Children Playing, Gradual Decline (1)
However, the little crown prince just took two bites before having the cake put back and began to gather the other things. Seal, string of coins, book, bow and arrow, all in all, everything within reach all got taken into his arms, and during this time, regardless what he grabbed, the officials all praised. In any case, there was just nothing bad.
The little crown prince giddily held the things in his arms, somewhat totteringly standing up, his little head turning, finding Jing Wan’s position. Cracking his mouth into a smile, he clumsily walked over. As he walked, the things in his arms just fell along the way. One of the items fell onto his little feet, most likely hurting a little. As such, he stopped in his tracks, lowering his head for a look. However, the things in his arms blocked his line of sight, unable to see anything. Thus, he had a confused look, shaking his little feet. As a result, he lost his balance, his entire person falling down again.
Quite a few people subconsciously wanted to catch him, yet Jing Wan was just greatly amused, directly laughing out loud. Clapping her hands and opening her arms, “Tian Lin, come, come over to imperial mother.”
The little crown prince that didn’t cry or make a fuss stood up again, still smiling happily, quickly running over. Afterwards, his entire person pounced into Jing Wan’s arms, “Imperial mother.”
Jing Wan kissed him on his cheek, and then stroked his little head. The little crown prince just smiled even more happily.
“The grabbing ceremony has concluded, so have the things cleared away. Everyone can freely walk around the imperial gardens. ————Mama, have someone cut some flowers for the madams and young ladies to play with.”
Gong mama responded, followed by ‘thanking your Highness’ from the others.
Jing Wan returned to Kunyi Palace with her son. The mother and son pair both changed their attire, and then affectionately bonded for a while before Jing Wan finally had the person taken back to the imperial gardens.
Since Jing Wan had the intention to pick some playmates for her son, she naturally will have preparations in order, specially opening up an area and building a play park.
One has to know, back then at the estate, they’d already built something similar. Using the same batch of people, even if this one right now was even bigger and even more complicated, it was completely unable to stump those craftsmen, very quickly finishing.
There was a maze built using ordinary slides linked together, a tall spiral slide, see-saws, a giant woven ball, a ball pit, trampoline, bumper cars controlled by pedals, a wooden little train track, a merry-go-around, a ‘pirate ship’, ‘little row boats’, all kinds of sandboxes, and also some competitive little games, even setting up pretty good prizes. These things were a feast for the eyes. Even though there wasn’t electricity, using the mechanism in addition to a certain degree of manpower, those things that needed to move similarly can reach the desired effect.
Jing Wan also didn’t say anything, directly going over. The others naturally had the palace servants leading the way.
This kind of novel thing naturally attracted everyone’s eyes. Although they’d previously built something similar at the estate, and there were also people that had gone to see, even having some imitating, the things at the time can’t compare with the ones now. Additionally, at the time, Jing Wan had built it for her maiden family younger sisters and the Grand Elder Princess’s youngest daughter. Right now, with the crown prince in the lead, as the heir apparent, in his childhood, shouldn’t it be teaching him to be studious, steady, and have self-discipline? To specially build a place to play around in, is it really okay? Isn’t she afraid of him losing his aspirations from playing? Even though right now he’s still small, but these things won’t just be taken down after playing a few times, right?
Jing Wan had the little crown prince placed inside. The little guy’s eyes were glistening, and needless for Jing Wan to say anything, he just waddled over on his own. Because he was a bit quick, his feet slightly turned, causing him to fall onto the ground. But, because the ground was laid with a study cloth, also having cotton underneath, it didn’t hurt at all. However, the little guy was also too lazy to stand up again, swiftly crawling on all fours, grabbing the nearest woven ball. Standing up again, his entire little body clung onto it, but because the center of gravity changed, he just started rolling with the ball, his body falling onto the ground again, with his hands and feet up in the air. Shortly after, he giddily crawled up again, continuing towards the next toy.
The ground as well as the ‘toys’ for the most part all have safety measures in place. That’s why, one for the most part don’t need to worry about getting hurt.
Jing Wan smilingly watched for a while before turning around and seeing the other children whose eyes were filled with longing, smiling, “Why don’t you all go in to play. The shoes can be placed over there.”
Since her Highness has already opened her mouth, can the others still restrain their children and not let them play?
TN: All
Regardless of what kind of mentality they had, facing their own children’s pleading gaze, they could only chose to nod their heads, but the ones that were allowed to go in were just boys that were five and under. Jing Wan pondered for a moment and just understood where the problem lay, “No need to hold back, can all go in. The girls…..”
Boys and girls cannot share seats by seven. Even though not every family and household will all strictly abide by this, but towards outsiders, it’ll certainly be like so. The slightly older boys, after Jing Wan finished her words, flocked in, with the oldest nearing ten years old. The ones older than ten probably felt too embarrassed to go play, so even if wanting to play, they still got restrained. The girls certainly won’t be able to go in, watching those boys running wild, jumping up and down like monkeys, with some even colliding into one another.
Seeing those things, for the little girls that still don’t understand anything, they just wanted to struggle free from the people by their side, and for the slightly older ones that already understood the rules, their eyes had a look of disappointment.
