After the hunt came the imperial banquet, with tables set up at the traveling palace. The carriages of the Emperor, Empress, imperial consorts, princes, princesses consorts, and princesses led the procession, while the military officials who had competed and the civil officials who had observed rode horses behind them.
Prince Hui had already taken his wheelchair and rode in the carriage with his princess consort on the return journey.
As soon as the carriage door closed, Yao Huang could no longer maintain her outward composure. While helping Prince Hui secure his wheelchair, she asked in a low voice, “What does Father Emperor mean by this? Why did he suddenly decide to bestow the Duke of Zhenguo’s second daughter in marriage to my brother?”
Having Li Fuwei marry her brother was like having her marry Prince Hui—both were cases of forcibly pairing two people who had absolutely nothing to do with each other.
Prince Hui had crippled legs, and other noble ladies didn’t want to marry him. Prince Hui was also unwilling to force anyone, so he chose her, someone who had actively shown interest in him. But Li Fuwei was the daughter of a duke’s mansion. She could practically choose from among the capital’s elite sons any handsome talent of comparable family background and appearance to be her husband, whether civil or military. For Emperor Yongchang to force her to marry down to her own brother—while her brother had found a treasure, could Li Fuwei truly be content?
Moreover, both the Second Princess and Emperor Yongchang’s words had revealed something: the red fox had been internally designated by the competing military officials for Prince Kang to hunt. Her brother, participating for the first time and not understanding the rules, had foolishly stolen Prince Kang’s spotlight. This alone might have offended Prince Kang and Consort Xian. Yet His Majesty still wanted to bestow Prince Kang’s sister-in-law in marriage to her brother?
The more Yao Huang thought about it, the more she felt that Emperor Yongchang was using her brother and Li Fuwei’s marriage to rebuke Prince Kang, including the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion!
After securing the wheelchair, Yao Huang sat beside him, waiting expectantly for Prince Hui to analyze the situation for her.
Born into the imperial family, Zhao Sui’s thoughts went far deeper than his princess consort’s. Some things Father Emperor had made quite obvious and he was certain about, while other imperial intentions were unfathomable even to him.
Those things he couldn’t figure out were best kept from his princess consort, lest she overthink and add unnecessary worries.
After thinking for a moment, Zhao Sui said to his princess consort, “Eldest Brother isn’t skilled at riding and archery. Father Emperor knows this full well, so he disliked the two Li sons forcibly helping him win the championship, obviously undermining the original purpose of the hunting competition to select talent.”
Out of respect for the imperial family, the military officials yielding the red fox was understandable. If Prince Kang had only hunted the red fox and then won the championship because everyone else’s scores were balanced, Father Emperor wouldn’t have been angry. But Prince Kang’s victory relied on the white fox, wolves, and deer that would have been very difficult for him to hunt on his own. One could imagine that when the military officials saw Prince Kang pursuing these three types of prey, they would continue to yield, holding back.
When Zhao Sui won the championship that time, he went into the mountains specifically looking for dens where red foxes easily hid. Once he succeeded, he immediately came down the mountain. The military officials competed fiercely in the mountains, and second and third place both scored in the eighties.
Later when Prince Qing won the championship, after killing the red fox, he only hunted one more deer to ensure his total score led.
Yao Huang said, “I can understand Father Emperor’s displeasure. But he could have privately reprimanded the eldest prince, then reprimanded the two young masters of the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion. Why must he bestow my brother in marriage? Doesn’t this make the eldest prince and the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion resent my brother even more?”
Zhao Sui replied, “First, your brother seized the red fox, essentially delivering himself to be used by Father Emperor. Second, with Father Emperor bestowing the marriage, they dare not harbor resentment. Third, he is your brother and my brother-in-law. No matter how resentful they are, they must show me face and won’t abuse their power to bully him.”
Yao Huang thought about it and stopped worrying about her brother. She only worried that Li Fuwei would feel wronged and distressed, becoming a resentful couple with her brother after marriage. Her brother’s lack of understanding of the rules and getting entangled between Emperor Yongchang, Prince Kang, and the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion could be considered his own doing. But Li Fuwei had been sitting there properly watching the competition—encountering this matter was truly a calamity from nowhere.
