Chapter 158

Chapter 158

Emperor Xingwu merely wished to give clear instructions to his children while he was still lucid and strong, not because his death was imminent. Before summoning his youngest daughter and her husband, he surveyed his eldest daughter, eldest son, second son, and their families waiting on the other side. Then, to his third son, who still lingered by his side, weeping, he said, "There's nothing more for you all here. Those who should return to their residences, those who must attend to their duties—go."

Qin Ren understood that his imperial father had more significant and urgent matters to discuss with his sister. Wiping his eyes, he helped Yan Zhenzhen to her feet, then took Rui Ge'er from his father's arms, his voice hoarse with emotion, "Then your son will come to pay his respects tomorrow morning."

Emperor Xingwu nodded.

He Yuanjing, waiting a dozen paces away, saw Prince Xian's family depart. Catching the emperor's gaze, he first invited the Crown Princess's husband, Zhang Su, to approach alone.

Zhang Su knelt before Emperor Xingwu, his back perfectly straight.

While the others had either shed tears or had reddened eyes, Zhang Su's expression was composed and resolute, devoid even of the performative grief Fu Kui had displayed.

Emperor Xingwu particularly favored this kind of son-in-law. If Zhang Su were to genuinely weep, it would contradict the calm and steady demeanor he had exhibited since his youth. If he were to feign tears, Emperor Xingwu would dare to have his daughter divorce this cunning and hypocritical imperial son-in-law!

"I met with Prince An and the others as families. Do you know why I wished to speak with you and Ling'er separately?"

Admiring his young son-in-law's handsome features, Emperor Xingwu asked calmly.

Zhang Su pondered, then replied, "Because Your Royal Highness and I are not only husband and wife but will also be ruler and subject in the future."

There were things Emperor Xingwu could say to the Crown Princess that were unsuitable for Zhang Su to overhear.

Emperor Xingwu smiled. "That's the idea. However, what I intend to say to Ling'er today, you are permitted to hear. Conversely, what I wish to say to you is not suitable for the two of you to hear together."

A trace of surprise finally appeared on Zhang Su's usually impassive face.

Emperor Xingwu, however, showed a touch of concern. "Among the scions of the capital's nobility, in terms of talent and temperament alone, you rank in the top five in my mind, if not first. And don't think 'top five' isn't outstanding enough; it's simply that your father excels at raising children. Of those top five, your three brothers occupy three spots. My praise indicates my great satisfaction with you. My only lingering concern is what kind of life you and Ling'er will have in the future."

"If Ling'er were merely an ordinary princess, I wouldn't have this worry. If you were a woman who married into the Eastern Palace as Crown Princess, I wouldn't worry either. But I am leaving Great Qi with a female emperor, which means there will also be a male empress. Not only do the two of you need to gradually discover how to coexist harmoniously, but even I, as a father, don't know how to guide you."

Of course, he could forcibly demand that Zhang Su adhere to the duties and rules expected of empresses throughout history. However, women are often delicate; if mistreated by their emperor husbands, they could only internalize their grievances, never daring to challenge the emperor. An emperor would never fear an empress daring to strike him. Zhang Su was different—his martial arts skills were unmatched in the entire Imperial Guard. If he ever felt deeply wronged and suddenly harbored rebellious thoughts, he would have too many opportunities to physically overpower his daughter.

This wasn't solely Zhang Su's problem. No matter which man became the male empress for his daughter, unless utterly useless, he would find opportunities to physically overpower the empress.

If the empress didn't guard against the male empress, it could foster his ambition. If she guarded against him too much, their marital bond would weaken, making problems more likely.

Zhang Su, sensing the emperor's concerns, proactively stated, "If Your Majesty is worried about state affairs, I may not be able to share your burdens. But regarding myself and the Crown Princess, I dare to ask Your Majesty to rest assured. My love and respect for Her Highness are no less than yours. Therefore, in the future, whether in state or family matters, I will strive to ease Her Highness’s burdens and will not become a hindrance to her."

Emperor Xingwu asked, "Even if it means personal sacrifice?"

