Chapter 22

Chapter 22

On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, a heavy, goose-down snow fell over the capital.

The little princess had little memory of last winter's snow. While Consort Li had once been able to manage her daughter, who was just over two years old at the time, the little princess now had grown quite opinionated. With the emperor—the only one in the entire palace who could truly keep her in check—delighted to indulge her, Consort Li could only sit with Noble Consort in the imperial garden pavilion, enjoying the snow and watching Emperor Xingwu lead the children in building a snowman.

Emperor Xingwu took charge of building the snowman, while Qin Hong, Qin Bing, and Qin Ren transported clean snow from a distance. Qingyang ran around the snowman, patting it all over, trying to help her father.

"Come here, little sister! Second Brother found something good!"

Hearing this, Qingyang circled around the chubby snowman and saw her Second Brother crouching under a tree, seemingly staring at something. She immediately ran over.

Emperor Xingwu looked up, opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it again.

Qingyang ran to her Second Brother’s side and leaned down to look for the "good thing" in the snow. Seizing the opportunity, Qin Bing gave the tree trunk a hard kick before running away, leaving his little sister showered with fine snow shaken loose from the branches.

Noble Consort: "..."

The little princess, now under everyone's gaze, stood up straight, shook her head, and excitedly called to her Second Brother, who had moved aside for some reason, "That was so fun! Do it again, Second Brother!"

Consort Li: "..."

Qin Bing was stunned. "Didn’t any snow get into your neck?"

Qingyang tried to look at her neck but only saw the snowy white fox fur trim lining her cloak’s hood.

Realizing the issue, Qin Bing walked back and tried to pull his sister’s hood down. But after just two tugs, a snowball the size of a fist came flying through the air and hit him squarely on the shoulder. Qin Bing instinctively looked toward Qin Ren, only to see his father still holding another snowball by the snowman, staring at him with an amused yet stern look.

Qin Bing didn’t dare cause more trouble.

Emperor Xingwu: "Lín'er, keep your hood up properly, and then let your Second Brother kick the tree for you."

Of course, Qingyang obeyed her father and dutifully pulled up her hood.

So, while Emperor Xingwu, Qin Hong, and Qin Ren continued building the snowman, Qin Bing took his sister around the imperial garden, kicking one tree after another.

If too little snow fell, Qingyang was dissatisfied, and she even picked a tree thicker than Commander Fan’s waist for her Second Brother to kick.

Forehead sweating, Qin Bing said breathlessly, "My legs are going numb from all this kicking. Go find Father—I can’t kick this one."

Qingyang turned and ran to her father.

Emperor Xingwu carefully brushed snow from the top of her hood, her shoulders, and her back, then taught her, "Your Second Brother was playing a trick on you—he wanted snow to fall inside your neck. From now on, whenever he tries to take you somewhere to play, be careful around him. He’s always fooling around."

Qingyang understood. "Bad Second Brother."

Emperor Xingwu secretly made a small snowball and told his daughter to find a chance to stuff it down her Second Brother’s collar.

The little princess hid her hands behind her back and watched intently at her Second Brother, who was shoveling snow in the distance.

Emperor Xingwu: "...Don’t look at him like that—he’ll guess your plan. Pretend you don’t have a snowball and aren’t planning to ambush him."

Qingyang thought for a moment, then crouched down to watch her father work.

When Qin Bing returned with a shovel full of snow, he dumped it and tried to leave.

Emperor Xingwu gave his daughter a look, called his second son over, and then caught him off guard, pushing down on his shoulders and head. The little princess was quick and nimble—she rushed over and thrust her hand with the snowball into the back of her Second Brother’s collar. The freezing snowball and her equally cold little hand slid right down Qin Bing’s back.

Qin Bing yelled, "Father, you’re playing favorites!"

Emperor Xingwu: "You, as an older brother, bullying your little sister—I saw it this time, but who knows how many times you’ve tricked Lín'er before."

Qin Bing finally broke free, jumping up and down on the spot and shaking a flattened snowball out from his robes.

In the pavilion, Consort Li whispered, "Really, His Majesty—Bing'er bullies his sister, and he goes and bullies his son."

Noble Consort remarked thoughtfully. "Since Yong Kang was born, His Majesty hasn’t had much time to spend with the other children. Isn’t this just his way of showing he loves them?"

It was indeed a heartwarming scene of family bonding. Consort Li looked around and said regretfully, "It’s just a pity Yong Kang isn’t here."

Noble Consort: "She’ll be here the day after tomorrow. On New Year’s Eve, our whole family will gather properly."

