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"I will have the Four Landscape Essays printed and published in a book at the Imperial College."
Because his father had lost his temper in the morning, Qingyang went to Qianyuan Hall again after finishing his shift in the evening.
His father should not be busy with government affairs at this time. Just as Qingyang was about to go in as usual, He Yuanjing, who was guarding outside, said with a smile: "Your Highness, the Emperor has just summoned the eldest grandson to check on his homework."
In He Yuanjing's view, the emperor and his eldest grandson sharing family time together was a private matter, and the little princess could of course enter without any hesitation. He just diligently informed the little princess of the situation inside to prevent her from mistakenly believing that the emperor was the only one inside.
Qingyang stopped, a look of relief on his face, and told He Yuanjing, "I'm glad Father has recovered. I don't have anything to do here, so I won't go in."
After saying that, Qingyang turned and left.
Ever since she'd asked Zheng'er in Xiyuan last summer if he still liked his aunt, and Zheng'er's inner answer had been no, Qingyang had let their aunt-niece bond fade. She wouldn't show it outwardly; she was certainly busy with her duties, and Zheng'er's homework load was piling up, so it was only natural that the two of them would spend less time together.
She felt distant, and Zheng Ge'er didn't seem to want to get close to her. In addition, they had been separated for nine months during the southern tour. When Qingyang returned to the palace, she felt even more distant from Zheng Ge'er.
As the emperor's grandson, regardless of whether Zheng Ge'er liked being examined by his father, an audience with his father was a royal favor to him. So why should Qingyang go in and take away the favor that his father could have given to Zheng Ge'er tonight? If Zheng Ge'er gave a poor answer and was scolded by his father, if she were present, Zheng Ge'er might be even more embarrassed and dislike his aunt even more.
Qingyang didn't want his nephew's favor, but there was no need for him to go in.
In front of the Qianyuan Palace, He Yuanjing watched the little princess leave and suddenly thought of what happened two or three years ago.
At that time, the little princess was still studying in Chongwen Pavilion, and the emperor's eldest grandson was only two or three years old. Sometimes the little princess came to see her father, and when she learned that her nephew was inside, she would walk in with a smile, and then she would hear the little princess's intimate words teasing her nephew.
In the inner hall, Emperor Xingwu was quite satisfied with Zheng'er's academic performance this year. The little guy was not as talented as his daughter, but he was also a smart and studious child, which was very similar to the crown prince when he was a child. However, Zheng'er did not inherit the crown prince's excessive caution and cowardice. He only had the common nervousness of children of this age facing the majestic grandfather.
"Will Zheng'er be afraid when your father is sick?" Emperor Xingwu asked, touching the little guy's head while letting his grandson sit next to him.
Zheng Ge'er nodded sadly.
Emperor Xingwu: "Does Zheng'er know why father is sick?"
Zheng Ge'er had long understood that he had to be careful with his words and actions in front of his grandfather, but with his grandfather looking at him so closely, Zheng Ge'er didn't dare to think for too long. He whispered, "Because my father is worried about state affairs. He's worried that the people affected by drought will get sick, that the people affected by floods will lose their land and their lives, and that the Donghu enemy soldiers will massacre more villages."
Emperor Xingwu secretly felt that children who grew up in the palace were different. At their age, the only state affairs their three sons knew about was that their father, the rebel king, was fighting against the imperial court.
Emperor Xingwu taught his grandson, "It's normal to be afraid, but fear alone is useless. We must find ways to solve problems. Once they're solved, there's no need to be afraid. If we become ill because of fear, then we can only rely on others to help us solve our problems. But will others really help us? Will others be able to solve our problems? Only by solving them ourselves can we save ourselves the worry and feel the most secure."
Zheng Ge'er: "...Is the Royal Grandfather blaming the Royal Father?"
Emperor Xingwu: "It's not that I'm surprised. I just can't understand. I've had teachers teach your father how to be a crown prince since he was young. I taught him myself as well. After he came of age, he spent seven or eight years observing government. He's heard me and the ministers discuss and resolve droughts, floods, and foreign invasions. He should know how to deal with these problems. Why is he so afraid?"
Zheng Ge'er lowered his head. Even his great-grandfather couldn't figure it out, and he couldn't figure it out either.
