As the Feast began, the Musicians, Songstresses, and Dancers entered Listening Spring Hall in order to perform.
While the adults exchanged toasts and talked freely, the Little Princess either focused on her meal or enjoyed the music and dance with great interest.
Other than speaking to her Third Brother beside her, she showed no intention of interrupting the conversations between ruler and ministers.
The three-year-old Little Princess often left halfway through the Feast, but the nine-year-old Little Princess could comfortably stay until the end.
By the time the Feast ended, Emperor Xingwu was already seventy percent drunk.
The ones who drank the most—Prince Yong, Deng Chong, and Fan Zhong—were even more unsteady, either slumped over the table with eyes half-closed, shouting, or leaning back pointing at the Qingji Spring Water flowing outside, muttering “fine wine, fine wine,” or sitting upright but already snoring loudly.
Emperor Xingwu pointed at the three and scolded them for being useless, then steadied himself against the table and said,
“All right, that’s enough for today. Next time you’re filthy drunk, I won’t drink with you again.”
The ministers stood up as well.
Qingyang wanted to get up too, but had to use great effort just to grip the table, and her legs felt so numb they wouldn’t listen to her.
Qin Ren, next to her, fared better than his little sister and managed to stand, though he grimaced painfully as if wanting everyone to see how sore his legs were.
The siblings’ struggles drew the attention of the others.
Emperor Xingwu looked at his daughter, “sitting still and unmoving,” and suddenly burst out laughing. He motioned to Yan Xizheng.
“Look, what outstanding talent, what great willpower—it’s still just a nine-year-old girl, can’t even stand after climbing a mountain. Where’s all that talk of being extraordinary?”
Qin Bing was the first to laugh, and the other ministers and young nobles, whether out loud or not, couldn’t help but smile.
The Little Princess, still suffering and now ridiculed, puffed her cheeks in anger at her Imperial Father.
Yan Xizheng was just about to speak when Emperor Xingwu swayed with drunken clarity, steadied himself, and continued,
“When I granted Lin’er the Kirin Waist Token to walk freely in the Outer Court, you were all present. I promised she could use it until she turned ten. I’m both her father and her Emperor—I can’t go back on my word, can I?”
“After next year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, Lin’er won’t run to the Outer Court anymore, so Chancellor Yan can rest easy. As for climbing mountains and riding horses, any girl from an Imperial Guard Family would have such interests—it’s nothing rare.”
This was a direct response to Yan Xizheng’s earlier inquiry at the Feast.
Yan Xizheng bowed.
“Your Majesty is wise.”
Having answered the ministers, Emperor Xingwu walked over to his daughter, bent down, and said,
“Come, let me carry Lin’er…”
He hadn’t finished before he swayed to the side.
Lü Guangzu, who had drank less due to age, stepped forward in a flash to support the Emperor.
Qingyang: “……”
Seeing both concern and annoyance in his daughter’s eyes, Emperor Xingwu smiled and looked to Qin Ren.
“You—forget it, you can’t even stand. Crown Prince, come here. As the eldest brother, carry your sister back.”
Qin Hong was gentle by nature, but thanks to diligent martial training, his body was sturdy at seven feet nine, and he wasn’t one for heavy drinking.
Receiving his father’s order, he immediately walked over and easily picked up his younger sister.
The Little Princess made a bitter face because of the soreness in her legs.
Qin Hong held his sister upright with his left arm, and with his right hand, he massaged her legs below the knee.
“It’s all right, it’ll ease up in a while.”
Qingyang leaned on her brother’s shoulder to make it easier for him.
Emperor Xingwu led the way out of the separate hall, mounted his horse, and slowly rode east.
Qin Hong first lifted his sister onto the saddle, then mounted himself.
Never having ridden double before, he adjusted for a moment before wrapping one arm around her waist and tugging the reins with the other.
The ministers gathered near Emperor Xingwu, the three princes rode in the middle, and the younger nobles followed behind.
After all, they were on horseback, so it wasn’t possible to stay too close.
Qin Bing, complaining about his elder brother’s slow pace, wandered off to chat with Yuan Zhengli.
The afternoon sun was bright. When the sound of hooves became less dense around them, Qingyang lifted her head.
Qin Hong looked down and saw a trace of unease in his sister’s dark, clear eyes. He spoke softly.
“Chancellor Yan worries too much. You don’t need to mind his words.”
Qingyang: “But I just like reading the classics and watching the officials govern in the Outer Court. Chancellor Yan doesn’t like me doing that. Does Big Brother not like it either?”
Qin Hong: “No. As long as you’re happy, Big Brother will like whatever you do.”
His sister was only nine, and her intelligence and curiosity were natural.
Going to the Outer Court was purely because it was lively, not related to politics.
If the eldest sister secretly accepted bribes and made recommendations, that would be political interference, but a few instances weren’t serious, and he could control it.
He would never place someone like Fang Ji in an important position.
Qingyang didn’t know what her brother was thinking. She leaned against his chest and spoke her thoughts quietly.
“Second Brother said you study and train to help Imperial Father when you grow up. So if I study well and train with the sword, I can help Imperial Father and Big Brother too when I’m older. I know what it means for a Princess to interfere in politics, but so many ministers offer advice to the court every day. “
“Good ideas are adopted, bad ones are rejected. Since that’s the case, Imperial Father and Big Brother can use the same method to judge my words. Why is it political interference when I want to help, but not when they do it?”
Qin Hong fell silent.
In the harem, women were forbidden to meddle in politics out of fear that they’d support outside factions and undermine imperial authority, or that women with neither talent nor virtue would bring chaos to the land.
But at its root, if the Emperor were competent, as his sister said, able to discern the words of concubines or princesses as he would honest or treacherous ministers, what chaos would there be?
