Chapter 16
Chapter 16
[Prince Consort, the Princess Has Been Beaten to Death – 15]
The candidates for Prince Consort had long since been screened, and the two princesses had inspected them in person. Empress Miao therefore urged her husband to issue the edicts soon and settle the marriages.
“It is not that we are eager to marry off our daughters. It would simply be unfair to keep the other families waiting indefinitely.”
She explained to Emperor Gaozu with a smile, “Jingrou is fifteen and Jiaojiao fourteen. They cannot marry before next year at the earliest, so we have ample time to prepare. But several of the candidates Your Majesty considered are already twenty-three or twenty-four, and their families are anxious for them to take wives. As long as we leave the matter unsettled, their families will not dare consider matches with anyone else.”
Emperor Gaozu still harbored vague unease and had no attention to spare for those concerns. He frowned. “What is their hurry? Even the candidates passed over by the princesses will rise in standing!”
That was true.
Everyone knew how exacting the emperor’s standards had been when choosing husbands for the two princesses. Anyone who survived layer after layer of screening had to be excellent. Even those not selected were far superior to ordinary spoiled young dandies. When they sought wives later, other families would regard them more highly.
Hearing the irritation in his voice and seeing the dejection between his brows, Empress Miao’s heart gave a small jolt. Remembering the faults he had picked out before, she thought she understood part of his concern. She gently advised, “I have met Guo Yangjia. He is seven years older than Jiaojiao and very mature and steady. I have not met Lü Xiuzhen, but Han Zhaoyi says he is exceptional as well. Demanding absolute perfection in everything may do more harm than good…”
Emperor Gaozu knew that he had allowed those two idiotic lines to weigh too heavily on his mind. He sighed. “I have become too fixated.”
“Never mind.” He rubbed his forehead, mastered himself, and said, “I will have the marriage edicts drafted now.”
The Princess Manors for Princess Qinghe and Princess Zhaoyang were only a few months from completion. Their sites had deliberately been chosen close together, barely the time required to drink a cup of tea apart, so the sisters could visit each other easily and offer mutual support after they married.
Empress Miao had always been close to Han Zhaoyi, and their children were equally affectionate. The two women discussed the matter for several days. When Emperor Gaozu next visited Empress Miao, she said with a smile, “I spoke with Han Zhaoyi. We placed Jingrou’s and Jiaojiao’s Princess Manors beside each other so they could look after one another. If we stagger their weddings, it would defeat part of that purpose. Why not delay the marriages a little and let them marry on the same day?”
Emperor Gaozu took a sip of tea. “Then in your opinion, when should the weddings be held?”
Empress Miao had come prepared. She ordered someone to bring a calendar, marked it several times, and handed it over. “The tenth month of next year. What do you think? The Directorate of Astronomy can calculate the precise date. Jiaojiao’s birthday is in the sixth month, so she will be sixteen by the wedding. Jingrou is a year older and will be seventeen. Their ages will be just right.”
Emperor Gaozu naturally agreed. “Very well. It is settled.”
It was only the third month now. With the wedding planned for the tenth month of the following year, they had a full year and seven months to prepare. By any reckoning, it was enough.
Empress Miao’s health was poor. Although it was already the third month, a brazier still burned in the inner hall. A faint fragrance lingered in the warm, comfortable air.
Husband and wife sat facing each other and talked for a while. Then a palace attendant reported from outside that the Crown Princess had brought the little imperial grandson to pay respects to his grandparents.
Emperor Gaozu smiled at once and sat upright. “Invite them in.”
One month after appointing the Crown Prince, Emperor Gaozu had issued an edict selecting his principal wife. After several rounds of screening, Lady Deng, daughter of the Duke of Yingguo, was chosen as Crown Princess.
The Duke of Yingguo was an old minister who had helped Luan Zhenghuan conquer the realm, so both sides knew each other thoroughly. Lady Deng had lost her mother young and had followed her father through years of travel from an early age, caring for her younger siblings along the way. Instead of the delicacy common among young women, she possessed a firm and resolute nature. Empress Miao felt compassion for her and often summoned her for conversation. She and Luan Anguo could also be considered childhood companions.
Lady Deng was fortunate. She became pregnant soon after the wedding and, ten months later, safely delivered Luan Anguo’s eldest son. Emperor Gaozu personally named his eldest grandson Jiacheng.
The outer curtain lifted, and a palace attendant respectfully ushered them inside. The Crown Princess entered the inner hall carrying the little imperial grandson. After she paid her respects, Empress Miao took the child, kissed his tiny hand tenderly, and said, “He seems to have grown again.”
The loving expression of a new mother appeared on the Crown Princess’s face. “He is five months old.”
The little boy had gained strength and refused to lie still. After waving his arms and legs energetically for a while, he slowly sat up and looked around with bright, sturdy curiosity.
Empress Miao could never adore the plump little fellow enough. She ordered attendants to clear the clutter from the heated couch, then clapped her hands and coaxed him with a smile. “Jiacheng, look here. What is Grandmother holding?”
Emperor Gaozu loved Jiacheng as well, but his affection for his eldest grandson was joined by the solemn regard due a future ruler of the realm. He reached out and stroked the child’s small head, then instructed the Crown Princess, “The weather remains cold, especially at night. Tell those caring for Jiacheng to be attentive and guard against chills.”
The Crown Princess smiled. “Imperial Father may rest assured. This daughter-in-law understands.”
