Chapter 13

Chapter 13

The breeze grew cooler, signaling the arrival of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

During the first three years of Emperor Xingwu's reign, the imperial treasury was either depleted, with the nation in ruins and in dire need of rebuilding, or he was preoccupied with military campaigns in the southern frontiers, striving for unification. Consequently, no Mid-Autumn banquet had ever been held in the palace. This year, however, the northern regions enjoyed favorable weather, and the southern territories were fully integrated into Great Qi. With abundant silver and significant accomplishments to boast, Emperor Xingwu, in high spirits, decreed that the Ministry of Sacrifices, the Court of Imperial Entertainments, and the Office of Imperial Catering should jointly prepare a grand Mid-Autumn palace banquet.

The Ministry of Sacrifices was responsible for the pre-banquet rituals and the ceremonial music throughout. On the ninth day of the eighth lunar month, a eunuch steward from the Ministry of Sacrifices requested the Noble Consort to proceed to the Yichun Pavilion. From the thirty musical and dance performances prepared by the Ministry for the banquet, she was to select two sets each of nine musical pieces and three dances. These would be used at the two banquets presided over by the Emperor and the imperial consorts, respectively, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Both the Yichun Pavilion within the palace and the Music Bureau outside were under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Sacrifices. Singers, dancers, and other performers first trained at the Music Bureau, and only the most skilled among them were chosen to enter the Yichun Pavilion, where they had constant opportunities to perform for the imperial family and nobles.

Before setting out, the Noble Consort sent for Consort Li and Princess Yongkang, saying, "The Emperor pays little attention to music and dance, leaving the decision to me. But it's difficult for me to decide alone, so I've asked you both to come along and help me deliberate."

Consort Li was flattered and slightly overwhelmed: "I know nothing about music and dance; I only watch for fun during banquets. It's better for you to decide, elder sister."

The Noble Consort had anticipated this response and smiled, "Judging performances is quite simple. Just tell me which ones you like."

Both were Emperor Xingwu's consorts. Although the Noble Consort had served him a few years earlier, the total time she had spent with him was less than the time she had spent with Consort Li. Consort Li, with her ethereal beauty and gentle, unassuming nature, was beloved by Emperor Xingwu, and the Noble Consort also held her in high regard. As women, they found they had more to discuss when together.

Princess Yongkang listened quietly as the two imperial consorts politely deferred to each other.

The Noble Consort then turned to speak with the eldest princess, ensuring neither felt neglected.

Upon arriving at the Yichun Pavilion, the Noble Consort seated the two ladies, and the selection process began in an orderly manner.

Qingyang was studying at the Chongwen Pavilion and was unaware of this event. It wasn't until noon, when she was having lunch with her mother at the Qian Yuan Palace, that her father asked her mother about the progress of the music selection at the Yichun Pavilion. Only then did Qingyang, who had been focused on her meal, look up and ask unhappily, "Mother, why didn't you take me to the Yichun Pavilion?"

Consort Li coaxed her, "You were studying. How could I disturb you for such a matter? Besides, you'll see it all on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Qingyang insisted, "I want to see it now."

Emperor Xingwu, who doted on his daughter, turned to Consort Li and said, "Which dance was the best? I'll have the dancers brought here to perform for Lin'er first."

Consort Li frowned and advised, "It's lunchtime now. The dancers have been busy with rehearsals lately. Your Majesty, please don't trouble them."

Not wanting to be a tyrannical ruler, Emperor Xingwu heeded her advice and taught his daughter, "Your mother is right. We mustn't use our noble status to selfishly order others around, making them toil when they should be resting."

Qingyang nodded obediently and took another bite of her food. She continued asking about the performances: "Did they dance 'Stars Embracing the Moon'?"

Consort Li's expression changed. She shot her daughter a warning glance but tried to keep her tone normal: "No, they're all newly choreographed dances this time."

Emperor Xingwu noticed the exchange between mother and daughter and asked amusedly, "What dance is 'Stars Embracing the Moon'? I don't recall it."

Consort Li explained, "During the Dragon Boat Festival this year, we invited Prince Yong and his family to the palace for a family banquet. It was a dance performed by the Yichun Pavilion."

Emperor Xingwu found it even more intriguing: "It must have been an exceptional dance if Lin'er still remembers it so clearly after three months."

Consort Li offered a weak smile.