However, during the palace banquet on New Year’s Eve, which hosted important ministers and their families in the capital, Emperor Xingwu only managed to speak briefly with his eldest daughter and son-in-law before the feast began. Once the banquet started, he left for the Tai Chi Hall. Qingyang found it too cold outside, and having met the attending ministers many times before, the novelty had worn off. Besides, knowing that Zhang Su wasn’t there, she stayed obediently by her mother consort’s side, only going out when her eldest sister took her to watch the fireworks.

"Eldest Sister, will you come again tomorrow?"

Yong Kang smiled. "Yes, we have to pay New Year’s respects to Father and Mother Consort. Then you’ll pay respects to Imperial Son-in-law, and he’ll give you lucky money."

Qingyang: "Whoever I pay respects to will give me lucky money?"

Yong Kang: "Only if they’re family elders. Paying respects to elders outside the family is just courtesy—you can’t ask for lucky money, or people will laugh at you."

Qingyang remembered this.

On the first day of the new year, Qingyang received lucky money from her father, Noble Consort, her mother consort, her eldest sister’s husband, and her aunt (Prince Yong’s wife). On the third day, she followed her eldest brother to the Lü family residence of the Duke of Cheng for a feast. Unexpectedly, the Duchess and other noblewomen who were guests there each gave her lucky money—so much that Jie Yu’s sleeves were nearly full.

Qingyang quietly asked her third brother, who had accompanied them, "Why did they only give it to me? Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and you didn’t get any."

Qin Ren: "Because we’ve grown up, and you’re still little. Besides, you’re a little fairy—they all like you."

Her eldest brother was already fifteen and of noble status, so the noblewomen didn’t dare offer him lucky money. Since he didn’t get any, neither could Second Brother or Third Brother.

Qingyang understood. After collecting a round of lucky money, she obediently followed her future sister-in-law, Lü Wenrong, to play with the other young ladies.

Lü Wenrong was now twelve years old, the granddaughter of Duke of Cheng Lü Guangzu. She always came to the palace with her family elders whenever Noble Consort held flower-viewing banquets, so Qingyang knew her well. The group also included Yuan Jie, the seven-year-old sister of Yuan Chongli from the Marquis of Pingliang’s residence; Meng Yao, an eight-year-old from the Meng family of the Marquis of Weiyuan; and Yan Zhenzhen, granddaughter of Left Chancellor Yan Xizheng.

Yan Zhenzhen was also Noble Consort’s niece and was the same age as Qingyang, so the two were the closest.

The young girls chattered nonstop. When it was time to return to the palace, Qingyang was reluctant to leave. Unfortunately, her father had only allowed her to leave the palace on the condition that she obey her eldest brother.

Back in the palace, the little princess still wore a dissatisfied expression, unhappy that she hadn’t had enough fun.

Emperor Xingwu coaxed his daughter: "When Lín'er’s birthday comes, Father will invite them all to the palace to play with you."

Qingyang: "When is my birthday?"

Emperor Xingwu: "The second day of the fourth month—the same day as Father’s accession ceremony."

Qingyang: "...That’s too long from now. I want to invite them to the palace tomorrow."

Emperor Xingwu: "That won’t do. They need to spend the New Year with their families, and when you’re studying, they’ll be studying too. You can only gather on special occasions. Besides, your Jiuhua Palace isn’t finished yet, right? Once it’s repaired, Father will celebrate your birthday there and let them all see your new palace."

Qingyang was delighted and from then on looked forward to the early completion of Jiuhua Palace every day.

.

The craftsmen entered Jiuhua Palace in mid-February, working diligently during the day while the three princes were studying and practicing martial arts, so as not to disturb their rest. However, the construction attracted the attention of the little princess, who had plenty of free time in the afternoons.

Compared to the familiar front court she had already explored thoroughly, the little princess was far more interested in the renovation of her own Jiuhua Palace. Once she brought Jie Yu inside, she refused to leave.

"What is this?"

"Your Highness, these are bluestone slabs, paved in the courtyard."

"And this?"

"This is a crowbar, used to pry up the old stones."

"How do you pry with it?" she asked.

"..."

The craftsmen worked busily while the little princess looked around curiously. By mid-March, the former Cuiyun Palace, now Jiuhua Palace, had been completely refurbished inside and out. After a few days of airing out to let the newly applied paint dry, the palace servants began moving in brand-new items of all sizes—exquisitely carved canopy beds, ingeniously crafted porcelain, and so on. Any of these items would be priceless outside the palace.

