Chapter 230 - 196: You Can’t

"Taihua is lovely, but she lives in Jianzhang Palace, so we don’t get to see each other often. I want a sister I can see every day."

This was no lie. Xie Zhao never hoarded his toys, always letting his sister pick whichever she wanted. Xie Sheng, however, didn’t receive the same treatment. If he wanted to play with Xie Zhao’s toys, he had to do homework in exchange—his own homework, that is. Xie Zhao didn’t need someone to do his work for him; he simply enjoyed sharing the joy of learning with his siblings.

’A soft, squishy, lily-white sister!’

’A sister as pretty and sweet as Mother!’

Xie Zhao’s gaze fell to Jiang Xian’s still-flat stomach. He couldn’t wait to play with his new sister.

"And you, Your Majesty? Do you hope for a princess or a prince this time?"

Setting aside the childish chatter, Jiang Xian looked to the Emperor. "If Your Majesty intends to send a princess away for a political marriage, then I would rather it be a prince."

’If the Emperor shows even the slightest hint that he believes political marriage is a princess’s duty, then I’ll have no choice but to defy fate and choose the baby’s gender myself. I can’t let a daughter come into this world only to enjoy a decade or so of luxury before being married off to some remote frontier. When people analyze the policy of political marriage, they evaluate it from all angles—its function, motives, economic and cultural impact, and historical role—but they always leave out the one thing that matters: the wishes of the person involved.’

’Jiang Xian was sure there must have been princesses who willingly sacrificed themselves for the sake of peace in their homeland. But she was only human, an ordinary working woman from the twenty-first century. No matter how beneficial or noble a political marriage might be, she could never bear to send her own daughter away.’

"Yan Chi has not resorted to political marriages for the past two reigns, and there will be no such precedent in mine. You can rest assured, Xian’er."

Sensing the anxiety hidden in Jiang Xian’s words, the Emperor covered her hand with his own. His voice was deep, yet powerful. "Whether this child of yours is a boy or a girl, I guarantee them a life of wealth and peace. Even if I were to pass away early, Zhao’er is your son, Sheng’er is close to you, and Qi’er is still small. I am certain they would never mistreat a younger brother or sister."

Emperors throughout history have craved immortality, yet to put Jiang Xian’s mind at ease, he spoke of his own mortality without the slightest hesitation.

The Emperor had heard that pregnant women were prone to overthinking and anxiety, so he took her hand and began to comfort her in earnest. Jiang Xian politely listened for a while before replying, exasperated, "Your Majesty, you’re treating me like a porcelain doll. I’ve given birth once before; I have more experience this time. I’m not scared, merely worried. If this child is a princess... well, only a woman truly knows the hardships other women face."

’To truly love your children, you have to consider even the smallest details.’

Unfortunately, the clueless emperor completely missed this nuance. "No matter how much experience you have, you are still my precious treasure, and I’m terrified you might break," he said. "The saying ’a woman’s life is hard’ applies to common women. My princess will want for nothing, and her life will be easy. All told, I only have two daughters. When they grow up, they can take their pick of all the fine young men in the Capital. If one doesn’t suit their fancy, they can replace him at any time. A princess and her prince consort are as ruler and subject—who would dare ask her to abide by the rules? If she wishes it, even her in-laws will have to pay their respects to her morning and evening. Her entire estate will run by her rules."

The Emperor’s grandiose declaration made his double standards abundantly clear.

Xie Zhao listened, his expression completely blank.

Jiang Xian couldn’t help but laugh. "If you spoil her so much, aren’t you afraid your ministers will complain? That a princess, who should be an exemplar for all women, is so lacking in womanly virtue?"

"I am the one who must be an exemplar for the realm, not her. She is just one young woman. Who would dare make trouble for my pearl? Now, if she were to race her carriage through a crowded market and hurt someone, I would have to discipline her properly. But for anything else... what’s done is done. No need to scrutinize it. Since ascending the throne, I have been a diligent ruler who loves his people, with no time for debauchery. Let the princess be my proxy, walking amongst the people and enjoying life a bit on my behalf."

Xie Zhao remained dumbfounded.

Translated into his little brain, his father’s words meant this: He himself worked tirelessly day in and day out, only occasionally flipping a name-tablet to summon a concubine when he had a spare moment. His greatest annual amusement was a trip to the imperial villa to soak in the hot springs and admire the snow. He had no opportunity to exercise his imperial prerogatives, and since power was a terrible thing to waste, he would let his daughter use it. She could live it up on his behalf.

’He even used the word "debauchery"!’

It was so blunt that the well-behaved child, who had been raised on the classics of the sages, was left reeling.

The little prince asked tentatively, "Father, can I do that too?"

"No."

His hypocritical father shut him down instantly. "You are a boy. You must be like me—an example for all our subjects. You must study and work hard so that you can be a pillar of support for your sister in the future. The more accomplished you become, the more proudly your sisters will be able to hold their heads. The mere mention of your name will stop your sister’s husband from ever daring to philander or cause her the slightest bit of unhappiness."

The heavy weight of responsibility crashed down on the little prince, leaving him utterly bewildered.