Just as she was once again lost in deep thought about Yi Shangyun, a maidservant hurried over.
After respectfully curtsying to him, she said, "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qin. This servant is Ziyan, a maid from Donghua Palace. His Highness the Crown Prince has sent me to invite Your Highness to come to Donghua Palace for a chat."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan suddenly came to his senses.
It seemed that the maid had some unspeakable trouble, so I followed her to Donghua Palace to find out what was going on.
Inside Donghua Palace.
Crown Prince Xuanyuan Hao was practicing calligraphy with great concentration, but he always seemed restless and irritable, unable to calm down no matter what he did.
Not satisfied with the piece of calligraphy he had just written, he angrily yanked it off the table, crumpled it into a ball, and slammed it to the ground.
On the floor in front of the desk, there were clearly more than just piles and piles of trash scattered about.
This scene was witnessed by Xuanyuan Han, who had just arrived.
He asked his maid, Ziyan, in confusion, "What's wrong with the Crown Prince?"
Zi Yan said with heartache, "Yesterday, the Emperor summoned the Crown Prince to inquire about his studies. I don't know what they talked about, but ever since he returned to the palace, the Crown Prince has been buried in his writing, as if he were possessed. He hasn't slept or eaten and drunk anything. No one can persuade him; he simply won't say a word. I really had no other choice. I was afraid the Crown Prince would suffer from pent-up emotions, so I dared to take the liberty of inviting His Highness Prince Qin to come and see the Crown Prince after court. Before, when the Crown Prince was unhappy, he could talk to the Princess, but now that the Princess has married far away to Dongning, the Crown Prince..."
Since Xuanyuan Yue married far away to Dongning, Xuanyuan Hao has become even more lonely in the palace. Zi Yan became more and more worried and sad for him: "The Crown Prince has always listened to His Highness Prince Qin since he was a child. I hope His Highness can give the Crown Prince some guidance."
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Han seemed to understand something, and then instructed Ziyan, "I understand, you may leave!"
"This servant thanks Your Highness Prince Qin on behalf of the Crown Prince!"
After thanking him gratefully, Zi Yan slowly withdrew.
At this moment, Xuanyuan Han took a deep breath, slowly walked forward, bent down with one hand behind his back to pick up a crumpled piece of paper that had been thrown on the ground, opened it and saw that it read, "The way of the ruler and his subjects is to repay kindness and righteousness."
He picked up another one and opened it; it still read, "The way of ruler and subject is to repay kindness and righteousness."
Picking up another one and opening it, it still reads, "The way of ruler and subject is to repay kindness and righteousness."
...
Clearly, the question Emperor Jing posed to Xuanyuan Hao was related to the relationship between ruler and subject.
Then, Xuanyuan Han raised his voice and exclaimed, "What a fine example of the relationship between ruler and subject! Repaying kindness and righteousness. It seems that the Crown Prince is working even harder now, and has already reached such a level. It is truly remarkable!"
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Hao abruptly raised his head, instantly becoming alert, and asked in surprise, "Uncle Qin, what brings you here? When did you arrive? Where is Aunt? Did Aunt come to the palace with you?"
As he spoke, he hurriedly put down his pen and walked out from in front of the desk, continuing, "Hao'er has almost lost count of how long it has been since he last saw his royal uncle and royal aunt?"
Before Xuan Yuanhan could utter a single word, Xuan Yuanhao anxiously asked again, "By the way, a few days ago, the day after Uncle Qin's wedding, I heard that my aunt also entered the palace. But before I could even see her, I heard that she was accidentally stabbed in the Imperial Pharmacy. How could this happen? Is my aunt alright? Has her injury healed by now?"
Xuanyuan Han said somewhat helplessly, "You're asking so many questions at once, how am I supposed to answer them? I think what you care about most is your imperial aunt!"
Xuanyuan Hao said proudly, "Of course! My royal aunt is the person I admire most!"
At this moment, Xuanyuan Han asked seriously, "What exactly happened? Why are you treating me like this?"
Xuanyuan Hao also immediately lost his smile. He sat down next to Xuanyuan Han and recalled the scene from yesterday, saying, "Yesterday, Father asked Hao'er to discuss the relationship between ruler and subject. Hao'er then remembered Mencius's words to King Xuan of Qi: 'If a ruler treats his subjects as his hands and feet, then the subjects will treat the ruler as their heart and soul; if a ruler treats his subjects as dogs and horses, then the subjects will treat the ruler as a stranger; if a ruler treats his subjects as dirt and weeds, then the subjects will treat the ruler as an enemy.'"
Xuanyuan Han nodded.
Xuanyuan Hao continued, “However, the king asked…According to ritual, there is mourning for a former ruler. How can this be considered mourning? Mencius replied, ‘When remonstrances are heeded and words are heeded, the people are benefited; if the ruler leaves for a reason, he should be guided out of the territory by the ruler, and his departure should be preceded by the ruler; if the ruler does not return after three years, then his fields and lands should be reclaimed. This is called the three acts of ritual. In this way, one should be considered to be mourning. Now, I am a minister, but my remonstrances are not heeded, my words are not heeded, the people are not benefited; if the ruler leaves for a reason, he should be seized by the ruler, and his departure should be brought to the ruler's destination; on the day of his departure, his fields and lands should be reclaimed. This is called being an enemy. What mourning is there for an enemy?”
Xuanyuan Han agreed with him and praised him, saying, "Not bad, you answered very well!"
