Spring passed and autumn came.
In the blink of an eye, Si Bao had grown into a graceful 15 - year - old young lady. Every gesture of hers exuded the dignity and charisma of a crown prince.
She started attending the imperial academy at the age of four, practiced martial arts at five, and began participating in court affairs at eight. She showed amazing talent in this regard.
The entire court was in awe. Even those who had once scoffed at women's capabilities were completely convinced by the crown prince's bearing and abilities.
But deep down, they still felt a sense of regret and resentment.
When Si Bao was ten, Shen Qing finally gave birth to a boy. Against all odds, Ji Junye named him Ji Nianqing.
This time, those people couldn't sit still anymore. They all submitted memorials to Ji Junye, asking him to replace the crown prince with the second prince.
But Ji Junye suppressed all such requests.
He even took the opportunity to punish two of them as a warning to others. Coupled with the support of the Prince Rong and the Imperial Academy, there were no major disturbances.
In the Zichen Palace, Shen Qing was looking through the roster of eligible young men in the capital.
Si Bao had reached the age of adulthood, and it was time to start planning for her marriage.
Ji Junye sat on one side, looking disdainful.
"What's there to look at?"
Over the decades, the marks of time had inevitably appeared on their faces, but their love remained as strong as ever. How could Shen Qing not know why he was sulking?
"Our daughter is growing up. She has to get married someday. Besides, we're not sending her to marry into someone else's family."
As the crown prince, it was impossible for her to marry into another family. It would be others who would marry into the Eastern Palace. But how many people were willing to send their sons into the Eastern Palace? It was really a headache.
Ji Junye snatched the roster from her hand and threw it aside. "Children have their own fates. Let Si Bao choose for herself."
Then Ji Junye thought of his son. "Where's Sui Sui? I don't know where he's run off to again."
"Where else could he be? He must have gone to find his sister."
Sui Sui was the nickname of their son. This child had been clinging to his sister since he was a little boy. If he woke up and didn't see his sister, he would cry. As soon as he could walk, he would follow his sister around. Whenever he got something good, the first person he thought of was his sister.
Si Bao also liked to take care of him. After Sui Sui could walk, Si Bao was basically the one taking care of him. This made Shen Qing feel a bit embarrassed. It seemed as if this son was born for their daughter.
Si Bao was horse - riding in the racecourse at the moment. As the crown prince, she not only needed to be knowledgeable but also have a strong physique. So she practiced martial arts just to keep fit.
The 15 - year - old girl galloped on the horse, the hem of her red riding outfit fluttering in the wind. Three or four teenagers followed behind her.
The five - year - old Sui Sui was being carried by a guard. Seeing his sister turn a corner and rush towards him, he waved his hands happily.
"Sister!"
"Sister!"
"I want to go to my sister!"
He was so restless that the guard could hardly hold him.
Si Bao also saw him. Thinking of something, she suddenly smiled, slowed down, and stopped not far in front of him. She stretched out her hand towards him. "Do you want to come and play with sister?"
"Yes, I do!"
The innocent Sui Sui didn't know what was waiting for him, but he envied his sister. He quickly stretched out his hands towards her.
The guard hesitated. "Your Highness, the second prince is still young..."
"It's okay," Si Bao waved her hand. "I'll take him. Nothing will happen."
The guard had no choice but to hand the lively second prince, who was as slippery as an eel, onto the crown prince's horse.
The view suddenly became much higher.
"Wow! It's so high!"
The five - year - old Sui Sui couldn't help but exclaim.
Si Bao placed her younger brother in front of her, told him to hold onto the saddle tightly, and put one arm around his chest. "Sui Sui, sit tight."
Before Sui Sui could hear clearly what his sister had said, he suddenly got a mouthful of wind. He quickly closed his mouth.
The scenery flashed by in front of his eyes. It was Sui Sui's first time riding a horse. He was so scared that he didn't dare to open his eyes. The hand that had been holding the saddle now tightly grasped his sister's arm.
