Chapter 98 Indoor Games Recently, Cheng Qianyue has detained several of the younger children…

Recently, Cheng Qianyue has kept the younger children confined. They're only allowed to wander outside for half an hour after breakfast; otherwise, they're not permitted to leave Donglizhai. She has no choice; the weather is getting hotter, and she's worried the children will get heatstroke if they go out in the blazing sun.

At first, the younger children weren't too unhappy; after all, they could play outside for a while in the morning. But once they had explored everything and done everything within the allotted time, centered around Donglizhai, they started to get bored.

Cheng Qianyue's original intention wasn't for them to just lounge around in the room. Although she was relieved that Hongyan had been vaccinated against smallpox, Hongchao and Moyaqi hadn't. If they spent the whole summer lying around in the room, their bodies wouldn't be strong at all. So Cheng Qianyue hoped they could move around in the room, so she wouldn't have to worry about them getting heatstroke or being unhealthy from not moving around.

But what can you play indoors?

Cheng Qianyue started thinking of indoor games that would get them moving. Then she slapped her forehead and exclaimed, "Hey, we can play musical chairs indoors! It'll be lively and get them moving!"

She immediately ordered someone to fetch a small stool, but she was still missing something to give the order. The first thing that came to her mind was a whistle, but then she thought that a whistle would be too loud. Then, a brilliant idea struck her: they had played a game of musical chairs at the Third Prince's first birthday banquet. So she ordered someone to fetch a hand drum to help her act as referee.

Before long, everything she had asked for was brought up. But as soon as the two low, round stools were placed down, Hongyan asked, "Mother, why are there only two stools? Isn't that too few?"

Cheng Qianyue laughed and said, "There have to be two stools. If you each have one, how can you fight over them?" As she spoke, she explained the rules of the game to the three children: she would play a drum on the side, and they would have to circle around the two stools to the beat of the drum. When her drum stopped, it would be time to grab a stool. Whoever sat on a stool at the end would win, and the one without a stool would lose.

The three little ones looked at each other, all eager to try, and hurriedly said, "Mother, let's start!"

If you say let's begin, then let's begin.

Cheng Qianyue sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) and slowly began to play the drum, thump-thump-thump. The drumbeats started slowly, with pauses and delays. Inside the room, Hongyan and the other children began to sway and wander around the stool. Then Cheng Qianyue's drumbeats quickened, and the three children's steps became more frequent, until finally they were all running.

Cheng Qianyue's hands moved faster and faster as she clapped the drum, finally stopping when she slammed her fists down on the drumhead. The children, used to running around, didn't react at first, but when they realized the drumbeat had stopped, they immediately started shoving and jostling, all wanting to grab a chair.

Perhaps because Hongyan was mindful of being the older brother, he didn't fight with them much, so the two stools were given to Hongchao and Moyaqi. Moyaqi clapped her hands and shouted, "Brother lost, hahaha." Hongchao next to her also laughed heartily, his gap teeth showing.

Cheng Qianyue asked, "So, how's the game? Is it fun? Do you want to play it again?"

"Play!" the three children exclaimed in unison.

Cheng Qianyue saw that Hongyan was eager to show them how good her brother was. Sure enough, in the second round, Hongyan and Hongchao started fighting over the chair, pushing and shoving each other, each trying to push the other off the chair.

Moyaqi clenched her fists and cheered them on, saying, "Go, brother! Go, brother!" It's just unclear whether the brother she was referring to was Hongyan or Hongchao.

Finally, Hongyan sat firmly on the stool. Because he was older than Hongchao, he was also stronger. So Hongchao was pushed to the ground by Hongyan's plop. However, Hongchao quickly dusted himself off and scrambled to his feet, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Cheng Qianyue and said, "Mother, want to play again!"

Cheng Qianyue thought he would cry, but to her surprise, he didn't take it seriously and said with a smile, "Okay, let's play a few more rounds." However, after a few rounds, Moyaqi got upset first, pouting and running to Cheng Qianyue, drawing out, "Mother~"

Cheng Qianyue took a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Hmm, what's wrong? Your little mouth looks like it could hang clothes on it."

Moya frowned and said decisively, "My brothers are bad!" As she spoke, she burst into tears.

Hongyan and Hongchao both looked on incredulously, staring at each other in bewilderment. Not to mention them, Cheng Qianyue was also a little stunned, and hurriedly tried to comfort her, saying, "What's wrong with your brothers? Tell Mother, okay?"

Moyaqi stammered and sobbed as she recounted how they had misbehaved her. Apparently, after playing for so long, Hongyan and Hongchao hadn't tried to take her chair; the two brothers were just struggling against each other, which made her think that her brothers didn't want to play with her.

Cheng Qianyue patted her head and said, "Your two older brothers are just being lenient with you."

Moyaqi has stopped crying, but she's still talking, saying very decisively, "I don't want them to give in."

Oh dear, I didn't expect her daughter to be so defiant. Cheng Qianyue thought about it and realized it made sense; who says women are inferior to men? So she put on a stern face and said to Hongyan and Hongchao, "Did you hear that? Your sister is much stronger than you think." She patted Moyaqi's head and said, "Now your brother won't go easy on you. How about we play two more rounds?"

Moyaqi then obediently agreed.

