OBS Chapter 148 Abdication
Chapter 148 Abdication
Princess Yongning, Lady of Le'an Zhai Zhao and Jia Min sat together, while the princess's eldest son Hong Zixiu played with Lin Daiyu and his younger sister Hong Zishi nearby.
Because Zhai Zhao was a widow without children, Jia Min carefully avoided the topic of her husband and children, and only asked the princess about the popular clothes and jewelry in the capital in the past two years.
But these three people, either not lacking, or not loving, or not suitable, none of them cares about those external things, and after just a few words they awkwardly reach a dead end.
As for the group of children, Hong Zixiu was too old, Lin Daiyu was weak, and Hong Zishi was too young. There was really nothing for them to play with, so they all kept silent.
Finally, Hong Zishi remembered his mother's instructions, took Daiyu's hand, and recited in a childish voice: "The sky and the earth are dark yellow, the universe is vast and boundless..."
Lin Daiyu followed her and said, "The sun and the moon wax and wane, the stars are in the sky..."
Hong Zixiu breathed a sigh of relief, and then quietly followed the two of them to continue reciting the Thousand Character Classic.
"The sound of the children's chanting is even more pleasant than the singing and dancing in the opera theater." Princess Yongning couldn't help but admire.
Zhai Zhao also showed a satisfied expression and said, "The learning atmosphere is strong in Shandong. When I was at home, I was woken up every morning by the sound of reading from the school next door."
He praised the princess again, "Zi Shi is still so young, and you are already teaching him these things?"
"We have finished memorizing the Three Character Classic and Hundred Family Surnames, and now we have reached the Thousand Character Classic." Princess Yongning was also very proud, "Although our Zishi is young and a girl, her memory and patience are better than her two brothers.
"I only taught her the Three Character Classic for a month, and she memorized it by heart. It only took me a month to learn the Hundred Family Surnames. The Thousand Character Classic has many allusions, so I had to explain it slowly, so it took a little longer."
Jia Min followed up with praise: "Zi Shi is indeed smart."
"Did Daiyu learn three hundred thousand?" Princess Yongning glanced at Zhai Zhao and asked.
Jia Min smiled reservedly: "I learned it roughly. Her father is a nerd, and he likes to carry her around the garden. The man is not good at chatting with children, so he just recited these things. After listening for a long time, she will learn it."
"Besides the three hundred thousand, what else has Lord Lin recited to our Daiyu?" Princess Yongning smiled and covered her lips with her hands. "Could it be that he has already recited the Warring States Policy?"
"I have actually memorized one!" Jia Min said with a smile.
Princess Yongning and Zhai Zhao both opened their eyes wide: "Ah?!"
"I heard it and cursed back. Yu'er was only three years old at that time. How could she understand the principles of the Warring States Policy? She was just a parrot imitating others.
"I would scold him. It would be fine if he studied well, but what if he learned something wrong one day and people thought he was being sarcastic? Wouldn't that cause misunderstanding? He also likes to take his daughter to meet his classmates and colleagues.
"When he heard that, he stopped. He first recited Tang and Song poems, and then recited the Four Books." At this point, Jia Min couldn't help but have a headache, "How can a little child understand all this?
"Her father is busy and only cares about reciting but not speaking. I am also worried that I won't speak well and I am very worried."
Zhai Zhao looked at Princess Yongning, and Princess Yongning also looked at her, and they smiled knowingly at each other.
Jia Min was puzzled. She looked at the two of them, not knowing where she had said the wrong thing.
The sound of reading had barely stopped when someone outside reported: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has come with the young prince and princess in plain clothes."
"Come with me to welcome them." Princess Yongning hurriedly took Zhai Zhao and Jia Min out.
Unexpectedly, the prince had already strode in and said with a smile, "I can hear the children's voices from a distance. They are as sweet as the sounds of nature!"
Everyone knelt down and saluted.
The prince first grabbed his sister, then cordially asked Zhai Zhao and Jia Min to stand up as well: "Princess Le'an, it's been many years since we last met.
"Mrs. Lin, please stand up as well. Is Ru Hai home? I'm in the mood for chess today, and I want to play a few games with him."
Zhai Zhao stood up with a smile and walked away calmly.
