Having been sent to Nanqing as a hostage since childhood, he was no different from a Nanqing slave—naturally there was nothing worth mentioning.

If one spoke of returning to the capital and entering the rear palace…

Shen Qianyu’s eyes gradually turned cold, his entire body pervaded with a faint chill.

When he first returned to the capital, it was precisely when the First Prince’s reputation was at its peak. Shen Qianchi occupied the positions of legitimate eldest son, with countless supporters in court. At that time, the Third Prince Shen Qianbai was merely a swaddled infant, and the Fifth Prince hadn’t yet been born.

The Empress feared he would become Shen Qianchi’s stumbling block, so she continuously sent people into the Eastern Palace to assassinate him.

At first he resisted desperately, but later discovered that whenever the Empress sent people to the Eastern Palace, the palace guards would invariably disappear. Over time he realized all this was tacitly permitted by His Majesty.

Shen Qianyu let out a derisive laugh, casting aside the past without further mention.

By rights, even if his life was extraordinarily resilient, it couldn’t withstand the Empress and First Prince sending people every few days—poison today, hidden arrows tomorrow—truly impossible to defend against.

That he could seek even a thread of survival was because after the Empress failed for so long, she sought out Duan Yiting.

Thinking of the scene where Duan Yiting nearly snapped his neck, Shen Qianyu subconsciously straightened his spine.

“Little beast, you do have a fine pair of eyes.”

The eunuch’s shrill and sinister voice made Shen Qianyu’s hair stand on end. He stared fixedly at Duan Yiting, even thinking for a moment that if he strangled him to death right here, it might not be such a bad thing.

“This pair of eyes—this family head quite likes them. Like a wolf cub, unyielding.”

Duan Yiting released his hand, sweeping his robes to sit in the Eastern Palace’s golden chair.

“The Empress sent this family head to probe your character. If you’re one with brains, we’ll scoop out that brain and feed it to dogs. If you’re a fool, we’ll leave you a complete corpse. Tell me, are you one with brains or a fool?”

Shen Qianyu glanced sideways at Duan Yiting and snorted coldly. “I’m one with roots.”

“You!”

“Little beast, this family head wants your life!”

Duan Yiting flew forward, his curved fingers viciously gripping his throat. Shen Qianyu only heard a crack, followed by intense pain in his throat.

His vision went white and he quickly found breathing difficult, his mind becoming completely blank.

Shen Qianyu closed his eyes. Just as he was feeling liberated, he heard Duan Yiting say, “Want to die? Not so easy.”

That old eunuch released him, then slapped his face, actually forcing him to gasp one last breath.

“You do have a tough skeleton. This family head will see just how tough these bones are.”

During that period, Shen Qianyu only felt death would be preferable to life. That old eunuch daily sought out sinister cruel punishments from the Dong Chang’s torture hall to torment him, while simultaneously using secret palace medicines to keep him alive.

Later, that old eunuch went mad somehow—unable to torture him to death, he made him call him father.

That dead eunuch thought he, as the Eastern Palace’s master, would certainly be unable to endure such humiliation, yet never expected how genuinely and emotionally he could call him father.

Acknowledging a dead eunuch as adoptive father could preserve his life—such a profitable deal, he’d be a fool not to accept.

Eastern Palace Crown Prince? Empty title only.

Shen Qianyu picked up the tea cup before him and slowly drank.

Ridiculously enough, in all his life, only after acknowledging Duan Yiting as father did he finally live some stable days.

Truly fate and destiny—without Duan Yiting, he probably wouldn’t have survived to this day.

Later, after recuperating, he and Duan Yiting’s other adopted son Wan Xiao joined forces to incapacitate that dead eunuch in the Eastern Palace, poisoning him half to death to serve as the paralyzed Eastern Palace Crown Prince.

Using Dong Chang secret arts, Shen Qianyu henceforth moved between different identities as Wan Xiao and Ji Rong, scheming for great undertakings.

Shen Qianyu quickly reviewed his past experiences but still couldn’t find even half an incident that could prove his worthiness and capability.

After pondering a long time, Shen Qianyu said, “If speaking of the Crown Prince’s abilities, it would probably be enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens, being flexible and adaptable.”

“…”

Song Wan’s smile froze, and she gently said, “This probably won’t work. The Crown Prince’s suffering cannot be glorified.”

Shen Qianyu laughed coldly. “Glorified? I fear it cannot even be mentioned.”

