Xingwu, Year Ten, March 30th.
Chanyuan Palace.
The Third Prince, Qin Ren, who was sound asleep under his quilt, subconsciously furrowed his brow, then stretched out a hand to scratch his itchy nose.
After a moment, his nose itched again.
Qin Ren continued to scratch, and by the fourth time, a faint, mischievous laugh sounded by his ear.
Startled, Qin Ren opened his eyes and saw his sister sitting sideways at the bedside, holding a length of skirt ribbon.
The light, silky sash was just about to brush against his nose again.
Qin Ren quickly leaned back to dodge it.
Qingyang, seeing that Third Brother had woken, put down the ribbon and urged, “It’s almost the Chen hour. If you don’t get up now, we’ll be the last ones there, and Father will be mad at you again.”
Qin Ren didn’t quite believe it and glanced toward Fuan Gonggong, who was standing a few steps away.
Fuan Gonggong said, “There are still fifteen minutes before Chen hour, but if Your Highness doesn’t hurry, you really will be late.”
Normally, the Third Prince could get dressed and freshen up in less than ten minutes, so he immediately relaxed, pulled the quilt back over himself, lay down again, yawned a good morning to his sister, and with eyes watering from sleepiness, mumbled softly, “Father is really something. He only gets a day off three times a month, and yet he insists we have breakfast at Qianyuan Hall during Chen hour. Why can’t we just eat separately?”
Qingyang was used to her brother’s grumbling and said, “Still want to sleep? Then I’ll go out by myself later, not waiting for you.”
At once, Qin Ren sat up. Seeing his sister looking at him, he hurriedly pulled the quilt back over his shoulders and leaned against the headboard.
“I’m getting up. Sister, you wait outside.”
Qingyang scoffed, “What’s there to hide? You’re not wearing your underclothes underneath.”
Qin Ren replied, “Even if I am, it’s not appropriate. There has to be a difference between men and women. Even between siblings, we need to be cautious. Besides, I don’t even know if I… left a tail last night…”
Before he finished speaking, the nine-year-old Little Princess jumped up and ran out without looking back.
Qin Ren grinned, stretched lazily, and slowly got out of bed.
After relieving himself, washing his face, combing his hair, and changing clothes, the Third Prince finally emerged from his room a quarter of an hour later, wearing a tea-white, round-collared long robe.
Qingyang was admiring a few pale pink peonies arranged in a porcelain vase when she heard footsteps.
She turned her head and let her gaze travel down the sharply defined long robe adorning her brother’s tall, straight figure before settling on his fair, handsome face.
Just as she thought how good-looking her Third Brother was, he suddenly opened his mouth to yawn—Qingyang could even see the back of his throat!
The Little Princess, who had been carefully attended to by palace attendants all her life and had never suffered from even a single stye, suddenly felt as if she understood what a stye must feel like.
When Qin Ren closed his mouth, his eyes met his sister’s disdainful expression.
The younger sister, who was even fresher and more delicate than the peonies, looked adorably scornful.
“Why so disdainful? Don’t you yawn when you wake up?”
Qin Ren teased.
Qingyang retorted, “I do, but I never let others see.”
Qin Ren smiled.
“I’m not yawning in front of others either. You’re my sister—would you really look down on your own brother?”
The Little Princess answered with a look of disdain.
Qin Ren sighed, “You never looked down on me when we were little.”
Years ago, when he pretended to have a stomach ache, she would have pitied him.
Now, when he pretends the same way, she barely gives him a glance, acting like their father.
Qingyang said, “Let’s go. Big Brother must already be waiting for us.”
Qin Ren habitually followed his sister.
Chanyuan Palace stood just behind Chongyuan Palace, separated by a two-zhang-wide palace path from the tall east wall of Qianyuan Hall.
As the siblings walked over, sure enough, Qin Hong, the Crown Prince, was waiting by the nearest palace gate.
At twenty years old, the Crown Prince stood with broad shoulders, hands behind his back, completely shedding the awkwardness of youth.
He had been assigned to serve in the Ministry of Appointments for three months and was soon to marry the Crown Prince Consort in May.
To outsiders, the Crown Prince had changed a lot. But Qingyang, having grown up alongside her elder brothers, knew better.
As her brothers grew taller, she did too.
Though she didn’t grow as fast as them, she was still the Little Princess who could be easily lifted and spun around several times by her second brother with just his armpits.
Therefore, the changes in her elder brothers didn’t seem obvious to Qingyang.
She only felt that Big Brother, who had just started working officially, smiled less and seemed to always furrow his brow. Whenever she saw them, she made sure to smile.
“Big Brother!”
At this moment, compared to the lazy Third Brother who still needed her to wake him up, Qingyang much preferred the elder brother who had already been waiting.
She happily ran up to him.
When adults looked stern, children would feel uneasy.
But a carefree smile from a child could ease an adult’s worries, even if only temporarily.
Qin Hong relaxed his brows, reached out his right hand to hold his sister close, and nodded at Third Brother.
The three siblings then walked together toward Qianyuan Hall.
As for the seventeen-year-old Qin Bing, he had joyfully moved into his future princely residence last year.
Emperor Xingwu had decreed that princes leave the palace to open their own residences at sixteen, but they continued their studies there until twenty, when they would be granted their princely titles and positions.
To officials, once a prince left the palace, he was farther from the Emperor and less likely to receive Saint’s Favor.
But for Qin Bing and Qin Ren, leaving the palace was great.
No more early mornings, and after finishing their studies, they could roam the markets. On rest days, they could even leave the city to play.
Compared to waking early to share breakfast with Father, having their studies inspected, and being scolded as part of “Saint’s Favor,” this was much better.
If only Father treated them as kindly and praised them as much as he did their little sister, perhaps they wouldn’t feel so reluctant.
