Chapter 175: Cardamom

Chapter 175: Cardamom

Hua Yang was finally pacified by her brother after much effort, but secretly told Jiang Hui before sleep, "I won't like brother for one day, and visit him at Yanqing Palace the day after."

Her childlike words softened Jiang Hui's heart.

Although Emperor His Majesty might not miss Hua Yang's birthday, Jiang Hui still wanted to select a study companion for her in advance. She summoned several officials' daughters from the capital and consulted Lin Qingshu privately, narrowing down some candidates.

The first was the legitimate young daughter of the Minister of Rites, Fu Youning, only seven years old and quite serene.

The second was Qin Wanyi, the legitimate young daughter of the Cloud Banner General, lively in nature. She was the sister of Qin Hanfei, previously considered for Nian's study companion, and likely a good match for Hua Yang.

The third was Mo Tongqiu, the legitimate eldest daughter of Lianzhou's Prefect, raised in the capital with her grandparents, three years older than Hua Yang, and according to Lin Qingshu, quite knowledgeable.

The final choice would depend on whom Hua Yang picked at her birthday party.

If Hua Yang chose someone outside Jiang Hui's preselected candidates, as long as there were no major issues, Jiang Hui would happily acquiesce.

In early May, the Emperor visited Jingzhou, and in early June, he arrived in Xuzhou.

The Emperor was quite active in Xuzhou, even prompting a visit from a decree-bearing lady to Jiang Hui for news.

In early August, the Emperor hurried back to the capital, arriving just before Hua Yang's birthday.

Princess Hua Yang's fifth birthday, as the Emperor's legitimate daughter, was naturally celebrated grandly. The banquet was held by the Taiye Pool instead of in Fengyi Palace, inviting numerous noblewomen and suitable young ladies.

Having met these young ladies in advance due to Jiang Hui's arrangements, Hua Yang held their hands at the birthday feast, playing shuttlecock and picking flower balls with them.

When the banquet was about to end, the Emperor asked her which girl she liked the most, and she, with a troubled little face, said, "Hua Yang likes them all!"

This time, the Emperor didn't make an exception for her, smiling, "Hua Yang can only choose one, someone to always accompany you in your studies and calligraphy."

Hua Yang, reluctantly glancing at the young ladies seated back at their places, rushed into the Emperor's arms and whispered, "Then Hua Yang chooses Sister Wanyi! Sister Wanyi plays shuttlecock the best!"

Qin Wanyi, the best at shuttlecock, thus became Princess Hua Yang's study companion. After classes at Chongwen Academy, she would have lunch at Fengyi Palace, then accompany Princess Hua Yang running around the palace. They would return for dinner and rest at the Jade Cloud Pavilion, specially arranged by Jiang Hui for Hua Yang. Wanyi could only leave the palace through Chaoyang Gate on the eve of her days off, taking the carriage back to the Cloud Banner General's residence.

"...Eighty-eight, eighty-nine, ninety, ninety-one... Oh no! Wanyi, it went off course! It flew into the courtyard!"

The spring breeze was gentle, with locust blossoms speckled around.

Stepping delicately over the soft, white petals of the locust flowers, the ivory-colored brocade shoes, inlaid with eastern pearls, were adorned with gold bells, trailing behind the wearer, tracing two swift arcs.

The owner of the brocade sash, lifting the hem of her goose-yellow dress, chased the feathered shuttlecock across the palace path, followed by a flurry of palace maids calling out, "Princess, wait for us!"

Qin Wanyi, quick to catch up, grabbed Princess Hua Yang's hand, concerned, "Princess, remember you fell at the Taiye Pool flying kites last time. Please, run slower!"

"Ah, that was because of the wrong shoes. The shoes were wrong, not my fault!"

The thirteen-year-old girl, smiling with eyes curving, urged, "Hurry, I see the shuttlecock! It flew into Yanqing Palace; let's check if brother has finished his lessons!"

She grabbed Qin Wanyi and continued sprinting along the palace path.

Approaching the main gate, the vermilion doors of Yanqing Palace stood wide open, where the young eunuchs respectfully greeted, "Our respects to Princess Hua Yang, may Your Highness be forever blessed and prosperous."

Hua Yang waved her hand, smiling, "My shuttlecock fell into Yanqing Palace. Could you help find it?"

After the eunuch hurriedly agreed, she added, "Has brother finished his classes?"

When Princess Hua Yang referred to "brother" without specifying, she naturally meant Crown Prince Xiao Lang.

The leading eunuch promptly replied, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince has not yet returned, but the second, third, and fourth princes have."

"Has my fifth brother not returned either?" Hua Yang inquired further.

"Yes, Your Highness," the eunuch responded.

"Very well, you go find my shuttlecock first."

After instructing them, Hua Yang turned to Qin Wanyi, "Wanyi, let's go. It might have fallen near where my third brother lives. Let's check there."

Qin Wanyi, knowing Princess Hua Yang's temperament, didn't object and followed her into Yanqing Palace.

They reached Le Kang Garden, where the third prince resided. Although the main gate was open, Hua Yang didn't enter directly but sent a palace maid to announce their arrival.

Soon, the slightly portly third prince, Xiao Xin, came out, accompanied by the tall second prince, Xiao Xuan.

From a distance, the third prince called out, "Little sister, how many times has this happened? The time before last, you kicked a ball onto my head, last time your kite tangled in the locust tree outside my courtyard, and now your shuttlecock?”

"It just shows that third brother's residence is a place of good fortune!" Hua Yang cheerfully replied, exchanging equal-ranking courtesies with them.

Seeing Hua Yang's smiling face, the third prince couldn't help but smile too. He gestured helplessly, "Someone's already looking for it. Why don't you and Miss Qin come in for a cup of tea?"

The usually serious second prince, Xiao Xuan, showed a slight smile, addressing Hua Yang, "I was just discussing with the third brother what birthday gift to give our eldest sister. You're always so clever, any good ideas?"

"A birthday gift?" Hua Yang asked, surprised, "How can you brothers be so clueless? Our eldest sister is expecting a baby. Naturally, you should give something for the child!"

Princess Huaiqing was married in the fourteenth year of the Jianzhao era, choosing a son of the Cui family as her consort. Now residing in the Princess's mansion, she was already a month pregnant.

The third prince chuckled, dimples forming on his chubby cheeks, and said cheerfully, "Little sister, you're mistaken. I've heard that gifts for pregnant women shouldn't be baby items. Otherwise, it might seem like you value the child more than the mother herself!"

"What kind of odd reasoning is that?" Hua Yang puzzled, "That should be a concern for Consort Cui, not us. Our eldest sister wouldn't think that way about our gifts!"

As they sat down inside, the third prince said, "Little sister, besides the birthday gift for our eldest sister, there's something else. My second brother and I were actually planning to seek you out."

"What is it?" Hua Yang asked, her smile unwavering as if she hadn't noticed anything amiss.

"Little sister," the second prince put down his teacup and continued, "Recently, there's been talk about the autumn hunt at court, but our father hasn’t given his approval yet. My third brother and I were hoping you could ask him about it."

"The autumn hunt?" Hua Yang raised an eyebrow, "What does it matter if we go or not?"

The third prince was about to reply when a blue-robed eunuch bowed and entered, whispering, "Your Highnesses, the Crown Prince and the fifth prince have arrived."