Song Yu was shooed away by Emperor Yuanyou as if he were a chick.
"Whether you're truly a wastrel or a fake one, I know better than you do."
Emperor Yuanyou simply thought Song Yu had lost his mind. How much substance his own son had in his belly, he could grasp with absolute certainty.
"You can test me if you don't believe it."
Song Yu insisted.
The response to Song Yu was the slamming shut of the palace hall doors.
Song Yu stomped his foot in frustration. He never expected that upon returning, the biggest obstacle would be the old man.
The old man was firmly convinced he was a good-for-nothing.
"Wait, Father Emperor, you forgot to give my daughter back to me."
Ahuan was still inside the Zichen Hall.
"Get out!" Emperor Yuanyou's voice boomed with vigor.
Inside the hall, Song Shihuan pursed her lips and said softly, "Imperial Grandfather, Father Prince is not a wastrel."
"Father Prince is knowledgeable in the classics, kind-hearted, and very familiar with the situations in various regions of Great Qi. He knows that Laijin Prefecture needs flood control, that the northern deserts lack grain, that..."
Emperor Yuanyou fell silent. "Is what Ahuan says true?"
It didn't sound like his son at all.
"During these past few days at the Prince of Qin's residence, I've also heard how people outside speak of Father Prince." At this point, Song Shihuan's eyes dimmed slightly. "I am young and don't understand grand principles. I only know that if a profoundly learned person uses the guise of a wastrel to protect himself, he must have suffered immense injustice."
She refused to believe in some wastrel prince who was utterly ignorant!
Hearing this, Emperor Yuanyou's heart wavered a little. Could it be that scoundrel was really pretending?
"Imperial Grandfather, people outside also say Father Prince spends all day playing with crickets and fighting cocks, that his study is overgrown with weeds. But that's simply not true. There isn't a single cricket or fighting cock in the Prince of Qin's residence. His study is clean and full of books."
"Imperial Grandfather, one should believe one's own eyes."
The corner of Emperor Yuanyou's mouth twitched. The doubt he felt moments ago instantly vanished without a trace.
His gaze towards Song Shihuan held a bit more helplessness. Silly child, what the people outside say...
is all true!
That day, the chicken your father prince brought wasn't an ordinary chicken; it was a fighting cock!
...
Kunning Palace.
"Imperial Grandmother, Imperial Grandfather has been paying far too much attention to that wild girl lately, sending Wu Qi to fetch her from the Prince of Qin's residence every few days." Song Xiyan was so jealous her nose was almost crooked. "She's just a wild child raised on handouts from various families. What's so great about her!"
"Imperial Grandmother, if this continues, I fear Uncle's favor with the Emperor will only grow stronger." Song Yanzheng also spoke with a furrowed brow. Sensing the situation was turning unfavorable, he had already sent letters urging Song Yanchao and Song Yanming to return to the capital quickly.
"Crown Princess, what is your view?" The Successor Empress looked at the distracted Crown Princess, her expression displeased. "Ever since that birthday banquet, you've been absent-minded. Xiyan has cried several times, and you haven't even comforted her."
The Crown Princess forced a slight smile. Comfort?
She wished she could strangle Song Xiyan.
She wanted to perish together with everyone in the Eastern Palace.
"Ahuan is also my child. Seeing His Majesty fond of her, I am genuinely happy for Ahuan from the bottom of my heart."
Kunning Palace instantly fell silent. Song Yanzheng and Song Xiyan both looked at the Crown Princess with disbelief.
"Mother Consort, I am your daughter."
"Ahuan is too." The Crown Princess lowered her eyes, looking at the ground.
"Enough, you may return now. This palace wishes to speak with the children a while longer."
Knowing the Successor Empress was sending her away to devise plans against the Prince of Qin and Ahuan,
the Crown Princess's face showed a trace of mockery. In this life, the Prince of Qin was clearly reborn with his memories. For these people to try and scheme against Ahuan was undoubtedly digging their own graves.
"Prepare the carriage, to the Chang residence."
She was going to sever the Chang family's support for the Eastern Palace.
One hour later, Chang Residence.
Chang Qing and Madam Chang looked at the Crown Princess before them, feeling she had changed somewhat, but couldn't pinpoint how.
"Elder Brother, immediately return the shops seized from the Prince of Qin's estate over the past few years and compensate for the profits."
"Also, from now on, do not support the Eastern Palace so wholeheartedly. If possible, do not make an enemy of the Prince of Qin."
A bitter taste filled Chang's mouth. "The marriage arrangement between Ling'er and Song Yanzheng is henceforth not to be mentioned again."
"Your Highness, are you perhaps speaking nonsense?" Chang Qing couldn't help but straighten up. "You are a daughter of the Chang family. The Eldest Imperial Grandson carries Chang blood. The Chang family should support the Eastern Palace."
"And what if the price of supporting the Eastern Palace is the execution of the entire clan?"
"If Elder Brother doesn't believe me, go check the incense in Ling'er's room. It contains substances that can cause infertility in women."
Clang! Madam Chang collapsed to the floor.
The residence physician confirmed the issue with the incense. Madam Chang held Chang Ling'er, weeping bitterly, cursing Song Yanzheng between sobs.
"Elder Brother, Song Ling is treacherous and cunning. He will not achieve greatness." The Crown Princess's face was deathly pale. "The Chang family sacrificing one me is enough."
Chang Qing's hands trembled, his eyes red with fury.
The Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandsons had never trusted his Chang family.
"Support the Prince of Qin. He will be a better Crown Prince."
The Crown Princess staggered as she left. Chang Qing couldn't help but speak, his voice filled with remorse and pain.
"It was I... who broke off your engagement with the Prince of Qin back then..."
But the Crown Princess stopped and shook her head:
"Being able to give birth to Ahuan, I do not regret marrying Song Ling either."
...
Prince of Qin's Residence.
Song Shihuan looked curiously at the Crown Princess before her, her little eyes stealing glances again and again.
Father Prince said the Crown Prince, the several Imperial Grandsons from the Eastern Palace, and that Princess Fuyun were all no good.
But Father Prince didn't say the Crown Princess was no good.
Did that mean her mother was somewhat a good person?
"Ahuan, I am your mother consort." The Crown Princess spoke carefully.
"Mother Consort."
Song Shihuan obediently called out.
But after she called out, the beautiful woman before her began to shed tears.
For the Crown Princess, after her mistakes, she had waited for this 'Mother Consort' for a very, very long time.
"Yes." The Crown Princess, afraid of frightening Song Shihuan, forcibly held back her tears. Then, noticing the history book in Song Shihuan's hands, she paused. "When I was your age, I also liked reading history books."
The Crown Princess stayed at the Prince of Qin's residence for a long time, even using the small kitchen to make a bowl of almond tea for Song Shihuan.
After finishing, the Crown Princess seemed to remember something and scooped a spoonful of honey onto the almond tea.
"Is it good?"
Song Shihuan nodded. "Mother Consort, this almond tea is sweet."
The Crown Princess's eyes grew hot.
"Yes, it has always been sweet. Not bitter."
"Whenever you want to drink it in the future, just tell me. I'll make it for you."
Just as the Crown Princess wished to stay longer at the Prince of Qin's residence, Song Yu couldn't bear it any longer.
"Crown Princess, it's time you returned to the Eastern Palace."
He had already yielded Ahuan for a full two hours. Wasn't that enough?
The Crown Princess felt an inexplicable trepidation facing Song Yu, but before leaving, she mustered her courage to ask, "May I come to see Ahuan often in the future?"
Song Yu's eyes grew vacant.
Another one coming to fight him for the child.