Emperor Xingwu encouraged his grandson: "Zheng'er, study hard. As long as we learn the skills, we will be able to deal with it calmly in the future. Don't be afraid."
Zheng Ge'er nodded.
Emperor Xingwu finally said, "This is what my royal grandfather taught you. Don't tell anyone else, especially your father. Otherwise, he might get sick again if he thinks too much."
Zheng Ge'er nodded again.
After saying this, Emperor Xingwu took Zheng'er to the back hall and had dinner with Concubine Li who was waiting for him there. When Zheng'er was leaving, Concubine Li insisted on seeing him off. Only then did Emperor Xingwu learn from He Yuanjing that his daughter had been there.
The next day was the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, a day off. Emperor Xingwu got up early and did a set of boxing exercises. His bones crackled all over and he sweated a lot.
This is because I am old and weak. A few years ago, I could practice for two or three quarters of an hour without even breathing hard.
At daybreak, the imperial concubine, the crown prince's family, and his daughters all came to Qianyuan Hall to have breakfast with him. Afterward, Emperor Xingwu left his youngest daughter alone and asked, "You came last night, why did you run away without saying hello?"
Qingyang smiled and said, "The Emperor is already in the mood to check on Zheng'er's homework. If I go in again, what if the Emperor remembers that morning's fever and ruins his appetite? Wouldn't I have to spend some time to appease him?"
Emperor Xingwu snorted, "Yes, my father is just an old man, it's not worth your effort to coax him."
Qingyang: “…”
Emperor Xingwu felt a little regretful after he said this. Why did these words sound so sour?
He changed the subject immediately: "Have you finished writing those five manuscripts? Show them to me. I'm exhausted after such a trip, yet you still have the energy to write a travelogue."
Qingyang walked up behind his father, massaged his shoulders, and said, "Because it was Father and Mother who accompanied me on this trip, I wrote down every day. This way, even when I get older and my memory worsens, I can just flip through these manuscripts and recall the days I spent with Father and Mother."
Emperor Xingwu was almost made to cry by his daughter!
Qingyang continued, "I've finished writing it, but there are still some messy parts that need to be reorganized, including removing the parts that say bad things about the emperor. I'll show it to the emperor after the New Year."
Emperor Xingwu was amused by his daughter again.
.
On the day of Little New Year, the ministers were given a holiday, and Emperor Xingwu summoned the entire royal family into the palace.
Everyone was present, and even Princess Qingyang, who had been raised by her father, the second concubine, her sisters and brothers, could not help but sigh at how time flies.
Emperor Xingwu sighed every year and was used to it. What made him feel complicated was the number of descendants of his and his brother's families.
His eldest brother had five children. His eldest daughter's relationship with Fu Kui had faded, and she still had two children, Fu Ming and Fu Xi. His eldest son, for some reason, had been married to the Crown Princess for many years and had only one child, Zheng. His second son had been married only four years and had been away from Beijing for nearly a year during his southern tour, so it was normal that he only had one, Ying. His third son got married this year, and his wife was already pregnant, so he was having children faster than his two brothers. His youngest daughter hadn't even married yet, so she didn't count.
So, his five children now have given him a total of four and a half grandchildren.
As for his younger brother, Qin Liang was his only son. However, in just a few years, Qin Liang had a pair of children, one from his wife and one from his concubine.
Because brothers Qin Hong and Qin Bing both have concubines?
But Emperor Xingwu was not interested in women. His eldest and second sons were very loving with their wives. There was no need for him to give his sons concubines. It was not like his wife was unable to give birth to children.
Prince Yong noticed the emperor's eldest brother's envious look at his grandchildren, and found an opportunity to give him some advice: "Hong'er is the crown prince, Bing'er and Ren'er are both princes, it's too shabby for them to have only one wife. Big brother, give them more concubines, so that the three brothers can give birth to more children for our Qin family."
Emperor Xingwu told his brother to get out.
.
After the Little New Year comes New Year's Eve. Because a good brother passed away, there was no grand palace banquet on New Year's Eve this year. Only the royal family gathered together to have a palace banquet.
On the third day of the first lunar month, Qin Bing's Prince Jing's Mansion held a banquet, and Qingyang and his eldest brother's family all left the palace to attend the banquet.
