Chapter 47

Chapter 47

As night fell, the army set up camp.

Inside the third prince's carriage, Qin Ren rubbed his lower back, sore from the long journey, and asked his sister in a commiserating tone, "Are you regretting it now?"

The little princess could tell her third brother genuinely didn’t want to be on this military campaign, and it annoyed her. She had wanted to join the army but needed her imperial father to concoct an excuse, even requiring her to feign naughtiness and beg for his permission with tears. Her third brother, on the other hand, simply qualified to join the campaign by virtue of being a prince. In the eyes of the ministers, it was perfectly reasonable for the emperor to bring him along. He faced no trouble whatsoever, yet he still had the audacity to complain!

Qin Ren, who was often glared at by his father, suddenly sensed a familiar fierceness in his sister’s eyes. Remembering how she had also started criticizing his laziness over the past two years, he quickly added, "I’m not complaining about the hardship! Even though I usually like to be indolent, Father’s campaign against the Marquis of Pingliang is a matter of national importance. I’ve been worried about it all along. I’m just afraid that you, being so young, might not be able to endure the rigors of traveling by carriage."

Qingyang couldn’t be bothered with her third brother’s disingenuous remarks. Adjusting the men's robe she wore for ease of movement, she stepped out of the carriage before him.

Zhang Su was already standing outside. When he saw the little princess emerge, concern showed in his eyes.

Qingyang smiled, offering her hand for Zhang Su to help her down while looking at him and asking, "Why aren’t you avoiding me this time?"

This was the first time he had voluntarily met her gaze since she accidentally saw him changing clothes.

Zhang Su lowered his eyes without reply. As soon as the little princess was steady on her feet, he immediately let go of her hand.

Before them stood the tents for the emperor and his children. Emperor Xingwu’s imperial tent stood in the center, with three smaller tents set up behind it in a row from left to right. The crown prince took the left tent, the little princess the middle, while Qin Bing and Qin Ren shared the right tent.

Emperor Xingwu was making rounds of the tents of his four children, accompanied by Qin Hong and Qin Bing. As Qingyang and her third brother approached, they heard the second prince complaining, "Father, please have someone set up another tent for me. Both the crown prince and little sister have their own tents. I don’t want to share with third brother."

Qin Ren: "..."

Emperor Xingwu snorted, "Do you think this is a sightseeing trip? I brought you on this campaign to harden you. Letting you share a tent is already generous enough. Say one more word, and from now on, you and third brother will sleep in a twenty-man soldier’s tent, where you’ll eat, drink, and attend to needs alongside them."

The crown prince had official responsibilities to attend to, so a separate tent made it convenient for him to handle military affairs and receive officials. As for his daughter, of course, she needed her own tent.

After saying this, Emperor Xingwu turned to the third prince, "Are you willing to squeeze in with your second brother?"

Qin Ren offered an appeasing smile, "Willing. With second brother protecting me, I’ll sleep more soundly."

Emperor Xingwu: "..."

"Go inside and get yourselves settled. Come to my tent for dinner in two quarters of an hour."

After their father left, Qin Hong asked his sister with concern, "Are you managing alright on the journey?"

Qingyang smiled, "I’m fine. It’s all carriage rides, just like when we went to the Western Gardens."

Qin Bing leaned in curiously, "How did you manage to hide in the carriage?"

Qingyang replied, "I’m not telling you. Well, you all go about your business. I’m going to check on the Marchioness of Pingliang."

Qin Bing jested, "Father asked you to comfort them, and you’re really taking it upon yourself as if you’re some minor official?"

Qingyang put on an air of pride, "Father said that if I comfort them well and they persuade the Marquis of Pingliang to surrender, he’ll award me the chief merit."

Eager to earn this merit, the little princess hurried off. Qin Ren, worried, decided to follow. Since he was going, Zhang Su, who was responsible for protecting the third prince during the day, naturally had to accompany them as well.

Still uneasy, Qin Hong arranged for two elite guards to escort them.

