Chapter 76 : One Punch

Gulp.

The wooden fish sank into the pond and disappeared without a trace.

Yue Xiuyuan was still stunned. That was the birthday gift Sister Ying had given him, and it was gone in the blink of an eye.

Could it be… Sister Ying noticed I didn’t like it, so she got angry and threw it away?

Yue Xiuyuan looked at Song Ying. “Sister Ying, why did you…”

Song Ying squatted down, lifted her head slightly, and said to Yue Xiuyuan, “Your Majesty, the fish has returned to the pond.”

Yue Xiuyuan shook his head, confused. “I… don’t understand. It’s just a wooden fish. It doesn’t move. If you throw it into the pond, it’ll break eventually.”

Song Ying replied, “Your Majesty is right. It’s only a piece of wood. Since it doesn’t move, it will be corroded by the pond water, rot over time, and eventually merge with the mud, disappearing completely.”

Yue Xiuyuan frowned slightly and looked at Song Ying with a puzzled expression. “Then why did Sister give me this fish?”

Song Ying smiled. “Your Majesty will be twelve tomorrow. It’s also the fourth year since you became the emperor of Dayin. Four years have already passed…”

Yue Xiuyuan’s pupils shrank slightly. He slowly turned his head to look at the spot in the pond where the wooden fish had sunk.

The surface of the water was like a mirror, reflecting the dark clouds above.

Song Ying took Yue Xiuyuan’s hand and said, “Your Majesty, the weather’s turning cold. Let’s go back.”

Yue Xiuyuan lowered his head and walked slowly beside her. “Sister Ying… does my uncle really want me to be emperor?”

Song Ying: “I don’t know. But in my view, Your Majesty should fulfill your duty. You are the emperor, so you should do what an emperor should do.”

Yue Xiuyuan looked at the palace maids bowing to him, then at Song Ying. “Sister, can you come visit me again in the palace?”

Song Ying: “I’m afraid not. I’m just a commoner. If I keep entering the palace, it may upset others and cause problems for Your Majesty.”

Yue Xiuyuan hesitated. “What if I make you my sister?”

Song Ying smiled. “Your Majesty, that won’t do either. If I’m given a title without achievements or merits, the court officials would not be pleased.”

Yue Xiuyuan insisted, “But Sister just said I’m the emperor. Should an emperor have to consider others’ opinions when bestowing honors?”

Song Ying: “True. The emperor does hold supreme authority.”

They were nearly at the emperor’s sleeping quarters. Song Ying gently pulled Yue Xiuyuan down to sit on the steps. From a distance, they looked just like a pair of siblings.

“Your Majesty, do you want to leave the palace?”

Upon hearing “leave the palace,” Yue Xiuyuan’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Of course I do!”

Song Ying: “Then I look forward to meeting Your Majesty outside the palace someday.”

Yue Xiuyuan’s shoulders slumped. “I thought you were going to take me out right now…”

Song Ying: “This palace is Your Majesty’s home. It’s not right for Your Majesty to rely on others to leave it.”

Her words today carried deeper meaning. Yue Xiuyuan lowered his head, glancing at the dragon robe he was wearing…

After a long time, the eunuch Fubao came to remind him, “Your Majesty, Miss Song should be leaving now.”

Yue Xiuyuan said to Song Ying, “Let me walk Sister out.”

Song Ying: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The carriage was already waiting at the front.

Faer quickly walked over to the carriage and soon returned holding a small bamboo basket, no bigger than a palm.

Song Ying took the basket and handed it to Yue Xiuyuan. “This is another birthday gift for Your Majesty. Remember to open it tonight.”

Yue Xiuyuan accepted it happily. “Okay! Thank you, Sister.”

After they exited the palace, Faer turned back to look at the palace gates growing distant, then turned to ask Song Ying, “Miss, just now His Majesty said he wanted to give you a title, why didn’t you agree?”

Song Ying, already slumped and weary, didn’t answer directly. Instead, she asked Faer a question in return, “Calculate how many days are left until General Huo returns to the capital?”

Faer started counting on her fingers, “Twenty… eighteen… fifteen… thirteen days left!”

Song Ying yawned and said, “Alright, then for these thirteen days, let’s just eat and drink well.”

Faer: “?”

—

Master Yu has arrived.

Song Ying welcomed him into her courtyard.

“How’s the progress on the winter grass cultivation you mentioned?”

Master Yu also enjoyed experimenting with things no one had tried before.

As soon as he heard that Song Ying wanted to use scale stone to cultivate winter grass, he became intrigued. Despite his tight schedule, he insisted on coming to see it for himself.

He and Song Ying squatted on the ground, gently shoveling away soil with small tools.

Looking at the winter grass seeds that had not yet sprouted, Master Yu asked, “Can this really work?”

Song Ying replied, “It’s only the beginning of winter. Maybe the temperature hasn’t met the conditions for germination yet. If you’re interested, why not stay and see it through with me?”

Master Yu: “Are you confident?”

Song Ying: “Fifty-fifty. If it fails, will you help me try developing it again?”

Master Yu said, a little annoyed but amused, “I’ve heard of dirt stone, but I never thought about using it with a jade bowl to grow winter grass. Interesting! I’ll stay.”

When Wen Jun heard that Master Yu was temporarily staying at Xiaohanju, he said to Yue Shaozhi, “I didn’t expect her to actually keep him there. What now? Want Song Ying to deliver him to you?”

“Deliver?” Yue Shaozhi shot him a glare. “What do you think Master Yu is, a package?”

Wen Jun grinned wickedly, “To me, aside from Song Ying, everyone else is just a piece of shit.”

Wen Jun put his hands together in mock prayer and bowed. “Just joking, don’t be mad. Or I could go get him for you if you want.”

Yue Shaozhi: “No need. I’ll go and ask for him myself.”

Wen Jun: “Oh, alright then.”

As they left the study, they ran into Song Ruoer along the way.

Wen Jun greeted her, “Hey, Princess, out enjoying the sun?”

Song Ruoer nodded slightly. “Young Marquis.”

Yue Shaozhi took her hand and asked, “Why are you out here?”

Song Ruoer replied, “The imperial physician said that proper movement is good for the baby.”

Yue Shaozhi nodded. “Master Yu is here. I’ll go and ask him to come over.”

Song Ruoer’s face lit up. “Master Yu is here? Then can I come with you?”

Yue Shaozhi: “You stay at the residence and wait for me.”

Wen Jun, watching from the side, was torn about whether or not to tell Song Ruoer that her man was about to go to his ex-wife’s house to invite Master Yu.

Should he say it…?

Wen Jun stared at Song Ruoer’s face…

Ha, that’d be fun.

“Princess…”

Before he could finish, Yue Shaozhi turned and punched Wen Jun squarely in the stomach.

“Ugh—pfft!”

Song Ruoer was stunned by the sudden scene. “Young Marquis Wen, you, you… what are you two…?”

Wen Jun’s face twisted in pain. Yue Shaozhi’s punch was truly merciless.

Yue Shaozhi glanced at the two guards nearby. The guard immediately carried Wen Jun away and swiftly exited the palace.

Song Ruoer was dumbfounded.

Yue Shaozhi held her hand and said, “Wait for me at home. I’ll be back soon.”

Song Ruoer nodded, “Okay.”

After seeing Yue Shaozhi off at the palace gate, Song Ruoer watched his carriage until it was nearly out of sight. Then she turned to Yunchun beside her and said, “Follow him. Find out where the prince is going to invite Master Yu.”

Yunchun: “Yes, Princess.”