After the court session.
"Lord Shen, indeed a tiger father does not beget a dog son. Your son has only been in court for just over a month, and his official position has already risen to Chief Minister of the Dali Temple."
"Yes, Young Lord Shen's methods for solving cases are swift and severe. Many criminals from various prefectures and counties surrender themselves upon merely hearing Young Lord Shen's name."
Listening to the officials' flattery, Shen Mingwen wanted to laugh but couldn't quite manage it, only forcing out a few dry chuckles.
He had topped the imperial examinations as the Zhuangyuan, held the position of Grand Tutor, and in the eyes of the world, the Shen family was a distinguished scholarly household of refined nobility.
For such a family to produce a Chief Minister of the Dali Temple felt rather odd.
Shen Mingwen could only nod and quickly made his escape, slipping away.
Prince Qin's Mansion.
"Father, why did you have the tutor go work at the Dali Temple?"
Song Shihuan propped her chin in her hands, her appearance already bearing some resemblance to the late empress.
"Only this way can we make Song Ling understand that the Ministry of Justice will remain ours, no matter what." Song Yu gently tapped Song Shihuan's nose. "Besides, Ah Huan, don't you think the aura of the Dali Temple suits Shen the Third perfectly?"
Extremely cold, extremely ruthless.
"Liu Xi says that now even the little children on the street cry when they hear the tutor's name, but the tutor catches bad people." For the first time, Song Shihuan did not echo Song Yu's words. "The tutor isn't cold and ruthless at all. The tutor's heart is warm, just like Father's."
Just then, Shen Qingping entered the courtyard. Hearing these words, his stern face softened like ice melting, and he handed a stick of candied hawthorn berries to Song Shihuan.
Nian'an behind him stared at the candied hawthorn in Song Shihuan's hand.
His Third Master was currently swamped with work, yet he still insisted on taking a detour before coming to Prince Qin's Mansion to personally buy a stick of candied hawthorn for the young princess.
He hadn't understood the reason before.
Hearing the princess's words just now, Nian'an suddenly saw the light.
Song Yu, watching Shen Qingping's aura transform so abruptly, spoke helplessly, "Shen the Third, if you have nothing to do, go back and rest. Go to the Yingchun Pavilion for some wine and music."
He really didn't want Shen the Third to work himself to exhaustion again.
"How could that be acceptable?"
Shen Qingping immediately replied, "As His Highness's future trusted aide, I cannot be a freeloader."
Besides, there was still that Cheng Guang watching like a tiger eyeing its prey.
"As you wish." Song Yu seized the moment to snatch one candied haw berry from Song Shihuan. Song Shihuan didn't mind, quietly eating the rest beside them.
Shen Qingping, however, shot Song Yu several pointed glances.
"If Your Highness wants to eat, go buy your own."
"What you buy for Ah Huan is bought for this prince." Song Yu squinted from the sourness. "Tomorrow, Song Ling will be allowed out of the Eastern Palace. Shen the Third, the weather is about to change."
"It has already changed."
Shen Qingping also sighed with feeling.
Suddenly, Song Yu signaled Shen Qingping to come closer and whispered a long passage to him. Afterward, Shen Qingping left with a meaningful look.
"Father is having a secret talk with the tutor behind my back."
Song Shihuan turned her back, presenting the back of her head to Song Yu.
She would sulk a bit, so Father would have to coax her.
On the other side, Nian'an was also quite curious.
"His Highness told me to take care of a few people who have personal grudges against him before he gets appointed Crown Prince. He also said to find someone to give the Sun family's Sun Hu a beating first."
What, after becoming Crown Prince, he'll have to watch his image?
......
The next day.
The ban forbidding Song Ling from leaving his quarters was lifted, and he hurriedly attended the morning court session.
But wherever Song Ling's gaze fell, everyone deliberately avoided meeting his eyes.
In contrast, whenever Song Yu spoke, many officials would voice their agreement.
A strong sense of foreboding rose in Song Ling's heart.
After court, Song Ling stopped Censor Geng, who had always looked down on Song Yu. "Censor Geng, why did you agree with Prince Qin's words today?"
"What he said benefits the nation and the people. Naturally, I agree."
Seeing officials passing by one after another, Censor Geng quickly took a step back, maintaining distance from Song Ling.
"But before, you were the most..."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, times have changed. The current Prince Qin is a completely transformed man." Censor Geng pursed his lips. "In the past month, Prince Qin has accomplished many things. Now, all civil and military officials in court are convinced by him. You... Prince Qin is, after all, your elder brother..."
Having said his piece, Censor Geng also quickly departed.
When Song Ling learned what Song Yu had done, he felt as if the sky had fallen.
"So, isn't this prince more suitable to be Crown Prince than you?"
Song Yu arrived uninvited, sitting in the seat within the Eastern Palace that rightfully belonged to Song Ling.
"You're merely relying on Father Emperor's favor."
"Don't deceive yourself. What this prince has done in one month is more substantial than what you've done in ten years as Crown Prince." Song Yu glanced at Song Ling. "Admit it, you are inferior to this prince."
These words directly made Song Ling's eyes redden.
"How is that possible? I, Song Ling, am the Crown Prince of Great Qi!"
"You won't be for much longer."
Song Yu leisurely poured himself a cup of tea. "Oh, right, why isn't Song Xiyan here? Has she been confined? Is she treated as a harbinger of misfortune by all of you, denied proper food and drink, left to be bullied at will by the servants?"
Seeing Song Ling's trembling lips, Song Yu smiled mockingly.
"Only knowing how to blame failure entirely on one person—truly the hallmark of you father and sons."
"Did you come today just to mock this crown prince?" Song Ling glared angrily at Song Yu.
Song Yu simply nodded, revealing an almost mischievous smile:
"Correct."
"This prince made a special trip just to see you make a fool of yourself."
"Song Ling, if this prince hadn't been provoked by you and Lady Xu the Younger since childhood, hadn't believed Father Emperor loved you more, you wouldn't even have had the chance to become Crown Prince." Song Yu stood up and stood before Song Ling, lightly patting his face. "What you stole from this prince's hands like a thief, this prince will now take back openly and aboveboard."
"Thank you for managing it on this prince's behalf all these years, allowing this prince to be free and unfettered outside."
Every word Song Yu spoke felt like a knife twisting in Song Ling's heart.
Pfft—
A large mouthful of blood sprayed out. Song Ling had actually been angered to the point of vomiting blood by Song Yu's few sentences.
"When this prince becomes Crown Prince later, he will properly enshrine you, the deposed crown prince, along with your four children. He will definitely take care of your whole family... very... well."
Song Yu patted his butt and left, leaving the Eastern Palace in chaos.
On the way back to Prince Qin's Mansion, Song Yu happily hummed a tune.
He didn't need to lift a finger against Song Ling at all. In just one month, the entire court had seen the gap between Song Ling and himself.
This was far more satisfying than having Song Ling die early in his previous life.
He had always regretted that Song Ling didn't get to see him appointed Crown Prince and ascend the throne.
Returning to Prince Qin's Mansion, Song Yu couldn't find Song Shihuan.
"Where's Ah Huan?"
Replying to Your Highness, the princess has gone to sleep.
Song Yu frowned. "Usually, Ah Huan waits for this prince every day to tell her stories. Why did she go to sleep by herself today?"
"This old servant speaks out of turn, but perhaps you haven't fully appeased the princess since yesterday." The matron spoke carefully.
Hearing the matron's words, Song Yu's features contorted.
Ah Huan was actually sulking with him for two days just because he said one negative thing about Shen the Third!
