Extra, Xiao Qi'an
In the horse riding and archery field, Xiao Qian'an, who was exhausted and sweating, blinked his big eyes and looked at Xiao Yuan with his head raised in a childish voice.
"Stop pretending to be nice and cute, and keep practicing."
The pleading look in Xiao Qian'an's eyes turned into disappointment. Sure enough, this trick was of no use to his father.
"Father, I am very tired and want to take a rest."
Xiao Yuan looked up at the direction of the sun and frowned, "It's less than an hour, you are not allowed to rest."
"But the child is only three years old." He spread his hands and placed them in front of Xiao Yuan, "Father, look, there are marks on the child's hands."
Xiao Yuan's eyes moved, but instantly turned calm again, "As a man, it's only natural for you to suffer a little. Don't be squeamish."
“…”
It was useless to say anything. Xiao Qian'an just glared at Xiao Yuan and simply sat on the ground and stopped practicing. The small bow and arrow was placed beside his legs, which was a perfect match.
"Don't think I don't know what's going on in my father's mind. You are so strict with me because you want me to take over the position as soon as possible so that you can travel with mother. No way."
He was just a child, why should he bear so much? What was even more hateful was that he was not included in his father's plan. He was born to take over that position.
"Stand up." Xiao Yuan didn't say anything else. Just these three gloomy words made Xiao Qian'an's face change color slightly. He pouted, but finally stood up shyly.
"Bow and arrow,"
Xiao Qian'an lowered his head and picked up the bow and arrow again, tears indeed falling down continuously. He sniffed, suddenly turned around and ran out of the archery field.
"Prince." Qing'an was startled and immediately wanted to chase him.
"Ignore him." Xiao Yuan ordered coldly.
"Your Majesty, the prince is still young. Are you being too harsh?"
Xiao Qian'an grew up in front of everyone. He was the treasure in their hands. Everyone felt heartbroken when seeing him being wronged.
"Teaching him riding and archery is harsh, but I am obviously spoiling him too much."
"..."You really can't be said to be spoiling the prince, you are almost like a devil, Qing'an silently complained in his heart.
Xiao Yuan seemed to know what he was thinking, and glanced at him coldly, "If you have that time, you might as well think more about your marriage, you useless thing."
Xiao Qian'an is already three years old, but there is still no follow-up between him and Mo Xiang. I don't know if he is being reserved or Mo Xiang is being shy. Everyone can see the affection between them, but they just don't talk about marriage.
Speaking of this, Qing An was also confused, and his spirits instantly waned. He mumbled, "She said she wanted to accompany the Queen. What can I do?"
Xiao Yuan was too lazy to pay attention to him, "In that case, then you can go to the west of the city to train the troops."
"How can that be possible?" Qing'an's eyes widened. "If I don't stay by your side, I won't be able to marry her."
…
Fengyi Palace.
Xiao Qian'an sobbed and ran to the palace, and ran into Shen An'an's arms.
"What's wrong?" She gently stroked Xiao Qian'an's little head.
"Mother~" He raised his head with a sobbing voice, "My hand hurts. If you don't care about it, I will be tortured to death by my father."
"What nonsense are you talking about." Shen Anan reached out and poked him on the forehead, "You are your father's only son, how could he torture you."
Xiao Qian'an curled his lips and said, "I hope you can give me ten or eight brothers and sisters, so that father won't have the time to focus on me alone."
He stretched out his little hand to show Shen Anan, "Look, mother, my hand is about to be strangled."
Shen Anan looked at the red marks on his little fingers, feeling extremely distressed, and hurriedly blew air into him, "Why is it like this? Does it hurt?"
Xiao Qian nodded with a pursed mouth, "My child was taken to Fengtian Hall by my father at cockcrow. After the morning court session, I had to go to the teacher's class. I felt sleepy, and the teacher followed my father's order and beat the child if he didn't obey."
"After class, I have to go to the imperial study to practice calligraphy, sit beside my father and watch him review memorials, and practice riding and archery. My father doesn't treat me as a child, he clearly doesn't treat me as a human being."
He listed all the details and complained about Xiao Yuan's severity.
Shen Anan felt distressed at first, then found it funny, "It's really pitiful, I'll tell you about your father later."
"Mother is lying." Xiao Qian said sullenly, resting his chin on her legs, "You love father the most, not your children at all."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Shen An'an poked his forehead again and said earnestly, "You are the crown prince, the only son of your father. You will have to shoulder the responsibility of ruling the country in the future. How can a monarch be an incompetent person? You should know that your father had a much harder time than you to get to this point."
Xiao Qian'an remained silent. Of course he had heard about those things from Qing'an, Qingfeng and others.
"Don't worry, mother. I just complained a few words. I will continue to work hard. I will shut up those ministers and be as powerful as father. Let's see if they dare to nag father to choose a concubine again."
