"Don't rush. Send men to surround the mountain and search inward layer by layer."
At this moment, Song Shihuan was actually calmer than the old man Gu Zheng.
"That boy Yu Fan is blessed with great fortune and a strong life. He'll be fine." Song Yu also noticed Gu Zheng's distress and, thinking of Gu Mingliu back in the capital with her swollen belly, offered words of comfort.
Meanwhile, Song Shihuan's mind had already begun racing.
There were no signs of a struggle in the mountains, which meant Yu Fan had left voluntarily. What... could have made Yu Fan so anxious that he dismissed everyone and hurried away?
Song Shihuan looked towards the tallest tree on the mountain and spoke:
"Li Laoba, is there a bird's nest in that tree?"
"There's a big one."
"Go check if there are any bird eggs. I'm a bit hungry."
Hearing Song Shihuan's words, Song Yu's eyes widened. Since when did his daughter like eating bird eggs?
He had no idea.
On this campaign, Song Yu felt he was really opening his eyes. He even wanted to pull A-Huan over right now and ask:
What other surprises do you have that your father doesn't know about?
Not long after, Li Laoba's voice exploded above everyone's heads, "No bird eggs, but there are two letters."
Excellent. Song Shihuan's restless heart settled down.
For now, it seemed the child in Sister Gu's belly still had a father.
After reading one of the letters, everyone fell silent.
"No wonder we haven't seen Prince Rui in the last few battles. Thought he was turtling up in the city." Li Laoba was a character with an exceptionally thick skin, completely failing to notice Gu Zheng's trembling hands holding the other letter.
"It seems Prince Rui has kept a trick up his sleeve."
Song Shihuan spoke slowly, "In that case, after we take Stone City, we'll rest and regroup there."
Once Stone City fell, only Fog City would remain between them and the capital of Dayue.
The letter stated Prince Rui had returned to the capital, so they would wait in Stone City to receive Prince Rui's next move.
"Yu Fan... you absolutely must not come to harm."
Gu Zheng suddenly let out a wail.
If he hadn't sensed grave danger, why would he have prepared a letter for Mingliu?
"General Gu, immediately dispatch a team of men disguised as Dayue civilians towards the capital to rendezvous with Yu Fan."
Seeing Gu Zheng in this state, Song Shihuan thought for a moment and handed over her handkerchief, "General Gu, things haven't deteriorated to the extent you imagine. If you really can't hold it in, use this to wipe your tears."
Gu Zheng: "..."
The stifling-laughter deputy generals nearby: "..."
How bizarre.
...
While Song Shihuan was preparing to take Stone City, back in the capital of Daqi, all the nobility were sizing up the freshly emerged Prince Heng.
Emperor Yuanyou also held a palace banquet to welcome the return of Prince Heng and his family.
However, apart from Emperor Yuanyou, the only imperial clan members present at the banquet were Prince Heng's family.
The scene was extremely awkward.
"This is Prince Heng." Emperor Yuanyou introduced Song Heng to the assembled ministers with a beaming smile, quickly taking a sip of wine at the same time.
Not easy. Only on such occasions could he taste a few drops.
"Gentlemen, no need for formalities. I will have much to learn from you all in the future."
Having grown up outside the palace, his temperament was much more polished.
That was the first label Shen Qingping attached to Prince Heng: polished temperament.
After Prince Heng and the ministers exchanged greetings, Emperor Yuanyou smiled and spoke again, "Your eldest brother is currently fighting at the front. When he returns victorious, the two of you must share a good drink."
"As for your second brother, he passed away young."
"Your third brother is now reflecting at the Imperial Awareness Temple."
"Your fourth brother has already reached the Northern Desert."
Emperor Yuanyou said this without changing expression, but Prince Heng felt the pressure multiply. Aside from the Crown Prince, it seemed the fates of these princes were rather unfortunate.
Especially the one who passed away young.
