Chapter 15
Chapter 15
[Prince Consort, the Princess Has Been Beaten to Death – 14]
Once word spread that the emperor intended to choose husbands for Princess Qinghe and Princess Zhaoyang, Chang’an buzzed for quite some time. When people then learned that the emperor did not plan to follow the former dynasty’s rule forbidding Prince Consorts from participating in government, the great houses grew even more enthusiastic.
People spoke of “marrying a princess.” Though the phrase did contain the word marrying, the proper expression was to wed into the imperial family. The husband effectively entered the bride’s family. Afterward, the couple lived together at the Princess Manor rather than in the Prince Consort’s family home. The princess was the highest authority in the residence, the Prince Consort second.
That counted as a disadvantage, but there were naturally advantages as well.
Once a man married a princess, he became half a member of the imperial family. With that connection, promotions at court naturally came faster. In the former dynasty, more than one man had risen eight ranks in succession after marrying a princess. Even the princess’s children could receive hereditary favor and titles to pass down through the generations.
Besides, princesses were rich.
When a daughter married, the emperor prepared a dowry for her and her birth mother added gifts of her own. She also possessed a personal appanage. It might not yield a fortune every day, but its income certainly surpassed the Prince Consort’s meager salary.
Taken as a whole, the benefits decidedly outweighed the drawbacks.
The Reigning Emperor had two princesses approaching adulthood: Princess Qinghe, born to Han Zhaoyi, and Princess Zhaoyang, born to Empress Miao. Both were deeply favored by the emperor, Princess Zhaoyang especially. She shared a mother with Crown Prince Luan Anguo and was a princess of unquestionably legitimate birth. When the Crown Prince eventually took the throne, he would never treat his full sister poorly.
After weighing the advantages, the great families of Chang’an grew exceedingly eager. They sifted through the sons and nephews of suitable age in their households, then, with remarkable unanimity, invited the official responsible for the selection to their homes for small drinking parties. During the banquets, they raised the matter with studied subtlety.
Half a month later, Emperor Gaozu’s trusted aide entered the palace to report. He presented the shortlist of Prince Consort candidates for imperial review.
Emperor Gaozu saw at a glance that the man had worked meticulously. Each name was followed by the candidate’s birth, age, order among his brothers, and other particulars. The aide had clearly devoted great care to the task.
There was only one point…
Emperor Gaozu frowned slightly. “Did We not instruct you to choose more candidates from the old ministers’ families? This list appears to contain quite a few sons of great clans.”
Here, old ministers did not mean officials with great seniority or experience across several dynasties. It meant the old followers who had helped Luan Zhenghuan conquer the realm. Their backgrounds and loyalties were thoroughly known, making them more trustworthy.
The trusted aide had prepared for this question. He bowed and replied, “Your Majesty, of the eight candidates selected, four come from old ministers’ families and four from illustrious clans. This subject originally intended to choose more from the old ministers’ households, but Your Majesty said Princess Qinghe is gentle by nature and fond of poetry and books. The old ministers’ families mostly cultivate martial traditions, and so…”
Emperor Gaozu understood. “That is true.”
Most of the first generation of meritorious officials who had conquered the realm beside Luan Zhenghuan were military men of humble origins. There were a few civil officials and strategists, but their sons were not of suitable ages. No wonder the aide had turned to the eminent scholarly clans.
When it came to learning, poetry, and literary exchanges, those families truly were the experts.
“You have done well.” Emperor Gaozu nodded in approval and dismissed him. Then he set out for Fengyi Palace and sent for Han Zhaoyi as well.
“We have done everything We can. You two mothers may handle the rest yourselves.”
Emperor Gaozu handed them the list. “Their temperaments and family backgrounds are written here. Find an opportunity to meet with your relatives and have them make inquiries. See whether any candidate has unsavory habits or hidden faults outsiders cannot easily discover…”
After thinking for a moment, he continued, “Take half a month. After that, We will go hunting outside the city. Bring the remaining candidates along. Jingrou and Jiaojiao will attend and watch from the side. Whichever man they favor will be the one. The life belongs to them. Once we parents have done everything in our power, the two of them must walk the road ahead themselves.”
Empress Miao’s younger brother, Miao Xiangping, held the rank of duke, and his wife, Lady Miao, née Wan, had earned considerable merit of her own. Han Zhaoyi’s father was a civil official who had received a third-rank post after Luan Zhenghuan took the throne. Neither family might be overwhelmingly powerful, but both were more than capable of making a few inquiries.
Han Zhaoyi thanked the emperor for his grace. Forgetting that he was still present, she immediately began discussing the candidates with Empress Miao. This one seemed excellent; that one was outstanding too. Soon they were dazzled by the choices and murmuring about consulting the Directorate of Astronomy, lest a Prince Consort’s fate clash with their daughter’s and lead to an unhappy marriage filled with conflict.
