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◎Step by step, it’s getting closer.◎
Because a celebration banquet was held on the fourth day of the first lunar month, Emperor Xingwu did not entertain his ministers for a banquet during the Dragon Boat Festival this year. Only the royal family members gathered together to celebrate the festival.
Prince Yong and his family entered the palace as usual, but Qingyang saw that Uncle Wang looked a little depressed, and Aunt Wang Deng was forcing herself to smile.
This was perfectly human. My father and Deng Chong were good brothers, as was my uncle. Seeing Deng Chong's age, how could they let go so quickly? And even more so for Mrs. Deng. Deng Chong was her eldest brother. Both Deng Chong's health and his resignation were a blow to the Deng clan.
After the banquet, Prince Yong's family immediately withdrew from the palace. Yongkang, wanting to spend time with his younger brother, took his wife and children to Chongyuan Palace. The Imperial Concubine, fond of her one-year-old granddaughter Ying'er, took Qin Bing and his family of three to Changchun Palace. Concubine Li followed suit, inviting her third son and daughter to visit her in Xianfu Palace.
Emperor Xingwu gave Concubine Li a look that made her swallow back the words she was about to say.
Are they all gone, leaving him alone?
Qingyang noticed the undercurrent between his father and mother, and said with a smile, "Then your father and mother can rest. Third brother and I will take our leave first."
Emperor Xingwu: "No hurry, stay with me for a while."
The brother and sister sat side by side to the right of their father. Emperor Xingwu pointed to another main seat next to them and asked Concubine Li to sit there. He asked Qin Ren, "Have you sent the festival gifts to the Yan Mansion?"
Qin Ren: "I sent it off."
Emperor Xingwu snorted, "At least you understand some of the ways of the world. Yuezhong, you're going to be crowned king soon. Where do you want to serve?"
The crown prince is the heir to the throne, so it is most appropriate to place him in the Secretariat. The second son should practice martial arts, so he should first do some clerical work in the Ministry of War to cool down his temper. Lin'er can go anywhere, but for the third son, Emperor Xingwu must first ask his son's preference to avoid placing him in the wrong place. If the third son is lazy and delays things, he will be angry if he is not punished, and Concubine Li and his daughter will be distressed if he is punished too severely.
Qin Ren glanced at his father and whispered, "I'm not as good at studying as my elder brother and sister, and my martial arts skills are nowhere near my second brother's. I'm afraid that wherever I go, I'll be letting your father down... Hey, father, please don't do it! Let me think about it, let me think about it!"
However, Emperor Xingwu suddenly left his seat halfway through the conversation and ran towards his son, scaring Qin Ren so much that he quickly hid behind his sister.
Qingyang ran to his mother in time, squeezed into a chair with his nervous mother, and just watched the show.
Emperor Xingwu grabbed the third son, who didn't want to serve, and pushed him down on the table. He gritted his teeth and said, "Think quickly! When you figure it out, I'll let you go! You useless thing! Although your uncle didn't like studying when he was young, he was a good martial artist. He followed me on many expeditions and made many contributions. You are the only one in the entire Qin family. You are about to get married and you are still lazy!"
Even though the emperor, who founded his country through military force, was fifty-five years old, he was still full of energy. He clasped his son's shoulders with his big hands, squeezing them so hard that Qin Rensheng felt pain.
Qingyang looked at his third brother's handsome face, which was distorted with pain, and said calmly, "I'm in the Ministry of Personnel, and my second brother is in the Ministry of War. Among the six ministries, there are still the Ministry of Revenue, which is in charge of land finances, the Ministry of Rites, which is in charge of ceremonies and imperial examinations, the Ministry of Justice, which is in charge of criminal penalties, and the Ministry of Works, which is in charge of engineering affairs..."
Qin Ren: "Ministry of Rites, Father, I want to go to the Ministry of Rites!"
Emperor Xingwu still held his son down, "You are lucky to be a prince. Otherwise, what right do you have to be picky about the six ministries that students from all over the country fight so hard to get into? I think you don't need to go to the Ministry of Rites anymore. Go to the North Camp and serve as a soldier for your uncle. A month of training will definitely cure your laziness!"
Qin Ren really wanted to cry and looked at his sister pleadingly.
Qingyang then said, "Father, Third Brother's handwriting is quite good. Going to the Ministry of Rites will at least show his talent. But if he goes to the Northern Camp, a prince will fall behind even for his morning run. It would be embarrassing for him, but what about the damage to your reputation?"
Concubine Li nodded subconsciously.