Shen Anan curled her lips and smiled, then lovingly held Xiao Qianan and sat him on her lap.
"That's between me and your father, you don't have to take it to heart."
Xiao Qianan smiled and got into Shen Anan’s arms.
"Mother, does Father dislike me?"
"How could that be? What do you think about in your little head all day long?"
Xiao Qian'an curled his lips, "Don't lie to me. Father often sighs at me. I know why. He wanted a little princess who looks like mother. His dream was shattered, so he called me a bastard and a bald monk."
She even treats cousin Guoguo better than him.
"No, you are a boy. It's different from raising a girl. If I pamper you, who will take care of the country of Daliang?"
Shen Anan tried her best to speak well of Xiao Yuan.
It can only be said that Xiao Qian'an was born in a good time of peace. If it were in the past, Xiao Yuan would have sent him to fight in the war.
She also felt that he was too strict with the children, but she really looked forward to the beautiful world he would create for her.
How wonderful it would be to be away from the palace and free. Of course, she would not tell Xiao Qian'an. After all, this heavy responsibility would have to be shouldered by the next generation.
"Mother, why don't you give me some brothers and sisters? My child..."
"Xiao Qian'an!" The cold voice frightened Xiao Qian'an, and he immediately hugged Shen An'an tightly, not daring to raise his head.
Xiao Yuan, dressed in a dragon robe, strode into Fengyi Palace and glared coldly at the small figure. "You are scared now. You were very brave when you ran just now. Come down."
“…” Xiao Qian’an’s small body continued to burrow into Shen An’an’s arms.
"Be good, your father is calling you."
Shen Anan patted Xiao Qian'an's head gently. Xiao Qian'an looked up at Shen Anan with a pursed mouth and an accusing look, "Even you don't help your son."
Before Shen Anan could say anything, Xiao Qian'an was grabbed by the collar and lifted up.
"What are you doing? Let him go." Shen Anan slapped Xiao Yuan on the back of his hand and hurriedly tried to snatch Xiao Qian'an back, but was blocked by Xiao Yuan.
"Be good, wait till I train him well, and then we'll be free."
“…”
Xiao Qian, who was originally hanging upside down, did not move, but when he heard Xiao Yuan's words, he began to struggle violently, "You wishful thinking, I won't, you can't just leave that crappy position to me and take my mother to live freely, you unscrupulous father."
Xiao Yuan's eyes narrowed, and he raised his hand to spank him, but Shen Anan glared at him coldly, so he didn't do it.
"You can teach him, but you can't hit him."
Xiao Qian'an: There is maternal love, but not much.
Then, Xiao Qian'an was dragged away by Xiao Yuan. He kept muttering to himself along the way.
Xiao Yuan was so annoyed that he dropped his head as soon as he entered the imperial study. Eunuch Liu was so scared that he quickly helped him up.
"You are a man, not a woman."
"I'm a child." Xiao Qianan retorted confidently. The next moment, Xiao Yuan's face darkened. "Your mother is not here, and no one is protecting you. Think it over before you talk to me."
Xiao Qian'an shuddered, his mouth moved a few times, and then he lowered his head and said, "The child is a man."
"Don't mention having children in front of your mother again."
"Why?" Xiao Qian didn't understand.
Xiao Yuan did not answer, but stretched out his hand to him, "Come here, accompany me to review the memorials."
…
When he was a child, Xiao Qian'an didn't understand, just like he didn't understand why others said he was blessed.
Going to the Fengtian Hall to hold court, being strictly taught riding and shooting by my father, and often sitting in the imperial study until midnight, is that a blessing? Why he doesn't like it.
Later, when I grew up, I realized that what they longed for was not this kind of life, but the power that this kind of life could bring them.
Indeed, in the eyes of the people of the world, he was the only heir to the dragon. No one would compete with him, and he didn't have to worry about calculations, nor did he have to be trembling with fear and treading on thin ice.
He had always resented his father's cruelty to him, but as time passed, he gradually came to understand.
Mother, it is not appropriate for you to stay in the palace.
From childhood to adulthood, he has seen many ministers forcing his father to choose a concubine. Although he managed to do it in the end, the process was also difficult.
His mother often looked at him with a different look in her eyes. He didn't understand it when he was a child, but gradually discovered it as he grew up. He also knew the rumors outside that his mother was insane.
But the Queen Mother often forgets many things and can't remember them clearly, but she has never forgotten him and the Emperor.
He often felt heartbroken because of this. It is conceivable that his father, who loved his mother so much, must have been in great pain as well.
Especially now, my mother still has shiny black hair, but my father has already turned gray at the temples.
He stood under the peach tree outside Fengyi Palace, looking at the two people snuggling together in the rocking chair.
