The Eldest Princess

Di Qingyu had long been prepared for this question. Lifting one side of her skirt, she dropped to her knees, raised her eyes to meet the emperor's imposing gaze, and spoke up with a clear conscience.

"I took an interest in it before because of pill refinement and the treatment of illness. My health has grown weaker and weaker this past year, and even with the imperial physicians tending to me so carefully, I have never recovered. Everyone fears death, and I am no exception. Besides, I have Father Emperor's love and the people's support. I cannot bear to leave all this behind after living only a dozen or so years, so I have tried every way I can think of to stay alive."

"What happened this time put me on my guard. Could someone really have figured out how to make the things described in the books and increased their power dozens of times over? It would be good if Xiling could make use of them, but if another nation used them against us, would Father Emperor and the people not be plunged into the depths of a devastating war? I also happened to discern why Father Emperor has delayed executing Du Chengji. I could have held my tongue and wisely kept myself safe, and I would still have been Father Emperor's most beloved princess. But my conscience troubled me. If I said nothing, I feared I would be betraying Father Emperor's trust and the people's love."

Di Yunqian narrowed his eyes. Indeed, keeping her mouth shut would have been Di Qingyu's best course. She was clever and knew full well that speaking up like this would make him suspicious of her, yet she had still chosen to offer her counsel.

But Di Qingyu had not finished. Kneeling with her back straight and her expression solemn, she spoke in a firm, powerful voice.

"Besides, I already know that I can never become pregnant again in this lifetime, and I do not wish to leave Father Emperor and marry. I came today not only to present the ancient books, but also to ask Father Emperor to let me take part in the Ministry of War's development of weapons."

"To support Father Emperor and defend Xiling."

Di Yunqian stared intently at her, his expression unreadable.

"If Father Emperor still has doubts, I can swear an oath here and now."

Di Qingyu raised her right hand. Her face was youthful, but she carried the imposing aura of imperial blood.

"I, Di Qingyu, vow never to marry, to devote myself utterly to Xiling for all eternity, and to uphold the Di imperial clan with unwavering loyalty. Should I break this oath, may heaven strike me down and earth destroy me!"

The resolve in her eyes was absolute.

"..."

Even Di Yunqian was stunned by her sudden oath, and his heart trembled.

"Qingyu?!"

He had not expected a princess like Di Qingyu to possess such loyalty and vision, or to offer to remain unmarried for life solely to win his trust.

A princess who would never marry would naturally remain dependent on the imperial family forever. No one would be more eager than she to see its rule endure.

"... Get up first."

The emperor pondered for a long time before finally saying those words.

Di Qingyu knew he still had many misgivings, which was why he had not given her a direct answer.

"What is Father Emperor worried about? Are you worried that people will talk about me if I remain unmarried in the future? Or do you think that, because I am only a woman, I cannot live up to my oath, and that I merely made it up on the spur of the moment?"

Her words sent a multitude of thoughts through Di Yunqian's mind, and he fell silent. He had all those worries, but as he looked at Di Qingyu, pale and slight yet more steadfast and loyal than those princes, he half-closed his eyes, something struggling in their shadowed depths.

Di Qingyu had been watching his expression all along and knew his resolve was already wavering. Her gaze darkened slightly, and she finally administered a strong dose of medicine.

"Father Emperor, every day the person manipulating Du Chengji remains hidden, the greater the chance that the weapon will fall into another nation's hands. Sooner or later, Xiling will be slaughtered by others. We can only strike first to gain the upper hand; every moment of delay is a threat to Xiling. But if we act a moment sooner, does Father Emperor not..."

She paused, her tone growing more emphatic, laced with temptation.

"Wish to unite all under heaven and become a sage ruler for ten thousand generations to come?"

"..." Unite all under heaven!

Her words abruptly made the hesitant Di Yunqian's pupils contract. The mist in his eyes dispersed, and his expression sharpened with ambition.

Yes, before Xiling's realm, the empress dowager and the Du Family would all have to stand aside. The state came first!

