Chapter 25

Chapter 25

After a long horseback ride, they returned to the felt-matted shade. Qingyang was surprised to find her third brother asleep on one of the mats.

Qingyang plucked a foxtail blade from a nearby patch, crouched down, and was about to tickle Third Brother's nose again. But seeing his handsome face deep in peaceful slumber, her heart softened. She turned to Zhang Su and said, “Let’s go catch fish.”

Zhang Su glanced at the little princess’s skirt hem.

Qingyang understood his concern. Having planned to play in the river before leaving the palace, she had specifically worn a pair of white silk trousers under her dress.

“I’ll get ready. You roll up your sleeves and pant legs too.”

With that, Qingyang walked over to Jie Yu and had him help her untie the complicated fastenings of her long skirt while also rolling up the legs of her trousers.

Jie Yu scanned both riverbanks once more, confirming that the eight guards were out of sight and no commoners had breached their cordon. Finally, his gaze settled on Zhang Su, who stood a dozen steps away.

Though only fifteen, the young man was already taller than most grown men. He had already turned his back, not daring to disobey the princess’s order. Zhang Su was tucking his robe hem into his belt, revealing a pair of straight, long legs in white silk trousers.

Qingyang also glanced back before urging Jie Yu, “Hurry up, don’t worry about him.”

She had long understood the separation between men and women, but that rule applied only to outsiders. In her heart, Zhang Su was just like her third brother—more than that, he was the Imperial Son-in-law she had chosen for herself long ago. A little play in the water was nothing to fuss over.

Jie Yu thought to himself that the princess was only nine, still a child. Zhang Su, ever mindful of propriety, would never sneak a peek when he shouldn’t. Letting Zhang Su accompany the princess into the water was harmless.

Once freed from her high-waisted dress, the little princess wore a pink waist-length short jacket and a pair of white silk trousers of appropriate thickness. With the trouser legs rolled up above her knees, she was perfectly dressed for wading in the river.

She had also brought along a small bucket and a net for catching fish. Carrying one in each hand, Qingyang eagerly stood by the riverbank and looked expectantly at Zhang Su. As for whether Zhang Su’s exposed legs were long or pale, the little princess, focused solely on catching fish, couldn’t care less.

Zhang Su, however, did not approach the princess directly. Instead, he stepped into the river at a spot directly opposite her, keeping his gaze averted. After checking the riverbed pebbles nearby, he closed his eyes and said, “This area is suitable for entering the water. Please come here, Your Highness.”

Without hesitation, Qingyang ran over and held out her arms. “Quick, carry me across.”

Though not as timid as her third brother, she knew the deeper water near the bank was unsafe for her to step into.

Zhang Su briefly opened his eyes, making sure his gaze didn't drop below the hem of the little princess’s clothing. Once his hands were positioned under her arms, he closed his eyes again and lifted her, carrying her step by step toward the shallower water in the middle.

Perhaps accustomed to being lifted and carried by Duke of Wei Zhang Jie over the years, Qingyang paid little attention to how Zhang Su held her. Instead, she excitedly watched the water flowing beneath her. The moment Zhang Su reached a depth suitable for her to stand, she urged him to put her down.

Zhang Su set the little princess into the water and, once sure she was steady, immediately moved in front of her, turning his back to scan the surrounding water.

Qingyang ignored him, filling her bucket halfway and setting it nearby. She bent over, net in hand, searching for small fish. When she couldn’t find any, she waded around, finding even this simple activity novel and fun.

Jie Yu watched from the bank, noting that Zhang Su truly didn’t glance even once at the little princess. He had learned every bit of his father Zhang Jie’s deferential and proper demeanor.

“I caught one!”

“It got away! Zhang Su, go block it!”

The little princess’s clear, excited cries woke the dozing third prince. Qin Ren rubbed his eyes and sat up. Seeing his younger sister having so much fun, he straightened his clothes and called for Zhang Su to come help him cross the deeper section of water.

Once the little princess had played enough in the water, Zhang Su picked her up again.

This time, Qingyang noticed and asked curiously, “Why are your eyes closed?”

Zhang Su replied, “Your Highness is of noble lineage. This humble subject must not be presumptuous.”

Qingyang looked down at her feet dangling above the water's surface and at Zhang Su’s legs moving through the stream.

Etiquette was one thing, but Qingyang didn’t yet understand why there had to be so many restrictions between men and women—like her third brother’s claim that she would get styes from seeing his body. Right now, for instance, she could see Zhang Su’s legs just fine, and her eyes were perfectly fine.

The more Zhang Su avoided impropriety, the more Qingyang enjoyed teasing him. She lightly stepped on his knee above the water.

Zhang Su’s brows twitched faintly, but he pretended nothing had happened and quickened his pace, soon handing the little princess over to Jie Yu waiting on the bank.

While the little princess dried herself and changed clothes, Zhang Su took a towel and moved to a spot farther away. By the time he returned, his robes were neatly arranged as before.

Qingyang said, “I don’t want pastries. Let’s go back to the city and eat at a restaurant.”

Qin Ren naturally agreed with his younger sister.

Qingyang took the wooden bucket into the carriage, watching the several small fish swim around inside throughout the journey.

Qin Ren remarked contentedly, “Finally showing some childish behavior.”

Usually, his younger sister woke earlier than him, studied better, and even practiced martial arts seriously and diligently, making him feel both ashamed and inadequate. Only in small acts of caring for his sister could he find confidence as an older brother.

Zhang Su knelt silently to the side, eyes downcast, disagreeing with the third prince’s words. The little princess had always been childlike—she was simply clever and studious. If she truly had a temperament matching her knowledge, she wouldn’t have insisted on riding together, wouldn’t have put flowers in his hair, and certainly wouldn’t have deliberately stepped on him.