Emperor Gaozu nodded. “This is Anguo’s eldest son and your first child. It is natural for you to cherish him. But you must also understand that he is no ordinary child. He was born into the imperial family and is the eldest legitimate grandson. Indulging him blindly would not be loving him. It would be harming him.”
The Crown Princess’s expression grew solemn. “Yes. This daughter-in-law will remember.”
After leaving Empress Miao’s palace, Emperor Gaozu sat in his palanquin and consulted his old companions. “An imperial grandson cannot simply be raised within the palace. The old saying that doting mothers ruin their sons has always contained truth. We fought through thorns and hardship to found a great enterprise. How difficult was that? Anguo also endured many storms in his youth. As for all of you, the point hardly needs making. Which of you did not suffer when young? A honey jar will never produce a good emperor!”
Though Ying Zheng was a scion of Qin’s royal house, he had been born in Handan in the State of Zhao and suffered countless hardships as a child. He became King of Qin at thirteen, yet Lü Buwei held all real power. Then there were Lao Ai and Queen Dowager Zhao… Merely thinking about it made rage pound behind his forehead.
Liu Che had fared somewhat better, but only somewhat. In his childhood, Empress Dowager Dou stood above him. Within the palace were Consort Li, the Deposed Crown Prince Liu Rong, and Princess Guantao. Outside, the Prince of Liang and the Prince of Huainan watched like tigers. The Xiongnu ran rampant in the north, while the maternal clans wielded enormous power. After Empress Dowager Dou died, his own mother tormented him to the border between ecstasy and death…
“Doting mothers ruin their sons. Ha! Doting mothers ruin their sons!”
After laughing twice, Liu Che spoke with mockery aimed both at the saying and at himself. “What successful emperor did not have a mother who loved stirring up trouble behind him? Shi Huang, would you not agree?”
Ying Zheng thought of his mother, who seemed trouble incarnate. He thought of Lü Buwei and Lao Ai, then of the two little bastards who had been dashed to death. Frowning, he nodded with lingering fear.
Emperor Gaozu said, “I did not. My mother died early.”
Li Shimin said, “Neither did I. My mother died early.”
Zhu Yuanzhang said, “Nor did I. My mother died early too.”
Ying Zheng: “…”
Liu Che: “…”
Emperor Gaozu: “Hee hee hee.”
Li Shimin: “Hee hee hee.”
Zhu Yuanzhang: “Hee hee hee.”
Ying Zheng: “…”
Liu Che: “…”
The emperors’ joys and sorrows were not shared. To Ying Zheng and Liu Che, the other three were merely noisy.
Once they had finished laughing, Li Shimin grew serious. “Yuanda’s concern is justified. Think how difficult it was for Us to found Our enterprise, only for Our descendants afterward to… We truly should devise a method to temper the younger generations properly.”
Zhu Yuanzhang added, “Yunwen was the same. He spent too long in the palace listening to flattery until his mind stiffened. Otherwise, he would never have met such an end.”
The emperors discussed the matter for half a day and actually formed the beginnings of a plan. The Crown Grandson was still very young, however. There was no need to rush his instruction and pull at the shoots to force them to grow.
The edicts granting marriages to the two princesses had long since been issued. There was no need for a separate edict concerning the wedding date. A word to the Ministry of Rites and the Directorate of Astronomy would suffice; they could arrange the details.
Empress Miao had already managed her eldest son’s wedding and now proceeded with practiced ease. She devoted particular care to increasing her daughter’s dowry, ensuring that the girl would never lack food or clothing and would enjoy wealth and honor throughout her life.
Han Zhaoyi was marrying off a daughter for the first time and kept herself frantically busy. She sent relatives to watch the progress on the Princess Manor, then ordered palace attendants to bring out everything stored in her treasury. She compared the objects one by one against the inventory, deciding what else should be added.
Princess Qinghe did not know whether to laugh or cry. It took endless coaxing to send her mother back. “Mother, I will not marry until the tenth month of next year. That is nearly two years away. Are you so eager to marry me off? If anyone sees this, who knows how they will laugh!”
“With matters like these, early is better than late.”
Han Zhaoyi looked at the graceful young woman before her and felt a pang at the coming separation. She pulled her daughter into her arms and said tenderly, “You are my only child. If I do not cherish you, whom should I cherish? Seeing you prepare to marry makes me happy and heartsore at once. Fortunately, Lü Xiuzhen is an excellent choice. His family is distinguished, his learning impressive, and most important of all, he pleases you.”
Princess Qinghe’s cheeks flushed in an instant. She lowered her head shyly, a delicate pink spreading along her slender neck. “Mother, what nonsense are you saying?”
“Must you hide things even from me?” Han Zhaoyi studied her expression and laughed softly. “One look at you and I understand your heart!”
Princess Qinghe kept her head lowered, her lashes resting gently against her cheeks. Only after seeing no one nearby did she whisper, “Actually, I met him before…”
Han Zhaoyi was startled. “When?”
“Many years ago, when we still lived outside the palace and Father had not yet become emperor. He… he was injured and unconscious beside the road. I was the one who rescued him.”
Too embarrassed to explain further, Princess Qinghe spoke vaguely. “I had almost forgotten, but the mole beneath his eye is so distinctive. I recognized him the moment I saw him.”
Han Zhaoyi patted her hand and sighed in wonder. “My darling, this truly is a match ordained by Heaven!”