Chapter 92

Chapter 92

Since a victory banquet had been held on the fourth day of the New Year, Emperor Xingwu did not host another banquet for his officials during this year's Dragon Boat Festival. Instead, only the royal family gathered to celebrate the occasion.

Prince Yong's family came to the palace as usual, but Qingyang noticed that her uncle seemed somewhat dejected, while her aunt, Deng Shi, wore a forced smile.

This was only natural. The Emperor and Deng Chong were sworn brothers, as were Prince Yong and Deng Chong. Having just witnessed Deng Chong's aged appearance, how could the two of them recover so quickly? As for Deng Shi, it went without saying—Deng Chong was her own elder brother. Both his health and his resignation from office were a blow to the Deng family.

After the banquet, Prince Yong’s family immediately took their leave and departed from the palace. Yong Kang wished to spend time with her younger brother, so the couple took their children to Chongyuan Palace. The Noble Consort, who doted on her one-year-old granddaughter Ying’er, brought Qin Bing’s family of three to Changchun Palace. Consort Li, following suit, was about to invite her own third son and daughter to her Xianfu Palace for a visit.

However, a single glance from Emperor Xingwu made Consort Li swallow the words she was about to utter.

Was he to be left all alone after everyone else had gone?

Noticing the subtle tension between her father and mother, Qingyang smiled and said, "Then Father and Mother should rest. Third Brother and I will take our leave first."

Emperor Xingwu said, "No hurry. Stay with me for a while."

The siblings sat side by side on his right. Emperor Xingwu gestured to another main seat nearby for Consort Li and asked Qin Ren, "Have you sent the festival gifts to the Yan residence?"

Qin Ren replied, "Yes, yes, I have."

Emperor Xingwu snorted, "At least you still understand some human relations. You’ll be crowned and enfeoffed as a prince this month. Where would you like to serve?"

The Crown Prince, as heir apparent, was best suited for the Secretariat. The second son, skilled in martial arts, was assigned clerical work in the Ministry of War to temper his disposition. Lin’er could go anywhere. But for this third son, Emperor Xingwu had to inquire about his preferences first to avoid misplacing him. If Qin Ren shirked his duties and caused delays, the Emperor would be angry if he didn’t punish him, but if he punished him too harshly, both Consort Li and his daughter would be distressed.

Qin Ren glanced at his father and whispered, "Your son is not as studious as Elder Brother or Younger Sister, and my martial arts are nowhere near Second Brother’s. I fear I will disappoint Father’s earnest efforts no matter where I go... Ah, Father, don’t strike me! Let me think, let me think!"

Halfway through his son’s words, Emperor Xingwu suddenly rose from his seat and moved towards him, startling Qin Ren so much that he quickly hid behind his sister.

Qingyang promptly moved to her mother’s side, squeezing onto the same chair with her now anxious mother, content to simply watch the scene unfold.

Emperor Xingwu seized his third son, who had no desire to work, and pressed him face-down onto the table, gritting his teeth as he said, "Think quickly! I’ll release you only when you’ve made up your mind! You good-for-nothing! Although your uncle disliked studying when he was young, he was skilled in martial arts and earned many merits following me in battles across the land. You are the only one in the entire Qin family who is about to marry yet remains utterly lazy!"

The emperor, who had founded the empire through military prowess, was still full of vigor even at fifty-five. His large hand gripped his son’s shoulder, squeezing until Qin Ren winced in pain.

Watching her third brother’s handsome face contort in pain, Qingyang said casually, "I am in the Ministry of Personnel, Second Brother is in the Ministry of War. Among the Six Ministries, there remains the Ministry of Revenue, which manages land and finances; the Ministry of Rites, which handles ceremonies and imperial examinations; the Ministry of Justice, which deals with punishments and reviews; and the Ministry of Works, which oversees engineering and public projects..."

Qin Ren blurted out, "The Ministry of Rites! Father, I wish to go to the Ministry of Rites!"

Emperor Xingwu continued to press him down. "You are fortunate to have been born a prince. Otherwise, what right would you have to pick and choose among the Six Ministries, which scholars across the land fight tooth and nail to enter? I think you shouldn’t go to the Ministry of Rites either. Go to the Northern Camp and serve as a foot soldier under your uncle. A month of training will surely cure your laziness!"

Qin Ren was on the verge of tears and looked pleadingly at his sister.

Only then did Qingyang speak up. "Father, Third Brother’s calligraphy is quite good. Going to the Ministry of Rites would allow him to showcase some of his talents. If he goes to the Northern Camp, a prince who cannot even keep up with the morning runs—while his own embarrassment might not matter, what if it damages Father’s prestige?"

