Chapter 95

Chapter 95

On May 18th, the palace held the capping ceremony for the Third Prince, Qin Ren. The following morning during court, Emperor Xingwu issued a decree ennobling the Third Prince as Prince Xian and assigning him to the Ministry of Rites.

No discussion was allowed in the court hall. After the session, Qin Bing egged on his third brother to take out the edict of enfeoffment for a look: "Is it the 'Xian' for leisure, or the 'Xian' from Xianfu Palace?"

Qin Ren knew his second brother was teasing him, but he didn’t mind and generously pulled out the imperial decree.

Qin Bing glanced at it, patted his third brother’s shoulder, and said, "Whatever the title, becoming a prince means you’re an adult now. From now on, we brothers can meet up often in the palace again."

Qin Ren let out a big yawn, his eyes watering as he corrected, "It’s brothers and sisters."

Qin Bing: "…"

He looked ahead at his sister, who was walking beside their eldest brother, also wearing a python robe but with her hair styled in a woman's coiffure.

Qingyang looked back: "The Ministry of War is actually closer to the Ministry of Personnel, yet Second Brother only wants to meet Third Brother often. Don’t you want to see me?"

Qin Bing was quick to say, "No, no, I was just making small talk with Third Brother. In truth, we’re all busy with our own duties. Unless we gather for a meal at noon, we rarely have time to get together."

Qin Hong, hearing his third brother yawning again, said with a sigh, "Now that you’re working, there’s no more homework. Try to sleep earlier at night, especially the night before court sessions."

Qin Ren said yes but groaned inwardly. Why did his father insist on him taking up an official post? The court was full of talented people—couldn’t he just be a complete layabout?

Fortunately, court only convened three times every ten days. On other days, he could sleep until seven in the morning, which was much more comfortable than when he was studying in the Eastern Palace!

.

At the end of May, the imperial procession moved to the Western Garden Palace for summer retreat, again accompanied by a host of royal relatives and civil and military officials.

During a family banquet that evening with all the imperial relatives gathered, Qin Bing asked, "Father, are we still climbing Feiying Peak tomorrow morning?"

Emperor Xingwu glanced at the extra grandchildren among the banquet tables and smiled, "You all go. I’ve made plans with some old ministers for a lake tour."

Among those who had once followed him full of energy and power, Lü Guangzu had died from illness, Deng Chong had grown frail with age, and Yan Xizheng and other civil officials had gradually gone gray. Although Emperor Xingwu could still manage the climb, he didn’t want to see those meritorious officials huffing and puffing in their old age. He also didn’t want Deng Chong, whom he had persuaded to come and enjoy himself, to feel hurt if he heard the emperor went climbing without inviting him.

Since their father wasn’t going, Qin Bing asked around among his siblings.

Qin Hong first looked at their father.

Emperor Xingwu said, "No need for you to accompany me."

Qin Hong then accepted his second brother’s invitation. Since the eldest brother had agreed and their father was watching, Qin Ren felt obliged to agree as well. But as soon as he nodded, he heard his sister say, "Second Sister-in-law, Yan Zhenzhen, and I already made plans to go riding tomorrow. We won’t be joining you."

Qin Ren: "…"

The next morning, when Qingyang arrived outside the West Scenic Gate, she saw that Meng Yao and Yan Zhenzhen were already waiting. Nineteen-year-old Meng Yao had filled out quite a bit after giving birth to her daughter, her tender, plump cheeks so full they looked ready to burst. Fifteen-year-old Yan Zhenzhen had blossomed, though she remained the smallest of the group. Even her horse was a size smaller than those of Qingyang and Meng Yao, appearing very gentle.

Both Qingyang and Meng Yao were skilled riders, but since they had Yan Zhenzhen with them that morning, the three only went at a slow trot across the grassland, stopping whenever they came across a pleasing view.

During their casual chat, Meng Yao brought up Qin Ren and Yan Zhenzhen’s wedding: "Sister, has Father mentioned anything about Third Brother’s wedding date?"

Yan Zhenzhen blushed and teased her back, "I’m not even anxious, so why are you in such a hurry?"

