Excluding the night he just returned to the capital, Prince Qing had been grounded for nine days.
When interrogated by his imperial father, Prince Qing truly believed that the canal in Liangzhou had been destroyed, and that his maternal grandfather Shen Shiyan had sent someone to do it. That was why his father had scolded him, interrogated him, and kicked him. When he saw the devastated Zheng Yuanzhen with slap marks on her face at the palace gates, Prince Qing even thought his cousin had been implicated by him and had suffered a slap from his father before he did.
It wasn't until they got into the carriage and Zheng Yuanzhen knelt beside him, begging him to plead for her aunt for Sanlang's sake, that Prince Qing realized with a shock that his preconceived notions had caused him to jump right into the trap his father had set in his words. He had confessed his own malicious intentions. In reality, this matter had nothing to do with him or his grandfather at all. It was Princess Fucheng, that self-righteous venomous woman, who had caused him to be kicked twice by his father and completely lose the emperor's favor. And the slap Zheng Yuanzhen received was from his mother, the consort!
At that moment, Prince Qing was also swept up by fury and raised his hand, wanting to strike Zheng Yuanzhen down.
Suddenly, the cry of Sanlang came from the carriage behind them where the wet nurse sat.
Looking again at Zheng Yuanzhen's tear-streaked face, Prince Qing couldn't bring himself to hit her. He collapsed dejectedly onto the carriage couch.
What if he did hit her? Would it stop his imperial father from taking his anger out on him?
If it was only the eldest princess who had dug up the canal, he could still extricate himself. But he had also harbored the thought of digging the canal, and his father had found out.
So, he was finished. He could forget about becoming the Crown Prince; it was uncertain whether he could even keep his current title as a prince of the first rank.
If hitting his cousin could salvage all of this, Prince Qing would definitely do it. But it couldn't be salvaged, so what was the use of hitting her?
Upon returning to his princely estate, Prince Qing sulked alone in the front courtyard, refusing to see anyone. He thought about a myriad of things, but it was all in vain.
It wasn't until yesterday afternoon when his imperial father sent a eunuch, ordering him to happily bring his princess consort and children to attend the Dragon Boat Festival palace banquet, forbidding any mention of other matters.
Prince Qing knelt on the ground, tears and snot streaming down his face. His imperial father still cared about him, still cared about him!
.
As in previous years, the dragon boat race and willow shooting were held before the palace banquet.
For the first time in such a setting, Yao Huang felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.
This was because she was still seated between Chen Ying and Zheng Yuanzhen. On her left, Chen Ying was pregnant and joyful, while on her right, Zheng Yuanzhen emanated a lifeless aura.
Yao Huang was all too familiar with this lifeless aura; Prince Hui had been exactly like this when they first married. But Prince Hui was her husband. If she wanted to coax him, she would; if not, she would stroll through the gardens alone. Whether she coaxed him or not, no outsiders knew. Now, with Zheng Yuanzhen sitting right next to her, if she were to chat and laugh with Chen Ying as if nothing was wrong, what would Zheng Yuanzhen think of her? What would the Emperor and Empress sitting in the center think of her?
However, making her just sit there and do nothing made Yao Huang feel entirely uncomfortable.
Out of caution, Yao Huang chose to let her mind wander on her own.
So many imperial relatives and nobles had come, yet Princess Fucheng was the only one who did not make an appearance. Coupled with the lifelessness of Prince Qing and his wife, and the concubines' absolute silence regarding Princess Fucheng, had the princess and her husband done something to enrage Emperor Yongchang? Was claiming illness to decline visitors merely a guise to cover up the fact that they were being cold-shouldered by the Emperor?
Princess Fucheng was Emperor Yongchang's biological sister, just as she was her own brother's biological sister.
Blood ties were close enough, but Yao Huang had heard a saying: "There is no father and son in the imperial family."
If imperial fathers and sons could slaughter each other, let alone brothers and sisters?
Based on the tropes Yao Huang had heard in teahouses or read in storybooks, had Princess Fucheng oppressed the commoners, or had she colluded with officials to accept bribes?
Rebellion was unlikely; neither Princess Fucheng nor the Marquis of Jining had military power in their hands, and how could the punishment for rebellion be a simple grounding?
To be able to scare Prince Qing and his wife into such pale complexions, the matter must not be small. But since Emperor Yongchang was still willing to let the couple attend the palace banquet, it shouldn't be too severe either, right?
While her thoughts wandered here and there, the dragon boat race ended. There were a total of five dragon boats, representing the elite rowers sent by the four major capital camps and the imperial guards. Only the victorious dragon boat team could come before the Emperor to receive a reward.
This year's champion was the Northern Camp. There were twenty-two men in total, all possessing robust and upright statures.
