Chapter 109 The Little Schoolbag Speaking of time, I don't know...

Time is such a thing, I don't know who invented it, but it flies by so fast, like a stone skipping across water, it's gone in the blink of an eye. In Cheng Qianyue's memory, Hongyan hadn't been studying for many years, but now Hongchao has reached the age to start school.

However, Cheng Qianyue did not intend for Hongchao to go to the Imperial Study to study right now. He was simply too young; although he was said to be five, he was only four years and two months old. However, according to imperial rules, age was not calculated by actual birth, but by the traditional Chinese age reckoning (or nominal age), so Hongchao was indeed six years old.

A little confusing, right? Actually, it's not hard to understand at all. Hongchao was born at the end of November. According to the traditional Chinese age system, a child is considered one year old at birth, and then another year is added after the New Year. Wow, that means that when Hongchao was only two months old, he was already two years old according to the traditional Chinese age system.

In modern times, being a year or two older on your household registration wouldn't be a problem; it wouldn't affect anything and might even allow you to retire earlier. Unfortunately, this is the Qing Dynasty, and being older by the traditional Chinese age reckoning (by the Chinese age reckoning) really doesn't have any advantages; you'd only have to experience the hardships of studying early on.

So Cheng Qianyue thought about discussing with Yinreng whether to keep Hongchao for another year. But before she could even mention it to Yinreng, Hongchao came to her eagerly, asking if he would be going to the Imperial Study to study soon.

Huh? How did he know he was old enough?

Cheng Qianyue inquired further and, sure enough, it was Hongyan who told the boy. She then made an excuse, saying, "Your mother hasn't decided yet whether to send you to school."

Hongchao tilted his head, puzzled, and asked, "But I'm all grown up now."

Cheng Qianyue said, "Studying is not an easy thing. You are still too young. Your mother is worried about you going out."

This made Hongchao even more confused. He muttered, "Mother, you didn't say that before, and my brother also said he would take me with him."

Moyaqi nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right. Mother clearly said that we could go to school when we grew up, and that studying was a lot of fun."

Cheng Qianyue was surprised that the two of them still remembered the words she had used to coax them, and her throat tightened. However, making excuses was no problem for her. She sighed and said, "But it's still very cold. Mother is afraid of a late spring cold snap, and it would be bad if we got sick."

Hongchao's eyes lit up and he immediately had an idea. He replied, "Mother, it's alright. We can drink ginger tea and eat ginger candy!"

Moyaqi didn't like that thing, so she added, "You can also wear fluffy clothes and have a little stove that's warm."

The brother and sister exchanged a glance, both looking quite pleased with themselves for being so clever.

Cheng Qianyue couldn't help but facepalm: Had she dug herself a hole? And an old one at that. But she quickly found another excuse: "Mother can't make the decision about schooling alone. Let's talk to your father when he comes." With that, she managed to fool the two children away.

As evening fell, Yinreng returned from outside, and Cheng Qianyue told him that Hongchao had reached the age of four by the traditional Chinese reckoning, but she wanted to keep him for another year. After listening to her reasons, Yinreng nodded and said, "Four years old is not too young, but if you are worried, you can keep him for another year."

Cheng Qianyue sat down beside him and said, "Then, Master, go and talk to Hongchao?" Yinreng tilted his head to look at her in confusion, and Cheng Qianyue then showed a look of annoyance: "Hongchao learned from Hongyan that he has reached the age to study, and he's been clamoring to go to the Imperial Study. I tried to reason with him, but he refuted everything I said." Although she, as an adult, could completely avoid reasoning with a child, she didn't want to act like a parent in this matter.

Yinreng glanced at her with a smile: "How did you refute it? Did he take what you said to the child seriously earlier?"

"Hey, you guessed right." Cheng Qianyue nodded dejectedly.

Yinreng couldn't help but chuckle twice, then shook his head and said, "The children have grown up. You can't tease them like that anymore, or they'll take it seriously, and you'll lose your authority as their mother."

"I did a pretty good job of coaxing Hongchao back then," Cheng Qianyue muttered in defense of herself. It was just that she hadn't calculated Hongchao's age correctly. She continued to mutter, "It shows that relying on past experience is no good."

