Chapter 151

Chapter 151

After dinner that evening, Qingyang took Zhang Su for a stroll around the Eastern Palace to aid digestion. Upon their return, Zhang Su went to the western side hall to bathe and change.

Qingyang was accustomed to being attended by her maids during her bath. The process of washing, shampooing, and drying her hair took at least two quarters of an hour. Sometimes, she would even have Jin Su, skilled in massage, give her a rubdown. Thus, it was indeed more convenient for her and Zhang Su to bathe separately.

When Qingyang, dressed in a red silk sleeping gown, finished bathing and crossed the main hall to the eastern chamber, she found Zhang Su sitting upright on a chair to the north, a book in his hand.

Meeting the Crown Princess’s gaze, Zhang Su subtly tightened his grip on the book. Yet, mindful of her instruction not to be overly formal in the Nine Splendors Palace, he remained seated.

Qingyang truly didn't need him to stand. As a child, she had enjoyed playing with Zhang Su, but he had always strictly adhered to the etiquette of a subject, and she could neither change nor bring herself to trouble him about it. As they grew older, it was only natural for Zhang Su to continue upholding these formalities. As a dignified princess, she would never act frivolously. Now that they were married, if Zhang Su remained so rigid in private, Qingyang had no patience to keep coaxing him.

“What are you reading?”

Her hair still not fully dry, Qingyang walked curiously toward Zhang Su.

Zhang Su showed her the cover. It was a military treatise she had not read before. Though Qingyang had once studied military tactics extensively and was familiar with the classics, she had no recollection of this book’s title or author. However, as the son of a military family, Zhang Su likely felt compelled to read any military book he came across. Although Qingyang had read fewer such books than he had, in terms of breadth of knowledge, Zhang Su could not compare to her.

“What unique merits does this book have?”

Qingyang did not judge talent by fame alone. Any military book that caught Zhang Su’s eye must have its merits.

Zhang Su closed the book and set it aside, looking up at the Crown Princess who stood before him. “If Your Highness is interested, I will explain it to you tomorrow.”

Before Qingyang could ask why it had to wait until tomorrow, he suddenly reached out, and in the next moment, she was lifted horizontally off her feet and swept into his arms.

Instinctively, Qingyang grabbed hold of Zhang Su’s robe front.

Zhang Su looked down, seeing only surprise and no anger in the Crown Princess’s eyes, and strode toward the bedchamber.

Tall and long-legged, he reached the inner room in just a few steps. Qingyang teased, “Was there really such a hurry?”

Zhang Su replied as he walked, “I have the patience to wait, but I fear Your Highness might misunderstand and think I have no desire to be close to you.”

Though they were married, Zhang Su had not been certain the Crown Princess would enjoy physical intimacy with him. It was only during their noon rest, when she herself had broached the subject, that he became sure of her willingness. Since that was the case, why should he continue to restrain himself, needlessly giving the Crown Princess cause for doubt?

Qingyang snorted. “How could I not misunderstand? When we were children, every time I tried to get close to you, you would practically retreat three paces.”

Zhang Su circled around the screen and steadily placed the Crown Princess, who was bringing up old grievances, onto the bed. He followed closely, positioning himself over her, and looking into her slightly widened eyes, he said hoarsely, “Back then, I had no choice but to avoid you. Now, I long to be close to you at any moment, only fearing that Your Highness might not like it.”

Qingyang sensed the change in him, as startling as his boldness that night, followed by a thrilling and delightful palpitation.

“Is this how you always show your closeness?”

Pressing her right hand against his chest, feeling the strong heartbeat beneath, Qingyang asked with a smile.

Zhang Su: “…No, but it is now.”

Qingyang slipped her hand inside his robe, listening to his deepened breathing. “Outside, you must restrain yourself. But in the Nine Splendors Palace, you may be as close as you wish.”

.

If the Consort had been overly proper and reserved on their wedding night, and on the second night had still cautiously sought the Crown Princess’s consent first, by the third night, he no longer bothered to pretend. The moment Qingyang stepped into the eastern chamber, Zhang Su, who had been waiting there, lifted her horizontally into his arms and carried her to the bedchamber.

