Emperor Yuanyou grew anxious.
Given Old Man Gu’s notorious temper, if he were to truly betroth Gu Mingliu to Yan Zheng, the old man might very well storm into his dreams and berate him to his face.
"Imperial Grandfather, please help your grandson. If I can marry Miss Gu, I swear... I will treat her well and never let her suffer the slightest grievance," Song Yanzheng pleaded on his knees. "As for Chang Ling'er, I was momentarily foolish and couldn’t bear to disappoint her, so I agreed to her words. But I have never harbored any romantic feelings for her."
"Last time at the Gu Family residence, Sister Gu clearly said she never wished to marry into nobility—only to find a devoted partner to grow old with," Song Shihuan chimed in, addressing Emperor Yuanyou. "Imperial Grandfather, if one truly loves someone, shouldn’t they respect their wishes? Don’t you agree?"
Song Shihuan’s words nearly made Song Yanzheng lose his composure. He gritted his teeth in silent fury.
"At the Gu Family?" Emperor Yuanyou’s gaze faltered.
"Yes! Last time I went to visit Mingzhu, my elder brother happened to be there too," Song Shihuan replied with a sly, fox-like smile. "At the time, my father even remarked that Sister Gu lost her mother young and might not be suited to be a Crown Princess Consort. Yet, my brother didn’t refute him, did he?"
"Clearly, his affection for Sister Gu isn’t as deep as he claims."
"Song Shihuan, what does a ten-year-old brat like you understand?" Song Yanzheng snapped, unable to hold back.
"I understand plenty!" Song Shihuan retorted, hands on her hips. "My father dotes on me, so he would never let me suffer even the slightest grievance. If you truly cared for Sister Gu, why didn’t you defend her then? Instead, you let her belittle herself!"
"Ah-Huan is right," Song Yu added. "Yanzheng is just acting childish—infatuated with novelty."
"I am not a child!"
Song Yanzheng’s greatest fear was Emperor Yuanyou still seeing him as immature. He desperately wanted to establish himself in court.
"Listen to that tone—pure childishness."
Finally, Song Yanzheng was left seething, his chest heaving with anger.
"Enough. I have no face to arrange this marriage," Emperor Yuanyou said, glancing at the Successor Empress. "If you’re still determined, go plead with Gu Zheng yourselves."
What a mess this lotus-viewing banquet had turned into!
The old verbal betrothal was effortlessly dissolved, and Song Shihuan grinned from ear to ear, cheerfully admiring the lotus flowers in the pond.
"As the saying goes, 'Better to destroy a temple than ruin a marriage,'" the Successor Empress muttered bitterly after Emperor Yuanyou left, glaring at Song Yu. "Yu’er, Ah-Huan is young and doesn’t know better, but how could you join in this nonsense? Yanzheng is your own nephew!"
"Indeed," Song Yu smirked. "Mother is absolutely right. Back then, when my own marriage was ruined, I wonder which heartless soul was responsible."
"Yet after all these years, no retribution has come. Perhaps sabotaging marriages isn’t such a grave sin after all."
The Successor Empress stiffened, her breath hitching. "Yu’er, you jest again."
......
Kunning Palace.
"Imperial Grandmother, what should we do now?"
Song Yanzheng paced frantically, but the Successor Empress seemed lost in thought. She turned to Chen Chi and ordered, "Investigate how Prince Qin became entangled with the Chang Family again."
She refused to believe Song Yu would act out of kindness—letting Chang Ling'er bring the Chang Family child into the palace to meet Mei Zhilin.
Everything today reeked of conspiracy.
"Imperial Grandmother, it must be the Qin Prince’s Mansion deliberately sabotaging my marriage!" Song Yanzheng exclaimed, struck by inspiration. "A few days ago, when I sent gifts to Miss Gu, they all ended up in Song Shihuan’s hands. They must fear the Gu Family’s military power falling to the Eastern Palace, so they’re obstructing us at every turn."
And deliberately allowing Chang Ling'er to spout nonsense.
"What a cunning scheme."
The Successor Empress’s eyes darkened. "The Qin Prince’s Mansion never had such shrewdness before."
Could there be a mastermind behind them now?
No matter how hard the Successor Empress and the Eastern Palace racked their brains, they’d never guess that the strategist in the Qin Prince’s Mansion was a ten-year-old child.
"Imperial Grandmother, I must marry Miss Gu," Song Yanzheng declared, clenching his fists. "No matter what it takes, I will bring her home."
If open methods failed, he’d resort to covert ones.
The Successor Empress felt a strange unease—this scene was too reminiscent of how she and Ling'er had once schemed against Song Yu.
"Yanzheng, I will help you."
If she could secure Miss Chang for Ling'er back then, she could do the same for Yanzheng and Gu Mingliu now.
Her upcoming birthday banquet would be the perfect opportunity.
......
To the shock of the Successor Empress and the Eastern Palace, Chang Ling'er’s words spread like wildfire among the noblewomen of the capital.
Now, not only the Gu Family but other powerful clans hesitated as well.
Shen Family.
"My lord, must we truly marry our daughter into the Eastern Palace?" Lady Shen fretted. "Our Shen daughters are hardly lacking in suitors. Perhaps I should visit Consort Mei tomorrow and ask her to reconsider."
The Shen Family was Consort Mei’s maternal clan.
"With Prince Qin gaining influence, and among all the princes, our Prince Qi has the weakest birthright and least imperial favor, Her Highness had no choice but to seek support from the Eastern Palace," Shen Pu replied grimly. "If we can secure the Eastern Palace’s backing, Prince Qi and our family will fare better in the future."
"But the Grand Imperial Sun is clearly not a worthy match!" Lady Shen’s eyes reddened. "Now that Her Highness is raising Hua'er in the palace, even though she’s our daughter, we have no say in her marriage."
A trace of resentment flashed in her eyes as she broke into quiet sobs.
Elsewhere.
Jianjia Palace.
"Today, it was clear the Grand Imperial Sun only had eyes for the Gu Family’s daughter," Consort Mei mused, her gaze shifting to the graceful Shen Hua'er beside her. "Hua'er, did you manage to speak with him at all?"
The young woman frowned slightly and shook her head. "Aunt, the Grand Imperial Sun only had eyes for Gu Mingliu the moment he arrived. I... I never had a chance."
Consort Mei tightened her grip on her jade scepter.
"Fortunately, Prince Qin disrupted the banquet. With Chang Ling'er’s outburst, given Gu Zheng’s temperament, he’ll never agree to marry his daughter to the Grand Imperial Sun now. Hua'er, your opportunity has come."
"But Aunt, what about the Grand Imperial Sun and the Second Miss Chang...?"
"Hua'er, you only need to become the Crown Princess Consort. Any other women in his life will merely be concubines—no threat to you." Consort Mei steeled herself. "Next month is the Empress’s birthday. There will surely be a palace banquet. I’ll arrange everything then."
Qin Prince’s Mansion.
"Imperial Grandmother’s birthday next month?"
Song Shihuan’s eyes gleamed. "Father, does that mean all court officials above the fourth rank and their families will be invited to the palace?"
Song Yu nodded. "Indeed."
Song Shihuan lowered her gaze. It seemed another storm was brewing.
