When a Princess marries, there are also customs for her return visit to her maiden home.
So, on the morning of the tenth day, Qingyang accompanied her Imperial Consort Mother and the Noble Consort to Father Emperor’s Qianyuan Hall.
Not long after, the Crown Prince led his two younger brothers over from the Eastern Palace.
Taking advantage of all the children being present, Emperor Xingwu began inspecting their studies one by one.
He had originally planned to spend every rest day morning with his children.
In the past, he’d been too busy conquering the world to have the time or opportunity, but now that he did, he wondered what would become of his three sons if he didn’t take charge.
At least for now, Emperor Xingwu could pick out a pile of faults from each of his three sons—there wasn’t a single one he could trust completely.
It was strange, really.
He had lost his father young, and with his mother busy earning a living and unable to look after him, he had run off to the private school to secretly listen in on lessons.
When he found out his playmate Deng Chong had been sent to the Lü family to learn martial arts, Emperor Xingwu had thickened his skin and tagged along, luckily earning the old master Lü’s appreciation and having his tuition fees waived, which allowed him to become both literate and skilled in martial arts.
With all his achievements as a father, his sons had the careful care of their mothers and the devoted instruction of private tutors, lacking for nothing in food or clothing—so why were none of them as capable as he had been at their age?
“Raise your head and look at me. Am I a monster, that you’re so afraid?”
The Crown Prince was first, so Emperor Xingwu began by picking on him.
The Emperor’s tone was harsh, and sitting on the other side, the timid Consort Li seemed to feel as though she herself was being scolded and grew nervous, sneaking a glance at the Noble Consort.
The Noble Consort shook her head slightly, but didn’t dare interfere in the Emperor’s teaching of his sons.
Qin Hong had no choice but to look into Father Emperor’s eyes, but all his attention was spent on maintaining his composure, making him unable to recall the next lines of the text.
As soon as he stammered, Father Emperor’s gaze grew even more imposing, making the string in Qin Hong’s mind stretch ever tighter.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his hand, hanging at his side, trembled slightly.
Qingyang was sitting in Father Emperor’s lap.
Seeing her eldest brother looking so frightened, she turned her head to look back.
As his daughter wriggled, Emperor Xingwu instinctively looked down at her.
Qin Hong caught a break and smoothly recited the rest of the passage.
Qingyang cheered, “Big Brother recited it so well.”
Emperor Xingwu said, “What use is reciting alone? When dealing with others, you must be calm and open. If you avert your gaze and act timid, you’ve already lost your momentum.”
Consort Li was the sort to draw out his playful side, but his eldest son only provoked his anger.
Qin Hong humbly replied, “Father Emperor’s teaching is right, your son will remember it.”
The Noble Consort felt sorry for the Crown Prince and said gently, “These years, Your Majesty’s majesty has only grown. Even the civil and military ministers, learned and battle-tested as they are, dare not meet your gaze directly.”
“The Crown Prince is still young, and you see each other rarely. Precisely because he reads so much, he understands the dignity and awe of the Son of Heaven, so he always observes the proper etiquette of father and son, monarch and subject. Your Majesty, please don’t be too harsh.”
Consort Li nodded silently. She understood the Crown Prince very well.
Emperor Xingwu gave the Noble Consort face and signaled the second son to step forward.
Qin Bing, learning from his Crown Prince brother’s example, stood straight and stared directly at Father Emperor, refusing to look away even if he couldn’t answer.
Emperor Xingwu asked, “What are you staring at me for? Answer the question!”
Qin Bing replied, “…Your son didn’t mean to. It’s just that I haven’t seen Eldest Sister all day, and I really miss her. All I can think about is whether the Prince Consort is bullying her.”
Emperor Xingwu: “……”
Qingyang looked up again, pitifully saying, “Father Emperor, I miss Eldest Sister too. Will the Prince Consort bully her?”
Emperor Xingwu rubbed his daughter’s little head.
