The thirty-sixth year of Yuanyou.
Spring Welcome Pavilion.
Shen Qingping looked at Song Yu, who had suddenly slumped unconscious on the table, his brow twitching violently. How strange, he's drunk after just a few cups?
"Third Master Shen, the palace is urging us urgently. Please, do us a favor and wake our prince up."
The servant pleaded miserably. If they were late, it wouldn't just be the prince facing punishment or scolding—his own little life would be in danger too.
Shen Qingping pondered for a moment upon seeing this, then spoke into the air:
"Song Ling is here!"
Whoosh—
The instinct to utterly defeat Song Ling jolted Song Yu awake instantly.
The next second, bewilderment filled Song Yu's eyes. What was going on? Hadn't he already finished off Song Ling?
"Your Highness, the Eastern Palace is hosting the tenth birthday banquet for Princess Fuyun today. Your servant here is anxiously urging you to enter the palace," Shen Qingping said leisurely. "It's just a tenth birthday banquet, is such a fuss necessary? Might as well not go. At worst, it's twenty strokes of the cane, a mere trifle for someone like you, Your Highness."
The prince's backside is made of iron!
Song Yu shot to his feet.
"Today is the thirty-sixth year of Yuanyou? Song Xiyan's tenth birthday?"
Shen Qingping nodded.
The next moment, he saw Song Yu fly out like a gust of wind, so fast that afterimages seemed to linger in the air.
Holy crap, I really got a second chance!
Song Yu was so excited he nearly rolled his eyes back. "Liuxi, does this outfit of mine look good today?"
He had to ensure his first impression on Ah Huan was nothing but handsome.
"Your Highness, who is... Liuxi?"
"Someone who will replace you very soon."
Song Yu headed straight for the imperial palace. He had been late for the birthday banquet last time. This time, no matter what, he couldn't give the Eastern Palace the slightest chance to hurt Ah Huan.
......
In the incense-filled grand hall, a small figure followed behind a palace attendant. She was sallow and thin, wearing a thin, tattered gown, only her eyes were startlingly bright.
This was Song Shihuan's first time stepping into such a magnificent place.
The palace attendant had told her that her father and mother were the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of the court.
At this thought, Song Shihuan's heart trembled slightly. Would... would Father and Mother like her?
The people in the hall also looked at Song Shihuan, each with their own thoughts. The Eastern Palace already had Princess Fuyun. Would they still want a little beggar who appeared out of nowhere?
Extremely obvious disgust flashed in Song Ling's eyes as he thought to himself:
"Something utterly unrefined, a disgrace."
Song Ling didn't notice the large tears falling from the Crown Princess's eyes beside him, only feeling that the Song Shihuan before him was a troublesome nuisance.
Emperor Yuanyou glanced at Song Ling, then looked kindly at Song Shihuan. "Child, what is your name?"
"Song Shihuan."
"A good name." The smile on Emperor Yuanyou's face deepened a little. "You've suffered these years outside. Come, let your imperial grandfather introduce you to your father and mother."
As soon as Emperor Yuanyou's voice fell,
the voice of a young eunuch sounded from outside the hall, "Prince of Qin arrives—"
They saw Song Yu rush into the hall, swiftly pick up the little figure standing there, and grin at Emperor Yuanyou:
"Well now, where did this little doll come from? I like her very much. I'll take her to raise in the Prince of Qin's residence."
"You scoundrel!"
Emperor Yuanyou's face fell. "This is your second brother's daughter."
Hearing this, Song Yu put the little one down and crouched himself, his thin lips parting lightly:
"Your so-called father has rotten morals, and his luck is terrible to boot. The three sons in his household are all useless, the daughter is kind-faced but cold-hearted. That whole family is utterly unworthy of you."
"I have no sons or daughters of my own. If you choose me as your father, everything I have will be yours. I can study and practice martial arts with you, travel the mountains and rivers with you, do anything you like with you."
"My dear Ah Huan, will you choose me as your father?"
He was openly snatching someone!
Emperor Yuanyou's face turned green with anger, and Song Ling beside him was also fuming at Song Yu's words.
But Song Ling did not speak up to stop it. Just a little beggar—if Song Yu loved picking up trash, let him take her. He was just worrying about how to get rid of this stain.
Song Shihuan, however, was stunned. The warmth from being picked up moments ago seemed to still linger around her.
Her eyes fluttering slightly, Song Shihuan saw clearly the appearance of the person before her: handsome brows and starry eyes, the most good-looking person she had ever seen in her life.
"Okay."
As if guided by a ghost, Song Shihuan nodded.
Song Yu, usually fastidious and obsessed with cleanliness, now showed not the slightest disdain as he tidied the little one's hair, his eyes filled with affection that seemed about to overflow. Good, this time Ah Huan didn't have to hear those hurtful words.
He had made it in time.
"Enjoy your food and drink. This prince will take his daughter back to his residence first."
Everyone was still in a daze, completely unable to react.
Just as Song Yu was about to leave the hall, his steps paused. "Father Emperor, your son's legitimate eldest daughter surely deserves a princess title, doesn't she?"
"Are you truly decided?"
Emperor Yuanyou suddenly felt he couldn't quite understand this son before him.
But then he saw Song Yu let out a scoff, covering Song Shihuan's ears with both hands. "You can see it too. Song Ling doesn't like this daughter. She has suffered greatly living outside. Please, dote on her this once, and dote on your son who has no children this once."
"The legitimate eldest daughter of the Prince of Qin is granted the title Princess Fu'an."
As Emperor Yuanyou's words fell, the Crown Princess fainted from crying.
The birthday banquet ended hastily.
......
Half an hour later.
Emperor Yuanyou looked at the little figure before him, grandfather and granddaughter staring at each other, wide-eyed.
"Father Emperor, watch the child for half an hour for me. I'll come pick her up in half an hour."
As he spoke, Song Yu sprinted wildly towards the Prince of Qin's residence. Half an hour—he had to quickly get rid of all the messy things in the Prince of Qin's residence.
Ah Huan clearly didn't carry memories from before. This was his chance to rebuild a majestic image!
"Ahem, Ah Huan, have you studied any books?"
Emperor Yuanyou wasn't quite sure how to be alone with his granddaughter, awkwardly searching for a topic.
"Yes, I have."
This time, Song Shihuan hadn't suffered the slightest neglect or disdain. Her eyes were full of curiosity towards her family, and her courage had grown.
"The characters on here, I can understand them all."
Song Shihuan pointed at the open memorial on Emperor Yuanyou's desk, reading out crisply.
A brilliant light shone in Emperor Yuanyou's eyes. "Then does Ah Huan understand the meaning of this memorial?"
Song Shihuan nodded somewhat shyly.
Her master had taught her, so she understood.
Half an hour later, when Song Yu, sweating and panting, arrived at the Zichen Hall intending to take the little one away, he saw her being held affectionately in the old man's lap. Grandfather and granddaughter were looking at memorials together!
Alarm bells rang loudly in Song Yu's heart. This was bad.
"Father Emperor, I've come to take Ah Huan back to the Prince of Qin's residence."
Song Yu emphasized the word "back."
But Emperor Yuanyou didn't even bother to look up at Song Yu. "I've had Wu Qi tidy up the side hall of the Zichen Hall. Ah Huan will stay in the Zichen Hall tonight."
Song Yu just felt this was utterly bizarre.
Why was this old man trying to snatch her from him at every turn?
