Qin Prince's Mansion.
Song Yu watched Song Shihuan fall asleep before striding to the study, where Shen Qingping had been waiting for some time.
"Has the young mistress fallen asleep?" Shen Qingping set down the book in his hands and asked hurriedly.
Song Yu nodded. Shihuan hadn’t slept well these past few days, utterly exhausted. Now that the matter had been settled, she had drifted off the moment her head touched the pillow.
It pained Song Yu to see her like this.
"It’s good that she’s asleep." Shen Qingping also sighed in relief. "What does Your Highness plan to do about the porridge kitchens?"
At the mention of the porridge kitchens, Song Yu’s eyes darkened.
"I acted too hastily before, recklessly replacing the plain porridge with meat porridge. My good intentions only brought trouble."
Truly, he had spent silver only to earn scorn in return.
"I intend to revert to plain porridge and reduce the frequency, distributing it once every five days at fixed locations."
He had come to realize that kindness should have its limits—excessive benevolence breeds malice.
A flash of ruthlessness crossed Shen Qingping’s eyes. "If you ask me, it’s better to stop the porridge distribution altogether. Why waste silver feeding a pack of ungrateful dogs who turn on the Prince’s Mansion at the slightest provocation?"
Shen Qingping had never claimed to be a gentleman.
Had the young mistress not personally served the porridge every day, would those people have temporarily ceased their siege of the Qin Prince's Mansion?
He had seen with his own eyes how her arms trembled from exhaustion, tears of pain streaming down her face.
"Before she fell asleep, Shihuan said there will always be those who truly need a bowl of porridge. We shouldn’t condemn everyone indiscriminately," Song Yu murmured. He dared not dwell on what kind of life Shihuan had endured in those ten years away from home, which was why he was willing to do these things to accumulate blessings for her.
Seeing his resolve, Shen Qingping said no more and turned to discussing court affairs with Song Yu. The conversation lasted until the moon hung high in the sky before Shen Qingping finally took his leave.
"The night is deep, Your Highness. It’s time to retire," Liuxi’s voice sounded.
Song Yu tightened his robe around himself. "Liuxi, tell me again about the affairs of the mansion these past few days. Leave nothing out."
And so, Song Yu remained in the study until dawn.
......
Meanwhile.
The Crown Princess stood outside the imperial prison, clutching a handkerchief tightly in her hand.
"Your Highness, you may only stay inside for a quarter of an hour," the guard said as he unlocked the prison gates.
A gust of cold air, thick with the stench of blood, rushed out, making the Crown Princess instantly nauseous.
The interior was damp and frigid, punctuated by occasional screams.
By the time she stood before Lady Chang, the Crown Princess was drenched in cold sweat.
"Sister-in-law," she whispered.
Lady Chang, clad in prison garb with disheveled hair and shackles on her wrists and ankles, lifted her gaze at the sound. "Your Highness has come."
"Why did you betray me? And my children?" The Crown Princess’s eyes reddened. Because of the Chang family, she now lived in fear before the Empress, and her two sons had not even returned to the capital before incurring the Emperor’s suspicion.
Lady Chang smiled faintly. "Your Highness, if we trace this to its roots, who truly destroyed the Chang family?"
Her words were calm yet struck straight at the Crown Princess’s heart.
"How has the Eastern Palace ever wronged the Chang family?" the Crown Princess cried out. "For years, the Eastern Palace has smoothed over countless troubles for you. Surely you know this, Sister-in-law?"
Lady Chang shook her head.
Her sister-in-law had been raised too sheltered and naive, ignorant of the cruelty of human hearts. She had never been suited for life in the Eastern Palace.
"And how much silver has the Chang family funneled to the Eastern Palace? How many officials have we eliminated for you? Does Your Highness not know this?"
The Crown Princess froze at the rebuttal.
"What’s done is done. Arguing over right and wrong is meaningless now. Your Highness should focus on protecting yourself."
Seeing that the Crown Princess still didn’t grasp her meaning, Lady Chang’s eyes darkened with resignation.
"Your Highness, with the Chang family gone, how will you maintain your standing in the Eastern Palace?"
"I have three sons and a daughter. I need not worry about such things."
Lady Chang lowered her head and said no more.
There was no point.
......
The Crown Princess returned to the Eastern Palace in a daze.
"Where is the Eldest Imperial Grandson?" she asked urgently. In her heart, Song Yanzheng, as the eldest legitimate grandson of the Great Qi, was her greatest pillar of strength.
"Your Highness, the Eldest Imperial Grandson is discussing matters with His Highness the Crown Prince in the study."
Hearing this, the Crown Princess hurried toward the study.
Outside the study.
Just as she raised her hand to knock, voices from within reached her ears.
"Father, with the Chang family gone, the Eastern Palace is in even greater peril," Song Yanzheng said, his tone laced with resentment. "At yesterday’s court session, the Qin Prince stole all the glory."
The Crown Prince’s face twisted with envy. "Once the executions are carried out in autumn, have the Chang family’s corpses thrown into the mass graves. Only then will my hatred be appeased!"
The Crown Princess’s pupils constricted in shock.
How could His Highness despise the Chang family to this extent?
"Father, Mother can no longer be of use to the Eastern Palace. We must find another powerful ally." Song Yanzheng’s voice brimmed with ambition for the throne.
"Your mother has borne me several children. There is still affection between us."
The Crown Princess outside nearly sighed in relief—until the Crown Prince continued, "I plan to take two more concubines. Their status need not be high, but they must be useful to the Eastern Palace."
"As for a true ally—Yanzheng, it’s time for you to marry."
Song Yanzheng agreed without hesitation. "I leave it to Father’s arrangements."
"Don’t mention this to your mother yet. I’ll find the right time to speak with her." The Crown Prince feigned tenderness. "When the time comes, you and your siblings must comfort her."
"Mother has always been gentle and obedient toward Father. She surely won’t object."
Outside, the Crown Princess’s tears had ruined her makeup.
She couldn’t believe her husband and son had coldly devised such plans without a thought for her feelings.
Stumbling away from the study, her movements alerted those inside.
"Who’s there?"
"Your Highness, the Crown Princess was standing outside the door for some time."
A brief silence followed.
"If she knows, then so be it." The Crown Prince patted Song Yanzheng’s shoulder. "Go to your grandmother in Kunning Palace and have her select a wife for you."
"I understand."
As he left the study, Song Yanzheng glanced up at the clear blue sky.
The Chang family had brought such ruin upon the Eastern Palace, yet his mother still pleaded for them. How foolish.
He and his father were doing this for her sake.
Only when his father ascended the throne would she become the Empress of Great Qi, the mother of the nation.
Then, she would surely understand their good intentions.
With that thought, Song Yanzheng strode toward Kunning Palace—without so much as a word of comfort for his mother.