Emperor Xingwu squeezed his son's shoulder again and said, "Then go to the Ministry of Rites. I will personally review your evaluations every month. If you dare not fulfill your duties, I will send you to the Censorate!"
Nie Ao's thunderous face as he refuted his sister flashed before his eyes, and Qin Ren quickly promised that he would do his job well.
Emperor Xingwu finally let go of their hands and let the brother and sister go.
Qin Ren followed his sister to Jiuhua Palace, rubbing his shoulders as he walked, and said with a bitter face, "I just don't want to be an errand boy, but if the emperor really assigns me an errand, I will definitely not delay. Why did the emperor have to warn me? He almost crushed my bones."
Qingyang: "That's great! It means Father's dragon body is still strong and full of energy."
Qin Ren: “…”
Qingyang naturally still cared about his third brother. After returning to the palace, he asked Jie Yu to find a blood-removing plaster, and then asked Jie Yu to go to the second room to help his third brother apply the plaster.
After a few cries of "ouch," Qin Ren came out, smelling of medicine, and asked his sister, "Tomorrow is another day off. Do you want to leave the palace? I'll call Zhang Su with me."
Qingyang: "Why do I have to call him when I leave the palace?"
Qin Ren was stunned for a moment, then reacted: "Yes, we are not children anymore. You and Zhang Su are at the age where you should avoid suspicion. However, avoiding suspicion is avoiding suspicion. After all, you grew up together. You haven't seen each other for more than two years. You really don't miss Zhang Su at all? He didn't forget your birthday gift this year. Let me calculate. The Kong bird was sent by him before he went to war last year. It's such a complicated carving. He spent at least three to five months carving it every day. He started preparing it almost after you turned fourteen. When it comes to the thoughtfulness of giving gifts, even I, your brother, can't compare to Zhang Su."
Qingyang: "Hearing what Third Brother said, you and I should indeed hold a private reception for him, but forget about tomorrow. Let him reunite with his family first. On the tenth day, when he has a day off, Third Brother will host a banquet for him."
Qin Ren: "Okay, I'll send him an invitation on the ninth day. Then, sister, do you want to go to my house by yourself, or should I pick you up outside the palace gate?"
Qingyang: "I'll go there by myself and arrive around noon."
.
Early on the eleventh day of the first lunar month, Qingyang got up in the morning and practiced sword for two quarters of an hour before having breakfast. After breakfast, he read for half an hour and practiced calligraphy for half an hour. It was just the hour of Si, and it was estimated that the third brother had just gotten up.
Qingyang took Jie Yu to Xianfu Palace to talk with his mother, and then went to Qianyuan Palace to ask his father for a pass to leave the palace. He told his father that his third brother was hosting a banquet for Zhang Su today and had also invited her to join the table.
Emperor Xingwu took out the badge he had prepared long ago and teased his daughter: "You came just now. I thought I would finally lose the ability to guess what Lin'er is thinking."
Qingyang: "...Father misses Deng Chong, so he naturally understands my third brother and I's concern for Zhang Su."
Emperor Xingwu smiled and said, "I understand, but Lin'er is a grown woman after all, and Zhang Su is also of marriageable age. If you have no feelings for him beyond that of a childhood playmate, I will warn the Duke of Wei to arrange a marriage for Zhang Su as he wishes. There's no need to hold back their son for my Lin'er."
Qingyang asked in surprise, "Did the emperor mention this to the Duke of Wei?"
Emperor Xingwu: "I didn't say it directly. When Father arranged the marriage for your third brother, he toasted him. They haven't been in a hurry to choose a wife for Zhang Su in the past two years. They must have understood my intention."
Qingyang was genuinely curious: "Isn't your Majesty afraid that I might not have any feelings for Zhang Su?"
Emperor Xingwu: "What are you afraid of? It's just a matter of waiting a year or two. I would rather let the Zhang family wait a little longer so that I can find a good candidate for a son-in-law for Lin'er first."
The emperor treated her so well and considered everything for her. Qingyang looked at the badge in her hand and smiled: "I do like him, but it's not easy for him to be my consort. I have to ask him first if he is willing."
Even if she likes someone, she won't force him.
In her eyes, the only difference between the twenty-one-year-old Zhang Su and the seventeen- or eighteen-year-old Zhang Su, or even the eleven- or twelve-year-old Zhang Su, was their height and appearance. But in Zhang Su's eyes, the difference between the eleven- or twelve-year-old little princess who just liked to read and visit government offices in and outside the palace and the fifteen-year-old little princess who actually entered the court to participate in politics should be huge.
