Emperor Xingwu had the Ministry of Works renovate the Xiyuan Palace, dividing the palace into the Central Inner Palace and the Outer Court.
Besides the Central Secretariat, Six Ministries, and the Palace Official Quarters where the accompanying officials stayed, Emperor Xingwu also had a circle of palace walls built on the southeast side, naming it the Southern Quarters.
Within the Southern Quarters, he built Six Courtyards and granted them to members of the imperial family not suited to stay in the Central Inner Palace.
The Yong Prince’s Family and Yongkang’s Family each chose a courtyard.
Although Yongkang felt a bit uncomfortable, she accepted this arrangement after considering that when her sisters married, they would also have to live in the Southern Quarters, and when her younger brothers ascended the throne, Second Brother and Third Brother would also have to stay in the Southern Quarters like the Prince Yong when visiting the palace.
After two days of exhausting travel, Yongkang didn’t want to climb any Flying Eagle Peak, so she slept in comfortably, then took the children for a walk to the Noble Lady’s side, invited a few familiar official ladies and young madams to enjoy the scenery together, and only returned to the Southern Quarters to rest when the sun was high and the light too strong.
When Prince Consort Chu Kui returned reeking of alcohol, Yongkang had almost finished her nap.
She ordered Chu Kui to bathe before allowing him on the bed.
Drinking for pleasure, and although they had been married six years, the young Princess and Prince Consort still ended up tumbling naturally together.
Afterward, Chu Kui wanted to sleep.
Yongkang wouldn’t allow it.
She questioned him.
“You left at dawn and accompanied His Majesty for three hours. Anything interesting happen?”
Chu Kui thought back.
During the mountain climb, he was with a group of familiar nobles’ sons, bickering and making noise, but nothing new.
At the banquet, the Emperor and the ministers didn’t talk politics, instead reminiscing about the iron and blood of their youth—these stories had been told so often even the younger generation could recite them.
As for anything novel…
Chu Kui could only think of one thing, and replied in a mocking tone as if watching a play:
“Chancellor Yan is truly bold, even daring to suggest whether the Emperor intends to turn Qingyang Princess into a political Princess.”
Chancellor Yan seemed to propose two possible paths for the Emperor, but what wise ruler would allow a Princess to interfere in politics?
So Chancellor Yan was warning the Emperor to restrain the Qingyang Princess.
The Emperor listened.
At the end of the banquet, he made it clear he never intended to indulge the Qingyang Princess in the Outer Court.
Qingyang in politics?
Yongkang’s face darkened.
She twisted the Prince Consort, who was about to close his eyes and play dead, and demanded he explain everything.
Chu Kui felt both pain and annoyance.
But who asked him to marry the Emperor’s daughter?
Actually, the matter was simple.
Leaving out the two retorts the Little Princess gave Chancellor Yan, Chu Kui quickly finished recounting.
When he saw Yongkang sitting in a daze, lost in thought, he seized the opportunity to finally sleep.
In Yongkang’s mind, Chancellor Yan’s praise for her sister rang: “Intelligent, determined, capable of touring the realm and befriending great ministers!”
Father has three sons.
No matter how much he loves his daughter, he can’t possibly pass the throne to her.
No Emperor in history has done such a thing.
But the real fear is that if Father continues to indulge her, and the too-clever sister truly grows ambitious, even if she cannot sit on the Longyi herself, she could use her intelligence and influence to support Third Brother!
Don’t say a woman can’t do it.
Though Yongkang hadn’t read much, she’d heard of Empress Dowager Lü of the Han Dynasty, who controlled child Emperors and ruled the court.
If her sister truly took such a notion, lazy, incompetent Third Brother would be the perfect puppet Emperor!
These thoughts rose and fell.
The more Yongkang considered, the more uneasy she became.
While she was guarding against Second Brother and Third Brother vying for the position of Crown Prince, she nearly overlooked Qingyang, Father’s most beloved little girl.
She glanced at her sleeping husband, then dressed and went to the study, alone and deep in thought.
Only when the breeze from outside cooled did Yongkang take her maid and head to the Central Inner Palace.
She first visited her sister, who was too sore to stand, and learned the poor girl was still asleep from exhaustion.
Only then did Yongkang “by the way” head to the Crown Prince’s palace.
