Emperor Yuanyou was so delighted that he drank cup after cup of wine.
The inevitable consequence was that when the Emperor returned to the Zichen Hall that night, Wu Qi nearly got a hole burned through him by Mei Zhilin's glare.
"Wu Qi, first thing tomorrow, spread the news about the old Song family's ancestral grave emitting auspicious smoke. The farther it spreads, the better."
Emperor Yuanyou was quite drunk, his steps unsteady. "What's the progress from the Ministry of Rites on the date calculations?"
Wu Qi: ...
Your Majesty only gave the order to the Ministry of Rites this afternoon.
"Tomorrow, have the Ministry of Rites... give me an answer. I intend to perform the Heaven Worship ceremony with the Crown Prince."
After saying this, Emperor Yuanyou stared at Mei Zhilin. "Why does it look like Old Man Mei is here? I haven't been drinking."
Outside the Zichen Hall, Mei Zhilin's expression was stiff.
Who in this world could possibly understand him?
Who!
...
Early the next morning.
The moment Song Shihuan opened her eyes, she was met with Baoxia's face, instantly magnified before her.
"Young Mistress, you're finally awake."
Song Shihuan had also had a few cups of fruit wine the previous night. Feeling sorry for her, Baoxia hadn't woken her at the usual time for morning exercises. "His Highness... the Crown Prince is waiting for you in the courtyard."
As she spoke, Baoxia lightly slapped her own mouth.
Stupid mouth, can't even get the title right.
Song Shihuan smiled faintly. Thinking of the day's agenda, the smile on her face widened even more.
Today... was the day Song Yanming was to receive fifty strokes of the court rod.
She had to go and witness the punishment.
Not just her; Emperor Yuanyou had demanded that all princes and imperial grandsons be present to observe.
The intention to make an example was clear.
"Ah Huan, do you think Song Yanming can withstand fifty strokes today? I even specially prepared a place for his confinement. It would be a shame to waste it."
In the carriage, Song Yu sighed.
"Father, Your Highness should refer to yourself as 'This Solitary One'," Song Shihuan said, propping her chin in her hands. "The prison guards know how to control the force of the blows; they won't beat anyone to death. Don't worry, Father."
Killing an imperial grandson was no small matter.
Song Yu nodded, a slight curl at the corner of his mouth. "I don't like the term 'Solitary One'. It sounds lonely and pitiful."
He wasn't solitary at all.
Song Shihuan hadn't expected Song Yu to be particular about the royal pronoun and couldn't help but chuckle quietly.
If people knew the Crown Prince disliked the self-address 'Solitary One',
it would probably infuriate the likes of Prince Qi to no end.
The carriage stopped outside the Imperial Prison. The carriages from the Ping Prince's residence and Prince Qi's residence were already parked nearby.
Inside the prison, Song Yanming was pinned to a bench, with guards holding court rods standing on either side.
Lady Chang and Song Xiyan stood on one side, Prince Qi on the other.
"Everyone's quite early," Song Yu said in a deliberately provoking tone. "Let's begin then."
Upon hearing this, Song Yanming's whole body stiffened, trembling violently.
"No!"
Song Yanming looked up at Song Yu. "Uncle, please spare me. I'm willing to be confined for life. Fifty strokes... my legs will be crippled."
"You only lose the use of your legs, but your second brother lost his life," Song Yu said with a pained expression. "Song Yanming, it is already a royal mercy that His Majesty did not demand your life in return."
"Proceed with the beating!"
The rods fell on Song Yanming's body one after another. Instantly, pig-slaughter-like screams erupted from him.
Song Xiyan was frightened into tears.
Prince Qi's lips turned deathly pale with fear.
Only Song Shihuan stared fixedly at the agonized Song Yanming.
"You're just a wild girl, unworthy of being my sister."
"My missed shot today is surely because you bring me bad luck."
The face of Song Yanming from her past life flashed before her eyes. Song Shihuan curled the corner of her mouth. Now the tables had turned. Heaven had eyes.
After only thirty strokes, Song Yanming passed out.
The moment before losing consciousness, Song Yanming's lips trembled, uttering a single phrase:
"Ah Huan."
Seeing this, a sharp glint flashed in Song Yu's eyes:
"We cannot disobey the Emperor's decree. Continue."
Song Yu said this while looking directly at Prince Qi.
After fifty strokes, Song Yanming's back was a bloody, mangled mess, and his legs bent at unnatural angles.
"Guards, drag him to the confinement quarters."
Before leaving, Song Yu gave Prince Qi a chilling look.
Thud—
Prince Qi's legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.
...
Zichen Hall.
Emperor Yuanyou was studying several auspicious dates submitted by the Ministry of Rites.
"Your Majesty, Prince Qi has arrived."
"I won't see him." Emperor Yuanyou didn't even look up.
A troublemaker. Better not to see him.
"Father! Please see your son, just once, just once is enough!"
Soon, a sound of wailing and howling came from outside the hall. Emperor Yuanyou's brush paused, leaving a drop of ink on the memorial.
A vein began to throb on Emperor Yuanyou's forehead.
"Tell him to get in here. Now."
Prince Qi entered, a mess of tears and snot, and immediately began crying before the Emperor.
He cried about his inability to produce a son, he cried about his deceased mother, and he cried about...
"If you keep crying, I'll send you to see your mother."
"Hic..." Prince Qi was choked into a hard hiccup.
"State your business directly. I have no patience."
Emperor Yuanyou spoke irritably. Couldn't he see he was busy choosing an auspicious day for the ceremony?
"Father, I beg you to grant me permission to leave for my fief."
Prince Qi's voice was thick with tears. "Even a harsh, cold place like the Northern Desert, I will accept it."
Emperor Yuanyou paused, set down his brush, and looked squarely at Prince Qi.
"You wish to leave for your fief?"
Had the sun risen from the west?
"Father, now that the heir is settled, elder brother is immensely talented and governs the people like his own children. He will undoubtedly lead Great Qi to greater prosperity in the future. I only wish to live a leisurely life in my fiefdom."
Prince Qi spoke with great difficulty.
He naturally didn't want to leave, but he was afraid of death...
Today, that Song Yu showed complete disregard for Song Yanming's life. Even if Song Yanming had died, Song Yu probably would have had the corpse thrown into a mass grave.
Since when had his elder brother become so deranged?
He didn't want to follow in Song Yanming's footsteps.
"Your words are quite correct. With your elder brother here, leaving for your fief is indeed your only option." Emperor Yuanyou's words pierced Prince Qi's fragile heart like a sharp sword.
But to secure his fief and save his life, Prince Qi was willing to endure it.
"You said earlier that even the Northern Desert would be acceptable?"
Upon hearing the Emperor's words, a sense of foreboding spread in Prince Qi's heart.
"In that case, you shall go to the Northern Desert for your fief."
Pop—
A snot bubble burst.
Prince Qi looked utterly ridiculous.
"You will depart in three days. That lad Gu Mingning has been guarding the Northern Desert bitterly for many years. Your going can help share his burden." Emperor Yuanyou wore an approving expression. "I expect that in another three years, you'll be able to hold your own in the Northern Desert. Then, I can recall Gu Mingning to the capital."
Prince Qi was dumbfounded.
Wu Qi helpfully reminded him from the side, "Your Highness, you should thank His Majesty for his grace."
Thank?
Prince Qi's vision went dark, and he collapsed to the floor with a thud.
