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"Father, I want a badge that allows me to walk freely outside the palace."
"Are you tired from archery practice yesterday and can't get up this morning?"
After the morning court session, Emperor Xingwu saw his daughter sitting on a cushion in the imperial road, reading a book with great concentration. He smiled, squatted in front of his daughter and whispered a joke.
His father actually found out about this. Qingyang was annoyed and raised the "Han Feizi" in his hand to block his father's face.
Emperor Xingwu stared at the three eye-catching characters on the cover, stunned for a moment. After all the officials in the hall had left, he continued to ask, "When did Lin'er start reading Han Fei?"
Qingyang: "It's in Chongwen Pavilion, so I took it to have a look."
Chongwen Pavilion was not only a place for the princes to study, but also housed a large collection of books. Although the imperial court only respected Confucianism, Chongwen Pavilion housed works from hundreds of schools of thought handed down from previous dynasties.
Emperor Xingwu sighed, "Lin'er is even better than father. The first time father encountered Han Feizi was in the study at Prime Minister Yan's home."
In the previous dynasty, the imperial examinations drew exclusively from Confucian classics. Confucian texts were also the most common items sold in major bookstores. The smaller the county, the fewer other classics were available. At least, Emperor Xingwu's mentor, Mr. Yang, didn't own any Legalist texts at home. At the time, Emperor Xingwu didn't have the leisure to dwell on such matters. As his power gradually consolidated and he gained more talented people under his command, he finally freed up some energy to continue studying.
Qingyang put the book down and looked at his father's face, tanned to a tanned tan from his impoverished youth and subsequent years of warfare. His eyes were filled with reverence. "Father became emperor first, and then I was able to read so many books in the Chongwen Pavilion. So, in my eyes, Father will always be the most powerful father in the world."
Emperor Xingwu tapped his daughter's forehead and said, "You are the only one who speaks sweetly."
After saying this, he helped his daughter hold the book with one hand and stood up with her hand in the other. The father and daughter went to the middle hall to have dinner as usual.
"Is your arm sore?" Emperor Xingwu asked, looking at his daughter's right arm.
Qingyang glared at his father and said, "I haven't practiced for long. Father already knows everything, don't mention it again."
Emperor Xingwu said: "Fortunately, Zhang Su was able to persuade you, otherwise your arms would be worn out and your mother would cry again."
When the princess mentioned her mother, she continued to stare: "Did the emperor ask her to arrange a needlework teacher for me?"
Emperor Xingwu said, "How is that possible? If I had known that your mother wanted to use that method to help you kill time, I would have stopped her long ago, lest she upset you for nothing and suffer your scolding for nothing."
Qingyang: "I didn't scold my mother!"
Emperor Xingwu: "Anyway, you scared your mother to tears."
Qingyang was anxious and put down her chopsticks to go find her mother. Emperor Xingwu stopped her in time and said, "Your father has already coaxed your mother last night. Lin'er, please accompany your father for dinner first."
Qingyang was indeed hungry, so he tried his best to maintain his composure and eat faster.
Emperor Xingwu continued to show concern for his daughter: "In the future, on the 2nd, 5th, and 8th days of the lunar month, be prepared to do something on your free afternoons. If you really have nothing to do, you can come to my place."
Qingyang: "Father, you're saying nice things now. I really come here too often. Father, you're going to get annoyed with me again. Besides, Father gets up before dawn every day and is busy all morning. It's hard to find some time in the afternoon to do something you like. I can't bear to disturb Father."
Emperor Xingwu silently stuffed his mouth with rice.
Qingyang also lowered her head to eat. As she ate, she raised her head and said to her father across from her, "Father, I would like to have another badge that allows me to enter and exit the palace freely, including walking freely outside the palace."
The palace gates were heavily guarded. Even if the eldest sister and second brother, who had already established their own households, wanted to enter the palace, they had to be informed by palace servants first and obtain permission from their father or the imperial concubine. Qingyang and the third brother also had to obtain their father's consent every time they left the palace. If they were given a badge allowing free entry and exit, Qingyang could leave the palace directly on the afternoons of the 2nd, 5th, and 8th of each month, as well as on holidays.
