Song Yu did not return to the Qin Prince's Mansion until dawn the next day and slept soundly for the entire day. Song Shihuan had specifically instructed the household not to disturb him.
In the courtyard,
"I haven't been in touch with His Majesty the Emperor much lately," Song Shihuan said with a smile, holding a book.
"Since the Princess moved out of the Zichen Hall, she hasn't seen the Emperor again," the maidservant said softly. "After all, being outside the palace makes it harder to have an audience with His Majesty."
"In that case, I'll write a letter to His Majesty," Song Shihuan said, her eyes gleaming. "I've been practicing my calligraphy these past few days—though there hasn't been much improvement, it should at least amuse him."
Once resolved, she picked up her brush and slowly composed the letter to Emperor Yuanyou.
"Tell Liuxi to deliver this to Eunuch Wu personally," she instructed.
Meanwhile, in the Zichen Hall,
Between reviewing memorials, Emperor Yuanyou had glanced outside several times.
"I heard that scoundrel stayed out all night again?" Emperor Yuanyou snorted. "How can someone like that properly educate my granddaughter?"
"Your Majesty, Prince Qin was merely drinking with Young Master Shen last night and did nothing improper," Wu Qi hurriedly defended Song Yu.
"Stop making excuses for that rascal," the Emperor grumbled. "If he had any respect for me as his father, he would have brought Ahuan to visit me long ago."
Wu Qi fell silent.
So, the Emperor missed his granddaughter.
"If it weren't for you saying there were still memorials to review during the flower banquet, I would have gone to the imperial garden," Emperor Yuanyou said, kicking Wu Qi without mercy. Wu Qi nearly wept in frustration.
This was unfair!
It was the Emperor himself who had paced indecisively in the hall—Wu Qi had only dared to speak up then.
Forcing a smile, Wu Qi seized the chance to slip out of the hall, where his apprentice signaled to him. "Master, a servant from the Qin Prince's Mansion requests an audience."
A servant from the Qin Prince's Mansion?
Wu Qi's eyes lit up. "Bring him here at once."
Fifteen minutes later, Wu Qi returned in high spirits, carrying a bowl of pear soup into the hall.
"Didn't I say I didn’t want pear soup?" Emperor Yuanyou frowned.
"Your Majesty, besides the soup, I’ve also brought you a remedy for your worries," Wu Qi said, his wrinkled face beaming like a chrysanthemum.
The Emperor scoffed. "You old fool, what are you up to now?"
"Princess Fu'an has written you a letter."
The corners of Emperor Yuanyou’s lips twitched upward as he accepted the letter with feigned indifference.
After reading it, he burst into laughter.
"No wonder Ahuan hasn’t come to see me—she’s preparing for the women’s academy, studying diligently every day!"
"The Princess truly takes after Your Majesty," Wu Qi flattered, hitting just the right note.
"Of course. Look at her handwriting—with time, she’ll surely master it," Emperor Yuanyou said, admiring the letter without setting it down.
Among his many grandchildren, which of them would write to ask if he was eating or sleeping well?
Ahuan was truly filial!
"Wu Qi, fetch some lingzhi mushrooms from my private stores for Ahuan. We mustn’t let the child exhaust herself."
"At once, Your Majesty."
Wu Qi was overjoyed—Princess Fu'an was indeed the Emperor’s perfect remedy for worries.
......
That evening,
Song Yu sat at the dining table as if nothing had happened, eating heartily.
Song Shihuan had barely finished half her meal when Song Yu abruptly stood and left, leaving her bewildered. "Erxi, where did Father go?"
"Princess, His Highness went to the study."
What?
Song Shihuan’s face went blank, and she hurriedly finished her meal—she needed to get to the study too.
This pattern continued for several days.
Finally, Song Shihuan could take no more and forcibly closed Song Yu’s book.
"Father, didn’t you dislike reading?"
"Who said that? If I didn’t enjoy it, how could I explain the texts to you?" Song Yu tried to brush her off as if she were an ordinary ten-year-old. "Claiming to dislike books was just a pretense for outsiders—I actually love reading."
Song Shihuan’s mind reeled.
If he loved reading so much, why had the study been covered in cobwebs before?
"Ahuan, books hold houses of gold."
"I’ll remember that, Father."
Dazed, Song Shihuan left the study, while the maidservant gaped in shock.
"Princess, should we summon the imperial physician? Perhaps His Highness is unwell..." She feared the Prince had lost his mind.
"No need."
Song Shihuan exhaled in relief—her father must have truly reformed.
Still, his sudden diligence made her feel a strange sense of competition.
"This is a good thing."
......
Unbeknownst to the world, the notorious Prince Qin had begun secluding himself to study.
Shen Qingping hauled stacks of books annotated by Shen Mingwen to the Qin Prince’s Mansion daily. The strain left Shen Mingwen drained, and he dragged himself to court each morning like a man deprived of vitality.
In the Zichen Hall,
"Minister Shen, what’s happened to you lately?"
Emperor Yuanyou wondered—had Minister Shen also taken to nightly revels with beauties?
"Your Majesty, my unfilial son forces me to annotate the classics every day, then delivers them to the Qin Prince’s Mansion. I... haven’t had a full night’s rest."
The Emperor’s expression shifted dramatically.
So, it was for Ahuan’s studies—he had misjudged Minister Shen.
Thinking this, his face softened. "Ahuan is about to enter the women’s academy. The child is ambitious and insists on intensive preparation. You have my gratitude, Minister Shen."
Shen Mingwen’s heart leaped to his throat. "Your Majesty, serving the Princess is an honor."
Pleased, Emperor Yuanyou hummed a tune. With Shen’s annotations, Ahuan would surely progress swiftly.
Through this odd twist, Song Yu’s transformation remained unnoticed.
As days passed, only three remained before Song Shihuan’s academy entrance.
"Your Highness, the Golden Jade Banquet at East Lake is tonight. After secluding yourself so long, it’s time to show your face," Shen Qingping said, smacking his lips. "Or people will grow suspicious."
Song Yu paused mid-page. "As my advisor suggests."
He then called Liuxi to help him change.
Nearby, Shen Qingping chuckled. After days of confinement, even the Prince must be itching for fresh air.
His old tutor always said study required balance.
......
The Golden Jade Banquet was, in essence, a gathering of scholars and beauties seated on opposite sides of East Lake, drinking and admiring the scenery while courtesans danced on the arched bridges—a lively spectacle.
The moment Song Yu arrived, he spotted Prince Chu and Prince Qi in the crowd.
He inwardly cursed his luck.