"Scared?"
The horse slowed down again. Sui Sui heard his sister's voice and suddenly opened his eyes. "I... I'm not scared..."
If you ignored his trembling legs and the tightly - grasping hands.
"Hahaha..."
Si Bao laughed heartily on the horse. He had been coming to watch her ride horses recently and didn't want to ride the pony that their father had prepared for him. Instead, he always stared at their horses. But now he was scared even before he had completed one lap.
"Do you still want a big horse in the future?"
"No more..."
Little Sui Sui sniffed, and his nose turned red.
He was really too young. He'd better just ride his pony obediently.
After Si Bao had laughed enough, she carried him off the horse. Behind them, Yan Minghao, Sheng You, Lin Lu, and Ji Jinning also came over and dismounted.
Yan Minghao was the son of Yan Peiyu and Liu Xuan. Sheng You was the son of Sheng Wen and Yuan Yaoyao. Lin Lu was the son of the valiant general. Ji Jinning was the great - granddaughter of the former Prince Qing. They were all Si Bao's study companions and childhood friends.
"Your Highness, you're bullying the second prince again." Yan Minghao said helplessly.
It was true that their highness liked the second prince, but she also liked to tease him. In her words, since the younger brother was still young, it was the right time to play with him. Once he grew up, it wouldn't be as much fun.
The emperor and the empress let them be in this regard. Although the second prince would sometimes get angry when provoked, he would soon go back to his sister as if nothing had happened.
Hearing his voice, Si Bao turned around and gave him a lazy look. "Mind your own business!"
The others didn't say a word. Their highness could laugh at the second prince, but they couldn't.
After horse - riding, Si Bao changed her clothes and went to see Shen Qing.
"These are the rosters of eligible young men in the capital. Come and take a look to see if there's anyone you like."
Si Bao glanced at them and thought it was boring. "Let Father and Mother decide. Just pick a few suitable ones."
Although they called their parents "Emperor Father" and "Empress Mother" in public, in private, they preferred to call them "Father" and "Mother".
Shen Qing was stunned. "A few?"
"Of course. I'm not like Father. I have to balance the court. Besides, what's the point of being with just one man all day? It's nice to have some good - looking ones around. They're pleasing to the eye."
This was the first time Shen Qing had heard her daughter say such things. She was a bit speechless.
It wasn't that she thought her daughter's ideas were too radical. She just thought that under her and Ji Junye's influence, Si Bao and Sui Sui would...
Si Bao sighed, moved closer to Shen Qing, and nestled in her mother's arms to act coquettishly as she used to. "Mother, Uncle Second always says that I'm the emperor star. You and Father also say that I'm born to be an emperor. It's true that being with one person for a lifetime is wonderful, but in the future, how can I be sure that he won't have evil intentions and try to seize my throne?"
If there was only one person by her side, would he and his family not have the thought of coveting the throne?
In this world, it was always easier for men to do things than for women.
She must maintain a balance in her harem.
Otherwise, it wouldn't just be the interference of the empress's relatives in politics. The country might even change its surname.
"But Mother is afraid that you'll be unhappy." Shen Qing said softly. "You were born after I fought so hard. I'm very happy that you've chosen to be the crown prince. Your talent and ability shouldn't be buried. But as your mother, I also hope that you can be happy."
But Si Bao blinked. "I'm happy, Mother."
The more she was exposed to power, the more excited she became. With power, there were so many things she could do. Love was just a bonus, something that was not necessary.
Shen Qing had nothing to say. She let her daughter do as she pleased. After all, Si Bao always had her own ideas.
...
Later generations all knew that there was a remarkable female emperor in the history of the Jing Kingdom. She ruled the country with benevolence, allowed the people to recuperate, initiated the imperial examination for women, improved the status of women, and even issued an edict stating that in the future, the crown prince should be the most capable person, regardless of gender.
Although no other female emperor appeared in the Jing Kingdom until its downfall, her appearance and her life were a very glorious chapter in the history books.