Chapter 270 The Little Prince
"Are you alright?" Ji Yingying leaned closer and asked, since the Empress Dowager was still quite young.
"I'm fine. I can live a good life on my own without this old man."
That being said, the Empress Dowager looked much thinner. Ever since Ji Yingying arrived, the Emperor and the Emperor Emeritus had been very kind to her, to the point that people suspected the Emperor was her biological son.
"It doesn't matter. You can be a beautiful and charming widow from now on, and no one will be able to control you."
"Yes, you're right. From now on, come to my place whenever you have time. By the way, Eunuch Cao, the Emperor Emeritus said that Eunuch Cao will be working for you from now on."
"What?"
Why did you let him come with you, Eunuch Cao?
"What? You're a prince now, it's normal for you to have a eunuch following you around!"
"Alright, then let's retire to the Prince of Jin's residence."
He spent two days talking to the Empress Dowager before finally leaving the palace to return to the Prince of Jin's residence.
It had been more than half a month, almost a month, before he returned to the manor, and the servants there were overjoyed.
Also returning was Eunuch Cao, a veteran who had served the late emperor. Now serving in the Prince of Jin's residence was an unparalleled honor.
"Steward, arrange for a few people to serve Eunuch Cao. From now on, Eunuch Cao will also be the master of our Prince Jin's mansion."
"Yes," Ji Yingying said, and then secretly skipped work.
She carried a small bundle and wandered south, and this wandering lasted for half a year. By the time Emperor Xuande sent people to bring her back, it was already winter.
"Yingying, I never expected you to be so willful, going away for more than half a year and neglecting the affairs of the Ministry of Works?"
The Xuande Emperor seemed somewhat disappointed in his son.
But he couldn't do anything about it. Ji Yingying was cunning, like an eel, impossible to catch.
"Isn't this just to clear my head?" Ji Yingying made up an excuse, but she was indeed sleepy and thought she would go back to sleep, but the Xuande Emperor in front of her was in a very bad mood.
What are you trying to relax about?
"Oh, if you're in a bad mood, go for a walk to clear your head!"
Am I supposed to tell him that I don't want to be treated like a beast of burden?
Emperor Xuande: ...This little ancestor is really having a hard time!
"Your Majesty, why don't you let me go back to sleep?" Ji Yingying asked tentatively.
"Alright, you must attend court tomorrow. I will have Eunuch Cao keep an eye on you."
"Okay, okay!"
The New Year is almost here. Last year they said they'd get hybrid rice this year, but what happened? She ran off to play for half a year. The Emperor dotes on her, since he knows where she is, but he'd rather throw a tantrum every day than bring her back.
After going home and taking a nap, Ji Yingying got up the next day and went to court. In the days that followed, she went to court every day as usual, and then ate melons.
The Lunar New Year is approaching, but my parents won't be coming back again.
Hearing Emperor Xuande say in the Imperial Study that they wouldn't be able to return, Ji Yingying was devastated.
"Alright, this year for the New Year, you can either come to the palace to celebrate with me. The Crown Prince is also getting older, so you can teach him more."
"What does a three-year-old know?" Ji Yingying snorted and turned to go back.
She'll be fourteen after the New Year, which is quite an age; she'll be an adult in two more years.
On New Year's Eve, Ji Yingying did not go to the palace. Instead, she gathered all the waiters from the manor, the restaurant staff, and the people from the organization together for a hot pot dinner.
It was spicy, sour, and refreshing, and everyone enjoyed the meal. Halfway through, Ji Yingying even brought out fireworks, which were comparable to those from three years ago.
It's lively and fun!
After a night of commotion, Ji Yingying went to visit Ji Jiayu to wish him a Happy New Year the next day.
As soon as Ping An, who was about to turn two, saw her, he immediately called out, "Auntie, Auntie, Daddy said you set off fireworks yesterday, and those fireworks were so beautiful!"
He couldn't speak fluently, but he managed to get the words out.
I find it fun no matter what I do.
"That's right, your aunt will take you to set off fireworks tonight, so don't be a coward and hide in your mother's arms crying!"
"I wouldn't."
Not long after, the young prince also arrived. He also wanted to watch the fireworks. When he heard that she was going to take Ping An to set off fireworks, he asked the Empress to come over, and the Empress agreed to let him come out.
It's much safer with Ji Yingying than anywhere else.
After dinner, as it was getting dark, the two young men pulled Ji Yingying aside to set off fireworks.
Ji Yingying bought a lot of them and put them out in a real mess.
The two children were overjoyed!
"Happy Chinese New Year, Auntie!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I also love the New Year."
Ji Yingying gave each of them a chestnut to eat: "You like it? Then let's set off fireworks during the New Year from now on."
Ji Yingying knew that she would probably never be able to leave the capital for the rest of her life.
"Okay, will we set off fireworks on other days too?"
"Let it go, let it go..." Ping An shouted from behind, clearly enjoying the fireworks.
"We'll talk about it later. Eat chestnuts, eat quickly. Once you're full, go back to the palace and go to sleep."
“Imperial Aunt, Mother has promised me that I can sleep at your house.”
The Empress wanted the Crown Prince to get to know Ji Yingying, since Ji Yingying was very capable. With Ji Yingying protecting him, the Crown Prince's future path would be much easier.
Besides, the Emperor Emeritus left an imperial edict before his death, granting Ji Yingying access to a royal secret guard.
"Oh well!"
After the New Year, Ji Yingying started researching hybrid rice. But when she said research, she just handed the rice over to others and watched it from the sidelines.
They don't care about anything, even the records are kept by others.
[Xiangxiang, let's have some melon!]
In May, at the Imperial Estate, Ji Yingying lay on a rocking chair, looking around. The rice paddies had already grown many ears of wheat, and there were also many fish being raised in the fields.
The gentle breeze felt wonderful.
"Your Highness, these are cherries, brought as tribute from afar. His Majesty sent some; please try them." Apple, who was beside her, was married and pregnant. She had long ago told her to go back and rest, and now she was being accompanied by people arranged by the Empress Dowager.
It doesn't matter who makes the arrangements, as long as they don't harm her, everything is fine.
"Cherries?" Ji Yingying picked one up, and it was indeed quite good, delicious. Since it was so delicious, Ji Yingying called out to the two people fishing not far away, "Prince Qi, Detective Brother, come quickly, cherries, they're very tasty."
Seeing that they didn't move, Ji Yingying quickly had her maid take it over.
When she woke up with her eyes half-closed, the two of them had already finished fishing.
"Your birthday is in a few days. Your parents are coming back. Shall we have a barbecue at the banquet?"
"Grilled fish?" Ji Yingying asked back. It was the first time she had ever seen someone fishing in a rice paddy.
"Sure, paper-wrapped fish or anything." Mu Kaiji didn't mind, since he could do it anyway.
"Then let's make fish wrapped in paper. I'd like to eat some too."
"You're getting on in years, so stop thinking about those oily and salty foods and focus on taking care of your health!" Since the death of the Emperor Emeritus, Prince Qi's health has been deteriorating day by day.
He had been taking care of himself, and now, due to some things, it's normal for his health to be poor.
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