The early court session on the eighth day of the month had been added by Emperor Xingwu on a whim upon his return to the capital.
Normally, regular court meetings were only held on the third, sixth, and ninth days of each month.
On the ninth day of the sixth month in the fourth year of Xingwu’s reign, Emperor Xingwu issued an imperial decree in the Tai Ji Hall, officially naming his eldest legitimate son, Qin Hong, as Crown Prince.
When the decree reached the inner palace, Consort Li instantly felt a weight lifted from her heart.
At times, she had feared that Emperor Xingwu, blinded by his affection for her, might whimsically choose her third son as Crown Prince.
That would have placed her and her two children directly in the crosshairs of both the Noble Consort and the First Prince’s factions.
Her children were still young, and she was alone in the capital, how could she possibly contend with the powerful families backing the Noble Consort and the First Prince?
“Mother Consort, what’s a Crown Prince?”
The little princess had yet another question.
Consort Li said, “The Crown Prince is the heir of the dynasty, the one who will become emperor after your father. From now on, Lin’er, when you see your eldest brother, you must call him Crown Prince Brother. Do you understand?”
Qingyang nodded and asked, “But Father is the emperor. If Big Brother becomes emperor, where does Father go?”
Consort Li’s eyes suddenly stung with tears.
She held her daughter close and said, “You’ll understand when you grow up, Lin’er. Don’t ask anymore for now, if your father hears, he’ll be sad. Crown Prince Brother will be sad too.”
Emperor Xingwu was seventeen years older than she was.
He would most likely leave this world before her.
Qingyang responded in a daze.
Consort Li brought her daughter to the Noble Consort’s Changchun Palace.
The appointment of a Crown Prince was a joyous event, and she needed to express her congratulations to the Noble Consort.
The three princes were still at Tai Ji Hall.
The Noble Consort was chatting and laughing with Princess Yongkang.
The Noble Consort was well-read.
Years ago, her father had admired Emperor Xingwu’s talents and bearing and arranged the match.
First, because marriage was a matter to be decided by parents; second, because when she first met Emperor Xingwu, he truly had the aura of a ruler.
So she willingly became his noble consort and took charge of household and child-rearing matters.
After Emperor Xingwu ascended the throne, the Noble Consort immediately turned her attention to the issue of succession.
As a noble consort presiding over the inner palace and daughter of a Chancellor, it seemed only natural, in the eyes of the emperor, the ministers, and the curious commoners, that she would wish for her own Second Prince to inherit the throne.
And that all-too-common suspicion became a fire burning beneath her and her son.
In truth, what the Noble Consort agreed with, based on her reading of history, was the succession rule of “choosing the eldest legitimate son over the capable, and choosing by rank over age.”
Only by establishing the rule early could the ministers commit their loyalty to the Crown Prince as the next emperor, and avoid other princes resorting to unscrupulous means, including forming factions, just to earn a reputation for being “capable.”
Over the past three years, Emperor Xingwu had never asked for her opinion on succession, and she had never had the chance to bring it up herself.
Now, it was settled, the First Prince had become Crown Prince.
All she needed to do was remain a proper and well-behaved Noble Consort, and constantly remind the Second Prince to show respect to the Crown Prince.
That way, she could steer clear of any disputes beyond the palace walls.
The Noble Consort’s joy was similar to that of Consort Li.
As for Princess Yongkang, her happiness came simply from the heart, she was truly glad for her younger brother.
The year Grandmother passed away, her younger brother was just five, and Yongkang was already eight.
Before she died, Grandmother spoke to her alone for a long time, saying how pitiful it was that the two siblings had lost their birth mother so early.
She said that although the Noble Consort seemed kind to them, she would definitely favor the Second Prince more.
When their father truly ascended the throne, the Noble Consort would surely fight for the Second Prince.
Grandmother said that her younger brother was still too young to understand and told her never to be fooled by the Noble Consort’s appearance.
She had to keep a close watch on her brother and protect him.
If the Noble Consort raised him into a fool, she had to remember to fight for the Crown Prince position on his behalf.
Yongkang remembered those words well and hadn’t relaxed even for a moment in the past nine years.
Now that she was about to leave the palace and could no longer guard her brother closely, their father naming her brother Crown Prince was like giving her a calming pill, and at the same time, it erased the sour feeling that “Father got a new consort and forgot his old wife, only dotes on the Second and Third Princes and the little sister.”
