Chapter 119

Chapter 119

If it were for personal reasons, the Crown Prince's family and the Little Princess would typically exit through Donghua Gate, conveniently close to the Eastern Palace.

However, Princess Yong's words made the path back to the Eastern Palace feel unusually long today.

Qingyang watched the shadows of her eldest brother and his wife on the ground, feeling a cloud of silent unease settle over her heart.

Qingyang disliked this silence; it felt wrong. She had always been close to her eldest brother, and her sister-in-law had been like a sister to her since childhood. How could a few meddling remarks from their aunt sow seeds of suspicion and estrangement between them? At the very least, until her eldest brother and sister-in-law genuinely showed hostility, Qingyang would remain observant but refused to preemptively treat them as adversaries.

Qingyang glanced at her eldest brother walking beside her. The moment she turned her head, she caught his cautious, sidelong glance. Immediately, her brother awkwardly lowered his gaze—there was no jealousy, no resentment, only the tension of not understanding his sister's thoughts and a struggle to find the right words.

Qingyang smiled, moving closer to her brother. "Why are you even afraid to look at me now?"

Her familiar, teasing tone, like a sudden breeze, swept away the heavy burden on Qin Hong's heart. Meeting his sister’s bright, smiling eyes, Qin Hong finally found his moment to explain. Leaning closer, he said, "I can’t control what others think, but I genuinely love your *Southern Tour Travelogue*, and I'm truly happy for you that our people can witness your talent."

Qingyang looked back at her brother seriously. "I know. Honestly, I wrote the travelogue purely as a personal keepsake; I never sought praise. But when it was published, Second Brother doesn't enjoy reading, and Third Brother only offers empty compliments. Only you, Eldest Brother, came and discussed it with me for over an hour. That's when I knew you were the one among my brothers who understood me best."

Qin Hong almost reached out to pat his sister's head again but stopped himself. His sister was now a grown woman, and such a gesture would be inappropriate. He simply smiled and praised, "Because you truly wrote it well. When I have time, I'll come discuss it with you again."

Having eased her brother's mind, Qingyang then chatted and laughed for a while with her gentle and kind sister-in-law. As for Zheng Geer, who walked stiffly beside his mother, Qingyang simply pretended not to notice him.

Soon after, Qingyang bid farewell to her brother and sister-in-law and headed toward her Jiuhua Palace with Jie Yu and Fu Liu.

A potential rift between the siblings was averted just in time. Qin Hong breathed a sigh of relief. As he looked at his wife, his gaze inadvertently fell upon Zheng Geer. He saw his son glaring at Qingyang's retreating back with intense dislike—an expression both unfamiliar to Qin Hong and chilling to him for his sister's sake.

Not wanting to cause a scene in public, Qin Hong waited until they returned to Chongyuan Palace. After dismissing the attendants, leaving only his wife by his side, he frowned and asked his son, "Why were you glaring at your aunt?"

Zheng Geer, knowing his father favored his aunt, lowered his head and refused to answer.

Empress Lv Wenrong sat with a complex expression on the other main seat. She spent more time with their son and had noticed his dislike for Qingyang earlier than the Crown Prince. Despite her repeated attempts to reason with him, she hadn't been able to make him warm to his aunt again. Now that the Crown Prince had witnessed it firsthand, Lv Wenrong hoped his authority might succeed where hers had failed, thoroughly correcting their son's prejudice.

Qin Hong was widely known among officials for his gentle disposition, rarely losing his temper with family or subordinates. He was usually forgiving of mistakes made by those around him, but he could not tolerate his son looking at his aunt with such hatred.

"Speak!" Qin Hong’s rare sharp command made Zheng Geer tremble. Seeing his father’s angry gaze, Zheng Geer pursed his lips, turned his head, and said, "Because of Aunt's book, the common people are now praising her for her wisdom and virtue. In time, her reputation among the people will surely surpass yours, Father. Can you truly bear to live in her shadow?"

Qin Hong was stunned that his six-year-old son could utter such words. After a moment of shock, he explained, "Your aunt is talented and cares for the people. For Great Qi to have such a virtuous princess is a blessing to our Qin family. The people’s respect for her is respect for the royal family. You should look up to her, not entertain such wild notions."

Zheng Geer turned back, staring at his father. "You’re wrong, Father! You are the Crown Prince. Besides His Majesty, you should be the most virtuous member of the royal family. If the officials and people only see Aunt, only respect her virtue, then in the future, whose words will hold more sway in court—yours or hers?"

Qin Hong frowned. "Who taught you to say these things?"

Zheng Geer: "No one taught me; I saw it for myself. His Majesty already favors Aunt the most—he let her become an official and took her on the southern tour. He praises her every day but only grows more disappointed in you. Aren’t you afraid that one day His Majesty might set you aside and name Third Uncle as heir because of Aunt?"

Qin Hong’s expression changed drastically. He rose from his seat and slapped Zheng Geer across the face. "Tell me, where did you hear such divisive talk!"

Zheng Geer’s fair cheek reddened from the blow. He was in pain, but he felt even more wronged. Large tears welled in his eyes as he looked up at his father. "No one influenced me! His Majesty told me himself! He said he doesn’t understand why you’re always afraid, and why you get sick with worry every time. What else is that but disappointment?"

He, too, was disappointed—why couldn’t his father be as imposing as Second Uncle? Why couldn’t he please His Majesty? Why didn’t he see that Aunt was helping Third Uncle compete for His Majesty’s favor?

Qin Hong staggered back two steps, leaning on a chair before collapsing onto it.