Empiricism?

Yinreng raised an eyebrow and praised Cheng Qianyue, saying, "Seeing the big picture from small details, that's excellent."

Cheng Qianyue: ......

Soon after, Hongchao and Moyaqi were both summoned in. Cheng Qianyue said to Hongchao, "I just discussed it with your father, and we think it would be better if you stayed for another year."

Hongchao thought he had been called over because he could go study outside, and he was immediately unhappy. "But I feel like I'm all grown up. Mother measured my height last time and I was already quite tall." He spread his arms and gestured.

Yinreng asked, "Tell your father, why do you want to study outside so much?"

Hongchao immediately replied excitedly, "Because my brother said that studying will teach me a lot of things, and I'll also have lots of people to play with."

Moyaqi followed up, saying, "Brother also said that when practicing martial arts, you can learn archery and ride horses."

When Cheng Qianyue heard them say that, she couldn't help but hold a grudge against Hongyan in her heart. This child was much worse than her, and he was bad in a very open and aboveboard way, but she couldn't say it because the examples they gave were all correct.

Yinreng nodded and said, "If you want to study, you have to get up early, around three in the morning. The same goes for martial arts training; it will be very tiring, and your arms and legs will suffer."

Hongchao was young but bold, and he didn't take these things seriously at all. He answered firmly, "Father, I'm not afraid of hardship."

"Really?" Yinreng raised an eyebrow and asked.

Hongchao patted his chest and nodded heavily: "Yes!"

Yinreng smiled and said, "If that's really what you think, then I'll allow you to go to the Imperial Study. But there's no turning back now, so you can't be afraid of hardship or fatigue."

Hmm? This doesn't seem right.

Cheng Qianyue's eyes widened immediately. Didn't they just agree on this? Why did they change their minds? Before Cheng Qianyue could speak, Mo Yaqi raised her hand and said, "Father, Father, and me too. I'm not afraid of hardship or fatigue either."

Yinreng smiled and looked at them: "Good, you are all Father's good children."

After the meal, both children went back to their rooms, and Cheng Qianyue complained to Yinreng, "Why did you agree to that?"

Yinreng took her hand and said, "It's just that Hongchao spoke with such conviction that I felt the momentum was very good, so I changed my mind."

Cheng Qianyue said, "Then what should we do? Should we really send Hongchao to study outside?"

Yinreng nodded: "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond. Anyway, Hongyan is in the Imperial Study and can take good care of him. If you are really worried, just tell the people who serve him to pick out a few more 'haha beads' for him sooner rather than later."

Cheng Qianyue pursed her lips, thinking that since she had already agreed, she couldn't go back on her word, so she had no choice but to do it this way.

Now that it was decided that Hongchao would go to the Imperial Study, Cheng Qianyue began to prepare. Besides inquiring about who the tutors would be for this year's students and sending them some tuition fees in advance, she then prepared reading materials for Hongchao. Actually, there wasn't much to prepare; Cheng Qianyue didn't need to worry about writing brushes, ink, paper, or inkstones. She just wanted to sew a small satchel for Hongchao to carry his things.

When Hongchao went to study, Cheng Qianyue sewed him a small schoolbag to carry his belongings. Now that Hongchao is going to study, she didn't want to show favoritism, so she asked someone to bring him needles, thread, and cotton cloth.

It was called a schoolbag, but it was really just a simple cloth bag. You just cut out the bag body and the straps and sewed them together. There was nothing technically difficult about it, and Cheng Qianyue finished it in one afternoon. Then she called Hongchao in to try it on.

Yes, it's just the right size to carry on my back.

Hongchao, carrying his little schoolbag, twirled around like a bee, looking incredibly happy. He had always envied his older brother Hongyan for being able to go to school with a schoolbag, and now he finally had one himself.

Cheng Qianyue couldn't help but smile at the slight upturn of his lips. The way this child secretly laughed was a carbon copy of Yinreng. She reached out and patted Hongchao's bottom, saying, "Alright, let's go out and play." In ten days or two weeks, things won't be as carefree as they are now.