Having finally found some amusement, Yao Huang couldn't help but crane her neck to look. As she watched, her gaze shifted and unexpectedly met the eyes of Prince Hui, who was sitting not far from Emperor Yongchang.
The twenty-two elite soldiers of the Northern Camp had rowed a lap around the moat and exhausted themselves into red faces. Prince Kang and Prince Qing, who sat on Prince Hui's left and right, had spent a month running around Mount Ling and tanned into a wheatish complexion. With them being either red or dark, they instantly made Prince Hui appear even fairer and more handsome.
Yao Huang secretly blinked at Prince Hui.
Prince Hui silently lowered his eyelids, no longer looking at her.
Yao Huang smiled and continued to observe those twenty-two heroic faces, then watched Eunuch Wang hand a tray of gold ingots to the leading helmsman.
After the rewards were bestowed, it was time for the willow shooting.
Emperor Yongchang suddenly looked at his four sons. "Will you all go and give it a try this year?"
The Fourth Prince was already fifteen years old and had even participated in the hunt at the Northern Park last year.
Prince Kang immediately took the lead to stand up, expressing his willingness to make a fool of himself before his imperial father.
Emperor Yongchang smiled and waved his hand, signaling that they could set off.
Prince Kang turned and grasped the handles of his second brother's wheelchair. The year before last, a ramp wide enough for a wheelchair to pass had been built in the middle of the staircase paths on both sides of the high platform, and the red sandalwood wheelchair his second brother now sat in was also very lightweight.
For the sake of safety, when the wheelchair reached the top of the ramp, Prince Kang still gave Prince Qing a look, gesturing for him to walk in front to prevent the wheelchair from slipping out of his hands and rolling away.
Prince Qing stepped to the front like a walking corpse. The Fourth Prince glanced at him and smartly stood on the stairs on the other side of the ramp.
His second brother was crippled, and it looked like his third brother was ruined as well. His eldest brother was so stupid; perhaps he might just stumble upon a bit of an opportunity?
In the past, the Fourth Prince had never coveted these things. But now, it seemed as if the heavens were taking the initiative to thrust that position into his hands. Naturally, the Fourth Prince had to fight for it.
Soon, the four brothers stood side by side on the bank of the moat.
Yao Huang secretly glanced at Emperor Yongchang.
Emperor Yongchang caught his second daughter-in-law's peeking. He smiled and looked at the two princesses, saying, "If you want to watch, go to the front."
Since the Emperor had spoken, Yao Huang helped Chen Ying stand up. Because Zheng Yuanzhen never joined in such excitement, Yao Huang didn't need to waste her breath inviting her. She simply followed Chen Ying and the two princesses to the railing, watching the competition from above.
The Second Princess teased, "It will definitely be Second Brother who wins again. Later, when Second Brother receives his reward, will Second Sister-in-law share a gold ingot with me?"
Yao Huang smiled and replied, "If that really happens, I will give you sisters one each, as an early addition to your dowries."
The First Princess, who was to be married on the ninth, instantly blushed.
At the sound of the drum, the willow shooting began.
Yao Huang's gaze closely followed the arrow shot by Prince Hui. She saw the arrow, just like the year before last, shatter more than half of the gourd tied to the willow branch on the opposite bank.
A snow-white pigeon flapped its wings and flew high into the sky.
Yao Huang curled up the corners of her mouth, and the First and Second Princesses both laughed. Meanwhile, Chen Ying looked at the gourd Prince Kang had successfully shot open and the pigeon that, although slow to escape, also flew high into the sky. She was very happy for her husband, because it was normal for Prince Hui's archery to take first place, but for her husband to be able to shoot open a gourd was already a pleasant surprise.
Chen Ying also knew that Prince Kang would not be displeased about losing to Prince Hui in archery.
Sure enough, Prince Kang had already gone to Prince Hui's side to congratulate him.
The Eldest Princess teased Yao Huang, Why didn't Second Sister-in-law go down to welcome Second Brother this year?
Being reminded of such an old matter, Yao Huang's face grew slightly hot. Back then, she had been excited because she hadn't known that Prince Hui could still be so formidable while sitting in a wheelchair. Now that she was well aware of Prince Hui's various abilities, what would be the point of running down there again?
The four sisters-in-law returned to their seats. Before long, Prince Kang and his three brothers came up. Only Prince Hui had taken first place; the second and third places went to military officers Yao Huang did not recognize.
Feiquan received the tray holding twenty small gold ingots on behalf of Prince Hui.
Just when everyone thought the willow-shooting contest had ended and His Majesty would proceed to the main hall to start the banquet, Emperor Yongchang gave Eunuch Wang a meaningful look.