Empress Miao added, “With Jiaojiao’s temper, she will never swallow a grievance in silence. I thought of finding a man from a military family whose nature would suit hers, but I fear that if both are hot-tempered, they may end up fighting.”
“He would dare!” Emperor Gaozu sat to one side with legs planted wide and raised an icy eyebrow. “We have already decided to grant each princess three hundred household guards when she marries, and her female officials will be selected from the palace. Her temper is her own affair. As her parents, we must prepare everything properly and never allow our child to be mistreated.”
Han Zhaoyi had a temperament as soft as dough. The words left her dazed, and she said hesitantly, “Would that not be improper? The outside officials may think the princesses overbearing…”
Emperor Gaozu gave her a sidelong glance. “Is it not better for a princess to have people hold down her Prince Consort while she beats him than for the Prince Consort to hold down the princess and beat her?”
Han Zhaoyi: “…”
Where one sat determined how one thought. Han Zhaoyi immediately changed her tune. “Your Majesty has considered everything!”
Emperor Gaozu had done all he could and left the rest to Empress Miao and Han Zhaoyi. The two women separately summoned female relatives from their maternal families and asked them to investigate outside, fearing that someone might be hiding a secret that would trip their daughters into disaster after the wedding.
The matter concerned a niece and a granddaughter, so both maternal families devoted themselves to it. They investigated for half a month and still failed to uncover a single flaw.
When Lady Miao, née Wan, entered the palace, she said with a smile, “Clearly His Majesty put great care into this. Every candidate is a talented young gentleman. Her Majesty should wait for the hunt three days from now and let the princess choose for herself then…”
After entering the palace, Han Zhaoyi’s mother said, “We investigated every one of them and found them all excellent. Not a fault could be found in any. But if one must be called the best, it would be the Second Young Master of the Huai’an Lü Clan, Lü Xiuzhen. His family is pure and distinguished, and his bearing elegant and luminous. The ancestor of the Lü Family was Jiang Shang. His descendants were enfeoffed in Lü, which is why they took that surname. They are a truly ancient house with a thousand-year history…” Her admiration was plain in every word.
Before her marriage, Han Zhaoyi had been a talented woman of some renown and naturally knew the illustrious reputation of the Lü Family. Remembering her daughter’s love of literature, she was deeply tempted. Then another thought made her sink. “What if Princess Zhaoyang also favors Lü Xiuzhen? Jingrou may be the elder sister, but she was born of a concubine. I fear she cannot compete with Princess Zhaoyang.”
“How could there be such a coincidence?” Lady Han laughed. “I hear Princess Zhaoyang loves martial pursuits and greatly resembles the Reigning Emperor. I doubt she will have any interest in the Lü Family.”
Han Zhaoyi relaxed somewhat. “That is true.”
Three days later, the day of the hunt arrived. Empress Miao and Han Zhaoyi accompanied their daughters to Taiji Hall.
Both girls knew why they were going. Princess Qinghe was shy, but Princess Zhaoyang had been bold since childhood. Her face did not redden at all. Instead, she cheerfully comforted her sister. “Men and women marry when they come of age. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Look at me-I’m not afraid at all!”
Emperor Gaozu gave a quiet snort. “That is because you are shameless.”
Luan Jiaojiao pulled a face at him and dragged Luan Jingrou into the carriage.
Many people attended the hunt. The emperor and Crown Prince rode at the head. Behind them followed the dukes and marquises enfeoffed for military merit, as well as the young men of Chang’an. The party was by no means limited to the eight candidates for the marriages.
The Black Dragon Flag of the imperial house snapped in the wind. Horses neighed and bowstrings thrummed into a single restless clamor. Everyone wore riding clothes, their martial spirit keen and impossible to conceal.
Empress Miao had already ordered an observation place prepared and sent the two princesses there early. Trusted female officials attended them, identifying each of the eight candidates in turn. No one urged the princesses to decide. They were simply told that they had the whole day and should choose at their leisure.
As their father, Emperor Gaozu had done everything within his power. If disaster could still arise after all this, then it truly was fate.
Once they reached the grounds and made camp, Emperor Gaozu chatted with his officials in their ordered ranks. Then he instructed the young men to compete in riding and archery so each could display his skill.
The dynasty was newly founded and talent abounded. Emperor Gaozu examined the young men one by one and found all of them excellent. Then his gaze swept across one man, and the sight nearly dazzled him.
Everyone wore the same round-collared robes with narrow sleeves, yet this youth made the clothes exceptionally striking. He stood apart from the rest: the man like jade, the horse like a dragon, his heroic spirit in full bloom. Only his expression was cold and his features edged like blades, revealing no emotion.
Emperor Gaozu asked those beside him, “Who is that young man?”
An attendant glanced over and answered, “That is Lü Xiuzhen, Second Young Master of the Huai’an Lü Clan.”
