Chapter 59

Chapter 59

On the second day of their stay in Datong, while Qingyang accompanied her imperial father and two elder brothers to observe military exercises at the camp, Qin Ren, her third brother, slept the entire day under his covers. By evening, when the siblings reunited, Qin Ren’s fever had subsided.

On the third day, Qingyang joined her imperial father and two elder brothers on an incognito visit to the villages and towns surrounding Datong. Qin Ren, still suffering from a persistent runny nose, remained in bed. When Qingyang returned that evening, she noticed her third brother’s nose was chafed red. After Qin Ren blew his nose three times in quick succession, the little princess, barely concealing her disgust, walked away.

Emperor Xingwu still doted on this son. The imperial entourage extended their stay in Datong by an extra day. When they finally set off, Qin Ren, no longer sneezing or coughing but still with a slightly hoarse voice, naturally took his place in the imperial carriage. Qingyang sometimes rode in her own carriage, sometimes with her father, and occasionally wished to keep her third brother company. However, Emperor Xingwu forbade it, fearing his daughter might contract the illness from Qin Ren.

The journey proceeded with intermittent stops. By early winter, the army finally reached the ultimate destination of this border inspection tour: Jizhou City, a crucial northern stronghold in Jizhou Province. As Emperor Xingwu intended to return to the capital before the New Year, they would not proceed further to Liaozhou this time. Instead, he summoned Liaozhou Commander Zhang Jie and Governor Feng Yingke to Jizhou for an audience.

Still some distance from Jizhou, Qingyang lifted the carriage curtain and looked towards Zhang Su, who was riding a few paces away.

Zhang Su immediately urged his horse closer to the carriage.

Qingyang asked, "You’re about to see your father and elder brother. Are you eagerly anticipating it?"

The Duke of Wei, Zhang Jie, had departed for Liaozhou in April, while his heir, Zhang Jian, had been assigned by the emperor three years prior to train with the border garrison in Jizhou.

Zhang Su avoided the little princess’s smiling eyes and replied, "Somewhat."

He did miss his father and brother, but not to the extent of being overly eager.

Qingyang enjoyed observing Zhang Su. The more reserved and composed he was, the more she wished to see expressions different from his usual demeanor. This time, however, she was disappointed again. It seemed he genuinely showed no anticipation for the long-awaited reunion with his father and brother.

Curious, Qingyang asked, "Have you ever laughed heartily or cried bitterly?"

Zhang Su pondered for a moment, then nodded.

Qingyang pressed, "When?"

Zhang Su replied, "...The year I first entered the palace as the Third Prince’s study companion, I was overcome with emotion when leaving home. The first time I left the palace to see my mother, I also laughed for a long time."

Qingyang said, "...You were only six years old then. That doesn’t count."

Zhang Su said, "There hasn’t been anything like that since." His father had always led by example, teaching him and his two brothers to restrain their emotions, remain steadfast, and conduct themselves with dignity.

Qingyang thought of Zhang Jian and Zhang Heng. She had attended both of their wedding banquets, and only on those two occasions did she see smiles consistently on their faces.

Zhang Su noticed the little princess, who had seemed somewhat displeased moments earlier, suddenly break into a bright smile while tilting her head to study him.

Uncertain what she was laughing about, Zhang Su lowered his gaze and waited.

A cool sensation touched his face. Before Zhang Su could react, the little princess exclaimed in surprise, "It’s snowing?"

Zhang Su looked up and indeed saw scattered snowflakes drifting down from the sky.

When the imperial carriage arrived outside Jizhou City, Jizhou Commander Guo Yanqing, Governor Sun Jian, along with the previously arrived Liaozhou Commander Zhang Jie and Governor Feng Yingke, had already been waiting with local officials for some time. The light, falling snow had dusted their official hats and robes with a faint whiteness.

Though it was snowing, there was no wind. Emperor Xingwu stepped out of the carriage to receive the officials. Qingyang deliberately had Zhang Su help her dismount and then led him forward.