Qingyang had always thought her eldest sister was a bit stern, she smiled less than she frowned, but the moment she walked in today, she saw her eldest sister beaming, her eyes curved, several white teeth showing.
The last time her sister smiled like that was when Second Brother had tripped and taken a huge fall while running…
With her eldest sister in such a good mood, Qingyang couldn’t help but smile too.
Yongkang looked at Consort Li first and saw on her face, which wasn’t good at hiding emotions, not only genuine joy but also a bit of flattery, clearly trying to prove her support for the Crown Prince.
Compared to the Noble Consort, Consort Li was a hundred times easier to read. Yongkang’s mood improved even more, and for the first time ever, she stood up and gave Consort Li a respectful bow as a junior, something she normally never did.
After all, she was the emperor’s eldest legitimate daughter, and Consort Li was just a low-born concubine who had won favor with her looks.
Consort Li was caught off guard by the gesture and flattered beyond words.
Yongkang straightened up and reached out her hand to the little girl beside Consort Li.
“Come here, Lin’er. Let Big Sister hold you.”
She’d always been jealous of her little sister, thinking all the blessings had gone to her.
This made Yongkang unable to deny how cute she was, yet unwilling to treat her the way she used to coddle her younger brother.
Because the little girl was born of another mother, Yongkang even disapproved of the Crown Prince being too affectionate with her.
But after today, everything would be different.
No matter how favored the little sister was, she was still just a princess born of a concubine.
At most, she’d enjoy her father’s affection for another ten or so years.
Once her brother ascended the throne, Yongkang, as the emperor’s full-blooded elder sister, would undoubtedly receive more respect than a half-sister born of a concubine.
Three-year-old Qingyang could only sense the moods of those around her, she didn’t understand more complex emotions.
Her big sister liked her, so she obediently let herself be held and silently hoped her big sister would always be this happy, because only a happy big sister would want to play with her.
The naming of the Crown Prince was a joyous occasion.
At noon, Emperor Xingwu summoned both consorts and all five children to dine together in Qianyuan Hall.
The Noble Consort and Consort Li brought Princess Yongkang and Princess Qingyang with them.
The three princes were already in Qianyuan Hall.
Emperor Xingwu alternated between encouraging the newly appointed Crown Prince Qin Hong and instructing the younger brothers to always put the Crown Prince first.
After the women entered, both sides observed the proper etiquette, the two consorts bowed to Emperor Xingwu, and the younger ones also paid respects to their elders.
Fortunately, the group was small, and it only took a few words to finish the formalities.
Qingyang remembered what her mother had told her and looked at Qin Hong, sweetly saying, “Crown Prince Brother.”
Qin Hong patted his little sister’s head and said gently, “That’s a title outsiders use to show respect. We’re siblings, Lin’er should still call me Big Brother. It sounds warmer that way.”
After speaking, he turned to look at his two younger brothers, whom he had already reminded once.
Qin Bing said, “Alright, then I’ll keep calling you Big Brother. I just can’t say ‘Crown Prince, Brother, Brother.’”
For each of the last two “Brother”s, Qin Bing nodded toward Qin Hong with exaggerated formality.
The way he did it was so odd that even Emperor Xingwu laughed.
After the meal, while all the children were still gathered, Emperor Xingwu said, “Your father has been busy these past years and hasn’t had time to be with you. Now that the realm is unified, I finally have some ease. Tomorrow is a rest day, and I plan to spend the whole day with you. Tell me, what do you want to do? Or where would you like to go?”
He looked encouragingly at the eldest princess, who would be married off in a few months.
Yongkang instinctively looked at the Crown Prince.
Emperor Xingwu’s gaze followed hers.
Qin Hong, having long been taught by his sister and the Noble Consort to focus on his studies and martial training, had never dared to indulge in play during the age when it was natural to do so.
Now at fourteen, he had learned self-discipline. Suddenly told he could have fun, his mind went completely blank, he had no idea what to play, so he turned to look at his second brother.
Eleven-year-old Qin Bing said excitedly, “Your son wants to go outside the palace. Will Father take us too?”
Emperor Xingwu replied, “Yes, each of you may make one request. I’ll fulfill them in order.”
He once again looked at his eldest son and eldest daughter.
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