Qian Jiaoniang smacked him in annoyance, picked up the dragon robe and hung it on the stand. “Even if you’re unhappy, you can’t go hitting the child!”
“That brat is stubborn as an ox. Seems like he already has someone in his heart.”
“Really? Who?” Qian Jiaoniang turned her head at once.
Xing Muzheng’s face grew even darker. “How would I know! Enough—he’s to be wed tomorrow! A crown prince—if this gets out, won’t it disgrace the Xing family?”
“All right, all right, calm down, calm down.” It was rare for Qian Jiaoniang to see Xing Muzheng this angry, so she could only soothe her furious husband, waiting until he slept to think the matter over herself.
She stayed awake half the night, and the next day sat alone in the study for a long while.
A few days later, Xing Pingchun didn’t dare show himself before either Xing Muzheng or Qian Jiaoniang, but quietly moved out to the Dingxi Marquis’ estate. That place was supposed to be rebuilt into the Crown Prince’s residence, but construction wasn’t yet finished. Qian Jiaoniang had always been reluctant to part with Xing Pingchun, so she had kept him in the Eastern Palace. That day, she said to Xing Muzheng: “About Chou’er’s matter… I have an idea. Tomorrow, call him over, the three of us will sit down and discuss it. But let me be clear first—you mustn’t suddenly fly into a temper again!”
Hearing this, Xing Muzheng instantly knew she meant to speak for Xing Pingchun. He frowned. “What is there to discuss? There’s nothing to discuss!”
“Use a better tone!” Qian Jiaoniang planted her hands on her hips. “This matter must be handled my way. There’s nothing to discuss!”
Xing Muzheng’s brow furrowed into deep creases. At last he gave a heavy snort, flung his sleeve, and strode out.
Afterwards, Qian Jiaoniang quietly summoned Xing Pingchun in and asked him gravely: “Do you have someone in your heart?”
Xing Pingchun hesitated, glanced at her, then nodded.
“Who?”
“Mother, don’t ask. I don’t even know if that person has such feelings.”
“So it’s one-sided?” Qian Jiaoniang raised her brows.
Xing Pingchun rubbed his nose, scratched his head.
“Unwilling to change?”
He paused, then slowly nodded again.
Qian Jiaoniang sighed. “Then what about my eldest grandson?”
The moment Xing Pingchun heard her soften, he immediately jumped up, flattering her by massaging her shoulders. “Mother, my good mother, I knew you were the one who’d treat me best! As for a grandson, it doesn’t matter—there’s still Ni Xue, isn’t there?” Before coming, he had been sweating in dread. His father clearly would never agree, and if his mother also opposed him, he wouldn’t know what to do. Luckily, his mother was still his mother.
Qian Jiaoniang shot him a fierce glare. “Ni’er is still a child, and you’re already scheming about him?”
Xing Pingchun only chuckled foolishly, kneading her shoulders harder.
She let her son fawn, then said, “You’d better understand—if I let this pass, your throne will be unsteady. It’s one thing to be a little overlord shut up in a marquis’ estate, with no one to interfere. But if you become Emperor and Crown Prince, it’s not so simple. Xing Muzheng has two sons. And there are always ministers submitting memorials urging him to father more heirs. If you ascend and never take an empress, won’t the memorials pile into mountains? Besides, an emperor must have an heir.”
Xing Pingchun was silent for a while. “I know.”
“Then you’ve thought it through?”
“If I hadn’t thought it through, I wouldn’t have dared to tell you and Father.”
“So you’re counting on me to protect you, is that it?”
Xing Pingchun said solemnly, “I truly wouldn’t dare to think that.”
“Yet you still bring it up?” Qian Jiaoniang shot him a look. “If neither I nor your father agreed, what would you do?”
Xing Pingchun chuckled sheepishly. “Then I’d listen to you and Father.”
“Truly?”
“Truly! I already understand—Father and Mother love me. If you both refuse, it must be terribly difficult for you. I swore I would be the most filial son in the world—how could I defy my parents?” Xing Pingchun patted his chest, then fawned again: “Of course, since Father and Mother are also the most reasonable people in the world, I know you’ll surely understand your son.”
Qian Jiaoniang snorted, tapped his nose with a finger. “Flatterer!”
Covering his nose, Xing Pingchun muttered, “I mean every word.”
“Don’t be happy too soon. I’ve been thinking over this for days…”
“His Majesty approaches—!”
“Long live the Emperor!”