By then, all civil and military officials had risen to their feet. Qingyang first spotted Zhang Jian standing at the edge of the group. Zhang Jian nodded slightly to the little princess from afar, then glanced at his younger brother and smiled faintly as a greeting. When Qingyang took her place beside her third brother, she finally saw the Duke of Wei, Zhang Jie. Zhang Jie was listening respectfully to the emperor’s words and did not once glance in their direction.

The officials then bowed to the little princess, who had appeared last.

Qingyang smiled and told them to rise. Having already observed the Zhang father and son, she turned her attention to Guo Yanqing, Sun Jian, and Feng Yingke. Though far from the capital, these three were key court ministers directly responsible for the civil administration and border defense of their respective provinces.

Jizhou Commander Guo Yanqing was in his early fifties, a dark-skinned, resolute-faced general who had been a border defense commander even in the previous dynasty. When Emperor Xingwu’s rebel army approached the capital, the previous emperor had ordered Guo Yanqing to send troops for rescue. However, East Hu cavalry was lurking menacingly at the border at the time. Seeing the dynasty on the verge of collapse, Guo Yanqing gritted his teeth, defied the order, and kept his troops in place to guard the border.

After Emperor Xingwu ascended the throne, he sent officials to Jizhou to persuade Guo Yanqing to surrender, promising to let him remain as Jizhou Commander if he pledged loyalty to the new emperor and Great Qi. Guo Yanqing surrendered readily and had since cooperated fully with the court’s policies. He never missed his triennial reports to the capital, making him a loyal and capable general in Emperor Xingwu’s eyes.

As for Governors Sun Jian and Feng Yingke, both were capable officials promoted by Emperor Xingwu based on their past administrative achievements.

After the emperor and officials exchanged greetings, they proceeded into the city to settle down.

That noon, Emperor Xingwu hosted a banquet at the official post station.

Qingyang sat beside her third brother as usual and noticed that Deng Chong across the table was rather disrespectful toward Zhang Jie and Guo Yanqing. Throughout the banquet, he was scolded multiple times by the emperor. In contrast, Lü Zan, the heir of the Duke of Cheng who also came from a common background, remained humble and sincere, able to drink with Deng Chong without joining him in ostracizing Zhang Jie and others.

After the banquet, Qingyang followed her third brother back to their courtyard residence. After freshening up, she learned from Jie Yu that Zhang Su and his two brothers had gone with Zhang Jie. Qingyang felt genuinely happy for Zhang Su.

Elsewhere, Deng Kun supported his drunken father, staggering toward their quarters. Qin Liang, seeing this, stepped in to help from the other side. Although he was the heir of Prince Yong, Deng Chong was his maternal uncle, and it was only natural for a nephew to care for his uncle.

Once inside the main hall, they seated Deng Chong in a chair and sent someone to fetch sobering tea.

The intoxicated Deng Chong looked at the two young men beside him, pointed at Qin Liang, and said, "This drinking session was so unsatisfying. I’d rather drink with your father. Among all those people, your father and I get along best!"

Back in the day, he and the emperor were as close as brothers, while Prince Yong, eight years their junior, was nothing but a clueless kid in their eyes. Later, when the emperor launched his uprising and captured more territories, capable individuals flocked to his side. The emperor’s words and actions gradually changed, and he often berated Deng Chong. In contrast, Prince Yong remained the same as he was in their hometown, which suited Deng Chong’s temperament better.

Qin Liang signaled his attendant to keep watch outside and advised his uncle, "Keep your voice down. If word gets out, people might gossip to the emperor, saying you’re unhappy about drinking with him."

Deng Chong retorted, "It’s not about the emperor. I just don’t like Zhang Jie and his lot! So-called famous generals of the previous dynasty—if they were so capable, why couldn’t they help the previous emperor keep his throne?"

After grumbling and cursing for a while at the table, Deng Chong fell asleep before the sobering tea arrived.

Qin Liang helped Deng Kun carry him to the bed inside.

Exhausted and sweating, they finally received the sobering tea and sat in the main hall to drink.

