Upon arriving at Chengqian Palace, the emperor immediately noticed the ball in Ye Jingchen's hand.
"Why are you bringing a ball with you when you come to pay your respects?" The emperor had a bad feeling.
"Father, shall we play Cuju together? You should know how to play, right?" Ye Jingchen asked with an expectant expression.
Who doesn't know how to play Cuju (ancient Chinese football)?
But he is the ruler of a country, how could he play football with a bunch of brats?
If those censors find out, won't I be impeached again?
"Nonsense! I am busy with countless affairs of state, where would I find the time to play this game with you?" the emperor said with a stern face.
That sounds a lot like what Ye Jingshu said.
"Father, you sit there every day reviewing memorials and handling state affairs. Don't you feel sore all over, with a sore back, headache, neck, and body?" Ye Jingchen asked.
The emperor's lips twitched. He had been perfectly healthy, but after being asked that question, he suddenly felt that something was wrong with him all over.
"Shut up!" he snapped, somewhat annoyed.
“Even if sitting for long periods is bad for your health, government affairs cannot be ignored! Do you think being an emperor is so easy?!” he said irritably.
"As the sage said: 'A balance between work and rest is the way of both civil and military affairs! Only by combining work and rest can we achieve twice the result with half the effort!' Political affairs are certainly important, but a healthy body is the foundation for everything. If your health collapses, everything will be in vain!" Ye Jingchen advised with reason and evidence.
"Oh dear—Your Highness, you mustn't say such unlucky things!" Zhang Shunde exclaimed in an exaggerated tone.
“Eunuch Zhang, you are good in every way, except for one thing: you always like to overreact. My father is my father, and he has always loved me the most. Would he get angry because of a hypothetical statement? Is my father such a petty and calculative person?” Ye Jingchen said to Zhang Shunde with righteous indignation.
Zhang Shunde dared not accept such a remark and could only force a smile.
The emperor was so angry at his words that he laughed.
What's wrong?
According to this rebellious son's logic, if he gets angry, does that mean he's petty and nitpicky?!
The emperor looked down at Ye Jingchen, wanting to show him how petty and calculating he was, when Ye Jingchen spoke again.
"Father, we are still so young, our shoulders are still too tender to bear the heavy burden of the country! So you must take care of your health, live a long and healthy life, and always be our sky and our safe haven!" As he said this, Ye Jingchen looked at the emperor with admiring eyes.
All of the emperor's displeasure was smoothed out by these words and the look in Ye Jingchen's eyes.
However, after being moved for a moment, he felt that something was off about what he had said.
But he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.
The emperor was touched, but he didn't take these words seriously.
He was also a crown prince. It's true that he was simple-minded when he was young and only wanted to rely on his father. But when Chen'er grows up, he might complain that he doesn't grow old and die quickly, and that he has been sitting on the throne for too long, which has hindered Chen'er from realizing his ambitions!
His mental journey at that time also underwent such a transformation!
However, unlike the late emperor, Chen'er is so filial and intelligent. When he grows up and reaches the age where he can rule in his own right, he can gradually delegate power to Chen'er, guide him to become a qualified emperor, and then he can retire gracefully!
He is such a good father!
The emperor thought to himself with considerable self-satisfaction.
“Father, my brother is right. While handling state affairs is important, it’s also good to take a break, relax, and move around more. It’s good for your health,” Ye Jingshu advised.
"Father, please play Cuju with us!" Ye Jingyu pleaded.
He had his own agenda.
His mother also knew how to play Cuju (ancient Chinese football), although she wasn't as good as she boasted. But she was still quite good at it. If his father was willing to play Cuju with them this time, then the next time his father went to Weiyang Palace, he could ask his father to play with him and his mother.
At that time, Mother will be extremely happy!
"Father, I'm not good at playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football). Could you teach me?" Ye Jingyu said.
With several children pleading together, how could the emperor, whose resolve was already wavering, possibly hold on any longer?
"It's almost time for dinner. You can play after dinner," he relented.
“You shouldn’t do strenuous exercise after a meal, it’s bad for your health. How about we play for just 15 minutes?” Ye Jingchen suggested.
"It's almost time for dinner. How can we be so engrossed in entertainment that we miss our mealtime?" the emperor disagreed.
"Father, meals don't always have to be on time. It's okay to be a little late. You're the emperor, so you get to decide all the rules," Ye Jingchen said, tugging at the emperor's sleeve.
He should take advantage of his young age to act cute and affectionate. Once he turns ten, this behavior won't be suitable for him anymore.
Moreover, he wanted to play Cuju (ancient Chinese football) or other games with the emperor more often in the future, but their school hours were already late, and by the time they arrived at Chengqian Palace, it would be almost mealtime, which was very inconvenient, so it was necessary to postpone the mealtime.
Moreover, there are many rules he wants the emperor to change for him in the future. If he can't even convince the emperor about something as small as meal times, wouldn't it be even more difficult for him to implement reforms in state affairs in the future?
Therefore, the emperor still needs to make exceptions for them and for them, and this way, making exceptions will eventually become a habit.
He hoped that in the future, when he put forward any political views, the emperor's first thought would not be 'this is against the rules of our ancestors' but rather the advantages and disadvantages of his political views themselves.
He is still too young to do many things, so he can only work on these minor details to slowly change the emperor.
"I'm not hungry at all right now, let's play Cuju first!" Ye Jinghe, who was always the most enthusiastic to respond to Ye Jingchen, said to the emperor with a serious expression while touching his belly.
Before Ye Jingchen brought him back to the East Palace, he had never been able to eat his fill in Changchun Palace. He would eat one meal and then go hungry for several, so his meals were irregular. Naturally, he didn't have the habitual thinking that others should eat at certain times.
“Father, I’m not hungry either!” Ye Jingyu was the second to respond.
"Father, by the time we finish dinner, it will be dark. Even with the palace lanterns, we won't have enough fun!" Ye Jingshu stepped forward and tugged at the emperor's other sleeve.
Although her ability to act coquettishly is not as refined as her brother's, she has a natural advantage.
"Father, are you hungry?" Ye Jingyan asked.
Of course, she asked this not to offer help.
On the contrary, she came to disagree.
Because she didn't know how to play Cuju at all, and didn't want to play Cuju with her father, she just wanted to finish her dinner quickly and return to Biyue Palace.
She admitted that what her fifth brother said made some sense, and she realized that she was very weak, but even if she wanted to work hard, she had to start from tomorrow.
The emperor was somewhat moved when he heard Ye Jingyan ask this question.
The children were only concerned with playing and didn't care whether their elderly father was hungry, but Jingyan was considerate.
"If you're hungry, have a snack to tide you over." Ye Jinghe picked up the snacks on the table and handed them to the emperor.
My brother said we should play Cuju (ancient Chinese football) before meals, so we have to play before meals!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