Qingyang thought this Zhang Su was already bold and unrestrained, unaware that he was still holding back. Otherwise, he could have kept the Crown Princess awake all night.

Because he dared not let himself go completely, Zhang Su cherished all the more this first time the Crown Princess was willing to grant him and enjoy his attentions.

Though she had only been married for three nights, Qingyang had already noticed the change in Zhang Su. She couldn’t pinpoint the exact duration, but even in the same intimate engagement, the number of times she trembled had increased. Was that normal?

It was like the sweet apricots, the size of eggs, tribute from the regions. Eating one was sweet and sour, leaving you wanting more; eating two was satisfying; eating three became somewhat excessive. Any more than that…

Qingyang would not force herself. Zhang Su, too, was constantly observing the Crown Princess’s reactions. Seeing a trace of the imperial daughter’s authority return to her dazed eyes, Zhang Su promptly ended the intimate engagement.

By the time Qingyang had completely calmed down, Zhang Su had already put on his inner robe, fetched water, and been sitting beside her for a while.

Qingyang drank some water first, then had Zhang Su help her change clothes.

Watching the Consort, who was growing increasingly adept at this task, and seeing his handsome face once again restrained and respectful, even somewhat cool and solemn, Qingyang asked doubtfully, “Did you insist on lasting that long because you wanted to, or did the instruction matron before the wedding specifically tell you to?”

She knew the matrons sent by the palace had taught Zhang Su everything for her benefit, but those below might have good intentions yet achieve the opposite. She truly wasn’t that greedy.

Zhang Su: “…Does Your Highness not like it?”

Qingyang: “…Too much is as bad as too little. Last night was just right.” She preferred eating only two sweet apricots at a time.

Zhang Su nodded, indicating he would remember.

.

The eighth day was the last of their wedding holiday. Qingyang planned to accompany Zhang Su on a visit to the Duke of Wei’s estate.

In previous dynasties, when crown princes married crown princesses, the wedding ceremonies followed roughly similar precedents, but no dynasty had ever required the crown prince to accompany his new wife on her third-day homecoming visit, as was customary among commoners. After all, the crown prince leaving the palace was as significant as the emperor leaving the palace, involving far more than personal matters.

Now that it was Crown Princess Qingyang’s turn to marry, whether she accompanied Zhang Su on his “homecoming visit” was entirely up to her. If she was willing, her father the emperor would naturally not object.

Qingyang’s trip out of the palace was not merely to show respect to Zhang Su but mainly to speak with the Duchess Xu, whom she had rarely seen in recent years, and to ask Zhang Jian and Zhang Heng about the situations in Yunzhou and Jinzhou. As for Zhang Jie, who had been in the capital these past few years, there was little need for discussion.

After taking leave of her father at the Qianyuan Hall, Qingyang and Zhang Su exited the palace through the Eastern Glory Gate. Two carriages were prepared outside the palace: one for passengers and one for gifts.

Once in the carriage, Qingyang asked Zhang Su, “When do your eldest and second brothers plan to depart?”

Zhang Heng was in the Jinzhou army. With West Hu and East Hu having successively submitted to the Great Qi, the northern borders had been peaceful lately, so Zhang Heng need not return in a hurry. Zhang Jian, however, was the General of Yunzhou, a high-ranking position, and should not delay long in the capital.

Zhang Su said, “It should be within these two days.”

Qingyang: “At the end of the year, the regional commanders are to return to the capital to report. Since your eldest brother has come now, he need not make the trip again at year’s end.”

Yunzhou was too far from the capital. If Zhang Jian brought his wife and children, the journey there and back would take three to four months.

Zhang Su: “Eldest Brother plans to have his wife and children stay in the capital. If the Emperor summons him at year’s end, he will bring them back to Yunzhou after the New Year.”

Qingyang: “That still means half a year apart. Is your eldest brother truly willing?”

Zhang Su: “Eldest Brother wants his sons to have the advantage of proximity, with more opportunities to behold the imperial majesty of the Emperor and Your Highness.”

Qingyang smiled.

Most children of noble families in the capital were born and raised there, with yearly chances to see the emperor. For instance, the sons of several the Founding Meritorious Officials families were often invited by her father to join hunting trips. Over time, bonds of loyalty between ruler and minister formed, so when these young men came of age, her father would assign them to posts outside the capital for experience.

