Noticing his eldest daughter pursing her lips again, Emperor Xingwu smiled, “Yongkang, do you want to go too?”
It was only a palace banquet; adding another seat was nothing.
With two princesses, one big and one small, they could keep each other company.
Yongkang both envied her younger sister’s favor and knew her sister was too young to understand the distinction between men and women, nor did she mind the ministers’ gazes.
But she herself simply couldn’t do it, especially since her marriage was already arranged—her future father-in-law and consort would both attend the banquet.
“Forget it. The ministers are too noisy. I’d rather sit with Mother.”
Since the eldest daughter didn’t want to go, Emperor Xingwu did not insist.
***
In Taiji Hall, the ministers sat according to rank.
Once everything was ready, the palace attendants went to invite the Emperor.
Emperor Xingwu entered the hall carrying the Little Princess, flanked by his three sons of varying heights.
The ministers stepped to the side of their seats and knelt in greeting.
Emperor Xingwu laughed, “Rise. Tonight, let us celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival together. Enjoy yourselves and don’t stand on ceremony.”
The ministers gave thanks.
Emperor Xingwu’s seat was elevated in the north.
Crown Prince Qin Hong sat alone at his father’s lower left, facing him.
Second Prince Qin Bing took another seat, and Third Prince Qin Ren sat with his little sister.
The ministers’ attention was all on Emperor Xingwu, and few spared a glance for the three-year-old Qingyang Princess.
Qingyang looked down and recognized several familiar faces.
On the civil side were Chancellor Yan and Chancellor Dai.
Among the nobles and generals were Prince Yong, the father of Zhang Su—Duke of Weiguo Zhang Jie—and the newly acquainted Imperial Guards Commander Fan Zhong.
No one else seemed to notice her, except for Fan Zhong, who happily raised his wine bowl to her, drained it in one gulp, and when he set it down, his beard was dripping with wine.
Qingyang didn’t much like such untidy people, but she was impressed by Fan Zhong’s burly build. She’d seen him defeat several guards in a row and thought he was especially formidable.
Even though Fan Zhong sweated profusely, she didn’t dislike him.
Later, hearing Father Emperor praise Fan Zhong as his most valiant and loyal general, Qingyang liked him even more.
“Are you not afraid of him, little sister?”
Seeing that his little sister had been staring at Fan Zhong, Qin Ren quickly averted his gaze to avoid Fan Zhong’s fierce grin and asked in a low voice.
Qingyang replied, “No, why should I be afraid of him?”
Qin Ren said, “…It’s nothing. As long as you’re not afraid.”
There were too many people at the banquet, and Qingyang’s eyes couldn’t take it all in.
Other than opening her mouth for the food her third brother fed her, she didn’t talk much to him. Sometimes she watched the dancers, sometimes listened to Father Emperor and the ministers, and especially loved hearing Father Emperor recount tales of the battlefield.
She memorized the faces of Duke of Chengguo Lü Guangzu and Duke of Dingguo Deng Chong—one with white hair whom Father Emperor called Uncle Lü, the other whom he called “Brother Chong.”
Qingyang finally asked her third brother, “Why does Father Emperor call Duke of Dingguo ‘brother’?”
Qin Ren whispered, “Because Father Emperor met Duke of Dingguo when he was very young. They grew up together, and their bond is deeper than blood brothers. Our Princess Consort is Duke of Dingguo’s younger sister. Prince Yong was able to marry her because Father Emperor matched them.”
Qingyang sorted it out: “So Father Emperor and Duke of Dingguo are like you and Zhang Su?”
Qin Ren replied, “Yes, more or less.”
Qingyang asked, “Then why did Father Emperor have Prince Yong marry Duke of Dingguo’s sister?”
Qin Ren replied, “…Because they knew each other well. Father Emperor knew Duke of Dingguo’s sister was a good woman, and Duke of Dingguo trusted Father Emperor and Prince Yong to take good care of her, so he agreed to the marriage.”
Qingyang wanted to ask more, but just then, a distinguished civil official stood up, raised his wine cup to Father Emperor, and recited a poem.
Father Emperor was delighted and rewarded him with ten bolts of silk.
Two more officials followed with poems.
The Little Princess didn’t really understand what poetry was, but she felt the words they recited sounded a bit like the Thousand Character Classic she studied.