Meng Yao said, "I’m eager for our Ying Er to have her Third Uncle and Aunt’s wedding candy."

Yan Zhenzhen pretended to be angry and turned away, though she secretly glanced toward the little princess, who was most likely to know.

Qingyang smiled and said, "It should be next year. Father is worried Left Chancellor hates to let go of his granddaughter too early. Fifteen is still somewhat young."

Eldest Sister married at seventeen, Eldest Sister-in-law married Eldest Brother at seventeen, and Second Sister-in-law married Second Brother at the end of the year when she was sixteen, almost turning seventeen.

Meng Yao said, "Many commoners marry at fifteen too. It’s mainly because Zhenzhen looks young…"

"Say that again!" Yan Zhenzhen, who hated nothing more than being called short, flew into a mock anger and chased after Meng Yao. But Meng Yao caught her hand, got her under the arms, and spun her around in circles on the grass.

Qingyang laughed as she watched the two fool around. When they had enough, Meng Yao pointed toward Feiying Peak in the distance and said, "Shall we go to the exit at the foot of the mountain? Your Second Brother and the others should be arriving soon."

Yan Zhenzhen said, "You go if you want. I’m not going."

Meng Yao said, "There are no outsiders. Why are you so shy?"

Yan Zhenzhen tried to hit her again, but Meng Yao quickly mounted her horse and led the way toward Feiying Peak.

Yan Zhenzhen then turned to coax the little princess: "Let her go by herself. Your Highness, come with me to play somewhere else."

Qingyang said, "Alright. Third Brother is the worst at climbing. He probably doesn’t want you to see him drenched in sweat and exhausted."

Upon hearing this, Yan Zhenzhen actually revealed a mischievous smile: "If he doesn’t want me to see, then I especially want to see him."

With that, she also mounted her horse and urged the little princess to go with her.

Qingyang: "…"

The three horses carrying Princess Jing, the future Princess Xian, and the little princess arrived one after another at the exit of the path descending Feiying Peak.

The three went to stroll in a nearby villa. When they heard movement outside, they came out and saw slightly flushed faces—Qin Hong, Qin Bing, Qin Liang, Fu Kui, Deng Tai, as well as Fan Huaizhong and Fan Huaian, among other imperial relatives or noble scions who, despite varying greatly in age, were all still quite robust.

Fan Huaizhong was Fan Zhong’s eldest son, seventeen years old, with features very much like his father’s—almost like a young, burly little bear. While others were still surprised to see the little princess and her companions here, Fan Huaizhong had already stepped forward with his fourteen-year-old brother and greeted them loudly: "Greetings to the Princess, greetings to the Princess Consort."

Qingyang smiled and told the two brothers to rise.

Qin Liang poked Deng Tai from behind.

Deng Tai glared at him but didn’t move. He was almost thirty, getting on in years. The emperor treated him like a nephew, and Qin Bing called him brother—why should he imitate the fawning of the Fan brothers?

Qin Hong explained to his sister: "Third Brother and Zhang Su are still on the mountain. They should be down in about half an hour."

Qingyang said, "I figured. We’ll wait a bit longer. Eldest Brother, you all can go inside and clean up."

Qin Hong then led the group away to relieve themselves, wash up, and then ride off elsewhere. Qin Bing glanced at his wife a few more times but ultimately didn’t want to be teased by his brothers and followed along.

Meng Yao thought for a moment and said, "Ah, my stomach’s a bit upset. You wait here; I’ll head back to the South Lodge first."

Before leaving, Meng Yao gave the little princess a knowing look.

Even the little princess, who could usually guess what her father was thinking with near accuracy, didn’t immediately understand what Second Sister-in-law meant.

Watching Meng Yao ride away, Yan Zhenzhen grew nervous, afraid Third Prince would realize she had specifically come to wait for him. Just as she was about to pull the little princess away, a familiar, breathless voice came from the tree-shaded mountain path: "Zhang Su, you—you’re becoming more and more disrespectful! I’m a prince, and when I ask to lean on you, you dare brush me off!"

No one responded.

