Qingyang was stopped by the Royal Guards outside the door of her Father Emperor’s palace for the first time.
“Princess, don’t be anxious. The Crown Prince has already gone in to plead for both Highnesses.”
Knowing well how favored the Little Princess was, the Royal Guard lowered his voice to share the news.
Qingyang didn’t want to make things difficult for the guard. She moved aside with Jie Yu, who was holding an umbrella for her.
But she couldn’t understand.
If Father Emperor allowed Big Brother to plead, why wouldn’t he see her?
The pattering rain muffled any possible sounds from inside.
Qingyang stared at the red palace wall beside her, lost in thought.
Also, Qingyang wasn’t surprised Second Brother did such a thing, but Third Brother—though lazy—had always been well-behaved except for ignoring the teachings of the Martial Teacher. Why did he go gambling, too?
And Zhang Su—did he know, did he gamble as well?
From afar came the hurried footsteps of someone walking through the rain.
Qingyang looked up and saw the figure of Prince Yong at the other end of the palace path, wearing a purple official robe, without an umbrella.
Soon, Prince Yong was also stopped by the guards and received no explanation from them.
With no choice, Prince Yong walked over and asked the little niece under the umbrella,
“What happened?”
“I was at the camp, heard the news, and rushed over without even having time to ask for details.”
Qingyang didn’t know much either.
Once he confirmed it was gambling, Prince Yong clenched his fist in anxiety.
“It’s over. Of the four ruinous vices—eating, drinking, womanizing, gambling—your Father Emperor hates gambling the most. He definitely won’t let this go lightly.”
His own old man had been a Gambling Demon—the poorer he was, the more he gambled.
When Prince Yong was still in his mother’s womb, his father lost his life in a ditch while fleeing from debt, leaving his mother to raise their two sons with much hardship.
As a child, Prince Yong only knew they were poor.
Occasionally, he’d hear his mother curse his father as a Gambling Demon but didn’t know how much Big Brother hated gambling.
It wasn’t until he was dragged by friends to gamble small coins, then got his butt whipped by Big Brother’s shoe, that Prince Yong truly learned his lesson.
As soon as he finished speaking, a wretched scream came from inside.
Qingyang’s heart jumped.
That sounded like Third Brother’s voice.
The first was “Ah,” the second was “Father Emperor, I’m sorry, please stop hitting me!”
Then two more “Ah”s followed.
Worried more would come, Prince Yong considerately covered his little niece’s ears to prevent her from having nightmares.
Though Qingyang couldn’t hear, tears welled in her eyes.
How was Father Emperor punishing Third Brother?
After another wait, chaotic footsteps sounded from within.
Qingyang wiped her eyes, nervously staring at the palace door behind the guards.
The palace door opened from inside.
Qin Hong and Qin Bing walked out, one after the other.
Seeing their uncle and sister waiting nearby, Qin Hong lowered his head in shame.
Qin Bing, not caring about the three lashes he received but depressed over losing his companion reader, ignored everyone and called Yuan Chongli to leave first.
Following them was Qin Ren, supported by Zhang Su.
When brother and sister met, Qin Ren’s heart ached and he almost cried, but upon seeing his sister’s tears fall first, he took a deep breath and forced a smile.
“It’s fine. Don’t be afraid, little sister. Third Brother doesn’t hurt!”
Qingyang wanted to rush over and hug her brother, but was held back by the understanding Jie Yu to avoid pulling on the Third Prince’s injuries.
“Uncle, Father Emperor ordered us to reflect in confinement. We’ll go ahead.”
Eyes downcast, Qin Hong greeted them and left.
The other noble sons followed after making their bows.
“You all should go back too. I’ll go check on His Majesty.”
Prince Yong sighed, patting his third nephew’s shoulder.
Qin Ren: “……”
Qingyang had Jie Yu hold the umbrella over Third Brother’s head.
Qin Ren smiled bitterly.
“Forget it, I’m already soaked. A few more steps won’t matter.”
Jie Yu then continued to hold the umbrella for the Little Princess.
Qingyang asked with concern,
“Where did Third Brother get hurt?”
Qin Ren pointed to his back.
Qingyang walked around, looking up carefully for a while before finding three long, faint tears on the green satin of Third Brother’s robe.
Zhang Su explained,
“His Majesty punished Third Highness with three lashes.”
The Emperor’s anger was real, but the Royal Guard administering the punishment whipped loudly but not heavily—otherwise a single lash would have drawn blood through the cloth.
Of the eleven princes punished, only the Third Prince, who had never suffered much, cried out.
