Chapter 77

Fengwu Palace.

In the main hall, all the concubines who were going to the Cining Palace were kneeling in two or three rows.

Emperor Chongzhao sat beside the empress, his heart was burning with anger, and he said in a chilling tone: "I really didn't know that musicians could be used in this way!"

The Queen looked slightly embarrassed.

She also didn't expect that the musicians in the Cining Palace's square dance troupe could dress up in disguise.

If she had known earlier, she would have gone to see it.

Now those who have watched it get scolded, and those who haven't watched it also get scolded. It's really a loss.

Rong Guiren felt wronged and whispered, "I and others just got a little closer to the musicians, and didn't do anything else. We are all women..."

Emperor Chongzhao: "Woman? Is there a woman dressed like that?"

He pointed his finger at them one by one, "You, you guys, you know what you are thinking, don't ask me to point it out, it won't look good!"

The queen poured him some tea: "It's cold, it helps you cool down."

"It's just this once. They just want to see it for fun. It's not a big deal. They just accompany the concubines, which is also a filial piety."

A filial piety?

Emperor Chongzhao took a deep breath and looked at the culprit.

Kneeling in the front was a wilted radish seedling.

Qu Watanabe knelt obediently on the futon - yes, he even had a futon.

Because the ground was cold, the Queen was afraid that he would catch a cold and get sick, and then she would not be able to explain to Concubine Xuan.

The youngest son was wearing a light red shorts and a long cloth tied around his waist for martial arts practice. His hair was tied up in a mess and looked messy, with a streak of ink on the side of his face.

Looking at my fingers again, there were still black and white stripes on them.

Children have short hands, so when they write, they inevitably leave ink stains, which are always difficult to wash clean.

The small bag slung across his shoulder contained not books, but some green vegetables that had just been pulled out of the ground and still had some dirt on them.

——Apparently, when the child heard the summons, he was busy working in his own vegetable garden in Shunning Palace.

Very good at living.

He looks like a child, but not like a proper prince.

Emperor Chongzhao became more and more displeased: "Look at what you are wearing."

He felt that he could not go on like this. Even though the child was weak and not good at studying, and he did not expect him to inherit the throne in the future, he at least had to develop a sensible and well-behaved character.

When he was a child, he loved to tinker with all kinds of things, not just the puppy car. Now that he has grown up, his influence in the harem has doubled.

Let’s talk about Concubine Xuan.

He was originally worried that Concubine Xuan would beat the child, but now it seems that Concubine Xuan is also spoiling him. The entire Shunning Palace, even Zhiyi, indulges him.

Qu Dubian looked down at his clothes.

"Isn't it beautiful, made by Empress Xuan?"

Emperor Chongzhao took a deep breath and said, "...You can't wear this dress as a casual dress! If you wear it outside, people will think Concubine Xuan is abusing you."

"Xiao Qi, you are a prince. You have many brothers ahead of you, and your health is not good. So I don't expect you to be outstanding in your studies. At least you have to know how to make progress."

"But look at what you are doing. You are treating the harem as a place to have fun. It's not enough that the concubines are just a bunch of bones to accompany you to torment, you even drag other concubines to play with you."

Qu Watanabe: "But everyone is quite happy..."

Emperor Chongzhao walked back and forth twice with his hands behind his back, trying to find something. He had to teach this brat a lesson today!

The person outside called out, "Concubine Liang is here!"

Qu Dubian's eyes lit up, and he turned his head and whispered, "Grandma Liang, be careful."

Concubine Liang was supported by someone and said with a smile, "Okay."

Emperor Chongzhao stood up and said, "Empress Dowager Liang, why did you come out of the Cining Palace? Come on, take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Concubine Liang was an old lady who had followed the late emperor for a long time. She had taken care of Emperor Chongzhao in the past, and as she was an elder, Emperor Chongzhao had some respect for her.

After Concubine Liang took her seat, she looked at the concubines kneeling on the ground and the little carrot in front of her.

"Emperor, don't blame them. It's mainly because we are a few old ladies in the Cining Palace who want to have some fun. It will be more lively with more people."

