Chapter 38

Chapter 38

The pleasure boat was ready. Besides an older eunuch to row, two younger eunuchs, both strong swimmers, were also on board in case the masters fell into the water.

The boatman stood at the stern, poling the boat forward, while the two young eunuchs waited on the same side. Inside the cabin, Jie Yu checked the various tools and the fruits and pastries sent by the imperial kitchens, occasionally glancing toward the bow. There, the little princess reclined comfortably on a felt mat that nearly covered the entire bow, while Zhang Su knelt upright an arm’s length away. The boat had traveled some distance, but the young man’s posture remained perfectly still, as if he hadn’t moved at all.

Qingyang loved lying like this and gazing at the sky, and she wanted her specially invited playmate to share in the enjoyment.

“What will it take for you to lie down?” Qingyang asked, her hands cushioning the back of her head as she looked at the straight-backed figure in front of her.

Zhang Su: “There is a distinction between nobility and commonality. This humble subject dare not.”

Qingyang: “Then do you like accompanying me on the lake? Or are you unwilling deep down?”

Zhang Su: “…This humble subject is more than willing to be here protecting Your Highness.”

Qingyang: “There’s no danger here. I don’t need your protection. Everyone else is still sleeping in, but I knew you’d be up early, so I called you to come keep me company.”

Zhang Su nodded toward the bow of the boat. As the little princess didn’t ask any more questions, he fell silent again.

Qingyang found him rather dull. After lying down for a while, she sat up and looked back to gauge the distance between the boat and the shore. She called out to the cabin, “Jie Yu, stop the boat.”

Once the boat was steady, Qingyang had Zhang Su help her bait the hook and cast the line. Zhang Su’s flaw was his taciturn nature, but no matter what Qingyang asked him to do, he obediently complied. He was both more obedient than Second Prince and more capable than Third Prince, which was why Qingyang very much enjoyed spending time with Zhang Su.

Zhang Su quickly cast the rod and handed the fishing rod to the little princess. This rod had a small hook, so there was no fear of a large fish pulling the princess in.

Qingyang glanced at the other fishing rod: “You fish too. Surely that’s alright?”

Zhang Su did not refuse this time.

The boatman was skilled at positioning the boat, ensuring the little princess at the bow sat with her back to the light. The lake water was clear, and in the distance, there were mountains, islands, embankments, and pavilions half-hidden among flowering trees. Fishing amid such scenery was far from tedious.

The tip of the rod dipped slightly. Qingyang’s eyes lit up. After waiting a moment to confirm a fish had taken the bait, she jerked the rod upward and reeled in a small silver fish the size of a palm. Zhang Su set down his own rod and moved to help, but Qingyang told him to stay put. She moved the rod back herself, bringing the little silver fish closer.

The fish didn’t struggle much as she reeled it in, but when Qingyang reached out to grab it, it suddenly thrashed wildly, splashing water onto both their faces.

Zhang Su swiftly caught the fish in his hand, then turned with concern to the little princess, who had covered her face with her sleeve.

As her sleeve fell away, it revealed the little princess’s sparkling, smiling dark eyes. Just as Zhang Su was about to look away, the little princess laughed even more delightedly and pointed at his face: “How did you get so splashed?”

Only then did Zhang Su casually wipe his face with his sleeve.

After placing the silver fish into the little princess’s wooden bucket, Zhang Su picked up his fishing rod again. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the little princess kneeling before the bucket, peering down at the fish and talking to it: “If I don’t catch a bigger one, I’ll use you to make fish soup for Father and Mother Consort.”

Zhang Su: “…”

As more fish were hooked from the lake, the little princess’s childish chatter also increased.

Zhang Su felt relieved. After Chancellor Yan’s harsh words yesterday, he had wondered if the little princess might feel wronged and become sullen.

.

They fished in the morning and rested indoors at noon. When it cooled down in the afternoon, Qingyang called Third Prince and Zhang Su to go horseback riding on the grasslands.

Third Prince, who had slept until lunchtime, was finally well-rested and in good spirits. However, he had little interest in horseback riding and preferred to walk beside Zhang Su, who was leading the horse for his sister, making idle conversation with her.