Jia Min was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head and said, "My husband went out to visit a friend early this morning, and he said he wouldn't leave any food there. I think he'll be back soon."
When Lin Daiyu heard this, she immediately pulled her servants and whispered to them to go back: "Go find Daddy and tell him I'm looking for him. Make sure he comes home right away and don't tell anyone that the prince is here."
She thought her voice was soft, but she didn't know that the adults heard it and couldn't help but chuckle.
Even Zhai Zhao found it strange and whispered to Jia Min, "Mrs. Lin's daughter is well-educated, smart and lovely."
Over there, He Ke and Tao Ge'er greeted Princess Yongning and other adults, and without a word, they joined the group of children and started playing with them.
Nanny Ji looked at Princess Yongning excitedly and went forward to pay her respects. The princess grabbed her and pushed her affectionately: "Go and look after those little monkeys first, we'll talk later!"
The prince also asked Zhai Zhao whether he could get used to living here after being away from the capital for ten years.
Princess Yongning was afraid that Jia Min would feel embarrassed, so she quietly told her that Zhai Zhao was specially invited back from Qingzhou by the prince to be He Ke's teacher, and today was the opportunity for the teacher and student to meet and see how they got along.
Jia Min understood and asked in a low voice: "Then I will take the children to play nearby first, and then invite the princess to come and meet the county lady?"
"That's not necessary." Princess Yongning whispered, "Brother Crown Prince also watched Zhao'er grow up. Let's reminisce about the past. You can accompany Zhai Zhao to play with the children.
"Zhao'er has been cold and aloof since she was young. I'm afraid the children will be afraid of her at first. Please help to change her mind."
Jia Min nodded in understanding: "Yes. I remember it."
Sure enough, after a few words, the prince stood up and bowed to Zhai Zhao: "I'll leave everything to Sister Le An."
Zhai Zhao stood up quickly and moved aside: "How can I be worthy of this? Your sister will definitely teach you everything she knows."
"Come here, you guys are giving me a headache. Go follow Aunt Le An and Madam Lin to play in the warm room at the back. There's a bigger place there!" Princess Yongning took the opportunity to say.
Zhai Zhao and Jia Min smiled at each other, then walked to the back with the noisy children.
Without anyone around, the prince relaxed in front of his sister. He sat next to her and picked and chose from the high plates between them. He took out an orange and peeled it himself: "You are more comfortable here."
Princess Yongning laughed and said, "You talk as if there are no oranges in the East Palace!"
"The Eastern Palace has everything," the prince sighed, "but if I sit in the Lizheng Palace and don't read the reports from all over the country, I feel ashamed of the carved beams and jade pillars.
“I can’t relax no matter what.”
Princess Yongning noticed something was wrong with the voice, and was stunned for a moment. She leaned over and asked softly, "Brother, what's wrong with you? When you first entered the East Palace, you were so busy, and I never saw you so worried."
The prince fell silent.
After a long while, after finishing an orange, he asked in a low voice: "Have you visited your father in the past few days?"
“I just went there yesterday.”
"So do you see any difference?"
Princess Yongning recalled and sighed: "Father, you are old. He said the same thing twice yesterday, beginning and ending.
"After dinner, my father went to do some work. I quietly told my mother, and she cried. She said my father had been like this for half a year."
The prince hummed and sighed, then flexed and stretched his hands on his knees and rubbed them together. It seemed as if his hands were numb, or as if he was rubbing off the sweat on his palms.
Princess Yongning was touched, with horror on her face. She grabbed her brother's arm and asked in a low voice, "Father, are you thinking of retiring?!"
"Yes." The prince nodded slowly, "My father called the Ministry of Rites in front of me and asked them to secretly investigate the steps of the abdication."
Because he was speaking to the princess sideways, his eyes naturally raised slightly and fell on the hem of the skirt fluttering behind the screen - it was He Ke.
The prince subconsciously raised his hand to stop the princess from speaking.
"Abdication..." But Princess Yongning's face turned pale, her eyes looked straight ahead, and she did not see his gesture.
He Ke's curious little face came from behind the screen. He tilted his head to look at the crown prince and then at Princess Yongning, who looked grim. He asked in a low voice, "What is abdication? Is it the one from Yao, Shun, and Yu?"