Chapter 23 Consort Hui's Children Have a Conflict
The snow fell heavily outside all morning, only gradually stopping after 1 p.m.
After leisurely sipping her sweet almond tea, Yunyun continued to nestle on the warm kang (heated brick bed), casually flipping through the account books of Yanxi Palace.
The spring allowance sent by the Imperial Household Department has been filed. Among it was a complete piece of silver fox fur. Since Baoqing is going to the Imperial Study, we can take it to make him a new fur coat.
There are also some incomplete mink pelts. We'll have Fuling make a few sets for Zhaojun (a famous Chinese courtesan), and the remaining pelts can be used to make forehead warmers.
Yunyun mentally planned the uses of these portions, feeling like she was playing a management simulation game.
I must say, it's actually a bit addictive.
It wasn't until Baoqing came in with red eyes, stood in front of her with a pitiful look, and called out, "Mother."
Baoqing was originally very happy.
His mother praised him twice for writing large characters this morning, which made him happy.
He had his favorite lamb pies for lunch, which doubled his happiness.
The snow will stop in the afternoon, so I can go play with my little prince brother. The fun will be doubled!
But the reality is cruel; he was dealt a heavy blow at his happiest moment.
Yun Jun was a little flustered. She hadn't seen Bao Qing cry since he returned to the palace. She didn't have time to ask what had happened. She immediately pulled Bao Qing into her arms and comforted him carefully, "Bao Qing, why are you so aggrieved? Who made our Fifth Prince suffer? Your mother will stand up for you."
Hiding in her mother's warm embrace, Baoqing abandoned all pride and began to sob, "I... I never want to play with my little brother, the Crown Prince, again."
Her little shoulders trembled as she cried pitifully.
This news led to an incident involving the Crown Prince.
They probably had a falling out.
Looks like she'll be crying for a while longer.
Yunyun patted Baoqing's back gently, then looked at Granny Sun, her brows furrowing slightly. "What happened?"
Granny Sun recounted the story with a helpless tone.
It wasn't anything earth-shattering.
In the afternoon, Baoqing went to play with the Crown Prince. The two children looked at the snow outside the palace that hadn't completely melted and insisted on building a snowman.
The old woman would never let the two of them go out to play in the snow. It was very cold outside, and if they got sick, ten heads wouldn't be enough to chop them off.
So all we could do was coax them with our own words.
Finally, they came up with a solution that both sides reluctantly agreed to: have two eunuchs from the Qianqing Palace build a snowman outside the hall and offer their opinions.
When it came time to install the eyeglasses, the young eunuch brought out a small box of obsidian beads for them to choose from. They were all polished smooth and round, and had a glossy black color.
It was such a coincidence that the two of them both set their sights on the same largest pair of paisley.
Obsidian wasn't anything rare for them; Baoqing had bigger ones in his toy box. But that's how kids are; the more someone tries to take something, the more precious it seems, and they don't want to give it up.
Then a young eunuch had a brilliant idea and directly attached the pair to the prince's snowman.
Baoqing's smile vanished instantly.
He stared blankly at the pair of obsidian stones pasted on the prince's snowman face, then looked at the respectful little eunuch, and turned around and ran back to Yanxi Palace.
It was only then that Baoqing realized what the words "Crown Prince" meant.
This means that even if he is older than the Crown Prince and is the elder brother, even if he takes a fancy to something first, others will still think of the Crown Prince first, and even if he is unwilling, he has to give way to the Crown Prince.
On the way back to Yanxi Palace, Baoqing became angrier and more aggrieved.
At first, he was angry that the young eunuch wouldn't listen to him.
Later, he felt wronged. Why should he give way to the younger brother of the crown prince? Why do they all put the crown prince first?
However, Baoqing was a bit proud and kept a cold face outside, but her eyes reddened when she entered Yanxi Palace.
Upon seeing her mother, she couldn't hold back any longer, and tears welled up instantly.
After understanding what had happened, seeing Baoqing still crying with his head down in her arms, Yunyun took out a handkerchief and gently wiped his tears, then softly asked, "Baoqing, can you tell your mother why you're crying?"
Baoqing sobbed, her nose red, her hand still tightly gripping Yunyun's sleeve, "No, I don't want to give way to my younger brother, the Crown Prince."
He used to always give way to the younger prince when they played together, because he was the older brother.
But now he doesn't want to give it up.
The disobedient eunuchs were annoying, and so was the crown prince's younger brother.
The child's emotions came and went quickly. Bao Qing gradually stopped crying and added angrily through a nasal voice, "The Crown Prince doesn't need me to give way at all!"
Yun Jun's heart softened, and she went along with him, saying, "Bao Qing is right. So many people are thinking of the Crown Prince, so there's no need for us, Bao Qing, to give way."
Hearing her mother's approval, Baoqing finally showed a hint of happiness on her face.
"So Baoqing will never go to play with the Crown Prince again?" Yunyun asked softly.
That's not it.
Baoqing hesitated, but he actually still liked his younger brother very much. However, he was really heartbroken this time, so he didn't want to go play with the Crown Prince for the time being.
So he nodded and then shook his head.
Seeing his expression, Yunyun understood seven or eight parts of his thoughts.
Children should be allowed to resolve their own issues, especially since one is three years old and the other is five; it's normal for them to have some conflicts.
Moreover, they are brothers, so issues like parents not treating each other equally are common problems.
At most, she would offer Baoqing some comfort. As for how to handle the relationship with the Crown Prince, that was Baoqing's decision. She just wanted Baoqing to be happy.
Suddenly, Baoqing looked up, her big, watery eyes fixed on her, and asked a question Yunyun hadn't expected, "Will Mother also value the Crown Prince more?"
This matter was very important; it was something Baoqing figured out on his own on his way back to Yanxi Palace.
He had come to understand a little bit that in his father’s heart, his younger brother, the Crown Prince, was more important than him.
The Emperor was the same Emperor as his younger brother, the Crown Prince, so the Emperor valued the Crown Prince more, and protecting the Qing dynasty was not unacceptable.
But not his mother; she is his mother alone.
Seeing the worry and expectation in Baoqing's eyes, Yunyun couldn't help but smile. She gently kissed Baoqing's forehead and looked him in the eye earnestly. "Of course not, Mother promises. In Mother's eyes, Baoqing will always be the most important person, Mother's precious treasure."
Baoqing felt the sincerity, hugged Yunyun tightly around the waist, and raised her voice, "I love Mother the most!"
Although Yunyun believes that adults should not get involved in children's affairs.
But Emperor Kangxi didn't think that way!
A note from the author:
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