"Everyone, rise."
Emperor Yuanyou personally helped Song Shihuan, who was next to Song Yu, to her feet.
Song Yu wore an expression that said he had expected this, and obediently stood up by himself.
"Ah Huan, this time you have rendered a great service to Da Qi. Your imperial grandfather is proud of you." Emperor Yuanyou looked at Song Shihuan, who had grown much thinner, his heart aching for her.
He automatically ignored his own grown son standing beside her.
"Ahem—" Song Yu couldn't help but clear his throat, trying to evoke the Emperor's rather scant paternal affection.
But when Emperor Yuanyou saw Song Yu, who hadn't lost an ounce of weight and instead had gained some flesh on his face, the old Emperor's expression immediately lost its smile.
Why hadn't this rascal lost weight, while his precious granddaughter had grown thin?
If Song Yu knew what Emperor Yuanyou was thinking, he would cry injustice. This extra weight was purely from being forced to drink rice porridge.
The granaries were overflowing, so they had to drink their fill.
He wasn't on the front lines fighting, nor did he have to devise battle tactics; his energy expenditure was low, so naturally, he gained weight.
"You did well this time."
Emperor Yuanyou finally did say a word to Song Yu, who immediately flashed a wide, toothy grin.
"Mind your decorum."
Emperor Yuanyou couldn't help but remind him.
So many eyes were watching; he mustn't disgrace his old father's face.
"Wu Qi, announce the decree."
The edict of rewards took Wu Qi a full stick of incense's time to read aloud. By the time he finished, his mouth was parched, and everyone present was stunned into silence.
Crown Prince Song Yu was rewarded with a thousand pieces of gold.
Crown Prince's daughter, Song Shihuan... was enfeoffed as Princess Fu'an, with a stipend of ten thousand households?
According to ceremonial laws, the daughters of the Crown Prince and princes are titled Commandery Princesses. Only under special circumstances or by exceptional grace are they enfeoffed as Princesses.
Yet the civil officials and censors present, even the Minister of Rites himself, kept their mouths tightly shut.
To hold the foremost merit in a war that destroyed an enemy state—such an achievement was sufficient for exceptional grace and enfeoffment.
Song Shihuan clearly hadn't anticipated that Emperor Yuanyou would bestow such a reward upon her either, standing there rooted to the spot in surprise.
The first Princess of Da Qi...
It was Song Yu who remembered Shen Qingping's advice. Under the gaze of the crowd, he knelt once more. "Father Emperor, your son does not want the gold. I beg Your Majesty to bestow these rewards upon the soldiers who fought valiantly on the battlefield."
"Imperial Grandfather, your granddaughter also does not want rewards. The victory was carved out by the soldiers blade by blade, sword by sword. They are the ones most deserving of reward."
Thus, father and daughter nearly won over the entire army's loyalty in one fell swoop.
At this moment, even if the father and daughter ordered the soldiers to march to their deaths, they would not hesitate for a moment.
Those in high positions stepping down from their pedestals, patiently listening to their hardships—no one could resist such an allure.
"Crown Prince, I can take back your thousand pieces of gold."
"Ah Huan, I can also take back your stipend households, all to be exchanged for rewards for the soldiers. However, your title of Princess is not to be refused."
Emperor Yuanyou couldn't help but reach out and stroke Song Shihuan's cheek. This princess title was what his granddaughter deserved.
"Thank you for your grace, Imperial Grandfather."
"Congratulations, Princess." Wu Qi was also immensely pleased. Seeing this, the host of courtiers behind him chimed in unison, "Congratulations, Princess Fu'an."
From then on, there was no more Commandery Princess Fu'an, only Princess Fu'an, who, as the daughter of the Crown Prince, was exceptionally enfeoffed as a Princess.
Lady Chang looked at Song Shihuan before her, her eyes rimmed red.
She had never imagined her daughter could possess such capability—top of the women's academy, devising strategies on the battlefield, she had actually become the most accomplished descendant of the Chang family.
That young girl witnessing slaughter on the battlefield—she wondered if she had been afraid?
Lady Chang longed to walk to Song Shihuan's side and hug her child, but she no longer had the right.
Song Xiyan kept her head lowered the entire time, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.
The family of King Heng all wore gentle smiles on their faces, but the warmth did not reach their eyes.
