Chapter 591 Extra Chapter—Lin's Kindergarten
Lin Changning has been a little worried lately. Qi Rong has been volunteering to leave the capital to provide disaster relief since the last time. This winter is exceptionally cold, and there have been several heavy snowfalls since the beginning of winter.
As the year drew to a close, it snowed for several days and nights in a row, and many ordinary people's houses in the capital collapsed under the weight of the snow.
Outside Kyoto, many ordinary people's houses collapsed overnight, and many people froze to death in the snow. According to statistics from the court, the number of people who have frozen to death in this year's snow disaster is close to a thousand.
Lin Changning has been busy lately, hiring many carpenters and bricklayers to try to build a kang (heated brick bed). Although she is not very clear about how to build it, she still remembers the basic principles.
If ordinary people had a kang (heated brick bed) in their homes, perhaps many people could have frozen to death.
Fortunately, this thing wasn't too difficult. After studying it diligently for three to five days, I actually managed to build a few kang (heated brick beds) that looked quite decent.
Lin Changning turned around and sent the craftsmen to the palace.
"Father, yesterday I visited many commoners in the capital and found that most of their houses were not very sturdy. I just asked the people at the Imperial Observatory, and they said that the snow will probably continue for another half month. I'm afraid that the houses of commoners are not very solid and will not be able to withstand such a long snowfall."
The emperor, who was currently troubled by this, waved his hand at Lin Changning, signaling him to stand up: "Stand up and speak, is there any solution?"
Lin Changning patted his knees, stood up, and, with the introduction of the emperor's personal eunuch, sat on a chair in the imperial study.
After nodding to Renqing and thanking him, he said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, I had a sudden inspiration. I had a kang (heated brick bed) made of mud and bricks, with a hollowed-out section in the middle for burning firewood. I also arranged a ventilation area outside the room so that people can burn firewood without getting too hot. The kang is thickly made of mud and bricks, which is affordable for ordinary people. The craftsmen are waiting outside the door, Your Majesty."
The emperor suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed intently on Lin Changning: "Is this true?"
Lin Changning nodded: "Later, Father can have the craftsmen build the kang on site and try it out to see the effect. However, the snow has been falling for too long, and the houses of ordinary people may not be able to withstand the accumulation of frost and snow. I think we should mobilize the soldiers in the capital garrison to help clear the snow from the houses of ordinary people in batches, 3 to 4 times a day. With such frequent cleaning and reinforcement, the probability of the houses collapsing should be reduced."
The emperor paused for a moment, then smiled at Lin Changning: "Good, I will remember this merit of yours. Go and carry it out."
Just as Lin Changning was about to leave, the Emperor called out to him, "Come, come, come back first, Xiao Liu. You haven't brought Yue'er to the palace for many days. The Empress misses Yue'er very much. Take Yue'er back to the palace for a visit when you have time. If there's nothing important today, have a family dinner with your mother and me."
The emperor trusted Lin Changning. Although Lin Changning's solutions to his problems might be a little strange and unexpected, they were always surprisingly effective. So, the emperor, relieved of his worries, looked at Lin Changning with a kinder gaze.
Lin Changning paused for a moment, then cupped his hands in greeting: "Yes, Father."
At noon, Lin Changning sat in the Empress's palace, watching the palace maids beside the Empress constantly serving him food. He ate his meal slowly and deliberately, and he felt a little tormented.
At home, she would eat heartily, but in the palace, there were many etiquette rules, and she could only eat slowly, making her feel extremely uncomfortable during meals.
The Empress looked at Lin Changning with gentle eyes: "How has the family been these days? When your mother came to the palace last time, she said that Zhiyuan was about to be engaged, but they didn't know which young lady it would be."
Lin Changning put down his chopsticks and sat up straight: "A girl from a collateral branch of the Xie family. My mother said she is very gentle and virtuous. I have never met her, but she said that this girl is kind-hearted and extremely beautiful. Her name is Xie Wanrou, right?"
The Empress nodded: "A girl from the Xie family? That's quite nice. I'll send an invitation to the palace banquet another day. How has Yue'er been lately? She hasn't come to the palace to see me for almost a month."
Lin Changning was a little embarrassed: "Before my second brother left, he entrusted An'an to me, as well as A-Zheng. Recently, the young master of the Xie family is also coming to visit me, so I renovated a courtyard for the children at home and had the carpenter make some play equipment for them. Recently, there have been many children, and Yue'er is playing wildly with everyone every day. She is very happy. I thought that Yue'er and the others are still young, and it would be inappropriate to restrain them, so I let them do as they please."
The Empress sighed helplessly as she looked at Lin Changning: "You're spoiling this child rotten."
Although she said this, there was no blame in her tone. She looked at Lin Changning gently, shook her head, and understood in her heart that Changning loved these children.
The emperor took a bite of food and said with a smile, "What's wrong with spoiling her? Didn't you used to worry every day that Yue'er's personality would be like A-Shu's, and that the child would be bullied?"
The Empress glared at the Emperor and said, "Just eat your food!"
The Emperor added a piece of food to the Empress's plate, his gaze towards Lin Changning thoughtful. After Lin Changning put down her chopsticks, he asked kindly, "Have you finished eating?"
Lin Changning nodded: "I've eaten, Father."
The emperor pointed at Lin Changning with his finger: "It's been a year since you came back. I asked you to go to the capital garrison, but you didn't go. You stayed at home and fooled around with Yue'er for a year. Recently, there was a snow disaster in the capital. After you've finished dealing with it, come back and get to work."