Eunuch Wang stepped to the front of the high platform and announced loudly, His Majesty decrees that all officials are summoned to the imperial presence to hear his edict!
Those sitting on the high platform were all imperial relatives. As the voices of the eunuchs echoed above and below the platform, the civil and military officials seated on the ground on both sides quickly left their seats. They swiftly lined up according to their official ranks and marched over in an orderly fashion, eventually forming columns below the platform just as they would during a court assembly.
Emperor Yongchang stepped forward and swept his gaze over the officials below. His eyes lingered for a moment on the face of Xu Dongyang, a seventh-rank county magistrate standing in the last row. He picked up a yellowish-brown, segmented object from a tray held by a young eunuch nearby, extending it out from the platform for the officials below to see. This is Solomon's seal, also known as chicken-head ginseng. It nourishes the yin, replenishes qi, invigorates the spleen, and moistens the lungs. It can be made into medicinal herbs or stewed directly in soup. A three-year-old Solomon's seal can sell for a hundred copper coins a catty among the common people, and a catty of processed dried Solomon's seal can fetch five or six mace of silver...
The officials who guessed who Emperor Yongchang was about to praise were already looking back at Xu Dongyang.
Yao Huang kept her eyes lowered and her expression calm, knowing that Prince Hui did not want to steal the spotlight.
Emperor Yongchang put down the Solomon's seal and looked down at the officials. Our Great Qi is vast and abundant in resources. Mountain treasures like this are countless. Some only grow in deep mountains and ancient forests and cannot be cultivated, requiring the common people to risk broken bones to gather and dig them up. However, some mountain treasures, like this Solomon's seal, can be promoted among the people if someone with a caring heart takes the effort to investigate.
You should all have heard about Xu Dongyang opening up wasteland in Lingshan to plant Solomon's seal. I know some of you might think I value him too highly. In past years, when officials discovered iron or gold mines, I didn't summon them to the capital for face-to-face commendations. But that is because mines are rare, while mountain treasures and medicinal herbs are common. I am commending Xu Dongyang not solely for this political achievement, but for his wholehearted love for the people!
I am the Emperor. This vast empire is mine, and the subjects living upon it are all my subjects. It is said that a wise ruler should love the people as his own children. I do indeed have a heart that loves the people, but I am only one person. Even if I exhausted my entire life, I could not personally look after the subjects in every region. Therefore, I, like the monarchs of past dynasties, must select talented individuals from across the realm to serve as officials, letting them be my eyes and my hands and feet, to look after the common people in various places on my behalf.
Some officials take the salary issued by the imperial court with one hand while extorting the people's hard-earned wealth with the other, fattening themselves up while ignoring the emaciated and sallow faces of the common people.
But there are also parent-like officials like Xu Dongyang. Because he could see the suffering of the people getting injured while gathering herbs, and he could see the benefits of bringing Solomon's seal to the market, he braved hardships to climb rugged mountain paths to inspect where the Solomon's seal grows, and then expended great effort to find a way out of poverty for the people. If all the officials in the world possessed Xu Dongyang's heart of loving and serving the people, why would I ever worry about the people not prospering and Great Qi not flourishing!
As soon as these words were spoken, the two prime ministers immediately led all the officials in kneeling down, responding loudly, We shall strictly follow Your Majesty's teachings, harbor a heart for the people, and share Your Majesty's burdens!
While the officials knelt, Prince Kang, Prince Qing, and the Fourth Prince, who were standing behind Emperor Yongchang, also knelt down.
The consorts and female family members on the platform did not have to kneel, but Yao Huang found her heart warming at Emperor Yongchang's words. Forgetting everything else, she looked straight at Prince Hui, the one who had truly proposed the wasteland reclamation strategy.
Zhao Sui sat alone in his wheelchair, his eyes lowered.
Beside him, Prince Qing's complexion grew even worse. He finally understood that his imperial father hadn't summoned him to the palace because he was no longer angry, but rather because he deliberately wanted him to hear these words with his own ears, making him feel ashamed of his own harmful intentions toward the people.
Prince Qing was filled with shame and regret. As long as his imperial father could forgive him, he would definitely treat the common people outside as his own flesh and blood!
After a long silence, Emperor Yongchang permitted everyone to rise, then called out toward the distance, Xu Dongyang, step forward. I wish to reward you with four words.
With his head bowed, Xu Dongyang walked from the last row to the front of the two prime ministers, lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt on both knees.
Two eunuchs who had been waiting nearby came over carrying a plaque. Eunuch Wang uncovered the red silk draped over it on behalf of the Emperor.
The civil and military officials craned their necks to look. On the black background of the imperially bestowed plaque, they saw four large, glittering gold characters written with magnificent vigor: Wholeheartedly For The People!
