Though the little princess was still young, she already carried herself with great authority, never once considering the possibility that the handsome Duke Zhang might refuse her demand.
But in Zhang Jie’s eyes, what he saw in the little princess was nothing more than the innocent affection of a child, there was not the slightest trace of command or arrogance.
In that moment, Zhang Jie recalled a conversation from his own childhood, a talk he once had with his father.
He had asked why his father always seemed gloomy.
Father: “I’m not gloomy. I just don’t smile much.”
Zhang Jie: “Then why don’t you like to smile?”
Father: “…Our Zhang family men are all born with handsome faces, but we are a household of generals. We must keep a dignified and stern presence to command respect from the soldiers, so they won’t judge us by appearances and take us lightly.”
Zhang Jie had never forgotten those words.
He followed them all his life.
Yet, even so, he still drew more attention from women than his peers did.
On the streets, while other generals might frighten the elderly and women, people would look at him openly, whisper and smile as they stared.
He had encountered this too many times.
So when the little princess asked to be carried, Zhang Jie immediately knew, once again, it was his face that caused the trouble.
Zhang Jie could avoid young ladies of marriageable age, but he couldn’t bring himself to say no to a princess who was staring up at him with such eager eyes.
He stepped forward and said respectfully, “This subject is just a rough soldier. I fear my clumsy hands might hurt Your Highness.”
Qingyang: “Will you drop me?”
Zhang Jie: “This subject would not dare.”
Qingyang glanced at Fuan’s narrow shoulders and slender waist, then looked at the tall, strong frame of the Duke of Wei, and clearly didn’t believe he would drop her.
She opened her arms directly toward him.
“I want the Duke to carry me.”
Zhang Jie gave a nod, then swiftly and steadily lifted the little princess by her tiny underarms, keeping her at half an arm’s length from his own chest and shoulders, and gently placed her down beside the Third Prince.
Qingyang, being “carried” like this for the first time: “……”
Zhang Jie had already returned to his place and was formally bowing to the two princes along with his family.
Qingyang pouted and glared at Zhang Jie.
Qin Ren, now eight and more versed in etiquette, smiled and said, “Duke, Madam, please rise. Today, my sister and I have disturbed your rest, we must trouble you to bear with us.”
Zhang Jie thanked him, then rose and began to introduce his wife and two older sons to the royal siblings.
Qingyang’s gaze paused briefly on Zhang Jian and Zhang Heng’s faces, but in the end settled on Zhang Su, who needed no introduction.
The little princess studied him slowly and seriously.
Qin Ren, Zhang Jie, and the others had no choice but to wait patiently.
Finally, the princess broke into a smile, pointed at Zhang Su, and said, “You still look the best.”
Zhang Su, the third son of the Zhang family, was standing just as straight and wearing just as serious an expression as his older brothers.
He froze for a moment, then his young, still-childish face turned a deep red.
Qingyang was even more intrigued.
She ran up to Zhang Su and looked up at him.
“Why is your face so red?”
Zhang Su pressed his lips together, feeling the gazes of his father, older brothers, the Third Prince, and Fuan all fall on him.
He fought the urge to flee the scene before anyone else noticed his blushing face, and said to the top of the little princess’s head, “Your Highness overpraises me.”
Qingyang: “What does ‘overpraises’ mean?”
Zhang Su: “……”
Qin Ren came over to rescue him, taking his sister’s hand and saying, “Alright, Father told us to return to the palace early. Let’s have Zhang Su show us around.”
Then he turned to the Duke and Duchess, saying, “My sister and I will just walk around a bit. Duke, Madam, you and your sons may go rest.”
Zhang Jie replied, “Then we’ll take our leave. If Your Highnesses need anything, just instruct Su-ge’er.”
Watching his youngest son lead the two royal children and their attendants toward the rear garden of the Duke’s residence, Zhang Jie and his family finally relaxed.
Madam Xu praised, “The Third Prince and the Princess, such beauty, like a pair of celestial children.”
Her own sons were already handsome enough, yet Consort Li’s pair actually outshone them by far.
Especially Princess Qingyang, with petal-soft cheeks and big watery eyes.
If she were a friend’s child, Xu-shi would have snatched her up and showered her with kisses.
Zhang Jie gave no comment and said, “Let’s wait in the main hall.”
They would still need to formally see the royals off when they departed.
On the way to the rear garden, now without the unfamiliar presence of the Duke’s family, Qingyang grew bolder and continued to question Zhang Su, who was leading the way ahead: “So what does ‘overpraises’ mean?”
