Yongkang steadied herself and said, “I want Father to accompany me to browse the jewelry shops. You can pick any piece you like for me, and I’ll treasure it always.”
She had grown up outside the palace until the age of fourteen and often had the chance to visit markets in towns and counties.
What she envied most were children who had their parents with them.
Emperor Xingwu’s gaze was filled with tenderness.
“Very well. I’ll pick out a whole set of jewelry for you.”
When the Pure and Filial Empress married him, her family had still been poor.
She was frugal and gentle and hadn’t lived a good life for long before she passed.
Yongkang, being his first child, had suffered the most.
Emperor Xingwu wanted to make it up to his eldest daughter.
It was Qin Hong’s turn again.
He thought quickly and said, “Your son would like to visit a bookshop.”
Emperor Xingwu replied, “Approved.”
Qin Bing began, “Your son would like to…”
Emperor Xingwu interrupted, “Your request was to leave the palace. I’ve already agreed to that. Just follow along with us when the time comes.”
The Noble Consort and Consort Li exchanged smiles.
Emperor Xingwu gave no chance for the second son to continue and turned to the third, Qin Ren.
Qin Ren scratched his head, his voice lacking confidence and his gaze shifting.
“When Second Brother leaves the palace, and Big Brother visits the bookshop, and Big Sister browses jewelry… will Father take me and my little sister too?”
Emperor Xingwu said, “Of course.”
Qin Ren immediately broke into a grin and asked, “Then can Father allow me to sleep until daylight tomorrow morning?”
Usually, they had to get up at the fourth watch to study, and only had three rest days a month when they could sleep in.
Although going out with Father was a good thing, if the price was waking up before dawn, Qin Ren didn’t much want to go.
Emperor Xingwu said, “…Fine. But if you oversleep, I won’t wait for you.”
Qin Ren relaxed and said, “Don’t worry, Father. At most, I’ll sleep until the hour of Chen.”
Emperor Xingwu couldn’t be bothered to respond and looked at the youngest daughter standing all properly beside her elder siblings.
“Lin’er, have you made up your mind?”
Qingyang hadn’t decided at first, but Third Brother’s words took away her hesitation, and now she had an answer.
“I want to go to the Duke of Wei’s residence. Zhang Su is always staying at our place, but I’ve never been to his house to play. I haven’t seen his mother or older brother either.”
Emperor Xingwu: “……”
Qin Bing snorted, “Zhang Su, Zhang Su, all you care about is Zhang Su. You’re closer to him than to us. Why don’t you just become Zhang Su’s little wife..”
The Noble Consort snapped, “Enough!”
Emperor Xingwu’s glare was even colder, sharp as a knife.
Qin Bing quickly stepped sideways and hid behind the Crown Prince.
As the atmosphere chilled, Consort Li nervously stepped in to smooth things over.
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Second Prince is still young, just joking around.”
The Noble Consort said, “Sister, no need to plead for him. The Second Prince is already eleven, yet he still speaks so carelessly. To spout nonsense even about his own little sister, if he keeps being indulged like this, who knows what he’ll become when he grows up. Your Majesty, perhaps we should punish him by making him stay in the palace tomorrow to copy books until he learns proper conduct.”
Emperor Xingwu glared at his second son.
“No need to wait for tomorrow. Once we return, have him start copying books. He’ll copy until nightfall and bring it to me. If I’m not satisfied, he’ll stay in the palace and continue copying tomorrow.”
Qin Bing was both relieved and miserable.
What should’ve been a fun afternoon was now ruined, all because he couldn’t hold his tongue, he’d be locked up in the study.
Qingyang looked at the angry adults, then at her punished second brother, and asked in confusion, “What’s a little wife?”
Emperor Xingwu said, “Don’t listen to your Second Brother’s nonsense. Tell Father, do you like Zhang Su more, or Second Brother more?”
Qingyang replied without hesitation, “Zhang Su.”
Emperor Xingwu: “Why?”
Qingyang said, “Second Brother always pinches my cheeks and makes them hurt. Zhang Su never bullies me. He tells me stories, answers all my questions, even when Third Brother doesn’t know, Zhang Su knows.”
Qin Ren’s expression changed slightly.
It wasn’t that he didn’t know, he’d just gotten annoyed and pretended not to, pushing her questions onto Zhang Su.
Emperor Xingwu saw right through Third Son’s thoughts.
If even Third Son was like this, then Second Son certainly lacked the patience to deal with his little sister.
Zhang Su, on the other hand, was clearly a calm and dependable child.
