That lustrous pink pearl was held in Song Yuning’s hand. Shen Qianyu frowned slightly and turned his gaze away.

“I am indeed not a palace eunuch.”

Shen Qianyu pulled over a nearby yellow rosewood scrollwork rose chair and sat down rather ostentatiously.

The chair was small and delicate, making his wild and unrestrained air all the more prominent.

Song Yuning’s brows and eyes turned stern: “Who are you, and how do you have a relic belonging to Wan’er’s mother?”

Hearing Song Wan’s name, Shen Qianyu inexplicably felt somewhat constrained. He coughed lightly, sat up properly, thought for a moment, then stood up.

“Imperial Concubine Yun need not be alarmed. This humble one is Shen Qianyu.”

“You’re the Crown Prince?”

Song Yuning was quite surprised. She hadn’t heard the Crown Prince’s name mentioned in the rear palace for many years. After a moment of shock, this astonishment was quickly replaced by calculations brewing in her chest.

“How did you come into contact with Wan’er?”

“Even if you haven’t received Song Lan’an’s support, you should have sought out Song Fu. How did you come to have a relic belonging to Wan’er’s mother?”

Shen Qianyu said: “People from Dong Chang have had contact with Miss Song.”

“Wan Xiao is your man?”

Shen Qianyu nodded: “A bond of life and death.”

Song Yuning said: “Have the people from Dong Chang stay away from Wan’er. I don’t want to involve Wan’er in these matters.”

Shen Qianyu raised an eyebrow but didn’t speak. Song Yuning was about to say something more when he suddenly said: “I came to seek Imperial Concubine Yun today because this humble one wishes to make an alliance with Your Ladyship. In the future, I can ensure the Third Prince remains untroubled…”

“Agreed.”

“Your Ladyship doesn’t doubt my identity?”

Song Yuning smiled faintly but didn’t answer.

She had no need to doubt nor did she need to doubt. Even if he were a fake Crown Prince, she would still push him to ascend!

Song Yuning’s straightforward manner actually made Shen Qianyu somewhat uncomfortable.

Seeing his expression freeze, Song Yuning snorted coldly: “We’re all people at our wit’s end. Why bother with all those twists and turns? Supporting you to ascend is naturally far better than letting Shen Qianshu ascend. After all, this palace has never moved against you.”

“Since Your Ladyship is so straightforward, I’ll be straightforward as well. If Your Ladyship assists me with all your strength in the rear palace, in the future I can ensure Song Fu, Song Wan, and the Third Prince remain untroubled for life.”

“Agreed.”

Song Lan’an hadn’t come forward to take the Crown Prince’s side, so it was understandable that he didn’t mention the Song clan. Song Yuning wasn’t greedy—being able to protect the three children was enough for her.

Both had frank temperaments and got along well, so in just a few sentences they clearly settled the matter of their alliance.

Shen Qianyu prepared to take his leave, but heard Song Yuning say: “If you act this way, you’ll certainly be criticized by court officials in the future. Your bearing…”

“Truly lacks the dignity of a prince.”

Song Yuning looked Shen Qianyu up and down and continued: “Do you need me to find someone to teach you proper princely conduct?”

“This humble one has an excellent teacher. Your Ladyship need not trouble yourself.”

After thinking, Shen Qianyu added: “I wonder if Your Ladyship could return Miss Song’s pink pearl?”

“Pink pearl?”

This abrupt statement left Song Yuning momentarily confused. After a pause, she frowned: “Wan’er’s pearl? When she next enters the palace, this palace will personally hand it to her.”

“It would be better for my subordinate to return it. After all, having borrowed Miss Song’s item, it should be returned as it was.”

Song Yuning was left bewildered by his words. After slight hesitation, she placed the pink pearl back in its box and handed it to Shen Qianyu.

Although this pearl was worth some silver, she wasn’t afraid of what Shen Qianyu might do if he kept it for himself.

Taking back the pearl, Shen Qianyu walked out of Changxin Palace.

As soon as he emerged, he took out the pink pearl from the box and carefully wiped it clean with his sleeve. Someone like him who honored his teacher and valued the Way—how could he not understand propriety? Since this was an item he had borrowed, naturally he should personally return it.