After many renovations, Qianyuan Hall was filled with the relaxing presence of Emperor Xingwu, who half-reclined on the main throne, listening to Consort Li and Noble Lady chat about flowers and children.
He usually had too many state affairs to worry about, and being alone made him dwell too deeply on things.
On rest days, spending time with the two consorts and their children became his simplest form of leisure.
As for dispatching a large number of palace attendants to accompany horse rides outside the palace, or the relatively ineffective undercover visits in civilian clothes lasting just one day, Emperor Xingwu found no desire to fuss over such things.
“Your subjects pay respects to Father,” the siblings said obediently as the Little Princess smoothly approached her father.
Emperor Xingwu waved them off, “Sit.”
The royal family was complete. He Yuanjing signaled a young eunuch to serve the meal.
The morning’s conversation centered on Qingyang and her brothers.
Consort Li remained uneasy about the siblings going out alone.
Qingyang said, “Father assigned us eight guards. We’re only going for a spring outing in the suburbs. What is Mother worried about?”
Consort Li replied, “I’m afraid you’ll be too bold and secretly ride horses. Your Third Brother can’t keep you in check.”
The children learned to ride at ten years old.
Earlier this year, the young princess had thrown a tantrum, and Emperor Xingwu had personally taught her to ride.
When he was around, father and daughter could ride horses together.
When he wasn’t, the princess was only allowed to walk slowly around the riding grounds, led by palace attendants holding a rein.
In the palace, the attendants strictly obeyed imperial orders and wouldn’t let the princess misbehave.
Outside the palace, who could keep an eye on the little princess but the Third Prince?
Consort Li worried that the daughter would take her brother for a live horse to ride.
Qingyang glanced discreetly at her father.
Emperor Xingwu smiled, “Those eight guards are sent to protect you but also serve as my eyes and ears. If Lin’er dares to ride alone, I’ll punish your Third Brother by making Zhang Su stand outside the main hall all day.”
Qin Ren: “…”
Qingyang said, “Then let Third Brother ride with me…”
Emperor Xingwu: “He can’t even ride well himself, let alone take you along.”
Qingyang: “Then Zhang Su. He’s been riding since he was nine. Father praised his excellent horsemanship.”
Emperor Xingwu chuckled, “You can try and see if Zhang Su dares to take you.”
The Little Princess was motivated and even ate faster than usual.
After the meal, the siblings bid farewell to their elders and walked side by side along the long palace path heading south.
The warm spring morning bathed the road in light.
The excited Little Princess couldn’t help but start running, with Qin Ren chasing after her in resignation.
They ran and rested in turns until they reached Vermilion Bird Gate.
Outside the gate, two carriages stood parked.
The front carriage was spacious and splendid, draped in purple curtains.
Two glossy black horses with muscular builds pulled the carriage.
Eight well-trained guards in plain clothes stood behind the carriage, each holding the reins of a tall horse.
By the carriage stood a young man in a green robe, his complexion as fair as jade, with cold, frost-like eyes.
He didn’t look forbidding but resembled a sheathed sword, ready to be drawn or not at the wielder’s command.
Qin Ren was used to Zhang Su’s demeanor, and Qingyang was as well.
She asked him, “How long have you been waiting?”
Zhang Su glanced at the white skirt hem with a hint of pink and lowered his eyes.
“About half an hour.”
At that moment, the coachman, also a skilled rider, had just settled on the driver’s seat.
Qingyang walked over and stretched out her hand to Zhang Su.
Third Brother was good in every way, but when it came to taking care of him, Zhang Su was much more reliable.
The Little Princess didn’t remind Zhang Su or even look at him, but as she reached the carriage step, the hand that was going out to help her was firmly grasped by another.
Qingyang stepped onto the carriage bench and, using the strength of that hand to support herself, easily stood on the carriage shaft.
At the same time, the hand released hers.
Before getting in, Qingyang casually said, “You come up too.”
Zhang Su looked toward the Third Prince.
Qin Ren said, “Come on. Sister is happy to play chess with you.”
Zhang Su had no choice but to get on the carriage with the two siblings.
Inside the carriage door hung a gauze curtain, with a more than two-chi-wide gap in the middle.
On the left was a three-tiered wooden rack for shoes, perfectly sized.
On the right was a low cabinet holding a chamber pot that the carriage’s owners might need.
After placing his boots and wiping his hands with a clean towel hanging nearby, Zhang Su pulled aside the gauze curtain and entered.
Seeing the Third Prince unfolding a small, foldable chessboard, Zhang Su lowered his head to assist, then sat at the small table near the carriage door.
Qin Ren sat opposite him, arranging three small porcelain plates before them: melon seeds in the middle, shelled melon seeds near Qingyang, and seed husks near Zhang Su.
Qingyang didn’t want to play chess. She asked Zhang Su, “Today’s supposed to be a family reunion, yet you’ve been called out by us. Did Duke and Madam say anything?”
Zhang Su looked at the chessboard and said, “Father and mother told me to protect the two of you.”
Qingyang said, “Who said you had to protect us? We invited you out to have fun. Without His Highness and his attendants today, we’re all just friends.”
Qin Ren chimed in, “Right, right, all friends. Brother Su, have some.” He handed Zhang Su a shelled melon seed.
Zhang Su hesitated but couldn’t refuse.
He accepted the seed, and Qin Ren smiled and continued shelling seeds for his sister.
As the carriage drove away from the Imperial City onto a pedestrian street, Qingyang moved to the window beside Third Brother’s side.
She lifted the curtain slightly to look out and excitedly pointed out anything new to Third Brother.
The siblings weren’t the only ones not at ease; Zhang Su quietly started shelling melon seeds.
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