Qin Hong had been summoned by Father for chess and conversation, missing the usual rest time.
As the dignified Crown Prince, he couldn’t very well nap lazily, so he went to the study, where, though unable to read, he found peace to reflect on Father’s lessons about being a ruler.
“Your Highness, the Grand Princess is here to see you.”
Dequan called from behind the curtain.
Qin Hong: “……”
It had always been like this since childhood.
Every time he visited Grandmother, Noble Lady, Consort Li, or the occasionally present Father, Eldest Sister would press him for details.
Qin Hong didn’t like it, but he knew Eldest Sister meant well and felt for the burden she shouldered as a child to protect him.
So he sighed and prepared to go to the hall to see her.
Just then, Eldest Sister’s confused voice sounded from farther behind Dequan.
“Why so quiet? Did the Crown Prince tire himself reading and fall asleep?”
Qin Hong quickened his steps, parted the curtain between study and hall, and saw Eldest Sister just a few steps from the inner door.
He smiled.
“Eldest Sister, why are you here? Didn’t Wenrong greet you?”
Normally, Wenrong should have invited Eldest Sister in for tea.
Yongkang, looking impatient, replied, “I came to find you. No need for her to serve me. Dequan, go wait outside. No one is allowed to come near.”
Dequan bowed.
Qin Hong waved his hand, lifting the curtain, and invited Eldest Sister in.
What Yongkang wanted to discuss was their younger sister—a warning for her brother to be wary of possible ambition in the future, and also about Father’s excessive favoritism.
Qin Hong felt a headache coming just at the introduction.
He grumbled.
“Chancellor Yan is overthinking things. Why are you the same? Qingyang is only nine years old; what does she know? Father has no intention of letting her meddle in politics.”
Yongkang replied, “Qingyang is young now, but she’ll grow up. Fine, let’s speak of her when she’s older. What about Father? How are you sure he harbors no such thoughts? He’s indulged Consort Li for years. Is it so rare for Emperors to be led astray by favored consorts?”
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Qin Hong stared at his sister in disbelief.
“That’s Father. You…you…”
Yongkang sneered.
“So what if he’s Father? He has five children, but only you and I share a mother. We’re bound together by blood and flesh. For other matters, we can speak of sibling affection, but there’s only one Longyi. In Father’s heart, it might not matter which son sits on it, as long as his dynasty doesn’t fall into outsider hands. But for us, whether it’s Second Brother or Third Brother who sits there, neither you nor I will have an easy life.”
Qin Hong had heard such words enough, and even the sight of Eldest Sister’s serious, harsh face made him weary.
Yet he still shifted closer to her, turning his head aside.
Low-voiced, he muttered, “You’re always suspecting Father. But after returning, Father told me himself. He cherishes Qingyang only because she’s young. I am his chosen future Emperor. He wants me to care for Qingyang, but also to be strict when necessary, placing royal authority above private affection.”
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Yongkang, surprised, asked, “Truly?”
Qin Hong nodded, still facing away.
Yongkang thought for a moment, then laughed quietly.
“Maybe Father was just saying nice things to comfort you, afraid you’d distance yourself from his precious Little Princess after Chancellor Yan’s warnings.”
Qin Hong didn’t want to be drawn into sibling rivalry or have his own sister become suspicious.
Even after he’d explained, his sister still doubted Father, and in a burst of frustration, Qin Hong grabbed his own stomach, turning back to toss a final truth at her.
“Father didn’t speak of Qingyang. He was talking about the two Princesses of our family. He told me not to spoil either of you!”
Yongkang felt as if a knife had stabbed into her chest, opening her mouth in shock, yet unable to speak.
Qin Hong, seeing this, turned away again, silently waiting.
Yongkang’s eyes grew blurry.
What she saw was not her brother, but the father who had rarely embraced her.
“Place royal authority above private affection.”
Father’s words to her brother about Qingyang and the other siblings were not wrong.
But she was his sister by blood.
She’d cared for her brother longer than even Father, longer than their late Consort Mother or Grandmother.
If Father didn’t love her, fine, but not to allow her brother to love her either?
Qin Hong glanced over and saw his sister sitting motionless, tears glistening on her face.
Hurriedly, he took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
Yongkang turned away.
“You’re the Crown Prince, no need to bother with me!”
Qin Hong placed a hand on her shoulder.