“Sister is right. As long as the advice is correct, subjects and kin alike can speak up. So you just keep studying—no need to worry about Chancellor Yan.”
Qin Hong comforted her.
Every Emperor’s feelings for his princess sisters were different.
He only had one elder sister and one younger sister.
His elder sister could be muddleheaded but always meant well. His younger sister was someone he watched grow up.
Now, she was still a child.
If she became ambitious and malicious when she grew up, it wouldn’t be too late to become distant then.
Before that, he couldn’t possibly estrange her over a single “forewarned is forearmed” from Chancellor Yan.
Qin Hong brought his sister back to the palace of the Imperial Palace, stayed with her a while longer, and only after the Imperial Physician came to examine her and confirmed that it was just ordinary soreness that would pass in a day or two, did he return to his own palace to bathe and change.
Lü Wenrong asked with concern,
“How was it? Was Imperial Father in good spirits?”
Qin Hong only spoke of the good, not the bad.
“They were all loyal officials who followed Imperial Father through life and death. He was very happy today.”
After drying his hair, Qin Hong was about to lie down with his wife when a eunuch messenger came from his father’s side, summoning him.
Qin Hong hurriedly changed into a formal robe and went out.
Compared to his son’s restraint, Emperor Xingwu was much more casual, sitting alone in a side room in a blue inner robe, placing black pieces on a board after bathing.
Seeing his son walk in respectfully, Emperor Xingwu nodded toward the opposite side of the board.
“Sit. Let’s play two rounds, father and son.”
Qin Hong knew it wasn’t so simple and sat quietly.
Emperor Xingwu asked casually,
“Did the Imperial Physician check on Lin’er?”
Qin Hong: “Yes. He said it’s nothing serious. Imperial Father need not worry.”
Emperor Xingwu snorted.
“That little fool. Your third brother would do anything to get out of going, but she insists on joining the fun. Now she’s worn out her legs and got lectured by Chancellor Yan. Luckily, she’s still young and doesn’t grasp how harsh his words were. If it had been your elder sister, she’d have burst into tears on the spot.”
Qin Hong raised his eyes. Seeing his father focused only on the board, he hid his nervousness.
“Chancellor Yan’s words were indeed exaggerated. My little sister is still a child at heart. To accuse her of political interference is simply ridiculous.”
Emperor Xingwu held a piece, gazing at his son.
“Do you really think so? Or do you also feel I spoil your sister too much and don’t dare speak ill of Lin’er in front of me?”
Qin Hong was shocked, put down the piece, and knelt barefoot on the ground.
“Imperial Father, please see clearly. I truly don’t believe my sister would have ambitions to interfere in politics. I would never flatter you deliberately.”
Emperor Xingwu: “……Get up. Don’t kneel so easily. We’re father and son. Is a casual conversation really worth this?”
Qin Hong hurriedly stood up, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.
Emperor Xingwu had his son sit back down and said,
“It’s true I spoil Lin’er the most. She’s the youngest. When you were all little, I was busy conquering the world and had no chance to dote on you. But doting is one thing—on important matters, I’m not muddleheaded.”
“You’re the Crown Prince I chose myself. You must carry the bearing of a future Emperor. Take care of our two princesses when needed, but be strict when necessary, or they’ll really start to push you around.”
Qin Hong listened in silence, then replied respectfully.
“Please rest assured, Imperial Father. I will remember your words.”
Emperor Xingwu said,
“A ruler must be a ruler. No matter how close, even the most meritorious officials and kin, you must put the dignity of the sovereign before personal feelings. Let them love and fear you—only then will they not dare to use personal ties against you. If you can do that, I’ll have nothing left to worry about.”
Qin Hong instinctively lowered his head, ashamed.
“I will do my utmost to improve, so you can be proud as soon as possible.”
Emperor Xingwu: “Enough. Focus on the game.”
After his son left, Emperor Xingwu rested for a short while.
When he woke, it was dusk.
The setting sun shone, and the evening breeze was cool.
He changed into casual clothes and strolled leisurely to the Little Princess’s palace.
Qingyang had just woken up too. Still feeling lazy from sore legs, she lay on a couch in the side room. Consort Li brought over a chair, skewered some melon with a silver fork, and fed her daughter.
Outside, Palace Attendants were greeting the Emperor, so Consort Li quickly set down her things and went out to welcome him.
Emperor Xingwu held her hand as they walked inside, letting go only as they neared the side room.
Looking in, he saw his daughter lying on the couch with her back to him, as if asleep, but next to her was a plate of melon with hardly a tenth eaten.
Emperor Xingwu laughed, sat directly in Consort Li’s chair, and picked up the fruit plate.
“Lin’er’s asleep? All the better—then I’ll eat.”
As soon as Qingyang heard, she turned around at once, trying to snatch the plate away.
Emperor Xingwu took advantage of the moment to offer her a piece of melon.
“Come, let your father feed you.”
Qingyang still remembered her father’s teasing in Listening Spring Hall and turned away.
“I’m just an ordinary, unremarkable nine-year-old girl. I dare not trouble Father Emperor.”
Consort Li, unaware of the inside story, stared blankly at the pair.
Emperor Xingwu coaxed her with a smile.
“This is called showing weakness, so others don’t see my Lin’er as an extraordinary girl and guard against her. Do you want people running to complain about you to your father every day?”
Qingyang considered, then obediently turned back and ate the melon from her father’s hand.
Father and daughter made up.
Consort Li, though relieved, grew anxious.
“Your Majesty, who spoke ill of Lin’er?”
Emperor Xingwu offered her a piece of melon too.
“No one. I’ve already dealt with everything for Lin’er. Just relax and enjoy the summer.”