“Girls can also play. Another place was separately built to the side.” Jing Wan held a little girl’s hand, directly walking in that direction, “It’s good for children to move around more. Even if a little young lady, don’t need to always be quiet. When this empress was young, one had ran around everywhere.” Turning her head, she winked at the flustered little girl next to her.
The little girl forgot her nervousness, subconsciously flashing a sweet smile at Jing Wan.
———-Aiyaa, other family’s children are all little angels.
Jing Wan’s words, rather than say it was directed at the little girl by her side, it was more accurate to say that it was said for their elders to hear.
Girls have always been taught to be chaste, quiet, and virtuous. To be madly running around like a wild girl, the elders certainly won’t be happy, subconsciously criticizing. However, with Jing Wan using herself as an ‘example’, even if they wanted to say something, they still could only swallow it back down. On the contrary, perhaps they will even mull over Jing Wan’s preferences from her words, secretly preparing to have their family’s daughters raised in that direction.
Since it was built for girls, the various things and layouts were different, all a bit more ‘elegant’.
Even though they’d received permission, these little young ladies, after going in, still weren’t as wild as those monkeys next door. However, once time passes, they probably won’t be that reserved anymore.
Jing Wan stood outside for a while, turning her head and instructing a palace servant guarding by the side, “You all look after a little, don’t let their sweat drench the clothes, also on that side, don’t let them get into fights.”
“Yes, your Highness.”
Jing Wan turned around, “Madams, if you all are worried, you can watch from the side. As for the rest, can follow this empress to go drink tea.”
His Highness the crown prince was that small, yet her Highness was at ease with leaving him here, so would they dare to say anything? The crown prince, that was someone that was more noble and esteemed than all the other children added together.
“Your Highness must be joking, how can we be worried. With you having everything arranged appropriately, it’ll certainly be safe.”
Jing Wan smiled. What kind of mentality they had, she naturally was aware. However, she won’t say anything either. Truthfully speaking, even if accidentally getting hurt, they not only can’t blame her, they would even need to apologize for the offense of disturbing the peace, letting down her kind intentions. This was precisely the privilege brought about by status.
Regardless of what, after arranging for these young children, Jing Wan just went back to drink tea.
Each family also respectively left behind their own servants, and then followed after Jing Wan.
Entering the third month, the entire imperial gardens was also filled with brilliant colors. The current layout was the same as before. Jing Wan had been busy with other things, thus didn’t have time to rearrange, so those gardeners naturally could only continue arranging like before. Never mind remodeling according to their own thoughts, without the master’s order, they can’t even let any plant or flower appear unwell. As soon as there’s a problem, it’ll all be changed out immediately.
The palace servants were still cutting flowers according to Jing Wan’s previous order. There were all kinds of flowers, tray after tray, neatly arranged.
Jing Wan waved her hand at the nearest palace servant, “Give me the scissors.”
The palace servant hurriedly offered up.
Jing Wan took the scissors and looked around, clipping a peony. Holding it in hand, she carefully trimmed. Getting held in that pretty hand of hers, the flower appeared even more beautiful in contrast, while the person appeared even more delicate.
Jing Wan slightly turned her head, sweeping a glance and seeing the melancholic Yu Yao Wenzhu, obviously because she’d gotten restrained by her mother’s side. Never mind going to the ‘play park’, other places, she also wasn’t allowed to go.
Speaking of which, Yu Yao Wenzhu was already thirteen, a big girl now. Although because in the Grand Elder Princess Manor, she was the ‘boss’, getting raised rather delicately by the Grand Elder Princess. Compared to those relatively steady young ladies that have matured early, her temperament was still like around ten years old.
“Yu Yao, come here.” Jing Wan waved her hand.
Yu Yao’s eyes slightly lit up, immediately ‘escaping’ from the her mother, quickly going forward. In any case, right now, her mother can’t compare with big sister Wan. “Sis–Your Highness.” Yu Yao aptly changed the address. If she’d really called out according to how she would in the past, after going back, she would certainly get sorted out by her mother.
Jing Wan looked at her, having the flower in hand inserted into Yu Yao’s hair. The position was just perfect, appearing exceptionally beautiful, “Very pretty.”
“Many thanks your Highness.” Yu Yao brightly smiled like a flower.
Shortly after, Jing Wan clipped a few more flowers, separately giving to a few other young ladies, including her two Luo family younger sisters.
“Alright, you all can go play. It’ll be quite boring for you all to stay here with us. People of the same age should just play with the people of the same age.” Jing Wan smilingly waved her hand.
“Your Highness isn’t that much older than us, so how come not the same anymore.” Yu Yao purely expressed that she didn’t understand.
Jing Wan helplessly smiled, reaching out and pinching Yu Yao’s cheeks, “These words, in a few years, after you’ve married and given birth, you can then come say to me.”
How could Yu Yao still not understand, her facing blushing. The madams in the surrounding all amicably chuckled.
“Your Highness just knows how to tease me, not talking to you anymore.” Stomping her feet, she ran off with her face red.
“Your Highness please forgive, this girl has been spoiled by me, increasingly disregarding the rules.” The Grand Elder Princess stood out to apologize.
“Adoptive mother is too serious. What kind of temperament Yu Yao has, I’m very clear about. Her being like this, it’s also hard to come by.”