Zhao Sui: “…”
This wasn’t something he should analyze, nor did he intend to inquire further.
All three Li Qian men were riding horses outside. Inside the Duke of Zhenguo’s carriage were only Li Fuwei and her mother.
The Duke of Zhenguo’s wife looked at her daughter, who had just been forced into a mismatched marriage yet remained calm, and asked with worry, “Are you truly willing to marry that Yao Lin? Or did you see that His Majesty was displeased and fear that refusing the marriage would implicate our whole family?”
Li Fuwei said calmly, “Both. His Majesty has already spoken. Why should Father and I go against his wishes? As for Yao Lin, he has the talent of a military scholar and a handsome appearance, and he’s Prince Hui’s consort’s brother. Marrying him isn’t too far beneath me.”
The Grand Princess’s consort was a civil scholar, the Second Princess’s consort was a military scholar, and their family backgrounds couldn’t compare to those prominent nobles in the capital.
Father was a first-rank duke. If she found someone of equal status, it would seem like forming factions. Rather than arousing His Majesty’s suspicion, better to comply with His Majesty’s wishes.
The Duke of Zhenguo’s wife sighed.
Fundamentally, this whole matter was stirred up by Consort Xian. If Consort Xian hadn’t wanted Prince Kang to have this moment of glory, even if her two sons didn’t compete for the championship, they wouldn’t have angered His Majesty.
In a carriage ahead, Consort Xian sat expressionless inside the vehicle. No one rode with her; the carriage was deathly silent.
Like Yao Huang worrying about her brother and the Duke of Zhenguo’s wife worrying about her daughter, at this moment Consort Xian’s worries were entirely focused on her son’s future.
The Duke of Zhenguo was Prince Kang’s father-in-law. Whether or not he took sides, outsiders would view him as part of Prince Kang’s faction. The duke could only be used by her and her son.
His Majesty was in robust health. Consort Xian wasn’t foolish enough to pull the Duke of Zhenguo into plotting treason. She merely had his father and sons do things within their power for her son.
Consort Xian just hadn’t expected His Majesty would be displeased with her son winning the championship.
Even if slow-witted, he was still the eldest imperial son. His two younger brothers had both won championships before. Now one was confined reflecting on his mistakes and the other was crippled. If His Majesty didn’t want to elevate the eldest, could he possibly want to elevate the wet-behind-the-ears fourth son?
Shaking her head, Consort Xian pushed the lazy, gluttonous Fourth Prince out of her mind, immediately thinking of Prince Hui, who despite his crippled legs could still bring back sixteen points from the hunt.
His Majesty had bestowed another daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion to Prince Hui’s brother-in-law!
Had he seen that Prince Hui could work in the Ministry of Works, could still ride horses and hunt, and once again developed thoughts of elevating Prince Hui?
If so, with both Prince Kang and Prince Hui becoming relatives by marriage to the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion, should the two princes compete, the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion could only remain neutral, favoring neither side.
But Prince Hui was a cripple!
Consort Xian still didn’t believe Emperor Yongchang would pass over two healthy adult princes to choose a cripple who damaged imperial dignity. So could His Majesty’s bestowing of this marriage actually be openly criticizing the eldest while secretly praising him?
The eldest and Prince Hui’s relationship had always been closer than with Prince Qing. His Majesty also pitied and cherished Prince Hui. Perhaps His Majesty simply wanted to use this marriage to make Prince Hui and the eldest even closer relatives, to have Prince Hui wholeheartedly assist his eldest brother, to make Prince Qing’s side give up hope early, and to let civil and military officials see the situation clearly and not choose the wrong side?
In the carriage beside Consort Xian sat Consort Rou and Grand Princess Fucheng. The two lived close to each other in the Western Palace and were related by marriage, so they had taken one carriage when departing.