When returning to the palace, the future prince consort Zhang Su, who had come to the banquet with her, naturally had to see the little princess off.
Qingyang parted the curtain and looked at the 23-year-old future prince consort on horseback. He asked him to come closer and jokingly said, "The Princess's Mansion has been handed over to me. Are you in a hurry to move in?"
Zhang Su glanced at the little princess, whose face was only half visible through the car window, and lowered his eyes and said, "I will leave it entirely to the Emperor and His Highness to decide."
Qingyang smiled and said, "It sounds like there's no rush. That's good. Father doesn't seem to be planning on setting a wedding date too soon for you and me."
Zhang Su: “…”
He looked at the little princess again, trying to figure out whether she was teasing him or if the emperor really had not yet decided on a date for their wedding.
As a minister, Zhang Su was indeed willing to obey the decision of the emperor and the princess, but it was not pleasant to wait for the specific wedding date. He couldn't help but guess and think, especially after the southern tour ended, he would even toss and turn in bed at night.
The little princess's eyes were calm with a hint of smile, but she saw a rare restlessness in Zhang Su's eyes.
Qingyang was surprised at first, then laughed at him: "Why rush? It doesn't matter if it's sooner or later, the prince consort will be you after all."
Although it was clearly a comfort, Zhang Su became even more anxious as he saw the little princess's eyes and eyebrows becoming more lively as she smiled.
Qingyang was really not in a hurry. After returning to the palace, she took advantage of the last few days of vacation to organize all the manuscripts of the southern tour, and then presented them to her father on the afternoon of the fifth day.
"Mountain Chapter", "Water Chapter", "People Chapter" and "Products Chapter" are similar to other people's travel narratives, except for the differences in observations and feelings. "Officials Chapter" is something that other literati could not write, either because they had few opportunities to deal with so many officials, or they did not dare to write. But Qingyang was a princess, and a princess who participated in government affairs in the court. She listed every official she met on the southern tour without hesitation, and wrote down their age, appearance, height, temperament, behavior style and even talents and achievements.
Seeing that the first thing his father was reading was the Official Pieces, Qingyang spoke up for the officials, "These are just my personal opinions. We've only been together for a day or two, so my judgment may be unfair. Your Majesty, don't take it too seriously."
Emperor Xingwu understood and asked his daughter, "Why are you remembering this?"
Qingyang: "The court needs virtuous and capable officials. If there are suitable assignments in the future, I might recommend some of the officials here. Or if I think that some officials recommended by others are not qualified, I can use this as an excuse to oppose them."
If you only rely on your brain to remember, there are too many people and you can't remember for long.
Emperor Xingwu nodded approvingly, then flipped through the other four essays, carefully reading a few pages of each. After appreciating his daughter's literary talent, he said, "You can keep the 'Official Works' for your own use. I will have the four landscape essays printed in the Imperial College and distributed to the official shops in all prefectures, counties, and districts. All proceeds from their sales will go to the court. Is this acceptable to you, my daughter?"
All the proceeds from the court's printing and reprinting of classics and historical books for students belonged to the court. There had never been a precedent for privately printed books and sold them through official shops. If the emperor appreciated the works of a certain scholar, he would only arrange for the Imperial College to print a few copies, either to keep for himself or to reward royal children and civil and military officials, rather than to sell them for money.
Emperor Xingwu's arrangement was to treat the little princess as a literary figure whose talent could be appreciated by the people of the world. It was a move to make his daughter famous. If he divided his daughter's money again, it would easily lead to gossip and he would be impeached by the censor for misusing public resources for personal gain.
Qingyang has always known that her father favors her, but she was also surprised by her father's words about printing a book. After all, she wrote these just because she wanted to write and never thought about publishing a book.
"Your Majesty, please finish reading it first, and then have it reviewed by a few Grand Secretaries. Otherwise, if it's just your Majesty who thinks it's good, once it's printed, the scholars all over the world will laugh at you for being so petty."
The little princess, who had always been at ease in political affairs, felt a little less confident for the first time.
Emperor Xingwu smiled and said, "Yes, but Father is not good at writing. I do have an eye for books, so you can rest assured, Lin'er."
【Author’s words】
Here I come, 100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow~
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