Regarding this Northern Calendar prince, there is also a story to tell.
Many years ago, after Marshal Jiang's great victory over Northern Calendar, Northern Calendar surrendered. However, after only a few years of peace, once the new Northern Calendar emperor had eliminated his rivals and secured the throne, he again turned his ambitions towards Zhao Nation.
Unfortunately, Jiang Yuan was well-prepared, having consistently supported military commanders and trained new troops. When Northern Calendar sent its army, it was thoroughly defeated by Zhao Nation's forces. Jiang Yuan pressed the advantage, capturing ten Northern Calendar cities in succession, and even personally led the final campaign to capture the Northern Calendar emperor—though Qi Daiyu rather doubted the veracity of that "personally captured" claim.
The captured Northern Calendar emperor, Feng Deshou, could not bear the humiliation and committed suicide. Northern Calendar's military morale completely collapsed. Feng Deshou's younger brother, Feng Deman, seized the opportunity to take the throne, actively surrendered, and pledged allegiance, turning Northern Calendar into a vassal state of Zhao Nation. To show sincerity, Feng Deman sent his legitimate son, Feng Yucheng, to Zhao Nation as a hostage.
To demonstrate the magnanimity of a great nation, Jiang Yuan enfeoffed Feng Yucheng as Prince Li, allowing him to reside in the Xiefang Palace with the imperial princes and study in the Imperial Study.
While Feng Yucheng enjoyed treatment similar to that of a prince, he was, after all, a hostage from Northern Calendar, and could not compare to the supremely precious and noble Princess Yong'an. The problem, however, lay in the fact that Feng Yucheng was a sickly weakling with a frail constitution. If he were truly injured, for the sake of the larger situation, the Emperor would inevitably have to reprimand the Grand Princess a few words.
Thinking of this, Qi Daiyu could no longer stay put. She decided to go with Nie Zhiyu to see what exactly had happened.
Before even stepping into the Imperial Study, Qi Daiyu heard the Crown Prince's cries of pain.
"Eldest Sister, you were too heavy-handed! Look at my face, such a large bruise! You've ruined my handsome looks, how am I supposed to face anyone now?"
"Ouch, ouch! You clumsy, clumsy servant, be gentler! Do you want to pain me to death?"
"Third Sister, stop laughing! If you keep laughing, I'll never bring you delicious treats again!"
Qi Daiyu walked in to see the tall and burly Crown Prince with a black eye, resembling a panda. Seated beside him was the Third Prince, with a scraped patch of skin on his right palm. The Second Princess stood before them, instructing the young eunuch to carefully apply medicine.
Si Yu was giggling at the two of them, while the Grand Princess wore a dark expression, looking very angry.
Chu Tong the Commandery Princess, Jiang Yuelan, and others were also present.
When Qi Daiyu and Nie Zhiyu entered, everyone immediately paid their respects.
"Greetings to Consort Hui, Consort Shun."
"Consort Hui!" The Crown Prince "howled" and rushed over, "You must uphold justice for your son! Look at my face, it was all Eldest Sister's doing!"
Nearly six feet tall, stout, and solidly built like a small mountain, he was speaking in a coquettish tone.
Si Yu retorted, "That's not how it was at all! You and Third Brother were trying to break up the fight, and Eldest Sister accidentally swung her fist and hit your face." Then the Crown Prince stumbled and bumped into the Third Prince, who lost his footing, fell to the ground, and scraped his hand.
Having failed in his complaint, the Crown Prince glared at Si Yu.
Si Yu, not to be outdone, glared back.
Ignoring the silent battle between these two, Qi Daiyu scanned the room and noticed two people were missing: Feng Yucheng and Jiang Huai.
"What exactly happened? Where is Prince Li?"
It was only then that the Grand Princess spoke up, "I accidentally broke his wrist. I set it back! But he wasn't reassured, so I had someone send him to the Imperial Hospital."
As Qi Daiyu was about to ask for details, Quan Fuhai arrived.
"By His Majesty's decree, the Grand Princess is summoned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Ah, Consort Hui is also here. His Majesty happens to have matters to discuss with you as well."
Qi Daiyu had to ask Nie Zhiyu to escort the children back, while she and the Grand Princess headed for the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Having the palace attendants keep their distance, Qi Daiyu lowered her voice, "For no good reason, why did you hit that Feng Yucheng?"
The Grand Princess looked somewhat uncomfortable. "That person puts on airs all day long. I find him extremely annoying."
"Was it because of Jiang Huai?" A hint of gossip appeared on Qi Daiyu's face.
Jiang Huai was the legitimate eldest son of Jiang Ruxun, the adopted younger brother of the Empress.
