Prince Donghai had far too many residences, and they came from different periods.
When he stormed into Luoyang and held the emperor hostage, the imperial princes had already been killed off to the point where few remained. He seized most of their estates and properties within Luoyang city.
It could be said that of the large expanse of residences outside the imperial city, three out of every ten belonged to him, all seized from his various uncles, cousins, and brothers.
So when he described it this way, Princess Hongnong didn’t know for a moment which specific building he meant, but this wasn’t important. Her expression became somewhat dazed as she murmured, “The wedding residence isn’t here?”
Fu Tinghan nodded. “That place is very close to Vermillion Bird Gate, making it very convenient for entering the palace to handle affairs.”
Of course it was convenient—once through Vermillion Bird Gate, not far ahead was the Southern Palace, the place where the emperor and his ministers conducted political discussions and court ceremonies. According to the regulations, Vermillion Bird Gate held the most honored position. During the Han dynasty, only the emperor and specially permitted ministers could pass through Vermillion Bird Gate, or it would only be opened for special occasions.
But after the end of the Eastern Han, these rules were gradually broken, and Jin… only maintained them for a brief dozen or so years.
Even so, Vermillion Bird Gate still held a different status in Princess Hongnong’s eyes. Hearing the implication that Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan now both entered and exited through Vermillion Bird Gate?
She stared at him fixedly. “You’ve already agreed?”
Fu Tinghan said, “It was my suggestion.”
Princess Hongnong gave a mocking laugh. “Do you know what this statement means? How did you become so foolish? Does what she does require you to bear responsibility for it?”
Princess Hongnong asked, “You enter and exit through Vermillion Bird Gate, and all the officials have no objections?”
Fu Tinghan looked utterly baffled. “Don’t all the officials pass through Vermillion Bird Gate?”
Princess Hongnong was stunned. “What?”
After nightfall, Princess Hongnong sat quietly by the window looking out at the darkness. Fu Xuan took a cloak, smoothed down the protruding threads, came forward to drape it over her shoulders, and said softly, “It’s so cold—keeping the window open makes it very easy to catch a chill.”
Though he said this, he didn’t step forward to forcefully close the window, only stood at her side, blocking some of the wind for her.
The husband and wife were both silent.
After a long while, Princess Hongnong finally asked, “Do I have the right to oppose her now?”
Fu Xuan shook his head. “Father might still be able to say a few words, but we—we have an empty reputation, insufficient authority. Moreover, if we truly discuss reputation among the officials, aristocratic families, and common people, Zhao Hanzhang is a vast ocean while you and I are merely small streams.”
Princess Hongnong’s eyes reddened. “With Tinghan like this, who knows what kind of grievances His Majesty is suffering.”
Fu Xuan didn’t particularly like the imperial Sima family. Unlike his loyal father and wife, he had no feelings for this corrupt dynasty. He just felt heartache—heartache for his father, heartache for the princess sitting before him, and heartache for the son drawn into all this.
Princess Hongnong lowered her head to wipe the corners of her eyes, then raised her chin proudly. “Let’s do things according to their wishes then.”
Fu Xuan tested the waters: “The wedding arrangements…”
Princess Hongnong’s expression was calm. “Follow their wishes in everything.”
Early the next morning, Princess Hongnong entered the palace to see the young emperor. Only when she arrived did she realize that she too entered through Vermillion Bird Gate.
She alighted from her carriage before Vermillion Bird Gate, first turning her head to look around, then looking back at the half-collapsed palace wall and the somewhat dilapidated Vermillion Bird Gate.
At this moment, people were passing through Vermillion Bird Gate. Judging by their clothing, they were merely minor officials of the fifth or sixth rank. Upon exiting, they found their horses or carriages on the open ground on both sides of Vermillion Bird Gate and immediately departed.
Watching their busy activity, Princess Hongnong felt somewhat dazed.
An Imperial Guard came forward, bowing respectfully. “Princess, His Majesty permits you to ride your carriage into the imperial city.”
