The banquet ended, and Qingyang breathed a sigh of relief for her mother Consort, who was not good with words.
Meanwhile, Noble Consort Deng of Prince Yong’s family was fuming with anger.
On the carriage, they didn’t dare discuss these matters, but when they returned to the princely residence and were alone in the room, Deng moved over the body of her husband, who was lying on the bed, ready to sleep off his drunkenness, and gritted her teeth.
“I told my brother long ago to divorce that foolish woman, but he refused to listen! Look at this—tonight she made our family a laughingstock in front of everyone!”
Prince Yong was drunk, but not to the point of being unaware.
He rubbed his forehead and held his wife’s hand.
“What happened?”
Deng mimicked her sister-in-law’s words.
“How can a sister-in-law of the Emperor’s brother compare to a daughter-in-law of the Emperor’s son? Anyone else could say that, but coming from someone from my family, it’s as if I’m complaining that His Majesty favors his sons’ wives more than me. If word reaches the Emperor, what would he think?”
She kept switching between sister-in-law and daughter-in-law, and Prince Yong took a while to straighten out the relationships, then coaxed her indifferently.
“Elder brother isn’t that petty, you…”
“Bah!”
Deng shot her husband a glare and lowered her voice.
“If he’s not petty, then why hasn’t he bestowed a good marriage on our Liang? If he truly trusted you, his own brother, why didn’t he match Meng Yao with the perfectly aged Liang, but instead gave her to Qin Bing, who’s just seventeen? Clearly, he’s afraid of your growing influence, and worries you’ll compete with his sons for the family estate in the future!”
Prince Yong: “…… Meng Yao just lost her mother and must observe mourning for three years. Qin Bing can wait, but how can Liang afford to delay three more years?”
Deng: “Then why, when we pleaded for a marriage for Liang, did he not choose a noble lady for him? He even claimed there were no suitable candidates. Yang Zhiming’s daughter is fourteen this year, and the families of the Jinghai Marquis and Jining Marquis also have girls of fourteen or fifteen.”
“Hmph, I even deliberately listed some families with less distinguished backgrounds, and His Majesty really picked a fifth-rank official’s daughter as our in-law. If that’s not being wary of us, what is?”
Prince Yong: “…… Zhiming’s daughter is a concubine-born, right?”
Deng: “Legitimate or not, they’re still blood. Qingyang is also concubine-born, but look how the Emperor dotes on her—such a sly little girl. I tried to shift the blame to Consort Li and the Yuan family, yet she managed to steer it back to me!”
Prince Yong also remembered how the little Princess used an imperial decree to pressure him back then.
Indeed, you can’t treat that little niece as an ordinary girl.
However, since his wife had picked on Consort Li first, it was reasonable for his niece to defend her own mother.
Thinking further, Prince Yong said,
“You don’t mind Zhiming’s daughter being concubine-born, but perhaps elder brother feared we would, so he didn’t consider it. Fine. Even if elder brother is wary of us, so what? The year we entered the capital, you told me yourself to be proper and respectful in front of him.”
“Let’s just continue to be so and avoid giving elder brother any reason to suspect us. Next time, go scold your sister-in-law and tell her to hold her sharp tongue.”
Feeling sleepy, Prince Yong’s head fell back onto the pillow, and he began to snore as soon as his eyes closed.
Deng gave him a disgusted glance, feeling stifled, and went to find her son.
Qin Liang had been forced to drink a lot by a group of noble heirs tonight, and had just finished vomiting.
After listening to his mother’s complaints, he comforted her in a low voice.
“Mother, don’t be anxious. We’re not after short-term gains.”
Uncle is wise and powerful.
They can only be obedient, not compete—waiting and watching is the best plan.
As for Qin Hong, Qin Bing, and Qin Ren, those three—one cowardly, one overbearing, one useless—no matter who sits on the dragon throne, Qin Liang is confident he could replace them.
***
The ladies’ banquet ended early last night, so when Qingyang returned to Jiu Hua Palace, Third Brother Zhang Su hadn’t yet returned from the feast.
She didn’t wait for him and went to bed early.
At the second quarter of the Mao hour, she woke naturally.