"And Xiao Qi, that's what we wanted to do, to have some fun and have some noise. We're old and won't live long, but we have to be in a good mood, right? Xiao Qi is just sympathetic to us, so he tries all kinds of ways to make us happy."

"Emperor, please don't be angry."

Emperor Chongzhao glanced at the little carrot kneeling in front of him.

"That's what Toffee said."

As soon as Concubine Liang arrived, the atmosphere here suddenly became less tense.

Qu Dubian glanced at Concubine Liang secretly.

Concubine Liang also winked at him secretly.

Finally, Emperor Chongzhao ordered that the musicians in the music troupe must wear the music troupe's costumes and not change them at will, and that the concubines in the harem must not disturb the concubines in the Cining Palace from resting without reason.

As for the concubines who participated in the square dancing in the Cining Palace, he fined them three months' salary on the grounds of misconduct.

There is no more.

He did not ask the concubines to stop this activity. After all, she was his father's concubine, and it would not be right for him to interfere too much with Concubine Liang being here.

The Queen and the concubines who were listening to her instructions all breathed a sigh of relief.

They had already prepared themselves mentally for the severe punishment His Majesty would give them, or even confine them to prison. Fortunately, he let them go lightly in the end.

It's a pity for Qu Watanabe that the Cining Palace Square Dance Orchestra has only existed for a short time before it announced its bankruptcy. I don't know if it will have a chance to revive in the future.

In fact, those who dance square dance include not only mothers and grandmothers, but also uncles and grandfathers... Why don't you try it yourself, you may discover a new world.

At this point, the concubines stood up and prepared to leave.

Qu Watanabe also planned to go with Concubine Liang.

Emperor Chongzhao called him, "Xiaoqi, stay here. I have something to tell you."

Concubine Liang: "Your Majesty..."

"I know," Emperor Chongzhao said, "everyone is protecting him, so it's not difficult for me to do it for him."

He waved his hand, and Concubine Liang had to look at Qu Dubian worriedly before following the Queen out.

Emperor Chongzhao felt that he could not go on like this, otherwise the harem would sooner or later turn against him under the leadership of his youngest son. He couldn't help but feel a headache when he thought that he still had at least four years before he could live with the prince.

His tone became serious: "You have to remember, this is the imperial palace, the palace rules are strict, how can you be casual about it."

The youngest son in front of him lowered his head again, "So the palace is not home."

"..." Emperor Chongzhao felt inexplicably blocked in his heart, and his tone slowed down: "What I mean is that you can play, but don't be so hard-working. You are six years old, and you should know how to make progress and behave like a prince."

"I know. I'll make progress tomorrow."

He didn't talk back and was extremely obedient, but Emperor Chongzhao felt inexplicably uncomfortable. His brows not only did not relax, but became even more furrowed.

"Don't be angry," Qu Dubian put the vegetables in the small cloth bag in front of the futon, "I grew these vegetables myself. I wanted to send them to the Purple Palace for you later, so I'm giving them to you in advance."

He put down the vegetables, patted his clothes, and glanced at Emperor Chongzhao.

"Granny Liang is still waiting for me outside. I'll leave first."

Emperor Chongzhao said nothing, and Qu Dubian stood up and left.

After he left, Emperor Chongzhao looked at the fresh green vegetables on the ground and couldn't help but frowning.

"Did I sound fierce just now?"

Eunuch Yu: "This...is not bad."

Emperor Chongzhao: "Then I told him not to spend too much time on other things and focus on his studies. Is that wrong?"

Eunuch Yu: "Definitely not."

Emperor Chongzhao fell silent.

But why did he feel as if he had done something wrong?

Yu Gonggong couldn't guess what his Majesty was thinking.

Not to mention His Majesty, they were all used to the noisy relationship between the Seventh Prince and His Majesty. Suddenly, even he felt uncomfortable with this, let alone His Majesty.

Emperor Chongzhao sat here for a while and had no intention of going to the harem anymore, so he prepared to return to the Purple Palace.

He swung his sleeves and snorted, "I want to see how he improves himself."

After walking a few steps, he turned around and said, "Bring the food."

Eunuch Yu: "Here it is, Your Majesty. It is a gift from the Seventh Prince to you. I will arrange it tomorrow."

Emperor Chongzhao hummed casually.

