Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Princess Qingyang, who admired the Marquis of Weiyuan and was close friends with Meng Yao, wished to visit the Marchioness upon hearing of her critical illness.

Emperor Xingwu pondered for a moment before assenting, "Go. Take your eldest sister and second brother with you, and have your second brother escort you back to the palace."

Qingyang returned to the imperial garden with Jie Yu and, after a brief explanation, concluded the birthday celebration ahead of schedule.

Outside Yanxi Gate, on the eastern side of the imperial city, Qingyang invited her eldest sister and Meng Yao into her carriage. After bidding farewell to Lü Wenrong and the two others who had come to see them off, she instructed the coachman to depart, with Qin Bing riding alongside on horseback.

Qingyang settled into the side seat and comforted Meng Yao: "Father has already agreed to recall the Marquis to the capital. Perhaps with this good news, the Marchioness’s condition will improve. Don't be too sad."

This joyful news indeed sparked hope in Meng Yao, who looked at the young princess with gratitude. "Thank you, Your Highness."

Princess Yongkang, a year older than both girls combined, sat alone in the main seat. Observing the scene, her thoughts naturally differed from those of the younger girls.

Having spent many years outside the palace, Yongkang had interacted with numerous noblewomen. She had met Lady Xia, the Marchioness of Weiyuan, a few times—a woman of striking beauty, unafraid to laugh or express anger, a true "genuine spirit." As they were not of the same generation and Lady Xia did not actively flatter her, Yongkang and Lady Xia maintained only superficial courtesy, lacking any true friendship.

Given their lack of intimacy, Yongkang wasn't overly concerned about Lady Xia's illness. However, her second brother's embrace of Meng Yao had startled her. Could it be that her second brother had developed feelings for Meng Yao?

Though her younger brother had already been named Crown Prince, Yongkang remained vigilant as long as he hadn't ascended the throne, especially since their father frequently reprimanded him. The only threats to her brother's position were her other two brothers. The third brother was neither scholarly nor martial, yet he had a doting mother and a favored sister. The second brother, however, had mastered martial arts, enjoying internal support from the Noble Consort and external backing from the Left Chancellor. If he were to gain a border general as a father-in-law...

Yongkang gently touched Meng Yao’s reddened eyes and said softly, "Smile more. Otherwise, when the Marchioness sees you, she might think you’ve been wronged in the palace."

Meng Yao offered a cooperative smile.

Yongkang then lifted the curtain and beckoned Qin Bing closer. She cast a meaningful glance at Meng Yao and said, "You're seventeen already, yet you still don't know proper etiquette. How could you embrace Yao Yao in front of so many people? Apologize to her at once."

Lost in her sorrow at the time, Meng Yao hadn't considered this, but upon hearing the remark, she instinctively glared at Qin Bing, who often annoyed her.

Qin Bing felt even more wronged, retorting indignantly, "I was afraid she'd cry herself into a fit, so I didn't think twice. If she were fine, I wouldn't have hugged her even if she asked."

Meng Yao spat, "Bah! Who wants your hug? You reek of bird droppings! It’s disgusting!"

Before Qin Bing could retort, Qingyang swiftly lowered the curtain, shielding him from her second brother’s furious expression.

Seeing that the young boy and girl had no romantic interest in each other, Yongkang felt relieved.

Upon arriving at the Marquis of Weiyuan’s residence, Qingyang specifically instructed the steward not to disturb the Marchioness’s rest. She then followed Meng Yao inside with her eldest sister, while Qin Bing remained in the front courtyard, drinking tea.

When they reached the rear courtyard, the Marchioness, Lady Xia, had just received the news, but her daughter, who had rushed in, held her shoulders, preventing her from rising.

Amidst the pervasive scent of medicine, Qingyang finally beheld the ailing Marchioness. The once rosy and beautiful face she remembered was now pale and sallow, and her entire frame was emaciated.

