"Your Majesty seems unwell?" Emperor Yuanyou feigned ignorance. "Wu Qi, summon Mei Zhilin."
The Successor Empress forced a smile. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. This humble consort is fine."
From the elation of last night to the devastation of today, she felt as though she were floating.
Emperor Yuanyou pressed his lips together. "I saw Ah Huan yesterday. Compared to the birthday banquet, she seemed like a completely different person."
At the mention of her greatest fear, the Successor Empress held her breath.
"I recall you summoned Ah Huan alone to Kunning Palace during the flower-viewing banquet a few days ago. Empress, didn’t you notice how much Ah Huan resembles Fen'er?"
It had been over thirty years since the Successor Empress last heard Fen'er’s name from Emperor Yuanyou’s lips.
Every pore in her body screamed in protest.
Why must a dead woman still occupy the Emperor’s heart?
"This humble consort did notice some resemblance but hesitated to confirm it, so I refrained from mentioning it to Your Majesty," the Successor Empress replied, struggling to maintain her dignity. "I feared it might bring Your Majesty false hope."
"Some resemblance? She bears an uncanny likeness to her."
Emperor Yuanyou gazed at the Successor Empress with a complicated expression. "It seems death erases all. The Empress has forgotten Fen'er’s face."
The Successor Empress opened her mouth but could not speak.
Should she admit she recognized it but deliberately kept it from the Emperor?
Emperor Yuanyou sighed as he looked at the sky outside. "Ah Huan becoming Yu'er’s daughter must be Fen'er’s doing from beyond the grave."
"Indeed, elder sister must have wished for Yu'er to settle down and establish himself."
"However, I can’t shake the feeling that someone in the palace is targeting Qin Prince’s Mansion," Emperor Yuanyou abruptly changed the subject. "Since Ah Huan’s return, inexplicable incidents have occurred—things that never happened before."
His casual tone belied the terror his words instilled in the Successor Empress.
"Yesterday, Ah Huan mentioned that hidden needles were sewn into the academic robes sent to her from the palace. It sent chills down my spine." Emperor Yuanyou glanced at the Successor Empress. "Such underhanded methods are worse than an open battle on the battlefield. Don’t you agree, Empress?"
"Indeed."
The Successor Empress could no longer feign a smile.
"I have state affairs to attend to and lack the Empress’s meticulousness. I’ll entrust Ah Huan’s care to you."
After this veiled warning, Emperor Yuanyou rose and departed.
Once certain he was gone, the Successor Empress shattered every teacup on the table in a fit of rage.
"Song Yu, Song Shihuan—I will find a way to eliminate you both!"
The palace maids trembled in fear.
Chen Chi’s eyes darkened. The Emperor had made it clear today that the Empress was responsible for Princess Fu'an’s safety.
If anything happened now, the blame would fall squarely on her...
......
Eastern Palace.
Upon hearing the news from Kunning Palace, the Crown Princess looked uneasy.
"Mother, His Majesty suspects Grandmother," Song Yanzheng said, his expression grim.
"I warned against sewing needles into those robes," the Crown Princess glanced at Song Xiyan, who remained silent. "Xiyan, once she enters the academy, you’ll have countless chances to outshine her. Was it necessary to act so rashly?"
Song Xiyan lowered her head.
The idea of hiding needles in the robes had been hers.
"Mother, I only wanted to avenge you and Grandmother," Song Xiyan’s lashes fluttered. "I meant well but made things worse."
"What’s done is done. Now that His Majesty knows what that wild girl looks like, it’ll be harder to act against her."
A ruthless glint flashed in Song Yanzheng’s eyes. "Xiyan, you must ensure she is humiliated the moment she steps into the academy."
"Mother, please arrange for Dean Yan Qing to cooperate in advance."
Yan Qing, the head of the women’s academy.
The Crown Princess nodded. "Xiyan, you must learn from your elder brother, understand?"
Biting back her frustration at the Crown Princess’s reprimand, Song Xiyan clenched her teeth.
"Your Highness, the Princess of Chu and Princess Xiling have arrived."
The maidservant’s announcement made the Crown Princess straighten. "Let them in."
......
The Princess of Chu’s eyes reddened the moment she saw the Crown Princess. "Sister-in-law, I beg you—save Sun Hu!"
The Crown Princess inwardly rejoiced. After years of strained relations, this was the first time the Princess of Chu had come to her for help.
Her smile grew warmer. "Speak calmly. Nanny, serve tea. Xiyan, take Xiling to the courtyard."
Song Yanzheng excused himself, leaving the Princess of Chu weeping as she pleaded for intervention.
In the courtyard, Song Xiyan shoved Song Xiling, making her stumble.
"Your cousin caused trouble, and now His Majesty is furious. Coming to the Eastern Palace for help—do you expect my mother to clean up your mess?"
Song Xiling flushed with shame.
Emboldened, Song Xiyan sneered.
"You’ve always been a mute. If not for me, His Majesty and Her Majesty would’ve forgotten you existed."
"Second Sister, will... will my cousin be executed?"
"Of course."
Song Xiyan smirked. "But if my mother intercedes, there might be hope."
"Then I’m deeply grateful to Aunt."
"Not so fast." Song Xiyan’s lips curled. "Help isn’t free. Tomorrow, Song Shihuan enters the academy. I want her reputation ruined on her first day."
"But my brother told me not to provoke Qin Prince’s Mansion."
Song Xiyan’s face darkened.
"Refuse, and I’ll ensure Grandmother punishes Sun Hu severely."
Trembling, Song Xiling nodded.
Her mother had said their uncle’s family was their only support—her father cared only for his legitimate son.
She had no choice.
Satisfied, Song Xiyan eyed her with disdain.
A coward.
The next morning, Song Shihuan dressed in her academy robes, gathered her study materials, and rode to the academy gates.
There, Yan Qing stood with a group of students—including Song Xiyan—waiting to greet her.
Song Shihuan stepped down and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Princess Fu'an. Please wait inside momentarily. The placement examination will begin shortly."
Placement examination?
Song Shihuan paused. New students were always assigned to the lowest tier—since when was there an exam?
Noticing Song Xiyan’s sly gaze, she understood.
