Consort Li thought for a moment, then said, “Because Father Emperor is good at martial arts, has good character, and is very smart. His martial arts help him beat the bad guys who try to bully him.”
“His good character helps him make strong and reliable friends, and those friends are all willing to help him. The people trust him too. And because he’s smart, he wins battles and rules the empire well.”
Qingyang asked, “What’s good character?”
Consort Li replied, “…Tomorrow Lin’er will start lessons at Chongwen Pavilion. You can ask your teacher then. Your teacher knows much more than Mother Consort does.”
Qingyang was starting to get sleepy, but she asked one last question, the one she cared about most: “Then if I study hard, will I become as powerful as Father Emperor?”
Consort Li gently coaxed her, “Of course.”
***
Emperor Xingwu had high expectations and strict standards for the princes.
He ordered them to arrive at Chongwen Pavilion each day at the fourth quarter of the Mao hour for morning reading, half an hour, before breakfast.
After breakfast, they would continue studying.
Crown Prince Qin Hong, Second Prince Qin Bing, and Third Prince Qin Ren were all born outside the palace.
The two older brothers began their formal studies at the age of six, with a schedule similar to that of other noble families, not especially strict.
When Qin Ren entered the palace at age five, Emperor Xingwu learned that the princes of the previous dynasty had started their education at four, and so he ordered the third prince to begin studying at Chongwen Pavilion as well, cutting short most of Qin Ren’s days of sleeping in.
Emperor Xingwu had different expectations for his daughter, and her upbringing followed a different path.
When Princess Yongkang entered the palace, she was already fourteen and had completed her required studies.
Emperor Xingwu arranged for her to learn refined skills and household management under several female instructors, skills befitting a noblewoman.
If Yongkang enjoyed reading, she could have a tutor teach her privately in her own palace to cultivate her character and broaden her knowledge.
Originally, Emperor Xingwu had planned the same path for his youngest daughter.
But by the time the little princess was three years old, she already showed such a love for reading and was always eager to run off to Chongwen Pavilion.
On a sudden impulse, Emperor Xingwu issued a special decree, assigning several current tutors at the pavilion to begin her early instruction.
Considering that she was still very young, Emperor Xingwu allowed her to arrive at Chongwen Pavilion at the beginning of the Si hour, and asked the tutors to start with half an hour of lessons.
The duration would be adjusted depending on her attitude and progress.
On the eleventh of the sixth month, Qingyang, as usual, slept in until she was fully rested.
After waking, she washed, ate, drank, and got herself ready just in time to head out.
Her nursemaid walked on her left, carrying a bundle with a change of clothes. Xie Yu walked on her right, holding a book satchel that contained the Four Treasures of the Study.
To reach Chongwen Pavilion from Consort Li’s Xianfu Palace, they had to go around Qianyuan Hall, and after several palace paths, Qingyang began to grumble.
“I want to live in the Eastern Palace too.”
Her royal brothers didn’t have to walk nearly as far from the Eastern Palace to Chongwen Pavilion.
The nursemaid chuckled.
“If Your Highness really lived in the Eastern Palace, it wouldn’t be as easy to see Her Grace the Consort morning and night like it is in Xianfu Palace.”
Qingyang was quiet for a moment, then said, “I’ll sleep in the Eastern Palace at night, come back to Mother Consort after lessons, and eat dinner with her. Then I’ll return to the Eastern Palace.”
The nursemaid: “…”
She looked over at Xie Yu, who gave a small smile.
Where the little princess would live would ultimately be decided by the emperor.
When they reached the lecture hall, the fifty-something-year-old Tutor Guo was already waiting.
Under Xie Yu’s quiet prompting, Qingyang performed a formal bow of apprenticeship with surprising poise.
Tutor Guo treated it like humoring a child.
He gave a symbolic lift to the little princess and invited her to sit at the desk.
There was just one student, so the room had only a single writing desk placed at the center.
Xie Yu silently laid out the Four Treasures of the Study.
Qingyang craned her neck to look out the window and discovered that across a courtyard, she could see the classroom of her third brother, Qin Ren, clearly spotting both him and Zhang Su sitting behind him.
Just as she was about to call out to them, Tutor Guo, who had been watching her closely, quickly said, “It’s class time now. Your Highness must not speak, and certainly mustn’t disturb the princes’ lessons.”
Qingyang promptly closed her mouth.
Once everything was prepared, she sat properly at the desk, and Xie Yu stepped outside to wait with the nursemaid.
Tutor Guo hung two calligraphy banners on the wall behind the platform, reading “Heaven and Earth, mysterious and vast,” and “The universe, boundless and ancient.”
Today, his task was to teach the little princess the meaning of these eight characters, to recognize and understand them.
As for practicing calligraphy, that would wait until she turned five.
“Heaven and Earth” were easy to explain, but “universe” and “primeval chaos” offered much more to talk about.
Qingyang was eager to learn, and Tutor Guo was skilled at keeping young students interested.
The half an hour lesson passed smoothly and pleasantly.
When Tutor Guo announced that today’s lesson was over, Qingyang was reluctant.
“Can you teach me for another half an hour, sir?”
