The next afternoon, just after tea and snacks, Madam Ruan came in to announce that the young master of the Eastern Palace had arrived. (Latest and fastest updates, free reading available.)

Shi Lan was tying strings to a kite at her desk when she heard that Shi Yuan had arrived. She hurriedly dragged the kite, which was almost as tall as herself, out and bumped into Shi Yuan, who was walking inside.

Before Shi Yuan could speak, Shi Lan beckoned to him and said, "Come on, help me lift it."

Upon hearing Shi Lan's call, Shi Yuan quickly ran a few steps, leaving behind the eunuch who was following closely behind. She went behind Shi Lan, bent over halfway, and followed Shi Lan to the open space outside the door, holding up the long ribbon at the bottom.

Shi Lan had some experience with this kind of thing, and guessing that Shi Yuan was too young to run, she let him hold the rope while she held the kite and ran against the wind. In no time, they got the kite into the sky.

Shi Yuan gripped the string, watching the kite fluttering nervously. When Shi Lan ran back breathlessly, he told Shi Yuan to loosen the string. It was Shi Yuan's first time playing, and he didn't know how to control it properly. When he let go, the string slipped right out of his hand.

Upon seeing this, Shi Lan quickly said, "Quickly, grab it!"

Shi Yuan quickly reached out to grab it, but it was too late. The kite, freed from its rope, immediately soared upwards and floated out of the walls of Fengzao Palace in a short while.

Shi Lan turned to look at Shi Yuan with a disappointed expression.

Shi Yuan's face turned red, as if she was a little embarrassed.

Shi Lan thought that since he was the crown prince, a kite was no big deal, so she waved her hand and said, "Forget it, I'll make another one tonight, and we can play with it tomorrow."

Shi Yuan pursed her lips, seemingly somewhat disappointed. (Latest and fastest updates, free reading)

Seeing his expression, Shi Lan said, "What's wrong? Why are you crying, you grown man?"

Shi Yuan sniffed, glared at her, and said defiantly, "I didn't cry."

Shi Lan nodded and said, "I know you didn't cry, but you looked like you were. If I hadn't asked, you probably would have already shed tears."

Shi Yuan stared wide-eyed, her cheeks puffed out, and said, "I didn't cry."

"Okay, I understand," Shi Lan nodded perfunctorily.

Shi Yuan was so angry that her little chest heaved. She wanted to assert her authority and reprimand her, but she was worried that she would no longer consider her a friend. Yet, she felt extremely wronged if she didn't say anything.

Shi Lan was amused by his frustrated and aggrieved expression.

Seeing her like this, Shi Yuan became even angrier and turned to leave.

Shi Lan quickly grabbed him and apologized.

Shi Yuan had quite a temper; although she stood still, she just pouted and didn't say a word.

Shi Lan apologized for a while, but seeing that he still wouldn't forgive her, she simply changed the subject to a topic that boys would be interested in: the North.

Upon hearing about the northern lands, Shi Yuan's eyes lit up.

Seeing that he was interested, Shi Lan immediately piqued his interest and stopped talking.

Shi Yuan was dumbfounded when she saw Shi Lan abandon her and turn back to the side hall.

A few steps away, the eunuch in charge of serving him cautiously stepped forward and asked, "Young master, shall we return to the East Palace?"

Shi Yuan glared at him and said, "I just arrived, what's there to reply to?"

The eunuch knew he had a bad temper, so he didn't dare to say anything and retreated to the back.

Shi Yuan lowered her head and thought for a while, then glanced at Shi Lan. Seeing that Shi Lan was about to go up to the covered walkway, she quickly chased after her.

Shi Lan had been keeping an eye on what was behind her, and when she heard hurried footsteps behind her, she smiled.

"Fourth Sister, wait for me!" Shi Yuan ran up to Shi Lan and tugged at her sleeve.

Shi Lan stopped and waited for him to come to her side before asking, "Weren't you angry with me? Why did you come chasing after me?"

Shi Yuan's lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say that she had heard about the North. After a moment's thought, she managed not to blurt it out, but instead said, "You and I are friends. How could friends really get angry with each other?"

Shi Lan pursed her lips and said nothing more, seemingly accepting this explanation.

Shi Yuan then asked, "You just mentioned the North, have you been there?"

Shi Lan nodded and said, "I have been cultivating with my master since I was a child, traveling from north to south, so I naturally know about the northern lands."

Shi Yuan hurriedly asked, "Then can you tell me what the North is like?"

He has been on a southern tour for three or four years and governing the country here for nearly five years. Shi Yuan is only five or six years old now, which means he has never seen what the north is like.

Thinking of the Han people suffering in the north, Shi Lan felt a pang of compassion.

Now approaching forty, and knowing that in another ten or twenty years, Shi Yuan would be the king of the world, Shi Lan felt it necessary to give him a vivid and shocking lesson.

So she took his hand and said, "Do you really want to know what's happening in the North?"

Shi Yuan nodded.

Shi Lan then said, "Alright, let's go back inside, sit down, and talk slowly."

Shi Yuan, unsuspecting, followed her to the side hall.

Shi Lan dismissed the palace maids and eunuchs who served Shi Yuan, and then covered the curtain to make sure no one was eavesdropping or watching before telling Shi Yuan about what happened in the north. She then took off her clothes, revealing her thin inner garment, and gently lifted the back of her shirt to show him the hideous whip marks on her back. She said, "This was done by a child who is no more than two years older than you. They have no humanity. They treat Han people like livestock, and some are even worse than livestock."

Shi Yuan looked at the hideous scars on Shi Lan's back that had already healed, and carefully touched them with her finger.

Shi Lan subconsciously turned around, and Shi Yuan quickly put her hand down, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Shi Lan didn't think much of it. She pulled her inner garments up, put her clothes back on, and repeatedly told him not to tell anyone that she had shown him his wounds, otherwise she might be sent to a nunnery.

Shi Yuan had already begun his early education and knew a little about the taboos between men and women. Knowing that Shi Lan was not threatening him, he quickly nodded and promised that even if his teeth were pried off with bamboo sticks, he would never tell anyone. However, as a condition, she would teach him the skill of killing barbarians.

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