Princess Hongnong came to her senses, staring at him fixedly, and asked, “Is this His Majesty’s order, or the General’s intention?”
The Imperial Guard smiled respectfully without answering, but Princess Hongnong understood—this was preferential treatment Zhao Hanzhang was giving her.
Princess Hongnong’s heart sank. She didn’t board the carriage but slowly walked in. At this hour, the imperial city was still somewhat quiet.
The young emperor received Princess Hongnong in the main hall. His two maternal uncles were both present.
Princess Hongnong was led into the hall. She raised her head to look upward, seeing the young man seated high in the great hall, and her eyes couldn’t help but redden.
She walked forward, and upon reaching the center, knelt down in a deep bow. “This subject pays respects to Your Majesty!”
The young emperor quickly raised his hand. “Princess, please rise.”
Seeing that Princess Hongnong didn’t move, he quickly instructed those around him, “Quickly help the Princess up.”
Princess Hongnong hastily wiped away her tears before raising her head and rising with the help of an attending eunuch.
Xun Fan and Xun Zu immediately came forward to pay respects to Princess Hongnong. Princess Hongnong also politely asked them to rise, thanking them for protecting the emperor and supporting the Jin dynasty.
Xun Fan said, “We have merely fulfilled a small portion of our duties as subjects and don’t deserve the Princess’s thanks. Rather, the General and Minister Fu have labored tirelessly for the sake of Dajin over many years and are the foremost meritorious subjects.”
Princess Hongnong sighed. “Indeed, thanks to the General and the Zhao clan, our Jin dynasty has been blessed with such wise ministers and capable generals.”
The young emperor silently settled his half-raised bottom back down, keeping his ears perked to listen to their pleasantries.
After they had exchanged sufficient courtesies, he had them sit down, then proceeded to express his concern for Princess Hongnong.
Princess Hongnong’s status was extraordinary. She was not only Emperor Hui’s legitimate daughter but had also made every effort to support the Jin dynasty over the years. Her loyalty and righteousness had earned her an excellent reputation among the officials and aristocratic families.
These officials included not only old ministers like Xun Fan, but even officials aligned with Zhao Hanzhang, such as Ji Yuan and Ming Yu, who deeply admired her.
The young emperor originally hadn’t wanted to participate in matters related to her return. After all, she was Fu Tinghan’s birth mother and Zhao Hanzhang’s mother-in-law, so naturally they were closer. He and Princess Hongnong were only cousins once removed—there was a layer of separation after all.
But Zhao Hanzhang had come to see him last night for an intimate conversation, so now the young emperor’s feelings toward Princess Hongnong were quite different.
Hearing Princess Hongnong say to him, “These years have been hard on Your Majesty.”
The young emperor couldn’t help but have his eyes redden. No one had ever asked whether he felt wronged. Everyone assumed that as a member of the imperial family who had now become emperor, what grievances could he possibly have?
Yet they didn’t know that from the time he became aware of things, he had lived under the constant threat of death, and even now, he hadn’t escaped this fear.
Princess Hongnong had also had difficult years and could deeply empathize. The cousins shed tears facing each other.
After a moment, the young emperor wiped away his tears and said, “I wish to enfeoff Imperial Sister as Princess Imperial and grant her a Princess Imperial’s residence.”
Princess Hongnong was startled and quickly declined. “With the national treasury now depleted, how can we waste funds constructing a princess’s residence?”
The young emperor insisted, “Imperial Sister has rendered merit to the Jin dynasty and merit to the realm. Previously you were far away in Chang’an and Shu, beyond my reach, but now that you’ve returned to Luoyang, I surely cannot leave Imperial Sister without even a princess’s residence.”
He insisted on granting her a princess’s residence.
The residence was ready-made as well—they would select one in relatively good condition from that expanse of princely residences outside the imperial city, then have the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Rites jointly renovate it. Perhaps she could even become neighbors with Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan.
The young emperor looked at the blueprint submitted from above, where a circle had been drawn. He compared the distance to the General’s Mansion and felt somewhat disappointed—they wouldn’t be able to become neighbors after all.
—