For instance, if cracks appeared in their marriage, his daughter might strip Zhang Su of his official duties and demand he remain in the inner court. Could Zhang Su accept that willingly?

Even more, if his daughter took a liking to other men and decided to appoint several male consorts, could Zhang Su endure that?

Emperor Xingwu naturally wouldn't consider such actions by his daughter wrong. His Ling'er was to be emperor; she had the authority to decide what Zhang Su could or could not do, and how many people could reside in the inner court. Emperor Xingwu was merely curious about how far Zhang Su would go for his daughter, even if Zhang Su's response might not be entirely sincere, or might not last a lifetime.

Zhang Su said frankly, "Her Highness is protective of those close to her. If in the future she must make me suffer, it will be because I have first disappointed her. Then, whether she neglects me or makes me suffer, it will be my own fault and have nothing to do with Her Highness."

The young princess had been studious since childhood, spending her time either reading, practicing martial arts, or observing governance, only playing with her elder brothers or him, her study companion, in her spare time.

Once the young princess became Crown Princess, most of her time was consumed by state affairs, and the rare moments of romance were devoted to him.

Zhang Su couldn't imagine what foolish thing he would have to do to disappoint the Crown Princess, and he would certainly never commit such a folly. Indeed, if he had shown even a hint of foolishness, the young princess, and later Crown Princess, would never have liked him.

If he sought power, Emperor Xingwu’s concerns would be justified. But as long as he harbored no such ambitions, there would be no turmoil from the inner court or the Zhang family as imperial in-laws during the female emperor’s reign, and thus Emperor Xingwu need not worry.

Zhang Su raised his right hand, looking directly at Emperor Xingwu in his wheelchair, and declared, "Zhang Su swears upon the loyalty and integrity of the Zhang family’s ancestors that I will remain faithful to the female emperor until death. If any member of the Zhang family proves disloyal, I will personally eliminate the threat of external relatives for the female emperor."

If Deng Kun, Deng Tai, Fan Huaizhong, Lv Chaoguang, or other descendants of commoner-born founding generals made such an oath, Emperor Xingwu would dismiss it as empty words. Even if he believed them, the oath would carry little weight. But the Zhang family was different. Throughout the previous dynasty’s two hundred-plus years, there had been wise rulers and tyrannical ones, but the Zhang family had always been known among the court and commoners as a loyal and upright house. Back then, the Qin family’s ancestors must have had incredibly good fortune to gain Zhang Jie’s assistance!

If any descendant of the Zhang family dared to rebel, the others would regard it as a stain on the entire clan. In other words, the Zhang family’s reputation for loyalty and integrity was both their honor and their shackles. Anyone considering rebellion would first have to endure torment from their own conscience—the more torment, the less likely they would be to act rashly, unless driven to desperation by the reigning emperor.

Emperor Xingwu was fair: if future rulers of the Qin family dared to act foolishly, then being overthrown would be only natural.

"Good, I believe you."

.

After Zhang Su left, Qingyang finally came to her father’s side.

Before his daughter could kneel, Emperor Xingwu smiled and said, "I’ve been talking all morning and am almost out of strength. Ling'er, push me back."

His daughter, whom he had personally raised and taught, whom he had chosen according to his heart as the new emperor of Great Qi—Emperor Xingwu had complete confidence in her. What need was there for further words? What needed to be taught and said had already been conveyed over the past eighteen years of daily interaction. The only things unexpressed were his reluctance to leave his daughter and his heartache for the agony of paternal loss that she was destined to endure.

Qingyang had been watching from afar for a very long time, observing her father in his wheelchair, his frail form scarcely hidden by his cloak, and her elder sister and brothers kneeling before him one after another, leaving in tears.

Qingyang had wondered what her father would say to her, but most of the time she simply watched those scenes in a daze.

Cry?

From the time her father fell ill in December to this day, Qingyang had lost count of how many times she had cried in secret. Naturally, she had hoped a miraculous healer would appear to reverse her father’s decline, to prescribe medicine that would restore his vitality. But she clearly knew no such divine physician existed, so she should not cling to such useless fantasies.

