Last year, when Zhao Sui was at the Ministry of Works, he only reviewed case files and could control his own pace, so he would leave work two quarters of an hour early every day. Now that he was officially participating in official duties, it was possible that some official might come to him right before the end of the workday. Zhao Sui no longer left early. When official duties were light, he left on time; when they were busy, he would delay his departure like other officials, with no fixed schedule.
At a quarter past the hour of You, Zhao Sui tidied up his desk and transferred to his outdoor four-wheeled golden thread nanmu wheelchair. Just as he was about to call Qingai in to push him, he heard Qingai and Feiquan say in unison, Greetings, First Highness and Third Highness.
When a single prince appeared, palace servants and officials were accustomed to addressing him as Your Highness the Prince. However, when there were multiple princes, it was more convenient to distinguish them by using Your [Number] Highness.
Prince Qing asked, Is Second Brother still busy?
Zhao Sui spoke up in time, Qingai.
Qingai immediately came in to push him.
It was Prince Qing's first time visiting his second brother's office. Standing at the door, he glanced inside. The outer study was already spacious enough, but there was actually another door inside. Judging from the row of windows on the south side, the inner room should also be quite spacious. It was said that his second brother never used the Ministry of Works' public latrine, which showed that he had set up his own private washroom inside.
Prince Qing was somewhat envious.
Although his and his eldest brother's princely estates were built to be spacious and grand, and those high-ranking officials also had their own private washrooms at home, everyone was the same at the government offices. Officials of all ranks had to use the two public latrines to relieve themselves. At most, the little eunuchs would clean them more diligently, and the sensible lower-ranking officials would leave a few specific commodes exclusively for the princes and ministers to use.
The most frustrating time for Prince Qing during his daily duties was the few times he had to go relieve himself.
Envy aside, looking at the wheelchair his second brother was sitting in, Prince Qing was not foolish enough to go to their imperial father and ask for a separate office for himself too.
Zhao Sui acted as if he hadn't noticed Prince Qing's gaze and asked, Has something happened?
Prince Kang smiled and said, On the martial arts examination list, four brothers from Second Sister-in-law's family were named at the same time. This beautiful tale has already spread throughout the ministries. Third Brother and I have come, firstly, to congratulate Second Brother, and secondly, to ask for a cup of celebratory wine.
Second Sister-in-law's maiden family did not have a prominent background, so initially, no one paid much attention to Yao Lin and his three brothers. It wasn't until the results of the martial arts written exam were posted that people noticed three candidates surnamed Luo. Among them, Luo Kun and Luo Peng were obviously blood brothers. When someone curiously asked around, they found out that Luo Kun, Luo Peng, and Luo Ze were from the same family. Upon further investigation, these three were actually the cousins of Princess Hui's own brother, who was also on the list!
Four cousins making the list in the same examination was a beautiful tale worth spreading in any dynasty.
Since the two princes came to congratulate him on this matter, Zhao Sui indeed ought to play the host. He said, Then shall we go to my estate?
Prince Kang and Prince Qing both agreed.
Arriving outside the palace, the carriage driver of Prince Hui's estate had already brought the carriage over, waiting to pick up his prince. Next to the carriage, the guards of Prince Kang's and Prince Qing's estates each led a fine horse.
As the weather warmed and the spring breeze grew mild, Prince Kang and Prince Qing had both switched to riding horses back and forth between the imperial palace and their estates.
Usually, the three brothers went their separate ways and rarely bumped into each other. Now that they were gathered together, Prince Hui, who took a carriage, stood out.
Prince Qing said considerately, It's rare for us three brothers to have the time to attend a banquet together. Eldest Brother and I will accompany Second Brother in the carriage.
Saying so, he waved his hand to let the two guards lead the horses away.
Zhao Sui tacitly agreed to Prince Qing's proposal.
Since they were all getting in the carriage, Prince Kang and Prince Qing pushed Prince Hui onto the carriage one after the other. Feiquan stood to the side, inquiring with his eyes, but Zhao Sui gave him a look indicating there was no need to speak.
Feiquan then closed the doors from the outside and whispered to the driver to drive steadily.
The carriage of Prince Hui's estate had its main seating couch removed. On one side was a low cabinet, and on the other was a side seat.
Prince Hui's wheelchair naturally occupied the main position, so Prince Kang and Prince Qing, two robust brothers both over eight feet tall, had to squeeze side by side on the side seat.