Qingyang would not want a prince consort who only liked her looks and talent but wanted her to devote herself to taking care of her husband and children.
.
The Third Prince’s Mansion.
Qin Ren used his actions to prove that the sisters in the palace underestimated him. Today he had to entertain his good brother whom he hadn't seen for more than two years. How could he sleep until the Si hour? Qin Ren got up just after the Chen hour. After breakfast, he was strolling in the yard to digest the food. When he heard that Zhang Su had arrived, Qin Ren happily went out to greet him. He knew that Zhang Su missed him too, so he came earlier than the time he had agreed on in the post!
Before the sun got too strong, Qin Ren took Zhang Su to visit the garden. In early summer, he personally selected and transplanted various famous flowers and trees, and the scenery was just right. Qin Ren accompanied his good brother to appreciate the subtle changes in his garden, while recalling the scenes of their garden tour, and then asked Zhang Su about his life in Yunzhou and his experiences on the battlefield.
Zhang Su answered concisely.
Qin Ren also cared about Deng Chong's illness. He learned that Deng Chong had been struggling with fever and chills for half a month and was almost unable to be saved several times. More soldiers died directly in this process of alternating hot and cold. While Qin Ren felt pity for the soldiers, he was also deeply afraid for Zhang Su. This kind of thing depends entirely on fate. Until the last moment, who can guarantee that malaria will not appear on themselves?
Zhang Su: "So the Emperor's decision to stop the war until the Pyu Kingdom is willing to negotiate is correct. If we continue, more soldiers will die from malaria. As long as the Pyu Kingdom can hold out, our army will undoubtedly be defeated. The Emperor sent Duke Dingguo to lead the troops because he is the most valiant and skilled fighter. The more courageous our army fights, the less likely the Pyu Kingdom will be to take any chances."
Qin Ren himself could not lead troops, but he was willing to listen to Zhang Su talk about what happened on the battlefield, and he also admired the soldiers who defended their country.
"Forget it, let's talk about the rest after my sister comes. She will definitely ask about it, so why should I ask you to say the same thing twice."
Qin Ren said sympathetically.
Zhang Su lowered his eyes.
As they chatted, Qin Ren mentioned his marriage and then asked Zhang Su, "You are twenty-one now. When you came back this time, did the Duke and his wife mention choosing a good wife for you?"
Zhang Su: “…No.”
A few years ago, my mother had joked about his marriage, but this time when I returned to Beijing, she didn't mention it at all.
Qin Ren was surprised: "With your family background, looks, and talent, matchmakers should be trampling on your doorstep, right?"
Zhang Su: "...Maybe because I'm not in the capital, my parents aren't worried."
Since it wasn't mentioned, Qin Ren simply changed the subject. Anyway, with Zhang Su's conditions, marriage would not be difficult.
After strolling around the garden slowly, he returned to the main courtyard at around noon, which was still half an hour before the little princess's scheduled arrival time.
Qin Ren took Zhang Su to his study again and showed him his relatively good calligraphy and paintings from the past two years. As they were looking at each other, Qin Ren unfolded another scroll and found that it was actually his sister. Qin Ren quickly put it away and muttered to himself, "Why did you put it here? It's a good thing it's you. If it was someone else, my sister would definitely be furious with me if she knew."
Zhang Su glanced at the clepsydra placed in the study.
At one o'clock in the afternoon, the doorman finally came over with a message saying that the little princess's carriage had turned into the alley.
Qin Ren is the older brother, so it doesn't matter if he doesn't go to pick up his sister, but why wouldn't he? He called Zhang Su and walked out quickly, fearing that his sister would be unhappy if she got off the car and didn't see them.
The two young and long-legged men walked quite fast. When the carriage carrying the little princess, escorted by sixteen guards, stopped in front of the door, Qin Ren and Zhang Su had been standing there for a while.
Jie Yu opened the car door from the outside, and the next moment, a hint of light green appeared in Zhang Su's sight before the little princess.
Before the little princess revealed her face, Zhang Su lowered his eyes.
Qingyang glanced at him, and with Jie Yu's help, he got out of the car and smiled at his third brother: "I'm not too late, am I?"
Qin Ren: "It's not too late, we were just admiring the paintings."
The sun was shining brightly. Qin Ren motioned Zhang Su to follow him and went in with his sister first.
Zhang Su fell three steps behind, and all he could see was the little princess's satin skirt swaying gently like water waves, getting closer and closer with every step.
【Author’s words】
Here I come, 100 red envelopes, see you tomorrow [Three-color cat head]
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