And before the prospect of uniting all under heaven, his suspicions of Di Qingyu could be set aside for now. Making this weapon was the most important matter of all.

Noticing the subtle change in Di Yunqian's expression on the raised platform, Di Qingyu lowered her eyes slightly, a dark gleam flashing in them.

Her infertility was merely a cover, an excuse delivered through Bai Lian to put the emperor at ease about her once more.

Early the next morning.

Li Peian appeared with a group of eunuchs and palace maids.

"His Majesty decrees: the sixth princess, Di Qingyu, is hereby elevated to Eldest Princess of Xiling. By imperial decree!"

The decree was exceedingly brief, but its weight was enough to shake people to the core.

Everyone kneeling in Yaohua Hall to receive it looked up in delighted surprise.

Di Qingyu, whom Di Yunqian had exempted from kneeling and bowing the previous night, merely raised her head slightly and calmly accepted the imperial decree, gold seal, and investiture register from Li Peian.

"Thank you for Your Majesty's immense grace."

At last, she had reached her first position.

Chunzhi hurriedly brought a pouch of silver for Eunuch Li. He did not refuse it, and his face filled with smiles. "Allow this servant to congratulate Your Highness, Eldest Princess. Consider this a share of Your Highness's good fortune. If Your Highness ever needs this servant's help, you need only say the word."

This was an unmistakable gesture of goodwill. As the chief palace steward who had served Di Yunqian for many years, this was the first time Li Peian had shown such goodwill to a member of the imperial family.

One did not strike a smiling face, so Di Qingyu naturally replied with a modest smile.

"Not at all, Eunuch Li, you flatter me. But if Qingyu truly has a favor to ask of you one day, please do not refuse to see her."

"Oh, this servant would not dare. Your Highness need only give the order."

Once the party delivering the decree had left, the smile faded from Di Qingyu's face.

"Congratulations, Mistress!"

"Congratulations, Eldest Princess!"

Everyone in Yaohua Hall hurried to offer their congratulations.

But Di Qingyu merely said, "Chunzhi, reward everyone," before turning and returning to the hall.

That morning's decree spread throughout the entire imperial palace in less than a quarter of an hour.

Everyone who heard it was shocked. By the Xiling Dynasty's longstanding rules, only princesses who had reached fifteen and made meritorious contributions could be made Eldest Princess. They had to be either the emperor's sisters or his legitimate daughters, and even across three reigns there might not be a single one. At most, they were granted a title.

But Di Qingyu was only fourteen now, and what merit had she earned? Even the crown prince had yet to be named, yet she had been made Eldest Princess first. Her status was now above that of all the princes and imperial consorts.

What was more, unlike an ordinary princess, an Eldest Princess could wield real power!

Even the empress thought the emperor had lost his mind when she heard. He had not even named a crown prince, yet he had first elevated a princess who had come out of the Cold Palace—and one like Di Qingyu, who knew neither propriety nor restraint.

But the decree had already been issued. To try to persuade the emperor now would be to slap him in the face, so no matter how angry the empress was, she dared not say anything.

The news also quickly spread throughout Xiling Royal City. The common people to whom Di Qingyu had personally served congee praised and cheered the decision. Naturally, they were pleased to have such a kind princess who was close to the people. With these people spreading the word, most of the populace soon accepted the fact that she was now Eldest Princess. After all, they could not change it, and as long as their interests were unaffected, it made no difference to them who received the title.

The ministers who heard the news just after leaving morning court frowned one after another, unable to resist pondering the emperor's intentions behind it.

The emperor had not mentioned the matter once during morning court. He had issued the decree without a word, leaving them no chance even to discuss it. Clearly, he would brook no challenge to his imperial will.

But the sixth princess had neither merit nor fault to her name, and her health was frail. It was not as though there were no legitimate daughters born to the empress. Surely His Majesty had not issued this decree simply because he favored Di Qingyu.

Though none understood the reason, they all understood one thing: Di Qingyu's status was no longer what it had been. She was now even more exalted than the princes, and with her already arrogant temperament, there would likely be no one who could afford to provoke her.

It seemed that storms would soon arise in Xiling.