Chapter 74

Chapter 74

The older one gets, the more indifferent they become to partings by death, especially for busy individuals like Emperor Xingwu, Yan Xizheng, or Yang Zhimin.

After Emperor Xingwu commanded the Ministry of Rites to arrange a grand funeral for Lü Guangzu, befitting a prince, his old friends, apart from the Lü family, quickly resumed their normal lives.

However, Yan Xizheng had noticed the little princess behaving unusually lately. This was evident on March 15th, a day when she should have been using her new waist pass to explore the government offices outside the palace. Instead, she had borrowed another waist pass from the Emperor, granting her free movement within the palace, and came to the Central Secretariat to find him. Just like when she was nine and deliberately caused mischief, she sat by his desk. This time, she wasn't staring at him but was engrossed in a book, only glancing his way when she paused to rest.

She had visited once on the eighth of March, and now again today...

Considering that on her visit on the eighth, her eyes had suddenly reddened while looking at him, and this time, the adoration and reluctance in her dark eyes were unmistakable, the fifty-nine-year-old Left Chancellor said with complex emotions, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I have been eating and sleeping well lately, and my health is perfectly fine."

Though he couldn't say for sure when his time would come, at least he had no premonition of his impending demise.

Her thoughts exposed, Qingyang averted her gaze and, addressing the book in her hands, said, "I know. I just suddenly missed the Left Chancellor, and since I had a free afternoon, I came to sit by your side."

Yan Xizheng didn't wish for the little princess to come, yet he couldn't bring himself to forcefully send away a little princess so worried about his potential death. Shaking his head, he stood up and said, "Your Highness, read at your leisure. I will take a walk outside."

As one ages, no matter how sharp the mind, the body cannot endure prolonged sitting.

Qingyang put down her book and followed him. "I'll accompany the Left Chancellor for a chat."

Yan Xizheng did not object.

Walking together, they couldn’t help but converse. Yan Xizheng asked with concern, "How has His Majesty been eating and sleeping lately?"

Although he saw the Emperor almost daily, as a minister, he couldn’t casually inquire about such matters. The Emperor’s appearance alone didn’t reveal much.

Qingyang: "According to He Yuanjing, Father Emperor has almost fully recovered."

Yan Xizheng let out a long sigh. "How time flies. When people are young, they never think about what it will be like to grow old. But when they truly age, they often recall things from their youth."

Qingyang: "Although I’m not old, I also think about my childhood. I remember the Duke of Chengguo always smiled very kindly whenever he saw me, while the Left Chancellor always glared at me."

Yan Xizheng: "...I simply do not smile often. I meant no disrespect to Your Highness."

Qingyang: "That doesn't matter to me. Unless the Left Chancellor treats me better from now on, I’ll only remember you glaring at me."

Yan Xizheng didn’t want to argue with the little princess about this but was somewhat curious. "Since I always glare at Your Highness, why do you still come to see me?"

Qingyang glanced at the elder who seemed to shrink a little every year and murmured, "It’s not you I’m looking at. I’m looking at Great Qi's first Left Chancellor."

Yan Xizheng smiled and slightly lowered his head to look back at her.

Qingyang: "...What are you looking at?"

Yan Xizheng: "I am also getting a good look at the first princess born in the Great Qi imperial palace."

The little princess also laughed.

.

On April 2nd, after celebrating his younger sister’s eleventh birthday, the third prince, Qin Ren, began preparing to leave the palace.

His princely residence had been completed last summer, located in Shanhe District south of the imperial palace. From the rear garden wall, one could look north and see the imperial city. It was the same size as Yongkang’s princess residence and Qin Bing’s prince’s residence, and the construction costs were similar.

Everything in the prince’s residence was new. Qin Ren only needed to move his clothes, shoes, socks, books, and treasured items. These matters were handled by palace attendants, so he continued studying at Chongwen Pavilion and training at the martial arts hall without worrying about anything.

Consort Li also had little to worry about, though she was reluctant to see him go. Even if she found this son not ambitious enough, he was still the child she carried for ten months, and his handsome features were very pleasing.

The Noble Consort was more thoughtful. She had previously asked the palace matrons to train four comely palace maids and personally sent them to Consort Li’s Xianfu Palace, explaining, "Although the brothers behave properly in the palace, once they leave, who knows what mischief they might get into? Rather than letting them cause trouble on their own, it’s better for us, as their mothers, to arrange attendants for their chambers. These four have already been taught the rules. Later, have Ren pick two he fancies."

Today’s princes are future princes, and in the eyes of any palace maid or servant girl, they are quite the catch. By satisfying their curiosity and impulses toward women early, we can prevent them from being led astray by improper maids.

Consort Li understood—these were concubines the Noble Consort was sending for her son.

Her father was only a minor local County Magistrate, and both her legitimate and half-brothers had concubines serving them by the age of fifteen or sixteen. It was only natural for the princes to have them as well.

Consort Li thanked the Noble Consort and, that evening, sent someone to summon her son, specifically instructing the messenger to wait inside Chengming Palace and avoid her daughter.

Qin Ren came alone.

Consort Li first explained the situation to her son and then prepared to have the four selected concubine candidates brought in.

Qin Ren finally snapped back to attention and urgently said, "Mother, wait!"

Consort Li looked at her son in confusion.

Qin Ren waited for the shock to subside before whispering to his mother, "Mother, I don’t want concubines."

Consort Li: "Why not?" What man wouldn't want women?

Qin Ren was very uncomfortable discussing this with his mother. He rubbed his cheek and tilted his head, saying, "I can’t bear it. Eventually, I will marry, and once I have a wife, I will treat her well and won’t have these women serve me anymore. Sooner or later, I’ll have to send them away. So why bother... In any case, I don’t want them."