“Third Highness shouldn’t stay in the rain too long with these injuries. Let’s go back first.”
Zhang Su quickened his pace slightly.
The Little Princess, worried, followed closely behind.
When they reached Qin Ren’s palace, Fuan and the other palace servants had not yet returned.
Jie Yu helped the Third Prince into the inner room for care, and Qingyang, persuaded by Third Brother, stayed outside to ask Zhang Su about the details.
Zhang Su had spent the afternoon reading in his own quarters and only learned of the two princes’ gambling when summoned by Emperor Xingwu.
Qingyang asked,
“If Big Brother didn’t gamble, why was he confined too?”
Zhang Su lowered his gaze.
“His Majesty blamed the Crown Prince for failing to stop Second Highness.”
Qingyang: “……”
Zhang Su looked outside.
“If there are no other instructions, this humble servant will take his leave.”
This was the West Garden Inner Palace; he shouldn’t stay long.
Only then did Qingyang notice that Zhang Su’s clothes were soaked and clinging to him.
She pointed to the umbrella stored under the corridor eaves.
“Take it and use it.”
Zhang Su declined and left.
Qingyang’s thoughts returned to Third Brother.
When Jie Yu said Third Brother had changed into his inner clothes and was about to apply medicine, Qingyang burst in despite his protests, rushing to the bedside.
There, on Third Brother’s white tofu-like back, were three bright red lash marks.
Jie Yu opened the balm for bruises and comforted the Little Princess.
“Luckily, the skin isn’t broken. Apply the balm for three or four days and it should heal.”
Qingyang felt both heartache and that Third Brother deserved it.
She asked angrily,
“Why did you go gambling, Third Brother?”
Qin Ren lay on the pillow, looking innocent.
“I didn’t mean to gamble. I went just to watch cricket fights. Anyway, I only bet on one cricket at a time, and even if I lost, it was just one or two taels. Does that count as gambling?”
Qingyang said,
“If you really think it’s not wrong, why did you hide in the officials’ quarters to play and not even dare tell me or Zhang Su?”
Qin Ren fell silent.
Qingyang said,
“You and Second Brother have no right to complain. Only Big Brother got implicated by you both.”
As Jie Yu started applying medicine, Qin Ren began crying out in pain again.
At that moment, Consort Li also arrived after hearing the news, took the balm from Jie Yu, and cared for her son while shedding tears, looking like a pear blossom in the rain and stunning the Little Princess sitting beside her.
When Fuan and the other palace servants, who had also been lashed for failing to serve properly, returned, Qin Ren officially began his confinement.
Consort Li and her daughter were politely asked to leave.
Consort Li wiped her tears and spoke to her daughter.
“Your Third Brother deserved it. Lin’er, go back and pretend you don’t know about this. Don’t blame your father.”
Qingyang said,
“Alright. What about you, Imperial Concubine?”
Consort Li replied,
“I’m returning to the palace too.”
She didn’t resent the Emperor. Even if she did, she wouldn’t dare vent her anger at him.
Yongkang lived in the southern quarters and received news of Father Emperor catching Second and Third Brothers gambling with crickets even before her younger sister.
Yongkang thought Father Emperor had every right to be angry and didn’t consider going to the Han Yuan Palace to plead for her brothers.
The princes lived in the Inner Palace, but noble sons like Yuan Chongli lived in official residences.
The little eunuch Yongkang sent out to investigate returned with bad news:
The Crown Prince, who tried to help, also received three lashes!
Yongkang could no longer sit still.
Ignoring the rain soaking her shoes, she hurried into the Inner Palace to visit her brothers.
The Crown Prince, strictly obeying Father Emperor’s orders, had already closed his doors and begun confinement, and didn’t open for his sister—only letting Lü Wenrong inform her that his injuries weren’t severe and she need not worry.
Unable to get in and not daring to blame Father Emperor for being unreasonable, Yongkang stormed off to see the Noble Lady.
“This was clearly Second Brother’s fault. Father Emperor took it out on the Crown Prince. Why didn’t you stop him, Mother? Aren’t you supposed to be the most virtuous and fair?”
Having her own son get into such trouble, the Noble Lady felt both a headache and shame.
Upon receiving the news, she had no face to go to Han Yuan Palace and only planned to wait until the Emperor’s anger cooled before confessing her failure as a mother.
Since she hadn’t gone, how could she persuade the Emperor not to punish the Crown Prince?
But the Noble Lady knew Yongkang’s temperament well.
Ever since she entered the Qin Family’s gates, this child had treated her as a wicked stepmother, suspicious of every attempt at closeness.