With Cheng Qianyue's explanation, Hongyan and Hongchao understood what was going on. So, in the next round, all three of them started scrambling for a chair. Hongyan, relying on his strength, pushed aside the two younger ones and grabbed a chair for himself. Seeing that she couldn't outsqueeze Hongyan, Moyaqi tried to squeeze Hongchao instead. The two siblings, who were the same age, started competing. Finally, Moyaqi tripped Hongchao's leg, and Hongchao lost his balance and fell to his knees with a thud. Moyaqi pointed at Hongchao and laughed loudly.

In the second round, it was still Hongchao and Moyaqi fighting for the chair. Hongchao shouted, "Brother's chair has been used for several rounds already!" Moyaqi thought about it and realized that was true. The siblings exchanged a glance and immediately decided to team up against Hongchao.

"Hey, bring it on!" Hongyan sat there like a mountain pressing down on him, unmoved no matter how Moyaqi tried to trip him. Hongchao anxiously circled around Hongyan, and finally, taking advantage of Hongyan's momentary lapse in attention, he reached behind him and moved a chair, causing Hongyan to fall flat on his backside.

Hongyan: "Fine, you're cheating!"

Seeing that they had caused trouble, Hongchao and Moyaqi immediately ran hand in hand to Cheng Qianyue for protection. Hongyan looked up and saw his mother covering her mouth, laughing heartily. His eyes immediately turned resentful: How could she just be busy laughing at him? She should be upholding justice!

Cheng Qianyue: ......Pfft, the lawsuit is easy to resolve, but let her laugh for a while first, it's just too funny hahaha.

Seeing that Hongyan's mouth was practically dripping with oil, Cheng Qianyue finally managed to stop laughing and pretended to say to Hongchao and Moyaqi, "Didn't I just mention the rules? How could you pull your brother's chair away?"

“That’s right, that’s right.” Hongyan came over and slapped each of them on the buttocks. “I’ll teach you to cheat, I’ll teach you to cheat.”

"What cheating?" Just then, Yinreng's voice came from outside, and he walked in shortly after. Cheng Qianyue greeted him with the children, smiling and saying, "We were playing a game. Originally, everyone was playing their own game, but who knew that Hongchao and Moyaqi teamed up against Hongyan and beat him up. Hongyan isn't angry now?"

After learning the reason for the matter, Yinreng said happily, "This is what they call 'two people working together can break metal.'" He then patted Hongyan's shoulder, and then patted Hongchao and Moyaqi's heads, saying, "Alliance and mutual assistance are better than fighting alone. But remember, if you are out in the world, you are all children from the Eastern Palace, and you should stick together as one."

Cheng Qianyue didn't stop him from using this kind of thing to educate the children. After seeing the three little ones nod, she said, "Alright, alright, you must be tired after playing for a while. Go take a shower."

After the water was brought over, Hongyan led Hongchao and Moyaqi to the inner room behind the screen to wash their faces. Yinreng said, "I heard you haven't eaten yet. I haven't either, so I'll come and eat with you and the children."

Cheng Qianyue then looked up at the clock and exclaimed, "I was so engrossed in playing that I didn't even realize it was already this late!" Time really flies when you're active.

Lunch was served shortly afterward, and the children finished eating and went back to their rooms to prepare for their afternoon nap. While rinsing his mouth, Yinreng asked, "What were you playing with them just now?"

"It was a musical chairs game." Cheng Qianyue explained in a few words, and then told the story of how Hongyan had been tricked by the twins, laughing as she spoke.

Yinreng found it quite amusing and continued to ask, "What prize does the winner receive?"

Cheng Qianyue: Um... Isn't winning enough?

Yinreng was taken aback: "No? Those children are still playing so enthusiastically?" He chuckled and said with a sigh, "It's just that the children are still young. When they get a few years older, you won't be able to keep them entertained."

Cheng Qianyue helped him take a nap, then went over to unbutton his clothes. "The kids are just having fun; they're happy even without any prizes."

Over the next two months, Cheng Qianyue taught the children other games, such as pitch-pot or jacks. However, their favorite game was musical chairs. Not only did they play it themselves, but they also had their eunuchs and maids form teams to play, holding competitions indoors from time to time. Cheng Qianyue took advantage of the playtime to teach them how to be a fair referee and how to reward those who lost.

But soon, the sweltering yet joyful summer passed, and autumn arrived.

Cheng Qianyue touched Hong Chao and Mo Yaqi's foreheads, a faint smile on her face: "Don't be afraid when you get to Wufutang, you'll be back in a while."

Hongyan, who had been there before, explained the situation at Wufutang to them in detail, and advised, "Your nose will be stuffed with wet cotton, which is not very comfortable, but you can't take it out for less than half a day. If you get pimples and your body is itchy afterwards, you must not scratch it, but you can apply a wet cloth to it, which will make you feel much better."

Before leaving, Cheng Qianyue told the children to kowtow before the statue of the Goddess of Smallpox. She had been making the children kneel and worship twice a day throughout the summer. After the children finished kowtowing, she personally saw Hongchao and Moyaqi out.

After the two children got into the sedan chair and headed towards the side gate, Hongyan comforted her, saying, "Mother, your younger brother and sister will definitely be alright!"

Cheng Qianyue stared straight ahead, her hands tightly gripping her handkerchief, and hummed in agreement.

Ten days passed in a blur, and to Cheng Qianyue's eager anticipation, Hongchao and Moyaqi finally returned. Cheng Qianyue was overjoyed, hugging the two children tightly, tears of happiness streaming down her face as she thought: Thank God, her children have all been safely vaccinated against smallpox.