Song Yu and Song Shihuan ultimately did not stay long in Song Yanhong's fiefdom.
Naturally, Song Yanhong did not dare to let these esteemed figures stay much longer either.
In just a few short days, he had received more imperial edicts than in several years in his fiefdom. Song Yanhong watched helplessly as his once deeply revered imperial grandfather's tone shifted from urgent to utterly exasperated in the messages.
It seemed the Emperor might charge over from the capital any second.
Song Yanhong hastily arranged a farewell banquet and sent off the princess he had long awaited.
Long after Song Yu, Song Shihuan, and their large entourage had departed, Song Yanhong and Song Xiling were still gazing into the distance.
"Elder Brother, I wonder how many years it will be... until we meet again?"
"If you miss them, write letters."
Song Yanhong curled the corner of his mouth slightly. "The lives we have now are already the best one could hope for."
......
The Capital.
Upon receiving the news that the main party had begun their journey back, Emperor Yuanyou finally let out a long, heavy sigh.
"Calculating the days, they should return right at the beginning of the fifth month, just in time to celebrate Ah Huan's birthday."
Emperor Yuanyou smiled so widely his mustache seemed to curl upwards involuntarily. He looked at Master Qingshan. "You haven't celebrated Ah Huan's birthday before, have you?"
Master Qingshan nodded slowly.
Before, he hadn't known when Ah Huan's birthday was.
Now he knew she was born in the fifth month, a time of warm spring and blooming flowers.
"Fine. This time, you shall be in charge of the preparations."
Emperor Yuanyou was uncharacteristically generous, perhaps feeling that Master Qingshan's health was deteriorating, or perhaps acknowledging the difficulty of the years Master Qingshan spent raising Ah Huan.
"Very well."
Master Qingshan merely smiled.
On the day Song Yu and Song Shihuan arrived at the capital, Master Qingshan came early to the city gates. It was another victorious return, another familiar scene of officials gathered to welcome them.
Amidst the uniformed soldiers, there unexpectedly appeared a young girl, so fresh and tender she seemed able to be pinched to release water.
The girl nimbly dismounted her horse and sprinted towards Master Qingshan.
"Master, how did I fare in the battle against the Northern Di?"
Her master once said all she lacked was actual combat experience. And now?
"Ah Huan is this old man's proudest disciple."
Sunlight gilded Master Qingshan's figure, and his face, for once, had a touch of healthy color.
After receiving these words from Master Qingshan, Song Shihuan's entire demeanor visibly lightened. She skipped and bounced, following Emperor Yuanyou and Master Qingshan back to the imperial palace.
On the way back to the palace.
They passed a site under construction.
"What is being built here?" Song Yu frowned. "This location..."
"This is the princess residence I am having built for Ah Huan."
Song Yu's expression changed dramatically.
......
Song Shihuan was about to turn fourteen.
This age filled Song Yu with a rare feeling of bleakness and helplessness.
"Your Highness, you haven't looked at a single memorial in half a day?"
Shen Qingping raised an eyebrow. The number of memorials was fixed; the fewer the Crown Prince read, the more he himself had to read.
"Shen San, next year Ah Huan will be of age for the hair-pinning ceremony."
Song Yu's expression was gloomy. "Yesterday, Cheng Guang told me that in the next couple of years, we could start considering potential candidates for Ah Huan's consort."
Shen Qingping showed an expression of sudden understanding. No wonder Cheng Guang had taken leave today.
Considering this, Shen Qingping slowly said:
"There are many fine young men in Great Qi. Surely there will be some the Princess likes."
"Shen San!"
"Does Your Highness intend to forbid the Princess from choosing a consort?" Shen Qingping shook his head. One must not force a child, or they will rebel.
This was a truth he had discerned from observing the Crown Prince since childhood.
"No one in this world is worthy of my daughter."
The Crown Prince declared fiercely.
"Your Highness is absolutely right. So, may we start reviewing the memorials now?"
