"If you embarrass Us again, do not expect any leniency."
Emperor Yuanyou's words brought an end to the farce surrounding the demand for a legitimate heir. Prince Qi, trembling, knelt frozen on the ground, not daring to even breathe.
He would have preferred his father to beat him with a shoe sole rather than utter those words.
No leniency...
Would he be placed under house arrest like Third Brother? Or exiled to his fiefdom outright?
The thought alone sent a cold sweat trickling down Prince Qi's back.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This son dares not repeat such folly."
With unsteady steps, Prince Qi withdrew. Emperor Yuanyou glanced at Song Yu, whose expression remained unreadable—even smiling faintly.
The emperor sighed inwardly. "Fourth Son's ambitions remain unchecked."
He had all but declared the heir apparent, even appointing the third son of the Shen family as the Crown Prince's tutor. Yet Fourth Son insisted on charging headfirst into a wall.
"Fourth Sister-in-Law is prideful. Had I not intervened, the Qi Prince's Mansion might have birthed an even greater royal scandal," Song Yu remarked leisurely.
For a moment, Emperor Yuanyou felt dazed.
His son had grown adept at defusing crises with effortless grace.
"Once you are named Crown Prince, We will send him to his fiefdom," the emperor said, his gaze softening. "Rest assured, We will handle your brothers for you. No blood need stain your hands."
In an instant, an inky darkness pooled in Song Yu's eyes.
The blood of the Ping Prince's household would inevitably coat his hands.
Yet he betrayed nothing. "This son thanks Your Majesty."
......
Mid-first month, the winter chill clung stubbornly to the capital.
The finest embroidery workshops buzzed with activity—the imperial examinations loomed, and families spared no effort to outfit their scholars in warm attire.
Those who reached this stage were never treated lightly by their households.
Purple Dawn Palace
"Ahuan, the Ministry of Rites submitted a list of chief examiners yesterday."
Emperor Yuanyou handed Song Shihuan a memorial, its edges frayed from his repeated scrutiny. The imperial exams were a grave matter, and the selection of examiners was paramount.
"The Great Qi Dynasty appoints three chief examiners per session—one principal and two deputies," the emperor said, sipping tea. "We favor Shen Mingwen as principal and Ye Shijie as deputy. As for the third... care to guess, Ahuan?"
He deliberately left the question hanging.
"Granddaughter wagers it is the incorruptible Qiu Ri?"
Song Shihuan's eyes sparkled mischievously. Minister Qiu had risen to fame thanks to Song Yanzheng's disgrace—his refusal to bend the rules during the exams earned him universal praise for integrity.
"Our Ahuan is as sharp as ever," the emperor chuckled.
"With these three examiners, granddaughter wishes Your Majesty an abundance of future pillars of the state."
Emperor Yuanyou laughed heartily, summoning Shen Xiao to relay orders. Within moments, the official hurried from the palace.
That same day, Ye Shijie was urgently recalled to the capital.
Three days later, Shen Mingwen, Ye Shijie, and Qiu Ri—under heavy imperial guard—were sealed inside the examination compound. The gates locked behind them, marking the start of the isolation period.
Qin Prince's Mansion
"Your father is locked in the examination compound, yet here you lounge without a care."
Song Yu watched Shen Qingping and Song Shihuan poring over ancient zither manuals, a pang of injustice striking him.
Why was he toiling like a dog while Shen the Third idled?
"Your Highness, if you wish to see me busy, first grant this Crown Prince's tutor some real authority," Shen Qingping replied with a mock-serious "expectant mentor" look. "I await your ascension."
"Father, don't fret. Tutor and I do attend to serious matters," Song Shihuan interjected, counting off on her fingers:
"The exams span ten frigid days—your winter robes must be prepared."
"On the day you top the rankings, your attire must reflect your status with utmost care."
"And also—"
"This prince shall resume his studies at once!" Song Yu fled before she could continue.
Even being an examinee's family was an art unto itself.
Watching his retreating back, Shen Qingping doubled over laughing.
Truly, only the princess could rein in the prince.
......
No sooner had Song Yu left than a guard stationed at Guo Feng's residence arrived.
"Your Highness, today's food deliveries to the Guo household were... unusual."
"How so?" Song Shihuan's smile vanished.
"Following your orders, we tested the meals on stray dogs. They collapsed immediately," the guard reported, shaken. "The physician confirmed the presence of a toxin inducing severe headaches."
Headaches—a sure way to sabotage an exam performance.
"As expected. At the final hurdle, many lose their composure."
Most examinees in the capital had aligned with powerful families. An outlier like "Guo Feng" naturally drew venomous gazes.
"At last, something to do."
Shen Qingping straightened, his idle days abruptly over.
"Tutor, I leave this to you."
Song Shihuan's tone brooked no argument. Shen Qingping nodded slowly, fingers itching for the weight of his blade.
Time to test its edge anew.
Days later
"Your Highness, the rumors name two top contenders for first rank: Chen Ye of Shuofang Prefecture... and our prince."
Baoxia delivered her findings in an animated rush.
"Shuofang..." A faint tremor passed through Song Shihuan. "North and South each fielding a favorite—this exam will be lively indeed."
The centuries-old rivalry between northern and southern scholars never faded.
"Has this Chen Ye sworn allegiance to any faction?"
"His cousin is the concubine of the Chief Justice's eldest son. He even visited their mansion upon arriving," Baoxia added, wide-eyed. "The commonfolk are terrifying—they dig up every scrap of gossip!"
The Chief Justice—a staunch Prince Qi ally.
As Song Shihuan pondered the implications, Shen Qingping returned, eyes alight.
"Your Highness, the trail led me to an unexpected figure. Care to guess?"
"The concubine of the Chief Justice's son... or perhaps her trusted aide?"
The unflappable young Shen gaped. How had she deduced it so precisely?
"I also know said concubine is Chen Ye's cousin."
Shen Qingping's voice turned dry. "Did Your Highness dispatch other investigators?"
Song Shihuan shook her head. "The people told me."
"Then how will you proceed?"
Shen Qingping marveled at the populace's uncanny intelligence network.
"Play along. Feign illness—settle scores after the exams." A smirk curled her lips. In a way, she owed them thanks for providing cover to "fall gravely ill."
The prestige of topping the exams despite the "foul-numbered cell" needed no elaboration.
What if a sickly person were to win the top scholar title?
