After Fu Jingjing was born, he was very quiet. Several times when Zhao Mingming tried to play with him, he showed no surprise or delight, only opening his round eyes, dark as obsidian, to look at her. This made Zhao Mingming love this younger brother even more, though she also hoped he would show more reactions. Therefore, she insisted on choosing his childhood name herself.

Zhao Hanzhang considered herself a very open-minded person. Seeing that both father and daughter favored this childhood name, she agreed.

So that year, the newborn child was given the childhood name Jingjing.

When this matter spread, it gradually evolved into rumors that the Crown Princess held such deep authority that even the Second Prince’s childhood name required her approval.

Wang Shi worried for a time that this might damage the siblings’ relationship and worked quite hard to put a stop to this trend.

At that time, Fu Jingjing was just an infant, naturally unaware of all this. But Zhao Mingming had been aware.

She had already learned that her position meant people throughout the realm would speculate about her, and even someone as close as Princess Imperial would treat her and her younger brother differently because of her status.

Only Grandmother in the palace loved purely from the heart, simply loving her and her younger brother.

If she thought someone had worked hard, she loved them a bit more. If she thought someone had been wronged, she cherished them more. Her smiles and rebukes all came from the heart—utterly simple.

The Princess Imperial’s mansion wasn’t far from the Imperial Palace. After leaving the Imperial City, they could arrive in a quarter-hour. From far away, servants waiting at the street corner saw the Imperial Family’s marked carriage and immediately ran back to report: “Quick, tell the Princess Imperial that the Crown Princess has arrived.”

Today, as soon as the mansion received news of the Crown Princess’s return to the capital, they prepared for her visit. A clever servant immediately came to the street corner to wait, just so they could run back early with the news.

Sure enough, as soon as the news was reported, the inner courtyard gave a reward.

The gatekeepers all looked at him enviously and immediately opened the main gate to welcome the Crown Princess. Well done—they too would receive rewards.

Zhao Mingming and Fu Jingjing often came to pay respects to their grandfather and grandmother. Even Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan occasionally came to show filial piety, so the gatekeepers were very experienced in receiving imperial princes and princesses.

They had just removed the threshold when Auntie Ren Hui from the inner courtyard also rushed over with palace maids. The group respectfully waited on both sides of the main gate.

As soon as Zhao Mingming dismounted, she smiled at Ren Hui. “Auntie, why so formal again?”

Ren Hui performed her courtesy with a smile. “You and Princess Imperial have said the same thing. When Princess Imperial heard that the Crown Princess and Second Prince were coming, she was overjoyed. This servant volunteered to come greet you. The Princess also said the Crown Princess and Second Prince are returning to their own grandmother’s home—no need for such ceremony. But this servant just wanted to guide the Crown Princess and Second Prince…”

Ren Hui stepped forward to take Fu Jingjing’s other hand, and the group entered chatting and laughing.

Princess Hongnong had already had people prepare many delicious refreshments. Seeing the siblings, her gaze slid past Fu Jingjing and focused on examining Zhao Mingming closely.

Seeing that her childishness had faded somewhat and she now carried a sense of determination, the Princess nodded inwardly. This child was becoming increasingly outstanding. It seemed Zhao Hanzhang was right—for children to grow, they must experience things.

Princess Hongnong’s lips curved slightly upward. After they had performed the proper courtesies, she pulled Zhao Mingming to her side to ask in detail about the Liaodong expedition.

Zhao Mingming became especially excited, telling her about the Youzhou Provincial Governor and officials at all levels she had met, as well as the battle strategies and traps they had used in fighting Liaodong…

In one battle, when their central army was relocating, they encountered a Xianbei relief force. She had personally charged to the very front and taken one head!

Princess Hongnong asked, “Didn’t the battle report say two heads?”

Zhao Mingming waved her hand. “One doesn’t count. That person had half his head cut off by Zeng Yue’s blade. I couldn’t stop my thrust in time and stabbed him with my spear. They counted it as my head, but that wasn’t right. I only killed one myself.”