Deng Kun glanced toward the inner room and asked Qin Liang, "I really can’t figure out the emperor’s intentions. In terms of military achievements, my father, uncle, Old Master Lü, and Uncle Lü have contributed more than Zhang Jie and the others. Guo Yanqing didn’t help the emperor at all. In terms of personal ties, my father, uncle, and the others are the old friends and relatives who have been with the emperor from the beginning. By all accounts, the emperor should trust them more. So why did he assign all these key regional commander positions to outsiders? Isn’t he afraid another Yuan Zhaoxiong might emerge?"

Qin Liang simply sipped his tea.

Deng Kun continued, "Oh, I see. The emperor values the capital army more. If border troops rebel, he at least has time to react. But if the capital army rebels, they could directly storm the palace. So the emperor prefers to entrust the capital army to his trusted old comrades."

Qin Liang set down his tea bowl, glanced at Deng Kun a few times, and said, "There’s some truth to that, but guess what—historically, have there been more rebellious generals or more rebellious princes?"

Deng Kun, who disliked studying, was stumped.

Qin Liang whispered, "The answer is princes."

Deng Kun asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Qin Liang explained, "Because generals are subjects. Their rebellions often lack legitimate justification and instead earn them infamy as traitors. Although princes are also subjects, they share the royal bloodline. If the emperor makes political missteps, princes can raise armies under the pretext of ‘cleansing the court,’ and both commoners and officials are more likely to support those of royal blood."

Deng Kun blinked, suddenly feeling a chill. "Are you saying the emperor didn’t appoint uncle as a regional commander because he’s afraid uncle might rebel one day?"

Qin Liang nodded.

Deng Kun asked, "What about my father…?"

Qin Liang smiled, pointing at Deng Kun and then himself. "I call your father uncle, and you call my father uncle. Our families are already tied together on the same rope."

Deng Kun wanted to believe but found it hard to accept. He tried to refute Qin Liang’s theory. "What about Old Master Lü? Does the emperor suspect him too?"

Qin Liang shook his head. "Old Master Lü doesn’t have many years left. Lü Zan is good at leading charges but lacks strategic insight. He’s only suited to command the capital army."

Deng Kun was stunned.

Qin Liang stood up. "It’s getting late. I should go back and rest too."

Deng Kun stopped him: "No, you have to make this clear to me. If it's really as you say, that the Emperor is suspecting our two families of rebellion, then wouldn't that mean he could make a move against us at any time?"

Qin Liang laughed: "Guarding against it is one thing, but as long as we don’t rebel, what reason would the Emperor have to punish us? I’m saying this to remind you and Uncle to watch your words and actions from now on, and not to risk displeasing the Emperor over petty arguments. By the way, keep this between you and Uncle—don’t let it spread. Otherwise, the good days for both our families will be over."

Patting Deng Kun on the shoulder, Qin Liang stepped around him and left.

.

In another courtyard, the Zhang father and son, who together had drunk less than Deng Chong alone, were fully sober, exchanging brief updates about their recent situations.

Zhang Heng spoke about matters in the capital, while Zhang Su listened.

Not a single wasted word, not a single joke—even warmth seemed faint.

Snow gradually gathered in the courtyard. The heir, Zhang Jian, asked with a hint of emotion: "Earlier, the Emperor had Father acting as Liaozhou General. Now that Marquis Meng has taken over as Liangzhou General, will Father have to be stationed there long-term?"

If it were long-term, his mother in the capital would miss Father terribly.

His wife’s face flashed through his mind, but Zhang Jie replied calmly: "If the Emperor orders me to guard it, then I will guard it. There’s nothing more to say."

Although Yuan Zhaoxiong had already been executed, the morale of the Liangzhou army remained unstable. It required a commander like Meng Ji to steady the troops and intimidate the once-wavering Liangzhou officers and officials. As for the Eastern Hu, their king, in the prime of his life, was ambitious, and his intention to move south had grown increasingly evident in recent years. The Emperor trusted him, so he would give his all to border defense, believing his wife would understand.

His gaze swept over his three sons one by one. Zhang Jie said: "Return now, and fulfill your duties."

Generals commanding troops are easily suspected by emperors, but as long as a general remains dutiful, selfless, and above reproach before his sovereign, then there is nothing more to worry about.