Having just returned to the capital, Emperor Xingwu was eager to catch up on the affairs of the ministries.
He woke up on his own at the third quarter of the Yin hour, even earlier than the time he had instructed Chief Eunuch He Yuan to rouse him.
Consort Li was still fast asleep.
Emperor Xingwu set the bed canopy down and stepped beyond the screen.
He Yuan assisted the emperor in washing and dressing.
Throughout the process, neither master nor servant spoke much; only the faint sound of water and the rustle of fabric broke the silence.
Stepping out of the sleeping chamber, the world outside remained cloaked in darkness.
Emperor Xingwu glanced toward the western side chamber where the little princess slept and asked, “Did Lin’er cry last night?”
He Yuan smiled, “This servant heard nothing, so the princess must have slept soundly.”
Emperor Xingwu strode toward the central hall.
“Let her sleep. If she wakes early, let Consort Li handle it. If she wakes late, she can join Me for breakfast.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Morning court would begin at the Mao hour.
The ministers likely hadn’t all arrived yet outside the front hall.
Emperor Xingwu sat in the imperial study of the central hall, nibbling on a light breakfast while reviewing two stacks of memorials delivered by the Secretariat.
One stack contained documents recently reviewed by the two Chancellors but not yet issued; the other, memorials from last month that had already been executed.
During his absence from the capital, correspondence often took time.
For less urgent state matters, Emperor Xingwu had delegated decision-making to the two Chancellors and Prince Yong.
Left Chancellor Yan Xizheng and Right Chancellor Dai Lun were both capable statesmen, while Prince Yong served purely as a supervisory presence to eliminate even the slightest risk of the Chancellors abusing their authority.
Still, the Chancellors’ comments didn’t always sit well with Emperor Xingwu.
As he read, he occasionally picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and made several corrections.
“Your Majesty, it’s time,” He Yuan came over to remind him.
Emperor Xingwu responded with a hum and ordered two young eunuchs to carry the memorials and follow him.
He stretched his limbs and took the lead out.
Yesterday’s audience had been a celebratory one, eating, drinking, and even sharing a few jokes.
But today’s court session was entirely different.
Civil and military officials stood respectfully on either side of the grand hall.
As soon as Emperor Xingwu arrived, the ministers fell to their knees and cried out, “Long live the Emperor!” Only after the formalities did they stand upright and raise their heads.
There he sat upon the dragon throne, Emperor Xingwu, with brows like swords and eyes like cold stars.
His lips curved ever so slightly in what might’ve seemed a noble smile, but the sheer majesty in his presence made it impossible to meet his gaze for long.
Among the officials present were founding heroes who had followed Emperor Xingwu since the beginning, as well as surrendered ministers from the former dynasty who now served the new emperor.
The former, being familiar with him, still managed some ease; the latter were tense, hardly daring to breathe, afraid of offending imperial authority by accident.
Emperor Xingwu first allowed the ministers to present their reports.
With the two Chancellors leading, officials from each ministry reported their current assignments one after another.
Emperor Xingwu either approved or denied matters on the spot, rarely saying more than a sentence.
Once current tasks were handled, Emperor Xingwu pulled out several memorials from the previous month and questioned specific officials about their implementation.
For example: had the Ministry of Justice resolved the listed cases?
Had the silver allocated by the Ministry of Revenue reached its destination?
Those questioned responded smoothly if they had prepared; those who hesitated fell under the emperor’s hawk-like stare, and cold sweat immediately broke out.
By the time most of the court session had passed, every official present had once again experienced the awe-inspiring might of their sovereign, firmly dispelling the complacency that had crept in during his year-long absence from the capital.
Before ending the session, Emperor Xingwu announced the new appointments of several generals who had accompanied him on campaign: Duke Cheng, Lü Guangzu, would continue as commander of the Eastern Garrison; Duke Ding, Deng Chong, as commander of the Western Garrison; Duke Wei, Zhang Jie, as commander of the Southern Garrison; and Prince Yong, Qin Pinghai, as commander of the Northern Garrison.
The Marquis of the South, Fu Daonian, was appointed General of Yunzhou.
He would assume the post after his son Fu Kui married Princess Yongkang.