A nation’s Crown Prince without any honor—every mention would probably pierce the soft and incompetent hearts of those court officials.

So in the future when he wanted to ascend, not only could he not inform the world of the suffering he endured, he would have to help that group of wine sacks and rice bags whitewash everything as peaceful.

He’d probably even have to say that after going to Nanqing, relying on the great dynasty’s prestige, he lived days of wealthy honor and pampered ease.

Shen Qianyu’s hands suddenly clenched tight, yet powerlessly slowly loosened again.

Song Wan turned her head, no longer looking toward Shen Qianyu.

All matters in the world were thus—the two words “fairness” were easily said but extremely difficult to find. Moreover, fingers have different lengths and people are divided by status. Things determined from birth that cannot be changed—where should one seek fairness?

Pouring tea for Shen Qianyu, Song Wan also pushed the character-grid porcelain dish containing tea snacks closer to him. The Crown Prince’s life in the palace was also uneasy—how much more so for a eunuch by his side?

Recalling the two occasions she’d seen Ji Rong, Song Wan felt some sympathy.

“The Crown Prince has many inconveniences in the palace. I wonder if there’s anything this humble woman can help with?”

Seeing Shen Qianyu’s palm still bore traces of injury from broken porcelain, Song Wan said, “Let me have Heng Zhi prepare some medicine to send to Eunuch.”

After speaking, Song Wan curtsied slightly then turned to leave.

Before long she returned carrying medicine. “Among these are some warming tonic medicines, as well as hemostatic and bruise-dissolving external wound powders.”

Introducing each type of medicine to Shen Qianyu one by one, Song Wan also took out two velvet pouches and placed them on the medicine tray.

Two portions of medicine with identical specifications and quantities, showing no distinction of status—Shen Qianyu fell slightly silent, then put the items away.

“Yesterday caused much disturbance, frightening Miss and the courtyard’s maidservants—truly inappropriate. If there’s opportunity, I will certainly repay this in the future.”

Song Wan smiled gently, not taking these words of repayment to heart.

After Shen Qianyu left, she wrote a letter informing Song Fu that she had already negotiated with the Eastern Palace eunuch. Upon receiving the letter, Song Fu was extremely pleased.

The Eastern Palace was indeed as he guessed—not an incompetent lot. Song Fu properly handled the letter in his hand and went to Song Lan’an’s study.

Song Lan’an was in his study appreciating famous calligraphy and paintings. Seeing Song Fu enter, he carefully set down the collection in his hands and said indifferently, “What is it?”

Song Fu nodded. After thinking, he informed Song Lan’an of his guesses and the message Song Wan had sent today.

“Your son knows Father has plans to invest in the Fifth Prince instead, but even for Aunt’s and Wan’er’s sake, Father shouldn’t make this move.”

Song Lan’an laughed derisively. “How did an inner quarters woman make contact with the Eastern Palace? Aren’t you afraid Wan’er fell into someone’s scheme and was pushed to be the sacrificial pawn?”

“Regarding anything involving the Song family, Wan’er will be extremely cautious. Father may not trust Wan’er, but your son does.”

“Does Father think Wan’er would gamble the entire household’s lives on an unknown?”

Song Lan’an waved his hand. “I’m aware of this matter. You may leave.”

“What does Father plan to do?”

As father and son were conversing, Madam Song approached with a maidservant. Seeing this, Song Fu withdrew. Madam Song, carrying soup she had just stewed, walked to Song Lan’an’s side.

“I stewed some supplements for Master. Master mustn’t overwork himself.”

Song Lan’an was calculating something and, hearing this, only lightly hummed in acknowledgment.

Madam Song should have left but didn’t move. Song Lan’an frowned. “You have more to say?”

Madam Song said, “The Cui family hasn’t mentioned the marriage with Yao’er for quite some time. I’m wondering if it’s because of Wan’er that the Cui family has developed concerns? Master also knows the Cui clan is of distinguished nobility. Those who can marry into the Cui family are all…”

“Since the Cui clan is dissatisfied with Yao’er, let this marriage be canceled.”

Madam Song suddenly gripped the handkerchief in her hand tightly, her eyes full of disbelief.

Song Lan’an was unconcerned. “You need not concern yourself further with Yao’er and Nian’er’s marriages.”

Thinking of what Song Fu had just said, Song Lan’an continued, “I have my own arrangements for their two marriages.”