The summer sky was already growing bright.
After washing and dressing, Qingyang immediately ran next door to Chanyuan Palace to wake up Third Brother.
Qin Ren’s face was pale, dark circles under his eyes.
He clutched his blanket and pleaded with his sister to let him sleep longer.
“I drank too much last night and had to get up several times in the night. It was awful.”
Qingyang: “Eldest brother and sister-in-law are going to offer tea to Father Emperor at the hour of Chen. This time we can’t go with them—we have to arrive earlier.”
Qin Ren groaned and got up.
Qingyang withdrew to the side room, and from behind the curtain, asked,
“Did Zhang Su drink?”
Qin Ren was in the washroom, running water and answering weakly,
“He drank.”
Qingyang: “Did he end up like you?”
Qin Ren: “Not really. He’s cold-faced. When others try to make him drink, he refuses, so they lose interest and stop forcing him.”
Qingyang approved of Zhang Su’s firm stance against drinking, but also found her brother’s foolishness exasperating.
“Zhang Su can be cold-faced. Why can’t you? If they’re afraid of Zhang Su, would they dare force a prince to drink?”
Qin Ren sighed.
“They’re all acquaintances. Not drinking would be disrespectful. Besides, neither elder brother nor second brother acted like princes at the feast, so as their younger brother, I couldn’t spoil the mood either. Don’t you agree?”
Qingyang: “I don’t. As a prince, it’s for those noble sons to mind your mood, not for Third Brother to suffer for their sake.”
Already standing by the washstand, Qin Ren thought for a moment.
“Forget it. Less trouble is better. It was eldest brother’s wedding, so everyone was happy and things got out of hand. It’s not usually like this.”
Qingyang: “……”
Because Qin Ren dragged his feet, the siblings only entered the central hall of Qianyuan Palace a little more than two quarters early.
Emperor Xingwu was already seated at the northern head, with the Noble Consort and Consort Li to his left and right.
After the siblings saluted, Emperor Xingwu stared at the obviously hungover Third Son with disdain.
“If you can’t hold your liquor, drink less. One must know their own limits.”
Qin Ren smiled apologetically and agreed.
Before Emperor Xingwu could continue lecturing his son, Prince Yong’s family, the Grand Princess’s family, and the Second Prince were led in by palace attendants.
Qin Ren glanced over, seeing Prince Yong, his brother-in-law, and Second Brother—all of whom had drunk more than he did last night—now looking energetic.
He realized his tolerance was indeed lacking.
***
Prince Yong’s family sat to the lower left of Emperor Xingwu.
The seats for Yongkang’s children were arranged to the lower right.
Yongkang glanced at Noble Consort Deng, then smiled toward the head seat.
“Father Emperor, have you chosen a Crown Princess for Third Brother? If not, it seems Aunt Wang has someone in mind for him.”
Qin Ren, who was yawning and tilting his head, “……”
Emperor Xingwu’s gaze swept indifferently across his eldest daughter and sister-in-law, looking thoroughly uninterested.
“Is that so? From which family?”
***
Noble Consort Deng spoke awkwardly.
“Your Majesty, I was only joking with the Pingliang Marchioness last night. I didn’t mean to meddle in matchmaking. Yongkang is deliberately teasing me for the foolish words I said under the influence of wine.”
Yongkang: “The Pingliang Marchioness didn’t look like she was joking. She stared eagerly at Consort Li, hoping for a clear answer, making even Consort Li dumbfounded. Luckily, my sister diverted the topic with her love of wine.”
“Otherwise, Consort Li would have had to either rashly agree on behalf of Father Emperor or embarrass the Marchioness of Pingliang—either way, it would have been awkward.”
Only now did Noble Consort Deng realize this, and after a moment of shock, she immediately left her seat and knelt toward Emperor Xingwu.
“It’s all my fault for misspeaking. Please punish me, Your Majesty, Consort.”
A trace of satisfaction flashed in Yongkang’s eyes.
Because Qin Liang was only two months younger than his younger brother, Deng had always taken pride in Qin Liang surpassing his brother.