Prince Kang glanced at his second brother, who showed no sign of initiating a conversation, and then looked at his third brother, who was inspecting the inside of the carriage again. He broke the silence first, praising Second Sister-in-law's maiden family for being full of talent, noting that all four brothers were around twenty years old and had promising futures.
Zhao Sui spoke modestly on behalf of his wife, Eldest Brother flatters them. Passing the martial arts examination only means they have the qualifications to serve the imperial court; they still have much to learn in the future.
Prince Qing asked, Second Brother has served in both the Ministry of War and the military camps. Have you already thought about what official positions to recommend for the four brothers?
Zhao Sui replied, The conferring of posts for martial arts graduates is discussed by Imperial Father and the Ministry of War. I will not interfere.
Prince Qing joked, I'm just afraid that if the positions are too low, Second Sister-in-law will complain about you.
Zhao Sui did not respond to this, just as he never paid attention to similar jokes in the past.
The driver knew that Prince Hui's wheelchair was not secured, so he drove very steadily. However, no matter how steady, the carriage would still sway. Prince Kang noticed this and quietly stretched his right foot in front of one of his second brother's large golden wheels, pressing firmly against it. This way, the wheelchair was wedged tightly between the backboard of the carriage and his right foot, unable to move.
Prince Qing didn't look down. Fanning himself with a folding fan, he began chatting about the martial arts palace examination scheduled for the day after next. Luo Kun ranked in the top ten in the written exam, and if he performed well in the palace exam, he might be named the martial arts Tanhua. Given Second Sister-in-law's beauty, although Prince Qing hadn't paid special attention to which one was Luo Kun during the written exam invigilation, he imagined that the four Luo brothers must all be quite handsome.
Mentioning appearances, Prince Kang then expressed concern over the marriages of their two younger princess sisters. The First Princess was seventeen and the Second Princess was sixteen; both were of age to choose a prince consort.
The two of them talked animatedly while Zhao Sui just listened in silence.
They arrived at Prince Hui's estate.
When they first left the palace, Zhao Sui had already sent a carriage guard ahead to inform the estate's kitchen to prepare a banquet. Therefore, Guo Shu and Eunuch Cao both came outside the gates to welcome the two distinguished princely guests. After paying their respects, Eunuch Cao explained on behalf of the absent princess, At noon, the Princess was not feeling well. After taking her pulse, the doctor said she caught a chill. The Princess was afraid of passing the illness to Your Highnesses, so she will not come to greet you tonight.
Prince Kang asked with concern, Is it serious? Has a prescription been written?
Eunuch Cao replied, The doctor said it's a mild case. She will try drinking some ginger soup first, and perhaps she will recover by tomorrow morning.
Prince Kang nodded, glanced at his third brother beside him, and said to his second brother, Since Second Sister-in-law is unwell, Second Brother should go check on her first. We will owe you this drink for now, and you can treat us another day.
Prince Qing agreed, Yes, it would be inappropriate for us to drag Second Brother out for drinks and a banquet while Second Sister-in-law is sick.
He had already asked his second brother everything he wanted to know on the way here. Why bother staying to eat with his two older brothers? One only talked about serious matters, and the other didn't want to talk at all. He might as well use this time to go back to his estate and accompany his female cousin.
Zhao Sui said, Alright, then I will invite you another day.
Prince Kang and Prince Qing did not even enter the gates of Prince Hui's estate. They mounted their respective horses and left with their guards.
After the gates of Prince Hui's estate were closed again, Eunuch Cao explained in a low voice to Prince Hui, Do not worry, Your Highness. The Princess is perfectly fine. It's just that she was too happy at noon. While attending a banquet at the Wangxian Restaurant with the in-law madam, the young miss cousin, and the four young masters who made the list, she had a few too many cups of wine. She rested as soon as she returned to the estate and still hasn't woken up.
Zhao Sui: ...
Since the Princess was unharmed, Zhao Sui first bathed in the front courtyard and changed into a set of casual clothes before heading to the backyard.
A three-wheeled wheelchair was kept in the Princess Consort's inner chamber, usually placed just to the side of the door. After entering the room, Zhao Sui dismissed Qingai. He transferred himself into the wheelchair and slowly pushed it toward the canopy bed draped in heavy curtains. Passing through the outer layer, he could already smell a faint scent of alcohol while still on the platform.