Consort Li nodded unconsciously.

Emperor Xingwu gave his son’s shoulder another hard squeeze. "Fine, then go to the Ministry of Rites. Every month, I will personally review your performance. If you dare neglect your duties, I’ll send you to the Censorate!"

The thunderous face of Nie Ao, who had once rebuked his sister, flashed before Qin Ren’s eyes, and he quickly promised to perform his duties diligently.

Emperor Xingwu finally released him and allowed both siblings to leave.

Qin Ren followed his sister towards Jiuhua Palace, rubbing his shoulder as he walked. Looking miserable, he said, "I just don’t want to work, but if Father truly assigns me a post, I certainly won’t neglect it. Was it necessary for Father to resort to physical warning? He almost crushed my bones."

Qingyang replied, "That’s good. It means Father’s health remains robust, and he has plenty of strength."

Qin Ren: "..."

Qingyang naturally still cared about her third brother. Upon returning to the palace, she had Jie Yu fetch some bruise-healing ointment and then sent Jie Yu to the side room to help Third Brother apply it.

After a few cries of "ouch," Qin Ren emerged reeking of medicine and asked his sister, "We still have a day off tomorrow. Do you want to leave the palace? Should I invite Zhang Su?"

Qingyang asked, "Why would I need to invite him if I’m leaving the palace?"

Qin Ren was caught off guard for a moment before realizing, "Ah, right. It’s not like when we were children anymore. You and Zhang Su are at an age where you should be mindful of appearances. Still, being mindful of appearances is one thing, but given the bond we’ve built growing up together, and after not seeing him for over two years, do you truly not miss Zhang Su at all? He didn’t forget your birthday gift this year. Let me think—he sent the peacock before he left for the campaign last year. With such intricate carving, even if he worked on it bit by bit each day, it must have taken him at least three to five months. He probably started working on it right after your fourteenth birthday. When it comes to meaningful gifts, even I, your own brother, can’t compare to Zhang Su."

Qingyang said, "Hearing you say that, Third Brother, it seems we really should host a welcome party for him. But let’s not do it tomorrow. Let him spend time with his family first. You can host a banquet for him on the tenth, his day off."

Qin Ren agreed, "Alright, I’ll send him an invitation on the ninth. Will you come to my residence on your own, or should I pick you up outside the palace gate?"

Qingyang replied, "I’ll go on my own. I’ll probably arrive around noon."

.

On the morning of the tenth, Qingyang practiced swordplay for two quarters of an hour after waking up, then had breakfast. After eating, she read for half an hour and practiced calligraphy for another half hour. By then, it was only mid-morning, and she estimated her third brother had just gotten out of bed.

Qingyang brought Jie Yu to Xianfu Palace to chat with her mother for a while before heading to Qianyuan Palace to ask her father for a pass to leave the palace. She straightforwardly explained that Third Brother was hosting Zhang Su that day and had invited her to join them.

Emperor Xingwu took out the pass he had prepared earlier and teased his daughter, "You’re only coming now? I thought I had finally lost track of what’s on Lin’er’s mind."

Qingyang replied, "...Father, since you miss Deng Chong, you must understand how Third Brother and I feel about Zhang Su."

Emperor Xingwu laughed. "Understanding is one thing, but Lin’er is a grown woman now, and Zhang Su has reached the age for marriage discussions. If you have no feelings for him beyond childhood companionship, I’ll give Duke of Wei a hint to let them arrange Zhang Su’s marriage as they see fit, without having to save their good son for my Lin’er."

Surprised, Qingyang asked, "Has Father spoken to Duke of Wei about this?"

Emperor Xingwu said, "Not directly, but when I arranged the marriage for your third brother, I toasted him. Over the past two years, they haven’t rushed to find a wife for Zhang Su, so they probably understood my meaning."

Qingyang was genuinely curious. "Aren’t you afraid I might have no interest in Zhang Su?"

Emperor Xingwu replied, "What is there to fear? Waiting another year or two is nothing. I’d rather have the Zhang family wait than miss the chance to secure a good imperial son-in-law for Lin’er first."

Touched by how well her father treated her and how thoroughly he considered everything for her, Qingyang looked at the pass in her hand and smiled. "I am interested in him, but becoming my imperial son-in-law is no easy task. I should first ask him if he’s willing."

Liking someone was one thing, but she would never force anyone.

In her eyes, the twenty-one-year-old Zhang Su was no different from the seventeen- or eighteen-year-old Zhang Su, or even the eleven- or twelve-year-old Zhang Su—only his height and appearance had changed. But from Zhang Su’s perspective, the eleven- or twelve-year-old princess who enjoyed reading and exploring inside and outside the palace was quite different from the fifteen-year-old princess who had truly entered court and participated in governance.

