Kunning Palace.
"Grandmother, I beg you to choose a consort for your grandson."
Song Yanzheng spoke softly as he fed medicine to the Successor Empress.
The Successor Empress, pale and frail, nodded weakly upon hearing his words. "I have already made preliminary selections for you. Five noble ladies have been shortlisted. Arrange for them to enter the palace soon so you may see them as well."
"As long as they bring strength to the Eastern Palace, I will follow your guidance, Grandmother."
Song Yanzheng's eyes burned with ambition. The Eastern Palace had suffered too many setbacks recently, and he needed to secure his position swiftly through marriage.
"If we speak of the greatest advantage..." The Successor Empress gestured for Chen Chi to bring forth a register, pointing at the portrait of a graceful young woman. "Gu Mingliu, the eldest daughter of the Gu family."
Song Yanzheng frowned. "Gu Zheng's daughter?"
The recent misfortunes of the Eastern Palace were inextricably linked to Gu Zheng. Resentment festered in his heart—how could he marry the daughter of the man he loathed?
Even his father, the Crown Prince, harbored murderous intent toward Gu Zheng.
Seeing his hesitation, the Successor Empress smiled faintly. "Your grandfather is sentimental. The Gu family has an old general enshrined in the Temple of Merit. In time, Gu Zheng will rise beyond his current rank as a third-grade cavalry commander."
"If you ever face adversity, Gu Zheng could leverage his father's legacy to plead for leniency on your behalf."
Song Yanzheng fell silent, weighing her words.
"Yanzheng, marrying Gu Mingliu means inheriting the Gu family's military prestige. In times of war, the merits of battle will be yours."
"I am willing, Grandmother."
Pleased, the Successor Empress took his hand, her smile deepening. "You are my legitimate grandson. Naturally, I want only the best for you."
"Grandmother, Father suggested that the Eastern Palace could also take in two concubines." Song Yanzheng lowered his gaze, masking the sharpness in his eyes.
"All these years, your father has kept only your mother in his inner court. He has done enough." The Successor Empress's expression shifted slightly. "However, the selection of concubines should be left to your mother."
"Mother is too gentle. It would be better if Grandmother made the choice."
The Successor Empress's smile widened. Her son, the Crown Prince, had long resisted taking concubines—had it not been for his children, she would have reprimanded him long ago.
Now that the Chang family had fallen, he had finally come to his senses.
"Uncle's faction has grown too influential recently. Father is anxious."
"That talentless prince is nothing to fear." The Successor Empress scoffed. "If not for Song Yu's tarnished reputation deterring noble families from marrying their daughters to him, we could have easily placed a Qin Princess Consort in his household."
"We trouble you too much, Grandmother."
After conversing a while longer, Song Yanzheng took his leave of Kunning Palace.
"Your Highness, will you visit Her Highness the Crown Princess?" a eunuch ventured cautiously.
Song Yanzheng frowned. "Let Xiyan go. I have more pressing matters."
...
Three days later, outside the capital gates.
"Second Brother! Third Brother!" Song Xiyan fluttered toward Song Yanming and Song Yanchao like a butterfly. "You’ve finally returned! I missed you so much I couldn’t even eat!"
The twins, nearly identical save for the mole on Song Yanming’s left ear, hurried down from their carriage, treating her like rare treasure.
"Let us see—has our Fuyun County Princess grown even lovelier?"
As they fussed over her, Song Xiyan’s lips trembled. "Uncle and his daughter have been tormenting us lately. Father is under house arrest, Mother is distraught, and even Eldest Brother is too busy to see me."
"What? Since when did Uncle have a daughter?"
The twins stiffened. Their father’s letter had only summoned them back without explanation.
Tearfully, Song Xiyan embellished the story of Song Shihuan’s return.
Before she could finish, Song Yanming and Song Yanchao were seething with rage.
"So it’s that cursed girl from back then." Song Yanming gripped his sword. "Xiyan, wait here. We’ll demand justice for the Eastern Palace."
"Second Brother..." Song Xiyan sniffled. "That wild girl has won Grandfather’s favor. I’m afraid—"
"Afraid of what? You are the Eastern Palace’s lucky star. How dare they slight you?" Song Yanchao chimed in. "Return home and await our good news."
With that, they stormed toward the Qin Prince’s Mansion.
...
Qin Prince’s Mansion.
Song Yu had taken a stack of books to Shen Mingwen’s residence for scholarly discussion.
Meanwhile, Song Shihuan practiced martial arts under a tree, her strikes sharp and precise.
"County Princess, the Second and Third Imperial Grandsons have arrived."
At the matron’s words, Song Shihuan’s fist veered off course, slamming into the tree trunk.
"County Princess!"
Yingchun rushed to fetch medicine as Song Shihuan’s knuckles reddened. "How did you hit the tree? Does it hurt?"
But Song Shihuan only smiled. "It doesn’t. Matron, invite them in."
Now that Song Yanming and Song Yanchao had returned, her enemies from her past life were all assembled.
The twins expected a filthy, uncouth wild child. When Song Shihuan appeared before them, they froze.
"Second Imperial Grandson. Third Imperial Grandson."
Her aloof tone ignited their fury.
"Song Shihuan, was it you who bullied Xiyan?" Song Yanming snapped. "She was raised in splendor, unlike you, a beggar fed by scraps. The difference between you is like clouds and mud."
"Did you scheme against the Eastern Palace, hoping we’d beg you to return?" Song Yanchao sneered. "Delusional."
"Your mouths reek." Song Shihuan’s smirk sent them into a frenzy.
Song Yanchao swung at her—only for her to dodge and counter with a brutal punch to his eye.
His howl of pain echoed through the courtyard.
Song Shihuan locked eyes with Song Yanming. "Would you like to try, Second Imperial Grandson?"
He reached for his sword, but she seized his wrist. A sickening crack followed his agonized scream.
"Baoxia, fetch me a handkerchief. My hands are filthy."
Her voice was calm as she ordered, "Escort these two back to the Eastern Palace."
Today, she had merely collected a small installment of the debt they owed.
Baoxia stood stunned. Had the martial arts she taught the County Princess become this formidable?
