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"The guards are guards, and Zhang Su is Zhang Su."
Before the Double Ninth Festival, Qingyang received a new waist badge awarded by her father. It still had the majestic Qilin pattern, with the words "Princess Qingyang" engraved on the front and "Free to walk outside the palace, for use only before the second day of April in the sixteenth year of Xingwu" engraved on the back.
Verbal promises are verbal promises, but when the little princess actually got the badge, she couldn't help but smile. She threw herself on her father's back, rubbing her head against his ear, and said, "I love you the most!"
Emperor Xingwu didn't believe it: "More than your mother?"
Qingyang: “A lot!”
Emperor Xingwu snorted, "Little liar princess."
Qingyang had hugged enough and sat aside again.
Emperor Xingwu said, "It's the same as the old one. You can only use it yourself. Also, during the three months before the New Year, choose a place to wander around the city. Don't go straight to the Imperial Camp. A princess going to the Imperial Camp is more likely to attract criticism from the ministers than going to the former court."
Qingyang: "Don't worry, Father. I'm not that stupid. I plan to go to Jingzhao Yin first to familiarize myself with the situation."
The news of her leaving the palace would definitely spread. Take Yan Xizheng as an example. If he heard that she went to Jingzhao Yin right after getting her new badge, the Left Prime Minister would probably just frown. But if he heard that she went to one of the four major camps in the capital first, he might be frightened and suspect that she wanted to get her hands on military power!
Emperor Xingwu said: "Your third brother and Zhang Su both need to study. I have asked Fan Zhong to select sixteen guards for you. They will be your exclusive guardians from now on."
Qingyang's mind moved: "Can I choose these sixteen guards myself?"
Emperor Xingwu smiled and asked, "How do you want to choose?"
Qingyang thought for a moment and said, "Eight in their twenties, and eight in their thirties. If they were all young, they might just be playing around outside the palace and not notice any danger. But if they're all older, I'm afraid they'll all treat me like a child, and try to persuade and control everything I do."
Emperor Xingwu nodded, thinking that this made some sense.
Qingyang: "By the way, I'll also have to re-select sixteen people every month. This way, if someone doesn't want to protect me, they can just do it after a month. If they see it as a good job, then everyone will have a chance, eliminating any secret scrambles and jealousies. Most importantly, each person can only accompany me eight or nine times at most, eliminating the possibility of me becoming too close to them. Otherwise, the Left Prime Minister will start to have unpredictable thoughts."
Emperor Xingwu's eyes were full of approval. In terms of thoughtfulness, his daughter was no less than some officials of the time.
"Go ahead."
.
On the Double Ninth Festival, Emperor Xingwu took his two concubines and five children to climb a mountain in the suburbs. In preparation for this trip, the Imperial Guards surrounded the entire mountain in advance and searched it from top to bottom for half a month. When the emperor left the palace, the Imperial Guards also escorted him all the way, and the procession was grand. Qingyang was sitting in the carriage and saw the people on the roadside kneeling on the ground, respectfully shouting "Long live the emperor".
Concubine Li was in the same carriage with her daughter. Seeing this, she whispered, "Your father hasn't liked leaving the palace in recent years because he doesn't want to cause a big disturbance. This time, he wanted me and the concubine to come out for some fresh air. Otherwise, if it were just him, he would rather stay in the palace."
Qingyang: "Luckily it's just a short trip, I'll be back in the afternoon."
Concubine Li smiled and looked outside through the curtain that her daughter had lifted.
Qingyang looked at his mother's beautiful profile and suddenly felt a little distressed.
She had only been able to remember a few years, and while she could visit the front court and take advantage of her days off to play in the palace, she sometimes found the palace too boring. Her mother and the imperial concubine lived deep in the palace, moving only in the harem year-round. Even her father, though he had the power to travel anywhere, was tied to the throne by endless state affairs, rarely having a moment of leisure.
Although he felt sad, Qingyang had no choice. Looking through history books, wise rulers were diligent in their work, while those who only cared about their own enjoyment were mostly mediocre and incompetent rulers.
All she could do was to share her father's worries as much as possible, and tell the two concubines about her interesting experiences outside the palace to help them relieve their boredom.
When climbing the mountain, Qingyang and Meng Yao accompanied the two concubines respectively. The female relatives were chatting and laughing, which made the Emperor Xingwu, who was walking in front with his three sons, seem even quieter.
Emperor Xingwu asked his sons with disdain, "Don't you have anything to say to me?"
Qin Hong looked at his second brother, who was better at making his father happy. Qin Bing, who had just been scolded for asking his father for a horse, looked at his third brother, Qin Ren, who was out of breath and sweating from climbing the mountain. "...Father, how about we take a break and wait for Mother and the others?"
Emperor Xingwu: “…”
.
After the Double Ninth Festival, on the afternoon of September 11th, Qingyang finished his martial arts class half an hour early. As he was about to leave, Qin Ren, who was sitting in the shade of a tree watching Zhang Su practice his leg techniques, asked from afar, "Where are you going, sister?"
Qingyang smiled and said, "Imperial Guard Division!"
Qin Ren watched his sister and Jie Yu disappear around the corner, then sighed to the tireless Zhang Su, "My sister's gone to pick her guards. Her new waist badge is for her own use. Not only can't she take us with her on the 2nd, 5th, and 8th of the lunar calendar, but even on her days off, my father might not allow me to accompany her out of the palace just because she has her own guards."
Qin Ren is very self-aware. He is able to go out of the palace to play because of his sister. Once his sister no longer needs him, his father will not let him go.
Zhang Su glanced in the direction the little princess left and continued practicing martial arts.
Seeing that he had no reaction at all, Qin Ren continued to sigh: "Yeah, you don't have to worry about that. You only have three days off every month. You don't want to have to accompany your sister around, right?"