"I must certainly share a drink with His Highness the Crown Prince in the future." Prince Heng's face still wore a standard smile. "I've heard His Highness's daughter, Princess Fu'an, is clever and quick-witted. My son specifically instructed Hui'er to study more with the Princess in the future."
Mentioning Song Shihuan, the smile on Emperor Yuanyou's face deepened a little.
"Probably won't be back for another month or two."
At this moment, Emperor Yuanyou looked exactly like a grandfather eagerly awaiting his grandchild's return, which secretly surprised Prince Heng. The rumors that Princess Fu'an enjoyed immense imperial favor were indeed true.
"Girl Mingzhu."
At the sound of Emperor Yuanyou's voice, Gu Mingzhu, who had been dozing off, nearly hit her chin on the table.
"Your Majesty, your subject's daughter is here."
"In the coming days, you take Princess Yale around the capital, let her get familiar with the place."
"Alright."
Gu Mingzhu's large eyes, which usually only seemed to hold food, glinted slightly. This was a perfect chance to test whether this Princess Yale was easy to get along with. If not, she, Gu Mingzhu, would not give any bad person a chance to get close to her Princess.
Shen Qingping caught the fleeting dark glint in Gu Mingzhu's eyes.
He thought to himself, indeed, the Gu family also had no pushovers.
After three rounds of drinks, Prince Heng actually brought Prince Heng's heir, Song Hui, before Shen Mingwen and Shen Qingping.
"I have long heard of the esteemed reputations of Grand Tutor Shen and Young Lord Shen. Meeting you today fills me with admiration. This is my son. Come, offer a toast to these two gentlemen."
Watching Prince Heng's mouth open and close incessantly, Shen Qingping mentally assigned him a second label: terribly long-winded.
Shen Mingwen noticed Shen Qingping's impatience and engaged in conversation with Prince Heng and his son himself.
Shen Qingping downed a few cups of wine on his own.
The front lines...
I wonder how things are at the front.
...
The next day, Gu Mingzhu took Song Hui for a stroll through the streets.
"Mingzhu younger sister, may I call you that?"
Gu Mingzhu nodded, "The Princess is of noble status. You may call me whatever you like."
Passing by a candied hawthorn stall, Gu Mingzhu's eyes fixed intently. Just as she was about to pull out some silver, she heard Song Hui speak: "Mingzhu younger sister, does the Princess like candied hawthorn?"
"She does not."
Gu Mingzhu's hand, reaching for the silver, fell back to her side.
"What kind of clothes does the Princess like to wear? I heard the Princess often wears red."
Gu Mingzhu's baby-faced cheeks began to darken. "The Princess's clothes are all arranged by her matrons. The Princess doesn't usually pay much attention to such things."
Really, how could this person so blatantly wear the words 'probing for information' on his face?
Could he possibly be even more foolish than her?
"Mingzhu younger sister, what food does the Princess like?"
"I don't know." Gu Mingzhu had already begun to fake-smile.
"I heard the Princess is immensely talented, composing verses effortlessly." Song Hui still hadn't noticed Gu Mingzhu's odd behavior.
"Yes."
Gu Mingzhu gave a rare direct answer.
But for other questions, Gu Mingzhu either shook her head or said she didn't know.
That evening, Song Hui returned to Prince Heng's mansion.
"Father, is that Gu Mingzhu truly Princess Fu'an's close friend? Why did she know nothing about the Princess no matter what I asked?"
Prince Heng was also somewhat puzzled, questioning the source of their information.
Meanwhile, Gu Mingzhu trotted happily to the Shen residence and chattered away nonstop. It wasn't until the renowned Grand Tutor Shen, Shen Mingwen, smilingly handed Gu Mingzhu a few pieces of cube sugar that she finally stopped talking.
"Well done." Shen Mingwen gently tapped the little girl's pretty nose.
Little girls were still more endearing, much better than stinky boys.
With her mouth full of candy, Gu Mingzhu's words were a bit slurred:
"Trying to get information about the Princess from my mouth? No chance."
Her mouth was sealed tight!