Stopping the wheelchair by the bed, Zhao Sui lifted the sheer gauze netting on his side, finally getting a clear view of the Princess Consort's face.
She was lying facing outward, wearing a white silk undergarment with a green collar. Her cheeks were flushed red; she must have felt too warm in her sleep, as she had kicked the quilt aside.
The smell of alcohol was stronger inside the bed curtains, but it was only the amount Zhao Sui would exhale after drinking two bowls of wine.
As Zhao Sui watched her, the sleeping Princess Consort suddenly smiled, as if she were having a sweet dream.
Zhao Sui knew how much the Princess Consort had hoped for her four older brothers to pass the military imperial examination, so he could easily imagine how delighted she had been at the banquet that noon.
Just as Zhao Sui was about to leave and let the Princess Consort continue sleeping, she rolled over.
Zhao Sui remained perfectly still, but Yao Huang woke up anyway. Woken by thirst, she rubbed her eyes and sat up. Just as she was about to stretch, she was startled to see a figure by her bed!
Yao Huang: ...
Zhao Sui: ...I just returned to the estate. I heard you were drunk, so I came to check on you.
Yao Huang touched her warm cheeks and said, a little embarrassed, You know all about it, Your Highness?
Zhao Sui: Such a joyous occasion is indeed worth a few cups.
Yao Huang smiled again. A few days ago, she had day-dreamed in front of Prince Hui, and today, that sweet dream had actually come true.
Reeking of alcohol, Yao Huang asked Prince Hui to wait in the adjoining room. She opened the inner chamber's windows to let in some fresh air, then went to the western side room to take a bath. When she finally changed into a chest-high ruqun dress and stood before Prince Hui, the Princess Consort's freshly bathed cheeks were even rosier than when she had just woken up from her drunken sleep. Carrying a fresh, fragrant scent, she looked just like a delicate, newly bloomed peony.
It was almost time to eat, and Prince Hui didn't dare to stare too long.
Yao Huang pushed him to the front courtyard. Recalling Prince Hui's words, Yao Huang asked the kitchen to send over a pot of fruit wine. Smiling, she poured a bowl for each of them. They were very elegant little porcelain bowls; even seven or eight of them combined probably wouldn't match the capacity of the massive bowls her brothers had used to drink that noon.
Since it is a joyous occasion for my family, shouldn't Your Highness toast to me? Setting down the wine pot, Yao Huang blinked playfully at Prince Hui.
Zhao Sui smiled. Lifting his wine bowl with one hand, he toasted the Princess Consort: Congratulations to your four brothers on passing the examination. I wish them a bright and prosperous future.
Yao Huang loved hearing that. She picked up her bowl and clinked it against his.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the sky was still bright. Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui out to stroll through the gardens. Ever since Prince Hui started his official duties, he hadn't had the time to properly appreciate the scenery in his own estate.
Tell me, Your Highness, what kind of official positions can military examination graduates receive?
According to precedent, the top scorer is granted a secondary fourth-rank military position, the second and third place scorers receive a primary fifth-rank, the second-tier graduates receive a secondary fifth-rank, and the third-tier graduates receive a primary sixth-rank. The exact positions depend on the vacancies at the Ministry of War. The higher the rank, the more likely they are to serve in the capital, though there are usually more vacancies for military officials in the provinces.
Yao Huang: I see. Then my brother is definitely going to be assigned outside the capital. The palace examination is also a written test, so he'll definitely be at the bottom.
Zhao Sui: Not necessarily. Every year, my imperial father personally selects some military graduates to join the Imperial Guards. The Imperial Guards defend the capital and serve as close protection, so my father values their martial arts skills and loyalty more. On the contrary, those who excel in both literary and military skills, like the top three scorers, are more easily assigned to the border army to hone their skills and gain experience, just like your eldest cousin.
Yao Huang thought about it and sighed, Staying in the capital is good because we can see each other often, while being assigned outside is good because there are more opportunities to gain experience. Oh well, let's just leave it to their own destinies.
Zhao Sui looked straight ahead: If you want them to stay in the capital...
Yao Huang blew gently on the top of his head: I don't want anything at all, and I certainly don't want Your Highness to use your public office for private gain. You are an upright and honorable gentleman, and my brothers would absolutely never want to become mud stains that tarnish your clean reputation.
Hearing this, Zhao Sui promised, Alright, I will not interfere with the official appointments of the military graduates.
