The beating of the grievance drum.
That was always the last resort of those who suffered grave injustices.
Now that Song Yu had mentioned it, everyone was momentarily stunned.
Song Shihuan kept her head lowered, concealing the darkness in her eyes. Her father treated her like a precious jewel—how could she ever deserve such love?
But to Emperor Yuanyou, her demeanor only reflected deep sorrow.
"You two dare treat your younger sister like this!" Emperor Yuanyou sighed heavily. "You have truly disappointed me."
"Imperial Grandfather, we didn’t... We only wanted to visit the Qin Prince's Mansion to see her," Song Yanming lied shamelessly. "But the moment she saw us, she attacked us and beat us like this."
"Utter nonsense!"
Enraged, Emperor Yuanyou grabbed a cup from the table and hurled it at Song Yanming. "How dare you continue lying to me!"
Song Yanming froze.
He couldn’t understand why his Imperial Grandfather would so firmly believe the words of some wild girl.
His teeth chattered in fear—Song Yanming was truly panicking now.
He couldn’t bear the thought of being cast aside by the Emperor.
Just as Emperor Yuanyou’s gaze darkened with disappointment toward Song Yanchao and Song Yanming, Wu Qi’s voice rang out again, "Your Majesty, the Eldest Imperial Grandson has arrived."
Upon entering the hall, Song Yanzheng first scanned the room before his eyes settled on Song Shihuan.
"Ahuan, I’ve brought you some ointment," Song Yanzheng said, taking her hand. Instantly, Song Shihuan felt as if a venomous snake were flicking its tongue at her.
"Look how red it is. Have the palace maids apply this later—it’ll heal faster."
Song Yanzheng’s gaze was so tender that anyone would praise him as a devoted elder brother. "As for Yanchao and Yanming, these troublemakers—I’ll deal with them properly later."
Song Shihuan expressionlessly pulled her hand away.
"'Later'? When exactly? And how does the Eldest Imperial Grandson plan to uphold justice for me?"
"Elder Brother, it was her who—" Song Yanchao began indignantly, but he clamped his mouth shut under Song Yanzheng’s icy glare.
"Apologize to Ahuan."
Song Yanzheng tightened his grip on Song Yanchao’s shoulder. "Then apologize to Uncle, and finally, beg for Imperial Grandfather’s forgiveness. Otherwise, I won’t even call the imperial physicians—let Yanming’s hand rot for all I care."
Song Shihuan couldn’t help but sneer.
Typical Song Yanzheng—every word he spoke subtly implied that the Qin Prince's Mansion had refused to treat Song Yanchao and Song Yanming promptly.
"Fine. I demand an explanation from the Eastern Palace, and you think a few empty words will suffice?" Song Yu glared at Song Yanzheng. "I’m not a fool."
"Uncle, at least allow the imperial physicians to examine their injuries first," Song Yanzheng pleaded earnestly. "Especially Yanming—I fear he may suffer lifelong consequences otherwise."
"My poor child!"
The Crown Princess threw herself onto Song Yanming, weeping. "The moment they returned, they endured such torment! Imperial Father, your son’s daughter may be injured, but Yanchao and Yanming’s wounds are far more severe!"
Seeing this, Song Yanchao and Song Yanming also burst into tears.
In moments, Emperor Yuanyou felt as if the palace roof might collapse from the uproar.
"Imperial Grandfather, your granddaughter has one question."
Song Shihuan spoke softly. "Today was my first meeting with the two Imperial Grandsons. Why did they despise me from the start?"
"Or... was someone poisoning their minds against me?"
Emperor Yuanyou’s expression shifted, his gaze turning sharp as it settled on the Eastern Palace. "I recall it was Xiyan who went to the city gates to fetch them this morning?"
Song Yanchao and Song Yanming paled.
"Imperial Grandfather, Xiyan never said anything to slander Song Shihuan!"
A self-incriminating slip.
Even Song Yanzheng couldn’t help but curse their stupidity in his heart.
Emperor Yuanyou instantly understood who had stirred the pot. His disapproval toward the Crown Princess grew. "Crown Princess, you can’t even discipline your own children properly."
Failing in maternal duty was a grave offense for any noblewoman.
The Crown Princess’s sobs ceased, her face filled with dread.
"Imperial Grandfather, I don’t know what I’ve done wrong to be treated as a disgrace."
Tears like pearls fell, each drop striking Emperor Yuanyou’s heart.
Seeing this, Song Yanzheng had no choice but to grit his teeth and slap Song Yanchao and Song Yanming each once, forcing them to apologize to Song Shihuan with swollen faces.
He then spent a long time appeasing Song Yu, whose expression was as dark as burnt coal.
In the end, Emperor Yuanyou decreed that Song Yanchao, Song Yanming, and the still-uninvolved Song Xiyan be confined to their quarters for a month before the matter was settled.
"This time, I’ll let it pass. But if there’s a next time, my fists won’t be so forgiving."
Song Yu’s threat was unmistakable.
Nearby, Song Shihuan met Song Yanzheng’s eyes and curled her lips into a faint smile.
The Chang family had tried to frame Song Yanchao and Song Yanming—now that the two were confined immediately upon their return, the rumors would solidify.
No matter how much the Eastern Palace protested, doubts would linger in people’s minds.
And Song Xiyan? In Emperor Yuanyou’s eyes, she was now nothing but a troublemaker.
How... utterly satisfying.
Outside the hall—
The moment they returned to the Eastern Palace, Song Yanzheng slapped Song Yanchao and Song Yanming again. "Who allowed you to drag Xiyan into this?"
"Elder Brother, I... I only wanted to defend Xiyan—"
"Xiyan is the Eastern Palace’s lucky star. If Imperial Grandfather turns against her, how will our family retain its glory?"
Song Yanzheng radiated cold fury. "Go to your quarters and reflect on your mistakes."
As Song Yanchao and Song Yanming staggered away, the Crown Princess forced a stiff smile, realizing she had nothing left to say to her eldest son.
Song Yanzheng let her leave in silence.
Beneath his sleeves, his hands clenched into fists.
The diviner had been right—ever since Xiyan’s misfortunes began, the Eastern Palace had suffered as well.
They must keep Xiyan safe and cherished.
Meanwhile, in the Zichen Hall—
Song Yu railed endlessly against the Eastern Palace’s misdeeds, while Emperor Yuanyou personally applied ointment to Song Shihuan’s wounds, paying no heed to his words.
Eventually, Song Yu brought up Chang Qing’s dying accusations against Song Yanchao and Song Yanming.
"Those two brats are truly vile."
Song Yu fumed, itching to storm back to the Eastern Palace and beat them senseless again.
"Father, what does 'illicit affair' mean?"
Song Shihuan blinked innocently. Emperor Yuanyou’s hands stilled, and even Song Yu fell silent.
"You and the maid from Kunning Palace had an 'illicit affair'—doesn’t that mean you liked her?" Song Shihuan tilted her head. "I remember Chang Qing said so."
"Was she exceptionally beautiful? Or did her family have mountains of gold? To make you forsake noble ladies for her sake." As Song Yu’s face darkened further, she pressed on, "Can you draw her? I’d like to see what she looked like."
"Ahuan, there’s more to the story from back then." Song Yu gritted his teeth, turning to Emperor Yuanyou.
"Imperial Father, your son requests permission to personally investigate the matter."
A prince of the realm—how could he possibly have been infatuated with a mere palace maid?
He would never allow Ahuan to look down on his taste!
