Chapter 109: The Daily Life of the Crown Prince

The first day of September, the twenty-third year of Chengming.

It is the Crown Prince’s third birthday, and a small birthday banquet will be held in the East Palace tonight.

But the birthday boy, Xiao Jia, was ruthlessly taken to the study room by his father just after breakfast and was not even allowed to take birthday leave.

Although Xiao Yan was known for his gentleness and kindness, he was an out-and-out strict father to his only son.

Little Xiao Jia was standing in front of the window, reciting the Thousand Character Classic in a rhythmic manner. His voice was childish and crisp, and his expression was serious.

"...Gold comes from Lishui, jade comes from Kungang. The sword is called Juque, and the pearl is called luminous..."

"Xiaer, Xiaer..." He paused, and couldn't help but stretch out his chubby paws to scratch his head, then looked at his father cautiously.

"The near and the far are one, and I am leading the guests back to the king." Xiao Qi frowned slightly, "Weren't you able to recite it fluently yesterday? How come you have become rusty after just one day?"

After a moment's silence, he asked in a deep voice, "Did you play around at Grandfather's place last night?"

Xiao Xiaojia was so frightened that her breathing stopped and she pursed her lips.

Last night, his grandfather took him and his mother to Changyin Pavilion to watch a shadow play. If he told this, his father would definitely not be happy...

Unlike Xiao Yan, the emperor is always majestic and cold in front of others, but in front of little Xiao Jia, he is a pure and kind father.

On the one hand, it was naturally because Xiao Yan was strict enough with the child; on the other hand, the emperor really loved him.

Seeing his son so nervous, Xiao Yan sighed inwardly, "Continue reciting."

Xiao Xiaojia's eyes lit up, "Yes, father!"

The sound of children reading aloud could be heard again in the upper study room, and this time they recited the entire "Thousand Character Classic" very smoothly.

By the time the enlightenment class was over, it was already past mid-afternoon.

As soon as little Xiao Jia returned to the East Palace, he was taken to the inner hall by Aunt Xingyun to wash and change clothes, and put on the Crown Prince's court dress with a golden dragon pattern.

At this time, a little girl with a bun came in tiptoeing and looked left and right.

Only after confirming that the terrifying imperial uncle was not in the inner hall did she quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

"Brother Jia, are you okay? Aunt and mother are chatting outside, I came in to see you."

As she spoke, little Xiaoying walked forward and poked her brother's chubby face.

Little Xiaoying is the eldest daughter of King Han. Her mother is Yang Jingzhen, the younger sister of Yang Manyan. Since she was born, she has been named Princess Yongfu.

Because she had often been in and out of the palace since she was young, she and her cousin, the Crown Prince, were almost like real siblings.

Xingyun smiled and said, "Princess, please wait a moment. We haven't combed the hair of His Royal Highness yet. Please sit aside for now."

Before he finished speaking, a tactful eunuch brought over an embroidered stool, and little Xiao Ying sat down obediently and waited.

She blinked and asked in a low voice: "Brother Jia, will my uncle come to the birthday party tonight?"

"Come on, the Royal Grandfather said he has prepared a birthday gift for me." Xiao Xiaojia said seriously, "Don't be afraid, Sister, the Royal Grandfather is not fierce!"

But no matter how much he explained, it was useless. After all, the emperor was tall and strong, and his sharp aura was intimidating. There was no ordinary child who would not be afraid of him.

But it was this iron-blooded emperor who usually doted on little Xiao Jia.

After packing up, little Xiaoying took her brother's chubby hand and walked out.

As the sky gradually darkened, the glazed palace lanterns hanging high in the surrounding corridors were lit up one by one by the palace servants. They were magnificent and shining like stars.

In the blink of an eye, it was three years later.

The young Crown Prince's first trip out of the capital was to accompany the Emperor to Tianshou Mountain in the northern suburbs to inspect the newly completed imperial mausoleum.

The emperor had always been frugal and self-disciplined during his many years on the throne, but in recent years he had issued orders several times to expand his own auspicious land, spending money like water, which really puzzled many people.

As you enter the main gate of the mausoleum, you can see the end of the wide and straight sacred road, which is surrounded by majestic mountains.

Little Xiao Jia had just turned five years old and had become much calmer. Even though he was shocked by the scenery before him, he did not look around.

The emperor suddenly lowered his eyes and asked calmly, "Jia'er, do you know where this place is?"

Xiao Xiaojia's expression became serious and solemn, "Replying to Grandfather, I know."

"Then do you know why my father brought you along for the inspection?" The emperor reached out and rubbed the top of his head, trying to correct his address.

Little Xiao Jia looked confused, "Grandson, I don't know, please teach me, Grandfather."

Hearing him calling him "Grandfather" and "Grandson" repeatedly, the emperor's face looked a little unhappy, but he never got angry.

He tried to slow down his tone and said, "Jiaer, there are no outsiders here, so there is no need to be so reserved."

The attendants surrounding him were all his personal guards, who only obeyed his orders and would never leak these private matters.

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Jiacai blushed and obediently said "Yes."

Now he understood many things, but he didn't feel disgusted.

The emperor's lowered brows relaxed, and he took the little hand and continued walking forward.

Stepping into the first Zun'en Gate, he squinted his eyes and looked around at the magnificent Zun'en Hall not far away, and the towering Baocheng Underground Palace to the north.

He suddenly chuckled, "Jia'er, there is something I want to entrust to you, which is also the purpose of bringing you along this trip."

Little Xiao Jia subconsciously replied: "Grandfather, please speak."

"This is where my father and mother will rest in peace. A hundred years from now, you will arrange for us to be buried together here."

The emperor spoke these words very slowly, but his tone left no room for doubt.

"Ah?" Xiao Jia was confused.

After a moment of silence, the emperor said calmly: "Don't worry about him, he has somewhere else to go."

"But father is also my mother's husband. If they are separated, won't father be very lonely?" Little Xiao Jia said seriously.

He didn't have a particularly clear concept of life and death, but he knew that he couldn't leave his father alone.

The emperor's throat was choked and his face became increasingly gloomy.

It has to be said that Xiao Jia's facial features were not much like Yang Manyan's, but his personality was exactly the same, and he could hit the emperor's sore spot with just any word he said.

Unfortunately, the emperor couldn't do anything about the mother and son.

"Jiaer, can you bear to leave your royal grandfather all alone?" He knelt down on one knee and held his son's shoulders with his big hands.

Hearing him say this, Xiao Jia also felt a little guilty.

After thinking hard for a while, he asked again tentatively: "Can my grandfather, my mother, and my father all be together? If no one is separated, no one will be lonely."

The emperor frowned in displeasure. He couldn't be married to his beloved in an open and honest way when she was alive, so why couldn't he be buried alone with her even after her death?

Moreover, the imperial mausoleum of this dynasty only buries one emperor and one empress.

"Jiaer, I am the one you kiss, um..." Before he could finish his words, two chubby hands covered his lips at the same time.

Xiao Xiaojia frowned, "Grandfather, don't say anything, you are all Jiaer's closest relatives."