Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Emperor Xingwu, accompanied by the Crown Prince, various generals, and a retinue of civil officials from Liangzhou, embarked on an inspection tour. Their itinerary included examining the state of the Great Wall near Wuwei and observing the common folk in the villages and towns along their route. They inquired about recent harvests and any grievances the people might harbor. As for the indignities the little princess had suffered, Fan Zhong, who had deliberately lagged a few steps behind, had already discreetly informed Emperor Xingwu before they even departed the city.

Feigning ignorance, Emperor Xingwu returned to the commander’s headquarters by dusk. After dismissing all civil and military officials, he dispatched a messenger to summon his daughter.

Upon Princess Qingyang’s arrival, she observed He Yuanjing carrying out a basin of somewhat murky water. Her father, divested of his outer robe and clad only in white silk undergarments, reclined on a couch in the adjoining chamber. His hair, damp at the temples, and his face betrayed a profound weariness.

Having endured an hour of jolting on horseback with Fan Zhong, Princess Qingyang no longer found continuous riding a pure delight. With a pang of concern, she asked, "Will Father be going out again tomorrow?"

Emperor Xingwu gestured for his daughter to sit on the edge of the couch and smiled. "Tomorrow morning, we’ll inspect the iron mine in Chang County, about a hundred *li* (approx. 50 km) from Wuwei. We’ll rest after we return."

Princess Qingyang inquired with curiosity, "Why an iron mine? Isn’t there a gold mine in Liangzhou? The one Yuan Zhaoxiong embezzled from by underreporting its output?"

Emperor Xingwu explained, "That’s the Shazhou Mountain gold mine, some four hundred *li* from Wuwei. The round trip is too arduous, and I lack the time to inspect it myself. I’ll simply have someone interrogate the mine supervisor and thoroughly investigate its official and hidden accounts. Moreover, while gold and silver are valuable, iron ore is far more crucial to the court. Only with an ample supply of iron can we forge sufficient weapons and tools for industry, agriculture, and commerce. My inspection of the iron mine is to ascertain the completeness of its defensive works and to ensure the supervisor isn't withholding food or wages from the miners."

It sounded like a matter of great importance. Princess Qingyang immediately declared, "I shall accompany Father."

Emperor Xingwu gently ruffled his daughter’s hair and brought up the morning’s incident. "Deng Kun offended you. Why did you not report him to Deng Chong directly?"

The little princess huffed, looking at her father. "If I had truly named Deng Kun, Deng Chong would surely have feigned outrage. Then, Father, you would have appeased him, saying we are but children and minor squabbles are inevitable. Ultimately, it would have appeared as though I was making a mountain out of a molehill. I refuse to be treated as a mere child by Your Majesty and the esteemed generals."

Emperor Xingwu mused, "...What if Father had championed you?"

Without a flicker of doubt, the little princess immediately adopted a look of disdain, as if her father were once again trying to deceive her. "How could Father have championed me? By charging Deng Kun with the grave offense of disrespecting imperial princes and princesses, thereby alienating Deng Chong? Setting aside Deng Chong’s long-standing friendship with Father and his foundational contributions to the dynasty, his recent great service in the campaign against the Hu tribes alone would compel Father to show him leniency."

What if her father was the emperor? Even an emperor relied on civil and military officials to govern the realm. An emperor had to carefully balance benevolence and authority towards his subjects. Excessive favor would breed disrespect, while excessive severity would appear tyrannical. Subjects would either become too fearful to offer counsel or harbor resentment, secretly plotting the emperor's downfall.

Her father was kind to her, but Princess Qingyang could not exploit that kindness to create difficulties for him. She was a princess, and some matters she could resolve herself.

Emperor Xingwu gazed at his daughter’s animated expression and listened to her well-reasoned words, feeling the day’s fatigue simply melt away.

"My good daughter, a hundred times more accomplished than your third brother!"

He did indeed need to show consideration to Deng Chong and his other former comrades-in-arms, now meritorious officials, especially someone like Deng Chong, who was widely known for his blunt and unbridled speech. To quibble over minor matters would make him, as emperor, appear narrow-minded. Yet, his imperial children ought to embody the dignity of dragons and phoenixes, not allowing themselves to be bullied by the offspring of nobles or even civil and military officials.