No matter how hard she tried, Yongkang saw it as harboring hidden intentions.
Over time, the Noble Lady simply focused on taking care of Yongkang and the Crown Prince’s daily needs, expecting nothing emotionally.
The Noble Lady didn’t expect Yongkang’s true affection and thus wouldn’t be hurt by her attitude, responding calmly with explanations.
Yongkang was still angry and thought of another.
“Consort Li didn’t go either?”
Noble Lady replied,
“She didn’t. Even if she had, it would be useless. Your uncle and Lin’er tried to plead but were stopped outside Han Yuan Palace.”
Yongkang had no one to blame and could only leave with a stern face.
Han Yuan Palace.
Though Emperor Xingwu remained in the study, he knew all the goings-on in the Inner Palace.
Consort Li visiting Third Son and the Noble Lady not visiting Second Son were within his expectations.
Only the news of his eldest daughter visiting the Noble Lady made him frown.
With rain falling and such an incident, he expected neither of the two consorts nor his daughters would go out to enjoy the scenery.
Emperor Xingwu ordered all the palace gates within the Inner Palace closed early.
After dining alone, Emperor Xingwu picked up two small bamboo cages and brought He Yuanjing to the Little Princess’s palace.
Qingyang had just finished eating as well.
Upon hearing her Father Emperor had arrived, she hurried out to greet him, but before she reached the corridor, she was blocked by Father Emperor approaching.
The Little Princess stopped, cautiously checking Father Emperor’s expression.
Emperor Xingwu smiled.
“Don’t worry. Lin’er didn’t make a mistake, so Father Emperor won’t lose his temper.”
Qingyang relaxed and accompanied her Father Emperor inside.
Emperor Xingwu raised the two small cages in his hand.
“Lin’er, can you guess what’s inside?”
Qingyang: “……Fruit?”
Sometimes the cherries and lychees Father Emperor rewarded her with were delivered in bamboo baskets or cages.
In front, a beauty couch stood.
Emperor Xingwu sat down with his daughter, placed the two bamboo cages in between, and opened the lids.
Seeing two black bugs, the Little Princess: “……”
Emperor Xingwu sighed.
“This is what your Second Brother and the others were playing with.
Dignified princes leading the sons of meritorious officials favored by the Emperor to play with bugs—
tell me, should Father Emperor be angry or not?”
Qingyang closed the bamboo cage lid, glanced at Father Emperor, then straightened up and leaned close to his ear.
In a low voice, she said,
“I actually think Father Emperor was already angry a long time ago. Today’s anger was just for show.”
Emperor Xingwu: “……”
He motioned for He Yuanjing and Jie Yu standing to either side to withdraw, then looked at his daughter.
“Why do you say that?”
Qingyang said,
“Father Emperor isn’t a rash person. Even when neighboring countries have invaded the borders over the years, Father Emperor has handled it calmly. For something as minor as Second and Third Brother fighting crickets, even if angry, Father Emperor wouldn’t rush to the officials’ quarters to catch them right after hearing the news. If the information was wrong, wouldn’t Father Emperor be embarrassed in front of Second and Third Brother?”
“Father Emperor going means he already verified it and had long been angry—he simply chose to act today.”
The Little Princess analyzed earnestly as if answering a question in class.
She wasn’t afraid of being wrong, nor did she show off intelligence or pride.
Emperor Xingwu, however, could almost hear his own heartbeat.
He asked casually,
“Then does Lin’er think the punishment was fair?”
Qingyang finally showed a bit of uncertainty.
“Big Brother didn’t fight crickets but was punished the same as Second and Third Brother—is that…”
Emperor Xingwu said,
“He wasn’t wronged at all. As Big Brother, he already bears the responsibility of disciplining you all. As Crown Prince, that authority over you only grows. If he can’t stop Second Brother from misbehaving, what happens when Second Brother grows up and acts even more willful in state affairs? It’s like if I send your uncle east with troops but he goes west instead—defying orders, what kind of example is that?”
Qingyang understood suddenly.
So Big Brother really should be more imposing.
“Then what about Yuan Chongli?”
The Little Princess continued,
“A companion reader is only a low-ranking minor official, but it symbolizes Father Emperor’s favor toward the Yuan family.
Now that Yuan Chongli lost his status as companion reader because of cricket fighting, the Yuan family’s reputation is greatly damaged.
Isn’t Father Emperor worried Marquis of Pingliang will bear a grudge?”
Emperor Xingwu: “……”
This time, he answered simply with four words.
“Of course not.”