"Father, your son also suffered greatly to retrieve the medicine for the Green Mountain Sect Leader," Song Yu shouted as he ran, occasionally getting hit a couple of times by Emperor Yuanyou, the pain making his eyes bulge out slightly.
Cheng Guang hesitated upon seeing this. As a subordinate of His Highness, should he step forward in this situation to shield the Crown Prince?
Thinking this, Cheng Guang looked up at Shen Qingping.
He saw Shen Qingping standing with his arms crossed, looking on as if watching a spectacle.
"Why doesn't Minister Shen intervene?" Cheng Guang couldn't help but ask softly.
"One is the Emperor, the other is the Crown Prince. If you wish to intervene, Censor Cheng, please go ahead," Shen Qingping's tone didn't waver in the slightest. "Moreover, you will witness scenes like this many times in the future. You'll get used to it."
The corner of Cheng Guang's mouth twitched.
It was the first time he had seen the imperial father and son so... down-to-earth.
"Father, if you keep hitting, your shoe is going to wear out!"
"Father, if you keep hitting, Ah Huan will be waiting anxiously in the Purple Heaven Palace."
The last sentence had an effect. Emperor Yuanyou stopped his pursuit.
"Pack your things right now and prepare to ascend the throne!"
Shen Qingping felt a bit unsettled, having heard something rather astonishing.
"Father, please just continue hitting me."
Song Yu even stepped right in front of Emperor Yuanyou, no longer dodging. "That dragon throne is truly a hot seat. My backside can't take the heat, only the beating."
Joking aside, this precious chance to start over wasn't meant for being emperor, toiling like an old ox handling court affairs every day, not to mention having Cheng Guang on the side watching him like a hawk with a little whip.
Emperor Yuanyou was so angry he choked on his breath.
"Then when are you willing to ascend the throne?"
"When the mountains crumble and..."
Emperor Yuanyou laughed. "Fine. Let's see just how much beating that backside of yours can take."
......
Purple Heaven Palace.
"Imperial Grandfather, where is my father?"
Seeing only Shen Qingping and Cheng Guang behind Emperor Yuanyou, Song Shihuan couldn't help but ask.
"Oh, your father said the journey was tiring and wanted to rest early at the Eastern Palace."
Emperor Yuanyou said with a beaming smile, then took Song Shihuan's small hands to warm them. "Are you happy to have found your master?"
"Very happy!"
"But your Imperial Grandfather was forgotten by Ah Huan in the Purple Heaven Palace for a long time."
Shen Qingping and Cheng Guang almost simultaneously averted their gaze; the scene was somewhat hard to watch.
Seeing this, Song Shihuan thought for a moment before speaking slowly, "Then Ah Huan will stay in the side hall of the Purple Heaven Palace for two days to properly keep Imperial Grandfather company."
"So good."
Emperor Yuanyou was easily appeased by Song Shihuan. Even hearing that Song Shihuan had been catching fish and shrimp in the Green Cloud Realm, he specially took her to the imperial garden to cast a net, hauling up his usually beloved goldfish one by one.
A picture of a decadent ruler.
The pitiful Song Yu was left alone and forlorn in the Eastern Palace.
"With the Emperor targeting you so obviously, is Your Highness still unwilling to yield and ascend the throne?" Shen Qingping asked with a smile.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
Song Yu clenched his fists. This time, even if the bait were to confer the title of Grand Princess upon Ah Huan, he would not yield.
He would ascend the throne sooner or later anyway; Ah Huan's position as Grand Princess would be as easy as reaching into a bag to get something, a matter of time.
He had been completely fooled and led around by the old man before!
Seeing this, Shen Qingping laughed even louder. Such father-son rivalry was a great show!
"Shen San, quickly tell me about recent court affairs. I have a feeling the old man is going to deliberately make things difficult for me and embarrass me during the morning audiences these next few days."
Song Yu sighed helplessly.
When there's no danger, the old man is the greatest danger.
......
The news of the great victory over the Northern Di arrived in the capital of Great Qi on New Year's Eve.
Using the defense maps provided by Song Yu, Gu Mingning led elite troops to thoroughly rout the Northern Di.
What Emperor Yuanyou found hardest to believe was that the one who personally slew the Northern Di general was Prince Qi.
At the New Year's Eve palace banquet.
"Father, why are you hiding and withholding the victory report instead of announcing it publicly?" Song Yu asked, somewhat puzzled.
"The report says the fourth prince slew the Northern Di general. I feared the report might be erroneous and wanted to verify it further," Emperor Yuanyou still cared about face.
Hearing this, Song Yu was amused. "You can rest assured, the report is definitely true. Take advantage of today, New Year's Eve, to let everyone share in the joy."
Who would have thought that the former songbird could now slay a Northern Di general.
Once the victory report was announced, the atmosphere of the palace banquet reached a climax.
Song Yu and the officials drank merrily together, enjoying great delight.
Meanwhile, Song Shihuan sat at a separate table for the children.
"Eldest Sister, is the Green Cloud Realm fun?" The one asking was Song Xiling, her eyes full of curiosity and innocence.
"Eldest Sister, can you tell us about the Green Cloud Realm?" Song Xiyao also chimed in, even snuggling up to Song Shihuan to act coquettishly.
Seeing this, Gu Mingzhu straightened her chest. "Two Princesses, let me tell you!"
This would save the Princess from getting a dry throat.
She, Gu Mingzhu, was the Princess's most loyal guard.
A few moments later, the table was filled with exclamations of "Wow!"
Song Shihuan was doubled over with laughter from Gu Mingzhu's vivid and animated storytelling. Seizing a gap while everyone was laughing, Gu Mingzhu quietly leaned closer.
"Princess, in the future, I want to be a female general."
"Good."
Their whispered conversation was overheard by Song Yu, who had walked over. For a moment, Song Yu seemed to see the shadow of himself and Shen Qingping from years past in Song Shihuan and Gu Mingzhu.
He had willingly appointed Shen Qingping as his Chancellor.
Ah Huan, in the future, would likely also willingly appoint Mingzhu as her general, right?
He and Ah Huan both had important, trusted confidants. How wonderful.
......
When Prince Chu and Prince Qi returned triumphant, their first action wasn't to ask Emperor Yuanyou for rewards, but to run up to Song Yu, looking at him with shining eyes.
"Eldest Brother, we won the battle."
"This Prince has seen the victory report. Courageous and strategic, truly worthy of our Song family."
Prince Chu and Prince Qi immediately puffed out their chests proudly like victorious roosters.
After all, Song Yu was now the person they admired most. Praise from their idol was sweeter than honey.
"Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle." Song Shihuan called out sweetly.
Seeing this, Prince Qi immediately ran over, pulling out an exquisite little trinket from his robe. "Here, Fourth Uncle specially brought this back for Ah Huan."
Gu Mingning, at the front of the procession, couldn't help but look over upon seeing this.
So this was the Fuan Princess whom his hopeless younger sister wrote in her letters, swearing to serve unto death?
Thinking of Gu Mingzhu, a smile also touched Gu Mingning's face.
After guarding the border for many years, he could finally return to the capital to reunite with his family.
"It's getting late today. Everyone, return to your residences and spend the New Year well with your families," Emperor Yuanyou was also very happy. "In a few days, I will bestow rewards according to your merits."
The territory of Great Qi had expanded severalfold within half a year.
This was something Emperor Yuanyou wouldn't have dared to dream of.
Thinking of this, Emperor Yuanyou looked at Song Yu. "Come, let's go offer incense to our ancestors."