The Emperor hugged the Empress Dowager and recounted their life experiences for who knows how many times. He could even recite them by heart, but the Emperor was never tired of it and the Empress Dowager was always unsatisfied.
So the Queen Mother always remembered them, and it was the Emperor who constantly helped her recall and tell her stories.
Shen Anan seemed to be asleep, leaning in Xiao Yuan's arms. The little palace maid brought a thin blanket and gently covered her with it.
As if he had noticed something, Xiao Yuan turned around and saw Xiao Qian'an standing not far away. The father and son looked at each other without saying a word.
Xiao Qian pursed his lips. Now he was sixteen years old and had grown into a tall and handsome boy. He walked towards the two of them and lowered his eyes to glance at Shen Anan who was sleeping quietly.
After struggling for a while, he finally said, "Otherwise, you can take mother away."
The sky is high and the sea is vast, live your own life.
Xiao Yuan's face looked much older. He looked at Xiao Qian quietly, "Why did you suddenly come to your senses?"
Xiao Qianan started to say, "I am your son, what can I do?"
"But don't even think about having a granddaughter. You can't bear to let your wife give birth, and I can't bear to let my wife suffer." Although, he doesn't have a wife yet.
Xiao Yuan was silent.
Xiao Qian'an tilted his head to look at him, then looked at the sleeping Shen An'an. His eyes were sore, but he didn't cry. His father hated him crying. That was not what a real man should do, let alone what a prince or an emperor could do.
"Take my mother away while she's asleep. Otherwise, when she wakes up, she will definitely be reluctant to leave me."
He turned around, holding back his tears, but did not notice that the woman in the rocking chair's eyelashes trembled.
Xiao Yuan spoke slowly after a long while, "You have your uncle, Ling Chenyi, and Li Huaiyan in the previous dynasty. They can all help you with court affairs. If you really encounter a problem that you can't solve, just look for your grandfather or send a message to me."
"Oh, I get it. I'm not as useless as you think." Xiao Qian'an waved his hand.
Xiao Yuan arranged for a palace maid, and soon, Mo Xiang came out of Fengyi Palace carrying a bundle and looked at Xiao Qian'an reluctantly.
The sedan chair also stopped at the gate of Fengyi Palace as quickly as possible.
Xiao Qian was silent for a long time as he looked at the sedan chair. When the others were about to leave, he suddenly said, "If, I mean if, you and mother can find that bald monk, please give me a brother or sister and send them back."
In this silent palace and long nights, there is always a loved one to accompany him.
He is alone and very lonely.
Xiao Yuan rarely taught him a lesson and nodded in agreement. Thus, a seed of hope was planted in Xiao Qian'an's heart.
But he forgot how unscrupulous his father was.
Wen Yin died three years after Shen Anan gave birth to a child. He even suspected that his sudden death was related to saving Anan.
Wen Yin is the benefactor of their family, and today's Xiangjue Temple is also an imperial temple.
Watching the sedan go away, Xiao Qian tried hard to hold back his tears, wiped them vigorously, and said to the eunuch with a smile, "In order to leave the palace, you actually put on such a sensational drama for this prince."
The young eunuch smiled but looked at the prince with eyes full of heartache.
"Forget it. From now on, you will be the only one to accompany me in this deep palace."
"Your Highness has forgotten," the young eunuch suggested, "Uncle Shen loves you the most. The Emperor and Empress have just left. If you take advantage of this, you might be able to trick Miss Guoguo into the palace. Then you'll have someone to keep you company."
To gain sympathy and make your uncle feel sorry for you?
Xiao Qian'an's eyes suddenly lit up, he stroked his chin, and said, "Guoguo is the apple of my uncle's eye, this is not a good idea."
“…”
"Go quickly, Uncle Xuan and his family are entering the palace."
"Yes." The eunuch walked a few steps and then turned back, "Your Highness, the little devil from Duke Li's family must be summoned into the palace."
Xiao Qian'an's brows were almost furrowed together.
That little girl is just a little crazy woman. Although she is a girl, she has inherited all the characteristics of Uncle Huaiyan.
"If that person were here, the palace would be very lively."
Xiao Qian thought about it and waved his hand, "Forget it, that's not a lively scene, it's a mess."
…
In the carriage leaving the palace, Shen Anan sat up straight, looked outside, and said uneasily, "Xiao Yuan, isn't it a bit too much for us to lie to Qi An like this? I feel a little sorry."
Xiao Yuan held her in his arms and asked, "Where is our first destination?"
"...Jiangnan, please." Shen Anan's conscience left quickly.
Xiao Yuan lowered his eyes and glanced at her, "Who do you want to meet in Jiangnan?"
"…I don't remember his name, do you remember?"
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