Qin Bing thought of Yuan Chongli, but the emperor’s decree before bringing the Yuan family along on the campaign had already made it clear. Yuan Chongli should understand that he bore the responsibility of persuading the Marquis of Pingliang to surrender. There was no need for Qin Bing to say more. Besides, Yuan Chongli was an eighteen-year-old trained in martial arts who hardly needed Qin Bing’s concern about the hardships of travel.

The Yuan family was divided into two tents. The Marchioness of Pingliang stayed in one with her daughter, consorts, and two maidservants, while Yuan Chongli shared another with his younger half-brothers.

When the little princess arrived, the women burst into tears. Some pleaded the Marquis of Pingliang’s innocence, others begged for the emperor’s mercy, and a few even tried to kneel before the little princess, pulling at her and pleading desperately until the personal guards drew their swords and warned them back.

At the sight of the unsheathed weapons, the women immediately assumed proper kneeling positions.

Only then did Qingyang convey her father’s message, explaining the reasoning clearly. She then asked the Marchioness if there were any inconveniences during the journey or if anything was lacking in the tent, promising to fulfill any requests the marchioness might have.

The Marchioness of Pingliang was indeed uncomfortable. Having lived in luxury for nine years, she was unaccustomed to being confined to a carriage like a prisoner. But with her entire family’s lives hanging in the balance, she had no mind to dwell on comforts. She dared not make any unreasonable demands of the little princess or Emperor Xingwu. Instead, Yuan Jie, with tears in her eyes, gazed pitifully at the little princess and the third prince, hoping they would intercede for the Yuan family based on their past friendship.

Qin Ren had already averted his gaze. Qingyang gave Yuan Jie a package of pastries and left after completing this official visit.

On the way back, Qin Ren was no longer as carefree as before. He sighed, "I hope the Marquis of Pingliang sees the error of his ways. Perhaps Father will spare his life then."

He had no particular feelings for Yuan Jie, but having known her since childhood, he couldn’t bear to see her suffer because of her father’s rebellion.

Qingyang glanced at her third brother. In the deepening twilight, his handsome face appeared to radiate a faint, almost divine light.

She then turned to look at Zhang Su. His features, usually as cold as jade, strict and proper, now carried a keen, formidable intensity in the military camp.

She asked him, "Do you think the Marquis of Pingliang will surrender without a fight?"

Zhang Su replied, "For a general, defying an imperial decree is rebellion—a path of no return."

No emperor could tolerate a general with rebellious intentions, and generals understood this better than anyone. Thus, any general who rebelled would never surrender willingly.

.

The little princess, having "completed her duty," was escorted by He Yuanjing to Emperor Xingwu’s large tent. A basin of clean water was prepared there, and He Yuanjing moistened a towel to attend to her. The guards who had returned to the palace to report Consort Li of her safety would bring Jie Yu and Qin Fang along. Riding at full speed, they would likely catch up with the army in a little over half an hour.

"Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch He," the little princess said politely.

He Yuanjing smiled, "It is this humble servant’s honor to attend to Your Highness."

Emperor Xingwu sat in the seat of honor, smiling as he studied his daughter’s male attire. As she put down the towel, her small, fair face was revealed—her features resembling Consort Li’s, with naturally red lips. Even in male clothing, she couldn’t pass for a boy. But while Consort Li’s eyes were soft and delicate, his daughter’s gaze grew increasingly authoritative and natural.

After washing her face and hands, the little princess sat beside her father.

Emperor Xingwu said to her, "Although I’ve brought you along, aside from giving you your own tent, I won’t offer any special treatment. I eat the same simple meals as the soldiers, and you all will do the same. If I go days without bathing, you and your brothers will not waste water freely. During rapid marches, when I endure the hardships on horseback, you in the carriage must not complain of hardship."

Qingyang said, "If Father can endure hardship, so can I."

The soldiers who followed her father to secure the empire had endured such conditions, as had generations of soldiers recorded in history books. Qingyang wanted to join the campaign precisely to experience the path the soldiers trod, to see how generals managed and led their troops, and to observe how her father commanded forces to suppress rebels. As long as she witnessed it, she would remember it firmly. Then, if the opportunity ever arose for her to lead troops in service to her father or eldest brother, she would be capable.

