Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Qingyang, too, had a playful spirit.

Yet, her mother confined her to the Imperial Garden, offering no fresh amusements. Her three elder brothers were engrossed in their studies at Chongwen Pavilion or martial arts training at the Martial Arts Hall, leaving them no time. Her eldest sister, exempt from schooling, was preoccupied with wedding preparations, and even otherwise, she wasn't inclined to play. This left Qingyang with only her father, who had recently returned to the capital.

However, her father was equally swamped. He reportedly rose before dawn for court assemblies, studied classics, reviewed memorials, and met ministers. Afternoons were often filled with official duties. None could dedicate extended time to her. When her father, too, began to show impatience with prolonged entertainment, Qingyang proactively added an arithmetic lesson, asking Mr. Guo to teach her.

Mr. Guo, accustomed to young scholars complaining about the tedium of study, was astonished. "Your Highness, why do you wish to learn arithmetic?" he inquired.

Qingyang replied, "Third Brother Zhang Su and the others are learning it, so I want to as well."

She also yearned to learn archery and horseback riding, but when she attempted to draw her Third Brother's bow, she found she couldn't. This confirmed his honesty—she truly wasn't old enough for such pursuits.

Mr. Guo sought the Emperor's counsel.

Emperor Xingwu deeply cherished his little princess, but his mind, already weary from state affairs, struggled to cope with her endless, imaginative questions. He had deliberately sent her away to play elsewhere to preserve their bond, fearing that if her incessant questioning continued, he might one day lose his temper and scold her.

Now that his daughter had taken the initiative to engage in something as worthwhile as studying, Emperor Xingwu smiled and said, "Teach her whatever she desires. Just ensure the schedule is well-managed so my precious child doesn't overexert herself."

Eagerness to learn was commendable, but forcing growth was ill-advised.

Mr. Guo bowed and withdrew, then revised the little princess's schedule to include two class sessions. Each day, starting at the *sì* hour (9-11 AM), she would first study the *Thousand Character Classic* for half an hour, followed by a fifteen-minute break, and then forty-five minutes of simple arithmetic.

Qingyang then requested, "Third Brother and the others have homework in the evening. Please give me more homework too."

Mr. Guo stroked his beard, smiling. From then on, he assigned the little princess daily homework: reciting previously learned sections of the *Thousand Character Classic* and solving ten arithmetic problems.

Thus, Qingyang spent her mornings studying in Chongwen Pavilion. At noon, she sometimes dined with her mother, other times with her father. In the afternoons, she napped for over an hour in her mother's palace. Upon waking, she would secretly watch her mother practice dancing. After playing for a while, her Third Brother would return from school. After dinner, he would lead her back to Chengming Palace. In the evening, she would do homework with her Third Brother Zhang Su, and before bed, she would listen to Jie Yu tell stories.

Tonight, Jie Yu again proposed the story of Nüwa Repairing the Sky.

Qingyang shook her head as soon as he began, looking at Jie Yu, who sat by her bed, and said, "I don't want to hear that one."

Jie Yu smiled gently. "What would Your Highness prefer to hear?"

After a moment's thought, Qingyang asked him, "Why did the Qin Dynasty fall?"

Jie Yu paused, surprised. "Did Your Highness hear about this from His Majesty?"

Qingyang nodded, pouting. "Academician Liu was lecturing Father on history and mentioned the Qin Dynasty. I asked Father where Qin was, and he said it was an ancient kingdom that no longer exists. I wanted to ask more, but Father covered my mouth and said I shouldn't disturb Academician Liu."

Jie Yu and the wet nurse, being the two who spent the most time with the little princess in the palace, were well aware of her inquisitive nature. Jie Yu smiled and said, "That story is too long. How about this: I'll first tell Your Highness about kingdoms that existed even before Qin, starting with the earliest emperors. Then we'll go dynasty by dynasty, explaining how each was founded and how each fell. How does that sound?"

Qingyang happily agreed with a hum.

Holding a round fan, Jie Yu gently fanned the little princess as he began recounting the tale of the Yellow Emperor, the first of the Five Emperors.

Narrating it exactly as recorded in the *Records of the Grand Historian* would have been overly complex, so Jie Yu simplified the narrative to enhance its appeal. He engaged her with questions and answers for nearly half an hour until the little princess finally drifted off to sleep.

Gazing at the little princess's serene, adorable face in slumber, Jie Yu mused that he needed to acquire a new set of books. He had neglected his studies for too long and had forgotten some details.

.

When Yong Kang learned that her three-year-old sister had formally begun her education in Chongwen Pavilion, her first thought was that she herself had entered the palace at fourteen, yet her father had never considered allowing her to study there with her brothers.

Yong Kang had never been particularly keen on studying. From a young age, she had been burdened with too many worries: fearing that her father favored the second prince, born of the Consort, over her and her brother; feeling a fleeting joy that their grandmother favored them, yet secretly saddened that she favored her brother more. After their grandmother's passing, Yong Kang became even more vigilant against the Consort's faction plotting against her and her brother. Later, her anxieties shifted to whether her father could capture the capital, and the pervasive fear for her family's lives lasted until her entry into the palace.

Under such circumstances, how could Yong Kang possibly muster enthusiasm for studying?

Three years ago, she finally entered the palace, becoming a highly esteemed princess. With her life now stable, Yong Kang gradually found herself amidst noble young ladies. She observed their dignified manners and effortless mastery of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, while simultaneously feeling a deep sense of inadequacy regarding her own shortcomings. Etiquette was being taught by governesses, so Yong Kang proactively asked the Consort if she could learn the zither. When she struggled with the zither, she explored other instruments until she discovered the flute suited her better.