When the Second Prince was five years old, the Emperor issued an edict enfeoffing the Second Prince as Crown Prince. He selected Tang Cong, son of Tang Gejian (Chief Grand Secretary and Minister of Personnel), and Jiang Huai, son of Jiang Ruxun (Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review), as the Crown Prince's study companions.
Judging by his father's official rank, Jiang Huai was not quite qualified to be a Crown Prince's companion. But the Jiang family was the Empress's maternal family and the Crown Prince's maternal uncle's family. From that perspective, Jiang Huai was actually quite suitable.
"Consort Hui!" the Grand Princess chided, "It wasn't for him at all!"
Qi Daiyu just smiled.
She looked at the Grand Princess with gentle and gratified eyes.
If the late Empress had any regrets before her passing, it was probably not being able to see the Grand Princess marry with her own eyes, or even having enough time to select a consort for the Grand Princess. Actually, the Empress could have insisted on deciding if she wished, but she preferred the Grand Princess to meet a suitable, beloved partner on her own.
The Grand Princess was now sixteen, graceful and elegant, more beautiful than flowers.
"Ah, don't look at me like that! I won't talk to you anymore!" The Grand Princess stamped her foot and walked ahead sullenly.
When they reached the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Crown Prince was waiting outside the hall doors.
He spent an hour each day learning by the Emperor's side, so he had not been in the Imperial Study when the Grand Princess hit Feng Yucheng.
At eleven years old, the Crown Prince already carried himself like a young adult, as steadfast as a pine or bamboo, calm and steady—this was his demeanor when outsiders were present.
Seeing the two approach, the Crown Prince bowed formally and respectfully, "Greetings to Consort Hui. Eldest Sister."
Then he lowered his voice, "Eldest Sister, when you go in later, act a bit coquettish, soften your tone."
He winked at the Grand Princess.
The Grand Princess pursed her lips and went in first.
Qi Daiyu took the opportunity to ask the Crown Prince a few questions about his recent meals and such.
"Lan Yi is serving you in the Eastern Palace. She is the most reliable, so I'm quite at ease. But you mustn't strain yourself too much either. Balance work with rest, and absolutely no more staying up late to study."
Last year, the Crown Prince moved to the Eastern Palace, and Lan Yi went with him to become the Chief Stewardess there. Lan Yi was naturally loyal to the Crown Prince, but she also strongly wished for him to excel, so she urged him rather strictly in his studies. Two months ago, the Crown Prince caught a chill from reading late at night and fell ill.
Qi Daiyu wanted him to relax a little and not push himself too hard.
The corner of the Crown Prince's mouth twitched upwards, then he composed himself again. "Consort Hui, rest assured, your son understands."
Qi Daiyu: "By the way, my palace made egg tarts today. I'll have Lianwu send two over to the Eastern Palace later. Or you can have Xiao Yinzi go fetch them from the Changchun Palace."
The Crown Prince had a sweet tooth. "Could it be... four?"
Qi Daiyu laughed. "Alright, four! But no more!"
After the Crown Prince left, Qi Daiyu finally entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Inside, Jiang Yuan was speaking, while the Grand Princess stood with her head bowed, twisting her fingers.
Years had passed. Jiang Yuan was now nearly forty. He had grown a beard, and his majesty was even more imposing than before, often causing people to tremble with fear from a single glance.
At this moment, however, he wore the expression of someone at a loss with the Grand Princess.
"Even if you had to hit him, couldn't you have found a secluded spot, or had someone else do it for you? You just had to do it in broad daylight, and in a place like the Study Hall! The Study Hall is for your studies, not for brawling!"
"Never mind whether some censor might hear of this and impeach you, you must think of your own reputation! A princess, leading her two younger sisters to beat up a man, even injuring a brother-in-arms? What will people think of you? You are a princess of the realm!"
Just then, he saw Qi Daiyu enter. Jiang Yuan turned to her, saying, "I told you long ago she shouldn't have been allowed to learn those martial arts. But you and the Empress indulged her. Look at her now—what other young lady is like her? You two have truly spoiled her rotten!"
The Eldest Princess was defiant. "Why can't a woman learn martial arts? I want to learn them, and I've learned them well—I'm no worse than any boy. I might even go to the battlefield someday!"
"You!" Jiang Yuan was so angry his beard seemed to bristle.
Qi Daiyu poured tea for both of them. "When has your father ever truly forbidden you? Have you forgotten, the Master Liao who teaches you martial arts was personally selected by His Majesty as an expert. Just a few months ago, when His Majesty inspected the Tiger Guard camp at the capital's outskirts, he specifically took you along."
