Chapter 15

Chapter 15

When Emperor Xingwu established his imperial capital, he executed numerous royal descendants, nobles, and treacherous officials from the former dynasty. Naturally, their properties and mansions were confiscated and became the new imperial family’s possessions.

These mansions were categorized into several tiers based on their original owners' statuses. Emperor Xingwu had previously bestowed ministerial-rank estates upon his founding功臣. Many princely mansions, commandery prince residences, and princess estates remained sealed, reserved for the descendants of the Qin family.

In June, after arranging his eldest daughter’s marriage, Emperor Xingwu personally selected a princess estate for her from the confiscated mansions, using a detailed distribution map. After careful consideration, he settled on the former residence of a prince from the previous dynasty.

Upon hearing this, Left Chancellor Yan Xizheng made a special trip to the imperial study: "Your Majesty, in the previous dynasty, the estates, titles, stipends, and land grants bestowed upon princesses after their establishment were typically one rank lower than those of imperial princes, with the exception of the empress’s firstborn daughter, who held a status equal to that of an imperial prince. By selecting a princely mansion for Princess Yongkang today, is it because of her status as the empress’s eldest daughter, or does it mean that all princesses of the imperial family will henceforth receive treatment equal to that of imperial princes?"

Emperor Xingwu: "...Yongkang is my first child and also the daughter of Pure Filial Empress. Now that she is to be married, I am both mindful of Pure Filial Empress's struggles in serving the empress dowager and raising the children in the early years, and I feel sorry for Yongkang, who lost her mother at a young age and had a difficult upbringing. Therefore, I wish to grant her a large estate, without any other considerations."

Yan Xizheng: "The state has its laws, and the family has its rules. Your Majesty is the founding emperor of Great Qi. It would be best to set clear precedents for rewards to imperial princes and princesses early on, to avoid future disputes arising from inconsistent practices."

Emperor Xingwu thought for a moment and smiled: "Even your five fingers aren't equal in length. Since ancient times, parents have shown varying degrees of affection toward their children. The emperors of the previous dynasty did many things, including killing and selling their own children. Were their rewards always fair across generations? I have won this kingdom, allowing future descendants to be born into the imperial family and enjoy wealth and privilege. I have already done right by them. I will strive to be a wise emperor and set an example for future emperors. As for how they reward their children, that's not for me to control, nor do I wish to worry about such distant matters."

"Including myself: if the princes and princesses are well-behaved and please me today, I will reward them more. If they make mistakes and anger me in the future, I may also revoke their rewards. Rewards and punishments are based on conduct and virtue, not on who their parents were."

Yan Xizheng: "But if no precedent is set, and Your Majesty rewards Princess Yongkang generously today, then if Princess Qingyang receives less when she marries, she may feel discontented, believing that Your Majesty favors the eldest princess. And if Your Majesty rewards Princess Qingyang equally generously, Princess Yongkang may feel displeased that a younger princess is treated the same as her. Your Majesty currently has only two princesses and may not mind if one holds a grudge. But if in the future, Your Majesty has more princesses born of other consorts, and each of them develops a desire to compete with the eldest princess, what then?"

Emperor Xingwu smiled faintly: "Taking Yongkang as an example, those who are well-behaved and please me will receive as much as Yongkang. Those who are not will receive less. Those who dare complain about receiving less clearly lack self-awareness, and I will continue to punish them until they behave. Let’s see who would dare complain to me about favors."

"Ridiculous! If I have to worry about trivial matters like the rewards for a few princesses, then when I select a group of scholars through the imperial examinations, should I also worry about those who failed complaining to me? If I have to worry about everything, I might as well not be emperor and return to my hometown as a poor farmer, where the only concern is filling my stomach and nothing else. That would be far more carefree."

Yan Xizheng went quiet.