Qingyang didn't understand why her father kept staring at her, but she had promised her mother to keep it a secret and would never tell her father.

Emperor Xingwu didn't press his daughter. Instead, during the noon rest, he used his wiles to coax the information out of Consort Li. The delicate Consort Li, unable to withstand the Emperor's subtle coercion, confessed tremblingly and then, blushing, had to perform a segment of the dance in her thin sleeping robe for the Emperor.

Though Emperor Xingwu had already experienced Consort Li's beauty in various ways, he was truly captivated by her graceful and agile dance moves: "I had no idea you possessed such talent."

Even though Emperor Xingwu didn't dance himself, he knew that dance skills weren't acquired overnight but required years of dedicated practice to master.

Consort Li sat far away at the foot of the bed, bowing her head in shyness: "I secretly practiced for three months. Your Majesty has seen me dance so seldom that you think I'm good, but I'm not nearly as skilled as those professional dancers."

Emperor Xingwu beckoned her over. Only when Consort Li obediently nestled in his arms did he ask, "Why practice in secret? If you enjoy dancing, I can assign a dance instructor to teach you properly."

Consort Li replied, "...No proper consort would spend her time learning such things."

Emperor Xingwu laughed: "So, you intentionally learned to dance for me but didn't want outsiders to know about your 'improper interests'?"

Consort Li felt wronged, but the Emperor, convinced of his theory, didn't give her a chance to explain.

.

Soon, it was the fifteenth day of the eighth month. Since the moon-viewing banquet was scheduled for the evening, Emperor Xingwu spent the entire day with his family.

Before dusk, the family of eight played pitch-pot in the imperial garden. The two imperial consorts formed one team; Princess Yongkang and Qin Hong, the elder sister and younger brother, another; Qin Bing and Qin Ren yet another; and the youngest and most clumsy Qingyang was paired with her father.

After Qingyang failed to score twice in a row, Emperor Xingwu lifted her and placed her two steps away from the bronze pot. Then, holding her small hand, he helped her throw one, and finally, it went in.

Qingyang knew this was cheating and pouted, "I don't like this game. I want to play hide-and-seek."

Emperor Xingwu agreed readily, "Alright, alright, we'll play hide-and-seek."

Princess Yongkang teased her father on purpose: "Father, you agree immediately when little sister wants to play hide-and-seek. But if I want to play pitch-pot, will you still play with me?"

Qin Bing joined in the mischief: "I don't want to play either of those. I want to play cuju. Will you play with me, Father?"

Emperor Xingwu said, "Fine, we'll take turns playing hide-and-seek and pitch-pot."

Princess Yongkang laughed, but Qin Bing widened his eyes: "What about cuju?"

Emperor Xingwu replied, "If you get top marks in your literature class by the end of the month, I'll play cuju with you all day."

After some playful banter, it was time for everyone to return to their respective palaces to change clothes and prepare for the banquet.

On the way, Qingyang learned that her father and the Noble Consort would be hosting ministers and their wives separately, and her three elder brothers would also accompany her father to the Taiji Hall. She immediately clung tighter to her father's neck and demanded, "I want to go to the Taiji Hall too."

Emperor Xingwu said, "I will be feasting with the ministers at the Taiji Hall. Everyone will be drinking. Lin'er, you're a girl. It's better for you to stay with your mother and the others."

Qingyang argued, "I don't want you to drink, Father. When you drink, you feel unwell and keep vomiting."

Consort Li awkwardly looked away.

Emperor Xingwu, looking at his daughter's worried little frown, felt immensely pleased. His eldest daughter was too old for such affectionate gestures, and his three sons probably never even thought to care for their old father. Only his little daughter spoke her mind innocently and purely.

Emperor Xingwu said, "Alright, I'll drink less tonight."

Qingyang insisted, "Then take me to the Taiji Hall. I want to be with you."

Consort Li, unable to persuade her daughter herself, glanced pleadingly at the Noble Consort for help.

Though the Noble Consort was willing to assist, Emperor Xingwu indulged his daughter, and the matter was settled amid the little princess's coquettish pleas and the Emperor's laughter.

Noticing his eldest daughter pursing her lips again, Emperor Xingwu asked, "Princess Yongkang, would you like to come too?"

It was just a palace banquet—adding an extra seat was a trivial matter. Having both princesses, one older and one younger, sitting together would keep each other company.

