Just over twenty li south of the Capital flowed the Yi River.
Though it lacked the fame of the Luo River, which cut straight through the city, it was a favored spot for local villagers to enjoy outings, especially attracting those who sought quiet and refined company.
The nine-year-old Little Princess did not choose the Yi River for its elegance.
She had too many games in mind, and needed fewer people around.
The more villagers nearby, the easier it would be to expose her identity.
Once revealed, the Little Princess would have to maintain the dignity befitting a princess to avoid becoming the subject of mockery and losing the royal family’s prestige.
This was something Father Emperor had taught her since she was little.
He said ordinary folk could curse and say coarse things like “nonsense,” but as members of the royal family, the most distinguished lineage under heaven, every word and action must be proper and refined, serving as an example for all the people.
Only at moments of extreme joy, anger, or sorrow might one lose composure without being criticized by officials or commoners.
Father Emperor also mentioned that he had ascended the throne unexpectedly from the common people and lacked royal upbringing.
This led him to occasionally let slip rough words even after becoming emperor.
She, however, was different—born in the palace, raised with the Imperial Tutor and nannies teaching her royal etiquette.
Her Elder Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother were dull and struggled to learn, but she was clever and had to excel in manners.
At that time, Qingyang agreed with everything Father Emperor said and obediently followed, since learning those rites wasn’t difficult.
But as the years passed and she turned nine, Qingyang realized Father Emperor wasn’t always right.
For example, his belief that she couldn’t yet ride a horse was mistaken.
Still, she mastered all the royal demeanor expected of a princess.
When she observed her Elder Brother cowering, Second Brother wiping his sweat with his sleeve, and Third Brother yawning carelessly, she grew disdainful.
She resolved never to let anyone see her in an unflattering light, never to be caught doing the “mischievous” things common village children did.
Third Brother, Zhang Su, of course was not an outsider, nor were Jie Yu and the other palace maids from Jiu Hua Palace who attended them, nor the eight Imperial Guards protecting them who dared not disobey her orders.
The carriage ambled steadily for over half an hour until they reached the Yi River, where a few visitors dotted the riverbank.
Qingyang instructed the coachman to follow the small path upstream along the shore until no one else was visible.
Qin Ren, curious, asked, “Little Sister, what do you want to do that you’re so afraid of being seen?”
Qingyang replied, “Second Brother said we can catch fish here in the river. I want to catch some too.”
Zhang Su lowered his gaze even further, while Qin Ren tilted his head to look at his sister’s small feet peeking out from beneath her skirt, clad in white silk socks.
He worried, “It’s not summer yet. Won’t the river water be too cold?”
Qingyang said firmly, “Even if it’s cold, I want to play.”
Qin Ren sighed, “Fine, I’ll try it out first.”
They walked east for another twenty to thirty minutes until the crowd disappeared.
The river was about twenty zhangs wide, gently flowing under the warm sun.
The middle section was shallow, roughly calf-deep, while the areas closer to the banks were deeper—enough to submerge an adult’s knees—but murkier and with a swifter current.
Zhang Su helped the Little Princess down from the carriage first.
Qin Ren put on his shoes and stepped forward, looking at the riverbank water anxiously.
“This is too deep. Little Sister, don’t go in.”
Qingyang said nothing.
After Jie Yu and two senior palace maids carried felt mats and other items from the second carriage to an old locust tree nearby and laid them down, Qingyang ordered the coachmen to move the carriages out of sight.
The eight Imperial Guards then stationed themselves along both banks in places out of Qingyang’s view, backs to the river, guarding against any villagers approaching.
At this point, only those Qingyang was most familiar with since childhood remained by the riverside.
She turned and approached the shore.
Two or three steps away, Qin Ren suddenly grasped his sister’s left wrist, fearing she might slip into the water.
Qingyang teased, “Third Brother, you’re really timid.”
Qin Ren replied, “It’s called being cautious and reliable.”
Ignoring him, Qingyang pressed on to the water’s edge, gazing at the river scene near and far.
Qin Ren tilted his head and said to Zhang Su, who stood on the other side of their sister, “The current’s so strong, I’m feeling a bit dizzy just looking.”
Before entering the palace at age six, Zhang Su had feared the Third Prince, not knowing his temperament and worried that the emperor’s son might lash out and leave him no way to defend himself.
But after years of studying together, in Zhang Su’s mind the Third Prince was just a noble title, devoid of any real authority or fearsome presence.
He glanced at the Third Prince’s slightly pale face and said, “I’ll stand guard by Your Highness. Third Prince, please step back a few paces to enjoy the view.”
Qin Ren answered, “Make sure to watch carefully. Don’t let Sister fall into the water.”
Zhang Su nodded.
Qin Ren then released his sister’s wrist and stood a few steps back, cautiously eyeing the shallows.
The verdant hills and flowing waters held Qingyang’s gaze for a while.
She took a deep breath, lifted her skirt slightly, and crouched down.
Zhang Su knelt on one knee beside her and watched the Little Princess curiously reach her hand into the water.
Qingyang then turned to him with delight: “So cool.”
The Little Princess’s black eyes sparkled with reflected sunlight dancing on the water’s surface. Zhang Su instinctively looked away.
“Try it, it feels really nice,” Qingyang urged.
Zhang Su dipped a hand into the clear river, letting the fresh current flow first over the Little Princess’s small hand, then over his larger one.
After playing with the water for a while, Qingyang searched for fish.
After a long wait, she spotted a slender fish about the length of her pinky swimming into the fast current on this side, then darting back into the shallows.
“I want to go further in to catch fish,” she said.
Unless the emperor was present, the Little Princess’s wishes were always fulfilled.
