Though Song Fu knew his younger sister had been clever since childhood, her keen perceptiveness still surprised him. After a moment of silence, he said, “I fear he will be unable to inherit the throne in the future.”

“According to Qianbai, on the day he went to light the lanterns at Dengtian Tower, the moment he lit the dragon-phoenix lantern, he smelled an intense burnt odor. He hurriedly ordered the Imperial Guards following him to descend, but the instant it was lit, the dragon-phoenix lantern exploded.”

“Wasn’t the lantern inspected multiple times and only sent to Dengtian Tower after being confirmed safe?”

“Someone must have tampered with it at the last moment.”

Song Fu pressed his lips together, his tone heavy. “I’ve examined it—the bamboo frame inside the lantern was most severely damaged. Someone must have placed easily combustible materials inside.”

“And Qianbai was closest to the lantern at the time, so half his face…”

Destroyed.

Song Wan’s heart sank, and she couldn’t speak another word.

After a long while, she murmured, “Was this kind of incendiary device made by Jiang Xingjian?”

“No.”

Song Fu paused. “But he cannot escape connection to it.”

“The craftsmen who made the lantern and the guards at Dengtian Tower have countless ties to the Empress’s faction. Father and I both believe the one who struck at Qianbai was the First Prince.”

“The First Prince deliberately used an incendiary device, likely intending to frame Imperial Consort Jiang. He wanted to reap the benefits while others fought, but never expected to have one of his own eyes shot out.”

Song Wan was puzzled. “Who was responsible for the First Prince’s injury? Could it have been Jiang Man?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t think so.”

The Song siblings entered the main hall of the residence. Heng Zhi and Heng Wu busied themselves in the courtyard. Soon Heng Zhi brought up fragrant tea, poured for the two of them, then efficiently departed.

Seeing how attentively and thoroughly the two cared for Song Wan, Song Fu secretly set aside his worries.

While Song Wan felt heartache for Shen Qianbai, she also pondered the court situation. However, as a woman, she didn’t understand as much as her father and brother, so for the moment she had no leads.

“What did His Majesty say about the Lantern Festival incident?”

At this question, Song Fu frowned deeply. “The First Prince had an eye shot out, Qianbai was disfigured, and Shen Qianshu had his leg broken. I don’t know whether His Majesty doesn’t want to investigate or truly believes Nanqing was behind it, but he pushed the entire matter onto Nanqing.”

“His Majesty has always feared Nanqing’s military strength. Now that he’s pushed this matter onto them, he likely intends to let it drop.”

The previous emperor had many sons, but during the succession struggle over twenty princes died, among them many exceptionally talented individuals like Prince Su’an who possessed governing ability, Prince Sucheng who was brave in battle and commanded troops like a god and could repel Nanqing, and even Prince Sukang who recognized talent and employed people based on merit.

Even Song Wan, a sheltered young lady, had heard these men’s great names. The other princes also possessed remarkable abilities, yet only the current emperor…

Sighing softly, Song Wan lowered her eyes without speaking.

Only after a long while did she quietly ask, “Then what will become of Qianbai in the future?”

Shen Qianbai carried the hopes of the Song clan. Now disfigured, he likely had no chance at the throne. Yet the palace had produced no more heirs in many years. Everyone said Emperor Wenhui’s health was failing and he might be unable to father more sons.

If so, the First Prince, Qianbai, and Shen Qianshu had once again entered a deadlock.

“What about the Fifth Prince? How severely was he injured?”

“That day at Marquis Chengyang’s manor, I saw both his legs broken. Will he be left disabled?”

“Still unknown. Everyone in the palace is fearful for their own safety, and news doesn’t travel out easily.”

Song Fu hesitated slightly. “I have a theory.”

“Please speak, elder brother.”

Song Fu said, “Do you think the person who shot the First Prince could have been the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace?”