Putting the pearl back, Shen Qianyu carefully returned to the Eastern Palace.

He hadn’t returned to the Eastern Palace in a long time. Ji Rong had blocked many crises for him, truly achieving a narrow escape from death.

“Are you alright?”

“This servant is fine.”

Ji Rong’s face was deathly pale—one look and you could tell he’d suffered severe injuries. He clutched his chest and said hoarsely: “The Empress has already grown suspicious. These past few days her moves have been frequent, no longer the minor skirmishes of the past. She must have realized that the First Prince’s injury was Your Highness’s doing.”

“No matter. That you could conceal things until now is already quite remarkable.”

Shen Qianyu had Ji Rong take out a jar of foul-smelling black substance hidden in the Eastern Palace and throw it away, while he sat before the bronze mirror and smiled.

Having grown accustomed to this face, he had actually somewhat forgotten what he originally looked like.

“Master, everything is ready on Wan Xiao’s end. Should we summon him back to the Eastern Palace?”

“Naturally.”

Shen Qianyu stood up and casually pulled at the worn bedding on the Eastern Palace’s golden bed.

“Clean things up. It’s time for the Eastern Palace to open its doors to guests.”

Ji Rong knelt respectfully and acknowledged the order.

In three years’ time, all of Dong Chang’s secret agents had been grasped in Wan Xiao’s hands. It wasn’t that Shen Qianyu had no people in the palace—these people were simply scattered throughout, lying low and biding their time.

Until the time was right, the Eastern Palace gates naturally couldn’t be opened.

As night deepened, the usually silent Eastern Palace was quite lively today, with palace maids and eunuchs efficiently cleaning dust from every corner.

Shen Qianyu sat boldly in the Crown Prince’s golden chair, his fingertips playing with a white jade token. Seeing the Eastern Palace lights brighten, he said to Ji Rong beside him: “Have someone send the First Prince on his way.”

Held hostage for twelve years, enduring humiliation to survive for five years, three years of planning—all for nothing more than this day.

In less than half an hour, someone came to report that the First Prince had died—the Dong Chang secret agents had succeeded.

Shen Qianyu clicked his tongue, feeling immensely heartbroken as he handed the jade token in his hand to Ji Rong.

A Heaven-ranked secret agent of Dong Chang could only be deployed once in a lifetime. Having achieved success, this hidden piece wasn’t wasted in vain.

“Master, should this servant prepare your court robes for tomorrow’s audience?”

Shen Qianyu smiled faintly: “What audience? Today was merely to inform the world that the Song family and this palace stand together, nothing more.”

Tomorrow he would push all responsibility for those who appeared at the Eastern Palace onto Song Yuning. Their alliance would certainly invite suspicion, but with the First Prince dead, the Empress was no longer to be feared.

As for the Empress’s maternal clan…

Shen Qianyu laughed contemptuously.

Where did these aristocratic families get their familial affection? The First Prince probably hadn’t even been buried yet, and they’d be eager to select someone new to board the ship.

And if Song Lan’an wanted to play fence-sitter, that depended on whether he agreed.

Everyone thought that when auspicious omens appeared throughout the realm and the Fifth Prince’s reputation soared, he would hide in the shadows waiting to strike?

He would do the opposite.

He would precisely at this time openly and ostentatiously bind Song Lan’an to himself, announce to the world his alliance with Song Yuning, forcing Song Lan’an to board the Eastern Palace ship whether he wanted to or not.

Ji Rong didn’t understand: “Your Highness doesn’t plan to appear before people tomorrow?”

Shen Qianyu shook his head: “If His Majesty issues no edict, you’ll help this palace continue playing paralyzed.”

“These next few days, people will only speculate whether the Eastern Palace allied with Song Yuning, or whether the Song clan is using the Eastern Palace as a smokescreen to counter the Fifth Prince. If no court officials memorialize the throne, His Majesty absolutely won’t summon this palace.”

Reaching out to touch the pearl box at his chest, Shen Qianyu said: “While those fools are all waiting for others to make the first move these next few days, this palace still needs to find someone to teach me the Way of being a ruler.”

“That way, in the future I can better fool that group of muddle-headed, spineless court officials.”