“Your Highness, we’re here!”

A sweet, young voice called from afar. Qingyang, seated high on her horse, turned to see Yuan Chongli’s sister, Yuan Jie, running happily toward them. Chancellor Yan’s granddaughter, Yan Zhenzhen, trailed a few steps behind, followed by their maids.

Qingyang had Zhang Su turn the horse around but showed no intention of dismounting.

Yuan Jie had been running the whole way and was flushed by the time she stopped before them. She smiled brightly, first looking at Third Prince.

Third Prince was already fourteen. Two years earlier, he had heard Yuan Chongli bragging to Second Prince about his experiences with a concubine in his household. Although Third Prince felt such matters shouldn’t be discussed openly, Yuan Chongli’s words had indeed enlightened him about relations between men and women. With Eldest Brother married and Second Prince betrothed, the adults had begun joking about his own marriage prospects. Mother Consort had even warned him that Yuan Jie might have feelings for him!

Third Prince enjoyed wedding banquets because those were days he didn’t have to wake up early to study, but he hadn’t yet considered marriage himself, and he had even less interest in marrying Yuan Chongli’s sister.

Third Prince winked at his sister and said with a smile, “Then you girls play together. Zhang Su and I will take our leave.”

Qingyang cooperatively dismounted.

Yuan Jie stopped Third Prince and suggested, “What can three people play? Let’s all five play hide-and-seek!”

Third Prince: “No, Second Prince is waiting for me up ahead. I’ll go find him.”

With that, Third Prince nimbly climbed onto his sister’s mount, spurred the horse, and rode off without looking back.

Zhang Su glanced toward the two horses—his and Third Prince’s—tethered to a tree about a dozen yards away.

Qingyang: “Go catch up with Third Brother. Keep an eye on him so he doesn’t fall.”

Zhang Su took his leave, riding one horse and leading the other as he chased after Third Prince.

Qingyang shot him a displeased look before turning her attention to Yuan Jie and Yan Zhenzhen. Yuan Jie was visibly disappointed by Third Prince’s departure, while Yan Zhenzhen, holding a few wildflowers she had picked along the way, asked, “So, shall we pick flowers or play hide-and-seek?”

Yuan Jie wasn’t interested in either and directly asked the little princess, “Third Prince runs away as soon as he sees me. Does he dislike me?”

Lv Wenrong had become Crown Princess, Meng Yao was set to be Second Prince’s consort, leaving only Third Prince—and he was so handsome. Yuan Jie didn’t want to miss her chance.

The little princess looked bewildered: “What did you do to offend Third Brother?”

Yan Zhenzhen, still holding her wildflowers, also looked over curiously.

Two nine-year-old girls, two pairs of clear, innocent eyes—Yuan Jie bit her lip, feeling she couldn’t get through to them, and decided to drop the subject.

Qingyang then went with Yan Zhenzhen to pick wildflowers.

When returning to the palace, Qingyang wanted to give the wildflowers to Mother Consort, but upon arriving, she found Father Emperor there as well.

“Mother Consort, are they pretty?” Qingyang leaned close to Mother Consort and held up the wildflowers she had carefully selected and arranged in different colors.

Consort Li smiled: “They’re very pretty. Are they for me?”

Qingyang nodded.

Emperor Xingwu, who had been leaning on the other side of the daybed and smiling as he watched the mother and daughter, suddenly said, “Why only give them to your mother consort? Doesn’t Father Emperor get any?”

Qingyang then separated a few flowers and brought them to Father Emperor.

Emperor Xingwu accepted them, pretended to sniff them, and asked, “Did Third Prince go picking with you?”

Qingyang shook her head and said she had picked them with Yan Zhenzhen.

Emperor Xingwu smiled and told Consort Li to find a vase for the flowers. He pulled his daughter to sit beside him and said quietly, “Chancellor Yan just scolded you harshly yesterday. Why are you still willing to play with his granddaughter?”

Qingyang, who had long forgotten the incident: “…It was Chancellor Yan who scolded me. Zhenzhen didn’t offend me, so why should I ignore her?”