"Imperial Grandfather, I heard I have gained another uncle."
Song Shihuan tilted her head as she spoke. Emperor Yuanyou then remembered King Heng behind him and beckoned for him to come forward with his son and daughter.
"According to age, this is your Third Uncle, now enfeoffed as King Heng."
"Greetings, Third Uncle."
King Heng laughed upon hearing this and took out an exquisite box from his sleeve. "Meeting for the first time, Ah Huan. Congratulations on your triumphant return."
"This is your elder male cousin, Liu'er, and your elder female cousin, Hui'er."
Song Hui looked at the Song Shihuan before her, somewhat dazed.
Since returning to the imperial family, she had often heard about how favored and talented this cousin was. Now, seeing her in person... could someone like her ever stand shoulder to shoulder with her?
The minds of King Heng's family were turning a hundred times over, but their expressions gave no cause for fault.
Just as King Heng was about to step forward to pay his respects to Song Yu, Emperor Yuanyou's voice rang out:
"Alright, there will be a palace banquet tonight. You can all get properly acquainted then."
Emperor Yuanyou took Song Shihuan's hand and entered the capital city gate. The cheers and bows of the common people rose one after another, all eager to catch a glimpse of Princess Fu'an's grace.
Behind them, Shen Mingwen glared at Shen Qingping—leaving without a word, that little rascal.
Shen Qingping, however, acted as if nothing had happened, cheerfully following behind Song Yu, completely ignoring Shen Mingwen's dagger-like stares.
Gu Zheng hurriedly returned to the Gu residence, anxious to hold his freshly 'produced' granddaughter.
In the crowd, King Heng spoke as if unintentionally, "Earlier, His Majesty's expression when looking at His Highness the Crown Prince didn't seem too favorable?"
It rather gave him the feeling that the father was honored because of the daughter.
An official smiled and said, "His Majesty and His Highness have always interacted this way. In the future, you might even see His Majesty chasing His Highness around the Zichen Hall to beat him. In truth, His Majesty is most satisfied with His Highness."
"Indeed, it's just the special affection for the next generation. His Majesty's satisfaction is simply expressed more through the Princess."
"I see. Thank you for informing me, gentlemen."
Having gotten his answer, the boulder in King Heng's heart sank even heavier.
How should he deal with such a situation?
...
Gu Residence.
Gu Mingzhu was being punished, standing in the room holding a basin filled with water.
"Gu Mingzhu, have you grown too bold for your boots? Slipping out of the capital without even a word? If the capital guards hadn't sent a message back in time, what was I supposed to do?"
Gu Mingliu's eyes were red with anger. Even Gu Zheng stood to the side, not daring to plead for leniency.
When the eldest daughter was angry, the situation was serious.
"I was wrong. The situation was urgent at the time, so I just told the guards to send a message back..."
"You still dare to argue!"
"I dare not." Gu Mingzhu obediently admitted defeat.
It took Gu Mingliu a long while to calm her emotions. Then, after staring at Gu Zheng for a long time, she finally realized something was amiss. Her voice began to tremble slightly:
"Where is Yu Fan?"
"Didn't we win the war? Why hasn't Yu Fan returned?"
Gu Zheng's old face stiffened. He made eyes at Gu Mingzhu, who signaled for him to speak. Father and daughter stared at each other, neither daring to speak first.
"Has he... had an accident? Is he... gone?"
"No, no, no," Gu Zheng hurriedly said. "He's alive, he's alive."
"Then he's injured, wounded so severely he can't be moved, is that it?"
Under Gu Mingliu's gaze, the excuses Gu Zheng had prepared beforehand—like Yu Fan needing to stay behind to guard the army—were completely unspeakable. He nodded weakly.
"Imperial Physician Mei is already treating Yu Fan. He says the recovery is going well, and in another month, he can be moved back to the residence to recuperate."
"Mingliu, this time Yu Fan has performed a great service. He was very brave, a son our Gu family can be proud of."
But Gu Mingliu only held the little one in the swaddling clothes tighter.
A tear fell on the infant's cheek. Suddenly, Gu Mingliu remembered what had happened on the day Mei Zhilin left. Then, she kissed the little one tenderly.
"So, Tuan, this name was chosen by your father."