Zeng Yue didn’t care about that head’s merit because for him, the greatest achievement of this battle was protecting Zhao Mingming.

This was content Fu Jingjing hadn’t heard at Empress Dowager Grandmother’s place. Though it was the same Liaodong expedition, the things described were completely different, even the atmosphere was different.

Fu Jingjing listened equally engrossed, his eyes bright, getting startled and excited along with his sister’s narrative rhythm.

This continued until Fu Tinghan came to fetch the siblings. Only then did everyone realize the sky had darkened and the setting sun had descended.

Ren Hui immediately stepped forward. “Princess Imperial, dinner is ready. Shall we set it in the flower hall or bring it here?”

Princess Hongnong hesitated for a moment before saying to the siblings, “Your father is here. Go see him.”

Ren Hui wanted to speak but held back, looking at Princess Hongnong with sympathy.

Princess Hongnong’s expression showed no change. She had Ren Hui escort Zhao Mingming and her brother out.

Zhao Mingming smiled cheerfully and suggested, “Let’s set the meal in the garden. The weather is lovely now with a gentle breeze. We can eat while enjoying the scenery.”

Ren Hui immediately went to arrange it, ignoring Princess Hongnong’s warning glance.

Zhao Mingming then pulled Fu Jingjing to meet their father.

Fu Tinghan also needed to come see Princess Hongnong. It was just that the servant who reported had run quickly and arrived before him. The family of three met at a moon gate.

Fu Tinghan also instinctively looked at Zhao Mingming first. Seeing she was safe and sound, he smiled and took Fu Jingjing’s hand, going together to pay respects to Princess Hongnong.

Ren Hui had been very quick and had already had people set out the meal.

Fu Tinghan said nothing. After performing the courtesies, he accompanied the two children in dining with Princess Hongnong.

Fu Xuan was not at the mansion. Ever since Zhao Mingming was established as Crown Princess at age five and court affairs stabilized, he had begun traveling to mountains and rivers.

First around Luoyang, then discovering that Zhao Hanzhang didn’t restrain him and Princess Hongnong didn’t stop him either, he began expanding his range, eventually traveling farther and farther.

Now, no one knew on which mountaintop he was admiring the moon and stars or seeking old Taoist masters.

Princess Hongnong occasionally quarreled with him, thinking he was neglecting his duties and corrupting public morals. But once he was out of sight, she found she could save herself some aggravation. And the common people hadn’t developed bad habits because of the Prince Consort’s carefree indulgence, so she turned a blind eye and stopped interfering.

So in the vast Princess Imperial’s mansion, usually only Princess Hongnong remained as the master.

Ren Hui always felt sorry for her, thinking she was too lonely. Whenever she saw Zhao Hanzhang and her family, she would hint that they should come keep her company often.

Before, Zhao Mingming hadn’t quite understood these things, but now she had learned to read expressions and situations.

Mother said that whether as a general, Crown Princess, or future Emperor, reading expressions and situations was a basic ability.

Governing a country was like treating a person—the Emperor was like a physician.

One must know where the problem lay in order to prescribe the right remedy.

And for a physician, reading expressions and situations was the most basic skill.

As Crown Princess and future Emperor, she too must possess this most basic skill.

Zhao Mingming served her grandmother a piece of stewed soft tofu, served Fu Tinghan a lotus root sandwich, then served Fu Jingjing his favorite large meatball. Only then did she help herself to some beef and ate with great relish.

Princess Hongnong couldn’t help but smile, no longer worried about the consequences of their late return to the palace, and focused on eating.

With the family of three keeping her company, Princess Hongnong’s appetite that evening was better than usual. By the time they finished eating, it was already dark, and Princess Hongnong had successfully overeaten.

For someone like her who observed propriety and maintained her health, this was a very rare experience. Even she herself was momentarily stunned.