Emperor Xingwu had not specifically splurged for the little princess, but the daily items used by the royal family were already crafted by the finest artisans using the finest materials. The officials in charge of renovating Jiuhua Palace selected the best from these top-tier items to send to the palace, making Jiuhua Palace, completed in the spring of the fifth year of the Xingwu era, even more magnificent than the palaces of the three princes, which were gradually completed starting from the first year of the Xingwu era.

With the palace ready, the Noble Consort and Consort Li together helped the little princess select a group of palace servants to attend to her, including six bright-eyed, five-year-old little maids. These young girls would learn etiquette from the senior palace maids while serving as playmates for the little princess. By the time the princess grew up, four of her senior maids would likely be chosen from these six young girls.

With a new residence and new playmates, by late March, Qingyang happily moved into Jiuhua Palace, showing no interest in continuing to stay at her third brother’s place.

The three princes were the first to visit their younger sister’s new palace. As splendid as it was, the furnishings of a princess’s palace differed from those of the princes’ residences. Qin Ren would not compare his living quarters with his sister’s, and neither Qin Hong nor Qin Bing had any such thoughts.

Yong Kang arrived a bit later, but since her newly acquired princess estate was also furnished with high-quality items, she had no reason to feel envious.

In the blink of an eye, it was the second day of the fourth month.

Emperor Xingwu not only sent out invitations for the little princess to over a dozen young daughters from noble and high-ranking official families to attend a banquet in the palace but also granted his three sons a half-day holiday for the morning.

Early in the morning, the three princes who lived nearby brought along their study companion to present birthday gifts to the little princess.

Qin Hong gifted a colorful butterfly hairpin made of red gold and inlaid with pearls. Qin Liang presented a mutton-fat jade qilin pendant.

Qin Bing gave a jade bracelet with a warm red glow. Yuan Chongli, who was neither a real brother nor a cousin, offered a box containing four lifelike silk flowers representing the four seasons.

Qin Ren, with a complex expression, brought out an eagle kite he had made himself for his sister. As he handed it over, he muttered about the others, "Mother said we could make anything for our sister—her happiness is what matters most. All your gifts were prepared with help from adults."

Qin Hong thought to himself that as the eldest brother and the crown prince, his gift couldn’t be too shabby.

Qin Bing, unsure of what to give and couldn't be bothered to make something himself, simply asked his mother for a gift.

Qingyang loved her third brother’s kite and made a date with him to fly it together later. Then, she turned to Zhang Su, who was standing last in line.

Zhang Su glanced at the third prince.

During his monthly break, he had gone home and told his mother about preparing a gift for the little princess. After learning that the third prince would be giving a handmade kite, his mother suggested that Zhang Su also make something himself or buy an inexpensive but delightful item from the market that would please the little princess.

Zhang Su had rarely engaged in playful activities since childhood and knew very little about suitable toys, let alone how to make one himself.

So, Zhang Su followed his second brother to the market. After looking through various shops and stalls, he finally selected a gift for the little princess…

Qingyang opened the small square box that Zhang Su handed her and took out a small wooden figurine. The little wooden figure had two small hair buns on its head, large eyes, and its mouth open in a smile.

Qin Hong and the others were examining the little wooden figure, but Qingyang looked puzzled as she turned to Zhang Su.

Zhang Su asked, "...Does Your Highness like it?"

When he first saw the little wooden figure, his first thought was that it resembled the little princess. But now, seeing her confused expression, Zhang Su didn't dare explain, worried that the princess might find the figurine ugly and become upset with him.

Just then, Qin Ren exclaimed, "It looks just like our sister! The smile is exactly the same."

Qin Hong nodded in agreement, while Qin Bing teased, "How does it look like her? Our sister’s face is fair, but this wood looks like it’s been tanned."

Qin Ren retorted, "...This is a wood carving. Wood is naturally this color."

Qingyang looked at the little wooden figure again and also thought it resembled her. She said happily, "I like Zhang Su’s gift. Did you make it yourself?"

Zhang Su replied, "No, I bought it from a wood carving shop."

Qingyang asked, "Are there more little figures like this in the shop?"

Zhang Su said, "There are many other little figures, but this one is unique."

Qingyang said disappointedly, "Then what will I do for my birthday next year? I want a little figure that looks like me every year."

Zhang Su replied, "...I’ll ask the shop owner if they can make another one."

Qingyang said, "Ask next year. I’ll be a year older then and will surely look different from now."

Zhang Su nodded and glanced at the little princess’s hair bun. Today, she had only one bun, like a small flower bud.