"No wonder they've been pushing me to marry all along."
Song Yu suddenly understood.
"If you, Father, stubbornly refuse to marry, it will inevitably provoke discontent among all the court officials. At that time, as the only royal grandson of suitable age and... sound mind, Song Liu would naturally become the most suitable candidate to be your heir."
Sound mind...
Shen Qingping couldn't help but cover her mouth slightly.
This was the conclusion Song Shihuan had reached after observing the Heng Prince's residence for a long time.
Because Song Liu's affection for the Eastern Palace was simply a bit too enthusiastic.
"My child is not a position just anyone can take." Song Yu sneered. "They'd be more fitting as my grandson."
The corners of Shen Qingping and Song Shihuan's mouths twitched simultaneously. If these words reached the Purple Sun Palace, the man before them was sure to get a beating.
"What if we proceed exactly according to Prince Heng's expectations?"
Song Shihuan spoke again, a complex glint flashing in her eyes.
They could create the perfect environment for Prince Heng.
"Liuxi, instruct the palace servants in advance. Let Prince Heng have a good taste of how fickle people can be. Let him know that once you offend His Majesty, even the palace servants will look down on them."
This was meant to force Prince Heng to abandon the option of simply being an ordinary prince.
"Also, Father will have to endure some hardship for a while. Spread the word that my father has no intention of marrying in this lifetime."
Song Yu, standing to the side, nodded eagerly, a genuine nod from the heart.
He wasn't the least bit aggrieved!
"And one more thing..."
Song Shihuan frowned slightly. "Teacher, please investigate Song Heng's father again. I have a feeling there must be a reason why his father hasn't come to the capital to claim kinship all this time."
To reject such overwhelming wealth and status, there must be a thunderbolt hanging over his head that could lead to utter ruin.
Hearing this, Shen Qingping looked at Song Shihuan, a few more traces of amusement in his eyes. "Rest assured, Princess."
"As for me..."
Song Shihuan's little face scrunched up into a knot, pondering how to add more pressure on Prince Heng.
"Got it!"
"Baoxia, start a rumor. Say that it's because of me that Father won't marry. Let everyone come and criticize me."
A criticized princess and a heir with the reputation of being an auspicious sign—if Prince Heng doesn't make a move, he'd be letting down this chess game.
Baoxia's small head was filled with big question marks.
Song Shihuan, however, was extremely pleased with her own idea and even clapped her hands lightly. "This way, not only can we force Prince Heng to reveal himself, but we can also help Father see which court officials have ulterior motives."
"No."
Song Yu's answer was resolute. "Ahuan cannot be criticized."
"Father, it won't just be me who gets criticized. You will be too."
Song Shihuan instantly became cheerful. "When the time comes, His Majesty can pretend to be ill from anger to avoid it. Teacher will be criticized for helping me, and General Gu and the others will all be criticized too."
Song Shihuan used the happiest tone to say the most sorrowful things, and like a little adult, she patted Song Yu's shoulder. "Don't worry, Father, we'll all be criticized."
Not a single one will be spared.
Shen Qingping was taken aback for a moment, rarely beginning to doubt whether the educational influence their group had on the princess was perhaps a bit off track.
Otherwise, why would his sweet, soft little princess turn into such a schemer?
After a moment's thought, Shen Qingping decided it was the Crown Prince's fault.
If the upper beam is not straight, the lower ones will go askew.
And the "not straight upper beam" at that moment had a face flushed red with suppressed emotion. He said to Song Shihuan, "Isn't the price we're paying this time a bit too high?"
"Not high at all. It's the last fly."
Song Shihuan nestled in the lounge chair, feeling a bit cold, and pulled the cloak tighter over herself.
"Father, I only have you now."
Song Yu's heart instantly softened. He wrapped Song Yu's cloak even tighter around her.
"Everything will be as Ahan wishes."
"The princess of Great Qi possesses the wealth of the four seas; all the people under heaven are her subjects. Ahan is not only mine."
"I will always be by your side."
Song Shihuan had fallen asleep, her little face rosy, looking unbearably cute.
Recalling the dream of his past life, Song Yu finally revealed a satisfied smile.
Finished killing them, finished killing them all.
......
In November, the chill arrived, and people donned thick cotton clothes.
Yet, the Heng Prince's residence only received shoddy garments passed off as good, and even the charcoal for burning was of the smoky kind, making people cough incessantly.
"Father, these people are going too far. They think our Heng Prince's residence has fallen out of imperial favor, so they fob us off with this stuff."
Song Liu was furious. Although these things would have been considered excellent for them in the past, times were different now. They were now members of the imperial clan!
Prince Heng's face was also extremely grim. "I originally thought that even if our schemes failed, we could still live a good life. The palace... has too many people who fawn on those in power and bully the weak. We cannot retreat. Otherwise, we won't even get this meager share."
No wonder the previous few princes didn't rest content with their situation either.
"We'll wait for an opportunity. There will be a chance..."
A few days later, Song Yu publicly declared at a court assembly his unwillingness to marry, instantly provoking questions from all the officials.
Even rumors spread outside that it was because the princess was unwilling that the Crown Prince refused to marry.
The rumors grew increasingly fierce, yet the Eastern Palace remained silent and did not explain, further confirming the rumors.
Prince Heng laughed heartily in his residence for a full quarter of an hour, then looked at Song Liu with ecstatic joy. "Liu'er, our opportunity has come."
It truly seemed heaven was helping him!
His two children were indeed auspicious signs!
Purple Sun Palace.
Emperor Yuanyou looked at Song Yu kneeling on the ground. Thinking of this scoundrel's speech at the court assembly, Emperor Yuanyou felt his heart and liver aching with anger.
Hearing Wu Qi report how people outside were speaking about Ahan, the Emperor was so enraged he kicked Song Yu.
Song Yu felt he was getting the short end of the stick—not only criticized but also beaten.
"Father, this is a strategy."
"A strategy?"
Emperor Yuanyou narrowed his old eyes. This scoundrel's idea of a... strategy?
Only after Song Yu explained at length did Emperor Yuanyou's anger subside. "This time Ahan is being criticized. I am not pleased."
Hearing this, Song Yu pouted. If Ahan were to pitifully say in front of the old man, "I only have you," the old man would probably also willingly do as Ahan said.
"Therefore, to prevent you from being criticized, your son suggests you fall seriously ill—ill from anger."
Emperor Yuanyou wasn't made ill from anger; instead, he laughed in exasperation.
"Very well."
After Song Yu left the Purple Sun Palace, Emperor Yuanyou fell gravely ill and did not rise from his bed. Mei Zhilin took up permanent residence in the Purple Sun Palace, dutifully feeling the pulse of the Emperor, whose complexion was ruddy and healthy.
When news of Emperor Yuanyou's illness spread beyond the palace, public opinion against the Eastern Palace grew even stronger.
Everyone aligned with the Eastern Palace was being criticized equally; none escaped.
Liuxi's most arduous daily task was stopping Song Yu, who wanted to go out and argue with those people.
"These court officials, are they throwing a fit because they couldn't marry their daughters off to me?"
Just as Song Yu was so angry smoke seemed about to rise from his head,
Prince Heng made his move.
Prince Heng led Song Liu out of the Heng Prince's residence and, under the gaze of all the civil and military officials, had Song Liu kowtow to Song Yu.
"Liu'er is willing to be your son, to take care of you and Ahan younger sister."
Song Yu felt the world spin and vomited all over Prince Heng.
What a disgusting mess.