He could tolerate meritorious officials, but he could also keep them in check. The Crown Prince and the third prince had merely shown respect and courtesy to these officials, and this deference had become ingrained. Who would fear them in the future?

As the faces of his two unpromising sons surfaced in his mind, Emperor Xingwu suddenly felt utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.

Deng Chong, having just seen the emperor off from the commander’s headquarters, was in high spirits. The emperor had temporarily granted them several residences formerly belonging to Yuan Zhaoxiong’s faction for the generals to stay in. Now that his duty of accompanying the emperor was concluded, he could return home, relax his muscles, enjoy some wine and meat, and perhaps select a couple of beautiful maids for amusement.

"The Duke has returned," a servant stepped forward to take his horse, speaking deferentially.

Deng Chong grunted in acknowledgment and asked as he dismounted, "Where is the heir?"

The servant’s expression subtly shifted, and he lowered his head. "The heir returned this morning and hasn’t left since."

Deng Chong found this peculiar. He had two sons, both inheriting his temperament. When had they ever been willing to stay quietly at home?

Deng Chong sent for his son.

The three slaps Deng Kun had inflicted upon himself caused no pain; it was his pride that smarted. By now, every merchant and commoner on that street likely knew of his punishment by Princess Qingyang. Soon, the entire city and the accompanying soldiers would also hear the tale.

Deng Kun had never endured such humiliation in his life.

What Deng Chong saw was a son consumed by humiliation, with no outlet for his anger. He frowned and asked, "Why this demeanor?"

Deng Kun sat down below his father and, with a mix of anger and suppressed frustration, recounted the entire incident.

Deng Chong: "..."

To be frank, Deng Chong completely empathized with his son, for he too found Generals Zhang Jie and Meng Ji disagreeable, especially Zhang Jie. A surrendered general from the previous dynasty, how could he be granted the same ducal title as himself and Lü Shubo? In the nine years since the emperor’s ascension, Meng Ji had been stationed far away in Liaozhou, returning to the capital only once every three years; seeing him less often made him less irksome. But Zhang Jie was almost constantly in his presence, making him feel like a clod of dirt in comparison.

Deng Chong knew he was coarse, but that was simply his nature. Coarse as he might be, he had earned his ducal title through his own merits. As a Duke, it was only right that officials and commoners respect him, rather than him having to alter his forty-plus years of habits due to their idle chatter. Deng Chong had no intention of changing, and Zhang Jie, lauded by the emperor and officials as the epitome of a scholarly general, became a thorn in his side.

"You were not wrong. The Zhang family is full of effeminate pretty boys. I would say as much to His Majesty’s face," Deng Chong first affirmed his son.

Deng Kun puffed out his chest.

The next moment, Deng Chong frowned and admonished his son, "But you should not have mocked Zhang Su in front of the third prince and the little princess, especially that girl Qingyang. She even dares to scold Prince Yong and talk back to Yan Xizheng. Even I might not gain the upper hand against her. You practically offered yourself up for her to humiliate."

Deng Kun: "...I didn’t expect her to intervene. The third prince didn’t even utter a sound."

Deng Chong: "Can they be compared? The third prince merely sees Zhang Su as a study companion. Qingyang is a girl, and little girls are fond of pretty boys like Zhang Su and his kind. The more they like them, the more fiercely they protect them. You, remember this lesson, and do not provoke her again in the future."

Deng Kun touched his own face, then considered the faces of the three Zhang brothers, and finally looked at his rugged-faced father in the main seat.

Deng Chong: "...Let’s go."

Deng Kun: "Where?"

Deng Chong: "Earlier, the little princess returned in a rage. I didn’t know it was you who had offended her, and I vowed to thrash the culprit. His Majesty and Meng Ji, among others, all heard it. If I don’t beat you simply because you are my son, what will His Majesty and the others think of me?"

Deng Kun: "..."

A quarter of an hour later, Deng Chong and his son knelt outside the commander’s headquarters, requesting an audience with the emperor.

Emperor Xingwu was already dining with his four children. When the guard at the door announced the visitors, Emperor Xingwu, the Crown Prince, and Qin Ren all looked towards the little princess. Only Qin Bing, who had slept indoors all day, appeared bewildered, while the little princess continued to eat as if nothing untoward had occurred.

Emperor Xingwu instructed the guard to admit them. Having spoken, he continued to serve himself food. Qin Hong and Qin Ren, observing this, followed suit and resumed eating.