Zhang Su kept his gaze down.
Qin Ren chuckled, “It means giving too much praise. When someone compliments us, whether or not it’s true, we’re supposed to stay humble. Otherwise, we’d seem arrogant.”
Qingyang wasn’t pleased.
“But I didn’t praise him wrong. Zhang Su really is better-looking than his brothers. His eldest brother’s eyebrows are too thick, and the second one has a pimple on his face. Zhang Su looks good in every way.”
Qin Ren said, “But if you praise Zhang Su, that’s the same as putting down his brothers. To them, that would be impolite. It’s like earlier when the Duke said I looked better than you, did you like hearing that?”
Qingyang: “…Third Brother, do you really look better than me?”
Qin Ren: “Of course not. You’re the best-looking of all.”
Afraid her brother was just trying to comfort her, Qingyang turned to Zhang Su.
“Do you think I’m the best-looking too?”
Zhang Su didn’t want to answer that kind of question.
Qingyang ran up to block his path, pouting and insisting he say it.
Zhang Su: “…Your Highness is the most beautiful three-year-old girl this humble subject has ever seen.”
Qingyang only heard the words “most beautiful,” and immediately perked up.
She grabbed Zhang Su’s hand.
“Let’s walk together.”
Zhang Su, caught off guard while looking elsewhere, instinctively pulled his hand free from the little princess’s grip.
Qingyang had just lifted her foot to walk, so she lost balance and toppled to the ground.
It didn’t hurt, but Qingyang was upset that Zhang Su had shaken her off.
Her lips trembled, and big teardrops began to fall.
“Third Brother, Zhang Su pushed me!”
Qin Ren, who had seen the whole brief incident clearly: “……”
He quickly helped his sister up, brushing the dust off her skirt while coaxing her gently.
“Zhang Su didn’t mean it. Are you hurt, little sister?”
Qingyang, eyes brimming with tears, glared at Zhang Su.
“It hurts. He did it on purpose.”
Zhang Su knelt down and bowed his head.
“This humble subject is guilty. I await Your Highness’s punishment.”
Just as Qingyang was about to speak, her brother’s handkerchief covered her eyes.
She had to wait until Qin Ren removed it before blinking out fresh tears and continuing to cry at Zhang Su, “I’m going to punish you by making you hold my hand the whole time. You’re not allowed to let go unless I say so.”
Zhang Su: “…Your Highness is of noble status. This humble subject…”
Qin Ren interrupted him, annoyed, “You’re just a kid. If she tells you to hold hands, just hold her hand. Otherwise, if she cries too hard and alerts the Duke, you might get a beating once we leave.”
Military men were all fierce, and the handsome Zhang Jie was probably no exception.
Qin Ren didn’t want his study companion to get punished.
Fuan and the nursemaids all chimed in to persuade him as well.
Zhang Su, after all, was only nine years old.
Seeing the two teardrops clinging to the little princess’s cheeks, he lowered his head and stood up, extending his right hand.
Qingyang broke into a smile, grabbed it tightly, then leaned into Zhang Su’s arms and wiped her tears on his clothes.
Zhang Su stiffened completely.
Did this count as a hug?
But the little princess had just cried, Zhang Su didn’t dare move.
They had reached the garden.
The Duke’s garden wasn’t as grand as the imperial one, but its novelty made up for it.
Qingyang held Zhang Su’s hand, looking at flowers here and fish there.
Every time Zhang Su tried to persuade her to let go, she just gripped his hand even tighter.
After the walk, Zhang Su had no choice but to lead the Third Prince and the princess to the main hall still holding her hand.
All four members of the Zhang family paused for a beat when they saw the two children’s clasped hands, then all tacitly pretended not to notice, bowing respectfully to send off their guests.
At the carriage, Qingyang finally released Zhang Su’s hand and asked Zhang Jie to carry her up.
Zhang Jie once again lifted the little princess into the carriage.
Qingyang glanced at Zhang Su standing not far off, then complained to Zhang Jie, “Zhang Su pushed me. Duke, tell him he’s never allowed to push me again.”
She had to obey her father, so Zhang Su should have to obey his.
Before the situation got out of hand, Qin Ren quickly explained what had happened and gave Zhang Jie a look to say it wasn’t worth worrying about.
Zhang Jie kept a stern expression but gave the little princess a solemn promise that it would never happen again.
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