"Why isn't the Prince asleep so late at night?"
Shen Qingping was roused from sleep once again, looking at Song Yu with a face full of resentment.
Song Yu's expression was even darker than Shen Qingping's. He struggled for a long time before forcing out the words, "Tomorrow, help me put in a good word for me in front of Ahuan."
Shen Qingping was instantly wide awake, his interest piqued.
"How did Your Highness offend the young mistress? She has always relied on you greatly, how could she be angry with you?"
Hearing Shen Qingping's sarcastic tone, Song Yu's face grew even darker.
"It's because I said you have a cold and ruthless nature, so Ahuan got angry." Song Yu spoke through gritted teeth. "Ahuan said you have a warm heart, just like... me!"
Every word was uttered with his back teeth clenched.
Shen Qingping only felt his chest swell. It was just a casual joke, yet the young mistress had actually taken it to heart.
But it was precisely this kind of young mistress that made him equally willing to protect with his life.
"I only said it offhand, don't I know your temperament?" The Prince of Qin, who had been basking in success for the past month, now looked crestfallen. "It must be because of the recent gossip about you that Ahuan overheard."
"The young mistress feels sorry for me."
Shen Qingping smiled, the corners of his mouth curling up. "Your Highness, rest assured, I will go speak with the young mistress tomorrow."
But then he saw Song Yu smile too.
"It's good that Ahuan is willing to act a little spoiled and throw small tantrums in front of me now."
Shen Qingping: ???
Song Yu gave Shen Qingping a look that said 'you wouldn't understand'.
A ten-year-old girl is exactly at the age for acting a little spoiled. He had been hoping Ahuan wouldn't be so overly well-behaved.
Early the next morning.
Shen Qingping arrived at the Prince of Qin's mansion very early, having deliberately worn a set of red robes that Ahuan liked the most. Song Yu frowned as soon as he saw them.
He immediately went back to his room and changed into his own purple robe.
Thus, when Song Shihuan opened her eyes, it was as if she saw two peacocks strutting about in full display.
"Father, Tutor."
"Ahuan went to sleep early yesterday, are you still angry with your father?" Song Yu bent down, gently coaxing the little girl before him. Seeing this, Shen Qingping also stepped forward. "What your father said was all in jest. I grew up with His Highness since childhood, we're used to talking to each other like that."
Song Shihuan paused, then pouted. "People outside all say Tutor is a living King of Hell. How could someone who does good deeds be a living King of Hell?"
"Your father has thought of a solution for you."
Song Yu ruffled Song Shihuan's head. "Let's go find an opera troupe. We'll have Shen the Third's stories of eradicating evil and promoting good written into a script for the troupe to perform. That way, everyone will know the truth."
"Great idea!" Song Shihuan clapped her hands excitedly. "Such a wonderful method, Father, how did you think of it?"
Song Yu choked on his own saliva, coughing until his handsome face turned red.
Silly Ahuan, it was you who thought of it.
......
The father and daughter made up, which actually left the watching Emperor Yuanyou feeling a bit regretful.
He had been planning to add fuel to the fire, but didn't expect them to be reconciled so quickly.
"Ahuan, is Shen the Third that important in your eyes?" Emperor Yuanyou asked, rather put out. "What if one day your Imperial Grandfather is also wrongfully accused?"
"Then Ahuan would have to take action and hit someone."
Song Shihuan said seriously, "Imperial Grandfather is the Emperor. Anyone who dares to wrongfully accuse the Emperor will have to answer to my fists."
Laughter erupted from the Zichen Hall. Song Yu, whose footsteps had just reached the entrance, paused.
Well, it seems unlikely he'll be able to take her back today.
"How has things been over at Kunning Palace recently?" Song Yu asked. Upon hearing this, Wu Qi quickly bowed and replied respectfully:
"I heard there's something wrong with the mind of the one in Kunning Palace."
"Something wrong with her mind?" Song Yu was somewhat surprised. "Does Father Emperor know?"
Wu Qi nodded cautiously.
Song Yu understood. That meant he knew but had no intention of having her treated.
"I'll go take a look."
Song Yu headed straight for Kunning Palace. He hadn't paid attention to Kunning Palace this past month either. He never expected his hypocritical stepmother had developed a mental problem.
Kunning Palace.
The once magnificent palace now exuded an air of deathly silence everywhere.
The palace servants who attended there had all been transferred away, leaving only an old cleaning maid and a personal attendant.
Standing outside the door, Song Yu saw his stepmother sitting before a bronze mirror.
"Has the Emperor found out about me?"
The attendant's face was expressionless; she was used to being asked the same question hundreds of times a day.
"No, definitely not. Otherwise, the Emperor would have dealt with me." The Empress seemed not to expect an answer, asking and answering herself.
"No, the Emperor must have found out. Otherwise, he wouldn't have transferred everyone from Kunning Palace away. The Emperor doesn't want to see me anymore..."
Song Yu raised an eyebrow. So, the Empress had driven herself mad.
Ever since Father Emperor cleared his name of the false accusations, the Empress had been constantly tormented, wondering if the Emperor had discovered her involvement. After a month of this torment, she went mad.
"Has Song Ling been here?"
The old maid hurriedly replied, "The Crown Prince has not come. None of the imperial grandsons have come either."
A trace of mockery appeared on Song Yu's face.
"Why hasn't Ling'er come to see me? And Yanzheng..."
Song Yu didn't listen to the rest. He felt that being lucid yet mad like this was far more torturous than being directly executed in his previous life.
The news of the Empress's madness was spread under Emperor Yuanyou's direction. First, Song Yu's wrongful accusation was cleared, then immediately after, the Empress went mad. Everyone speculated about the connection.
Thus, Song Ling was completely isolated and without support in the court.
Former allies of the Eastern Palace now dared not have the slightest association with Song Ling, wishing to stay as far away as possible.
The once bustling Eastern Palace quickly became desolate.
Song Ling attended court each day like a ghost, only to find he couldn't get involved in any matters. Even the Ministry of Justice was given to Song Yu by Emperor Yuanyou, on the grounds of Shen Qingping's merit in solving cases.
This blatant favoritism made Song Ling's daily existence agonizing.
Until one day, someone secretly sought Song Ling out.
"Vice Minister Xiao."
Song Ling looked at the usually inconspicuous Vice Minister of Rites, Xiao Bingsheng, standing before him, somewhat puzzled. He and the Xiao family had never had any dealings before.
Moreover, this Xiao Bingsheng was known for being the best at self-preservation and was very timid.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince is currently being harmed by treacherous individuals. The Xiao family values ritual and law above all. If the heir apparent has committed no major fault, he cannot be easily deposed. Your Highness, please rest assured."
Faced with the olive branch extended by Xiao Bingsheng, Song Ling was overjoyed and immediately treated Xiao Bingsheng as a most honored guest.
When the news reached Song Yu's ears, he took a sip of tea, looking as if he had expected it.
"Well, these two people I wanted to deal with have gotten together. Perfect timing."
"Why would Xiao Bingsheng support Song Ling?" Shen Qingping was somewhat puzzled.
"Because Song Ling is stupid enough."