Xuanyuan Hao pouted and said, "But Father Emperor said that the ruler is strong and the subject is weak, and the subject should obey the ruler's every command. What the ruler says is right, is right, and what is wrong is also right, and there is no room for doubt. Hearing this, Hao'er suddenly wondered whether Father Emperor could be considered a good ruler?"
Xuanyuan Han was well aware that Emperor Jing had always acted with absolute power, but facing Xuanyuan Hao, who was still just a child, he only said meaningfully, "Throughout history, every monarch has had their own policies for governing the country and their own methods for employing people. How to evaluate the quality of a monarch is a matter of much debate. However, I believe that a benevolent monarch is benevolent, and a righteous monarch is righteous. As long as you do your best and have a clear conscience, that's enough!"
“If a ruler is benevolent, none will be unbenevolent; if a ruler is righteous, none will be unrighteous,” Xuan Yuanhao silently repeated.
As if suddenly enlightened, he perked up and said, "Uncle Qin is right, Hao'er understands."
But then a worry surfaced, and he said softly, "Uncle Qin, actually... since I was little, I've often thought that if this vast Western Qin Kingdom were governed by you, Uncle Qin, wouldn't the people's lives be a thousand times, ten thousand times better than they are now..."
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Han remained silent and said nothing more.
However, Xuanyuan Hao paused for a moment, then continued, "Uncle Qin, if that day ever comes, please do not hesitate. Because no one loves this land more than you, Uncle Qin, and you are protecting the people of this nation with your own life!"
At this point, Xuan Yuanhan finally looked at Xuan Yuanhao's face in surprise.
But Xuanyuan Hao suddenly turned his face away, avoiding his gaze, and then smiled to change the subject.
He suddenly smiled nonchalantly and said, "Uncle Qin, Hao'er truly prefers to wander and travel the world for the rest of his life rather than be confined in this deep palace. Ever since returning from his travels with the Grand Tutor, he has been sitting idly in this palace, and is now almost bored to death."
As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something and said, "How about I visit my aunt at my uncle's residence? I remember my aunt has a very peculiar bracelet, and I would like to see it again. What do you think, Uncle Qin?"
Xuanyuan Han hesitated and said, "Your royal aunt... she... she hasn't been feeling well lately. Your royal uncle will take you to see her in a while."
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Hao hurriedly asked, "What... My imperial aunt is ill again? Was she not fully recovered before? Should we send a royal physician to the Prince of Qin's residence to examine her properly?"
Xuanyuan Han explained, "It's just some minor discomfort. Physician Yue has already examined me personally, so it's nothing serious."
Xuanyuan Hao thought for a moment, then had no choice but to give up for now: "Since that's the case... alright then!"
Suddenly, a breeze swept by, stirring the water lilies in the water vat inside the hall.
Then, on a sudden inspiration, Xuan Yuanhao suggested, "How about Uncle takes Hao'er to admire the flowers near the Empress Dowager's Western Hill Villa? Hao'er knows that there is a beautiful scene of rippling blue water and lotus fragrance for miles around. The weather is getting hotter and hotter now, but the lush vegetation there will surely make us feel much cooler with all the lotus flowers in sight. If we don't go now, we'll have to wait until next year. Actually, as long as we're not stuck in the palace any longer, we can go anywhere and do whatever we want."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan suddenly froze, lost in thought, muttering to himself, "West Mountain Villa... ten miles of lotus fragrance..."
Xuan Yuanhan was immediately surprised: "You mean... the Empress Dowager has a villa in the Western Hills?"
Xuanyuan Hao nodded and said, "Hao'er once overheard the Empress Dowager mention it by chance, saying that the moonlight over the lotus pond there was truly enchanting."
"Could that be the hiding place of Master Shou and his servant?"
Upon realizing this, Xuan Yuanhan hurriedly asked, "Do you know the location of that villa?"
Xuanyuan Hao thought for a moment, then shook his head, but said, "Such beautiful scenery should be easy to find."
Just then, the Empress walked in from outside and, upon hearing the noise, scolded Xuan Yuanhao, "Crown Prince, stop fooling around. Have you finished all the homework your father assigned you? As the Crown Prince, why do you only think about running out of the palace to play all day long?"
Upon seeing her stride in, Xuanyuan Han snapped back to reality and exclaimed, "Sister-in-law!"
The Empress nodded to him and said, "So, Uncle Qin is also in Donghua Palace. That's perfect. Uncle, quickly teach the Crown Prince a lesson for me. All he does is play all day long and never takes any serious matters to heart. He just angered His Majesty yesterday, and now he's trying to sneak out of the palace again."
Xuan Yuanhan defended Xuan Yuanhao, saying, "The Crown Prince is still just a child. It's a child's nature to love playing. Why should you push him so hard, sister-in-law?"
The Empress sat down and said softly, "Force him? Actually, Imperial Uncle, you don't know this, but ever since Yue'er married far away to Dongning, I've only hoped that Hao'er could live a happy and carefree life. It's a pity..."
Hesitant to speak, the Empress sighed and said, "In this world, what mother doesn't want her child to live a peaceful and happy life? But that's easier said than done."
Having said that, he stopped and instead inquired about Yi Shangyun: "Ah, never mind. By the way, how is Princess Qin doing these days? She was attacked at the Imperial Pharmacy last time, which was really worrying. Is she well now?"
Xuanyuan Han said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. The Princess Consort is fine now."
The Empress nodded and said, "I never expected that the daughter of the Vice Minister of War would be such a vicious person."
At this moment, Xuanyuan Han suddenly stood up...
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