Pitiful Little Crown Prince (2)
Lastly, the little crown prince stood before the people that were brought back from former Southern Qi. Directly in front of him was one of the great scholars that Li Hong Yuan once met. Truthfully speaking, seeing this kind of crown prince, they felt very complicated inside. This was the crown prince of the country that extinguished theirs, but he was also the crown prince that they will vow loyalty to in the future, watching him from three years old to old age. Qi Yuan was walking towards a golden age, and as long as there isn’t any mishap, this golden age will also continue during the next emperor’s reign.
“Have the former Southern Qi buried in the bottom of your heart. In the future, you all will pride yourself as a citizen of Qi Yuan.”
This great scholar could keenly tell that these words absolutely weren’t taught by Yuan Qi Emperor, and instead, extremely likely to have been taught by the empress by his side.
Yesterday, after entering Qi Yuan’s capital, they’d gotten arranged for appropriately, even specially arranging servants for them. Perhaps, it was also so that it’ll be easier for them to learn about things, and they indeed asked quite a few things. The people serving them also told them everything they knew, and the information they received the most was precisely in regards to this empress.
Turns out, in the several years while Yuan Qi Emperor was away, it wasn’t the high ministers supervising the state, but rather the empress. She not only had Qi Yuan’s governmental affairs handled appropriately, swiftly arranging matters on Southern Qi’s side, not letting Yuan Qi Emperor worry about the rear, she even carried out new policies in Qi Yuan, letting Qi Yuan not be damaged by neither disaster nor war, the national power even becoming more prosperous with each passing day. With all these cases spread out one by one, how many emperors of various dynasties can even achieve this, yet she a mere woman precisely achieved it.
For people like them, towards the inner palace interfering in politics, to say they didn’t have any opinion, it was impossible. But, when really achieving this much, they also couldn’t help but admire. And for this kind of extraordinary woman to have been able to raise such a crown prince, it seemingly wasn’t that strange either.
Holding back certain thoughts and taking a look, it actually wasn’t anything either. However, who let them value etiquette the most, “This old one very much look forward to it.” Since they’ve already become citizens of Qi Yuan, and they themselves have also already acknowledged, then there was no need to be awkward about it.
The little crown prince returned to his seat and looked towards his imperial mother, looking for a praise. However, what he first saw was instead the demon king’s cold face. All the smugness, in that moment, disappeared without a trace.
Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan naturally won’t stay the entire time, and the little crown prince also can’t sit for that long. The stars of this palace banquet were the military generals. That’s why, when it was more or less about time, Li Hong Yuan just left with Jing Wan.
However, before that, Li Hong Yuan announced that after the new year, the crown prince will soon leave the boudoir and start his schooling. This just meant that the eastern palace will need to be fully put in order before the end of the year.
Quite a few people were precisely preparing for the little crown prince to start his schooling, seeing whether or not they can occupy a seat in the eastern palace. Just, at present, the matter got shifted ahead of time, making them more or less be somewhat caught unprepared.
However, this mainly just affected the civil officials. This really didn’t concern the military officials that much.
However, the little crown prince wasn’t too happy. Even though he knew that the matter was already set in stone, but getting announced like this, the meaning was still somewhat different. The demon king sure enough shouldn’t have returned!
It was already the twelfth lunar month to begin with, and Li Hong Yuan has also returned. He ultimately still heartached for his wife, having endured by herself for three years, having done quite a few things. It goes without saying, how hard it was for her. Everything else aside, just that pair of jade hands of hers, there were already some calluses on the fingers. Clearly, it was because of frequently holding the brush for a long time. One has to know, in the past, the times she held the brush also weren’t few, yet this kind of thing never appeared on her hand before.
Li Hong Yuan didn’t let her hold the brush anymore, having all governmental affairs during this time all shouldered upon himself.
However, regardless whether it’s the front court of the imperial study, Jing Wan was still brought along.
Having been busy for more than three years, to suddenly become idle, Jing Wan was still a bit unaccustomed. However, to be able to see her own husband at all times, she was also very satisfied. Moreover, she’d also carefully inspected. He indeed didn’t get any new scars. This bit made her very pleased.
TN: All
“You plan on establishing libraries across the country, free for the scholars of the world to borrow and read?” Li Hong Yuan flipped through a memorandum the inner cabinet submitted up. A draft of regulations was written on there.