But the sound of footsteps grew closer. Soon, a tall figure in bamboo-green brocade robes was the first to emerge from the covering branches, stepping down quickly.

Noticing the little princess and her companion under a tree diagonally ahead, Zhang Su’s previously calm expression immediately became more reserved. He stood at the base of the stone steps and bowed from a distance to the little princess.

Not daring to approach, Qingyang led Yan Zhenzhen over. As Yan Zhenzhen turned to look up the mountain path, Qingyang quickly scanned Zhang Su’s handsome face—without even a hint of sweat. Clearly, the twenty-one-year-old Third Young Master Zhang was even stronger and more robust than he was at fifteen.

"Zhenzhen?"

Just as Zhang Su’s heartbeat raced uncontrollably under the little princess’s gaze, Qin Ren—dragging his heavy, trembling legs slowly down the mountain—also spotted his fiancée waiting at the path’s end. Already weak-legged, the shock made Qin Ren stumble backward and sit directly on the stone steps, staring dumbfounded at his fiancée.

Yan Zhenzhen was startled by her fiancé's fall, forgetting everything else as she lifted her skirts and ran up to him, asking, "Are you alright, Your Highness?"

Qin Ren was fine, just embarrassed. He opened his fan—though he no longer had the strength to wave it—and held it over his head, covering most of his sweaty, surely unattractive face. "N-no, I'm fine. I just need to rest for a bit."

Yan Zhenzhen noticed his sweat and saw him about to wipe his face with his sleeve. Quickly, she took out her handkerchief, pushed his hand aside, and bent down to wipe his face for him.

Prince Xian's face immediately flushed bright red, and he whispered, "Sister, the others are watching..."

Yan Zhenzhen's face was also flushed, but she replied unconcernedly, "It's not like they're outsiders."

The little princess wasn't an outsider, and neither was Zhang Su, who had been the Study Companion to the Third Prince and the little princess for over a decade.

Zhang Su was not only not an outsider—he also knew better than to stare. He had walked far away as soon as the future Princess Xian took out her handkerchief, turning his back to them.

Qingyang watched for a while as her future sister-in-law tended to her third brother, then glanced over at Zhang Su on the other side. Finally, she understood the meaning behind Meng Yao's earlier look.

Not wanting to keep staring at her third brother and future sister-in-law, Qingyang also walked over to Zhang Su.

Zhang Su turned slightly, addressing the hem of the little princess's skirt. "I failed to take proper care of His Highness earlier. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness."

Qingyang guessed, "So when you're alone with Third Brother, you don't adhere to hierarchy as strictly as you do in front of me."

Zhang Su had no response.

Qingyang looked again at his face, which hadn't reddened at all after a morning of climbing, and asked out of pure curiosity, "Do you envy Third Brother? Having such a gentle fiancée."

Zhang Su lowered his gaze. "I can take care of myself well. I don't need a fiancée to bother with such efforts for me."

Qingyang laughed. "Then how would you want your fiancée to treat you? When you like someone, you always want something from them."

Just as she had chosen Zhang Su to be her imperial son-in-law, because of his handsomeness, talent, character, and over a decade of his unwavering obedience and attentiveness to her.

Zhang Su was silent for a moment before saying, "I would hope my fiancée could always do what she enjoys, because I want to see her smile."

When she was two, the little princess had cried because he and the Third Prince could no longer continue to play with her. Zhang Su didn't want the little princess to cry, but he had no right to stay without permission.

The nine-year-old little princess had smiled because she saw him, a familiar face, on the battlefield in Wuwei. Zhang Su also wanted the little princess to know he was equally delighted to see her again, but he had to hold back for the sake of her reputation.

The eleven-year-old little princess had wanted to hug him as a farewell before the Third Prince moved to his own residence. Zhang Su was willing to give her that hug, but he couldn't.

The twelve-year-old little princess had held his hand and promised to wait for him. Zhang Su wanted to respond, but he shouldn't overstep his bounds.

Now, both had grown up, and were about to be betrothed through an imperial decree.

Yet Zhang Su still couldn't bring himself to say it—that he did indeed want something from the little princess: the position that would legitimize his responses to all her requests and desires.