However, those local military officers who rose through the imperial military examinations, like Cheng Zhixu, the Tanhu, had never seen the emperor before. Though they had learned loyalty to the sovereign since childhood, without personal interaction, the bond between ruler and minister lacked depth. Without this connection, loyalty might be less steadfast. Therefore, her father would have the top three military examinees—the Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhu—serve in the Imperial Guard, Imperial Guard, or the Four Capital Garrisons for a few years before assigning them to external posts for experience.

Qingyang thought that by leaving his two sons in the capital, Zhang Jian aimed both to have them benefit from imperial favor and thus foster loyalty, and to express his own loyalty to the royal family.

They arrived at the Duke of Wei’s estate.

Zhang Jie and the Duchess Xu, along with Zhang Jian and his wife, Zhang Heng and his wife, and several grandchildren of different ages, came out to greet them.

As Zhang Su helped Qingyang alight from the carriage, Zhang Jie and the others knelt before the Crown Princess.

Qingyang smilingly bid everyone rise. Looking at Zhang Jie and his wife, she said, “Since childhood, I have often come to the estate to play. Father and Mother need not observe formalities.”

In public, Zhang Jie would always be her minister, but when she visited the Duke of Wei’s estate on family matters, she would respectfully address him as “Father.”

The Crown Princess’s natural address made both Zhang Jie and Xu-shi feel deeply honored.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the Zhang family invited the Crown Princess and Imperial Son-in-law into the main hall.

Zhang Su now had three nephews and two nieces, all of them handsome and graceful. The eldest grandson was already thirteen this year, standing tall and graceful, like a budding orchid or jade tree.

Qingyang looked a bit longer at the eldest grandson because the child reminded her of Zhang Su in his youth. There was indeed some resemblance, especially in his serious, well-mannered demeanor.

Qingyang had Fu Liu give gifts to each child and even held Zhang Su’s second brother’s three-year-old niece in her arms for a while, doting on her.

Xu-shi couldn’t pull her youngest son aside to ask whether he had made a good impression on the Crown Princess, but she discreetly observed Crown Princess. Seeing her bright and radiant smile, she guessed that her son must have some capability—at the very least, he hadn't incurred Crown Princess’s displeasure.

After some casual conversation, Xu-shi took her daughters-in-law and the children away, leaving her husband and three sons to attend to Crown Princess, who was concerned with state affairs.

Qingyang didn’t bother with formalities with the Zhang father and sons and went straight to questioning the thirty-six-year-old Zhang Jian first.

Zhang Jian responded to Crown Princess’s inquiries with the utmost respect and formality, not daring to be the least bit perfunctory.

Zhang Heng, now thirty years old and who wore a short beard, noticed that Crown Princess was more concerned about the livelihoods of the border region civilians and shared everything he knew honestly.

Finally, Qingyang addressed Zhang Jie, Zhang Jian, and Zhang Heng together: "What are the common people saying about me as Crown Princess? I want to hear the truth."

After a moment of silence, Zhang Jie said, "The people of the capital all know that Your Highness possesses the talent of a top scholar and success in the northern expedition. Most of them praise you."

The implication was that Crown Princess enjoyed solid support among the capital’s populace, with only a small minority voicing dissent.

Zhang Jian said, "Yunzhou is far from the capital. The local people care more about their immediate needs like food and clothing and don’t discuss the appointment or dismissal of Crown Prince much. However, during my incognito visits among the people, I found that due to Your Highness’s achievements in the northern campaign, they also speak highly of you."

Zhang Heng rarely smiled and said, "Right after Your Highness’s great victory in the northern campaign, the people in the northern regions were already grateful and sincerely convinced. Even little girls playing in the streets like to pretend to be princesses or female generals."

Hearing this, Qingyang, who had remained composed throughout, also smiled. She instructed Zhang Jian and Zhang Heng: "I can get hold of some news about the capital, but Yunzhou and Jinzhou are too far away. If there is any criticism among officials or civilians, I would trouble you two to inform me promptly."

The two bowed and accepted the order.