Seeing the young princess staring at her in a daze, Lady Xia raised her sleeve to cover her face and said anxiously, "I am grateful for Your Highnesses’ kindness, but I have been bedridden for so long that I look dreadful. Please, Your Highness, take the young princess away quickly so as not to be frightened by my appearance."

Yongkang glanced at her sister.

Qingyang snapped out of her daze, walked to the bedside, and addressed Lady Xia, "Madam, you need not worry. I am not afraid of you. His Majesty heard of your illness and specifically sent my sister and me to visit. He also said he would issue an edict to summon the Marquis back to the capital. Please rest assured and focus on recovering while awaiting the Marquis’s return."

Tears streamed down Lady Xia’s face as she buried her head in the pillow, sobbing uncontrollably. Meng Yao cried while comforting her mother.

Yongkang led her sister away, bid farewell to the matron attending Lady Xia, and they took their leave. It was not appropriate to impose further on someone so grievously ill.

The eldest princess’s carriage had been following the young princess’s carriage. Once outside, Yongkang boarded her own carriage and returned to her residence.

Qingyang was escorted back to the inner palace by her second brother. She first went to greet her father, then headed to Xianfu Palace to see her mother.

Upon hearing about Lady Xia’s condition, Consort Li sighed, "Beauty often meets a tragic fate. Among the noblewomen in the capital, she and Su Ge'er’s mother were the most envied—their husbands were handsome, distinguished, and devoted only to them. Who would have thought the Marchioness would suffer from an incurable illness before even turning forty?"

Qingyang leaned against her mother’s shoulder, gazing silently at the distant window.

She now understood why these border generals left most of their families in the capital while serving alone elsewhere. It wasn’t that they were unwilling to bring them along, but the emperors used this method to prevent the generals from rebelling with their troops, as they would be concerned for their families’ safety.

Qingyang also knew that many generals took concubines once they were stationed away, so they might not necessarily miss their wives in the capital.

"Does the Marquis of Weiyuan have no concubines in Liaozhou?" Qingyang asked.

Consort Li replied, "Probably not. Otherwise, word would have spread by now."

Qingyang looked at her mother and whispered in her ear, "Then why do other officials take concubines?" Including her father.

Consort Li smiled and patted her daughter’s shoulder. "Look at the peach blossoms, crabapples, peonies, and herbaceous peonies in the garden—each is beautiful in its own way, so we enjoy admiring them all. Men view women similarly. As long as they have wealth and power to acquire more beauties, most men will do so. Only those truly devoted to the woman they love will avoid others."

Qingyang asked, "If a princess takes male consorts, it would hurt the Imperial Son-in-Law’s feelings. Why don’t men fear hurting their wives’ feelings by taking concubines?"

Consort Li replied, "Some men never loved their wives to begin with. Others may love them but find taking concubines so enjoyable that they prioritize their own happiness over their wives’ feelings."

The young princess pursed her lips.

Consort Li, not wanting her nine-year-old daughter to dwell on matters of men and women too early, changed the subject to the Zhang family: "The Duke of Wei is about to embark on a long journey. Allow Zhang Su to leave the palace tonight and return tomorrow morning with the Duke of Wei."

Qingyang nodded. "I’ll go tell him this afternoon."

.

On the afternoon of the second day, it was the young princess’s custom to stroll around the front court. After resting for half an hour, Qingyang boarded her palanquin and said, "To the Imperial Medical Bureau."

Jie Yu, who was following beside her, fell silent.

The Imperial Medical Bureau was vast, with courtyards for drying medicinal herbs, storage rooms for ingredients, offices for the imperial physicians, and young doctors still in training.

The medical studies at the bureau were divided into thirteen specialties, and the young doctors learned under the guidance of physicians from each specialty. Qingyang wandered around with only Jie Yu, listening to medical discussions from various fields. When she grew tired of standing, she sat down. As long as she did not disturb the physicians, they did not dare to expel the young princess, who was doted on by Emperor Xingwu.

As dusk approached, Qingyang took her palanquin to the martial arts hall.