The eunuch’s sudden announcement, along with the flustered cries of the palace maids, rang out. Xing Muzheng strode in. Xing Pingchun hurriedly knelt to pay respect. Qian Jiaoniang rose to her feet. Xing Muzheng glanced at her, then casually waved a hand in his son’s direction.
Qian Jiaoniang coughed lightly. Xing Muzheng came over and asked her in a low voice: “What advice did you give him?”
“I didn’t give any!” Qian Jiaoniang clearly hadn’t said anything, yet she still felt a guilty conscience at being caught.
Xing Muzheng gave a cold snort, motioned the palace servants who had followed in to withdraw. Xing Pingchun, quick-witted, poured a cup of tea for his father and respectfully presented it. Xing Muzheng took it but didn’t drink, merely set it on the table.
“What did you mother and son discuss?” Xing Muzheng asked.
Xing Pingchun glanced at Qian Jiaoniang, who made a small signal with her eyes. Xing Pingchun then smiled and said: “Truly, we didn’t discuss anything. I only came to pay my respects to Mother.”
“Oh? And why didn’t you come to pay respects to me?”
Xing Pingchun grinned: “Wasn’t I worried Father’s anger hadn’t yet passed?”
Qian Jiaoniang said: “Enough, since everyone’s here, let me tell you my idea. You both listen.”
Xing Pingchun immediately said: “Mother, please speak.”
Of course, Xing Muzheng gave her face. He motioned her to sit, and Qian Jiaoniang sat down by his side, beginning to share her thoughts.
In truth, if one took it seriously, there was no way for all sides to be satisfied. Qian Jiaoniang’s meaning was—stall for now.
She said, since Xing Pingchun was to go out to study and travel, let him first roam across the land, north and south. The matter of selecting a consort for the Crown Prince could be put on hold. He could see more of the world, then think again about whether this path was the only one. He was still young; perhaps after some trials his thoughts would change. If, after several years, he still held firm, then they wouldn’t force him. Only, the position of Crown Prince would need to pass to Ni Xue, so that he would be the heir in the future.
Xing Pingchun nodded eagerly like a pecking chick, “I agree, I agree!”
Qian Jiaoniang looked to Xing Muzheng. His eyes still carried dissatisfaction, feeling she indulged Pingchun too much. She winked at him, forcing him to nod.
Xing Muzheng didn’t want to nod, but Qian Jiaoniang kicked him under the table. Helpless, he had no choice but to go along with her.
Xing Pingchun was overjoyed, but before he could finish rejoicing, Xing Muzheng said: “Don’t be happy too soon. Your mother spoils you. My meaning is—when you return from your travels, you must inherit. If you take a wife and sire a son, you remain emperor. If you do not, then you must stay until Nier is of age to take the throne.”
“Ah?” Xing Pingchun’s face instantly fell.
“What ‘ah’?” Xing Muzheng glared at him. “If not for your mother shielding you, would you be so carefree? You still want me to wipe your backside forever?”
“But…” If he became emperor, wouldn’t the ministers pester him even harder to marry an empress?
“No buts. Either you marry now and leave behind an heir—I might show lenience—or else you’ll handle it yourself. Your mother wants to retire from the palace—should she have to wait until Ni’er takes the throne?”
Qian Jiaoniang thought it over, and it did make sense. “Isn’t that true? Your father served some years as emperor, you will serve some years. We’ll take Nier away with us, and when he’s grown and able to take the throne, you can abdicate to him!”
With that, Qian Jiaoniang settled the matter. Xing Pingchun, though wearing a bitter face, dared not raise further demands. After all, his parents had already given him the greatest leniency.
After Qian Jiaoniang’s birthday, Xing Pingchun prepared to set out lightly for his studies and travels. Accompanying him, besides a few tutors, was Wu Ze, who now held office in his palace.
Disguised in plain clothes, Qian Jiaoniang and Xing Muzheng came to see him off. They watched the two young men ride side by side, heroic and high-spirited, carrying the air of wandering swordsmen from storybooks. Side by side, they looked like jade-like youths, Pan An reborn—quite a sight for the eyes.
Suddenly, a thought flashed in Qian Jiaoniang’s mind. She turned to Xing Muzheng and said: “Could it be, the person in Chou’er’s heart is precisely Young Lord Wu Ze?”
Xing Muzheng frowned. “I don’t know!” Nor did he want to know.
Qian Jiaoniang’s eyes, however, lit up. “If it is, that’s actually rather good.”
Xing Muzheng’s face darkened. “What’s good about it?”
Qian Jiaoniang gazed again at the departing figures and softly breathed out two words: “A good match.”