Emperor Xingwu glanced at him and reminded: "Left Chancellor, you have repeatedly offered excellent strategies on state affairs. It would be best if you did not concern yourself with my family matters, unless one day I truly lose my senses and cause chaos by blurring the lines between public and private interests."

Yan Xizheng said nervously: "Your Majesty is a wise emperor that comes along once in a century. Today’s matter was my overconcern. I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness."

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The five imperial children, who lived deep within the palace, had no idea their father had run into some trouble while selecting the princess estate. They simply followed their father out of the palace.

Princess Yongkang's estate was located in Yongchang Fang, east of the imperial city, only a li away from the thick city walls, so it was just a short walk away.

Yongkang, along with Qin Ren and Qingyang, rode with their father in the carriage, while Qin Hong and Qin Bing rode horses alongside. When they entered Yongchang Fang, Qin Bing looked at the writing above the gate and laughed: "Father, the name of this fang is quite similar to big sister’s title. Since big sister is moving here, why not change it to 'Yongkang Fang'? Outsiders would know at once that big sister lives here."

Emperor Xingwu: "If we go by your naming idea, since I live in Qianyuan Palace, should we rename it 'Xingwu Palace'? The names of these fangs and lanes in the capital have been used for hundreds of years. The city’s residents and merchants from various places have used them until now. If you change them, people will get lost, just causing confusion."

Qin Bing: "..."

Yongkang: "Father is right. I also don’t want to change it. This fang isn’t just my home. Changing the name would be too pushy."

Emperor Xingwu nodded approvingly.

Qin Ren simply held his younger sister, who was trying to peek through the curtain opening at the streets and pedestrians outside.

When they arrived at the princess estate, Emperor Xingwu got out first, helped his eldest daughter and third son down, and then carried the little princess inside.

In a new place, Qingyang disliked being carried by her father. Seeing that her second brother had already run inside, she struggled to get down and chased after him.

Emperor Xingwu had conquered the realm himself and had not received strict princely upbringing, so he was pretty relaxed about how the kids behaved. Letting the two active ones play, he took their time walking from the outer areas inward with his eldest son, eldest daughter, and his third son, who, though not particularly talented, was still well-behaved and honest.

Yongkang’s estate had been well-maintained even before the confiscation. After three months of renovation, every brick, stone, corridor, and pillar looked brand new. The three main and side halls were magnificent, and the large garden, with its living water diverted to form a lake, was also beautiful to behold. Yongkang felt like moving in immediately.

Unconsciously, Yongkang switched to walking with her arm through his.

Emperor Xingwu said with some sadness: "It’s a pity your mother never enjoyed any of this prosperity."

He and his first wife had spent little time together, so their marital bond was not deeply affectionate. However, as a virtuous wife who had frugally managed the household, respected his mother, and raised the children, Emperor Xingwu really wished she could have experienced the good life they now had.

Yongkang could no longer remember her mother’s appearance, so she wasn't especially sad. Resting her head on her father’s arm and gazing at the distant sky, she said softly: "Father, you named younger brother Crown Prince and have been so good to me. Mother in heaven must be very happy."

Emperor Xingwu had not enfeoffed his eldest son as Crown Prince to compensate his first wife, but since his daughter thought so, he did not bother to correct her. In casual conversation, there was no need to be overly precise.

After touring the halls, the father and his four children went to the rear garden. Seeing that Qin Bing and Qingyang had run up an artificial hill, the group followed them.

Qingyang pointed at the western palace walls: "Father, I can see the imperial palace!"

Hearing this, Yongkang lifted her skirt and hurried up the stone steps. Emperor Xingwu, along with Qin Hong and Qin Ren, slowly ascended.

At the top was a viewing pavilion, and the family soon sat inside to rest.

Qin Bing asked straight out: "When will Father bestow an estate upon me?"

Emperor Xingwu: "When you achieve top grades in literature class five times in a row."

Qin Bing was shocked: "Really?"

Emperor Xingwu ignored him and did not answer his second son’s question.