Zhang Su knew better than to argue and compromised: “The water is still very cold. If Your Highness goes in now, you might catch a chill. It would be better to wait until the sun is higher and the water warmer.”
Qingyang didn’t want to get sick.
Falling ill would be Father Emperor’s reason to forbid her from leaving the palace.
“Alright then, I’ll ride the horse first. You bring your horse over,” Qingyang stood and said.
Qin Ren, already seated on the ground at a smooth spot, reminded, “Let Zhang Su lead your horse slowly. No running. Zhang Su, you must keep a close eye. Otherwise, we’ll both be punished to kneel when we return!”
Father Emperor was lenient with his sister but strict with him and Second Brother.
Their Elder Brother was sensitive and easily embarrassed, so Father Emperor had toned down his severity somewhat.
Zhang Su understood.
When the mounts were brought over, Zhang Su adjusted the stirrups for the Little Princess, then gripped the reins tightly, refusing to let go.
Qingyang glanced at her brother and directed Zhang Su to proceed upstream.
Zhang Su moved slowly, footsteps light, the only sound the steady clip-clop of hooves blending with the river’s murmur.
Having given up on riding alone to avoid getting Zhang Su and Third Brother punished by Father Emperor, Qingyang kept her eyes fixed on Zhang Su.
As she watched, Qingyang suddenly noticed Zhang Su’s head was level with the neck of the fine steed Father Emperor had gifted him.
“How tall are you now?”
Qingyang asked with envy.
Zhang Su turned back to confirm she had heard correctly.
“Seven chi nine cun. Elder Brother measured me during New Year.”
Qingyang exclaimed, “Elder Brother’s that tall too, but he’s already ready to marry. You haven’t even grown up yet.”
To the nine-year-old Little Princess, only those betrothed or married were adults.
Zhang Su said nothing.
Qingyang continued smiling at him, “Your age might not have caught up, but your body has. Third Brother isn’t skilled in horsemanship; Father Emperor doesn’t trust him to take me riding, but he said you can. Come on, get on.”
The Little Princess scooted forward to make more room in the saddle.
Zhang Su halted and spoke to the horse’s neck, “I dare not, please don’t make this difficult for me, Princess.”
First, it wasn’t appropriate for him to have physical contact with the Little Princess; second, the responsibility of riding with her was too great. If she were injured, their whole family would be ruined.
Qingyang pouted, “You don’t listen to me. Father Emperor already agreed!”
Zhang Su glanced back at the Third Prince.
“This matter is serious. I need to confirm with Your Highness.”
“Fine, go ask,” she said.
Expecting Zhang Su to leave her behind and return alone, Qingyang was surprised when he began to lead the horse back upstream.
She hurriedly called after him and gave him an annoyed glare.
Zhang Su lowered his eyes and waited silently for the Little Princess’s next command.
Qingyang snorted, “Keep going forward. Hurry up.”
Zhang Su obediently quickened his pace.
The breeze was stronger in the open.
Qingyang rested both hands on the saddle, tilting her head back to look up at the deep blue sky.
Zhang Su, nervous, warned, “Your Highness, be careful.”
Qingyang laughed, “I’m being careless on purpose. If you’re afraid I’ll fall, get on and ride with me.”
Zhang Su replied, “I cannot mount, but if Your Highness continues with such dangerous antics, I would rather offend you by forcibly dismounting you.”
The Little Princess bit her lip and settled upright.
Wild grasses carpeted the riverbank.
Qingyang spotted a small white flower and asked Zhang Su to pick it.
Zhang Su led the horse over, one hand holding the reins, the other breaking the stem, and handed the flower to the Little Princess.
She sniffed it—no fragrance. Just as she was about to toss it in the water, she changed her mind and called out to the young man standing in front of her, “Come here.”
Zhang Su had no choice but to approach again.
Qingyang said, “Close your eyes.”
Zhang Su glanced at the wildflower in her hand, hesitated briefly, then obediently closed his eyes.
As long as the Little Princess no longer pestered him about riding, anything else was trivial.
Qingyang smiled and tucked the small white flower into the boy’s temple hair.
She was deliberately teasing him, expecting him to be embarrassed and awkwardly remove it.
But he acted as if he hadn’t noticed and continued leading the horse.
Qingyang pointed across the way, “There’s a yellow one over there. Get it for me.”
Zhang Su complied.
This time, Qingyang didn’t ask him to close his eyes.
She stuck the yellow flower behind Zhang Su’s right ear, watching his expression closely.
His long eyelashes drooped, but his pale face suddenly flushed bright red.
The more she stared, the redder his face grew.
Qingyang knew what this meant.
Elder Sister Lü blushed every time she saw Elder Brother.
Mother Consort said it was because she liked him and got shy.
“You’re blushing!” the Little Princess mimicked Second Brother teasing Elder Brother.
Zhang Su said solemnly, “Your Highness forcing me to wear flowers is humiliating, and has nothing to do with shyness.”
Qingyang teased back, “If you didn’t say so, how would I know you didn’t like it?”
Zhang Su fell silent.
Qingyang plucked the flower from his hair and placed it on the horse’s head.
They rode on silently for a stretch.
The Little Princess couldn’t hold it in any longer and coaxed the boy leading the horse, “Alright, I won’t tease you anymore, but if I ask you to do anything you don’t like, you have to tell me. I promise I’ll never force you.”
Zhang Su whispered, “Okay.”
Over the years, he had done many things at the Little Princess’s bidding—some he worried might offend etiquette, some he was nervous about hurting her, some he couldn’t refuse for fear of disappointing her.
But there was never anything he disliked doing.
Including just now.
He only used the word “forcing” because he was afraid she’d tell others about how he had blushed and make it a joke.