Princess Yongkang envied her younger sister's favor with their father but also knew that her sister, being young, was unaware of the distinctions between men and women and wouldn't mind being scrutinized by the ministers. She herself could never be so at ease, especially since she was already betrothed, and her future father-in-law and prospective Imperial Son-in-law would both be attending the banquet.

"Forget it. The ministers are too boisterous. I prefer sitting with Mother."

Since his eldest daughter didn't wish to go, Emperor Xingwu didn't press further.

.

At the Taiji Hall, the ministers first took their seats according to rank. Once everything was ready, the palace attendants went to invite the Emperor.

Emperor Xingwu, carrying the little princess and followed by his three sons of varying heights, entered the main hall.

The ministers moved to the outer side of their seats and knelt in greeting.

Emperor Xingwu said with a smile, "Rise. Tonight, I celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with all of you. Let enjoyment be our priority; there's no need to be overly bound by the formalities between ruler and subject."

The ministers expressed their thanks.

Emperor Xingwu’s seat was positioned high in the north. Crown Prince Qinhong sat alone at a table to the lower left of his father. Opposite him, Second Prince Qin Bing occupied one table, while Third Prince Qin Ren shared a table with his younger sister.

The ministers’ attention was focused on Emperor Xingwu, and few spared a thought for the three-year-old Princess Qingyang.

Qingyang looked around and recognized several familiar faces. Among the civil officials were Chancellor Yan and Chancellor Dai Lun. Among the military nobles were Uncle, Prince Yong; Zhang Su’s father, Duke of Wei, Zhang Jie; and the Imperial Guard Commander Fan Zhong, whom she had met just last month.

Everyone else seemed to ignore her, but Fan Zhong happily raised his wine bowl to her, drank it all in one go, and set it down with wine glistening on his beard.

Qingyang wasn’t particularly fond of people who lacked cleanliness, but she was astonished by Fan Zhong’s massive size. Having seen him defeat several guards in a row, she thought he was incredibly impressive. So, even when he was drenched in sweat, she didn’t dislike him. Later, when she heard her father praise Fan Zhong as his most valiant vanguard commander and his most loyal subordinate, Qingyang grew even fonder of him.

"Sis, aren’t you afraid of him?"

Realizing that his sister had been staring at Fan Zhong, Qin Ren quickly averted his gaze to avoid Fan Zhong’s intimidating grin and asked quietly, puzzled.

Qingyang replied, "No, why should I be afraid of him?"

Qin Ren said, "...Nothing. It’s good that you’re not afraid."

There were too many people at the palace banquet, and Qingyang’s eyes were constantly darting everywhere. Aside from opening her mouth to accept food fed to her by her third brother, she didn’t talk much with him. She watched the dancers perform, listened to her father converse with the ministers, and especially enjoyed hearing her father reminisce with certain officials about their experiences on the battlefield. She memorized the faces of Duke of Cheng Lü Guangzu and Duke of Ding, Deng Chong—the former, with graying hair, was called Uncle Lü by her father, while the latter was addressed as "Chong, my brother."

Qingyang finally turned to her third brother and asked, "Why does Father call Duke of Ding his younger brother?"

Qin Ren whispered, "Because Father knew Duke of Ding from a very young age. They grew up together, and their bond is stronger than that of biological brothers. The wife of Prince Yong (our uncle) is Duke of Ding’s younger sister. It was Father who arranged their marriage."

Qingyang thought it through: "So, Father and Duke of Ding are like you and Zhang Su?"

Qin Ren said, "Yes, more or less."

Qingyang asked, "Then why did Father want Uncle to marry Duke of Ding’s sister?"

Qin Ren replied, "...Probably because they were well-acquainted. Father, being close to Duke of Ding, knew his sister was a good woman. Duke of Ding trusted that Father and Uncle would take good care of his sister, so he agreed to the marriage."

Just as Qingyang was about to ask more, a distinguished civil official stood up, raised his wine cup, and presented a poem to the emperor. Her father was delighted and rewarded him with ten bolts of silk.

After that, two others presented poems.

The young princess didn’t yet understand the intricacies of poetry, but she felt that the words these people recited resembled the Thousand Character Classic she was learning. Seeing how much her father enjoyed the poems, after another official finished reciting, Qingyang excitedly stood up and declared loudly, "Father, I can recite a poem too!"

The clear, forceful voice of the three-year-old princess instantly filled the entire hall, echoing several times due to the vast space above.