“Don’t listen to your second brother’s… nonsense. With Father Emperor here, even if the Prince Consort had a hundred times the courage, he wouldn’t dare bully your eldest sister.”
The Noble Consort took the opportunity to praise the Prince Consort’s appearance, with Consort Li chiming in.
The Little Princess added a few innocent comments, so Emperor Xingwu let the clever but book-averse second son and the studious but less intelligent third son off the hook.
They chatted as they waited for the newlywed Princess and Prince Consort to enter the palace.
Yongkang was returning to her own home and, aside from some shyness, felt at ease.
It was the Prince Consort, Fu Kui, who was nervous and ill at ease.
Though he had followed the army last year, his rank was low, and he seldom had the chance to discuss matters with Emperor Xingwu.
It was only thanks to his father’s favor that he’d appeared before the Emperor a few times.
After being granted the marriage upon arriving in the capital, Fu Kui was both thrilled and anxious, worried that Grand Princess Yongkang wouldn’t like him, which might lead to Emperor Xingwu disliking him as well.
Because of this, last night Fu Kui had served the Princess with all his skill, just as he used to please his former chambermaids.
Of course, all those chambermaids had been sent away as soon as the imperial decree of marriage arrived, and after three months of abstinence, he finally married the Princess.
Fu Kui was truly happy and treated her with genuine affection.
The young couple had been inseparable these past two days, exchanging loving glances that even their elders could see.
Emperor Xingwu had never been especially close to his eldest daughter, nor did he know how or feel the need to exchange pleasantries with the Prince Consort.
He merely gave customary instructions: his daughter should treat her husband well, and the Prince Consort should serve faithfully and not betray his trust.
After Emperor Xingwu, it was the Noble Consort and Consort Li’s turn. Once the elders had all been served tea, Fu Kui finally relaxed a little, only for the Little Princess, who was standing by Consort Li’s side, to suddenly glare at him and ask, “Did you bully Eldest Sister?”
Fu Kui’s heart skipped a beat, and he noticed Emperor Xingwu slowly raising his eyes to look at him.
Fu Kui quickly bowed low and replied, “This humble subject wouldn’t dare.”
Qingyang asked, “Then what did you and Eldest Sister do in the Princess Mansion?”
Why must you stay at the Princess Mansion and not in the palace?
Her crisp, childish voice made both Yongkang and Fu Kui blush.
Consort Li awkwardly tried to cover her daughter’s mouth, but it was too late. In her fluster, she pushed her daughter toward the third prince.
“Alright, you’ve greeted your relatives. Take your sister outside to play and stop interrupting the adults.”
Qin Ren reached out, but Qingyang darted away like a slippery eel and ran over to Eldest Sister, hugging her leg.
“I want to play with Eldest Sister.”
Yongkang bent down to comfort her sister and hide her own embarrassment.
Emperor Xingwu decided, “Let Yongkang take the Prince Consort for a walk in the Imperial Garden. The four little ones should go too. Get to know the Prince Consort—after all, you’re family now.”
As they walked to the Imperial Garden, Fu Kui gradually revealed his naturally cheerful, easygoing side.
Qin Hong was quiet, while Qin Bing was talkative; Fu Kui answered whatever Qin Bing asked.
The Little Princess, curious about this new person, kept butting in, and Fu Kui patiently responded.
Qingyang asked, “You still haven’t told me what you and Eldest Sister do in the Princess Mansion?”
Fu Kui turned to look at Yongkang, who was walking with the Crown Prince.
After receiving a glare from her, he scratched his nose and answered solemnly, “Since I am the Prince Consort, I must obey the Princess’s wishes and please her. If the Princess wants to stroll in the gardens, I accompany her; if she wants to admire flowers, I accompany her to do that.”
Qingyang was puzzled and pointed at Jie Yu, who was trailing far behind.
“Jie Yu does that with me too. Is he my Prince Consort?”