“En, there are truly too many that want to study but can’t afford to. That’s why, I feel, it’s very necessary.”
“This isn’t a small matter.”
“No matter how big of a matter, we can all take it slowly, going step by step. We will eventually be able to accomplish one day.”
Li Hong Yuan had heard Jing Wan talk about some things from her past life before, “That’s why, in the future, you also plan on opening schools everywhere?”
“There is this plan, but that step is even harder, needing ten to twenty years, or an even longer time to carry out.”
“There’s still Li Tian Lin.” Li Hong Yuan calmly said.
The underlying meaning was just even if unable to complete in this lifetime, there’s still their son. Right now, he was just that tiny, yet already need to start inheriting his own mother’s aspirations.
Even though already used to a certain someone’s attitude towards their son, but every time, at times like this, her feelings were still a bit peculiar.
“Ah Yuan, I feel, you should still be a bit better to our son. As the saying goes, to teach by words and example. The Retired Emperor is still at the Mount Xiang Imperial Residence.”
“Heh.” Li Hong Yuan coldly sneered, “A prerequisite is still needed for committing ‘regicide and patricide’. Based on his current advantages, for him to walk the same path as this emperor, before that day even comes, this emperor can just kill him first. To be that stupid, even if this emperor were to lower the difficulty, letting him succeed, he can still get his power hollowed out by the court officials and turned into a puppet at any time.”
Jing Wan sweated. These words really weren’t the least bit subtle, but the reality was also indeed as such. If able to safely and smoothly achieve, who would put up obstructions along one’s own path for no reason? That kind of person, if not having mental problems, then it was just a brainless idiot. Her son can’t possibly be in this category.
This year, they actually managed to seal the imperial brush on time at the end of the year. And at this time, the members of the little crown prince’s eastern palace have been organized. The little crown prince also moved out from Kunyi Palace.
When leaving, the tears spun in the little crown prince’s eyes, pulling Jing Wan’s sleeve, appearing very pitiful.
However, Jing Wan didn’t soften in the slightest. The main reason being that two days ago, this brat even excitedly told those playmates of his in high spirit that once he gets his own palace, when time comes, that will be his territory, can play around however he wants, and mess around however he wants. Still haven’t moved out yet, yet already began plotting all kinds of things with his playmates.
That’s why, for the little crown prince that had already gotten thoroughly exposed, how could he easily win Jing Wan’s sympathy?
Speaking of which, the reason why the little crown prince didn’t have the slightest rejection towards living alone was merely because ever since birth, he’s always slept alone in Kunyi Palace’s side chamber. The wet nurses were never allowed to sleep with him.
Prior to Li Hong Yuan going out to war, he certainly won’t allow the little crown prince to sleep by Jing Wan’s side. And after Li Hong Yuan left, Jing Wan felt that since her son was already used to it, if she were to carry him back to her side to sleep, then carry away when his old man comes back, he would instead cry. Thus, she just continued letting him sleep on his own.
That’s why, in the imperial palace, regardless where he sleeps, for him, it was all the same, not really that big of a difference.
Unable to achieve his aim, the little crown prince could only let go of his mother, angrily preparing to go to his new territory to scout out.
Seeing her mischievous little son, Jing Wan was also amused, “Come, imperial mother will go with you for a look.”
The little crown prince grabbed Jing Wan’s hand that extended over, immediately grinning from ear to ear, happily chattering with Jing Wan, and only at times like this did Jing Wan feel that her son was like how children of his age should be.
In reality, previously when arranging, Jing Wan had already looked over. Many things were all personally picked by her. She did what she can to give her son the greatest care.
Because it was all arranged according to the little crown prince’s preferences, as such, for the most part, there wasn’t anything dissatisfying. However, children were always somewhat greedy, wanting this and that, seemingly forever unable to be satisfied. To be living alone in his own palace while this small, Jing Wan ultimately felt bad for him, so as long as his request wasn’t overboard, she all satisfied him.
During this time, Li Hong Yuan also just closed one eye. Although not liking, his son was ultimately his offspring. The father teaching the son was only natural. In the future, there’s plenty of time to slowly ‘instruct’. Besides, it’s not like he really wanted to thoroughly erase Jing Wan’s motherly nature. That wasn’t realistic.
