At the top of the list: Guo Feng.
The name "Guo Feng" appeared abruptly before Emperor Yuanyou's eyes, and his hands trembled involuntarily as he held the examination results. After a long silence, the emperor set the list down and wiped his face heavily.
"Wu Qi, bring me a pot of wine."
First in the provincial exam, first in the metropolitan exam—if he were to also top the palace exam...
The "Triple Crown"!
Such an achievement was exceedingly rare in the history of the imperial examinations. Since ancient times, fewer than ten individuals had ever accomplished this feat.
Wu Qi, too, seemed to realize the significance, his steps growing clumsy with excitement as he hurried out of the Zichen Hall. He barked at his apprentice, "Go and warm a pot of wine for His Majesty—the finest we have."
"Master, Physician Mei said—"
"At this moment, not even the Jade Emperor himself could stop His Majesty from drinking."
Hadn’t they all seen how the emperor had bruised his forehead praying for this very outcome?
Emperor Yuanyou stared at the list for a full hour before finally speaking.
"Tell the Ministry of Rites to affix the official seal."
The Song family had yet another reason to celebrate.
Suddenly, the emperor’s smile froze. He had nearly forgotten—along with the joy, there was also scandal.
The thought of the disgraceful affairs of the Ping Prince's Mansion dampened his mood.
"Wu Qi, summon Prince Qin and Princess Fu'an to the palace."
By the time Song Yu and Song Shihuan arrived at the Zichen Hall, the examination results had already been sent to the Ministry of Rites. Emperor Yuanyou hesitated but ultimately chose not to reveal the news.
Privately, he believed this joy should be savored when the results were publicly announced, with the entire capital offering their congratulations.
"Father, is this about the matter concerning the Ping Prince's Mansion?"
Song Yu spoke first. Though he had felt no pity when dealing with Song Yanchao, facing the emperor, he couldn’t help but show concern. "In my opinion, we should suppress this incident entirely and announce publicly that Song Yanchao died of illness."
As long as Song Yanming was ruined in Emperor Yuanyou’s eyes, Song Yanchao would be nothing more than a doomed insect.
"No."
The emperor’s response made both Song Yu and Song Shihuan widen their eyes in shock.
Emperor Yuanyou continued, "I want this royal scandal to be known throughout the land. Let the common people discuss the imperial family openly."
"Grandfather, this concerns public sentiment—" Song Shihuan grew anxious. Fratricide was no trivial matter. "If the people lose faith in the imperial family, it could destabilize the empire."
This was precisely why, throughout history, royal scandals had been meticulously concealed, preserving the image of an infallible monarchy.
"It doesn’t matter."
Emperor Yuanyou approached Song Yu and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I intend to use the Ping Prince's Mansion as your whetstone."
A whetstone.
Song Yu’s gaze darkened.
"The harsher the people condemn the Ping Prince's Mansion, the sharper the contrast will be when you, the top scholar, emerge." The emperor looked at Song Yu intently. "I will delay punishing Song Yanming. When the time comes, you will personally petition me to deal with him."
Emperor Yuanyou could already envision the outpouring of public support Song Yu would receive.
By the time the crown prince was formally invested, the people would cheer in celebration.
"Father..." Song Yu lowered his eyes.
"No objections. It’s settled." The emperor turned to Song Shihuan. "This will also serve as an opportunity for Ah Huan to sever all ties with the Ping Prince's Mansion."
On one side: the wise and benevolent Princess Fu'an. On the other: the morally bankrupt Ping Prince's Mansion. A clear line would be drawn between them.
No one would ever associate the two again.
Song Yu suddenly knelt and kowtowed to the emperor. "Thank you, Father, for planning so meticulously for me and Ah Huan."
"You are my son, and Ah Huan is my granddaughter. Of course I would plan for you."
Emperor Yuanyou chuckled, amused by this rare display of filial piety.
Yet Song Yu’s heart ached with a dull, relentless pain.
He had kept two secrets from the emperor.
First: In her past life, Song Shihuan had suffered unspeakable cruelty, tormented to death by her own kin.
Second: His own hands were stained with the blood of the Song family.
If the ancestors sought retribution, let it fall upon him alone.
......
Under Emperor Yuanyou’s orders, news of Song Yanming drunkenly murdering his elder brother, Song Yanchao, spread like wildfire, shocking the entire realm.
Only when white funeral banners were hung at the Ping Prince's Mansion did the public accept that such an absurd tragedy had truly occurred.
Criticism of Song Yanming and the Ping Prince's Mansion erupted everywhere. Scholars penned scathing condemnations of this fratricidal atrocity.
Qin Prince's Mansion.
"Your Highness acted with remarkable efficiency."
Shen Qingping cradled a warming pan in his hands. "Now the entire city condemns Song Yanming for fratricide, demanding his execution."
"Song Yanming did kill his brother, that much is true."
Song Yu’s words made Shen Qingping’s smile fade. "But he is far from the only one."
"Song Ling—who harmed his own flesh and blood."
"Song Yanzheng, Song Yanchao, Song Yanming, Song Xiyan—all guilty of harming their kin."
"I’ve only dealt with Song Yanming so far. There is much left undone." The murderous intent radiating from Song Yu sent a chill down Shen Qingping’s spine. He couldn’t fathom the source of such hatred.
The prince had once claimed they had mistreated the princess, but "harming kin" implied something far worse—yet the princess was alive and well in the Qin Prince's Mansion.
"Last night, I washed my hands for a long time."
Song Yu’s fingers—slender and well-defined—rested idly on the armrest of his chair.
"Shen Qingping, tell me—did I wash them clean?"
Shen Qingping was momentarily speechless. The world called him a ruthless killer.
What a joke!
If only they could see the prince now.
Far more unhinged than he had ever been.
......
Ping Prince's Mansion.
Song Yanming had been locked in a firewood shed, its doors nailed shut by Song Yu’s order. Only a small opening remained for food to be passed through.
The shed was nearly pitch-black, and no matter how much Song Yanming screamed or raged inside, no one answered.
Song Xiyan stumbled into the Li Garden in a frenzy.
"Mother, someone is trying to destroy us! Someone is targeting our family!"
Her hair disheveled, Song Xiyan seemed on the verge of madness. "Third Brother would never kill Second Brother! He must have been drugged!"
"The imperial physicians examined him. Song Yanming was not poisoned." Lady Chang’s hair had grayed prematurely, aging far beyond her years.
"That can’t be! Eldest Brother was sent to Dayue—his fate unknown. Second Brother is dead. Third Brother is imprisoned. I’m next!" Song Xiyan clung to her mother. "Save me! Who have we offended?"
"Who have we offended?"
Lady Chang murmured the words like a curse.
"You, me—every one of us carries sins that can never be atoned for."
Terror seized Song Xiyan, her teeth chattering uncontrollably. "I’ve never wronged anyone! I don’t need to atone! You’re lying to me!"
She staggered away, muttering incessantly under her breath:
"I don’t need to atone."