Qin Bing: "..."

Shortly thereafter, Deng Chong strode into the courtyard, dragging his son by the collar, his hands bound. Before the father and son could even approach the doorway, Qin Hong rose to his feet.

Qin Bing, still utterly bewildered, stared blankly at the whip marks on Deng Kun’s body, forgetting to move. Qin Ren was about to follow his elder brother’s lead when his sister suddenly kicked him under the table. Meeting her piercing glare, Qin Ren settled back into his seat.

Deng Chong’s gaze was fixed solely on Emperor Xingwu in the main seat. He dragged his son forward and knelt with a thud outside the main hall, saying shamefacedly, "Your Majesty, I only learned upon returning home that this scoundrel had offended the third prince and the princess. I was so enraged I could have died. A single beating was insufficient to quell my fury. After much deliberation, I decided to bring him here, to be personally punished by Your Majesty. As for myself, I have failed in raising my son, and I implore Your Majesty to mete out punishment!"

Emperor Xingwu glanced at Deng Kun, whose sleeves were torn, revealing bloody whip marks on his arms. He set down his chopsticks and rebuked, "Nonsense! I already stated that no one is to pursue this matter further. A verbal reprimand would have sufficed for Kun. Why beat him? Guards, untie Deng Kun and summon the imperial physician."

The guards waiting outside immediately stepped forward and, disregarding the protests of Deng Chong and his son, untied the ropes binding Deng Kun.

Deng Kun knelt prostrate on the ground, kowtowing. "Your Majesty, I am guilty. I do not deserve treatment from the imperial physician. Please punish me instead!"

Just as Deng Chong was about to speak, Emperor Xingwu slammed the table and glared at him. "Have you two eaten so much you have nothing better to do? I am still hungry. Get out of here at once and return home and stay there!"

Deng Chong: "But this unfilial son—"

Emperor Xingwu: "Escort them out!"

The guards then led the Deng father and son away, and the main hall returned to its quietude.

Emperor Xingwu observed that the Crown Prince was still standing and said coldly, "What? Did you wish to personally see the Duke of Ding off?"

Qin Hong detected the sarcasm in his father’s tone and lowered his head as he sat back down, no longer daring to look in the emperor’s direction.

Qin Bing: "...What exactly is going on?"

Emperor Xingwu bade the third prince explain.

Qin Ren stammered out the story.

Upon hearing Deng Kun’s questioning of Zhang Su’s military merits, Qin Bing’s anger flared. Had Zhang Su not protected him so swiftly that night, he might have already perished beneath the nomads’ broadswords. He had personally witnessed every heroic feat of Zhang Su as he continued to slay enemies. Deng Kun’s words were nothing short of a grave insult to a military man like Zhang Su.

"Someone insulted Zhang Su right to his face, and you still waited for your sister to champion him?" Qin Bing scornfully rebuked his brother.

Qin Ren hung his head in shame.

With reddened eyes, Qin Bing declared, "If anyone dares insult my study companion to my face, I’ll punch them until their teeth scatter across the floor!"

With that, he shoved his bowl and chopsticks aside and stormed out of the room.

Emperor Xingwu, who had not insulted the second prince’s study companion but had personally ordered his execution: "..."

The second prince’s spirit is commendable, but is his head merely for decoration?

The little princess, who had remained silent throughout, placed a piece of meat in each of their bowls for her father, her eldest brother, and her third brother in turn: “Alright, let’s eat first. The matter is concluded.”

Neither Qin Hong nor Qin Ren dared to pick up their chopsticks first.

Emperor Xingwu asked his two sons coldly, "The final passage on dignity from the thirty-first year of Duke Xiang in the *Zuo Zhuan*—can you still recite it?"

Qin Ren lowered his head even further, while Qin Hong’s forehead beaded with sweat. He had read the *Zuo Zhuan* when he was twelve or thirteen, but after such a long time, he could not recall it on the spot.

Emperor Xingwu said, "Go back and memorize it. Come see His Majesty tomorrow morning once you have committed it thoroughly to memory."

The two brothers shamefully withdrew.

Emperor Xingwu looked at his daughter. Qingyang smiled and softly recited the line her father most wished to hear: "A ruler possesses the dignity of a ruler. If his ministers fear and love him, emulate and follow him, then he can maintain his state, and his good name will endure for generations."