"Crowning the Crown Prince?"
Song Yu's heart fluttered slightly. Even though the Crown Prince's seal was already in his hand, when it truly came to the formal appointment, he still felt a bit... nervous.
"Your Majesty should write the edict however you see fit. This son has no objections."
Song Yu stepped forward and glanced at the edict, the tips of his ears quietly turning red.
His father's praise of him was somewhat too... too exaggerated.
Song Shihuan also eagerly stepped forward, her eyes shining as she read the contents of the edict:
"The imperial eldest son, Song Yu, possesses outstanding daily demeanor and innate, pure excellence."
"He recites poetry and books, comprehending the ways of Yao and Shun; he studies military strategy, understanding the tactics of Sun and Wu."
After reciting these two lines, Song Shihuan looked up at Song Yu. "Father, in His Majesty's heart, you are such an exceptional prince."
With these words, both the father and son, who were accustomed to bickering, felt somewhat awkward.
"Tomorrow at the morning court, I will proclaim it to the world."
Emperor Yuanyou was eager to settle the matter of appointing the Crown Prince immediately. Having waited for two or three years, he had finally reached this moment.
"Tomorrow?" Song Yu was somewhat surprised. "Tomorrow, this son still has to attend the Qionglin Banquet."
"Going as the Top Scholar and Crown Prince would be perfectly acceptable."
Emperor Yuanyou waved his hand. "Let's first establish the status, then choose an auspicious day for the Heaven Worship ceremony. Oh, and you can start moving into the Eastern Palace tomorrow."
Listening to Emperor Yuanyou's words, Song Yu couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. Why did it feel like the Crown Prince's position was worthless, with the old man pushing it out so eagerly?
"This son will obey Your Majesty's arrangements."
Hearing Song Yu's agreement, Emperor Yuanyou laughed heartily, not forgetting to remind him, "Remember to submit a memorial at tomorrow's morning court urging me to deal with Song Yanming."
Let all the civil and military officials see clearly what an upright heir he had chosen, one who sided with justice over kinship.
"Your Majesty has arranged everything for this son."
Song Yu cupped his hands towards Emperor Yuanyou. "Then the only thing this son can do is to become a Crown Prince who satisfies Your Majesty."
"Satisfied, I am very satisfied."
Emperor Yuanyou rolled up the edict, a glimmer of moisture flashing in his aged eyes.
The son of his principal wife, both legitimate and eldest.
Only by passing the throne to Yu'er would his heart truly be at peace.
...
"Crowning the Crown Prince?"
Shen Qingping, who had been waiting at the palace gate, received the news of tomorrow's appointment and jumped down from the carriage directly.
His brow carried an indescribable joy.
"I thought it was time to appoint the Crown Prince, but I didn't expect it to be this fast."
Who could have imagined that they, who were once framed and trampled underfoot by Song Ling, had now turned the tables and stood in the position Song Ling once held.
"After today, I should address you as 'Your Highness the Crown Prince'."
"Don't tease me."
Under the moonlight, Song Yu's Top Scholar ceremonial robes appeared exceptionally bright and white. Song Shihuan beside him smiled with pursed lips, the scene beautiful as a painting.
"When does Your Highness plan to move to the Eastern Palace?"
"Whenever Ah-Huan says to move, we'll move."
Song Yu turned to look at the young girl, his eyes full of affection. "If Ah-Huan doesn't want to move, staying in the Qin Prince's Mansion forever is also perfectly fine."
"We'll move. We'll move tomorrow."
Song Shihuan's voice was clear and resolute.
"Father is the Crown Prince and should reside in the Eastern Palace. After tomorrow, Father and I will decorate the Eastern Palace to our liking."
A style completely different from the previous life.
In her past life, she was a discarded pawn in the Eastern Palace. But in this life, she is the mistress.
"Then tomorrow, I'll come to help with the move as well."
Shen Qingping looked up at the bright white moon. The Crown Prince was decided.
His position as Chancellor was not far off either.
...
Just as Song Yu and Song Shihuan were about to return to the Prince's Mansion, they were boldly stopped by a servant from Prince Qi's Mansion.
"Your Highness Prince Qin, our prince wishes to see you."
"Now?"
Song Yu's voice suddenly turned cold.
"Our prince has prepared fine wine and delicacies at Prince Qi's Mansion, awaiting your arrival."
The air was quiet for a few breaths before a derisive laugh sounded. Song Yu wore a smile that inspired fear:
"Very well."
With that, Song Yu looked at Shen Qingping. "You take Ah-Huan back to the mansion first."
Shen Qingping nodded, glanced at the trembling servant from Prince Qi's Mansion, and led Song Shihuan back to the Qin Prince's Mansion first.
Prince Qi's Mansion.
"Elder Brother has come."
Prince Qi's face bore the flush of drunkenness. Seeing Song Yu appear, he staggered to his feet.
"Please, sit."
The two brothers sat facing each other, the atmosphere falling into awkwardness.
Prince Qi raised the wine cup before him, clinked it against Song Yu's, and then drank it all in one go.
From beginning to end, the cup before Song Yu remained untouched.
"Elder Brother, will you spare my life?"
Prince Qi's tongue was slightly slurred.
Since returning from the Taihe Hall to his mansion today, he had been drinking non-stop, thinking about all these years as he drank.
The youngest son, yet he never truly caught his father's eye.
Unwilling to admit defeat, he used every means possible, but in the end, it all became a moon reflected in water—an illusion.
Now, the heir apparent position of the man before him was unshakable. So what about him? What would his end be?
"To be honest, I truly want to kill you."
Song Yu's words caused the light in Prince Qi's eyes to gradually dim. Indeed, struggles for the throne had always been bloody affairs.
"And I can kill you."
"The strategist you sent assassins after is in my hands. I hold evidence of all the things you have done."
Song Yu rarely gave Prince Qi a direct look. "Back when Ah-Huan was deeply implicated in the skeleton case, you and the third brother advised me to abandon Ah-Huan. I said then that our brotherly bond was severed."
Song Yu was not a very vengeful person.
But when it concerned Ah-Huan, Song Yu remembered everything very clearly.
"What manner of death has Elder Brother prepared for me?"
A self-mocking smile appeared on Prince Qi's face. "How about a simple cup of poisoned wine, granting me a final bit of dignity?"
"That can be arranged."
Seeing Song Yu actually begin to consider it, the wine cup in Prince Qi's hand began to tremble violently, finally clattering to the ground.
"You should be grateful you never truly harmed Ah-Huan."
With that, Song Yu stood up, looking at the defeated rival before him:
"So, I intend to use your life to please the old man."
Therefore, if the old man wanted Prince Qi to go to a fiefdom, he would spare his life.
If the old man wanted Prince Qi's life, he would act immediately.
Long after Song Yu had left, Prince Qi still stared dumbly in the direction he had gone, his face now streaked with tears.
"Your Highness..."
"I just wanted Father to look at me a few more times. Since childhood, the things I wanted to accomplish, I always failed. Am I not utterly useless?"
Prince Qi murmured as he drunkenly collapsed onto the floor.
Meanwhile, Song Yu boarded the carriage back to the Qin Prince's Mansion.
Thinking of the person waiting for him at the mansion, the sternness on his face dissipated slightly. He closed his eyes, recalling the events of the day.
He, Song Yu, had become the Top Scholar today.
Tomorrow, he would become the Crown Prince of Great Qi, the future emperor.
