Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Her sister’s tone and gaze were so open and honest that Qin Ren couldn't help but wonder if he was overthinking things. To be safe, he pressed on, "You pick sixteen new imperial guards every month. Do you really remember all their names each time?"

Qingyang: "Of course."

She was young, and Jie Yu lacked martial skill. Every time they left the palace, they might face danger or be assigned temporary tasks. If Qingyang couldn't even remember the names of these guards, how could she call upon them at critical moments? Just by shouting "you, you, you"?

Qin Ren fell silent.

Qingyang retorted, "Do you, Third Brother, recognize all thirty-six members of your personal guard?"

Qin Ren: "...I hardly ever use them. I only know the captain."

Qingyang: "...If Third Brother only treats them as ordinary guards, they will only see you as an ordinary master. They will protect you out of duty, but they may not be willing to offer their wholehearted loyalty."

Take Fan Zhong, for example. He not only revered the Emperor’s power but was also deeply grateful for the Emperor’s patronage. This gratitude was a purely personal bond between them. So, while Fan Zhong’s duty was merely to guard the imperial city, if he overheard someone whispering ill of the Emperor when off duty—even if it was trivial—he would sternly reprimand them instead of walking away to avoid trouble.

Personal guards were precisely that—personal. Third Brother’s safety on future outings would depend entirely on these thirty-six men. How could he be so negligent?

Qin Ren understood his sister’s meaning and promised, "I’ll make sure to get to know all of them as soon as I return. Don’t worry, sister!"

Qingyang wasn't reassured and advised him, "You must treat them well, but not too well. Only by balancing kindness and authority can you truly win their loyalty."

Qin Ren nodded repeatedly.

It was the first month of the New Year, so Qingyang didn’t lecture him further.

The carriage soon turned into Shanhe Ward, south of the imperial city. Lunar New Year’s Day was a time for relatives and friends to exchange greetings. Through the curtain gap, Qingyang saw children frolicking in new clothes, all dressed like they came from affluent families. Then again, it made sense—those who lived in the wards near the imperial city were either rich or noble, or at least from once-prominent families.

Qingyang asked her brother if he had made any friends among the officials' sons over the past six months. As a prince, he was bound to have scions of official and noble families trying to curry favor with him, just as Second Brother’s circle of "brothers" had grown increasingly large after he left the palace.

Qin Ren mentioned a few to his sister.

At first, Second Brother had enthusiastically introduced him to some young nobles from military families who enjoyed horseback riding and hunting. But since Qin Ren wasn’t particularly athletic, active, or fond of drinking, he endured two such gatherings before refusing to go out with Second Brother again. Instead, he gradually grew closer to a few young scholars from literati-official families in the same neighborhood. They often gathered for refined activities like appreciating paintings, playing chess, and listening to music.

Qingyang: "That’s fine, but be careful, Third Brother. Don’t discuss court affairs with them, and never casually agree to help them with matters related to officialdom."

Qin Ren smiled. "Don’t worry about that, sister. Though I’m lazy, I know right from wrong. I would never make promises recklessly."

The siblings chatted idly as the carriage came to a smooth stop in front of Qin Ren’s Third Prince’s manor.

Out of habit, Qin Ren let his sister step out first. In the past, Zhang Su was always waiting outside, so Qin Ren never needed to assist her.

Fu An opened the carriage door from outside, and Qingyang stepped out directly. As she emerged, she glanced forward casually and was surprised to see Zhang Su standing by the gate of her brother’s residence. He was wearing an ochre-red, round-collared brocade robe embroidered with cloud patterns, his handsome features and tall, straight posture resembling a pine tree.

Qingyang exclaimed delightedly, "What are you doing here?"

Zhang Su lowered his gaze and cupped his hands. "It’s the first day of the year. This humble official has come on my mother’s orders to pay New Year’s respects to the Third Prince."

Qingyang smiled, placing her right hand in Jie Yu’s palm as she stepped down from the carriage using the footstool. She then said to Zhang Su, "The Duchess is too kind. Given your relationship with Third Brother, there’s no need to be so formal."

Zhang Su: "The Third Prince has looked out for me for many years. This is the respect I owe."

Qingyang didn’t press the matter further and watched as her brother got out of the carriage.

Qin Ren asked Zhang Su, "How long have you been waiting? Why didn’t you go inside?"

Zhang Su: "I knew Your Highness would have lunch at the palace before returning. I’ve only just arrived."

Qin Ren couldn’t stand his overly humble language and scolded him, "Didn’t we agree? Outside the palace, we can address each other casually. If you slip up again, I’ll give you a hard time."

Zhang Su glanced at the hem of the little princess’s skirt.

Qin Ren then asked his sister, "Are you going out this afternoon?"

Qingyang: "I’ll settle in today and go exploring tomorrow."

Since they weren’t going out, Qin Ren was about to tell Zhang Su to go home and spend the holiday with his family. But before he could finish, his sister interrupted, "Since you’re already here, stay and keep Third Brother and me company for a while."

Zhang Su nodded.

Qingyang then instructed the steward of her brother’s residence to take her sixteen imperial guards to the guards' quarters to settle in. These sixteen were not from the capital and were originally scheduled to be on duty during the first month, so Qingyang felt no guilt about summoning them.