The ministers looked at the little princess in surprise.

Emperor Xingwu wore a similarly astonished expression but promptly encouraged her, "Is that so? Lin'er, recite it for me."

Seeing everyone waiting for her to begin, Qingyang lifted her head and recited clearly, word by word: "The sky is black, earth is yellow; the universe, vast and desolate. Cold comes, heat goes…"

As soon as the little princess began, Emperor Xingwu and the ministers smiled in understanding—this was what the little princess considered a "poem." But since she recited so earnestly, everyone waited politely, planning to resume the banquet once she finished. To their surprise, the wait stretched on, as the three-year-old princess fluently recited nearly half of the Thousand Character Classic.

The expressions of the ministers gradually shifted from polite patience to astonishment and disbelief.

"To the right, penetrating Guangnei; to the left, reaching Chengming. Here gathered are ancient texts, and here assembled are brilliant minds."

When the little princess’s clear voice finally fell silent, the ministers remained quiet.

Qingyang glanced at her father and then at the ministers, saying, "Father, I’ve finished reciting the poem."

Emperor Xingwu maintained a calm demeanor and said with a smile, "Well recited. But do you know what these lines mean? For example, ‘Here gathered are ancient texts, and here assembled are brilliant minds’—how would you explain that?"

Of course, Qingyang knew. Her tutor tested her on every line she learned, both on recognizing the characters and understanding their meaning.

Without hesitation, the little princess explained it to her father.

Emperor Xingwu swept his gaze over his stunned second son, Qin Bing, and then looked at the ministers.

Fan Zhong was the first to leap up, exclaiming in amazement, "Your Majesty, what's in that little head of hers? Such a long passage—even if you beat me to death, I couldn’t memorize it!"

Several military officers nodded in agreement, including Prince Yong.

While the military officers praised her in a rough manner, the civil officials were more refined. Led by Right Chancellor Dai Lun, they practically hailed Princess Qingyang as a reincarnation of the God of Literature.

Emperor Xingwu finally dropped his pretense, stepped down, picked up his little princess, and declared to the ministers, "Qingyang was born on the day of my ascension to the throne. I have long said she was heaven-sent, a qilin (an auspicious mythical beast) bestowed upon me. And indeed, she is exceptionally gifted, living up to the name Qilin that I gave her!"

The ministers left their seats and cheered, proclaiming that Emperor Xingwu’s reign was divinely ordained, hence the heavenly blessings and the joy of receiving such a child.

Emperor Xingwu stood proudly and accepted these praises. Once the ministers had returned to their seats, he held his daughter’s small hand and asked, "Lin'er recited the poem well, and Father will reward you. Tell me, what would you like?"

A reward? Qingyang thought carefully and finally said, "I want the golden waist plaque Father gave me last time."

She had many beautiful clothes and lacked for nothing in terms of silk. Whatever she wanted, her father and mother usually provided it. The only thing her mother couldn’t decide was where she could go to play. Her father could decide, but Qingyang didn't want to ask him every time. If she had that waist plaque, she could take Jie Yu and go out whenever she wished.

Emperor Xingwu: "..."

Left Chancellor Yan Xizheng, recalling the incident in July when the little princess had gone to the Central Secretariat, asked in surprise, "Is Your Highness referring to the imperial waist plaque that permits free movement within the palace?"

Emperor Xingwu tacitly acknowledged.

Yan Xizheng’s expression changed, and he admonished, "This is the top-grade waist plaque for entering and exiting the palace. It should not be given out except for urgent matters. How could Your Majesty give it to the princess for amusement? What if she loses it and it falls into the wrong hands…"

Emperor Xingwu said, "The Left Chancellor speaks reason. Very well, I will have a special waist plaque made solely for Lin'er’s use. If others find it, it will be nothing but a worthless piece of gold. Anyone who misuses it will face execution. Moreover, Lin'er may only use this plaque until she is ten years old. Once she is old enough to understand matters, I will naturally not allow her to go to the outer court to play."

After all, he had just promised his daughter a reward in front of all the civil and military officials. The Emperor's word is law; how could he go back on it?

Yan Xizheng thought for a moment and reluctantly accepted Emperor Xingwu’s solution.

Qingyang only understood that she would get her father’s golden waist plaque. Delighted, she thought, "Next time I want something from Father, I’ll just recite another poem!"