Chapter 24

Chapter 24

About twenty *li* south of the capital lay the Yi River. Though not as renowned as the Luo River, which traversed the capital, it was a beloved spot for local residents to enjoy spring outings and leisurely strolls, particularly appealing to those who sought tranquility and refinement.

The nine-year-old princess chose the Yi River not for its scenic elegance, but because she had a multitude of activities in mind that required fewer onlookers. The more common folk present, the greater the risk of her identity being revealed. Once exposed, she would be compelled to maintain the dignified demeanor befitting a princess, lest she become a source of amusement for the populace and diminish the imperial family's prestige.

This was a lesson her imperial father had imparted to her in childhood. He had explained that commoners could freely utter expletives and rough language, but the imperial family, as the most esteemed lineage under heaven, must conduct themselves with utmost gravity and grace in public, setting an example for all. Only in moments of extreme joy, anger, or sorrow might they occasionally lose composure without incurring censure from officials and commoners alike.

Her father had also recounted that he had ascended the throne as a commoner, having not received the rigorous training in imperial conduct and etiquette during his youth. Consequently, even after becoming emperor, he sometimes inadvertently used coarse language. She, however, was different: a princess born within the palace, tutored in royal decorum by nannies from infancy. Her elder brothers, being less astute, had struggled to master these lessons, but she, being clever, was expected to embody perfect deportment.

At that time, Qingyang believed every word her father uttered and dutifully complied. After all, learning those rituals was not particularly arduous.

As she matured to the age of nine, Qingyang began to realize that not everything her father said was necessarily correct. For instance, his insistence that she was not yet ready to ride horses was clearly mistaken. Nevertheless, she had mastered all the manners expected of a royal descendant. Reflecting on her eldest brother’s tendency to hunch his shoulders, her second brother wiping sweat with his sleeves, or her third brother yawning carelessly—behaviors she found somewhat distasteful—Qingyang resolved never to let anyone witness her in an unseemly state, nor allow any outsider to see her engaging in the "mischievous" acts common among ordinary children.

Naturally, Third Prince and Zhang Su were not outsiders. Nor were Jie Yu and the other palace attendants from Jiuhua Palace who had come to serve, nor the eight guards tasked with their protection—all of whom would not dare defy her commands.

The carriage proceeded at a steady pace for over half an hour before reaching the Yi River. There were a few visitors along the bank, so Qingyang instructed the coachman to follow the path upstream until no other people were visible.

Qin Ren grew curious. “What do you intend to do, little sister, that you are so afraid of being seen?”

Qingyang replied, “Second Brother said one can catch fish in the river here. I wish to try it as well.”

Zhang Su lowered his gaze even further. Qin Ren tilted his head, observing his sister’s small feet, clad in white silk socks, peeking from beneath her skirt, and asked worriedly, “It is not yet summer. Will the river water not be too cold?”

Qingyang insisted, “I wish to play even if it is cold.”

Qin Ren conceded, “Very well, I shall test it for you first.”

They continued eastward for another two or three *ke* (approximately 30-45 minutes) until the surroundings were entirely devoid of people. A river, over twenty *zhang* (about 67 meters) wide, flowed gently under the warm sun. The water in the middle was shallow, reaching only about calf-height, while the sections near the northern and southern banks, a few *chi* (about 1 meter) wide, would likely submerge an adult’s knees. The deeper parts appeared murkier, and the current flowed more swiftly.

Zhang Su first assisted the little princess in disembarking. Qin Ren, having donned his shoes, stepped out and, eyeing the water by the bank, exclaimed anxiously, “This water is too deep. Little sister, do not go in.”

Qingyang: “…”

After Jie Yu and two senior palace maids had moved felt mats and other items from the second carriage to spread beneath a nearby old pagoda tree, Qingyang ordered the coachmen to drive the carriages out of her sight. She then instructed the eight guards to position themselves on both banks of the river, also out of her view, facing away from the water to patrol the area and prevent any commoners from approaching.

Now, only the individuals Qingyang had known since childhood remained by the riverside.

She turned and walked towards the bank. When she was still two or three steps away, Qin Ren suddenly seized her left wrist, fearing she might stumble and fall in.

Qingyang remarked, “Third Brother, you are truly a coward.”

