Qianbai was an imperial prince and must be enfeoffed as a prince, and enfeoffment as a prince required a fief. Looking at the present situation, there was indeed no place more suitable than Nanqing.

Song Fu would most likely enter the Inner Cabinet in the future. Given the Crown Prince’s deep feelings for Wan’er, her becoming the mistress of the Inner Palace would not be mere talk. Now the Song clan’s illustrious reputation spread far and wide. If Qianbai insisted on remaining in the capital or anywhere within Dongning, how could he not eventually provoke imperial suspicion over time?

No matter how deep the past friendship, it could not withstand such testing.

Qianbai had no ambition to begin with. Going to Nanqing was the best arrangement for him.

Only…

Song Yuning turned to look at Shen Qianbai, a layer of mist rising in her eyes.

When Qianbai went to the fief, she would necessarily accompany him. In this life, she feared she would find it difficult to see Wan’er and Song Fu again. She had not yet seen her grand-nephew or little grand-nephew—she truly felt reluctant to part.

Clutching her handkerchief and pressing it to the corner of her eye, Song Yuning said, “I wonder when Your Highness wishes Qianbai to depart?”

Shen Qianyu said, “The sooner the better.”

He knew Song Yuning could not bear to part with Song Wan, but he worried something might go wrong in Nanqing. He could only impose upon the two of them.

“I understand. After settling matters in the next few days, we two shall depart.”

Though he had always known Song Yuning to be a straightforward person, upon hearing these words, Shen Qianyu still felt a warmth in his heart.

He stood and bowed toward Song Yuning, performing a salute. “I will certainly protect Wan’er and the Song clan without worry. Please set your mind at ease, Aunt.”

Song Yuning’s nose tingled. “I only hope Your Highness remembers today’s words and looks after Wan’er well.”

“I will.”

Though he was not in the palace, that did not mean he was unaware of what happened there. But if Wan’er chose not to speak of certain matters and words, he was willing to pretend ignorance.

Leaving Changxin Palace, Shen Qianyu went to Taiji Hall to meet with the court officials.

“Now that His Highness the Crown Prince has returned to the capital, the enthronement ceremony should be put on the agenda.”

Minister Luo spoke in a low voice, but Shen Qianyu said, “This matter is not urgent.”

He handed the imperial edict in his hand to Ji Rong, who received it and passed it to Minister Luo.

“From this day forward, establish a hundred-day national mourning to comfort all the heroic souls who sacrificed themselves for Dongning.”

After Shen Qianyu finished speaking, he handed another document to several people. When Minister Luo opened it, he saw it was filled with transfers of court officials, as well as decrees conferring grace and hereditary succession for one generation to households like the Marquis of Chengyang.

“Additionally, with the national treasury depleted, the enthronement ceremony shall be held after a hundred days, conducted simply together with the empress conferment ceremony.”

“Empress conferment?”

“Yes.”

Shen Qianyu said, “The position of empress shall be selected from among the daughters of the Shang and Song families in the Eastern Palace.”

“This… this… this is inappropriate.”

All the officials in Taiji Hall spoke in unison. Shen Qianyu’s gaze was sharp as he looked at them and said, “If these two are inappropriate, which persons do you gentlemen consider suitable?”

Minister Luo lowered his eyes without speaking, but there were those quick-witted individuals who began scheming. Just as one opened his mouth, he was interrupted by Shen Qianyu. “If you can single-handedly bomb and annihilate tens of thousands of enemy generals, then your female family members may also become mistress of the Inner Palace.”

The man’s newly opened mouth suddenly shut. Shen Qianyu’s gaze swept over the group, saying languidly, “Then the empress candidate shall be determined to be the Song family daughter.”

“…”

There were still those unwilling to give up who wanted to say more. Shen Qianyu clenched both hands into fists and heavily struck the imperial desk. “That you can still stand here alive and waste words with this prince—whom you should thank requires no elaboration from this prince.”

“If you want to grasp boundless wealth and honor empty-handed, you must see whether this prince’s mood permits it.”

Upon hearing these words, all the court officials dared say nothing more.