Emperor Gaozu gave a small “Oh.” His brows drew together for an instant, then relaxed.
Half an hour later, the competition ended. Emperor Gaozu rewarded everyone generously. Judging that his daughters must have seen enough by now, he turned to the Crown Prince at his side and asked, “Do you dare compete with your father?”
The Crown Prince answered loudly, “Why would I not dare?!”
Emperor Gaozu laughed, then raised his voice. “Whoever takes the most game in today’s hunt will receive a magnificent reward from Us!”
The attendants had already brought his horse. He swung into the saddle, ordered the Crown Prince west while he rode east, and divided the officials into teams. They agreed to return in two hours, then spurred their horses away.
After a day of exhilarating sport, Emperor Gaozu summoned his two daughters upon returning to the palace and asked what they thought of the candidates. Empress Miao and Han Zhaoyi had waited all day and finally had their answer. They did not dare press the girls before the emperor, but their eyes clung anxiously to their daughters’ faces.
Princess Zhaoyang clasped her hands behind her back and chuckled. “That Guo Yangjia is rather good.”
The female official beside her whispered a few words into Empress Miao’s ear.
Caught between annoyance and amusement, Empress Miao said, “You took your bow and arrows hunting with him-and even raced horses against him?”
Princess Zhaoyang declared with perfect reason, “How could I know whether we suit each other without spending time with him?”
Princess Qinghe’s face reddened slightly. She said softly, “Young Master Lü possesses outstanding character and appearance…”
Han Zhaoyi was very satisfied with the choice.
Guo Yangjia was the Duke of Xing’s nephew. His parents had died early, and the Duke of Xing had raised him as his own. He now served in the Imperial Guards, and Emperor Gaozu had met him before.
The young man was tall, upright, and handsome. He was entirely suitable to marry a princess.
As for Lü Xiuzhen, Emperor Gaozu had met him for the first time today. His appearance was unquestionably exceptional, but his features seemed somewhat cold and severe.
Hesitation stirred in Emperor Gaozu’s heart. Empress Miao did not notice. After exchanging a few murmured words with Han Zhaoyi, she smiled and said, “Now that the candidates have been chosen, Your Majesty should prepare the marriage edicts. Han Zhaoyi is one of the women who has served Your Majesty longest, and she is the mother of our eldest princess. With Jingrou preparing to marry, she should be granted greater dignity. The position of Consort Xian remains vacant, and her character makes her worthy of it…”
Her words interrupted Emperor Gaozu’s thoughts. He stared briefly, then replied, “We will follow your wishes.”
Seeing something unusual in his expression, Empress Miao’s heart skipped. “Does Your Majesty find something improper?”
Han Zhaoyi and Princess Qinghe looked toward him uneasily.
“Not exactly.” Emperor Gaozu could not explain an unknown future. Nor did he want to single out faults in Lü Xiuzhen and make Han Zhaoyi or his eldest daughter worry. He said, “It is only that Guo Yangjia lost both parents early, while Lü Xiuzhen appears rather cold and severe. Neither is absolutely perfect.”
Empress Miao laughed helplessly. “How can those be called faults? Your Majesty must not demand perfection in everything.”
Emperor Gaozu smiled and brushed the matter aside. Then he asked his old companions, “What do all of you think? Will this do?”
Ying Zheng had never understood why the man was making such an ordeal of the matter in the first place.
When Ying Zheng married off a daughter, he simply issued a marriage decree and was done with it. As long as the families were suitably matched, that was enough. Investigating whether the young man had bedchamber maids or concubines, letting the daughter meet him privately and inspect him-there were far too many fussy requirements.
But Ying Zheng disliked criticizing other people’s affairs. When Emperor Gaozu asked, he replied with terse simplicity, “It will.”
Liu Che thought much the same as Ying Zheng and answered impatiently, “Yes, yes, yes!”
Li Shimin considered it for a while, then nodded. “The candidates were carefully screened and the two children favor them. It would be wrong to beat apart two pairs of lovebirds now.”
Zhu Yuanzhang spread his hands. “As their father, you have done everything you should and guarded against everything you can. If something still goes wrong, there truly is nothing more to be done.”
“Ah.” Emperor Gaozu sighed, his face creased with worry. “I simply cannot rid myself of this unease.”
The others simultaneously performed the emperor-frowning expression. “What is there to be uneasy about?”
Emperor Gaozu said wearily, “Have any of your Prince Consorts ever dared beat a princess to death?”
Ying Zheng was silent for a moment. “Have you considered cutting him in half at the waist, tearing him apart with chariots, or subjecting him to all five punishments?”
Li Shimin was silent for a moment. “Have you considered executing his entire family?”
Liu Che was silent for a moment. “Have you considered exterminating all nine clans?”
“Wow, all of you are so cruel!”
Zhu Yuanzhang edged away in alarm. “I would only skin him. That is not excessive, is it?!”