After the Crown Prince’s grand wedding, Qin Bing, Qin Ren, and even Qingyang all looked forward to one thing: following Father Emperor to the Western Gardens to escape the summer heat!
The Western Gardens were the royal residence of the previous dynasty.
Located a hundred li west of the Capital, both Capital officials and commoners called it the Western Gardens.
When Emperor Xingwu captured the Capital, there had been a battle in the Western Gardens as well, causing much damage to the palace walls and courtyards.
After Emperor Xingwu ascended the throne, he first focused on unifying the land, then on dividing territory and pacifying the people, nurturing the country back to health while occasionally fighting defensive wars with neighboring states.
It wasn’t until the autumn of the Prosperous Martial Sixth Year, when a palace attendant stationed at the Western Gardens reported that a black bear had escaped from the Royal Hunting Park due to years of disrepair, that Emperor Xingwu finally remembered the Western Gardens.
The palace staff couldn’t find the bear anywhere, and so requested the court send soldiers to capture it and prevent any injuries.
Only then did the diligent and frugal Emperor Xingwu recall the place.
Among the ministers, there had always been those who wanted to restore the Western Gardens so the emperor could have a place to relax.
But the cost of rebuilding was high, and the emperor was frugal.
He would often use the ruined, indulgent monarchs of the previous dynasty as cautionary tales to admonish the civil and military officials.
So, the ministers dared not rashly submit requests for the restoration, lest their flattery be met with a rebuke.
Thus, the escaped black bear became the catalyst.
After the officials and soldiers captured the black bear, Emperor Xingwu led several military generals to personally inspect the Western Gardens.
He found that the region, with its mountains and grasslands, was well-suited for riding and hunting.
Emperor Xingwu then proposed the restoration himself.
The Ministry of Works had craftsmen, the Ministry of Revenue had funds, and most parts of the Western Gardens were still in good condition.
Within a year, it was restored.
The Western Gardens of the previous dynasty had been purely a place for royal pleasure.
This time, Emperor Xingwu ordered the Ministry of Works to remove part of the gardens within the Southern Palace Wall, and to build the Xuanzheng Hall, Central Secretariat, Hall of State Affairs, the Six Ministries, as well as Palace Official Quarters for accompanying officials.
Thus, he and his ministers could avoid the oppressive heat for up to two months without neglecting state affairs.
Last year, Emperor Xingwu had already gone to the Western Gardens for the summer and was quite satisfied.
So this year, it was certain he would go again.
At the morning court assembly on the twenty-third day of the fifth month, Emperor Xingwu announced his decision to escape the summer heat, instructing all departments to prepare well.
The imperial carriage would depart on the twenty-eighth.
As early as after the Dragon Boat Festival, the Imperial Army and the Four Grand Capital Garrisons had each dispatched three thousand elite soldiers to the Western Gardens, responsible for internal and external security and patrol, eliminating the threat of assassins.
When the Imperial Family and officials set out, an additional ten thousand Imperial Guards and seven thousand Imperial Army would provide escort.
After the emperor left the Capital, the Deputy Commander of the Palace Guard and the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Army remained to guard the Capital, and reports from all regions were sent directly to the Western Gardens for processing.
They set out on the twenty-eighth of the fifth month and arrived at the Western Gardens on the afternoon of the twenty-ninth.
After resting, the Imperial Family gathered in the evening for dinner.
Emperor Xingwu looked at his children and said,
“Tomorrow morning, I’ll take a few ministers to climb Flying Eagle Peak. Anyone who wants to come can join.”
Prince Yong, needless to say, was already included among the ‘few ministers.’
Qin Hong, Qin Liang, Qin Bing, and Prince Consort Fu Kui all expressed their willingness to go.
Qingyang exchanged glances with Third Brother.
Qin Ren sneaked a look at Father Emperor. Seeing Father Emperor staring back, he knew pretending to be mute wouldn’t work, so he forced a flattering smile.
“Father Emperor, my martial skills aren’t as strong as Eldest Brother’s… Climbing the mountain…”
Emperor Xingwu said, “The weaker you are, the harder you must train. Tomorrow, whoever doesn’t go, you must still go.”
Qin Ren: “……”
Except for Consort Li, who followed, the Noble Consort and others simply smiled as if used to it.
Qin Ren looked around, shrank his neck, and smiled too, lowering his head to continue eating.
