Song Shihuan had anticipated that those people would grow restless upon hearing the news.
But she hadn’t expected their patience to last no longer than the time it took to stew a few chickens.
At the dining table, Song Shihuan sat quietly.
Song Yu, heartbroken as he gazed at the steaming stewed chicken, had just resolved to eat a few extra bites to soothe his "grief" when the old steward entered with a troubled expression.
"Your Highness, Eunuch Chen from Empress Dowager’s palace has arrived. He says Her Majesty requests you and the young mistress to dine at the palace immediately."
With those words, the last thread of restraint in Song Yu’s mind snapped.
"Not even the heavens could stop me from eating this chicken today," Song Yu declared, placing a piece of meat on Song Shihuan’s plate. "A-Huan, eat up."
"Father should eat too."
Father and daughter took turns serving each other, completely disregarding the steward’s message.
The chicken was tender and flawless—a dish of the highest quality.
Song Yu nodded approvingly between bites. Since it had ended up in his and A-Huan’s stomachs, these chickens had not lived in vain.
Through the window, Song Shihuan spotted Chen Chi standing in the courtyard—the Successor Empress’s most favored eunuch.
His face still wore a flawless smile, revealing no hint of displeasure.
No wonder he was the Successor Empress’s trusted confidant.
"Father, what is Grandmother like? Is she as kind and gentle as Grandfather?" Song Shihuan asked softly. The maidservant nearby discreetly closed the doors and windows.
"Absolutely not."
Song Yu tapped Song Shihuan’s forehead. "Your grandfather has nothing to do with kindness. I’ve lost count of how many times he’s beaten me."
And he never held back.
"As for your grandmother..." Song Yu set down his chopsticks, his eyes clouded as if veiled in mist. "You are her own granddaughter. She ought to love you."
Song Shihuan’s heart trembled. In that moment, Song Yu seemed to carry the weight of immense sorrow.
The maidservant couldn’t help but sigh softly. After that incident, she had thought the prince would never have an heir.
Now, against all odds, he had his daughter.
......
After the meal, Song Yu and Song Shihuan took separate carriages to the palace.
Inside the carriage, Song Shihuan’s expression was cool and detached. Leaning back with her eyes closed, she seemed like an entirely different person from the one who had been with Song Yu.
The maidservant was accustomed to this. The young mistress had always been reserved, only revealing her childlike side in front of the prince—a fact that made her all the more endearing.
The streets were quiet, and soon the carriage halted at the palace gates.
"A-Huan, we’re here."
Song Yu’s voice rang out as the maidservant lifted the curtain. With one arm, he lifted Song Shihuan down from the carriage.
Chen Chi’s eyes darkened at the sight. The Empress had miscalculated for the first time.
The Qin Prince not only harbored no dislike for the young mistress—he adored her.
Jingren Palace.
Before they even entered, Emperor Yuanyou’s furious voice rang out.
"Are we to beg him to come for a meal? Must an entire table of people wait on him like this?"
"Your Majesty, please calm yourself. Yu must have been delayed by urgent matters," a gentle voice soothed, only fueling the emperor’s anger further.
"What urgent matters could he possibly have? That scoundrel spends his days carousing outside, tarnishing the royal family’s name!"
Song Yu casually picked at his ear. He had heard these tirades so often they no longer fazed him.
Song Shihuan’s eyes narrowed. She pinched the inside of her thigh hard.
Hiss— That hurt.
Tears welled up instantly, far more effective than her morning attempt.
"The Qin Prince has arrived—"
Crash!
A teacup shattered at Song Yu and Song Shihuan’s feet. Song Yu immediately shielded her in his arms.
Before Emperor Yuanyou could begin his reprimand, the little girl in Song Yu’s arms burst into loud sobs.
"Father, if you’re angry, take it out on me! Why frighten a child?" Song Yu snapped, glaring at the emperor.
Emperor Yuanyou, so accustomed to venting his temper on Song Yu, had momentarily forgotten Song Shihuan’s presence. Seeing her cry so pitifully, his expression faltered.
In truth, he was quite fond of this newly discovered granddaughter.
"A-Huan, Grandfather’s hand slipped just now. Don’t be afraid."
The Successor Empress clenched her handkerchief. When had the emperor ever shown such tenderness to any other grandchild?
She had been unwell during the birthday banquet and hadn’t witnessed his favor firsthand.
But now...
It was clear the emperor held this child dear.
This affection should have been Ling’er’s—yet it had fallen to Song Yu instead.
This would not do!
"Yu, your father was merely anxious after waiting so long," the Successor Empress said, rising gracefully. "I wished to see the child today. A-Huan, come to Grandmother."
Song Shihuan didn’t move an inch. The Successor Empress remained unruffled.
"Good child, I heard about what happened the other day. I’ve already scolded them severely." She gestured toward the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. "You are their own flesh and blood. How could they not love you?"
"Mother is mistaken," Song Yu scoffed. "This is my child. She has nothing to do with the Eastern Palace."
"But... blood runs thicker than water. Must you sever all ties?" The Successor Empress’s eyes reddened.
"There were never any ties to begin with."
Song Yu’s defiance reignited Emperor Yuanyou’s fury. "Outrageous! You keep everyone waiting, and now you dare to act so insolent?"
Just as Song Yu squared his shoulders to argue, Song Shihuan spoke through her tears.
"It’s not like that, Grandfather."
"It was A-Huan’s fault. Father stewed the roosters from the mansion to cheer me up. We were eating them when the eunuch arrived... That’s why we were late."
Emperor Yuanyou was stunned. Had his hearing failed him?
Those damned roosters from the Qin Prince’s Mansion—stewed?
"A-Huan, tell Grandfather—what exactly did you eat?"
"The big roosters Father always took out with him. All stewed into soup." Song Shihuan hiccuped. "He even threw away his crickets. And the wine—A-Huan doesn’t like it, so Father had it all removed from the mansion."
Emperor Yuanyou’s expression shifted from stormy to radiant in an instant.
"Did you finish all the roosters?"
"No, A-Huan and Father couldn’t eat another bite." She patted her full belly for emphasis.
"Someone, go to the Qin Prince’s Mansion and bring back the leftover chicken. Heat it up—I want some too."
Those cursed roosters had once kept him awake for three nights in fury!
The Successor Empress forced a smile, nearly grinding her teeth to dust.