Their thoughts aligned with Consort Xian’s. Whether Emperor Yongchang wanted to divide Prince Kang’s maternal clan influence to elevate Prince Hui, or whether Emperor Yongchang planned to entrust the disabled Prince Hui to Prince Kang through this closer familial relationship, neither was good news for Prince Qing.
Consort Rou asked in a low voice, “Which do you think His Majesty favors more?”
Grand Princess Fucheng’s expression was grim: “We’ll see.”
The only thing she was certain of was that the person in Imperial Brother’s heart was not Prince Qing.
Upon arriving at the traveling palace, the nobles each had to return to their quarters to freshen up before proceeding to the banquet location.
As soon as Zheng Yuanzhen entered Songfeng Hall, she covered her chest and began dry heaving.
This was normal in early pregnancy. The maids serving her didn’t think much of it and carefully helped the princess consort walk inside.
Prince Qing, confined to reflect on his mistakes, could still move about freely in his own quarters. Coming out and seeing Zheng Yuanzhen pale as paper, he was startled. He ran over, scooped Zheng Yuanzhen up horizontally, and carried her all the way to the daybed in the inner chamber.
Seeing him, Zheng Yuanzhen felt even more nauseous and retched up some bitter fluid.
After she had completely calmed down, Prince Qing dismissed the servants and asked, “Were you jostled on the road? If you’re unwell, don’t attend the noon banquet.”
Zheng Yuanzhen replied, “Not going will make people suspect I’m upset.”
Prince Qing frowned. “What do you mean?”
Zheng Yuanzhen leaned back against the soft pillows, closed her eyes, and told him about Emperor Yongchang’s bestowed marriage.
When it concerned the position of heir apparent he yearned for, Prince Qing was quite perceptive. Thinking of those two possibilities, Prince Qing felt as if he’d fallen into an ice cave.
Why? He had merely not been thorough enough in suppressing the bandits. He had still achieved merit. Why would Father Emperor completely abandon him?
After washing her hands and face, Yao Huang changed into a different dress and returned to the front courtyard to find Prince Hui had also finished preparing. The couple set out together.
Prince Kang’s whole family stood waiting in front of Qinghui Hall. From the other direction, Zheng Yuanzhen soon emerged as well.
Yao Huang could tell at a glance that Prince Kang’s complexion wasn’t quite right. Zheng Yuanzhen had obviously carefully dressed herself, her smile forced.
Yao Huang had no time to ponder Zheng Yuanzhen’s oddity, her mind full of how to handle the awkwardness with Prince Kang.
The military officials yielding the red fox was merely an unspoken rule. If she truly apologized on behalf of her brother for seizing the red fox that Li Guantang had driven toward Prince Kang, Prince Kang would lose even more face.
But acting as if nothing had happened—would Prince Kang think she was actually quite pleased for her brother?
Prince Kang didn’t look much at his second sister-in-law. He went straight over to take control of his second brother’s wheelchair, leaving the female family members behind. He alone pushed his second brother ahead.
Zhao Sui glanced at Prince Kang’s silhouette to the north and said in a low voice, “This was Yao Lin’s first time participating in the Northern Garden hunt. He didn’t understand the rules. Eldest Brother shouldn’t hold it against him.”
Prince Kang replied, “…It has nothing to do with him. I was too fixated on the empty title of champion.”
Father Emperor’s words of praise for Yao Lin had been both a rebuke to the Li brothers and a rebuke to him.
Prince Kang didn’t know how he had become so possessed. He’d been disdained by Father Emperor since childhood. Why did he still foolishly hope that winning the championship through others would earn him one word of praise from Father Emperor?
Zhao Sui said, “After the noon banquet ends, don’t go anywhere else first—go seek an audience with Father Emperor. Tell Father Emperor honestly what you told me. Father Emperor may say some harsh words, but once his anger dissipates, this matter will pass.”
Prince Kang was also a father now and knew that when children made mistakes, he would prefer they could recognize their errors and correct them rather than lie and cover up.