Qin Ren and Zhang Su were nearly done with their martial arts lesson for the day. Thinking the young princess would not come, both had removed their outer robes and wore only thin white undershirts. The lazy Qin Ren was drenched in sweat, while Zhang Su’s undershirt clung tightly to his body, unintentionally outlining the lean muscles characteristic of a young man.

Qin Ren naturally had no appreciation for his study companion’s physique. Taking advantage of Mr. Wu’s reluctance to strike him, he sat cross-legged on the ground, panting. Zhang Su continued holding his horse stance for the final moments.

The soft, bright sunset light streamed in from the west. Zhang Su kept his eyes downcast to avoid the direct glare, so he only noticed the young princess’s approach when her familiar footsteps drew near. For the first time, without waiting for Mr. Wu’s command to stop, he hurried to a horizontal bar in the distance, retrieved his outer robe, and quickly put it on with his back turned to the young princess.

Qin Ren was too lazy to move, especially since it was his own sister. A glance wouldn’t hurt—he wasn’t exposing himself.

"Sister, why are you here?" Qin Ren licked his sun-dried lips and squinted up at her.

Qingyang replied, "I’ll wait until you’re done practicing."

Zhang Su, now properly dressed, returned and resumed his horse stance.

Qingyang looked at his slightly sun-reddened face, his straight nose, and then his finely shaped lips.

Zhang Su quickly glanced up and down. The young princess had watched him practice before, but her gaze seemed somewhat unusual this time.

Qin Ren also felt that his sister seemed to be scrutinizing Zhang Su and puzzledly looked back and forth between them.

Mr. Wu finally called for them to stop.

Qin Ren leaped to his feet and, together with Zhang Su, bowed respectfully to Mr. Wu.

Mr. Wu glared at him, then cupped his hands toward the young princess before turning to leave.

Qingyang asked her third brother to go put on his outer robe and told Jie Yu not to follow. She led Zhang Su alone to the northern martial viewing platform. Unwilling to take the long way around to use the stairs, Qingyang held out her arms and said, "Carry me up."

Zhang Su then lifted the little princess up under the arms.

Qingyang pointed at the layer of dust on the platform and said to Zhang Su, "It's too dirty. Spread your outer robe here; I want to sit and talk with you."

Zhang Su was silent for a moment, then turned around, took off his outer robe, and laid it out as instructed by the little princess before stepping back about five steps.

Qingyang sat down. When she looked up, she was at eye level with Zhang Su’s neck. For some reason, the sight of her second brother drenched in sweat grossed her out, but the way Zhang Su’s inner robe clung tightly to his chest was actually quite appealing—perhaps because she knew he was usually very clean?

Without overthinking it, Qingyang first brought up how the Duke of Wei was being sent to guard the border in Liaozhou because of her words: "Will you blame me?"

Zhang Su replied, "It is an honor for my father to serve His Majesty. I also thank Your Highness for the recommendation on his behalf."

Qingyang smiled. "I knew you weren’t that kind of person."

Though Zhang Su kept his eyes lowered, his height allowed him to see the little princess’s feet dangling and swaying playfully.

Then, he heard the little princess bring up something unexpected: "I’ve heard that for young men of noble families your age, elders often arrange bedmaids to attend to them. Do you have a bedmaid?"

She had overheard this from her mother. After her second brother moved into his own residence, the Noble Consort had sent two palace maids as bedmaids.

Last year, her second brother was sixteen, just a year older than Zhang Su was now.

Zhang Su’s ears turned slightly red. "The Zhang family has a rule that men must not be promiscuous, so our elders do not arrange bedmaids for the younger generation. Neither of my older brothers has one, nor do I."

Qingyang asked, "Then do you want one?"

Zhang Su shook his head.

The little princess nodded, satisfied, then warned him, "If you dare get a bedmaid, I’ll never speak to you again."

Jie Yu had advised her not to openly talk about wanting Zhang Su as her Imperial Son-in-law. Qingyang understood the risks, but in her heart, Zhang Su had always been her Imperial Son-in-law.

Zhang Su: "..."

Qingyang said, "Alright, help me down now."