Qingyang, sitting on her father’s lap, asked curiously: "Father, will I have my own princess estate when I grow up?"

Emperor Xingwu patted his youngest daughter’s head and smiled: "Naturally."

Qingyang looked at her third brother: "What about third brother?"

Emperor Xingwu: "Your third brother will have one too."

Qingyang: "Then I want my princess estate to be next to third brother’s."

Emperor Xingwu dodged: "It will be over a decade before you get your estate. There’s no hurry to decide now. Perhaps when you grow up, you won’t like your third brother anymore and would prefer to live next to your second brother’s princely mansion."

Qingyang glanced at her second brother, who was grinning her way, then turned and buried her face in her father’s chest, making everyone laugh.

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With the princess estate completed, Yongkang’s wedding date was soon set for the seventh day of the tenth month.

The eldest princess’s dowry had long been prepared by the Ministry of Rites and other offices. The only thing the imperial consorts, princes, and princesses in the palace had to help with was the grand ceremony for the princess’s wedding.

As the wedding date approached, the rear palace grew increasingly busy. These days, Qingyang still went to Chongwen Pavilion to study in the mornings, but in the afternoons, she no longer ran to the front court. Instead, as soon as she woke up from her nap, she would rush to her mother’s palace to watch her assist the Noble Consort in telling the palace staff what to do, or she would go to her eldest sister’s palace to see the servants hanging cheerful red satin decorations everywhere.

Until her eldest sister’s wedding, Qingyang saw it all as fun and excitement, running around happily.

Yongkang observed her younger sister’s innocence and joy, but her own sadness about leaving grew stronger. With no birth mother to confide in, on the afternoon before her wedding, when the Crown Prince came to see her, Yongkang took him alone into her inner chamber. Gazing quietly at her brother, who had already grown taller than her, Yongkang suddenly leaned on his shoulder and cried quietly.

Qin Hong felt hurt in his heart, and his eyes reddened. He asked cautiously: "Elder sister, do you not want to marry Fu Kui?"

Yongkang shook her head, tears silently falling: "It has nothing to do with him. I just can’t bear to leave you. In this palace, you are probably the only one who truly can’t bear to see me go."

Father was the father of many younger siblings, and as a father, he could only give her a small portion of his heart. The Noble Consort was only her stepmother, and even one second brother was enough for her to worry about. How genuine could the Noble Consort’s feelings be toward her? As for others, it went without saying. Only her brother, born of the same mother, had been through hard times together, and their bond was the deepest.

Qin Hong’s tears also fell.

In the end, it was Yongkang who stopped crying first. Holding her brother’s hand, she sat by the table and, her eyes still wet with tears, instructed: "In the past, I hoped you would become Crown Prince. Now that it has come true, I still worry. After all, you are only fourteen, still a child. If someone truly wants to harm you, there are plenty of opportunities. So you must be careful in everything. Eat less food from others’ palaces, and avoid dangerous activities. Like how second brother enjoys competing in horseback riding, don’t foolishly compete with him."

Qin Hong understood his sister’s meaning and, with downcast eyes, advised in return: "I have grown up. Elder sister, don’t worry about me. If you suffer any grievances after leaving the palace, come to the palace and tell me. I am the Crown Prince and can back you up."

Yongkang smiled comfortedly and stroked her brother’s face: "Good. I will wait for you to back me up."

The red sun set in the west, night fell and quickly passed.

At daybreak, Qingyang, dressed in a red skirt, followed her mother Consort Li and the Noble Consort early to watch the palace attendants do the eldest princess’s hair.

Taking advantage of her small size and not being in the way, Qingyang snuggled into the seated eldest princess's lap.

The little girl was pretty, with dark, innocent, clear eyes. At least in such a moment, Yongkang liked her younger sister too, pinching her little face and saying, "If you miss me in the future, you can come play at my residence. It’s so close—Father won’t mind."