Emperor Xingwu silently swallowed a breath of anger.
The eldest was accomplished in both civil and military arts but lacked courage.
The third was ordinary in both, appearing timid.
But was someone truly timid if they dared refuse the emperor’s invitation to climb a mountain and could still smile after a scolding?
A good spirit, but in the wrong direction, only infuriating!
“Father Emperor, I’ll go too.”
Qingyang followed after Third Brother.
Emperor Xingwu looked at his youngest daughter, perfect in every way, and his anger dissipated. He smiled.
“Flying Eagle Peak is over two hundred zhang tall. Even your Third Brother finds it tough to climb. Lin’er, aren’t you afraid of getting tired?”
Qingyang said, “If I’m tired, I’ll rest for a while. Once I’ve recovered, I’ll keep climbing. I’ll definitely reach the top.”
Emperor Xingwu loved hearing his little daughter speak.
After agreeing, he turned to his eldest daughter.
Yongkang: “……If it were just our family, I’d go. But since there are outside ministers as well, I’ll pass.”
Emperor Xingwu didn’t force his eldest daughter.
Qin Ren looked at his elder sister with envy.
After dinner, it was still bright.
Emperor Xingwu took the two consorts for a walk, while Qingyang and the others went out to enjoy the scenery.
The three unmarried ones walked in front, while Qin Hong and Yongkang followed leisurely behind with their spouses.
As for Yongkang’s two children, being too young, they simply let the nursemaid take them to play.
Yongkang asked her sister-in-law with concern,
“Are you used to living in the Palace?”
Lü Wenrong smiled.
“At first, I felt a bit restrained. Fortunately, Lin’er often came to keep me company, and Mother Consort and Noble Consort are both kind people. Now, I’m completely used to it.”
Yongkang glanced back at her brother walking beside the Prince Consort and teased,
“You praised everyone. Don’t tell me the Crown Prince isn’t kind enough to you?”
Lü Wenrong blushed.
Hearing the conversation, Qin Hong’s ears also turned red.
How could he possibly not treat Wenrong well?
Compared to his elder sister’s stern admonitions and high expectations, Wenrong never discussed complicated matters with him—she was gentle and simple.
Even after half a month of marriage, it had been his most peaceful time in the Palace.
Yongkang’s worry was precisely Lü Wenrong’s simplicity and honesty.
Her brother was already straightforward enough—if the Taizi Consort wasn’t sharp either…
Creating some distance, Yongkang lowered her voice to impart her experience dealing with consorts and palace women to her sister-in-law.
After a long talk, Lü Wenrong’s smile became stiff.
After night fell, Qin Hong asked his wife, who seemed preoccupied.
“What did Elder Sister say to you?”
Lü Wenrong replied softly, her eyes worried.
Qin Hong held her hand and smiled.
“That’s just Elder Sister’s nature. It’s as if the whole world wants to harm me. You can listen to her words but don’t take them to heart. Our Royal Palace isn’t as full of schemes as the previous dynasty’s.”
Lü Wenrong nodded.
“Before I married, Grandfather also advised me to be cautious in words and actions, and to do my duty well. The rest isn’t worth overthinking.”
Qingyang slept well.
At the first hour of the morning, after breakfast, she went next door to wake Third Brother.
Qin Ren still hadn’t slept enough, but remembering that during their stay at the residence, he only had lessons three days per ten-day period, he immediately perked up.
He finished washing and eating within two quarters of an hour, then hurried with his sister toward the West Scenery Gate that led from the inner palace to the vast gardens.
Outside the West Scenery Gate, more than a dozen ministers scheduled for the mountain climb were already waiting.
The civil ministers included the two Prime Ministers, Censor-in-Chief, and six Ministry of Justice officials.
The military officials included Imperial Guards Commander Fan Zhong, Imperial Army Commander Xue Ye, Commander of the Eastern Garrison Lü Guangzu and his heir Lü Huang, Commander of the Southern Garrison Marquis Meng Ji, Commander of the Western Garrison Deng Chong, Commander of the Northern Garrison Prince Yong, as well as Fu Kui, Zhang Heng, Zhang Su, Yuan Chongli, and seven or eight other young nobles from distinguished families.
Qin Hong, Qin Liang, and Qin Bing were also present.
Only Emperor Xingwu had yet to appear.