At the first quarter of the Chen hour, Emperor Xingwu returned to the rear hall and found that Consort Li was still asleep.
The dark-gold brocade quilt framed a face as fair and rosy as a celestial maiden.
Pitying how exhausted she must have been from the night before, Emperor Xingwu quietly moved to the little princess’s western side chamber.
The imperial kitchen had already prepared his breakfast, but with his beloved consort and daughter both in Qianyuan Hall, he didn’t feel like eating alone.
Just as he entered the small side courtyard where the western ear room was located, he heard the nursemaid’s loving praise from within: “Oh my, such a big stretch, our little princess must be growing again!”
Emperor Xingwu immediately quickened his pace.
He wanted to see his daughter stretch too!
But just as he reached the doorway of the inner room, he heard the nursemaid say she was going to clean the little princess up.
The emperor stopped himself just in time.
He sat at the north side of the main room and waited for about fifteen minutes.
Finally, as a light patter of footsteps approached, the curtain of the inner room was lifted, and there she was, his little princess.
She wore a soft pink ruqun, her hair tied up into two adorable topknots.
Her cheeks were round and fair, her big eyes bright and clear.
Emperor Xingwu thought, all five of his children were remarkably good-looking, but once Lin’er grew up, she would be the most stunning of them all.
“Father!”
Qingyang ran over in delight.
Once she was scooped up into his arms, she looked at his handsome face, then at his crisp new dragon robe and exclaimed, “Father looks so nice dressed like this.”
Emperor Xingwu laughed and returned the compliment, “Lin’er is beautiful too. Did you sleep well last night here with Father?”
Qingyang replied, “Very well! Where’s Mother Consort?”
Emperor Xingwu said, “Still sleeping in. Come, Father will take you to eat breakfast.”
The two of them went to the central hall, where the food had been set up in the western side hall.
They sat across from each other.
Qingyang was already skilled with her chopsticks and spoon, eating each dish with obvious enjoyment.
If anything got on her mouth, the tidy little princess would immediately grab the damp cloth placed beside her and carefully wipe her lips before continuing.
Since ascending the throne, Emperor Xingwu had gradually corrected many of the behaviors inappropriate for someone of his status from his days as a commoner.
Watching his daughter exhibit such noble bearing at such a young age, he felt both proud and gratified.
Yes, he had indeed risen with grand aspirations to save the people, but he also had a personal desire: to become the emperor of this land and let his family enjoy the highest honor under heaven, untouchable and unscorned by anyone.
Halfway through the meal, Consort Li awoke.
After a quick wash and tidy-up, she came to take her leave.
Emperor Xingwu said, “Stay and finish eating first.”
The palace servants quickly added a set of dishes and utensils for her.
Worried, Consort Li asked, “How long has Lin’er been awake? She didn’t disturb Your Majesty’s morning court, did she?”
Emperor Xingwu replied, “Always overthinking, Lin’er was perfectly well-behaved.”
The very well-behaved Qingyang asked, “Father, what does going to morning court mean?”
Emperor Xingwu gave her a simple explanation.
Qingyang said, “I want to go to morning court with Father too.”
Consort Li: “……”
Emperor Xingwu was amused by his daughter.
He was just about to say that court wasn’t a place to play, when he suddenly recalled how his younger brother had upset his own daughter by refusing to take her to the Council Hall.
So he changed his mind on the spot and said, “Morning court is very tiring, you have to wake up before sunrise. Can Lin’er get up that early?”
Qingyang looked around at the bright courtyard and shook her head.
Every day when she woke up, the sun was already well up in the sky.
“Then can I at least go see where Father goes for morning court?”
There were many places in the palace Qingyang had visited, but also quite a few where her mother, her nursemaid, and Jieyu strictly forbade her from going, at most she could circle nearby.
Among them was this very grand Qianyuan Hall where her father lived, and the front court areas beyond layer upon layer of palace gates.
Emperor Xingwu said, “Alright. After breakfast, Father will take you.”
The little princess was delighted, but Consort Li frowned with worry.
“The court is a place of state affairs, how can Your Majesty take Lin’er there? You mustn’t spoil her too much.”