***
Xing Pingchun traveled for four years, then was summoned back by Xing Muzheng. He spent another two years attending court as Crown Prince. Through it all, his thoughts never wavered. Despite beauties around him in abundance, he remained untempted. Yet Qian Jiaoniang discovered he also had nothing improper with Wu Ze. Subtly probing, she learned her foolish son didn’t even dare confess—he only busied himself with jealousy, sabotaging other people’s marriages.
Qian Jiaoniang truly couldn’t bear to look, but Xing Muzheng was quite pleased. According to his plan, he abdicated to Xing Pingchun. After the New Year, he and Qian Jiaoniang, bringing along Xing Pingrui, departed for the secondary palace, making it their first destination for leisure.
Xing Pingrui was now nearly ten years old. He didn’t resemble Xing Muzheng entirely, but bore features of both parents. Mischievous as could be, he had grown up within the palace and seldom traveled, so now he was thrilled, urging his parents again and again to hurry aboard the ship.
Xing Pingchun stroked his little brother’s head. “Good brother, play well. Your elder brother will be waiting for you to return.”
At that age, innocent Pingrui had no idea his elder brother was already waiting for him to fall into the pit. He only thought his brother’s smile kindly and warm. Showing a row of white teeth, he nodded heavily. “Mm!”
Qian Jiaoniang and Xing Muzheng interlaced their fingers. She glanced at the jade-like young lord Wu Ze, who followed behind Pingchun in robes whiter than snow, then turned back with a half-smile at her son. “Silly boy, you’d better be a good emperor. If you can’t do anything else, at least excel at one thing.”
Xing Pingchun choked, stealing a glance behind him—Wu Ze acted as though he had heard nothing.
Xing Muzheng was too lazy to concern himself with this anymore. He turned to lead Qian Jiaoniang onto the boat. She looked back, reluctant yet smiling brilliantly, and called out: “We’re going. Take care of yourself!”
Xing Pingchun quickly stepped forward. “Father, Mother, remember to write to me!”
The dragon ship sailed away. Xing Pingchun dismissed the civil and military officials who had come to send them off, and stood alone beneath a willow tree, gazing at the vessel fading upon the river for a long time.
Wu Ze quietly remained at his side.
At last Xing Pingchun pulled himself from his thoughts of parting, turned his head, and smiled at Wu Ze: “Duan Zhi, let’s return to the palace.”
Wu Ze slightly bowed, smiling lightly: “Your Majesty, this minister also wishes to bid you farewell.”
Xing Pingchun’s smile froze on his lips. “You… where are you going?”
Wu Ze lowered his eyes. “This minister wishes to continue traveling and studying, to collect the ancient poems circulating among the people. I had once spoken of this to Your Majesty.”
Xing Pingchun let out two dry laughs, unable to speak.
Wu Ze pointed to the carriage waiting not far away. “Then, Your Majesty, please allow this minister to take his leave here.”
“Wait—if you go, when will you return?”
Wu Ze tilted his head in thought. “Perhaps in a year, perhaps five years, perhaps ten.”
Xing Pingchun stood frozen in place. Wu Ze gave him a serious bow, then turned and walked toward the carriage. He boarded, and the attendants quickly drove the horses, taking the carriage down the official road.
Xing Pingchun stood dazed for a long time. Suddenly, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, he came to his senses. Glancing once at the river where the dragon boat was already out of sight, then at the official road where the carriage had vanished, he suddenly spurred into motion, vaulting onto his horse. “Chase for Zhen!”
Inside the carriage, Wu Ze listened to the steady clatter of hooves, holding in his hand the jade flute Xing Pingchun had gifted him, his expression unreadable. Suddenly, the chaotic and urgent sound of approaching hooves snapped him out of thought. He frowned slightly, and asked: “What is happening?”
From outside, a servant called: “Young Master—the Son of Heaven—he has caught up!”
Even before the words finished, the carriage was already surrounded. Xing Pingchun galloped to the front, forcing the attendants to halt. Wu Ze lifted the curtain—Xing Pingchun sat tall on his steed, baring his white teeth in a grin, yet in his eyes there was an unquestionable resolve.
“Duan Zhi, being alone is far too lonely. Come back. After a few years, Zhen will go with you!”
Wu Ze paused a moment, then slowly curved his lips in a smile.
“Then this minister would rather obey than decline.”
On the distant dragon boat, a pair of lovers stood at the bow. Qian Jiaoniang leaned against Xing Muzheng, a satisfied smile on her face, gazing at the spring scenery spread across the rivers and mountains.
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