At this moment, Mei Zhilin arrived at the Purple Palace Hall.
"Physician Mei, please examine my father."
Mei Zhilin scanned the room, then resignedly took Song Yu's pulse. After a few moments, his brow furrowed, and he pressed several spots on Song Yu's body, each touch eliciting a pained groan from the prince.
Next, Mei Zhilin checked the pulses of Prince Chu and Prince Qi before speaking slowly:
"Your Majesty, Prince Chu and Prince Qi have superficial injuries—visible wounds on the surface. However, Prince Qin has sustained damage to his waist, abdomen, and back, with internal injuries as well."
Hearing this, Song Shihuan felt both heartache and relief.
From Liuxi's account, she had already deduced that her father’s injuries were more severe, which was why she had boldly requested Emperor Yuanyou to summon Physician Mei.
Emperor Yuanyou’s expression darkened further.
"Father, we... we had a bit to drink, so our minds weren’t entirely clear..."
Prince Chu’s back was drenched in cold sweat. He had believed this scheme would leave Song Yu either dead or severely punished, yet... it had been thwarted by a mere slip of a girl.
"You seem perfectly clear-headed to me," Emperor Yuanyou said sharply, his gaze piercing. "You knew enough to frame Prince Qin—does that sound like an unclear mind?"
At these words, Prince Chu and Prince Qi collapsed to the floor.
"Have I ever treated you unfairly? You plotted against your elder brother in public, shaming the imperial family, and then had the audacity to accuse him instead. A brilliant scheme indeed."
"I never knew my own sons could be so... remarkable."
"Father, we truly didn’t mean it! Please spare us!" Prince Chu and Prince Qi kowtowed frantically, while Song Yu ignored them entirely, his eyes fixed on Song Shihuan.
"Guards, thirty lashes each, one month of house arrest, and a year’s salary forfeited."
Emperor Yuanyou waved a weary hand. "I’ve failed in raising you properly. Reflect deeply in your own residences."
"Father, have mercy!"
As Prince Chu and Prince Qi were dragged away, they struggled desperately. Since childhood, they had watched Song Yu endure beatings—now, the tables had turned.
"Gag them during the punishment. I don’t want to hear their noise."
Emperor Yuanyou snorted coldly. "And if anyone dares to plead for leniency, add ten more lashes."
......
Inside the hall, Mei Zhilin sensed the tension and swiftly made his exit.
The Crown Prince noticed Emperor Yuanyou’s gaze lingering on Song Shihuan and felt a chill—This is bad. Father must have recognized the resemblance in that wild girl’s face.
Instantly, the Crown Prince grew anxious.
"Ahuan, even if you believed in Prince Qin, you shouldn’t have barged into an official’s residence and beaten Sun Hu half to death. If word spreads, what will become of your reputation?"
His words dripped with false concern, masking accusations of recklessness and impropriety.
"Grandfather, when Father’s servant rushed back to the Qin Prince's Mansion to inform me, I panicked. I feared Father would be branded unfilial and disloyal, so I acted rashly." Song Shihuan knelt. "I beg for your punishment."
"Rise."
Emperor Yuanyou stood and approached her, personally helping her up.
"In truth, I’m pleased to see this side of you, Ahuan."
A ruler who had clawed his way to the throne through bloodshed, Emperor Yuanyou valued ruthlessness in his kin.
"You risked everything to clear your father’s name—such devotion is rare."
He gently touched her hair. Had it not been for this granddaughter, that stubborn fool Song Yu might have truly fallen this time. Even as emperor, he couldn’t ignore the weight of his ministers’ counsel.
"Father, even if you forgive Ahuan, you shouldn’t encourage this behavior," the Crown Prince interjected. "Once is tolerable, but if it happens again... she’ll grow spoiled."
Song Shihuan turned to him, her dark eyes piercing.
The Crown Prince shivered under her gaze.
"If not for my love for Grandfather and Father, I wouldn’t stay here. The leaky temple I once lived in was better than this."
"Ahuan, what nonsense!" Emperor Yuanyou chided.
Her head bowed, Song Shihuan’s eyes quickly welled with tears.
"Grandfather, no one here wants me. Yes, I stormed the Sun Residence, but the Crown Prince knew the circumstances and still scolded me relentlessly."
She pointed at him. "His Highness dislikes me."
The Crown Prince stiffened, forcing a smile. "Ahuan, how could I ever dislike you?"
But Song Shihuan had no intention of backing down. She wanted Emperor Yuanyou to see the full extent of her and her father’s plight.
Her sorrow deepened.
"At the birthday banquet, the Eastern Palace cast me aside."
"Father shielded me, but afterward, he was caned because of me. I took one lash for him and lay bedridden for a month."
"The servants of the Qin Prince's Mansion bullied me for being young."
"I nearly had my face scarred by a Xu family concubine’s whip while out walking."
"When I tried to inspect the family shops, I found them seized by thieves."
"My horse spooked on the way to the palace flower banquet."
"To enter the girls’ academy, I studied tirelessly. Father said I needed an art, so Teacher Shen taught me the zither—only for Third and Fourth Uncles to mock us. Father was nearly accused of filial impiety because of me."
"And just hours ago... hidden needles were sewn into my academy robes. If not for my maid’s sharp eyes, my hand would’ve been useless for weeks."
Tears streamed down her face as she looked at Emperor Yuanyou. "Grandfather, why does all this happen to Father and me?"
"Hidden needles?!"
Emperor Yuanyou’s heart ached with fury. In an instant, he grasped the dire straits of the Qin Prince's Mansion.
Before, Song Yu had only been stubborn in his eyes—a wastrel who knew nothing but indulgence.
He’d never associated him with hardship.
Song Shihuan sniffled. "I was already terrified by those needles at home when I heard Father had assaulted someone. I didn’t know what to do."
Had Baoxia been present, she might’ve laughed—her mistress had been ice-calm, deciding in seconds to charge into the Sun Residence.
Seeing the genuine pain in Emperor Yuanyou’s eyes, Song Shihuan pressed further: "If my trespass into the Sun Residence is a crime, then as the Crown Prince suggests, banish me to the Imperial Temple."
"At least there, I won’t face whips or hidden needles."
Emperor Yuanyou’s breath trembled.
Through Song Shihuan’s face, he saw Fen'er—accusing him of failing their child all these years.