Seeing how much Father Emperor enjoyed the poems, after another official finished, Qingyang excitedly stood up and called out, “Father Emperor, I can recite a poem too!”
The clear, strong voice of the three-year-old Little Princess instantly echoed through the grand hall, reverberating several times due to the high ceiling.
The ministers looked at her in surprise.
Emperor Xingwu wore the same expression, but then encouraged her, “Is that so? Lin’er, recite it for me.”
Qingyang saw everyone waiting for her and lifted her head, reciting word by word with clarity: “Heaven and earth are mysterious and yellow, the universe vast and wild. Cold comes, heat goes…”
As soon as the Little Princess began, Emperor Xingwu and the ministers understood and smiled. So this was the “poem” in the Little Princess’s mind.
But since she recited so earnestly, everyone waited patiently for her to finish before continuing the banquet.
They didn’t expect to wait so long—at only three years old, the Little Princess smoothly recited nearly half of the Thousand Character Classic.
The ministers’ expressions shifted from polite patience to shock and astonishment.
“Right connects to the Inner Court, left reaches Chengming. Classics are assembled, and heroes gathered.”
When the Little Princess’s clear voice finally stopped, the ministers remained silent.
Qingyang looked at Father Emperor, then at the ministers, and said, “Father Emperor, I finished reciting my poem.”
Emperor Xingwu maintained a calm expression and smiled, “Well done. But do you know what your poem means? For example, ‘Classics are assembled, and heroes gathered’—how would you explain that?”
Qingyang certainly knew.
Her tutor tested her on every sentence, both for recognizing the characters and for their meaning.
The Little Princess unhesitatingly explained it to Father Emperor.
Emperor Xingwu glanced at the dumbfounded Qin Bing, then at the ministers.
Fan Zhong was the first to jump up in shock: “Your Majesty, how did the little princess memorize such a long passage? Even if you beat me to death, I couldn’t do it!”
Several generals nodded in agreement, including Prince Yong.
The generals praised her in their rough way, while the civil officials, led by Chancellor Dai Lun, went even further, praising Princess Qingyang as if she were Wenqu Star Descending.
Emperor Xingwu could no longer hide his pride.
He walked down to pick up his Little Princess and addressed the ministers: “Qingyang was born on the day I ascended the throne. I’ve long said she’s the Kirin Heaven bestowed upon me, and she truly lives up to her name!”
The ministers left their seats and loudly proclaimed that Emperor Xingwu’s ascension was ordained by Heaven, and that Heaven had sent auspicious omens and a blessed child.
Emperor Xingwu accepted these praises with head held high. Once the ministers were seated again, he held his daughter’s little hand and asked, “Lin’er, since you recited so well, Father Emperor will reward you. Tell me, what do you want?”
A reward?
Qingyang thought carefully and finally said, “I want the Gold Waist Token you gave me last time.”
She already had plenty of beautiful clothes and didn’t lack for silk.
Whatever she wanted, Father Emperor and Mother would try to provide.
But only Father Emperor could grant her permission to go places.
If she had his waist token, she could take Jieyu wherever she wanted.
Emperor Xingwu: “…”
Left Chancellor Yan Xizheng recalled the incident in July when the Little Princess ran to the Central Secretariat and asked in surprise, “Is Her Highness requesting the Imperial Edict Token that allows free passage in the palace?”
Emperor Xingwu gave tacit consent.
Yan Xizheng’s expression changed and he remonstrated, “That is the top-grade token for palace access, not to be given lightly except for urgent matters. Your Majesty, how can you let Her Highness play with it? What if she loses it and it’s picked up by someone with ill intent…”
Emperor Xingwu replied, “Left Chancellor speaks rightly. Then, I’ll have a special token made for Lin’er alone. If anyone else picks it up, it’s just a piece of scrap gold, and to use it falsely is punishable by death. Lin’er can use this token only until she’s ten. When she’s older, I won’t let her run around in the front court.”
After all, he had just promised a reward to his daughter in front of all the civil and military officials.
The word of the Son of Heaven must not be broken.
Yan Xizheng thought for a moment and reluctantly agreed to Emperor Xingwu’s solution.
Qingyang only heard that she could get Father Emperor’s Gold Waist Token and happily thought, Next time I want something from Father Emperor, I’ll just recite more poems!
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