He couldn’t bring himself to do it, especially after seeing how Yuan Chongli treated his concubines as mere playthings. Qin Ren didn’t want to become that kind of person.

Hearing her son’s words, Consort Li suddenly thought of herself and her own mother.

Both were concubines. She was fortunate to have encountered an emperor. Although Emperor Xingwu was much older than her, he was a great hero and treated her very well. Her mother, however, had a bitter fate—bullied by the main wife above and pushed aside by her father’s newer favorites below. She remained depressed all year round and passed away at a young age.

Therefore, Consort Li could both understand why noblemen’s sons took concubines and appreciate her son’s kindness.

"Alright, if you don’t want them, you don’t have to. With Fu An and Fu Gui here to take care of you, I am quite reassured."

After resolving the matter of the concubines, Consort Li silently observed her son. As she looked, she walked over and hugged her son where he sat. "How can you be sixteen already? I can’t bear to see you leave the palace."

Qin Ren could tell his mother was crying. He wanted to cry too, but he couldn’t. His second brother’s life outside the palace was too comfortable, and he had long been looking forward to days when he could sleep late every day!

.

Compared to his mother, who had the Noble Consort and his father for company, Qin Ren was more reluctant to part with his younger sister.

In late April, during the last martial arts class at the martial arts hall, Qin Ren brought Zhang Su to sit beside his sister during a break.

Qingyang only looked at the two shadows on the ground.

In the beginning, the eldest brother, second brother, third brother, Qin Liang, Yuan Chongli, and Zhang Su were all here, making everything lively. Later, the eldest brother and Qin Liang left, then the second brother and Yuan Chongli left. Now, the third brother and Zhang Su were also leaving. The next time she came to the martial arts hall, she would be the only one left.

Qin Ren could see his sister was unhappy and smiled as he ruffled her hair. "It’s alright. If you miss me, you can come stay at my place anytime, for as long as you want. Just let Father Emperor know and have the tutors come to my residence to teach you. Then the three of us can be together just like in the palace."

Qingyang had considered it, but outside the palace were her third brother and Zhang Su, while inside were her father and mother. She still preferred to spend more time with her parents.

Actually, it would be best if the whole family lived in the palace, but princes had to leave once they grew up—a rule passed down through dynasties.

"No, I’ll just visit on days off."

Qin Ren: "As you wish. In any case, the palace is your home, and my place is also your home. Come whenever you like."

Qingyang rested her head on her third brother’s shoulder. As she did, her gaze naturally shifted to Zhang Su’s face, who was standing beside them.

Zhang Su avoided meeting the little princess’s gaze.

Qingyang said unhappily, "You won’t even spare me a few more glances before leaving. You’re not going to miss me at all, are you?"

Zhang Su shouldn't say "think of" to a princess, yet he couldn't let the little princess misunderstand, so he simply shook his head.

Qingyang: "Think whatever you want. If I go to Third Brother's residence on my rest day and don't see you, I'll refuse to see you again."

While they were all in the palace, she could simply notify Zhang Su when inviting Third Brother out. But from now on, she would have to go to Third Brother's residence on her rest day to find him. If Zhang Su was there, they could continue going out together; if Zhang Su forgot, Qingyang couldn't send someone to the Duke of Wei's residence to have him summoned.

Zhang Su looked at the Third Prince.

Qin Ren didn't dare intervene. Supporting his sister would make him seem heartless for not letting Zhang Su rest, while supporting Zhang Su would earn him a glare from his sister.

Zhang Su didn't expect the Third Prince to help; he was more afraid the Third Prince would misunderstand. Seeing the Third Prince lower his head, he said to the little princess, "On my rest day, I will also go to pay my respects to the Third Prince early in the morning. If Your Highness does not need my company, I will return to my residence."

Qingyang: "Alright. But if there's inclement weather such as strong winds or rain, or if something comes up at home and you can't make it, you needn't feel obliged."

Zhang Su nodded.

Qin Ren understood. If the weather was bad, his sister wouldn't leave the palace, and he certainly would be disinclined to venture out either, so Zhang Su wouldn't need to come. As for the latter situation, neither he nor his sister would pressure Zhang Su.

It was time to resume martial arts training, but Mr. Wu, seeing the three of them gathered together, discreetly held his peace.

The crimson sun dipped toward the western hills, and dusk arrived once again.

Zhang Su was to leave the palace that evening. After lunch, he had brought his belongings directly to the training hall, so he could leave straight from there.

There was no need to bid farewell to the Third Prince, as he would still go to the prince's residence tomorrow to serve as a study companion. Instead, Zhang Su turned to the little princess standing beside the Third Prince, cupped his hands in salute, and said, "I am leaving the palace. Please take care, Your Highness."

Qingyang was reluctant to let him go, more so than even when her Second Brother had left the palace. Without thinking, she stepped forward to hug Zhang Su, but as soon as she took a step, Zhang Su retreated three steps, as if he had guessed her intention!

Qingyang: "...What are you avoiding? Stand still and don't move."

Zhang Su: "..."

He didn't dare to disobey the little princess's command and stood rigidly, waiting.

The little princess walked over with a stern face and brought her foot down hard on his instep. When Zhang Su looked at her in surprise, she glared at him and called for Third Brother to leave with her.

Qin Ren smiled apologetically at Zhang Su and hurried after his sister.

Zhang Su glanced at the new layer of dust on his shoe, then looked at the siblings ahead. Once they had put enough distance between them, he followed at a discreet distance until they reached the end of the palace path. The siblings turned north, and he turned south.