Emperor Xingwu: "...You can't go to the front court, so you go outside the palace instead? You're quite clever. There's a lot more outside the palace than the front court, even including the entire Great Qi."
Qingyang: "...I'm only ten years old. Even if my father is willing to let me run so far, I can't bear to leave him and his mother. The farthest I can go is to visit the four major camps in the capital and see how the soldiers in the capital camps usually train."
Emperor Xingwu looked at his daughter meaningfully.
The little princess pretended to concentrate on eating.
But Qingyang knew that if she wanted to ask her father for a new badge, she had to tell him clearly where she would go after getting it. Only when her father knew her little thoughts and was willing to give it to her, could Qingyang feel at ease and walk around the government offices and the Beijing camp outside the palace without worrying about Yan Xizheng, Nie Ao or other old-fashioned people reporting her to her father.
Emperor Xingwu ate his meal leisurely. When his daughter looked over at him, he said, "Of course I can, but I only know that you asked for a badge that would allow you to walk freely outside the palace. When I agreed to this, I had no idea where you would go after you got it."
The little princess' eyes lit up. "Yes, that's what I said. If anyone goes to complain to Father in the future, he can just blame it on my playfulness and cunningness."
Emperor Xingwu: "Don't laugh yet. The new waist badge also has a limited period. You can use it until your fifteenth birthday at most. Don't be upset. This is for your own good. Before you reach the age of 15, you can still use it as a child. After you reach the age of 15, you will be a princess through and through. You can no longer use playfulness as an excuse."
Qingyang understood and nodded in agreement.
Emperor Xingwu said: "By the way, go play with your eldest sister-in-law twice first, then complain to your eldest brother, and have him come to me to ask for a new waist badge for you."
The old badge was earned by the three-year-old daughter by reciting the Thousand Character Classic. The new badge also needs a reason to be given, otherwise the prince and the ministers may think too much about it.
The little princess blinked and smiled: "Father is indeed more powerful."
.
On the evening of August 28, Qin Hong returned to Chongyuan Palace from the Censorate. He was surprised to be told by the Crown Princess that his sister had been playing there the entire afternoon and had not even woken up yet.
Qin Hong: "When did you start sleeping?"
Lu Wenrong: "It's already past noon."
Qin Hong smiled and said, "She seems to like sticking to you lately."
While helping him change out of his outer robe, Lü Wenrong said, "My sister used to be able to go to the Former Court for a walk, but now she has three afternoons free every ten days, and she doesn't want to study or practice martial arts, so she can only come and play with me and Yaoyao. Unfortunately, we are older than her, and I can see that my sister is not very happy after staying with us for a long time. She seems to be forcing herself to stay energetic."
Qin Hong was also troubled: "My sister is very talented and has been different from ordinary girls since she was young. It's normal that she can't play with you guys."
As the couple was talking, the senior palace maid beside Lu Wenrong said outside, "Your Highness, Crown Princess, the princess has woken up and is coming to say goodbye."
Qin Hong signaled Lu Wenrong to go and keep his sister first, while he put on his casual clothes.
The couple arrived at the hall almost at the same time. At the invitation of her brother and sister-in-law, the little princess stayed there for dinner. However, she looked listless and didn't eat much. While eating, she suddenly seemed to think of something and looked towards the prince frequently.
Qin Hong encouraged: "Sister, feel free to speak up. Don't be polite to big brother."
Qingyang looked at his sister-in-law next to him and whispered, "Did I really say that?"
The young couple both laughed.
Qingyang looked at his eldest brother and said, "The Left Prime Minister is not happy about me going to the important place of the former dynasty, so I won't go. But the palace is too boring without a place to play. I want to ask father for another waist badge that allows us to leave the palace freely and play outside the palace."