Just as Lin Changning was about to decline, the Emperor glanced at her and coughed, "Since you like taking care of children anyway, and your elder brother's servant is almost a year old, I'll give you the position of Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince. Your martial arts skills are just sitting idle anyway. Nowadays, many sons of noble families in the capital are not very promising. After this busy period, all the children who have turned twelve will be sent to your home, and you can help train them. Coming from a family of military generals, if you don't know martial arts, people will laugh their heads off. Although the border has been pacified, the Japanese pirates in the East China Sea and the barbarians in the southwest are not very obedient. Civil officials are selected in batches every three years, but military generals are different. I'll put these people under your command to train. When they are trained enough, I'll send them to the border for further training..."
Lin Changning watched the emperor chatter on and on, then helplessly cupped his hands in greeting: "Yes, Father!"
Seeing Lin Changning's somewhat helpless expression, the Emperor said, "Zhiyuan is currently extremely busy in the court. You shouldn't be thinking about shirking your duties every day. Fight two more battles and train these kids well, and I'll grant you the title of Duke. You're only twenty-one now, and I'm worried that promoting you too quickly will make you a target of public criticism. With two more military achievements, I'm sure those people in the court won't say anything anymore."
Lin Changning nodded helplessly. She did want to stay home and relax. Now that she had nothing to do, she practiced her knife skills every morning and spent the rest of her time eating, drinking, and having fun with her family. To be honest, she felt quite comfortable.
The Emperor watched Lin Changning leave, then glanced at the Empress with a hint of exasperation: "Look at this child! She tries to shirk her duties every day. Everyone else is eager to get promoted, but when I offer her a promotion, she makes excuses and refuses. Look at her!"
The Empress sighed and glanced at the Emperor before saying, "The child has just returned from the war and needs a rest. You, on the other hand, seem to treat people like donkeys!"
As soon as Lin Changning stepped out of the palace gate, he saw Li Mingxiu sitting in a carriage with a chubby baby in his arms. Upon seeing him, Li Mingxiu lifted the carriage curtain and said to Lin Changning, "Little Six? Get in the carriage, I'll take you back. It's so cold outside, and you rode a horse all the way here. Aren't you afraid of getting cold?"
Lin Changning tossed the reins aside and handed them to the servant beside him. After rubbing his hands together, he quickly jumped into Li Mingxiu's carriage, which was warmed by a burning charcoal fire.
Li Mingxiu casually tossed the chubby little boy in his arms to Lin Changning: "Come here, let me hug you. Why are you so popular with little kids? You visited my house a few days ago, and Que Nu has remembered you ever since, calling out 'Liu Liu, Liu Liu' every day."
Lin Changning picked up the baby from Li Mingxiu's arms. The two babies, with their round faces and big eyes, looked at each other. Que Nu grinned, revealing four tiny teeth, and smiled at Lin Changning.
"Six six, six six beep beep!"
Li Mingxiu said with a smile, "They're calling you, calling you Uncle Liu Liu."
Que Nu seemed to have a special fondness for Lin Changning. She grabbed Lin Changning's collar with her little hands and rubbed her chubby, round face against his.
"Beep beep, beep beep~"
Lin Changning pinched Que Nu's cheek, and when he let go, a small red mark appeared. Que Nu looked at Lin Changning with her big, round eyes and suddenly started to giggle. Her big eyes curved into crescent moons, and she imitated Lin Changning, pinching his cheek with her little hands.
After pinching him, Lin Changning grabbed her arm and picked her up. With lightning speed, she planted a kiss on Lin Changning's face, smearing his face with saliva.
Lin Changning helplessly wiped his face with his sleeve and tossed the chubby boy back to Li Mingxiu: "Tsk, that's really strong."
A hint of malice gleamed in Li Mingxiu's eyes: "Isn't it because I like you? When are you coming to my residence to report for duty, Little Six?"
Lin Changning raised his eyes, looked at Li Mingxiu and ground his back teeth: "So that's why Father suddenly wanted me to be the Crown Prince's tutor. It turns out it was my elder brother who pulled the strings!"
Li Mingxiu chuckled: "Well, there's nothing I can do about it. Que Nu is my only child, and she likes you so much. Anyway, you have so many children in your family, so what's wrong with helping me take care of Que Nu?"
Lin Changning looked up, feeling rather hopeless. Her Lin family was practically a kindergarten now. There was Cui's Azheng, Xie's Yongzhou, her second brother's An'an, and now even the less than two-year-old Quenu had to be left to her to take care of. After finishing this busy period, she would have to go and train the young masters of the Yun Gui family.
Sigh~
Li Mingxiu looked at Lin Changning with a gentler gaze. Although Xiao Liu was skilled in martial arts, he had offended quite a few people in the court.
It was his suggestion to send Xiao Liu to teach the children of the Yun Gui family and to have him train the sparrow slaves. Firstly, Xiao Liu was indeed very capable, and secondly, it was to cultivate some power for Xiao Liu.
If all the sons of the Yun Gui family were from Chang Ning's ranks, then the military officers would naturally follow Xiao Liu's lead.
If Que Nu was raised by Xiao Liu, the Lin family's wealth and prosperity would be guaranteed for a hundred years. With Xiao Liu protecting him, Que Nu's future path would be much smoother after he turns one hundred days old.
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