Chapter 534: The Thousand-Year-Old (55)

In the end, she was forced to compromise, but she still wrote a letter to her father to explain the situation. Unexpectedly, the emperor agreed to let these children follow him, saying that it would be a good thing for them to broaden their horizons. Wen Wan had no choice but to find four more maids, all poor children bought from the market, and then have Xiao Cui train them to take care of these precious little princes and princesses.

There were quite a few problems at the beginning. Although she was not favored in the palace, she was still a princess of high status. Naturally, she could not get used to it in an instant. However, Wen Wan did not indulge these little brats. Since she could not manage them herself, she handed them over to Gu Li to discipline.

The little princesses and princes who usually hate studying become extremely obedient in Gu Li's hands. They clearly think that Gu Li is even more terrifying than the Grand Tutor, and that just a cold face is enough to make them listen obediently.

Moreover, Gu Li taught them to read not by lecturing on the knowledge in books like the Grand Tutor, but by weaving it into a series of delightful little stories. Not only did the children enjoy listening to them, but even Wen Wan was sometimes captivated by them.

Looking at Qi Mingzhu, who was embroidering, Wen Wan finally felt like she had a daughter who had grown up. Compared to the naive and arrogant little princess she had met when they first met, Qi Mingzhu had matured and at least wouldn't do childish things anymore.

What are your plans for the future?

Qi Mingzhu: "I don't know. I never really knew what kind of life I wanted. I originally thought I could follow my mother's plan, marry the son of a minister when I reached a certain age, and have children. But when my marriage was actually decided, I rebelled. I realized that I didn't want to accept my fate. Even if the other person wasn't the king of Bianta Kingdom, but the outstanding son of a minister who was about my age, I still wouldn't accept it."

Qi Mingzhu looked at Wen Wan and said, "I want to find someone I love, just like my second brother, and live together. I don't want to settle."

Wen Yan: "..."

"What if you can't find him?" She met Gu Li and they happened to fall in love, which was already an exceptionally lucky thing, and such things are very rare.

"have no idea."

"But I don't want to give up yet, at least not now."

As for what the future holds, Qi Mingzhu instinctively doesn't want to think about it.

Wen Wan: "Besides meeting a lover, what else does Mingzhu want to do? What do you like to do?"

Qi Mingzhu: "What do I like to do? Play the zither, play chess, practice calligraphy, and paint?"

“That’s what my mother likes. I don’t like it. I’ve never liked it since I was little. I don’t know what I like to do. Everything about me is under my mother’s control. I do whatever she tells me to do. No one has ever asked me what I like. I don’t know what I like either.”

A-Yuan sighed.

Although she is a princess who is rich and noble, she is also a porcelain doll. She seems to enjoy wealth and honor and was born into a privileged life. However, like many ordinary people, she is just drifting along and doesn't even know why she lives.

Wen Wan patted Qi Mingzhu on the shoulder, "In that case, during this time you're with me, you only need to think about one thing, which is to find something you like to do, something you love to do, something that makes you happy and joyful."

"Thank you, Second Brother. In this world, only you truly care about me."

Wen Wan smiled and said, "It's not just me, there are many, many other people."

...

Wen Wan loves to play.

They didn't want to restrain the children, who were overjoyed as it was their first time leaving the palace.

I want everything I see, and I want to play with everything I see.

Wen Wan took them to their first stop to experience rural life, including farming, harvesting, and winemaking...

Moreover, he also learned about all sorts of animals, such as chickens, ducks, fish, and geese. Little Jiu'er was even snatched by a big goose and cried his heart out. It was the first time he had ever seen a snow-white goose, so he went up to touch it. But good heavens, that goose was a village bully. Even if you were the emperor's son, you would be powerless against a village bully and would be chased away.

In the end, it was another little princess in the group who grabbed the goose by the neck.

Not to mention others, even Wen Wan was shocked. Sure enough, the fighting power of children is a mystery, and they have courage. They don't even have fear as their first reaction to things they don't recognize.

Even Wen Wan wouldn't dare to fight against the village bully.

Wen Wan also took them to eat various local specialties, and they all ate until their mouths were greasy. Wen Wan was the same, after all, many of these local specialties only require the simplest cooking methods.

Not only did they do these things, Wen Wan took them to teahouses to listen to storytelling, to watch martial arts contests for marriage, to watch funerals and weddings, basically wandering around to different places every day.

Occasionally, when they encountered people forcibly abducting women, Wen Wan would order her guards to beat them up and then hand them over to the yamen (government office).

If you encounter collusion between officials and businessmen, just reveal your identity as an imperial envoy at the crucial moment, and then help as needed.

Several princesses and princes have become Wen Wan's little fans.

Wen Wan taught them the most basic principles, such as being willing to help others and being aware of the hardships faced by ordinary people. She told them that there were many children in the world like them, living a life of hunger and cold. She also told them that when they grew up, if they had the ability, they must have a kind and benevolent heart.

All of this would be recorded and sent to the palace for the emperor to see.

This was Wen Wan's habit; she would always make sure the emperor knew what she was doing. If she wanted to cling to the emperor's coattails, she had to gain his trust. The emperor wouldn't trust anyone completely, including his concubines, his sons, and his ministers.

Wen Wan made it clear to the emperor that she was still under his control, which was the best way to save her life.

A few days later, Wen Wan had two more children.

The letter from the Emperor said that the two children were too naughty and spoiled by their mother, and that it would be good for her to discipline them and teach them a lesson.

Wen Yan: "..."

My God, is this a kindergarten?

Wen Wan didn't recognize all the young princes, and children change every day and grow up very quickly, so these two were the ones she didn't know.

Their mothers were all powerful and influential, and they all wanted their children to become the crown prince, so naturally they wouldn't allow them to play with Wen Wan.

In the imperial palace, having a son made one feel superior.

The two kids are really mischievous; one is named Qi Yuan, and the other is named Qi Lin.

The former is nine years old, and the latter is eleven years old.

They were all at an age where they were sensible but rebellious. Sure enough, when they arrived, they didn't listen to Wen Wan at all. On the first day, they went and beat someone up, and even thought they were right and made the people around them pay to settle everything.

When Wen Wan heard what the guard said, she suddenly felt her blood pressure rise. Was this the legendary brat? Even more bratty than Qi Mingzhu back then. Wen Wan sneered and then began to educate the brat. She didn't hit or scold him, but instead had her guards shout through a megaphone as the two left: "These two are not good kids. They like to bully people. Don't play with them."