Although the mountain forests around Flying Eagle Peak were within the Western Gardens, they were three li away.
So everyone held the reins of a horse, prepared to ride over.
The palace attendants also brought the mounts for the Third Prince and the little princess.
Twenty-year-old Qin Liang was now assigned to the Northern Garrison, no longer the Crown Prince’s study companion, but he still habitually stood beside Qin Hong.
Yuan Chongli remained Qin Bing’s study companion, naturally standing behind him.
Therefore, when Qingyang and her brother stood in place, Zhang Su led his horse and lined up behind Qin Ren.
Qingyang smiled at him.
Zhang Su lowered his gaze to avoid her.
The ministers were conversing.
Duke of Dingguo Deng Chong swept his gaze around and reminisced,
“It’s a pity Yuan Zhaoxiong, Zhang Ma, Li Yu, and the others are all stationed elsewhere. Otherwise, our group of brothers would be reunited. Later, we could climb with His Majesty, gaze into the distance, and down a few big jars of wine. How exhilarating that would be.”
Ministry of Works Minister Yang Zhiming stroked his beard and shook his head with a wry smile.
“When I was younger, I could run around with you martial types, but now, with age catching up, I can barely keep up. Whether I can make it to the top of Flying Eagle Peak is another matter.”
Deng Chong laughed.
“Left Chancellor Yan is almost sixty and doesn’t admit defeat. Why should you, at forty-five, worry about your legs?”
Yan Xizheng smiled without speaking.
The sixty-six-year-old Lü Guangzu exchanged glances with him, both feeling a certain camaraderie.
Zhang Su ignored her.
The three royal brothers remained quiet, while Qingyang simply watched these founding officials chat.
Speaking of age, among the commanders, Fan Zhong was the youngest at thirty-four this year.
Prince Yong, Xue Ye, Meng Ji, and Lü Huang were all around forty-one or forty-two.
Deng Chong was the same age as Father Emperor, both forty-nine this year.
Whether in their thirties or sixties, all these officials wore beards of varying length.
Qingyang’s gaze shifted to Fu Kui, Zhang Heng, and the others, wondering if, when the meritorious generals aged, these young military officers would measure up to their fathers.
At last, Emperor Xingwu emerged with He Yuanjing.
Nearly fifty years old, Emperor Xingwu wore a black, gold-trimmed round-collared robe.
With black hair, black brows, and a short black beard, his handsome face—marked by sword-like brows and starry eyes—was now even more imposing after nine years on the Dragon Throne.
What drew attention most was his commanding imperial presence.
“All ministers pay respects to the Emperor!”
The ministers bowed in unison, while Qingyang and the others called him Father Emperor.
Emperor Xingwu smiled.
“Rise. Today, for this mountain climb, we speak only of camaraderie, not of rank. Mount your horses.”
With that, Emperor Xingwu was the first to leap onto his black steed.
Surveying from above, he saw his youngest daughter gripping the saddle, ready to exert herself.
Emperor Xingwu called out at once.
“Lin’er, come here. Ride with me.”
The little princess pretended not to hear, mounted her horse, and only after Father Emperor repeated himself did Qingyang say,
“Father Emperor, I’ve practiced riding for half a year. Please let your daughter ride alone this time. With so many people here, all trusted generals, even if I fall, surely someone can rescue me in time?”
Fan Zhong was first to respond.
“Your servant will stay beside the Princess, ensuring her safety all the way!”
There were too many people present, so addressing her as Princess made things clearer.
Qingyang immediately smiled at Fan Zhong.
Before her smile could reach its brightest, Emperor Xingwu squinted.
“This grassy area looks smooth, but there are pits everywhere. I’ll take you first to show you. Zhang Su, help the Princess dismount.”
Zhang Su, who had been waiting beside the little princess’s horse, stepped forward and looked up at her.
Qingyang bit her lip, released the reins, then leaned toward Zhang Su as she swung both legs off the saddle.
Zhang Su firmly held the princess’s waist and helped her down.
Qingyang had no choice but to endure the stares of the ministers and walk gloomily to Father Emperor’s mount.
Emperor Xingwu extended his left hand, wrapped his arm around his daughter’s waist, and effortlessly lifted her onto the saddle before him.
Hearing his daughter mutter, “Stinky Father Emperor,” Emperor Xingwu laughed, squeezed his legs, and charged first toward the distant hills.