However, if his second brother hadn’t reminded him, Prince Kang might not have dared to actively face Father Emperor’s wrath. He would have needed Mother Consort to push him.
So his second brother truly had his best interests at heart.
Emperor Yongchang and Empress Zhou hosted separate banquets for the officials and female guests. No matter how anxious Consort Xian was, she couldn’t see her son.
On the officials’ side, Emperor Yongchang seemed to have already forgotten the bestowed marriage, happily conversing and drinking with the civil and military officials.
Yao Lin was distracted while drinking for the first time, occasionally stealing glances at the Li family father and sons, constantly worried that all three of them might secretly glare at him.
At the end of the banquet, Yao Lin noticed that the Li family father and sons didn’t follow the military officials out. They seemed to have gone with Prince Kang to see Emperor Yongchang!
Could they be requesting Emperor Yongchang to withdraw the bestowed marriage?
As soon as this thought emerged, Yao Lin breathed a deep sigh of relief. Please take it back quickly! His younger sister was beautiful and could talk sweetly, winning Prince Hui’s affection. But he couldn’t do that. If he severely offended the duke’s precious daughter and she ran home crying, summoning the Great Qi Dynasty’s most prestigious Li family father and sons to beat him together, even if he and his father joined forces, they couldn’t win!
Meanwhile, Emperor Yongchang first received his eldest son, whom he hadn’t expected would come voluntarily.
After entering, Prince Kang knelt directly on the ground, confessing his incompetence and vanity while shedding tears of shame.
His eldest son was twenty-seven years old and could still cry like this. He cried so much that Emperor Yongchang couldn’t bring himself to scold him further. He only said, “A person’s value lies in self-awareness—clearly knowing one’s shortcomings and frankly admitting one’s shortcomings are both strengths. I didn’t order you to win the championship. Why did you exhaust yourself competing for it? Did you really think others couldn’t see through it, that they would admire you for a false championship?”
Prince Kang hung his head, even more ashamed.
Emperor Yongchang said, “I know you’re not someone who craves fame. Someone beside you must have painted rosy pictures and incited you to compete, right?”
Prince Kang began to panic, fearing Father Emperor would demand he reveal who that person was.
But Emperor Yongchang said, “Manage your own people yourself. I only hope you remember this lesson and learn to distinguish right from wrong. Don’t let others push you around in everything.”
Prince Kang immediately responded, “Father Emperor’s teachings are correct. Your son will remember them in his heart.”
Emperor Yongchang twitched his lips. This wasn’t the first time he’d taught the eldest this. If the eldest could truly remember, today’s incident wouldn’t have happened.
After Prince Kang withdrew, Eunuch Wang led the Li Qian father and sons in.
These three men also knelt directly upon entering, with Li Qian in front and his two sons kneeling behind him.
Li Qian confessed that he had failed to properly educate his sons, causing them to lose the loyalty and courage a military general should have. Casting Emperor Yongchang’s encouragement to “give their full effort” aside was disloyalty; not daring to kill prey and compete was cowardice.
Emperor Yongchang stood up, walked to the window, and said facing sideways toward the Li family father and sons, “Teaming up isn’t forbidden in the hunt. I wouldn’t be dissatisfied if others ran to act as Prince Kang’s assistants. But what is your Li family’s status? In the hundred-plus years since the Great Qi Dynasty was founded, you are one of the top two military families. Li Qian, your military achievements are illustrious, not disgracing your Li family ancestors’ name. I have the same expectations for Jintang and Guantang. But what did they do today? Clearly they are two wolves, yet they insisted on acting as someone’s dogs. Does that sound good when spread? Is this your Li family’s integrity, the family values of my Great Qi Dynasty’s famous military family?”
Li Jintang and Li Guantang clenched their fists, almost too ashamed to show their faces.
Emperor Yongchang looked at Li Qian. “You’re even younger than me by a few years. I haven’t grown senile, so don’t you become muddled either.”
Li Qian’s heart shuddered as he prostrated himself. “Your Majesty can rest assured. This subject would not dare.”
“Good. I trust you.”