If they continued to voice objections, wouldn’t they truly become the people the Crown Prince spoke of—those who wanted to grasp wealth empty-handed?

Thus, though one and all were thoroughly dissatisfied with enfeoffing a Song clan daughter as empress, they could only forcibly suppress their unwillingness.

“If there are no other matters, then all of you may disperse.”

After speaking, Shen Qianyu rose and left, not bothering with anyone.

Watching him, everyone felt that after the Su River campaign, the Crown Prince was completely different from before.

Once the national mourning edict was issued, the common people throughout the realm learned that the court had previously feigned defection, and that Ministers Shang, Song, and the others were not traitors but righteous men who had generously sacrificed themselves.

Weeping could be heard continuously from the people in the streets and alleys. They spontaneously burned incense and paper money for Shang Chong, Song Lan’an, and the generals who sacrificed themselves at Su River. Those from wealthy households even funded the construction of temples for everyone, praying that the heroic martyrs would protect Dongning for another hundred years.

When Shen Qianyu’s edict enfeoffing Song Wan as empress spread, the common people applauded even more enthusiastically. And the happiest of all were the people of the Qi residence.

Upon hearing that Song Lan’an had sacrificed himself at Su River and that the empress position had been given to Song Wan, Qi Sulun’s mother had been beaming with joy ever since, thoroughly comfortable throughout her body.

If not for the fact that they were currently in the national mourning period, she would have loved to have people beat drums at her own residence gate for a full day and night.

“How about that? Wasn’t Mother right? Marrying that Song family’s second daughter is truly the most profitable transaction.”

Madam Qi smiled with exaggerated brows and eyes, the golden hairpin on her head deliberately worn and swaying wildly. One glance revealed this joy originated from deep within her heart.

“During the national mourning period, Mother wears gold and jade while beaming with joy—what kind of propriety is this?”

Qi Sulun’s lips were pressed tightly together, his anger making his cheeks taut.

But Madam Qi was unconcerned. “What about the national mourning? In any case, that Nanqing didn’t attack us. Moreover…”

Reaching up to adjust the hairpin on her head, Madam Qi said, “Moreover, our residence has a heaven-sent joyous occasion. How can we not be happy about it?”

“Marrying that Song family’s second daughter, you’ll be the emperor’s brother-in-law. Our Qi residence is about to ascend to the heavens!”

“What insane talk is Mother spouting?”

Qi Sulun clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. “Minister Song’s bones are not yet cold. Is Mother not afraid of chilling the hearts of patriotic men throughout the realm by speaking thus?”

“The people of the realm cannot hear what this inner chamber woman says. Why must my son worry and fear so?”

“Mother!”

“That Song family’s second daughter is absolutely not a good person.”

Qi Sulun said, “Before Minister Song went to Su River, he surely knew he would not return. With his nature, how could he not have properly arranged for the Song clan? As his legitimate wife and legitimate daughter, how could Minister Song not have left even half a word?”

“Yet those two still hastily finalized marriage arrangements when Minister Song went to Su River, looking as if they feared being implicated and damaging their reputations. What does this indicate?”

Madam Qi smiled. “It indicates that our Qi residence’s fortune has arrived!”

Qi Sulun let out a sharp rebuke upon hearing this. “It indicates that these two people are either so dull-witted they couldn’t understand Minister Song’s meaning, or they’re selfish and self-interested, fearing they themselves would be implicated by Minister Song.”

“If that Song family’s second daughter were clever and reasonable, she should have stopped her mother.”

“Mother, just watch—such a person will surely regret the hasty marriage arrangement and come seeking Mother to discuss canceling the engagement. If Lady Song comes seeking you, Mother should quickly push away this marriage.”

After finishing these sentences, Qi Sulun felt his vision darken and his ears ring.

All he wished for in life was to marry a clever and capable wife unlike his mother. Yet now fate had played tricks on him, truly arranging such a vexing marriage for him.

Qi Sulun clenched his teeth, thinking darkly that if he truly married this woman back, the Qi residence’s fate would surely be exhausted.