Qin Ren retorted, “This is called being cautious and reliable.”

Ignoring him, Qingyang resolutely walked to the water’s edge and gazed at the river scenery, near and far.

Qin Ren tilted his head and said to Zhang Su, who stood on the other side of his sister, “The current is so swift. It makes me feel a bit dizzy.”

Before entering the palace at age six, Zhang Su had harbored some apprehension towards the never-before-seen Third Prince, fearing that the emperor’s son might possess a volatile temper and that he would be unable to retaliate if struck or scolded. However, after years of shared study, the Third Prince, in Zhang Su’s estimation, retained only his noble status, utterly devoid of any true authority.

He glanced at the Third Prince’s genuinely pale face and said, “I shall watch over Her Highness. Third Prince, you may step back a few paces to admire the view.”

Qin Ren replied, “Then keep a close watch. Do not let my sister fall into the water.”

Zhang Su nodded.

Only then did Qin Ren release his sister and moved back several steps, daring only to look at the shallower middle section of the river.

Amidst the verdant hills and clear waters, Qingyang stood for a long while before taking a deep breath, slightly lifting her skirt, and squatting down.

Zhang Su knelt on one knee and crouched down beside her, watching as the little princess curiously extended her hand into the water. Then he saw her turn to him with delight. “It is quite cold.”

The little princess’s dark eyes shimmered with reflected light. Zhang Su habitually averted his gaze, looking at the water’s surface.

Qingyang said, “You try it too. It is cool and very pleasant.”

So Zhang Su also extended a hand into the water. The clear river, flowing from the east, first passed over the little princess’s small hand, then over his larger one.

After playing in the water for a while, Qingyang grew tired of it and began searching for fish. It was a long time before she spotted a slender fish, about the length of a little finger, darting into the swift current nearby. It swam a short distance before quickly returning to the shallows ahead.

Qingyang declared, “I wish to go in there and catch fish.”

Unless the Emperor was present, the little princess usually accomplished whatever she set her mind to. Knowing he could not dissuade her, Zhang Su proposed a compromise: “…The water is too cold. Her Highness might catch a chill if you enter now. Perhaps wait until the sun is higher and the water temperature rises.”

Qingyang did not wish to fall ill. Sickness would provide her father with a reason to forbid her from leaving the palace.

“Very well,” she said, standing up. “Then I shall ride a horse first. Go bring your horse over.”

Qin Ren, who had already found a flat spot to sit on the ground, reminded them, “Have Zhang Su lead you slowly; no galloping. Zhang Su, you must watch her closely, or both of us will be made to kneel in punishment upon returning to the palace!”

The Emperor was immensely indulgent towards his daughter, yet equally stern with him and his second brother. Only because their eldest brother was sensitive and prone to tearing up did their father show a bit more restraint.

Zhang Su understood.

Once the horse was brought over, Zhang Su adjusted the stirrups to the proper height for the little princess and then firmly gripped the reins, not letting go.

Qingyang glanced at her brother, Qin Ren, and directed Zhang Su to walk upstream.

Zhang Su walked slowly, his footsteps light. Only the rhythmic clip-clop of hoofbeats accompanied the sound of flowing water.

Having abandoned the idea of riding alone to spare Third Prince and Zhang Su from punishment by her father, Qingyang kept her gaze fixed on Zhang Su.

As she watched, Qingyang suddenly noticed that the top of Zhang Su’s head was level with the top of the head of the magnificent horse her father had bestowed upon him!

“How tall are you?” Qingyang asked enviously.

Zhang Su turned around, ensuring he had heard correctly, and replied, “Seven *chi* and nine *cun*.” (approximately 2.6 meters or 8 feet 6 inches, though this is anachronistically tall for a human; likely a mistranslation of the original Chinese unit, or a hyperbolic statement to emphasize his height. Given the context, it's more likely to be around 6 feet, 2 inches as in the original translation, assuming a different interpretation of the units.)

His mother had had his eldest brother measure him during the New Year.

Qingyang exclaimed in surprise, “My eldest brother is that tall too, but he is about to marry. You have not yet grown up.”

In the eyes of the nine-year-old princess, only those who married were considered adults.

