From that day on, Xie Lang had his own corner to live in within the palace.
Wen Hemian kept his word and secretly sent him warm clothes and bedding the next day, as well as some food that could be preserved for a long time. Even if the palace servants forgot about it, at least he was sure he wouldn't go hungry.
But to say he paid much attention wouldn't be an exaggeration. After all, palace affairs were numerous and complicated, and Wen Hemian was unwilling to deal with them. Every time she entered the palace, she had her own things to handle and couldn't take care of Xie Lang too much.
When Xie Lang got a little older, he would find opportunities to secretly listen to lessons outside the school. Although this was a bit troublesome, at least he wouldn't be bothered by his older brothers.
She caught Wen Hemian's attention by chance, and the next time she entered the palace, she carried books and calligraphy copybooks with her in her arms, so that he could follow along and learn by copying.
The young prince, who had little experience of warmth since childhood, looked at her, his puppy-dog eyes silently filling with tears, the corners of his eyes red, looking both pitiful and adorable.
Wen Hemian has no siblings and doesn't often interact with the noble ladies in the capital. What started as a simple act of kindness has now become more serious, and her gaze towards the little brat has changed slightly.
It wouldn't be so bad to just treat it as raising a younger brother.
However, this idea had barely formed when, upon returning home that same day, his mother summoned him to her room for a talk.
"Hanshuang, tell your mother carefully what you really think of that young prince. Why have you been secretly helping him all this time? He is a prince after all, and you shouldn't be involved."
As their beloved daughter, Wen Hemian was born a princess. Even her title of Han Shuang was carefully chosen, but she rarely used it in daily life.
As she finished speaking, Qin Yi's expression turned serious, and she looked at her daughter with a solemn gaze.
She understands the intricacies of the situation best.
Wen Hemian was opinionated and knew that her idea was untenable. After a moment's pause, she slowly said, "Mother, can't we make him the crown prince?"
Of the princes she had contact with, the eldest prince was stupid and incompetent, the second prince was greedy and lecherous, and the third prince was overly ambitious... Only Xie Lang, the youngest, was pitiful like a puppy.
She saved his life by chance when he was very young, and now that they have gotten to know each other, things have turned out quite well. She did develop some strange feelings for him, which were only pointed out to Qin Yi.
The Wen family is still around, and Wen Hemian finds it hard to describe the thought of what kind of people will rise to power in the future.
In that case, it's better to simply find a monarch that you're satisfied with.
Qin Yi remained silent for a long time, then said with a hint of melancholy, "It's possible, but very difficult."
It's impressive that her daughter managed to pick out someone who was barely passable from among so many undesirable individuals. However, the current situation in the court is a headache for everyone, and turning the tide will likely be extremely difficult.
But unfortunately...
Qin Yi's gentle gaze held a hint of regret as she raised her hand and gently patted Wen Heming's shoulder: "Why aren't you... a man?"
You can only understand this feeling by experiencing it firsthand.
Her daughter, from the very beginning of her education, was very interested in all kinds of historical allusions. Later, as she grew older, she was able to talk about the political situation in the court. Her insights were so profound that even the teachers admired her and called her a great talent.
Because of their status as women, they were unable to take the imperial examinations. It was heartbreaking to think about, but that's just how the world is. Unless things change, women will forever be able to stand behind men.
Wen Hemian was not surprised to hear such words. She calmly met her mother's gaze and said, "If I don't try, how will I know that things will never change?"
"You! You!"
From the moment she uttered those words, Qin Yi knew she couldn't change Wen Hemian's mind. She playfully tapped the girl's forehead, ultimately unable to bring herself to say anything harsh.
She finally sighed deeply and warned, "Don't get yourself involved."
Wen Hemian curved her eyebrows: "Don't worry, Mother, it won't happen."
Born into the Wen family, she saw a wider world and naturally did not want to be confined to mediocrity in the future. Whether it was for her own sake or for her parents' sake, she hoped that Da Zhao could become better and better.
The prerequisite for improvement is to have a wise and virtuous ruler.
So when Wen Hemian entered the palace again, looking at the little boy sitting in front of her obediently holding a teacup and drinking water, she smiled gently and asked, "Your Highness, would you like to leave the Cold Palace?"
Wen Hemian rarely called Xie Lang that; in the past, it was always a teasing tone that seemed indulgent, as if he were really raising an obedient puppy.
Xie Lang paused for a moment, then realized what she was talking about, and his eyes suddenly lit up: "Yes!"
He hated those who framed his mother, and he hated his own weak and helpless situation. It wasn't that he didn't want to live, but compared to surviving, he was powerless to think about anything else.
Wen Hemian essentially presented this opportunity directly to him.
"If you want to do it, then you should do it to the best of your ability."
The little brat has a glint in his eyes; he has ambition and desire, but unlike his older brothers, he doesn't come across as repulsive. His sharpness is just right, making him quite endearing.
Wen Hemian rested his chin on his hand and explained the current situation to him: "Your brothers are busy fighting amongst themselves and should not pay attention to you. The court is too chaotic, so staying here for the time being is not a bad thing."
Most importantly, the sparsely populated areas of the leaky palace were a better place for them to commit their tampering.
No matter what Wen Hemian said, the little boy listened attentively with a tense face. He wasn't being perfunctory; he was clearly taking it very seriously and trying to remember it.
So in the days that followed, Xie Lang had Wen Hemian, who patiently and meticulously taught him, and no longer had to secretly huddle outside the school and listen half-heartedly.
In addition, he is still young, which is the perfect age to learn martial arts. He learns from the secret guards around Wen Hemian and can imitate them quite well. It is clear that he will be a promising talent who excels in both literature and martial arts in the future.
Although it was called the Cold Palace, it wasn't entirely a Cold Palace. Putting aside the days when he was bullied, Xie Lang had lived a carefree life for more than two years.
When he was ten years old, a shocking incident occurred in the palace. Several princes died one after another for various reasons, and finally someone turned their attention to him.
That man was none other than the current Grand Secretary, Ning Hechu.
In fact, if Ning Hechu hadn't mentioned it, everyone would have long forgotten that there was such a young prince in the Cold Palace. His presence was so low that no one could even understand how he had survived.
But it's clear to everyone that Ning Hechu's decision to push this person forward at this time wasn't truly for his benefit, but rather to cultivate a puppet for his own use.
"Becoming a puppet prince is the first step you've taken."
Wen Hemian looked at the little brat in front of him with a smile. He was still skinny, which was the result of their deliberate control after discussion. They wanted him to play the fool and lower the guard of outsiders.
"When the Emperor passes away, everything you have done will be perfectly justified."
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