After giving her instructions, Qingyang walked side by side with her brother into the residence. Zhang Su followed three steps behind, though before stepping forward, his peripheral gaze once again fell upon one of the imperial guards the princess had brought along.

.

Jie Yu took Fu Liu and Lian Zhou to tidy up the courtyard where the little princess would be staying. Qin Ren led his sister and Zhang Su to the eastern warming room near his bedchambers.

Fu An lifted the thick silk-padded cotton curtain, and as Qingyang stepped inside, she saw a row of staggered flower stands by the window, filled with narcissus, orchids, begonia, chrysanthemums—all famous varieties specially cultivated in hothouses. There were even several potted peonies in full bloom, filling the heated chamber with the fragrance of flowers.

Qingyang: "...I had no idea Third Brother loved flowers so much."

Qin Ren looked pleased. "Yes, I’ve always loved the flowers at Imperial Noble Consort’s and Consort’s places, but I didn’t dare grow any myself. I was afraid Second Brother and the others would make fun of me, and that Father would scold me for neglecting my duties."

That’s why he had been looking forward to having his own residence—a prince’s estate where he could grow as many flowers as he wanted.

Qingyang turned to Zhang Su: "Do you usually do your studies here?"

Zhang Su: "...We still do our studies in the library. The Third Prince only comes here to admire the flowers in his leisure time."

Qin Ren: "I’d prefer to be here, but Zhang Su won’t allow it. He insists I go to the library."

Qingyang shook her head and went to admire the flowers, especially the peonies in full bloom.

After looking at the flowers, Fu An brought tea and snacks. It had been a while since Qingyang played chess with Zhang Su, so she asked Fu An to bring the chessboard.

Qin Ren voluntarily gave up the seat next to his sister to Zhang Su and stood behind her to watch the game.

As she arranged the chess pieces, Qingyang’s eyes wandered over Zhang Su’s attire, and she smiled. "Dressed so festively—was this prepared by the Duchess as your New Year’s outfit?"

Zhang Su nodded toward the chessboard. Wearing red robes on the first day of the new year was a rule his mother had set for him and his brothers—non-negotiable.

Qin Ren, having eaten and drunk his fill at the palace, grew drowsy after watching for a while. He kept glancing through the moon gate connecting the side room to the main hall, toward the heated kang inside.

Noticing this, Qingyang told her brother to go rest.

Qin Ren, of course, didn’t stand on ceremony with his sister and Zhang Su. He happily went inside to lie down.

Zhang Su kept his eyes lowered as he finished the chess game with the little princess. Once it was over, he stood up and said, "Your Highness should also rest now. This humble official will take his leave."

He could ask to leave, but he needed the little princess’s permission to withdraw.

However, the little princess in his view merely played idly with a white chess piece, showing no intention of granting him leave.

Zhang Su had no choice but to look at the little princess’s face.

Qingyang had been waiting for him. Seeing him glance and immediately look away, she smiled and said, "Sit down. When to rest is for me to decide."

Zhang Su: "..."

He obediently sat back down, continuing to keep the little princess company during their chess game.

Qingyang stared at him and said, "You didn’t come just to pay New Year’s greetings. You heard from Third Brother that I would be staying here for a few days, and you were afraid I’d be upset if I didn’t see you when I arrived. Right?"

Zhang Su maintained his composure and replied, "I truly came to pay my respects to Third Prince."

Qingyang pressed, "If it were just for New Year’s greetings, you could have come before Third Brother left for the palace."

Zhang Su explained, "Third Prince likes to sleep late. Arriving too early would only disturb him."

Qingyang challenged, "Would you dare to say that while looking me in the eye?"

The person across from her did not raise his gaze, silently placing another piece instead.

Qingyang snorted, "From now on, you can make whatever excuses you want in front of others, but when it’s just the two of us, no excuses."

Zhang Su remained silent.

Qingyang continued, "Actually, you didn’t need to come. I’m not that unreasonable—I wouldn’t have made you come out during the New Year celebrations."

Zhang Su thought of the sixteen guards the little princess had brought and asked quietly, "Then, for Your Highnesses' outing tomorrow, will my presence still be required?"

Qingyang tilted her head to look into his eyes. "Do you have family to entertain tomorrow?"

Zhang Su shook his head. Though the little princess’s face had entered his field of vision, as long as he did not deliberately look, her features remained blurred—at most, like a white peony by the window, glowing with soft, delicate light.

Qingyang asked, "Then, do you want to accompany us? Yes or no—pick one. No lying, and no extra words."

Zhang Su: "..."

He glanced toward the other side of the room, where a famous calligraphy and painting hung on the wall—Third Prince truly was a man of refined tastes. Then, just as the little princess let out a dissatisfied hum, he said, "I am at the complete disposal of both Your Highnesses."

This was his way of standing firm despite pressure. Qingyang gritted her teeth and said, "Consider yourself lucky to have met a princess as good-tempered as I am. If you were this disobedient with a hot-tempered princess, she would have already used her whip on you."

Zhang Su turned his attention back to the chessboard. "Thank you for Your Highness’s mercy."

After they finished the second game, Qingyang finally allowed him to leave. Just as Zhang Su was about to lift the curtain to exit, she added, "Come at exactly ten o'clock. No need to arrive early."

Since he was free, they might as well stroll together.

Zhang Su turned around, bowed properly, and said, "Understood."