Zhang Su did not argue.

Qingyang continued to gaze at him, praising with a smile, “You may not be grown in age, but your body has already matured. Third Brother is not skilled enough in horsemanship, and Father does not trust him to take me galloping. But Father said you can. Come, get up here.”

The little princess shifted forward in the saddle, making more room.

Zhang Su stopped walking, his gaze fixed on the horse’s neck in front of him. “This humble subject dares not. I implore Your Highness not to make things difficult for me.”

Firstly, he should not have close physical contact with the little princess. Secondly, accompanying her on a gallop was too great a responsibility. If the princess were injured, his entire family would bear the consequences.

Qingyang pouted. “You are the one not listening to me! Father already agreed!”

Zhang Su looked back at the Third Prince. “This matter is too grave. This humble subject requires confirmation from Third Prince.”

Qingyang said, “Very well, go ask him then.”

She expected Zhang Su to leave her there alone and return, but to her surprise, Zhang Su began to turn the horse back. Qingyang quickly called out to him and shot him an angry glare.

Zhang Su stood quietly with downcast eyes, awaiting the little princess’s next instructions.

Qingyang huffed, “Continue forward, and you walk faster.”

Zhang Su complied by quickening his pace.

The wind was more noticeable at the higher elevation. Qingyang held onto the saddle with both hands and tilted her head back to gaze at the blue sky. Seeing this, Zhang Su said nervously, “Your Highness, be careful.”

Qingyang laughed, “I shall not be careful. If you fear I will fall, come up and ride with me.”

Zhang Su: “This humble servant does not know how to mount a horse, but if Your Highness continues such dangerous actions, this humble servant would rather risk offending you by helping you dismount.”

The little princess bit her lip and sat up straight.

The riverbank was covered with fresh green grass. Qingyang spotted a small white flower and asked Zhang Su to pick it for her.

Zhang Su led the horse over, holding the reins with one hand and snapping the stem with the other, then handed the flower to the little princess.

Qingyang sniffed it—it had no fragrance at all. She was about to toss it into the water when an idea struck her. She called to the young man who had returned to the front, “Come here.”

Zhang Su had to walk back over to the little princess’s side.

Qingyang: “Close your eyes.”

Zhang Su glanced at the wildflower in the little princess’s hand, paused for a moment, and obediently closed his eyes. As long as the little princess no longer thought about galloping on the horse, anything else was a minor matter.

Qingyang smiled and tucked the small white flower into the young man’s hair near his temple. She was deliberately teasing him, expecting Zhang Su to feel awkward and hurriedly remove the flower. Instead, he acted as though he hadn’t even noticed there was a flower in his hair and continued leading the horse.

Qingyang: “…There is a yellow one over there. Pick it for me.”

Zhang Su did as he was told.

This time, Qingyang did not ask him to close his eyes. She directly tucked the small yellow flower above Zhang Su’s right ear, all the while observing his expression. She noticed that his long eyelashes remained lowered, but his pale skin suddenly flushed. The more she stared at him, the redder his face became.

Qingyang understood what this meant. Sister Lü blushed every time she saw her eldest brother, and her mother had said it was because she was shy—Sister Lü liked her eldest brother, so she felt shy.

“You are shy!” the little princess unconsciously mimicked her second brother’s teasing tone towards their eldest brother.

Zhang Su: “…Your Highness forced this humble subject to wear flowers. I am embarrassed, not shy.”

Qingyang: “…If you do not speak, how am I to know you dislike it?”

Zhang Su fell silent.

Qingyang plucked the flowers from his hair one by one and placed them on the horse’s head.

They walked some distance without speaking to each other. Finally, the little princess could no longer contain herself and coaxed the young man leading the horse, “Very well, I shall not bully you anymore from now on. But if I ask you to do something again and you do not like it, you must tell me. I shall never force you.”

Zhang Su softly said, “Good.”

In truth, over all these years, he had done many things at the little princess’s request. Some made him uneasy for fear of violating etiquette, some made him nervous for fear of harming the little princess, and some he could not refuse for fear of disappointing her. But there had never been anything he disliked doing.

Even just now, he had used the word “forced” only because he was afraid the little princess would take his blushing as an amusing anecdote and spread it everywhere.