Having declined Third Brother Zhang Su’s sweaty dinner invitation, Qingyang went to Qianyuan Hall to have dinner with Father Emperor.
Since there was an early court session the next day, Qingyang would sleep tonight in the rear chamber that Father Emperor had specially reserved for her, so she wouldn’t have to rush through a palace gate from Jiu Hua Palace in the morning.
After seeing her sister off, Qin Ren asked Zhang Su, who had changed into his outer robe again, “What did Sister say to you?”
Zhang Su only mentioned the illness of the Marchioness of Weiyuan and that Father was going to Liao Zhou to replace the Marquis of Wei, which earned the Third Prince a long sigh.
After retrieving the Crown Prince’s Companion Reader token from Chanyuan Palace, Zhang Su immediately left the palace.
***
At the Duke of Wei State Manor, Duke Wei Zhang Mei had yet to return.
His eldest son, Zhang Jian, had been sent to the border troops in Ji Prefecture by Emperor Xingwu three years ago for military training.
Lady Xu took the eldest daughter-in-law with him, leaving their eldest grandson in her care.
The second son, Zhang Heng, was only twenty-one and served in the Northern Garrison.
His wife, Tong Xin, had just been married three months ago and was still unaccustomed, so she took their nephew to play in the garden.
Thus, Zhang Su was the only one to meet his mother alone in the main hall.
Only then did Lady Xu learn from her son that her husband was about to embark on a journey.
Reluctant to part, she thought of the ailing Marchioness of Weiyuan and felt that it was good for her husband to leave.
As a son of a military family with founding merit, devoted to serving the country, how could he enjoy being stuck in the capital practicing troops all year round?
As dusk fell, both Zhang Mei and Zhang Heng returned home, and the whole family gathered for dinner.
Zhang Heng said, “Father, can you speak to His Majesty and ask if I can accompany you to Liao Zhou?”
The Second Aunt sitting beside Madam Hou’s mother blinked her eyelashes.
Zhang Ma said, “A government official must obey orders and fulfill his duties. His Majesty assigned you to serve in the Capital Garrison; you must do your part well. You cannot demand your own reassignment.”
She had meant just to make a brief point, but seeing her grandson Dalang looking at her with bright, round eyes, Zhang Jiu added, “His Majesty’s favor is a grace granted to me. If I were to use this grace to ask the Emperor to specially care for Zhang family’s descendants, that would be prideful and greedy. History shows that ministers who are prideful of favors never end well. You must take this as a warning and prevent any calamity brought by arrogance.”
Zhang Heng immediately looked ashamed, and along with his third brother, both promised to keep their father’s teachings firmly in mind.
Even the three-and-a-half-year-old Dalang nodded in agreement, imitating his second and third uncles.
Lady Xu quietly served food to her daughter-in-law.
After dinner, Zhang Mei called his two sons into the study and advised them to focus on their duties, honor their mother, and take care of their wives and nephews.
Only after the sky had turned completely dark did the three separate.
Both elder brothers were already married; fifteen-year-old Zhang Su no longer slept in their rooms and returned alone to his own courtyard.
Having lived mostly in the palace since he was six and seen his family infrequently, Zhang Su didn’t feel much reluctance about his father’s journey.
His father had been awarded Duke for his talents and founding merits, so Zhang Su wasn’t too worried about his safety in Liao Zhou.
In fact, the thing that shocked him most today was the two sentences from the little princess.
Why did it matter whether his father had a concubine?
Could it be that the little princess still remembered the words she said as a three-year-old about choosing him as her consort?
***
The early court session began at the first earthly branch hour.
Officials usually arrived fifteen minutes early; only the lazier ones arrived just in time at Qianyuan Hall.
Officials like Zhang Jiu, who lived near the imperial city, could easily manage it—waking at the fourth quarter of the first earthly branch hour, spending fifteen minutes washing up, another fifteen eating a light meal, and fifteen riding to the hall. Some officials skipped eating or ate while on horseback to get a bit more sleep.
But Zhang Mei always rose at the third quarter of the first earthly branch hour.