“All right, didn’t you always hope I’d be strong? That’s what Father meant too. He wants me to be a dignified Emperor, so he said those things. If Father truly intended to replace me with Second Brother, Third Brother, or let Qingyang intervene in politics, would he still teach me how to rule?”
Yongkang believed him.
Eyes reddened, she asked,
“Then what about me? Am I your sister, or just an outsider married off?”
Qin Hong replied,
“Of course you’re my sister!”
Yongkang wiped her face, gritting her teeth.
“I don’t care if Father loves me, but you’re not allowed. However much Father cherishes Qingyang, you must cherish me the same in the future.”
Qin Hong said,
“Fine, fine. Whatever sister says, I’ll do.”
After being visited in succession by Consort Mother, Noble Lady, Father, and Eldest Sister, Qingyang slept soundly all night.
In the morning, she first lifted the covers, tested her legs, then got up to walk around, making sure her calves only felt a little sore.
Satisfied, Qingyang ate breakfast, then went next door to find Third Brother.
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Fuan greeted her, face complicated.
“Reporting to Princess, His Highness had the servants lock the hall doors last night and told them to toss the key through the crack. He said unless the Emperor sent someone to knock, he wouldn’t get up early.”
Qingyang: “”
She walked a few more steps to find Second Brother, but he was still asleep.
Glancing at Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law’s quarters, Qingyang sensibly decided to pay respects to Father instead.
The first three days at Xiyuan Palace were rest days.
Even Emperor Xingwu, after years of diligent governance, wanted to relax.
To the Little Princess, he said:
“Father’s going for a walk alone. Lin’er, gather a few friends to play. Do whatever you wish, but stay safe—especially, no riding or running off alone.”
Qingyang replied,
“All right. Then I’ll go boating and fishing.”
Emperor Xingwu said,
“Good. I’m leaving now. Wait half an hour before inviting your friends—most are probably still asleep.”
Qingyang was too lazy to wait.
After seeing Father off, she called over two young eunuchs, sending one to the lake to prepare a boat and fishing rods, and the other to the Palace Official Quarters to summon Zhang Su.
Then, after visiting Consort Mother, Qingyang brought Jie Yu to the West Scenery Gate.
Sure enough, Zhang Su, dressed in indigo round-collared robe with the Accompanying Reading Badge at his waist, was already waiting.
Qingyang smiled at him, pointing toward the lake.
“Let’s go.”
Zhang Su glanced back into the West Scenery Gate.
“Has Third Highness already departed?”
Qingyang bluffed,
“Third Brother is still sleeping. Maybe he’ll catch up to us later.”
Zhang Su lowered his eyes, gaze falling on the Little Princess’s white skirt.
“Your Highness’s legs—should you rest a few more days?”
Qingyang: “”
The Little Princess stepped closer, standing before the much taller youth, looking up to meet those downcast eyes.
Then, annoyed, she asked,
“Are you mocking how I couldn’t stand yesterday?”
Zhang Su immediately knelt on one knee.
“This minister wouldn’t dare. I only worry for Your Highness’s youth…”
“If you’re worried, carry me!”
The Little Princess, who had been frowning, suddenly laughed.
In a flash, she circled behind Zhang Su and leapt onto his back, arms around his neck.
Zhang Su steadied himself with his left hand, glancing at Jie Yu’s robe nearby, then said helplessly,
“I’ll accompany Your Highness to the lake, but carrying you all the way might cause gossip. Better to walk yourself or ride the carriage.”
Qingyang rested her head on his shoulder.
“What gossip? You said it yourself—I’m still young. Besides, my legs are sore. I want you to carry me.”
Her small arms tightened around his neck.
Zhang Su saw there was no persuading her, so he stood with the Little Princess on his back.
A stone road stretched from the West Scenery Gate to the lake, flanked by wide green lawns dotted with wildflowers.
Qingyang admired the scenery, then glanced at Zhang Su’s face.
Recalling how flushed he’d been after carrying her down the mountain yesterday, she asked,
“The mountain was so tall—were you tired carrying me?”
Zhang Su answered,
“It was fine.”
Qingyang said,
“In fact, you could have woken me and put me down. It’s not like I couldn’t walk at all.”
Zhang Su did not reply.
It had been exhausting, but the Little Princess slept so soundly, he hadn’t the heart to wake her.