Compared to subjects like classics and history, which she deemed impractical, Yong Kang prioritized tangible accomplishments like music, chess, and etiquette. She valued her monthly stipend as a princess, the additional jewels and silks bestowed by her father and the Consort, her brother's academic achievements, and the prospect of him being named Crown Prince.

Yong Kang also deeply cared about whether her father truly cherished her.

Qingyang was young, so Yong Kang wasn't jealous of her father's affectionate gestures, such as holding or playing with her. However, by sending Qingyang to study in Chongwen Pavilion, her father had bestowed upon her sister an honor Yong Kang had never received.

Yong Kang proceeded to Chongwen Pavilion with her maids.

The guards at the gate observed the eldest princess approaching with a determined stride and an authoritative gaze, as if daring anyone to obstruct her. Wisely, the two guards merely bowed and stepped aside. After all, if the little princess was already studying inside, it was clear the Emperor condoned his daughters' presence. There was no reason for them to interfere.

Yong Kang's expression softened slightly. Upon entering, she asked a eunuch cleaner where her sister was studying and went there alone.

Motioning for Jie Yu, who waited outside, to forgo formalities, Yong Kang stood by a window at the back of the lecture hall. She saw her sister, head bowed, seated beside an old tutor, her small, fair fingers manipulating black and white pieces on the table. Her little mouth mumbled, "One, two, three... three white pieces... three black pieces... that makes..."

The little one meticulously grouped the pieces by color and carefully counted from one to six.

When Yong Kang snapped out of her reverie, she realized she was smiling.

Her expression shifted, and she departed. Really, why was she comparing herself to a three-year-old? It was her father who hadn't prioritized her education back then!

Yong Kang went directly to Qianyuan Hall.

It was the first time his eldest daughter had come at this hour, so Emperor Xingwu set aside the unreviewed memorials and instructed He Yuanjing to usher her in.

As soon as she entered, Yong Kang saw her father, resplendent in his dragon robes, exuding nobility.

Among the five imperial children, the younger they were, the higher Emperor Xingwu's power had been during their formative years. By the time Crown Prince Qinhong was old enough to remember, Emperor Xingwu had already declared himself king and carried the dignity befitting a ruler. In other words, only Yong Kang had witnessed her father's humbler beginnings—eating plain food, wearing simple clothes, and even speaking and acting with a rough edge—and those memories were the most vivid.

This meant that while Yong Kang respected and feared her father, she didn't adhere to the same strict formality as her brothers.

When their eyes met, Yong Kang pressed her lips together, clearly displeased, and softly complained, "Father, why did you allow little sister to study in Chongwen Pavilion?"

Emperor Xingwu smiled. "If I didn't arrange for her to study, she'd pester me endlessly. Since she can actually pay attention, I sent her to Chongwen Pavilion."

Yong Kang retorted, "She doesn't have to be in Chongwen Pavilion to study. When I entered the palace, you had me study in my own palace."

Emperor Xingwu understood his eldest daughter's meaning, but he couldn't let her dictate the situation. Rather than offering explanations that might sound like excuses, he decided to directly address her feeling of injustice.

Looking his daughter up and down, he teased, "I arranged it that way because I thought you had no interest in further study. So you wanted to go to Chongwen Pavilion too? That's simple enough. I'll immediately order them to set up a separate lecture hall for you there. You can study whatever you wish."

Yong Kang, who had long since experienced the hardships of lectures and homework, replied, "...It's been three years. I'm almost of marriageable age now—what's the point of studying now?"

Emperor Xingwu maintained a kindly expression. "Learning is an endless journey. As long as you wish to learn, there will be tutors to teach you."

Yong Kang lowered her head.

Emperor Xingwu asked, "How are your flute lessons progressing? Since you're here, why not play a piece for me?"

Yong Kang's face reddened.

Emperor Xingwu instructed He Yuanjing to search his private collection for a flute. Soon, He Yuanjing returned, bearing an exquisitely crafted long case inlaid with a circle of gemstones.

The case alone was so luxurious that one could only imagine the quality of the flute within.

Emperor Xingwu had inherited the previous dynasty's imperial private treasury. He had only briefly surveyed it and never examined it in detail. Now, curious himself, he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his daughter as they watched He Yuanjing open the case.

A two-foot-long, seven-hole purple jade flute was revealed.

Yong Kang held her breath.

He Yuanjing smiled and said, "Legend has it that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty possessed a much-cherished purple jade flute. I wonder if this is the one."

Emperor Xingwu mused, "Even if it isn't, rarity adds value. This is the first time I've ever seen such a large piece of purple jade."

As he spoke, he casually took out the flute and turned to hand it to his eldest daughter. "Here, give it a try."

Yong Kang took two steps back, nervous. "I'm too afraid. I might drop and break it."

Emperor Xingwu said, "If it breaks, we'll find another one. No matter how fine an object is, it's meant to be used. If we just keep it stored away, it will only benefit future generations."

But Yong Kang still refused to take it.

Emperor Xingwu said helplessly, "Alright then. I'm giving it to you anyway. Take it back with you—play it if you wish, or keep it stored away if you prefer. I still have a pile of memorials to review, so I'll let you go now."

Excited, Yong Kang clutched this valuable gift and departed Qianyuan Hall, the matter of her younger sister's studies completely forgotten.

In the imperial study, Emperor Xingwu stared blankly at the memorials for a while.

He thought of his late wife—a thrifty, gentle, and impeccable woman who never resented his poverty or his constant absences while she single-handedly cared for his mother. She never coveted the ten taels of silver he gave her, and she never grumbled when he returned home wounded, bringing danger to the entire family. She even risked her life to save her mother-in-law in times of crisis.

Having such a wife was Emperor Xingwu’s fortune, but if his daughter grew up with that same temperament, she would only suffer and endure hardships herself.

Fortunately, his Yong Kang had no intention of emulating her mother.