Tutor Guo chuckled.
“Studying should follow a steady pace, Your Highness. You mustn’t rush.”
Qingyang asked, “Then can I ask you questions?”
Tutor Guo’s face was kind and warm.
“Of course. What would Your Highness like to know?”
Qingyang looked out the window.
Her three royal brothers and their study companions had just come out.
She grew anxious.
“I’ll ask later during the next class. I’m going out first!”
With that, the little princess happily ran out of the hall toward her third brother.
The four siblings quickly gathered together.
Qin Bing looked at his sister like she was a little fool.
“We wish we could sleep in and skip lessons, and you, of all people, actually asked to study more.”
Qingyang replied, “I can sleep in. The tutor didn’t assign me any homework. I already know all eight characters.”
Qin Bing: “…”
Qin Ren asked, “Were you tired from sitting the whole time?”
Qingyang answered, “I didn’t sit the whole time. The tutor let me go up front to watch him write, and he made me walk around the classroom a few times.”
Qin Hong nodded.
It seemed Tutor Guo was very thoughtful with their little sister.
Qingyang looked over at Zhang Su, who stood still under the eaves like a little tree.
She was just about to go to him when Second Brother suddenly leaned in close and whispered, “I heard Father Emperor was angry yesterday. Do you know what happened?”
Mother Consort had warned him to pay close attention in lessons these few days to avoid upsetting Father Emperor, but she hadn’t given any details.
Qin Hong’s expression changed slightly, and he said in a low voice, “We mustn’t pry into Father Emperor’s affairs.”
Qin Bing pushed him back with a hand.
“Then stop listening.”
Qin Hong: “…”
Qingyang asked Third Brother, “We can’t talk about it?”
Qin Ren glanced at his eldest brother, then hesitantly said, “If it’s just between us siblings… I think it’s okay?”
Qin Hong did want to know too.
Seeing both his younger brothers agree, he said nothing more.
After telling them everything, Qingyang left the three brothers to discuss it and ran up to Zhang Su.
She saw his lashes drooping low, a look that clearly meant he didn’t want to talk to her.
Qingyang was not pleased.
“Did the Duke lecture you yesterday?”
Zhang Su replied, “…He did.”
Qingyang asked, “Then will you listen to me from now on?”
Zhang Su said, “…I will. But Your Highness mustn’t force others to do anything improper, either in conduct or by law.”
Qingyang said, “I would never make you do something bad.”
Zhang Su had just begun to relax when the little princess suddenly reached out and grabbed his hand.
He almost pulled away again.
But Qingyang saw that he obediently let her hold it, and she smiled. Pulling Zhang Su along, she said, “I just learned eight new characters. Come, I’ll show you.”
The two of them, one tall and one small, walked straight across the courtyard.
Qin Bing saw them and reminded Qin Ren, “Little Sister’s about to become Zhang Su’s real little sister at this rate.”
Qin Ren let out a huge yawn.
“I’m going to take a nap.”
***
After asking Tutor Guo what “good character” meant, Qingyang left Chongwen Pavilion and stopped by to see Father Emperor on the way.
Emperor Xingwu was reviewing memorials submitted by the Secretariat, and since it was nearly his rest time, he had He Yuan bring his daughter in.
Qingyang asked, “Father Emperor, was the case from yesterday resolved?”
Emperor Xingwu was surprised.
“You still remember that?”
Qingyang replied, “I forgot this morning, but then Second Brother asked me and I remembered again.”
Emperor Xingwu finished editing the memorial in front of him, then picked his daughter up and sat her in his lap.
Tapping her little nose, he said, “There are things Father Emperor is willing to tell Lin’er, but not others. So next time someone asks you about Father Emperor, just tell them to ask him themselves. If they don’t dare, then you don’t tell them.”
Qingyang readily agreed.
“Okay! So was the case resolved?”
Emperor Xingwu said, “It was. The evidence that Liu Wenzhi’s son seized a commoner’s wife was conclusive, and there were multiple witnesses proving Liu Wenzhi protected him. Both father and son are bad men.”
Qingyang asked, “Did Father Emperor punish them?”
Emperor Xingwu replied, “I did.”
According to the newly issued Qi Code, rape was punishable by death, and Liu Wenzhi was stripped of office and sentenced to three years of exile.
As the first founding official punished under the new dynasty, Emperor Xingwu ordered that the matter be publicly announced to all officials and citizens of the realm, to serve as a warning, and to show his commitment to governing justly and protecting the people.
However, Emperor Xingwu didn’t mention the beheading to his young daughter, so she wouldn’t have nightmares.
Satisfied with the outcome, Qingyang moved on to a new thought.
“Father Emperor, I want to live in the Eastern Palace with Third Brother. It’s too tiring to walk from Mother Consort’s place to Chongwen Pavilion.”
Emperor Xingwu asked, “…Are you going to keep attending lessons with the tutor tomorrow?”
Qingyang nodded.
“Mm, I like Tutor Guo.”
Emperor Xingwu smiled.
“Alright, then go live in your Third Brother’s palace for now. Next year, Father Emperor will grant you your own palace.”