"Are you willing to serve this prince?"
Under the night sky, Cheng Guang looked at Song Yu, whose eyes held a smile before him, and then glanced at Song Shihuan, who was taking small sips of fruit wine beside them. He felt as if he were in a dream.
"Last year... last year I nearly... nearly harmed Yu Fan."
Cheng Guang's speech was even stammering. He hadn't seen Gu Zheng look at him like a starving tiger pouncing on prey, practically wanting to devour him whole.
He had been avoiding Gu Zheng every time.
"It's not too late to atone for your mistakes with merit."
Song Yu's slender fingers were curled, the knuckles flushed with a faint red, as he rhythmically tapped the table. "As long as you serve this prince loyally, I can give you more than your old master ever could."
After a few moments, Cheng Guang knelt down with a pious expression.
"I am willing to be driven by Your Highness."
"Good." A slight smile tugged at Song Yu's lips. "That Prince Heng is getting restless. He will surely make another move soon. Your sharp, venomous tongue is most suitable for dealing with such a hypocrite."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Guang was taken aback. Was he, with all his abilities, being sent to deal with some illegitimate, worthless prince?
Wasn't that a bit of a waste?
As if reading his thoughts, Song Shihuan spoke up with a light laugh. "Father must first test how sharp this blade of yours is."
Cheng Guang nodded.
Then, gathering his courage, he asked, "If in the future... would I still have a chance to become Chancellor?"
"No chance."
Song Yu didn't hesitate for even a moment. "The position of Chancellor was decided by this prince back when I was still a wastrel."
Cheng Guang was disappointed. Cheng Guang sighed. Cheng Guang shed a tear.
Who had acted so early?
......
With Song Yu's support, Cheng Guang transformed from the chancellor of an enemy state into the largely ceremonial and powerless Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments in Great Qi.
Since it was a titular position without real authority, there weren't many voices of opposition in the court. The only one suffering was Prince Heng, whose demeanor from princely etiquette to his handling of affairs was criticized thoroughly by Cheng Guang.
Originally, Prince Heng could rely on his reputation for generosity and benevolence to win the favor of court officials. But when someone started crowing like a goose all day long about his ordinary origins, some noble families also began to look down on him.
The worst part was he couldn't easily retort.
It infuriated Prince Heng to the point that his complexion grew noticeably paler.
Prince Heng's Mansion.
"Perhaps... the matter of the Crown Princess should be put on the agenda."
Prince Heng looked at his eldest son before him. "I've inquired. Back then, the Crown Prince was harmed by traitors and had an unborn child with a palace maid. That's why the Crown Prince is unwilling to marry."
"If forced to do something he dislikes, given the Crown Prince's temperament, he's likely to cause a major uproar."
"Father, what if the Crown Prince is willing to marry?"
Song Liu was somewhat puzzled. If that were truly the case, wouldn't they be helping the Crown Prince?
"Princess Fuan is exceedingly clever, almost unnaturally so. She and the Crown Prince are not truly father and daughter. She won't stand by and watch the Crown Prince take a Crown Princess."
Prince Heng, convinced he had seen through everything, felt his expression improve.
"No rush. Their good days are about to come to an end."
......
The proposal Cheng Guang had previously put forward was ultimately adopted by Emperor Yuanyou. In the Zichen Hall, Cheng Guang held his head high, like a rooster brimming with fighting spirit.
"His Highness Prince Heng initially rejected this official's proposal. It seems his political acumen isn't very high."
Cheng Guang clicked his tongue twice. Wanting to hold power in the court? Dream on.
Prince Heng's face stiffened slightly, then quickly adjusted back to a gentle smile. "It seems I still have much to learn."
"Yes, enough for you to learn until old age."
As soon as Cheng Guang's lips moved, Prince Heng felt an impulse to sew them shut with a needle.
Prince Heng steadied himself and walked towards Song Yu with an extremely considerate demeanor, causing Song Yu's right eyelid to twitch immediately.
A dogskin plaster! (A nuisance that sticks to you.)
"Now that Elder Brother presides over the Eastern Palace and has the people's hearts, shouldn't he also consider taking a Crown Princess?"
Silence.
Everyone involuntarily quieted for a moment. The next second, overwhelming joy surged in the hearts of the important ministers.
Finally, someone had brought this up!
Since ancient times, the court and the inner palace have been inseparable. Emperor Yuanyou was advanced in years and his harem was nearly empty, so the only target everyone could set their sights on was the Crown Prince, who was in the prime of his life.
"No need for you to trouble yourself." Song Yu spoke with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"I am many years younger than Elder Brother and already have Liu'er by my side. Elder Brother should also soon father a royal grandson, so that His Majesty the Emperor can personally nurture the third-generation ruler of Great Qi."
Prince Heng's words were flawless, painting a perfect picture of a younger brother concerned for his elder brother.
Song Yu gritted his teeth in anger and looked at Cheng Guang.
Go on!
Cheng Guang immediately understood.
"Your Highness Prince Heng's words are rather inappropriate. This official believes the princess is superior to the heir in countless ways, yet Your Highness's words seem to deliberately overlook the princess."
"Could it be that in Your Highness's heart, because the princess is female, she is less noble than the heir?"
Emperor Yuanyou's expression changed instantly.
"I absolutely have no such intention."
Prince Heng's face flushed red. "The Crown Prince has simply reached the age when he should marry."
"Prince Heng is right. Now that His Highness the Crown Prince has returned victorious, it is time to select a noble lady from a prominent family to be Crown Princess and continue the royal line."
"Indeed, the selection of a Crown Princess should be decided soon."
"Once a legitimate grandson is born, Great Qi will truly have a successor."
Court officials chimed in one after another to support Prince Heng, mentally running through the eligible young ladies from their own families.
Seeing this, Cheng Guang paused. How had this gone from dealing with Prince Heng alone to dealing with so many people?
What should he do?
Emperor Yuanyou remained silent throughout.
After the debate subsided, Emperor Yuanyou finally looked up at Song Yu. "Crown Prince, what are your thoughts?"
"This son currently has no intention of taking a wife."
Hearing the expected reply, Prince Heng couldn't help but reveal a hint of a smile in his eyes.
Would the important ministers let such a coveted position as Crown Princess remain empty?
Sure enough.
As soon as the news of Song Yu refusing to take a Crown Princess spread, it immediately affected the interests of a large group of people.
During the morning court, memorials petitioning for Song Yu to take a Crown Princess piled up almost as high as a small hill.
Zichen Hall.
Emperor Yuanyou let out a heavy sigh. "How about you marry in a couple of years instead?"
Song Yu, who had long prepared ten thousand reasons to refuse marriage in his heart, looked up, his mouth slightly agape in surprise. Could his ears be playing tricks on him?
The old man was advising him to marry in a couple of years?
Emperor Yuanyou wore a troubled expression. "I know this isn't entirely fair to you. Just two years. In two years, Ahuan will be of age and can establish her own residence. After that, you can marry whomever you please."
"However, this time, you should first take two consorts."
Emperor Yuanyou added. If this scoundrel didn't let a single person into his rear courtyard this time, the memorials would only pile higher, and the one suffering would be him, this old man in his sixties.
Besides, children born to consorts could never be more noble than Ahuan anyway. Bringing them in wouldn't cause any real harm.
Song Yu was utterly shocked.
Wait...
Was this right?
His father wasn't pressuring him to get a wife anymore?