Zhang Su changed direction and turned his back to the third prince.
When Mr. Wu saw this, he said with a stern face, "Your Highness the Third Prince can choose not to practice, but please don't take Zhang Su's mind away."
Now he only has three students. The little princess practices archery and sword just for fun, the third prince is just going through the motions, and Zhang Su is the only good student who has both talent and willingness to learn. Mr. Wu is eager to teach him everything he knows.
Qin Ren closed his mouth silently.
The little princess who had already left rushed all the way to Qianyuan Gate leading to the front court, and saw Fan Zhong already waiting there. If he didn't come to pick her up, Qingyang would have to ask her father for a temporary waist badge to use.
Fan Zhong: "Your Highness, don't worry. Aside from those currently on duty, all available Imperial Guards have been assigned according to age. You can simply choose when you arrive."
Qingyang: "Thank you, Commander Fan, for your concern."
Fan Zhong: "That's nothing. If I were not tied up, I would have personally gone to protect His Highness."
Qingyang looked up at his muscular frame and said with a smile, "If I can really take Commander Fan away, then I can just take Commander Fan with me. Why would I need sixteen guards?"
Fan Zhong couldn't hold back his laughter, and his loud laughter rang out along the long palace road.
Arriving at the Imperial Guards, rows of tall, muscular guards were already standing, arranged in rows according to age, ranging from seventeen to thirty-six, for a total of twenty rows. These guards were either the best selected from the four major camps, or military scholars selected through the military imperial examinations over the years, each of them possessing exceptional martial arts skills.
Qingyang led Fan Zhong onto the stage, explaining her selection process. She then began walking around the array of guards, her steps steady as she scanned each guard's face. Finally, she selected eight men under twenty and eight over thirty from the outermost circle. These sixteen would no longer be selected during the next month's selection.
At noon the next day, Qingyang arrived outside Donghua Gate at around 2:55 pm. Sixteen guards in plain clothes were already waiting there.
Qingyang didn't look at it for long and was helped into the carriage by Jie Yu.
Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the Jingzhao Yin's government office. Since it was her first time there, Qingyang showed her badge and waited for Jingzhao Yin Zeng Boyi to pick her up.
Zeng Boyi was surprised and suspicious when he learned that Princess Qingyang had brought sixteen impressive guards with her. He dropped the paperwork in his hands and hurried out. He stopped and was about to salute, but the young princess, dressed in plain clothes, gestured to him in advance and said with a smile, "Master Zeng, there is no need for formalities. I just came to see what the officials of Jingzhao Yin are busy with. You and the other officials can go about your business as usual. There is no need to entertain me specially."
After saying that, Qingyang asked Jie Yu to hand the badge to Zeng Boyi for review.
Zeng Boyi took a quick look at it and returned it respectfully. He understood that the little princess could not go to the front court, so he went outside the palace instead.
Because he had heard from other officials that the little princess was smart and sensible, and at most asked some questions to the officials when they were free, Zeng Boyi welcomed the little princess in with confidence.
Zeng Boyi was just in his early forties and had been promoted from the local level the year before last. Qingyang was very satisfied to see that he was a refined man, and treated her with humility and without trying to please her, and he did not show the obvious dissatisfaction or resistance that Yan Xizheng and Nie Ao had.
Zeng Boyi was obviously not a talkative person. It was not until the little princess came again on September 15th that Yan Xizheng heard about this matter because of the news leaked by a minor official of Jingzhao Yin.
Yan Xizheng immediately went to ask for an audience with Emperor Xingwu.
Emperor Xingwu was reviewing the memorials and said without looking up, "I was also taken advantage of by Lin'er in this matter. You can ask the Crown Prince for the details."
Yan Xizheng couldn't tell whether the emperor's attitude was true or false, so he went to the Censorate to find the prince.
Qin Hong lacked confidence in government affairs and was extremely humble in front of these important officials. However, since he had helped secure his sister's badge, Qin Hong stood up for her without flinching. "I wanted to make her happy. If the Left Prime Minister wants to blame someone, blame me. Don't be so harsh on my sister."
Yan Xizheng: “…”
Nie Ao, who came after hearing the news: "..."
The emperor and the crown prince are both willing to indulge the little princess of the royal family. Besides, the little princess did not cause any trouble in the previous dynasty. What else can the two important ministers do?
September 19th arrived in the blink of an eye. On their way back to the palace at noon, Qin Ren asked in advance, "Sister, are you leaving the palace tomorrow? Do you want us to accompany you?"
Qingyang saw anticipation in her third brother's eyes, but she couldn't tell whether he was looking forward to sleeping in or looking forward to accompanying her out of the palace.
"Third brother, do you want to go?"
Qin Ren nodded repeatedly.
Qingyang: "Then go." When she held her father's badge, she only did serious work, and only left the palace for fun on her days off.
Qin Ren looked at Zhang Su happily. Seeing that Zhang Su still had no expression, Qin Ren sympathetically asked his sister, "So you have sixteen guards now. Do you still need Zhang Su to follow you?"
Qingyang stopped and glared at his third brother, saying, "A guard is a guard, and Zhang Su is Zhang Su. I'm not treating him like a guard when I call him."
Qin Ren looked embarrassed.
Qingyang reacted and immediately looked at Zhang Su: "You don't want to accompany us?"
At this time, lowering his eyes would be equivalent to feeling guilty, so Zhang Su could only meet the little princess's gaze and say, "Your humble servant has never had such intentions."
Qingyang could see that he was not lying, so he glared at his third brother who was trying to be a good guy.
Qin Ren: “…”
【Author’s words】
A tree stands out in the forest, and a unicorn will pick it.
Here I come, 100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow~
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