Emperor Xingwu didn’t hold it against her.
Of all his children, Yongkang was the one he had spent the least time with in his life.
After her came the three brothers, Qin Hong, Qin Bing, and Qin Ren.
Emperor Xingwu first asked the Noble Consort about the current state of the palace.
Since there were no serious issues, his attention quickly shifted to the four older children.
“When I left the capital, Yongkang had just started learning the guqin. How is that going?”
Yongkang’s lips pressed lightly together, eyes lowered.
“I am untalented, and have only scratched the surface.”
Emperor Xingwu: “……”
Clearly, she had no talent for it, he had stepped right on the sore spot.
The Noble Consort smiled and said, “Yongkang wasn’t that interested in the guqin. But once she switched to learning the flute, her progress was swift.”
Emperor Xingwu nodded.
“Play a piece for Father sometime.”
Yongkang’s expression eased noticeably.
Then Emperor Xingwu looked to the three princes.
“The monthly exam at the end of May just finished, didn’t it? How did you do?”
The three princes exchanged glances.
With the younger two staying silent, Eldest Prince Qin Hong had no choice but to answer first.
“Your son received a mid-level A in literature, and a low-level A in martial arts.”
Qin Ren’s eye twitched.
Emperor Xingwu turned to the second son, silently signaling him to speak up.
Qin Bing braced himself and said, “Your son earned a top-level A in martial arts, but only a low-level C in literature.”
Emperor Xingwu snorted.
“Just like your Uncle Wang.”
Qin Bing couldn’t help but grin, until he saw his father’s glare and quickly put on a face of guilt and self-reflection.
As the emperor’s gaze turned to him, Qin Ren gave an awkward smile.
“Your son is slow-witted. Both my literature and martial arts scores were mid-level B.”
Emperor Xingwu: “…… At least your mindset’s alright. Still smiling after those results.”
Qin Ren lowered his head, embarrassed.
Qingyang saw her brother was unhappy and spoke up for him.
“Father, Third Brother didn’t slack off. He always does his assignments.”
Emperor Xingwu thought to himself, if the third one were slacking off and still got Bs, that would be a good sign.
But working hard and still getting Bs? Now that was concerning.
With that thought, Emperor Xingwu glanced at Consort Li.
The eldest and second princes had A grades, but the third had only Bs, clearly inherited from his mother.
Good looks but no brains.
Consort Li wasn’t the least bit worried.
She felt it was fine if her son wasn’t too clever.
The emperor already came to her side often enough, if her son turned out to be a genius too, wouldn’t that make him a target?
The Eldest Prince already held the title of crown prince-in-waiting and was betrothed to the granddaughter of the Duke of Cheng.
The Second Prince had the Noble Consort as his mother and the Chancellor as his maternal grandfather.
The crown prince would certainly be chosen from one of those two.
Her own Third Son was destined to have nothing to do with that position.
It was better for him to stay ordinary and harmless, no threat to any of his brothers.
As the emperor shared this rare moment of family reunion, the half hour passed quickly.
It was time for Emperor Xingwu to head to the Tai Ji Hall for the grand banquet with the ministers.
He planned to bring the three princes along so they could start getting used to facing the civil and military officials.
Qingyang was still fascinated by her father.
The moment she saw him putting on his dragon boots, she leaned out from her mother’s arms and reached out, calling for her father to carry her.
Consort Li managed to hold down her daughter’s arms but couldn’t bring herself to cover her mouth.
After Qingyang called “Father” twice, Emperor Xingwu started to hesitate.
She called again, twice more, and when he looked down at her pitiful expression, his heart softened completely.
He reached out and took his little daughter back from Consort Li’s arms.
“Alright, alright, she’s still just a child anyway…”
Before he could finish the sentence, he noticed his eldest daughter Yongkang with a stiff expression.
Emperor Xingwu smiled.
“Fine, all five of you will come with me. Yongkang, you sit with Qingyang and take care of your little sister.”
Yongkang was satisfied.
When they reached the Tai Ji Hall, it was time to appear before the full court of officials.
Yongkang took her sister’s hand and walked alongside her behind their father.
Following earlier instructions, the palace staff had already added an extra seat to the emperor’s right, opposite the three princes.
The ministers didn’t pay it much attention, assuming the emperor was simply showing favor to his daughters after returning to the capital.
Once the banquet began, Emperor Xingwu focused entirely on entertaining the officials.
Civil and military ministers took turns praising his great accomplishments, and then the emperor, in return, praised their loyal service and contributions.
Qingyang sat beside her eldest sister, with her nursemaid kneeling by her side, feeding her by hand.
This left the little princess’s eyes and hands quite free, whenever someone spoke, she craned her neck to stare at them.
When it was Duke of Wei Zhang Jie’s turn to receive praise, Qingyang’s ears perked up.
She immediately looked down and saw a heroic man in battle armor rise from his seat.
He was, to her surprise, even more handsome than her father.
But like Zhang Su, he looked very serious, not the type who liked to joke around.
Zhang Jie didn’t say much and soon sat back down.
Next up was the newly titled Marquis of the South, Fu Daonian, who had distinguished himself in the southern campaign, along with his two sons, Fu Shu and Fu Kui.
They weren’t especially good-looking, so once Qingyang had identified them, she looked back down and focused on her food.
Yongkang, on the other hand, was casually sizing up the Fu family men when suddenly her father said, “I find both of your sons quite pleasing. Since the eldest is already married, Fu Kui is twenty and looks strong and dignified, just right to be my son-in-law. What say you and your son?”
Yongkang was still stunned when the Fu father and sons all turned to look her way.
Snapping back to reality, she nearly dropped her chopsticks.
To Fu Kui, Yongkang, with her fair skin and delicate features, though not stunningly beautiful, still carried the dignity of a princess.
Becoming Emperor Xingwu’s son-in-law?
Of course he was willing.
He immediately knelt in the center of the hall to accept the decree with thanks.
Fu Daonian followed one step behind, also offering his heartfelt gratitude, though worried his son’s lack of refinement might be unworthy of a princess.
Emperor Xingwu laughed.
“Since I’m fond of Fu Kui, then he’s worthy of being my son-in-law. The Ministry of Rites will handle the arrangements. You just enjoy the banquet.”
The father and son offered endless thanks and withdrew.
Yongkang lowered her gaze.
Though her posture remained graceful, the sweet fruit wine lingering on her lips had lost its taste.
She had only been a princess for three years.
The total time she’d spent by her father’s side didn’t even add up to three full years, and now, her father was marrying her off.
Yongkang didn’t want to go.
But she also understood, her father needed marriage alliances to solidify the loyalty of his founding generals, just like the engagement between her brother and the Duke of Cheng’s granddaughter.
Qingyang, unaware of marriage matters, looked over and asked curiously, “Big Sister, why aren’t you eating?”
Yongkang glanced at her three-year-old sister and forced a smile.
“Sister’s full.”
As the music of zithers and flutes began, dancers like butterflies glided into the great hall.
Qingyang beamed.
“Let’s watch them dance together!”
Yongkang nodded, but as she turned her head, she subtly glanced toward her newly betrothed, Fu Kui.
His features were proper, and in full armor he carried himself with a noble air.
Her unsettled heart slowly began to calm.
So be it.
If her father was truly willing to let her leave the palace to marry, she would still remain his eldest daughter, Great Qi’s very first princess since the founding of the empire.