Qingyang would not want an imperial son-in-law who only liked her appearance and talents but expected her to devote herself entirely to being a wife and mother.

.

Third Prince’s Residence.

Qin Ren showed by his actions that his sister in the palace had underestimated him. Today, he was hosting a good brother he hadn’t seen in over two years. How could he possibly sleep until mid-morning? Qin Ren had already gotten up just after dawn, finished breakfast, and was walking around the courtyard to digest his food when he heard that Zhang Su had arrived. Delighted, Qin Ren went out to welcome him. He knew it—Zhang Su missed him too, which was why he had arrived earlier than the time agreed upon in the invitation!

While the sun wasn't too hot yet, Qin Ren first took Zhang Su to tour the garden. In early summer, the various famous flowers and trees he had personally selected and transplanted were at their most beautiful. As Qin Ren accompanied his buddy admiring the subtle changes in the garden, he reminisced about their past garden excursions, inquired about Zhang Su’s life in Yunzhou, and asked about his experiences on the battlefield.

Zhang Su answered concisely.

Qin Ren also expressed concern about Deng Chong’s illness. Upon learning that Deng Chong had struggled for half a month with alternating fever and chills, almost didn't make it several times, and that many more soldiers had directly succumbed to the alternating hot and cold process, Qin Ren felt great sympathy for the soldiers and a profound sense of fear for Zhang Su. In matters that depended entirely on fate, who could guarantee that the miasma wouldn’t afflict them until the very end?

Zhang Su said, "That’s why the emperor’s decision to stop fighting once Biao State agreed to peace talks was correct. If we had continued, more soldiers would have died from the miasma. As long as Biao State could hold out, our army would inevitably face defeat. The emperor sent Duke of Ding to lead the troops precisely because he is the most courageous and skilled in battle. The more fiercely our army fought, the less likely Biao State would dare to gamble."

Though Qin Ren himself knew nothing about leading troops, he was willing to listen to Zhang Su talk about the battlefield and deeply admired the soldiers who protected their home and country.

"Never mind, let’s save the rest for when Younger Sister arrives. She’ll definitely want to ask too. No need for you to repeat the same things twice."

Qin Ren said understandingly.

Zhang Su lowered his gaze.

As they chatted, Qin Ren brought up his own marriage plans and then asked Zhang Su, "You're twenty-one now too. Since returning, have the Duke and Duchess mentioned selecting a suitable wife for you?"

Zhang Su: "...No."

A few years ago, his mother had still joked about his marriage, but this time upon returning to the capital, she hadn’t brought it up at all.

Qin Ren found it strange: "With your family background, looks, and talent, matchmakers should have nearly worn a path to your door by now, shouldn’t they?"

Zhang Su: "...Perhaps because I wasn’t in the capital, my parents aren’t in a hurry."

Since the topic hadn’t been raised, Qin Ren simply changed the subject. After all, with Zhang Su’s qualities, finding a marriage partner wouldn’t be difficult.

After a leisurely stroll around the garden, they returned to the main courtyard around mid-morning, still half an hour before the agreed-upon arrival time of the little princess.

Qin Ren then took Zhang Su to his study, showing him some of his calligraphy and paintings from the past two years that he considered decent. As they browsed, Qin Ren unrolled another scroll and realized it was a portrait of his sister. He quickly rolled it back up, muttering, "How did this end up here? Good thing it’s you. If it were any other man, my sister would surely be furious with me."

Zhang Su glanced at the water clock placed in the study.

At a quarter past noon, the gatekeeper finally came to announce that the little princess’s carriage had turned into the lane.

As her elder brother, Qin Ren didn't have to go greet his sister, but of course he would. He called Zhang Su and walked briskly outside, worried that if his sister stepped out of the carriage and didn’t see them, she might be displeased.

The two young, long-legged men walked quickly. By the time the carriage escorted by sixteen imperial guards stopped at the gate, Qin Ren and Zhang Su were already waiting there.

Jie Yu opened the carriage door from the outside, and the next moment, a soft light green appeared in Zhang Su’s view before the little princess herself.

Before the little princess revealed her face, Zhang Su lowered his gaze.

Qingyang swept him with a glance, then allowed Jie Yu to help her step down from the carriage. She smiled at her third brother and asked, "I'm not late, am I?"

Qin Ren: "Not at all, not at all. We were just admiring some paintings."

Under the blazing sun, Qin Ren motioned for Zhang Su to follow as he accompanied his sister inside.

Zhang Su trailed three steps behind, his eyes filled with the sight of the little princess’s satin skirt swaying gently like rippling water, step by step, right before his eyes.