Nevertheless, Song Yu's words did make Shen Qingping take note. He summoned Yingchun and Baoxia, his expression serious:
"In the future, as the Princess grows older, do not allow any unseemly or unsuitable young men to appear casually before her, lest they offend her."
"Unseemly or unsuitable?" Baoxia also became alert. "Rest assured, leave it to us."
Seeing this, Shen Qingping nodded with satisfaction.
The Princess could not be forced.
Then, wouldn't it suffice to simply reduce the number of young men the Princess could encounter?
Shen Qingping gave a light, derisive snort. The Crown Prince was absolutely right; no one was worthy of the Princess.
......
Song Shihuan was completely unaware of Song Yu and Shen Qingping's strict guard.
Upon returning to the capital, she clung to Master Qingshan's side. Emperor Yuanyou, for once, did not fight to monopolize her time, and even Song Yu dutifully applied himself to reading memorials.
"Master, shall I make you a bowl of almond cream?"
Song Shihuan suddenly suggested.
"Very well."
Song Shihuan took out the recipe left to her by Lady Chang. Having lived a second life, she no longer loved drinking almond cream herself, but she suddenly wanted to make some for her master to taste.
A bowl of almond cream with a rather disastrous appearance was placed before the old man. He laughed so hard he nearly lost his breath. "Is this the recipe the late Princess Consort Ping left for you? Presumably, she intended for you to make it for your own children someday."
"I insist on making it for Master to drink."
It was sweet, cloying, with the unique taste of almonds.
Master Qingshan looked into those almond-shaped eyes hiding a trace of sorrow and reached out to ruffle Song Shihuan's hair. "It's delicious. It would have been even better if Ah Huan could have drunk it from the day she was born."
To grow up smooth and untroubled, to be a carefree little girl.
"Then I wouldn't have met Master. That would have been a huge loss."
Master Qingshan only smiled, not speaking.
Song Shihuan leaned against Master Qingshan's knee, smelling the faint scent of medicine in the air.
Imperial Physician Mei said that Master's health had suddenly declined, as if something was rapidly consuming his vitality.
Mei Zhilin, renowned as a divine physician, had even suggested inviting the mysterious doctor from the Qingyun Realm to the capital.
This alone showed how tricky the situation was.
"Ah Huan, tell this old master again about what happened after I left the capital."
And so, time slipped by, and Song Shihuan's birthday arrived as scheduled.
This time, it was not a grand banquet inviting all court officials as before, but a celebration only among close family and friends.
Under the expectant gazes of everyone, Song Shihuan made her graceful entrance.
Her jade pendants chimed lightly with a clear, melodious sound. Song Shihuan was dressed in a red gown with gold accents. Her figure was beginning to show the graceful curves of a young maiden, yet still retained a hint of the slenderness and lightness of a child.
Beautifully dynamic, beyond compare.
Song Yu's eyes suddenly stung, and his chest felt tight and full.
The flower bud he had so carefully nurtured had blossomed into a flower of breathtaking beauty.
"Imperial Grandfather."
"Father."
"Tutor."
"Mingzhu."
Song Shihuan addressed each in turn, then her gaze settled on Master Qingshan, her smile exceptionally bright. "Master."
Her fourteenth birthday was more complete than any before.
Although the guests were few, Song Shihuan received many birthday gifts. Gu Mingzhu, in particular, sent a full fourteen gifts, as if determined to empty the Gu family estate.
Knowing what was about to happen next, Gu Mingzhu quickly picked up her charcoal pencil. She had an important mission today!
To accurately record the upcoming scene.
Emperor Yuanyou glanced at Wu Qi. Wu Qi stepped forward and announced in a loud voice:
"May the Princess of Blessed Peace, perform the formal apprenticeship ceremony."
Master Qingshan was the only one present who hadn't caught on.
Song Shihuan walked to a distance of three paces from Master Qingshan. Her eyelids lowered slightly, as if in prayer.
Then.
She straightened her sleeves, bent her knees, and knelt before Master Qingshan.