Even when Qin Liang ate more than his brother as a child, Deng would boast to their grandmother.
It was only after entering the capital that Deng reined in her previous arrogance, leading her to complain to Father Emperor, who unexpectedly advised her not to be too petty.
Prince Yong looked at his eldest niece and was about to kneel beside his wife to confess as well.
Emperor Xingwu’s gaze turned cold.
“It’s just a few jokes. The aunts are timid and prone to kneeling—why are you joining in the nonsense? Hurry and help her up. It’s the Crown Prince’s wedding day—I don’t want to see you all causing a scene.”
Prince Yong quickly helped his wife up.
Emperor Xingwu glanced at his daughter again.
Yongkang smiled, then half-heartedly apologized to Noble Consort Deng.
Soon after, the Crown Prince and Taizi Consort came to offer tea.
The Qin, Deng, Lü, and Yang families all originated from the same region.
While the men were conquering cities on the front lines, the families moved with them to newly occupied cities, always settling as neighbors.
So, except for the princesses born in the palace, the two Consorts, Noble Consort Deng, Yongkang, and the three Qin brothers were all quite familiar with Taizi Consort Lü Wenrong.
In the years since entering the capital, they often met at palace banquets and flower festivals.
Even so, Lü Wenrong, walking beside Qin Hong, still blushed.
Qingyang watched her eldest brother and sister-in-law with joy in her eyes.
Second Brother had moved out, and sister-in-law had moved in—the Eastern Palace would be lively again.
***
The next day was a rest day.
Qingyang woke early.
She didn’t want to eat breakfast alone and knew Third Brother was probably still sleeping in.
So she decided to eat at eldest brother’s place.
After eating, she could take her sister-in-law to the Imperial Garden to admire the flowers.
Mother Consort had said that since sister-in-law was new to the palace, she might feel uneasy and should be accompanied more often.
The gates of Chongyuan Palace were open, and the palace attendants invited the little princess to the front hall before going to inform the Crown Prince and Taizi Consort.
Qingyang didn’t think much of it.
***
In the back hall, the newlyweds, who thought they could sleep in, had just finished an early morning moment of passion and were lying together talking.
The voice of Chief Eunuch Dequan floated in from the corridor outside.
Lü Wenrong hurriedly pushed the Crown Prince away, sitting up and dressing as she scolded, embarrassed.
“This is all your fault! If we had gotten up earlier, we wouldn’t have kept my sister waiting!”
Qin Hong was a bit embarrassed too.
His sister used to often join him for breakfast.
He’d overestimated her “consideration”.
***
Lü Wenrong needed time to do her hair and dress.
Qin Hong tidied up quickly and went out first.
Qingyang sat on the guest chair, stomach growling.
When her eldest brother finally appeared, the little princess asked in confusion.
“Did eldest brother get up late today?”
Qin Hong’s face reddened slightly.
Taking advantage of his sister’s naivety, he lied.
“I didn’t know you’d come, so I practiced martial arts for a while and lost track of time after bathing.”
Qingyang believed him and looked behind him.
“Where’s sister-in-law?”
Qin Hong: “…… She was tired from preparing for the wedding these past days and really did get up late this morning.”
The little princess didn’t understand the stickiness of newlyweds but knew proper etiquette.
She said awkwardly,
“Then let sister-in-law keep resting, and I’ll go eat breakfast with Third Brother.”
Qin Hong smiled and stopped her.
“Third Brother’s kitchen hasn’t started cooking yet. Stay here and eat.”
Soon, Lü Wenrong arrived, her face even redder than when Qin Hong had come out.
During the meal, Qingyang was seated between her brother and sister-in-law.
Both of them busied themselves serving her dishes and then would inexplicably blush.
Qingyang noticed but couldn’t understand why.
***
Later, when Zhang Su entered the palace again, Qingyang quietly asked him,
“When your eldest brother and sister-in-law, or second brother and sister-in-law got married, did they blush at every little thing too?”
Zhang Su: “…… I wouldn’t know, Your Highness.”
Qingyang looked up at his handsome face and tried to imagine what it would be like to be married to Zhang Su—but couldn’t figure out what could possibly make her blush.