Shen Yunshu was held in the arms of Mother Zhang, curiously looking at the Emperor in front of her, who wore a dark robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon.
This was the Ming Emperor Li Yin, recorded in history as a wise and benevolent ruler. His face leaned toward the scholarly type, but his presence exuded authority—a natural dignity that commanded respect without anger.
Coming from a free and egalitarian society fifteen hundred years in the future, Shen Yunshu had never seen a living emperor up close before. The experience was astonishing and extraordinary.
The Ming Emperor looked at the child’s curious eyes and praised, “Azhen, your daughter shows great intelligence!” He even reached out to tease Shen Yunshu gently.
Curious, Shen Yunshu stretched out her small hand and tentatively touched the Emperor’s large hand, adorned with a fine Hetian jade ring, marveling at the real sensation.
“Wow~”
She was real! Incredible!
The Emperor, amused by the child’s wide-eyed fascination, let out a hearty laugh.
“Azhen has always been like a brother to me. Naturally, your daughter deserves the rank of county princess. Moreover, she shall enjoy the fiefdoms of Qiushui County and Changyu County. Go, bring the brocade and luminous pearl I’ve brought, and present them as gifts for County Princess Yunshu on her first birthday.”
The Emperor’s chief eunuch, Liu, waved to the attendants, and the palace maids and eunuchs quickly brought the prepared gifts forward.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Shen Zhen and the Princess Consort hurriedly bowed in gratitude.
As the Zhenbei Prince, his daughter’s status as a county princess would be standard by ritual.
However, being the only prince of a different surname in the dynasty, such privileges were historically rare. Without the Emperor’s explicit approval, her title would not be fully legitimate.
Now, the Emperor not only sanctioned it but also granted her two counties’ fiefdoms. Though she had no formal title yet, two counties’ worth of revenue was tangible wealth. Many princesses since the founding of the Yang Dynasty had never been granted such a benefit at birth.
The Emperor’s generosity was always straightforward—never superficial or showy.
The courtiers noticed Shen Zhen’s delighted expression and offered their congratulations, though inwardly, many privately found his behavior odd.
Shen Zhen was the dynasty’s only prince of a different surname. He had sworn brotherhood with the Emperor; after the Emperor’s ascension, he was effectively like a close kin prince. Normally, not only a daughter but a son would receive proper titles.
Yet he refused to request a title for his son, and even when the Emperor wanted to grant one, he declined.
This was unprecedented.
The Emperor’s words were absolute—grant or revoke titles at will, a matter of imperial grace. Yet Shen Zhen stood firm, claiming, “The Shen family has always been a martial lineage. Our merit is measured by battlefield achievements. I am fortunate to have sworn brotherhood with the Emperor. My son’s status should reflect his merit, not inherit a prince’s title.”
Remarkably, instead of angering the Emperor, it pleased him. At court, he even praised Shen Zhen’s integrity in front of all officials.
But now it seemed his integrity only extended so far: denying a title for his son, yet happily accepting the county princess status for his daughter.
Shen Zhen, unaware of others’ private musings, quietly rejoiced for his daughter.
Ha!
Meanwhile, Ji Shuyou, wishing to show their family’s closeness and respect for the Emperor, instructed Furong to place the Emperor’s luminous pearl alongside the items prepared for Yunshu’s first-birthday “Zhua Zhou” ceremony.
The luminous pearl was perfectly round and glowed faintly—a sure attraction for a child. If Yunshu picked it during the ceremony, it would signify both affinity with the Emperor and be harmless, as the pearl had no special symbolic meaning otherwise.
Shen Zhen glanced at his wife and gave her an approving look. Truly clever.
The old matriarch checked the time and signaled Mother Zhang to place Shen Yunshu in the middle of the setup.
Mother Zhang found a central spot, set Yunshu down safely, and stepped aside, letting her crawl freely.
Immersed in thoughts about being granted the county princess title and seeing the Emperor, Yunshu looked up and realized she was placed amidst a circle of objects.
She tilted her head, considering which one to grasp.
The “Zhua Zhou” ceremony in ancient times was taken seriously. It was believed that whatever the child picked would indicate their future talents.
Musical instruments, chess, or calligraphy? She didn’t want to be forced to master them.
An abacus? Arithmetic didn’t particularly interest her.
Embroidery? Her clumsy hands made that a poor choice.
Medicine? She was interested, but better to learn discreetly rather than display it publicly.
So… what should she grab?
From her father’s hints, it seemed she could choose freely, without overthinking.
Her father was the Zhenbei Prince, and based on dramas she had seen, rivals in court were sure to envy and wish his family ill.
Historically, the family would eventually be exiled by the next Emperor due to perceived threat.
So flattering the current Emperor was wise. Her mother boldly placed the Emperor’s luminous pearl among the ceremony items, signaling favor.
“Shuer, crawl quickly! Grab something you like,” her mother’s gentle voice encouraged.
Hearing her mother, Yunshu abandoned overthinking and crawled toward the most prominent object in the circle—the luminous pearl.
Pleasing the Emperor was surely wise.
While she didn’t understand why, her parents certainly did.
Yunshu hugged the pearl with both hands and sat still, staring at it unblinking, fascinated by its size and glow.
“Ah, as expected of the Emperor’s personally granted county princess, she clearly favors the luminous pearl!” one lady commented with a smile.
“Indeed! The moment it was placed, the county princess ignored everything else and went straight for it. She must know it’s a first-birthday gift from the Emperor and is delighted!” another lady added.
Other ladies quickly chimed in with compliments.
True or not, since the Emperor had shown favor to the Zhenbei Prince, they all needed to speak politely.
“Haha! Excellent! Azhen has indeed borne a clever child! Recently, the Empress’s appetite hasn’t been great, but she has been thinking of your Prince’s Mansion’s sour plum paste. In a few days, when the Princess Consort is free, she can take the child to the palace to visit the Empress, letting her bond with Princess Le’an. Just like Huaiwen and Huaijin with Yuan Zhen—growing up like siblings. I can rest assured!”
“Your Majesty speaks wisely. This humble wife has indeed been concerned for the Empress. Now that Yunshu’s birthday celebration is over, I will bring her to visit Her Majesty and the princess in the coming days,” Ji Shuyou replied politely.
She understood the Emperor’s intentions: to strengthen ties between the Zhenbei Prince’s Mansion and the imperial family, laying groundwork for the Crown Prince’s future.
“Good. I shall inform the Empress; she will be delighted,” the Emperor said.
“Enough festivities for now. I must return to review memorials. You all enjoy yourselves; do not mind me,” he added, rising and walking out, waving slightly to the crowd.
“Your Majesty, we humbly send you off,” the family chorused.