Lv Wenrong had stood up in alarm when her son was struck. Now, seeing the Crown Prince pale as if about to suffer another headache, she quickly sent their son away and went to attend to her husband.

Qin Hong avoided his wife’s gaze, feeling too ashamed to face anyone. So, it was true—His Majesty was not only disappointed in him but had even spoken of it to his son…

.

Prince Xian’s Residence.

After seeing off all the guests, Qin Ren immediately helped Yan Zhenzhen back to their room to rest, worried that his wife, who had recently given birth, might be overexerted.

Yan Zhenzhen wasn't physically tired, but her heart and mind were weary. She turned on her side, frowning worriedly at her husband. "You heard Aunt’s cutting words and saw Eldest Brother’s shame and Eldest Sister’s anger. Do you think they’ll start resenting our sister from now on?"

Qin Ren: "...Surely not. Eldest Brother may be thin-skinned, but he’s broad-minded. He wouldn’t be jealous of our sister—otherwise, he would have been jealous when she excelled in the palace exams."

Yan Zhenzhen: "How is that the same? Only officials and a few scholars knew about the palace exams, and at most, the capital’s commoners talked about it for a while. This time, our sister’s book has made her famous throughout all of Great Qi!"

Qin Ren: "...So what if she’s famous? The people will at most praise her talent. There have been plenty of talented scholars throughout history. Eldest Brother is the Crown Prince—he has no reason to envy her."

Yan Zhenzhen swatted his arm. "Do you know why my grandfather opposed our sister joining the court back then?"

Qin Ren’s expression shifted slightly. The Left Chancellor and Nie Ao were both worried about our sister meddling in state affairs.

Yan Zhenzhen: "Our sister is already an official. If she gains a reputation for virtue that spreads across the kingdom, she’ll have even more influence at court. Eldest Brother has been ill frequently in recent years. At a time like this, you and our sister are suddenly gaining prominence…"

Qin Ren sat up in alarm. "What do you mean, 'you and our sister'? She’s the talented one, she’s the famous one—what does any of this have to do with me?"

Yan Zhenzhen also sat up, leaning close to her husband’s face. "Are you foolish? No matter how talented she is, she’s still a princess. A princess can’t contend for the throne. But she’s your blood sister. Her influence is your influence…"

Qin Ren clapped a hand over his wife’s mouth, horrified. "Don’t speak nonsense! I’ve never had such thoughts!"

Yan Zhenzhen pulled his hand away, her eyes even more worried. "I know you haven’t, and I’ve never dared to dream of it. What I fear is others thinking you and our sister have such ambitions—especially Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister."

Qin Ren was at a loss for words. He worried along with his wife for a while before suddenly relaxing. Taking her hand, he said, "His Majesty arranged for our sister to publish the book. If it causes any trouble, His Majesty will surely handle it. I’ll also go remind our sister—with her intelligence, she’ll surely be able to dispel Eldest Brother’s doubts. Let’s not worry needlessly."

Most importantly, their worrying was pointless. The best they could do was not add to their sister’s troubles.

Prince Jing’s Residence. Meng Yao was also complaining to Qin Bing about Princess Yong: "I think she deliberately meant to drive a wedge between our sister and Eldest Brother."

Qin Bing, heavily drunk from competing with his uncle, forced his eyes open. "Drive a wedge? What wedge?"

Meng Yao: "…"

She kicked her drunken husband, who was no help, off the bed with both feet.

.

March 26th was a day for court assembly.

Qingyang woke early as usual. When Jie Yu escorted her with a lantern to the path near Chongyuan Palace, she immediately spotted her eldest brother waiting across the way. But this morning, his figure seemed somewhat stooped…

No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than the shadow straightened into the familiar posture she knew.

As they drew closer, under the light of Jie Yu and De Quan’s lanterns, Qingyang could see her brother’s face—unusually pale and drawn, unmistakable even in the lantern light.

Qingyang hesitated, wanting to speak. Her brother looked as though he hadn’t slept well. Had their aunt’s words affected him after all?

Qin Hong knew he looked weary and gently reassured his sister, "I probably overindulged in wine at noon yesterday and ended up vomiting at night. I didn’t sleep well. Did I scare you?"

Qingyang chose to believe him and urged, "Then you should go back and rest. I’ll request leave from His Majesty for you."

Qin Hong: "It’s fine. I can manage. Let’s go."

Qingyang had no choice but to follow her brother toward the Qianyuan Hall.

When the time came, the officials entered the hall first. Qingyang stood side-by-side with her eldest and third brothers at the head of the civil officials, while across from them stood their second brother and uncle at the head of the military officials.

Shortly after, Emperor Xingwu entered from the imperial path on the east side, striding forward with vigor before soon taking his seat on the throne.

After the ceremonial greetings, the morning court session began.

From his high throne, Emperor Xingwu could clearly see the posture and expressions of all the officials present. But today, his attention was first drawn to his Crown Prince. Once robust from years of martial training and consistently scoring top marks in martial arts, the Crown Prince had wasted away since suffering months of headaches the previous year. Thinness alone was one thing, but his complexion, usually normal, now looked ashen.

The more Emperor Xingwu looked his way, the lower Qin Hong ducked his head, making even Qin Ren—who stood between his eldest brother and sister due to age—notice.

Seeing his eldest brother’s ashamed avoidance of their father and observing their father’s repeated glances toward them, Qin Ren began to feel nervous too and lowered his head to evade attention.

Heaven is my witness—I truly have no intention of competing with Eldest Brother! Don’t feel ashamed, Eldest Brother, and don’t misjudge me, Father!