Qin Hong: "Well, there are all kinds of people outside the palace, and my third brother and Zhang Su can't accompany you normally..."
The little princess raised her head high and said to her elder brother, "No need for them. I will call Jie Yu and ask father to arrange a few guards to protect me."
Qin Hong: "Even so, Father may not be able to rest assured."
He was not very confident about his sister leaving the palace on her own.
Qingyang: "Whether I'm worried or not is secondary. I'm afraid that the emperor doesn't want to give me such a badge, so I want to ask my eldest brother to intercede for me."
Qin Hong looked away awkwardly. His sister really overestimated him. How could he dare to go to his father if even his sister was afraid?
The little princess understood her brother's dilemma, and the light in her eyes quickly dimmed, but she still said sensibly: "Forget it, I still won't leave the palace. Maybe I'll get used to it in a few days."
Qin Hong really wanted to comfort his sister, but he was not sure he could help her.
A few days later, on the second day of September, when Qin Hong returned home in the evening, thinking about his sister, he asked his wife, "Did your sister come today?"
Lu Wenrong sighed, "No, I went to Jiuhua Palace on purpose and heard from Jie Yu that my sister went to sleep after dinner. Later, I went there again and my sister was still lying in bed. I didn't know what she was doing. She looked listless and completely different from her usual self."
Qin Hong: "..."
Since he knew that his sister wanted the badge, and thinking about how his sister had often helped him out in front of the emperor in recent years, Qin Hong went to Qianyuan Hall the next afternoon when his father was relatively free.
Emperor Xingwu was practicing spearmanship. As he was getting older, he needed to exercise his muscles regularly in order to be able to review memorials for a long time.
Qin Hong watched respectfully from the side.
After Emperor Xingwu finished practicing, he handed the spear to the palace maid, took the towel handed to him by He Yuanjing, walked to his son, wiped his face and asked, "What do you want from me? Tell me."
Qin Hong first talked about his sister's recent mental state, and then begged his father to grant his sister a badge to go to the previous dynasty together. It was too chaotic outside the palace, and he felt that his sister would be safer in the previous dynasty.
Emperor Xingwu said: "Impossible. I said in front of all the ministers that her waist badge can only be used until the Mid-Autumn Festival. What's the name of issuing another one?"
Qin Hong: "Then, did the emperor give my sister a badge to go out for a walk with me? Going out for a walk should cheer my sister up."
Emperor Xingwu sized up his son and snorted, "You're a good brother indeed. I simply gave her a waist badge. I'm afraid Yan Xizheng and his ministers will find out and come to openly accuse your sister and secretly accuse me of being foolish and deliberately letting your sister's heart run wild."
Qin Hong smiled and said, "My sister is only ten years old. The Left Prime Minister and his men are overthinking it. They really dare to bother the emperor with this matter. I am willing to clarify it on his behalf."
Emperor Xingwu was very pleased that his eldest son finally dared to refute the important ministers. Although this time he did it to protect his sister, he might get used to it if it happened a few more times.
"Alright, then I'll give your sister a new one. Well, she can only use it before she reaches the age of marriage. After that, you must not indulge her anymore."
Qin Hong breathed a sigh of relief.
Emperor Xingwu: "Of course, if I don't live to see your sister's coming of age, then the waist badge will be invalid. It's up to you whether to give her a new one or not."
Qin Hong's eyes sore when he realized what he meant. He knelt down and hugged his father's legs: "Father, don't talk nonsense. You will surely live a long life. We, your sons, are looking forward to your indulgence for the rest of our lives."
Emperor Xingwu pulled his eldest son up and, seeing the tears on his fair face, said helplessly, "Look at how incompetent you are. You can't even make a joke?"
Qin Hong lowered his head and choked with sobs.
What a joke! Whenever he thought about his father leaving and asking him to take over the world, he felt cold all over and as if he was walking on thin ice.
【Author’s words】
Here I come, 100 red envelopes, see you tonight~
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