To be fair, Jiang Yuan was extremely indulgent towards the Eldest Princess. If she wanted to learn martial arts, he found her a master. If she wanted to leave the palace, he granted her a token allowing her to come and go as she pleased. He basically gave her whatever she asked for.
His earlier words were merely spoken in anger.
"As for the nonsense about women not learning martial arts, that's utterly false. During the war with Northern Li, the Red Tassel Army rendered great service!"
The Red Tassel Army, Zhao Kingdom's only female guard unit, comprised just five hundred women. It was established by Jiang Yuan himself, initially facing skepticism from all the officials. Jiang Yuan had forcefully overruled them, declaring, "The Empress's archery skills can hit a target from a hundred paces. Were she to don armor and go to battle, she would be a heroine! Our Zhao Kingdom is vast, and among its countless women, there must be extraordinary talents. By establishing this female guard and broadly recruiting talented women to strengthen our armies, I am planning for the long term."
The name "Red Tassel" was personally chosen by the Empress.
Hearing Qi Daiyu say this, the Eldest Princess realized her mistake. She turned to her father, cooing, "Father, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have beaten Feng Yucheng in public. But he was truly despicable, he actually..."
"Actually what?" Jiang Yuan glared at her. "Actually bullied Jiang Huai?"
The Eldest Princess's eyes widened. "You knew?! You knew and you still scolded me!"
"Feng Yucheng is a Commandery Prince, while Jiang Huai is but a commoner with no official rank. For Feng Yucheng to order Jiang Huai to kneel, what fault is there in that according to propriety?"
The Eldest Princess retorted, "By the rules of etiquette, perhaps not. But Feng Yucheng's intent was to humiliate him! Of course I couldn't stand by and watch!"
Jiang Yuan's expression suddenly shifted to a teasing one. "So you felt a pang of pity for that Jiang Huai, is that it?"
"Who's feeling sorry for him! Don't talk nonsense, Father. Jiang Huai is my cousin; it's only right that I protect him!" Even as she said this, the Eldest Princess's face flushed red.
Her bashfulness was not lost on Jiang Yuan and Qi Daiyu.
Jiang Yuan settled into his seat leisurely, his tone meaningful. "Some time ago, the Northern Li envoy submitted a memorial, seeking to propose a marriage alliance for their Commandery Prince, Feng Yucheng. While Feng Yucheng's health is somewhat frail, he is handsome and his literary talent is genuinely good. Moreover, as a hostage, he must remain in the capital his whole life, so the princess wouldn't have to marry far away. He is indeed a rather suitable candidate for consort..."
"He's a toad lusting after swan meat! Who would want to marry him? Is he even worthy? He falls ill if a breeze blows too strong. Marrying him would be like being widowed while he's still alive!"
These words were quite improper. Jiang Yuan looked at Qi Daiyu: These words clearly came from your teaching.
Qi Daiyu guiltily rubbed her nose.
Jiang Yuan continued, "Then who do you want for a consort? Jiang Huai?"
"Father!" This time the Eldest Princess was truly flustered and annoyed. Without another word, she turned and ran out of the room.
"Ah!" Jiang Yuan sighed and took a sip of tea. "Judging by Lingyi's reaction, I fear she has truly set her heart on that Jiang Huai."
Qi Daiyu said, "Young Master Jiang is refined, gentle, elegant, steady, and sincere. He is no less worthy than Commandery Prince Feng."
"I know. Jiang Huai is a fine young man. I'm just wondering whether Lingyi genuinely has feelings for him, or if it's for the sake of the Jiang family."
The Jiang family now only had Jiang Ruhuan serving at court, and even he was merely a fourth-rank Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review—a single pillar struggling to hold up the structure. The Jiang family was far from its former glory. If they were fortunate enough to have a princess marry into the family, the Jiangs' prominence could naturally continue for many more years.
Jiang Yuan was worried the Eldest Princess might sacrifice herself to help the Jiang family.
In truth, in Qi Daiyu's heart, Jiang Huai was far better than Feng Yucheng. Of course, if Jiang Huai were truly the Eldest Princess's blood cousin, Qi Daiyu would do everything possible to make the princess dislike him—one must avoid close-kin marriage.
But Jiang Ruhuan was actually the Empress's adopted younger brother. Calculating the kinship, Jiang Huai and the Eldest Princess were fourth-degree collateral relatives, not considered close kin. In Qi Daiyu's original world, that would meet the requirements for marriage.
Therefore, Qi Daiyu naturally had no objection.
"Based on my understanding of the Eldest Princess, her feelings for Jiang Huai are genuine."
