"Imperial Grandfather!"
Song Xiyan's pupils constricted sharply.
The others, finally reacting, dropped to their knees in unison. "Long live His Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years."
Yet Emperor Yuanyou merely beckoned to Song Shihuan. "Ahuan, come here."
While everyone remained prostrate, only the Emperor and Song Shihuan stood tall.
Gazing at his lively and obedient granddaughter, Emperor Yuanyou reached out and ruffled her hair. "Tell your Imperial Grandfather, how did they bully you?"
Yan Qing, kneeling on the ground, felt her vision darken at these words. The Emperor's stance was eerily similar to Prince Qin's the previous night—both had outright sided with Princess Fu'an without even hearing the facts.
The Crown Princess had never mentioned that Princess Fu'an enjoyed such imperial favor.
Cold sweat began to seep down Yan Qing's back.
Song Shihuan looked up at Emperor Yuanyou. "The women's academy seems to want me gone."
This statement carried far greater weight than a direct accusation of mistreatment.
"Nonsense. Ahuang is bright and diligent—how could the academy ever reject you?" The Emperor's tone was gentle, but to Yan Qing and the teachers present, it sounded like a death knell.
Song Shihuan pointed at Yan Qing. "Dean Yan said she’d expel me if I didn’t sever ties with Teacher Shen Xiao."
"No... Your Highness misunderstands—" Yan Qing’s face turned ashen, but before she could finish, Shen Xiao silenced her.
"Unfit for your position. Go serve as a maid in the Eastern Palace."
With those words from Emperor Yuanyou, Yan Qing plummeted from her lofty role as dean to a lowly palace maid—specifically assigned to the Eastern Palace, a blatant warning to the Crown Prince’s household.
"Your Majesty, spare me! I never meant to drive the Princess away—" Yan Qing, drenched in sweat, tried to plead but was gagged, her disheveled appearance a pitiful sight.
A wave of unease swept through the gathered crowd.
Song Shihuan then pointed at Teacher Qin. "Teacher Qin said she’d stop teaching me music if I didn’t cut ties with Teacher Shen Xiao."
The accused trembled violently. She had only been following Princess Fuyun’s subtle cues.
"Imperial Grandfather, let’s spare Teacher Qin for now. After all, she’s Xiyan’s teacher."
Emperor Yuanyou nodded. "As Ahuang wishes."
His granddaughter was truly kind-hearted and magnanimous.
Teacher Qin collapsed to the ground, limp with relief, as if she’d narrowly escaped death.
"Imperial Grandfather, you haven’t told everyone to rise yet!" Satisfied, Song Shihuan tugged at the Emperor’s sleeve, her eyes crinkling with delight.
The Emperor swept his gaze across the room. "Princess Fu'an has endured much hardship, and Our heart aches for her. If We ever learn she’s faced injustice in this academy again, We will establish a new one."
In that moment, the Emperor’s favoritism was laid bare for all to see.
"Imperial Grandfather, without a dean, the academy—" Song Xiyan interjected, hoping to draw his attention.
"We will discuss this with the Empress later." Emperor Yuanyou frowned. "Xiyan, when We arrived, We noticed a missing plaque from the academy’s entrance. Explain."
The question drained the color from Song Xiyan’s face.
She stammered, unable to respond.
"Uncle Song Yu smashed it yesterday."
The Emperor gave Song Xiyan a pointed look but refrained from further comment in front of the crowd.
As Emperor Yuanyou led Song Shihuan away, Song Xiyan stood frozen, her ears ringing.
"Princess!"
"Call the physician quickly—the princess has fainted!"
The voices that followed grew indistinct to Song Xiyan’s ears.
......
That evening, Song Shihuan was kept in the Zichen Hall for dinner. It was only when Song Yu came to fetch her that Emperor Yuanyou reluctantly allowed her to leave.
"You’re her father, yet you show no concern when your own daughter is bullied at the academy," the Emperor remarked, glaring at Song Yu with evident displeasure.
"How can you say I’m not concerned? Just last night, I smashed the academy’s plaque!" Song Yu protested, his voice rising in agitation. "A-Huan, did they trouble you again today?"
Song Shihuan glanced between Emperor Yuanyou and her father, her eyes crinkling with amusement. "His Majesty has assigned Yan Qing to serve as a palace maid in the Eastern Palace."
"Being a maid is too lenient for her," Song Yu muttered darkly, pulling a memorial from his sleeve. "She’s committed countless misdeeds over the years, tyrannizing the academy. This document contains the evidence."
Song Shihuan stood on her tiptoes to peer at the memorial in the Emperor’s hands, then cast a doubtful look at her father. "Did you write this, Father?"
It didn’t seem like his style.
"Shen Qingping drafted it," Song Yu admitted, rubbing his nose. "I spent the day collecting debts, and after settling the Chang family’s accounts, he went to investigate Yan Qing."
Emperor Yuanyou studied the memorial thoughtfully.
"The handwriting is quite refined," he remarked.
"Very well. Summon Shen Qingping to the palace tomorrow. I wish to see him."
At the Emperor’s words, Song Yu and Song Shihuan exchanged a glance, their faces mirroring shock.
Baffled, the two departed. The moment they left, Emperor Yuanyou’s expression darkened.
"Send for the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess."
......
Half an hour later, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess hurried into the Zichen Hall.
"Your Majesty summoned us urgently. Is there a pressing matter?"
Emperor Yuanyou tossed Shen Qingping’s memorial before the Crown Prince, his tone indifferent. "That Yan Qing is too troublesome. Find an opportunity to have her beaten to death."
The Crown Prince’s pupils constricted. "Yan Qing has overseen the academy for decades. Even if she lacks merit, she has toil to her name. Your Majesty—"
A single glance from the Emperor silenced him.
"I am aware of the Eastern Palace’s close ties with her," Emperor Yuanyou said coldly. "In just two days at the academy, A-Huan was harassed by her twice. Today, I gave the Eastern Palace ample face before the court."
"Your Majesty, the Eastern Palace would never harm A-Huan!" The Crown Princess knelt, her voice trembling.
The Emperor rose slowly, stepping closer to the pair. "I merely wish to remind you both that the one thing I cannot tolerate in this life is kin turning against kin."
"Your servant heeds Your Majesty’s instruction." The Crown Prince’s heart pounded under the Emperor’s piercing gaze.
"And as for Song Xiyan, she must be disciplined properly, lest she stray from the right path and corrupt her character." The Emperor’s eyes darkened. "You two have the most children. You ought to pay them more attention."
"Your servant... understands..."
Satisfied, Emperor Yuanyou waved them off. "Go. Return to the Eastern Palace."
He had said all that needed to be said.
As they prepared to leave, the Crown Princess, recalling the Chang family affair, gathered her courage. "Your Majesty, the Chang family’s loyalty to Daqi is as steadfast as the sun and moon. How could they possibly commit embezzlement? I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."
The Emperor frowned. "Lady Chang, you are the Crown Princess. Have you lost all sense of priority?"
"Do not interfere with Prince Qin's affairs, Eastern Palace."
Since marrying into the Eastern Palace, the Crown Princess had never been scolded so harshly by Emperor Yuanyou before.
For a moment, the Crown Princess stood frozen in place,
utterly at a loss for how to respond.