He was no exception this morning.
Zhang Su even arrived early to wait outside the main gate for his father.
Qingyang rose at the sixth quarter of the first earthly branch hour, only two quarters earlier than usual for her morning reading, but she didn’t feel tired since she had gone to bed early the night before.
After getting ready, Qingyang arrived at the Imperial Study.
Emperor Xingwu had already eaten breakfast and was reading memorials.
A small table beside him held a portion of breakfast left for his daughter.
It was only a light snack, and the little princess ate it slowly and deliberately.
Emperor Xingwu looked at his spirited daughter and shook his head, saying, “I don’t understand why someone so young likes to listen to all those tedious state affairs.”
The court session lasted one earthly hour and covered matters big and small—some urgent and heart-wrenching, like natural disasters, wars, or brutal cases; others routine and dull, such as minor official transfers and performance reports.
Sometimes Emperor Xingwu had to grit his teeth and endure the endless chatter from officials, yet his daughter insisted on coming early to listen.
Qingyang said, “Father Emperor says the whole world belongs to our family. I want to know what’s happening in places I can’t see. I also like hearing you scold those ministers—it’s very impressive.”
Emperor Xingwu said, “…I don’t scold them every time. When they do well, I often praise them.”
Qingyang said, “Anyway, I just like listening to Father Emperor handle affairs of state. You seem more heroic when you’re at court.”
Unconsciously, Emperor Xingwu straightened his back and even tidied his dragon robe before setting out.
Qingyang smiled, walking beside him.
He Yuanjing and Zhao Cai followed behind.
He Yuanjing served the Emperor, while Zhao Cai, a second-rank eunuch of Qianyuan Hall, carried the soft cushion the little princess would use.
Jie Yujiang stopped outside the front hall.
In short, only the little princess was exceptionally permitted by Emperor Xingwu to hide by the imperial path and listen to court affairs.
When Emperor Xingwu sat on the dragon throne, Qingyang also sat on her cushion, leaning her head against the hall wall.
She took the book Zhao Cai handed her and flipped through it while listening to the sounds above.
If the topics were unworthy of attention, she focused on the book to make up for the missed morning reading.
Recently, there was little major news in the court, so Qingyang mostly cared about Meng Yao’s mother’s illness and when Marquis Meng Ji of Weiyuan would arrive in the capital.
She had visited Yutu at Father Emperor’s place.
From the capital to Liao Zhou city was a full thirty li.
Even Zhang Jiu, riding tirelessly day after day, could only reach Liao Zhou by mid-April.
Only after the two commanders formally handed over command could Marquis Meng Ji return to the capital.
In the meantime, Qingyang had visited the Marchioness of Weiyuan again.
The last time, she had been able to speak at length, but now even forming complete sentences was difficult.
Qingyang couldn’t bear to visit again.
***
On the afternoon of April 22, as Qingyang left the Ministry of Revenue intending to stroll near the Ministry of War, she suddenly saw Fan Zhong accompanying a tall yet thin man in plain cloth hurrying along the palace road.
The man’s features should have been handsome, but his face was pale, lips and chin scruffy with stubble.
Up close, Qingyang saw his eyes were red.
At that moment, Fan Zhong spoke, pointing with his palm to the little princess, introducing, “This is Qingyang Princess.”
Marquis Meng Ji of Weiyuan abruptly stopped, his hoarse voice offering a salute, “I, Meng Ji, pay respects to the Princess.”
Qingyang was surprised, “Marquis, how did you return so quickly?”
Meng Ji was silent.
Fan Zhong explained on his behalf, “The Marquis changed horses continuously at various courier stations, riding with the urgency of eight hundred li. If Your Highness has no urgent matters, I will accompany the Marquis to see His Majesty first. Only after paying respects to the Emperor will the Marquis return to the manor.”
Qingyang immediately urged them to hurry.
The two martial generals continued swiftly forward.
Qingyang couldn’t help but watch their backs until they disappeared from sight before heading toward the Ministry of War.
But her mind was still occupied with the matter, so she stopped outside the Ministry of War and waited.