Hongchao nodded and went out with the high spirits of a general carrying a sword.

Cheng Qianyue smiled and shook her head at his expression, then slowly began to pack up her sewing basket. Just then, Moyaqi came running in excitedly from outside, but when she saw Cheng Qianyue packing, she tilted her head and asked, "Mother, aren't you sewing your little schoolbag anymore?"

Cheng Qianyue said, "Yes, I'll stop once I've finished sewing it for your brother."

Moyaqi stared wide-eyed in surprise. "Huh? Where's my little schoolbag?" she said, pouting. "Mother, you're unfair. You sewed little schoolbags for both of my brothers, but not for me."

Cheng Qianyue was momentarily reminded of her daughter's accusation. Over the years, she had treated all three children equally, so it was no wonder that Moyaqi felt she should also have a small schoolbag.

Cheng Qianyue said apologetically, "Oh dear, Mother was so busy sewing a little schoolbag for your fourth brother. It's my fault. But look, it's almost dark today. How about Mother sews it for you tomorrow? You can pick a color you like, and Mother will embroider a few little flowers on the edge of the schoolbag."

Moyaqi gave a light hum, then cheered up and waved her hand generously: "Then Mother, don't forget, without a little schoolbag, I can't go to school properly."

"Huh?" Cheng Qianyue was stunned. Suddenly, she recalled Mo Yaqi's reactions over the past few days and realized something was amiss. So Mo Yaqi thought she could study in the Imperial Study like Hongyan and Hongchao!

She beckoned and pulled Moyaqi into her arms, asking, "Why do you think you can study in the Imperial Study? Did your third brother tell you?" Though she asked this, she felt it was unlikely. Hongyan had been studying away from home for two years; how could he not know that those who entered the Imperial Study were all princes from various families?

Moyaqi replied, "No, it was Third Brother who first told Fourth Brother about going to the Imperial Study, and then Fourth Brother told me about it."

Cheng Qianyue immediately understood; it turned out to be a misunderstanding! She touched Moyaqi's little braids, unsure how to explain it to her for a moment, before finally gritting her teeth and saying, "Actually, only your brothers can go to the study room to study."

Moyaqi was clearly unaware of this, and instantly looked up in disbelief, asking, "Why? Where can I go to school then?"

Cheng Qianyue suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

Yes, why is that? In modern times, regardless of gender, nine years of compulsory education is universal. If any parent doesn't send their child to school, they'd be scorned. But this is the Qing Dynasty, and only boys can attend schools. Even if girls learn something, it's all within the inner quarters. Even though Moyaqi is now a princess in the Crown Prince's household, she only learns palace etiquette, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting from her maids. Can she really bear to see her daughter spending her days like her, either in the courtyard of Xiefang Palace or the West Garden?

After receiving no response for a long time, Moyaqi slowly got out of Cheng Qianyue's arms and stared at her mother. As she looked, she seemed to notice that her mother's eyes were a little red?

Moyaqi tugged at Cheng Qianyue's sleeve and shook it, then whispered with some concern, "Mother?"

Cheng Qianyue took a deep breath and forced a smile: "It's nothing, Mother is thinking about something." She looked at Mo Yaqi seriously and asked, "Do you really want to go to the study with your brothers?"

Moyaqi quickly nodded and said, "Yes."

good!

Cheng Qianyue thought to herself, "Our family hasn't fallen from grace yet. If we don't set conditions now, we won't be able to later. Since my daughter has something she wants to do, no matter what, I, as her mother, have to fight for it for Moyaqi."

Thinking this, Cheng Qianyue hugged Moyaqi again and said, "I'll say it again, Mother can't make the decision on this matter, but Mother will find a way for you."

"Really?"

Cheng Qianyue touched her forehead and said in a deep voice, "Really."

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Author's note: When I got to this point, I realized the timeline was missing a year, hahaha.

But after thinking it over and over, I still couldn't figure out how to fill in a year, so I simply decided to stop writing and start writing from the new year.

I'm so clever! [winking emoji]

Also: Local progress has reached 550,000, a new round of competition for the crown prince is in full swing...