You go alone. Don’t take Ah Huan—it’s New Year’s Eve. I won’t have her catching any ill omens," the Emperor declared dismissively.
Song Yu’s eyes widened. So Ah Huan couldn’t go, but he had to?
He didn’t want to visit the Xu Family either!
"Remember to send Ah Huan to the palace. I’ll look after her," Emperor Yuanyou added, his mood brightening at the thought of spending the day with his beloved granddaughter before the banquet. "My private treasury is empty, so bring your own gifts. Consider them from me as well."
With that, the Emperor hummed a tune and walked off, leaving Song Yu standing there, dumbfounded.
Was there ever a father so eager to pick his son’s pockets?
......
An hour later, Song Yu stood expressionless outside Xu Mansion.
His feelings toward the Xu Family were complicated. Their blood ran in his veins, yet the deepest scars of his life had also come from them.
Even now, with the Xu Family wholeheartedly supporting him, the broken trust could never be fully mended. He could never rely on them as he did the Shen Family or the Gu Family.
If they had truly stood by him, they would have protected him with everything after his mother’s death—not begged his father to remarry to preserve their family’s prestige.
"Your Highness, this way."
Xu Jinruo personally escorted Song Yu inside. The closer they got to Elder Lady Xu’s quarters, the stronger the bitter scent of medicine grew.
Outside the room, a crowd of Xu descendants stood waiting. They bowed deeply at Song Yu’s arrival, though the one at their head was Xu Jinruo’s eldest daughter.
"Rise."
Song Yu’s heart churned with unspoken emotions. These people shared his blood, yet they were strangers to him.
"Mother, His Highness is here."
At the announcement, Elder Lady Xu struggled to sit up with Xu Jinruo’s help. "This old one greets Your Highness. Forgive my discourtesy."
"Aunt."
Song Yu’s voice was cool.
Hearing the title, tears welled in Elder Lady Xu’s clouded eyes. "Your Highness, the Xu Family has wronged you."
"After Her Majesty’s passing, when I entered the palace, I saw the Emperor holding you in his arms—a tiny child, weeping as if your heart would break."
This was the first time Elder Lady Xu had spoken of the past to Song Yu.
She had clung to life just to see him one last time.
"Suggesting the deposed Empress enter the palace... We feared you wouldn’t survive the intrigues of the inner court. And yes, we also acted out of self-interest, afraid the Xu Family would fall into ruin." Her gaze lingered on Song Yu, as if seeing the ghost of the kind and virtuous late Empress in him.
"Before she entered the palace, the family head made her swear in the ancestral hall—she was never to harm you."
But they had overestimated human nature.
Elder Lady Xu rambled on, but Song Yu remained silent throughout.
Until she mentioned Song Shihuan.
"Why isn’t the Princess here? I wanted to see her one last time... To tell Her Majesty in the afterlife all about her granddaughter."
"Aunt, the debt between me and the Xu Family has long been settled."
Settled—meaning no gratitude, no grudges.
That wouldn’t do.
Elder Lady Xu’s breathing turned ragged. The Xu Family couldn’t fall. The glory Her Majesty had bought with her life must not be lost under her watch.
"If you hadn’t brought that woman into the palace, Song Ling would never have been born... and neither would my Ah Huan. So I no longer resent the Xu Family."
Ah Huan had taught him contentment.
"Your Highness, the Xu Family... We are your maternal kin. When you ascend the throne, only we will fight tooth and nail for you. Our fates are bound to yours!"
She clutched Song Yu’s hand, desperation in her eyes. "For the sake of Her Majesty, I beg you... Do not cast us aside."
"There is no rift between me and the Xu Family. You worry too much."
He understood her meaning perfectly. But what the Xu Family wanted, he would not give.
Song Yu pulled his hand free and gently tucked the blankets around her. "Focus on recovering. His Majesty is concerned for you as well."
As Elder Lady Xu opened her mouth to protest, Song Yu stood and took a step back. "It’s New Year’s Eve. The palace banquet awaits. I must take my leave."
Without another word, he strode out, leaving Elder Lady Xu clutching the edge of the blanket he had touched, her face streaked with tears.
......
Outside the Xu Mansion, the air felt fresher.
"Your Highness, that’s Lord Shen Qingping’s carriage," Liuxi pointed out, spotting it instantly.
Without hesitation, Song Yu headed straight for it.
A gust of cold wind rushed in as he entered, making Shen Qingping pull his cloak tighter.
"Are you ill?"
"An old ailment. Nothing fatal."
After that year of propping up the Qin Prince's Mansion while managing the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, Shen Qingping had never fully recovered. Every winter, he bundled up like this.
"Elder Lady Xu wants you to marry a Xu daughter?"
Song Yu glanced up at Shen Qingping’s words and scoffed. "You see things clearly."
"If Your Highness ascends the throne, a Xu consort would be the wisest choice," Shen Qingping mused, a faint smile playing on his lips. "At least the Ping Prince's Mansion has no heir. The Xu Family would have no choice but to support you unconditionally."
"Does the Son of Heaven bow to others’ whims?"
Song Yu leaned back, his expression almost bored. "If being Emperor means being shackled, then let someone else sit on that throne. I’ve no interest in it."
Who dared dictate whom he shared his bed with?
If he became Emperor, it would be for his own pleasure—to be revered by his officials, not to suffer their meddling.
"History tends to label such rulers as tyrants," Shen Qingping pointed out mildly.
"Tyrant suits me just fine."