Though young, Qingyang understood that some things could be learned from books and teachers, but leading troops in battle had to be learned on the battlefield.

Qingyang wasn’t necessarily competing with her royal brothers—what they could learn, she would learn too. She simply wanted to learn, enjoyed learning, much like how her mother practiced dance. Even if no one appreciated it, her mother would smile with particular joy and satisfaction whenever she completed a dance flawlessly.

Father and daughter chatted for a while before Qin Hong and his two brothers arrived.

He Yuanjing and his attendants set up four low dining tables, one for each of the four siblings.

Dinner was served: each had a bowl of rough rice gruel mixed with vegetables and a large coarse flatbread bigger than the little princess’s face.

Qin Hong maintained his composure, while Qin Bing and Qin Ren stared wide-eyed.

Emperor Xingwu, noticing his daughter’s stunned expression, said, "Used to palace food, are you all dumbfounded by this? But let me tell you, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in our dynasty eat this during campaigns. When I was your age, Lin'er, I couldn’t even get porridge and flatbreads like these. At my poorest, catching a rat would make me happy for days."

"Going hungry is bitter. To avoid a lifetime of hardship, I found ways to study and practice martial arts because I knew that only by mastering skills could I secure a livelihood. Now that I possess the empire, I want you to taste some hardship so you understand the suffering of soldiers and the common people. That way, you will remember to be a crown prince, prince, or princess who cherishes the military and the people—not like those extravagant royals who brought ruin to their nations of previous dynasties."

Qin Hong led the response, "Father’s instruction is righteous. We will engrave them in our hearts."

Qingyang nodded along with her second and third brothers.

Emperor Xingwu said, "Good. Eat now. If you can’t finish, leave it, but don’t expect anyone to serve you if you go hungry in the middle of the night."

Qingyang took a bite of the flatbread first. It was dry and a bit salty. Even though she had chewed it thoroughly, swallowing it still felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Then she scooped a spoonful of porridge. The porridge didn’t taste good either.

But Qingyang still slowly ate half of the flatbread and drank half a bowl of porridge, stopping only when she was 80% full.

Being young, this amount was enough for her. Surprisingly, her third brother Qin Ren beside her also left half of his portion. Qingyang thought about reminding her third brother to eat more, but seeing his pale face and that he looked like he might throw up, she silently averted her gaze.

Qin Bing finished the remaining half of his sister’s flatbread. Emperor Xingwu instructed Qin Ren to take his remaining portion back with him to eat if he got hungry in the middle of the night.

Qin Ren thought to himself that he would never get hungry.

After the meal, Emperor Xingwu took his four children for a walk outside the tent, asking them about what they’d learned on today’s march along the way.

Qin Hong had been worried about one thing: "Father, the Marquis of Pingliang commands a hundred thousand border troops. You’ve only brought a hundred thousand capital troops, and it’s a long march to get there. Won’t that be risky?"

Emperor Xingwu looked at his second son.

Qin Bing smiled and said, "Brother, don’t just focus on the numbers. Look at the generals on both sides. On our side, we have Father, Fan Zhong, Deng Chong, Meng Ji, and Lv Zan—five renowned top commanders—plus seven or eight other notable generals like Cao Guang. In Liangzhou, aside from Yuan Zhaoxiong, there are at most two or three others on par with Cao Guang. Their morale doesn’t even come close to ours. With low morale, they are bound to lose."

Qin Hong said, "Even if the Marquis of Pingliang is not a concern, there are still the West Hu iron cavalry beyond the frontier. Once news of Your Majesty’s personal campaign against the Marquis of Pingliang spreads, I fear the West Hu might seize the opportunity to attack."

Qin Bing replied, "Why worry? We have the Great Wall’s fortified passes. Yuan Zhaoxiong can hold them off, and after some rest, our capital troops can defend just as well."

Emperor Xingwu then turned to his third son.

Qin Ren forced a smile and said, "I don’t know the first thing about defense, but I trust you, Father. Since you dared to bring us all along, you certainly won’t let us face any danger."

Emperor Xingwu said nothing.