“Since returning to the capital eight years ago, the Crown Prince has appeared half-dead. Back then, the Empress used countless vicious methods to test whether he was feigning madness and paralysis. According to palace servants, when the Crown Prince first returned to the imperial palace, his condition wasn’t as severe as now. That he’s been bedridden for eight years—the Empress deserves much credit.”

“And now, with the First Prince blinded first, then Qianbai and Shen Qianshu injured and disabled, thinking it through, the Eastern Palace benefits most.”

“Though I know it’s unlikely, I can’t find any other answer.”

Hearing this, Song Wan lowered her head in thought.

She never casually refuted others. Even though she found it fantastical that the Eastern Palace Crown Prince could lie low under the Empress’s hand for eight years, hearing Song Fu say this stirred her thoughts and she carefully pondered.

“The current situation does indeed seem most advantageous to the Eastern Palace at first glance, but the one who struck at Qianbai was Imperial Consort Jiang, and the Fifth Prince’s injury should be Aunt’s handiwork. If the Eastern Palace truly had the ability to orchestrate the Lantern Festival to eliminate three princes, it shouldn’t have remained silent for eight years.”

“If Wan’er remembers correctly, the Crown Prince’s origins are quite ignoble.”

Song Fu nodded. “The Crown Prince’s birth mother was a singing girl in His Majesty’s residence before he ascended the throne. Reportedly she was extremely beautiful but had been an official courtesan.”

Song Wan nodded. “The Crown Prince has no maternal family to support him. Having been a hostage in Nanqing for many years, after returning to the palace he never appeared before others again. Even now with his empty Crown Prince title but not a single supporter behind him, he cannot establish himself in court.”

“Setting aside the court’s hatred of Nanqing, just one point alone would force any future Crown Prince to relinquish the throne.”

“What matter?”

Song Wan said, “Identity.”

When the Crown Prince was sent back to the capital by Nanqing, it was precisely when the First Prince was at his peak, with the highest succession support. At that time, no one cared about the Crown Prince, and Emperor Wenhui didn’t even meet this son who had been a hostage in an enemy nation for many years.

“The Crown Prince went to Nanqing before age five and returned in his teens. Even though we all know the Crown Prince is His Majesty’s son, as long as the Empress or Imperial Consort Jiang insist the Crown Prince’s identity is unclear, the Eastern Palace can never have any possibility of succession.”

Whether the Eastern Palace truly held the Crown Prince didn’t matter, but as long as the court ministers harbored the slightest doubt about the Crown Prince’s identity, or he was labeled a Nanqing spy, he could never ascend to the throne.

Unless all the other princes in court died off completely, leaving others no choice but to acknowledge his identity.

After finishing, Song Wan looked at Song Fu with some puzzlement. “What Wan’er can think of, elder brother shouldn’t fail to consider, so why did elder brother still bring up the Crown Prince?”

“Is there something Wan’er doesn’t know that elder brother cannot speak of?”

“Truly nothing can be hidden from you.”

Song Fu stood up, a trace of agitation in his expression.

“You know Father has always only prioritized the bigger picture. Though he is our birth father, he is also the Song clan patriarch and moreover a key court minister.”

“Father… his vision is far-reaching, beyond what you and I can fathom.”

With just these light sentences, Song Wan felt the hairs on her body stand on end, her head spinning.

She croaked in disbelief, “Elder brother means that if Qianbai has no chance at the throne, Father plans to turn to supporting Shen Qianshu instead?”

Song Fu pressed his lips together, his helpless appearance making despair rise in Song Wan’s heart.

Yes, of course—there were only three princes in court: Shen Qianchi, Shen Qianbai, and Shen Qianshu. The First Prince was already blind, Qianbai disfigured. Naturally only Shen Qianshu could be chosen from among them.

Song Wan’s eyes reddened, her fingers trembling slightly. “If Father truly turns to support the Fifth Prince, then what about Jiang Xingjian and me…”

Before she could finish, Heng Wu came over from the courtyard in a panic. “Young Master, Miss, the Master… the Master has arrived with Madam and two clan elders.”