Thus, Qingyang had prepared herself for her father’s possible departure at any time.

As a child, Qingyang cried whenever she wanted, and she could freely throw herself into her father’s arms and tell him not to speak nonsense. The grown-up Qingyang increasingly disliked crying. She despised the tears her eldest brother shed out of incompetence and cowardice, and the more she despised them, the more she refused to become like that.

Moreover, her father was entrusting the Great Qi empire to her. If she spent her days weeping over this long-foreseen parting, how could her father be at peace?

Qingyang wanted her father to know that his little princess could now remain steadfast even if a mountain crumbled before her. If she did not fear her father’s departure, then no state affair in the future would make her falter or reveal vulnerability.

"Father, you enjoy sunbathing. Shall I dedicate half an hour each day to accompany you for a stroll in the imperial garden?"

"Good, but come in the afternoon. I need your mother for the morning half-hour."

Qingyang smiled. How could she rival her mother? Her mother was the one her father could least bear to part with.

.

The weather remained sunny for several consecutive days.

Prince Yong had always remembered his elder brother’s words that he might not last until February, so these past few days he had been making morning and evening palace visits, especially on the first day of February. As soon as the Imperial Guard opened the palace gates, Prince Yong entered with the pass granted by his elder brother for paying respects and even joined his elder brother and young niece for a simple breakfast.

Watching his elder brother slowly serve himself half a bowl of congee, Prince Yong grinned and said, "I’ve been fooled by you so many times, but this time I’m happiest about it."

Emperor Xingwu shot him a look.

Qingyang didn’t know about the conversation between the two brothers, but she could guess from her uncle’s recent frequent visits. However, whatever her father said had nothing to do with her. Since last December, Qingyang had been having meals in the Qianyuan Hall morning and night. Sometimes her father would summon Zhang Su; other times, it was just her and her mother attending to him, much like when she was three or four years old.

On the afternoon of the second day of February, Qingyang came as promised to push her father to the imperial garden.

The sunlight was warm, making Emperor Xingwu, who had just rested, drowsy once more.

But he didn’t want to sleep. He cherished these half-hour periods he could spend with his daughter during the day.

A bench stood alongside the path ahead. Emperor Xingwu had his daughter sit there, and father and daughter faced each other.

Sunlight streamed from the west, warming their profiles.

Emperor Xingwu looked at his daughter, whose cheeks had thinned considerably but who always came to see him with a smile, and muttered, "You looked better with fuller cheeks. Eat more meat from now on, enjoy hot pot."

His speech had recently grown increasingly unclear, and only Consort Li, He Yuanjing, and the Crown Princess, who had been constantly in attendance, could readily comprehend him.

Qingyang remembered the year Deng Chong died, when she had coaxed her depressed father to Jiuhua Palace for a hot pot meal.

"Father craves hot pot? I’ll have the imperial kitchen prepare it later. We’ll have it tonight."

Emperor Xingwu mumbled a few dishes, all of which were Consort Li and his daughter’s favorites.

Before he finished, his eyelids grew heavy, and the small purple copper hand warmer he was holding began to slip from his grasp.

Qingyang gently placed her father’s hands over the hand warmer and held it firmly for him, whispering, "Rest, Father. I’ll take you back."

Emperor Xingwu hummed in acknowledgment.

Qingyang pushed the wheelchair, their long shadows stretching out behind them.

After a short distance, she heard her father chuckle and say, "The second day of the second month—the dragon raises its head. My heir is about to become a dragon..."

Before he could finish, the hand warmer slipped from Emperor Xingwu’s grasp and fell onto the pebble-paved path, rolling twice.

He Yuanjing, who had been following behind, rushed over to pick it up and return it to the emperor. But when he looked up and saw the emperor’s face, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.

Qingyang closed her eyes.

She hadn’t intended to cry, yet tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

.

In the spring of the twentieth year of Emperor Xingwu’s reign, the founding emperor of Great Qi passed away with a smile on his face.