***

After eating and drinking their fill, it was already time for the little princess’s usual afternoon nap. But Qingyang was still full of energy. After browsing a few shops, she suddenly said to Zhang Su, “Where did you buy those little wooden figures? Take me to see.”

Qin Ren, drowsy with bleary eyes, said, “After the woodcarving shop, can we go back? I really can’t take anymore.”

Qingyang nodded.

With both siblings in agreement, Zhang Su had no choice but to lead the way.

The woodcarving shop was quiet in the afternoon, with only a young clerk dozing behind the counter. Hearing footsteps, the clerk lazily lifted his eyelids but snapped to attention immediately upon seeing the group’s fine features and fine silk clothing. He came out from behind the counter, full of flattery, and addressed the brother of the pair who were clearly the masters: “What would you like to see, young masters and miss?”

Qin Ren, whose only thought was finishing the errand and going to sleep, yawned and looked at his younger sister.

The clerk followed his gaze to the well-dressed young miss.

Qingyang looked at Zhang Su. The clerk glanced at Zhang Su but, seeing nothing noteworthy, turned back to the young girl who, despite her age, already had an air of authority.

Qingyang continued staring at the clerk.

The clerk: “…”

The young lady was quite pretty, but what was with that look?

Seeing nothing of interest, Qingyang immediately lost patience with the clerk and said, “We’ll look around on our own. You may rest.”

With that, she walked toward the nearest counter, which was densely packed with small wooden carvings.

Qin Ren and Zhang Su followed closely behind, while Jie Yu waved the clerk aside, signaling him to wait elsewhere.

Qingyang soon found a row of small wooden figures similar to the first one Zhang Su had given her when she was four. The craftsmanship was simple, capturing only surface expressions of joy or sorrow. In terms of facial features, the first figure didn’t look much like her—what her third brother and others had praised was the resemblance in its smiling demeanor.

But the wooden figures Zhang Su had given her in the following years grew increasingly lifelike, with changing poses and gestures. There were five in total: the first three stood stiffly, the fourth sat on a small stool holding a chess piece, and the fifth was even more impressive, mimicking her sword practice stance with a small wooden sword.

After browsing all the display cases, Qingyang found no similar wooden figures—only more intricately carved statues of elegant women or various deities.

Once outside the shop, Qingyang glared at Zhang Su and said, “You lied. Your wooden figures definitely didn’t come from here.”

Zhang Su: “…”

Qin Ren: “Why do you say that, little sister?”

Qingyang glanced back at the clerk behind the counter and explained to her third brother: “First, if Zhang Su came here every year to buy wooden figures, given his looks, the clerk would definitely recognize him. He wouldn’t have shown no reaction at all.”

Qin Ren looked Zhang Su up and down and gave an approving hum.

Qingyang: "Second, there are no little wooden figures like the ones Zhang Su gave me on the counter. Either this shop simply doesn’t make them, or Zhang Su had them specially made by the shop. If he did place a custom order, the shopkeeper would definitely recognize him."

Qin Ren was completely convinced and asked Zhang Su, puzzled, "Where did you actually buy them? Why didn’t you tell the truth?"

Both siblings stared at him. Unable to name another woodcarving shop to bluff his way through, Zhang Su had to admit in a low voice: "Your Highness always wanted a small wooden figure as a birthday gift every year, but I knew you weren’t entirely satisfied with the first one because it only resembled you in the smile."

"I thought about asking a craftsman at the shop to carve a new figure based on Your Highness’s appearance, but given your noble status, I didn’t dare rashly reveal your actual likeness to others. So, I picked up the basics of woodcarving from a master and practiced carving whenever I had time…"

Qin Ren exclaimed in shock, "You carved the ones after that yourself?"

Zhang Su lowered his gaze: "Yes. My hands are clumsy, and the carvings are crude. If Your Highness finds them displeased with them…"

Qingyang: "I never disliked them! The ones you carved are much better than those sold in the shops—they look the most like me."

Zhang Su: "That’s because the craftsmen outside have never seen Your Highness."

Qingyang: "And I don’t want them to see me either. What if they carve more and sell them? My wooden figures should only be kept by me, or at most, given to family."

Zhang Su: "Your Highness can rest assured. I only carve one for you each year and would never keep any for myself."

Qingyang: "...You’re not an outsider. If you like them, you can carve an extra one to keep for yourself."

Zhang Su: "I couldn’t possibly."

Jie Yu jumped in to help the young man out, smiling as he said, "Third Young Master wants to give Your Highness a one-of-a-kind gift every year. Carving more would go against the original idea."

Qin Ren: "Besides, Zhang Su doesn’t have much spare time. Carving just one is exhausting enough. If it weren’t for giving a gift to my sister, he probably wouldn’t even want to carve one."

He loved his sister, but not enough to feel the need to collect a small wooden figure of her. So why would Zhang Su want to carve an extra one?

Qingyang thought Jie Yu’s words sounded very pleasing, and though what her third brother said was true, for some reason, it made her a little angry.

Zhang Su looked up, sensing the little princess’s displeasure, and explained, "As long as Your Highness is happy, I wouldn’t find it hard no matter how many I carve. It’s just that my hands are clumsy, and at present, I can only manage to produce one decent piece each year."

The little princess immediately smiled and praised him, "You’re not clumsy at all. You’re much handier than Third Brother."

Qin Ren: "..."

Not wanting to be shown up by Zhang Su in the art of gift-giving, after returning to the palace and resting through the afternoon, Qin Ren also had Fu An find a piece of high-quality boxwood. He then took a specialized carving knife and began carving it bit by bit.

Wood shavings fell one after another. Before long, the foot-long boxwood in Third Young Master’s hands had turned into a tapered piece of boxwood, thin at the top and thick at the bottom.