Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Qin Prince's Mansion.
"Your Highness," Qi Xi hurried in, "six more people have died from eating the meat porridge these past two days. Now, both the Shen and Gu families are surrounded by angry crowds."
Song Shihuan stood up at once. "Any news from the palace?"
Qi Xi shook his head. The number of memorials impeaching the prince had been increasing daily, and the Emperor was barely managing to keep him in the Zichen Hall under mounting pressure.
"At this point, even His Majesty cannot disperse the crowds without making things worse for Father," Song Shihuan said, her gaze sharp. "With both the Gu and Shen families besieged, it seems the mastermind behind this won’t let General Gu uncover the truth within seven days."
"We cannot let them succeed."
A chilling aura surrounded Song Shihuan, her eyes dark like swirling ink before settling into calm. "Yingchun, prepare several large pots of plain rice porridge. I will personally distribute it at the mansion’s gates."
"Your Highness!" Yingchun protested anxiously. "You mustn’t! If you show yourself, the people might take their anger out on you—"
Meeting Song Shihuan’s unwavering gaze, Yingchun’s eyes welled with tears. Without another word, she rushed out to carry out the order.
Two hours later.
The mansion’s gates, closed for days, slowly creaked open. The clamoring crowd fell into a brief silence.
Servants carried out five massive buckets of plain porridge. Song Shihuan, veiled, stepped through the main gate and calmly took up a ladle by the buckets.
"Your porridge has killed people! Who would dare eat it now?"
"Does the Qin Prince's Mansion intend to keep poisoning us?"
The crowd’s fury flared, and if not for the guards holding them back, Song Shihuan might have been knocked to the ground.
"The Qin Prince's Mansion would never stoop to such vile deeds," Song Shihuan declared firmly. "General Gu is investigating this matter thoroughly. To ease your concerns, I’ve prepared plain rice porridge—no meat added."
With that, she took a deliberate sip from a bowl.
The crowd gradually quieted, watching the ten-year-old princess in astonishment.
Song Shihuan turned to a thin, frail child. "Are you hungry?"
"Starving," the child admitted, rubbing his belly. Since the porridge incident, he hadn’t had a proper meal in days.
"Here, have a big bowl."
Her eyes crinkled into a smile as she watched the child devour every last drop. Then, addressing the crowd, she said, "Whatever grievances you hold, line up and fill your stomachs first."
The chaos outside the mansion soon dissolved.
In its place, an orderly queue formed, people waiting patiently for a steaming bowl of porridge.
Between servings, Song Shihuan winked at the child. "Go tell the people outside the Shen and Gu families to come here for porridge."
The child darted off, vanishing in moments.
The distribution lasted four hours, leaving Song Shihuan’s arms numb with exhaustion.
By then, the crowds outside the Shen and Gu residences had all gathered before the Qin Prince's Mansion.
Facing the now-calm assembly, Song Shihuan spoke earnestly. "I want the truth about the tainted porridge even more urgently than you do. But I swear to you all—the Qin Prince's Mansion never intended to harm anyone."
"For every life lost, we will arrange proper burials. Families of the deceased may come to the mansion for compensation. Please be patient. With five days left, we will give you answers."
Spies lurking in the shadows felt a chill down their spines.
How could a child of ten possess such strategy and poise?
"Rest for now, and return tomorrow at this hour for more porridge, alright?" A breeze lifted her veil, revealing a glimpse of her ethereal beauty.
Within fifteen minutes, the crowd dispersed.
Shen Qingping rushed to Song Shihuan’s side, eyes red and swollen. "Your Highness, are you alright?"
Song Shihuan shook her head. "Was there trouble at the Shen residence?"
"None. My father firmly stands with the prince, so he sent me to help as soon as the crowd thinned." Shen Qingping gazed at her, lips trembling. "One wonders what virtuous deeds the prince performed in his past life..."
...to be blessed with a daughter like you.
Song Shihuan chuckled, stretching her arms weakly. "Teacher, let’s go inside. My hands are useless now."
......
Eastern Palace.
"What? The crowds dispersed?"
The Crown Prince’s smile vanished instantly, disbelief etched on his face. "Impossible. Those people were ready to tear Song Yu apart!"
"It—it was Princess Fu'an. She served porridge at the mansion’s gates, and the people... left," the servant stammered, equally stunned.
An unsolvable crisis, effortlessly defused by a child.
The Crown Prince fell silent, exchanging a glance with the Crown Princess.
That girl is preternaturally sharp.
The Crown Princess understood his look and sighed. "She harbors nothing but hatred for the Eastern Palace. She’ll never return to us."
A shame.
The Crown Prince’s expression darkened. "This opportunity was hard-won. We can’t let Song Yu wriggle free. I hear Gu Zheng leaves the capital tomorrow to investigate?"
The servant nodded.
"Send assassins. Ambush him on the road," the Crown Prince ordered coldly. "If the chance arises, eliminate him."
Those who aren’t loyal are better off dead.
As the servant hurried away, the Crown Prince turned grim. "Lixian, are you certain the Chang family isn’t involved? If they are, this scandal could spiral beyond control."
The Crown Princess shook her head. "I asked my sister-in-law yesterday. She claims no knowledge of it."
Only then did the Crown Prince relax, leading Song Yanzheng to his study.
Time to plan how to seize the Ministry of Revenue.
......
Meanwhile, back at the Qin Prince's Mansion.
"General Gu departs tomorrow. Though preparations are thorough," Shen Qingping fretted, "I can’t shake this unease."
Song Shihuan reclined on a daybed while Yingchun massaged her sore arms.
"Before he leaves, I wish to see His Majesty."
Shen Qingping sighed. "Your Highness, with all eyes on the mansion, we can’t enter the palace recklessly."
Song Shihuan’s eyes gleamed.
"What if we had an undeniable reason?"
Shen Qingping blinked.
That night, a fire broke out in one of the mansion’s courtyards.
Song Shihuan, overwhelmed by shock, began raving deliriously.
With no other choice, the household rushed her to the imperial palace’s medical halls.