The emperor had already agreed to the first four children’s requests, how could he oppose the youngest daughter’s?
He said, “Tomorrow is a family day for your siblings and me to enjoy together. We’ll all go out and return together, so let’s not trouble the Duke of Wei’s household. If Lin’er wants to go, have your Third Brother take you to the Duke’s residence after the noon rest. Just play for a while and then come back.”
If he personally went, the Zhang family would be thrown into a panic, and it might lead to unnecessary misunderstandings among the ministers.
Qingyang only cared about going to the Duke of Wei’s house, whether Father came or not didn’t matter. She nodded happily.
The children went off for their noon rest.
Emperor Xingwu told He Yuan to have a young eunuch deliver a message to Zhang Jie, explaining that the little princess was simply curious and wanted to play.
They were to receive her casually, no need for anything extravagant.
After accompanying Emperor Xingwu in the southern campaign against three border kingdoms, the Duke of Wei, Zhang Jie, was granted a few days’ leave following their triumphant return.
When the young eunuch arrived at the Duke’s residence with the emperor’s verbal order, Zhang Jie and his wife, Madam Xu, were already lying down, chatting idly as they prepared for their noon rest.
Hastily changing clothes and rushing to the front hall, Zhang Jie couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation when he learned the full message.
After sending off the young eunuch, Zhang Jie gave his wife a quick briefing.
Madam Xu, along with the maids, began preparing fruits and tea to host the Third Prince and the little princess.
Zhang Jie didn’t bother alerting his eldest or second son and went straight to visit his third son’s courtyard.
“Reporting to the Duke, Third Young Master is resting in the heir’s quarters.”
Zhang Jie let out a laugh.
His third son had entered the palace at age six to serve as a study companion and spent very few days at home each year.
The three brothers missed each other dearly, and whenever the youngest was back, he always chose to sleep in one of his older brothers’ rooms. Zhang Jie had nearly forgotten.
So he changed course and headed to his eldest son’s courtyard.
Zhang Jian, the heir, came out wearing an undershirt and asked softly, “Third Brother just fell asleep. Does Father need something?”
Zhang Jie explained the situation.
Zhang Jian frowned and hesitated.
“His Majesty has just betrothed Princess Yongkang to the second son of the Marquis of the South. The intent to solidify alliances with the nobles through marriage is quite clear. If Princess Qingyang is this close to Third Brother, could it be that His Majesty will…”
Zhang Jie waved a hand.
“Whether thunder or rain, all is imperial grace. Now or in the future, whatever the emperor commands, we subjects follow. No need to guess at his intentions. Princess Qingyang is still a child. She and Su-ge’er are just playmates. Nothing more.”
Zhang Jian said, “Yes, then I’ll wake Third Brother and have him get ready?”
Zhang Jie replied, “Let him sleep. The Third Prince and the princess will be napping too. They won’t arrive so early.”
Zhang Su ended up napping for only half an hour.
After freshening up, his eldest brother informed him that the Third Prince and Princess Qingyang would soon be visiting their home.
He followed his brother in a daze to the main courtyard to greet their parents.
Madam Xu beamed and praised her son, “Our Su-ge’er is so capable, already performing his study companion duties so well, and even earning the favor of the Third Prince and the princess.”
Zhang Su’s ears flushed slightly.
In his eyes, it was his two elder brothers who were truly impressive, one serving in the Imperial Guard, both excelling in martial and scholarly pursuits.
Once the heat faded from his ears, Zhang Su stood upright with no further expression, joining his eldest brother Zhang Jian and second brother Zhang Heng, lined up properly.
There were five family members in the hall, but Madam Xu was the only one actively speaking.
The three sons and their father seemed cut from the same mold, handsome, yes, but stiff as wooden dummies.
It was as if saying even one word too many would invite disaster or break imperial law.
Madam Xu suddenly began to wonder just how her youngest son had won the favor of the two young royals.
Around the hour of Shen, a royal carriage escorted by palace guards arrived at the gates of the Duke of Wei’s residence.
Fu’an, the chief eunuch at Qin Ren’s side, first helped his young master down from the carriage, then moved to carry the little princess out.
Qingyang, stepping out of the carriage, looked at the Duke of Wei standing at the front, then pushed aside Fu’an’s hands and pointed to Zhang Jie.
“Duke, carry me down.”
Fu’an: “……”
Zhang Jie: “……”
Zhang Su: “……”
Madam Xu glanced at her husband, still looking like a jade-faced scholar despite being in his forties, and at once understood where all this was coming from.