Chapter 81 The Birth of Zhiyan and the Crown Prince's Early Education
Chapter 81 The Birth of Zhiyan and the Crown Prince's Enlightenment
Before we knew it, it was the dead of winter again. Su Su's second production took place on a December morning with light snow falling.
Perhaps because the unborn prince was particularly fond of his mother, the delivery went exceptionally smoothly. From the onset of labor to the birth of the child, it took only a little over an hour. Su Su did not suffer much pain, and even the midwife was amazed, saying that it was rare to see such a considerate child.
Before Li Qianche could feel much anxiety outside the delivery room, she heard a loud cry from inside.
When the palace maids brought him the infant, who was slightly smaller than his older siblings at birth but just as healthy, he was filled with gratitude to God and the joy of becoming a father again.
He carefully held the infant in his arms, gazed at him for a long time, and said gently, "This child was born in the twelfth lunar month, yet he did not cause his mother much suffering, but brought peace and joy. I will name him 'Zhiyan'."
He looked at Su Su, who appeared tired but had a gentle smile on her face, and carefully explained the profound meaning of her name: "'Zhi' is taken from 'Wu Zhi Zhi' in the Book of Rites, meaning to understand things and be wise and intelligent; 'Yan' comes from 'The banquet of childhood, laughing and talking,' in the Book of Songs, meaning to be peaceful and happy. The two characters together mean 'to be content with one's fate and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.'"
"I do not expect him to inherit the throne or achieve great deeds in the future. I only wish that he will be insightful and open-minded throughout his life, understand his own interests, and enjoy peace and joy in his heart and life. As he was born, he will bring peace and joy to those around him."
Hearing the name and its meaning filled with affection, Su Su felt a warmth in her heart and nodded gently: "Zhiyan... I like this name very much."
At this moment, three-year-old Zimo and Zhaoyue were also brought in by their wet nurse, curiously surrounding their newborn little brother.
Zhaoyue stretched out her little finger and touched Zhiyan's soft cheek very lightly. Seeing that her younger brother did not react, she tried to make a face to amuse him. Little Zhiyan actually grinned and smiled vaguely, which made Zhaoyue very happy.
Zi Mo stood quietly to the side, watching her younger brother intently. When Zhao Yue moved a little too much, she would gently tug at her sister's sleeve and whisper, "Yue'er, be gentle, your brother is still small."
That natural sense of protection and responsibility was already beginning to emerge. That year, Su Su was only twenty-one years old and already a mother of three. Time had been kind to her, leaving few marks on her face, but instead adding a touch of grace and tranquility.
The following spring, Pei Yunxi also gave birth to a son. Su Jizhi held his infant son in his swaddling clothes, overjoyed, and named him "Yan Yi". He explained to the relatives and friends who came to congratulate him: "The Zuo Zhuan says, 'Words are used to express one's will, and writings are used to express one's words.' 'Yi' means pure and unmixed, keeping one's heart as one. I hope that in the future he will always keep his word, be single-minded, and become an upright gentleman."
The entire Su family was immersed in the joy of the new addition to their household.
When Zimo and Zhaoyue turned six, Li Qianche began to arrange their studies, especially for Zimo, for whom he was extremely strict.
Not only did he invite renowned scholars of the time to teach him classics, history, philosophy, and literature, but he also personally oversaw his studies and examined his insights, clearly grooming him as a potential heir apparent.
In the autumn of the same year, Li Qianche overruled the objections of the majority and officially issued an edict, appointing the eldest son of the emperor, Li Ziming, as the crown prince and placing him in the Eastern Palace.
To consolidate the foundation of the state and pave the way for the future of the Crown Prince, Li Qianche simultaneously promoted Su Su's elder brother, Su Jizhi, to the position of Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, in charge of the palace guards; and because his father-in-law, Su Mufeng, was learned and of noble character, he was specially appointed as the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, responsible for the Crown Prince's education and cultivation.
Li Qianche knew that neither the Su family father nor the son were people who clung to power. This arrangement was not only to find the most reliable support from the maternal family and mentor for the Crown Prince, but also out of his trust and affection for Su Su.
Although there were some criticisms in the court, Su Mufeng and Su Jizhi acted cautiously and selflessly, leaving no room for criticism, and the discussions gradually subsided.
One day, Su Su saw Li Qianche testing Zi Mo's studies with strict demands, almost as if he were treating a six-year-old child. After Zi Mo left, she couldn't help but ask with some heartache, "Is Your Majesty being too impatient with Zi Mo? I've noticed that he's lost weight recently. It seems as if Your Majesty... really wants him to grow up overnight."
Li Qian dismissed his attendants, took Su Su's hand, and led her to the window. Gazing at the sycamore trees in the courtyard, whose leaves had begun to fall, he remained silent for a moment before turning to look at her, his eyes filled with unwavering affection.
"It's not that I don't care about Zimo. It's just that I promised you that I would take you to travel around the world and see every place you longed for in the 'Chronicle of the Nine Provinces.' Once the country has a successor and the nation is stable, I will put down the heavy burden of being the emperor."
His tone was gentle yet solemn, “At the same time, I also hope that Zimo can grow up soon and become independent. When he is capable of taking on that position, I will pass the throne to him. At that time, I will just be Li Qianche, and you will just be my Su Su. We will travel together hand in hand, shall we?”
Su Su never expected that his eagerness to train Zi Mo was because he remembered the promise he had made to her.
She stared at him blankly, her earlier heartache and confusion replaced by a deep sense of gratitude and bittersweet happiness. She hadn't expected him to remember. She nodded vigorously, her eyes slightly red: "Okay... Your Majesty, I will wait for that day."
Fortunately, Zi Mo is extremely talented and has a near-photographic memory. He can quickly comprehend both classic texts and imperial strategies. Although he is still young, he has already shown a maturity and wisdom beyond his years, which makes Li Qianche very gratified.
In contrast, Zhaoyue is equally intelligent and quick to learn, but she is lazy by nature and unwilling to put much effort into her studies.
Whenever the Grand Tutor or her father urged her, she would blink her big eyes, which were just like Su Su's, and say in a righteous yet charming way, "If only my brother were that amazing! With my brother around, Zhao Yue will naturally be protected by him in everything, so I don't need to learn to be so amazing!" It was both funny and exasperating.
Her greatest joy each day was playing with her younger brother, Zhiyan, who was three years younger than her, in the palace. They would climb trees, pick flowers, chase butterflies, and make the quiet palace come alive.
Xiao Zhiyan's personality is quite similar to the "Yan" in her name; she is lively, cheerful, and even a bit mischievous, unlike her older brother Zimo who is mature beyond his years.
He was mediocre in his studies, but showed a strong interest in martial arts. Even at a young age, he enjoyed playing with wooden swords and bamboo horses, showing the potential of a fledgling tiger.
The person he admired most was his elder brother, the Crown Prince, who was knowledgeable and whose martial arts skills were improving day by day through hard work. And the person he liked the most was naturally his sister, Zhaoyue, who always played with him and whose smile was brighter than the sun.
Amidst such rigorous expectations and warm family affection, Zi Mo, like a carefully nurtured pine seedling, strives to grow upwards.
He knew the weight he carried, and he also cherished the ease and joy his younger siblings brought him.
The trajectory of destiny has quietly unfolded beneath the red walls and golden tiles of the imperial city.
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