Song Shihuan entered the palace and happened to run into Song Yu, who was just leaving the Zichen Hall. However, Song Yu’s steps were not headed toward the palace gates.
"Father, where are you going?"
Song Yu was in an exceptionally good mood. "Your grandfather has entrusted me with the affairs of the Ministry of War. I was just about to head to the Eastern Palace to seek some advice from the Crown Prince on how to handle the ministry’s duties properly."
Song Shihuan twitched her lips at his words.
"Seek advice"? More like he was going to infuriate Song Ling to the point of passing out.
"Perfect timing. I also have business at the Eastern Palace," Song Shihuan said casually, tugging at Song Yu’s sleeve. "There’s something I’d like to gift to the Crown Princess."
"Gift to the Crown Princess?"
Song Yu’s voice instantly rose several octaves, his expression turning serious.
Why on earth would his daughter be giving gifts to the Crown Princess?
"Father, it’s like this..." Song Shihuan motioned for Song Yu to bend down and whispered a flurry of words into his ear.
Nearby, Liuxi watched as Song Yu’s expression shifted from grave alarm to delighted amusement.
"That really is quite the gift."
Song Yu pondered for a few more seconds before signaling to Liuxi. "Liuxi, go quietly fetch Old Man Mei. Tell him I’m afraid Song Ling might cough up blood later."
"Father is always so thorough in his considerations."
Half an hour later, the father and daughter arrived at the Eastern Palace.
The moment the Eastern Palace servants caught sight of Song Yu and Song Shihuan, their hearts leapt into their throats.
If not for the constraints of etiquette and protocol, they would have screamed for help.
Why were these two troublemakers—one big, one small—back at the Eastern Palace again?
"This prince demands to see Song Ling."
Song Yu spoke with the air of an overbearing lord, and immediately, a servant scurried off to announce him.
The Crown Prince had been peacefully reading when the news of Song Yu’s arrival reached him. The book in his hand fell to the ground with a thud. "They dare show their faces here again?!"
First, they ruined the lotus-viewing banquet that the Empress had specially prepared for Yan Zheng.
Then, they stripped Xi Yan of her title.
He wanted to tear Song Yu apart with his bare hands!
......
"My, my, has Second Brother grown a bit fairer?" Song Yu began with a mischievous grin. "It seems staying cooped up indoors really does lighten the complexion."
As he spoke, he even touched his own face in mock contemplation.
Ah!
Unlike him—born fair-skinned and impossible to tan, no matter how much he basked in the sun.
The Crown Prince glared at Song Yu. "Did you come here today just to comment on such a trivial matter as my complexion?"
Song Yu couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Here he was, putting on airs of the Crown Prince right in front of him.
"This prince came to inform you that His Majesty has entrusted the affairs of the Ministry of War to me."
If he wanted to play the authority card, Song Yu was a prince too.
The Crown Prince’s face darkened completely. "Impossible!"
As the Crown Prince of Da Qi, he had overseen the Ministry of War for over a decade. How could the Emperor strip him of it so easily, without even a whisper of warning?
"Why impossible?"
Song Yu sighed in exaggerated disappointment. "In the end, Second Brother, you brought this upon yourself. Nearly killing Gu Zheng has stirred great discontent among the military officers."
Beside him, Song Shihuan lowered her head to hide her smirk.
"Great discontent" was an understatement.
Thanks to Teacher Shen’s embellished retelling, most military officers were now trembling in fear, terrified the Crown Prince might have them executed at any moment.
"I’ve said it before—that incident was an accident!"
The Crown Prince clenched his fists inside his sleeves. "Besides, I’ve already been confined to the palace. The matter should be settled."
"Second Brother, as the Crown Prince, you’re still so naïve."
Song Yu shook his head. "It seems this prince was too lax in the past, allowing you to act without restraint or caution."
"What do you mean?" The Crown Prince’s pupils constricted sharply, his breath hitching.
"What I mean is—I’m no longer the wastrel prince I used to be."
Song Yu slowly stepped closer. "Now, both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War are in my hands. This is an indisputable fact. Tomorrow at court, His Majesty will announce it to the entire realm."
The depth in Song Yu’s dark eyes sent a wave of panic through the Crown Prince.
For years, he had believed his position secure—Song Yu, though of higher birth, had been a dissolute fool, while the third and fourth princes were mere illegitimate sons.
But now...
"You’re not Song Yu!" the Crown Prince declared firmly. The Song Yu he knew was nothing like the man before him.
"Second Brother, you’re confused."
Song Yu smirked. "I remember everything from the past. But today, I came mainly to seek your advice on managing the Ministry of War. As for settling old scores... we brothers can take our time."
Just as the tension in the room thickened, Song Shihuan’s voice cut in:
"Father, I have no interest in court affairs. I’ll go seek the Crown Princess’s guidance on the zither instead."
Too agitated to sense her true intentions, the Crown Prince could only watch as Song Shihuan exited the room.
"Take me to the Crown Princess."
The icy edge in Song Shihuan’s voice sent a shiver down the servant’s spine, and they hastily led the way.
......
Li Garden.
Song Shihuan stared at the gilded characters above the gate, her lips curling in scorn.
"A love like paired birds"?
In her past life, she had been imprisoned in the Eastern Palace, never once permitted to step foot inside Li Garden.
Because the Crown Princess had never wanted to see her.
But in this life, everything had changed.
The moment the Crown Princess heard Song Shihuan had arrived, she rushed out in disheveled robes, her face alight with barely contained excitement.
"Ah Huan, you’ve come."
"Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Princess." Song Shihuan dipped into a graceful curtsy.
"Come in, sit!"
The Crown Princess ordered her maids to heat a bowl of milk for Song Shihuan and had the kitchen prepare pastries. Song Shihuan watched the flurry of activity with cold detachment.
Belated affection was cheaper than grass.
She no longer had any use for it.
"His Majesty has handed the Ministry of War over to my father," Song Shihuan said, watching as the Crown Princess’s hands stilled. "My father is currently discussing the ministry’s affairs with the Crown Prince."
"It’s for the best that your father takes charge." The Crown Princess quickly regained her composure. "The Eastern Palace was at fault in the matter concerning the Gu family."
Hearing not a single word of defense for the Eastern Palace, Song Shihuan’s interest was piqued.
"Yingchun, bring it out."
Yingchun retrieved a carefully wrapped bundle of incense from her pouch and presented it to the Crown Princess.
"What is this?"
For some reason, the moment the Crown Princess laid eyes on the incense, a chill ran down her spine.
"This is incense I retrieved from Second Miss Chang’s chambers. As for who sent these... I believe Your Highness knows very well." Song Shihuan’s lips curved into a smile as she fixed her gaze on the Crown Princess.
"Ling’er’s incense has always been personally sent to the Chang residence by Yan Zheng."
"This incense contains a heavy dose of musk. If a woman uses it regularly, she will never bear children."
With each word Song Shihuan spoke, the Crown Princess felt as if her blood had turned to ice.
Musk...