About a quarter of an hour later, heavy footsteps approached along the palace road—running, each step heavy.
Then, Meng Ji’s figure flashed between two government offices on the uncovered palace road, sprinting south.
Qingyang stood there dazed, Father Emperor’s words ringing in her ears.
Father Emperor said cavalry’s advantage was speed, but the fastest forced march was only two hundred li a day.
Beyond that, the horse couldn’t run further; the riders’ waists, legs, and arms would give out.
There were often cases of messenger horsemen collapsing or dying from exhaustion on such urgent eight-hundred-li journeys.
Fortunately, such urgent eight-hundred-li circumstances were rare.
Yet the Marquis of Weiyuan had run all the way back.
After the shock passed, Qingyang hoped Meng Yao’s mother would improve after reuniting with her husband.
However, only three days later, news of death came from the Marquis of Wei State Manor.
Qingyang followed Noble Consort and Imperial Concubine to pay respects at the manor.
She saw Meng Yao crying with swollen eyes before the ancestral altar and cried herself.
Marquis Meng Ji was dressed all in white, still so pale.
No matter who approached, he only bowed his head in response.
It wasn’t until Noble Consort stepped forward to comfort him in Emperor Xingwu’s name that Meng Ji knelt deeply on both knees.
Noble Consort told him to rise.
Meng Ji remained kneeling but finally looked up and saw the little princess holding Consort Li’s hand with red eyes.
Thinking of his wife’s grateful words to the little princess, a spark of life appeared in Meng Ji’s eyes as he nodded slightly at her.
The little princess, tears in her eyes and vision blurred, didn’t notice this subtle gesture.
Officials aware of the Marchioness of Weiyuan’s illness understood that Meng Ji had returned to the capital for the funeral.
Once the funeral concluded, the general would return to the front.
Meng Ji dared not let family matters interfere with state affairs, so three days after his wife’s burial, he proactively sought an audience to request leave.
Emperor Xingwu sighed, “If you leave, what will become of the children at home? Changchuan is only twenty-one and unmarried, serving in the Eastern Garrison with early mornings and late nights. Changhe studies at Wuxue Academy and doesn’t require your care. And Yao Yao? She’s just thirteen this year.”
Meng Ji lowered his eyes and said, “To be honest, Your Majesty, I want to take Yao Yao with me to Liao Zhou. At least I can accompany her sometimes.”
Emperor Xingwu said, “That won’t do. Liao Zhou winters are bitterly cold. It’s one thing to station soldiers there, but a young girl like Yao Yao can’t endure that hardship. And you’re more protective than your own skin. Here’s what—we’ve long wanted to be in-laws.”
“I planned to arrange Yao Yao’s marriage to the Second Prince when you returned next year to report your service, once Yao Yao was older. But now, given the situation, if you agree, I’ll arrange the marriage immediately and bring Yao Yao into the palace to be raised by Noble Consort. That way, you can rest assured while away.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Ji knelt and said, “Your Majesty’s great favor moves me to tears. But my daughter has been spoiled since childhood and has never known gentleness or consideration…”
Emperor Xingwu smiled, “Yao Yao grew up under my watch; I know her temper well.”
He personally helped Meng Ji to his feet and said, “Don’t worry. I arrange marriages according to the children’s personalities. Gentle and quiet suits the reserved Crown Prince, while bold and lively Yao Yao is the only one who can manage the impulsive, martial Second Prince. Once they marry, Noble Consort and I will stand by Yao Yao. The Second Prince will never dare bully her.”
Meng Ji understood—there was no room for objection in this marriage proposal.
“I thank Your Majesty for your great kindness on behalf of my daughter!”
Emperor Xingwu stopped him from making such a formal bow and patted his shoulder, saying, “The children have just lost their mother; spend more time with them. Leave after the New Year and bring Changchuan and Changhe with you. Teach them well.”
He truly valued Meng Ji, willing to form a noble kinship and share prosperity, even entrusting Meng Ji to bring both sons to Liao Zhou as a mark of trust.