Emperor Xingwu: “Then if you saw Chancellor Yan outside, would you still greet him?”

Qingyang: “Of course. He is Father Emperor’s chancellor and an elder. I cannot be impolite.”

Emperor Xingwu found it strange: "You're not angry with him? If Father had completely listened to him, your golden waistplate might have been taken away by now, and you might even have been given the cold shoulder for a while."

The little princess, imagining herself being given the cold shoulder, first glared at her father: "If Father neglects me just because someone speaks ill of me, then I'll neglect Father too."

After saying this, the little princess sat at the other end of the luohan bed (a traditional Chinese couch), leaning to one side.

Emperor Xingwu laughed and followed his daughter to her side. Father and daughter sat shoulder to shoulder: "Liner (affectionate name for the princess), don’t worry. Father will never neglect you in this lifetime."

How many years did he have left in this world? It was uncertain whether he would even live to see his youngest daughter marry.

Princess Qingyang heard her father’s sigh, looked up, and noticed the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. She hugged her father’s arm and leaned against him, saying, "Then I’ll take good care of Father too, for the rest of my life."

Emperor Xingwu patted his daughter’s head: "Liner, you were wronged yesterday, my dear."

Even if Yan Xizheng was acting to prevent future troubles for Great Qi, he shouldn’t have said those words in public. The warning he received was certainly clear enough, but what if the Crown Prince was narrow-minded? How would Liner handle herself in the future?

Qingyang: "I did feel a little wronged, but I know Chancellor Yan was thinking about state affairs and fulfilling his duties as chancellor, so I don’t blame him."

Emperor Xingwu tightened his arm around his daughter’s small shoulder. After a moment of silence, he smiled and praised, "They say a chancellor should have a stomach big enough to sail a ship. Though my Liner is only nine, her magnanimity rivals that of a chancellor."

The little princess wasn’t too pleased to hear this: "Why compare me to a chancellor? I am Father’s daughter, my status is nobler than a chancellor’s, and it’s only right that my generosity is greater than a chancellor’s."

Just then, Consort Li, who had found a suitable vase, approached and heard the Emperor laugh heartily again: "You’re right! They should look up to my Liner!"

.

The officials rested for three consecutive days. After that, it was time to process memorials and resume duties.

The little princess had almost forgotten the unpleasantness at Tingquan Hall, but reminded by her father, on the first day the officials returned to duty, Qingyang hung the imperial-gifted golden waistplate at her waist and boldly went to the small Zhongshu Sheng (the central administrative department) in the palace, heading straight for the two chancellors’ offices.

Qin Hong was also there. Seeing his sister in a pale yellow ruqun (a traditional Chinese dress), her fair face and dark eyes brightened his mood. However, with the two chancellors present and knowing his sister would likely leave after a short while, Qin Hong simply smiled at her and lowered his head to continue reviewing the documents in his hand.

Right Chancellor Dai Lun did the same.

Yan Xizheng shot an expressionless glance at the little princess and was about to look away when she unexpectedly walked over and stopped beside him.

Yan Xizheng immediately closed the memorial on his desk.

Qingyang: "I wasn’t trying to read it."

She then had a palace attendant bring in a chair and placed it to the left of Yan Xizheng’s desk, close enough for her to see his face but far enough to ensure she couldn’t read the words on the memorial.

Yan Xizheng: "What is the meaning of this, Your Highness?"

Qingyang: "Chancellor Yan is afraid I’ll interfere with state affairs or forge connections with important officials, so I’ll stay obediently by Chancellor Yan’s side and let him supervise me personally."

Yan Xizheng: "...If Your Highness would remain peacefully in the inner palace and not set foot in the outer court, why would I need to worry?"

Qingyang: "But I come to the outer court to admire the grace and presence of the Founding Meritorious Officials, especially Chancellor Yan. If I miss a day, I miss a chance to see you. I can’t bear it. Well then, Chancellor Yan, please continue. Don’t let me delay state affairs."

Yan Xizheng: "..."

All that talk about her exceptional intelligence and perseverance—this was clearly a nine-year-old child deliberately getting back at him!