Qingyang was delighted: "Sister, take me there."

Yongkang: "Sure, when I come to the palace, I’ll pick you up along…"

The elderly attendant painting her eyebrows laughed: "Your Highness, perhaps you could chat with the little princess later. If you keep moving, this old servant might mess it up."

Yongkang smiled and put a finger to her sister’s lips, signaling the little one to stop causing mischief.

The princess's wedding ceremony was elaborate, and soon Qingyang was led away by her mother to the Taiji Hall to await the rites.

The emperor sat imposingly on his dragon throne. Qingyang wanted to go to him, but her mother held her hand firmly. Emperor Xingwu glanced at the mother and daughter but did not indulge his youngest daughter today.

Amid ceremonial music, the Imperial Son-in-law Fu Kui in wedding robes and Princess Yongkang, with a veil covering her head, appeared together outside the Taiji Hall. They passed between rows of civil and military officials to the foot of the imperial platform, knelt, and bid farewell to the emperor.

After offering some words of encouragement, Emperor Xingwu gazed with mixed emotions at his eldest daughter, who seemed to have grown up in the blink of an eye and was now marrying. With difficulty, he said, "You may go."

A lady-in-waiting assisted Princess Yongkang as she turned and, step by step, walked out of the great hall just as she had entered.

Watching her elder sister disappear into the distance, Qingyang looked up and asked, "Mother, where is Big Sister going?"

Consort Li quickly wiped the stray tears at the corner of her eyes with her sleeve and whispered, "To the princess manor. From now on, Big Sister will live at the princess manor."

Qingyang was bewildered: "Won’t she come back to the palace?"

The little princess had thought her elder sister would simply have an additional residence outside the palace but would still usually live within the palace walls.

Consort Li shook her head.

Qingyang looked again at the retreating figure in red, now almost out of the hall, and burst out crying: "I don’t want Big Sister to leave…"

Consort Li’s heart leaped, and she quickly covered her daughter’s mouth.

Outside the doors of the Taiji Hall, Yongkang, who had been holding back her tears, paused at the sound of her sister’s crying. Her tears then fell like a broken dam, streaming down her face.

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Not wanting her daughter to ruin the joyous occasion of the princess's wedding, Consort Li left early and carried her sobbing daughter back to Xianfu Palace.

The little princess cried herself to exhaustion and fell asleep. Consort Li left her in the care of Jie Yu and the nurse, as she still had to attend the palace banquet.

When Qingyang woke, she saw her father sitting by the distant window, facing outward, still wearing the crimson dragon robes he had on in the Taiji Hall.

Qingyang immediately remembered what had happened before she fell asleep. She sat up and asked plaintively, "Father, where is Big Sister?"

Emperor Xingwu snapped out of his reverie and, seeing his daughter’s pitiful expression, walked over to sit by the bed. He picked her up and said, "Big Sister is married now; she has her own home. She will visit us in the palace when she has time."

Qingyang: "I don’t want Big Sister to marry. I want her to always live in the palace."

Hearing her childish words, Emperor Xingwu chuckled: "You didn’t often go play with Big Sister before. Why are you so reluctant to see her leave the palace now?"

Qingyang thought for a moment and said, "Father and Mother are in the palace, the Noble Consort, Big Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother are all in the palace. I don’t want Big Sister to go."

Emperor Xingwu patted his daughter’s head: "When you all grow up, you will each have your own families. Second Brother and Third Brother will marry and live in their princely estates. Qingyang, you will also live in your princess manor with your imperial son-in-law. The princess manor is so spacious, and without as many rules as the palace. Big Sister likes it, and you will too."

Qingyang: "I won’t like it. I just want to always live with Father, Mother, and Third Brother."

The little princess clung tightly to her father’s neck, as if he were about to leave her at that very moment.

Emperor Xingwu patted his daughter’s small shoulder and sighed but did not brush her off with empty promises.