Eunuch Yu knew that this dish must appear on the dinner table tomorrow, otherwise His Majesty would definitely be angry.

-

Qu Dubian and Concubine Liang were walking on the road.

Concubine Liang laughed so hard that she couldn't close her mouth. "Oh, it's been so many years. This is the first time I see the emperor with this expression. When I return to the palace, I have to talk to them about it."

Qu Watanabe: "Grandma Liang, thank you for coming to the rescue."

Otherwise, he didn't know how long he would be scolded. Although he was not too worried about being beaten, his cheap father's scolding was becoming more and more nagging, and he was worried that he would fall asleep on the spot.

"It's okay. It was Concubine Xuan who asked you to do that. Go back quickly and don't make her worry."

Qu Duanbian was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "Okay."

After saying goodbye to Concubine Liang, he returned to Shunning Palace.

Concubine Xuan was indeed waiting for him.

Seeing him coming, Concubine Xuan wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and asked, "Did His Majesty scold you?"

Qu Dubian took off the small cloth bag on his body and threw it aside: "It's not a scolding, I just said a few words."

Concubine Xuan: "Ignore him. You did the right thing. He doesn't care about how bored all the concubines in the harem are. Instead, he embarrasses you who is giving you advice to relieve your boredom. You are so petty."

She pointed to the pile of presents behind her.

"These were sent by the concubines who often went to the Cining Palace to dance after the Fengwu Palace ended. They were very happy these days."

Qu Duanbian: "Empress Xuan, today His Majesty asked me to make progress. If I don't make progress and continue to play around like I do now, will you be disappointed?"

Concubine Xuan took his hand and walked inside, "Did His Majesty tell you this?"

"almost."

"So do you think you are happy every day?"

Qu Watanabe nodded.

"That's good. You are my... my Shunning Palace's child. Your happiness is more important than anything else." Concubine Xuan paused, "And your health."

Qu Watanabe: "Will Empress Xuan think that I will be very ordinary when I grow up?"

Concubine Xuan: "Do you think Empress Xuan is ordinary? I don't go out often, I don't often communicate with outsiders, I just stay in my own palace, doing what I like."

"Of course not."

Concubine Xuan's life was what he longed for. Except for not being able to leave the palace and having no freedom, which was very annoying, everything about her was perfect.

"I don't think so either," she touched the child's head, "Empress Xuan hopes that you will continue like this and do what you like."

Ordinary, healthy and free.

Even if it makes you stupid, you should never get involved in conflicts.

Qu Duanbian nodded and blinked: "But I promised my father that I would make progress in the future."

Concubine Xuan pondered: "If you feel that you are healthy, you can learn more, but you must do it in moderation and not stay up late."

In fact, she often saw the light in Xiaoqi's bedroom and the small study on until very late, and he never told others what he was doing in there.

Qu Watanabe chuckled: "Yeah!"

-

the next day.

After school at noon.

Qu Dubian held Dahei by the hand, and with his other hand held a homemade paper megaphone. When he passed by the Purple Palace, he raised the megaphone and shouted, "Father, I have made progress today!"

The sound echoes in the vast space.

Inside the Zichen Hall.

Emperor Chongzhao: “…”

He held a piece of paper in his hand, which was the princes' rewards and punishments for today's class. It clearly read: [The seventh prince was punished to write two large characters because he did not finish his homework.]

Day 3.

Qu Dubian held Dahei by the hand and shouted again: "Father, I have made progress again today!"

Inside the Zichen Hall.

Reward and punishment: [The Seventh Prince and the Fourth Prince were wandering in their dreams during Master Xi's class, so they were punished to stand together to refresh themselves.]

Emperor Chongzhao: “…”

Day 4.

Emperor Chongzhao stood with his hands behind his back, holding the record of rewards and punishments in his hands. He stood at the door early, watching his youngest son walking by with the dog in the distance, and shouted again: "Father, I am very motivated today!"

Reward and punishment: [The Seventh Prince failed to complete the punishment of writing large characters, and was punished to write three more pieces.]

Emperor Chongzhao looked at his 'progressive' back as he walked away with the dog, and a familiar feeling of powerlessness surged in his heart, and he sighed deeply.