What does a baby know?
However, Emperor Hongde liked to hear this, and said, "Come here, let me hug you."
Before the wet nurse even got close, Jiang Shumiao obediently stretched out her two little arms.
Emperor Hongde was in an even better mood. He skillfully pulled her into his arms and saw her smile at him. He liked her even more and couldn't help but weigh her in his arms. "This child looks so clever. She'll definitely be smart when she grows up."
"Since you are the emperor chosen by Heaven, I will not punish you. But if you dare to do anything foolish in the future, like killing my father, I will not forgive you."
She'll fight against Heaven's will without hesitation!
Emperor Hongde suddenly felt a chill on his neck. He looked up and met Jiang Shumiao's gaze, which looked somewhat fierce.
He paused, wondering if he was hallucinating.
Jiang Shumiao, however, caught sight of the jade thumb ring on his thumb, her eyes lit up, and she immediately reached out to pull it off.
Xiao Yitang was startled and was about to stop him, but seeing that Emperor Hongde did not seem angry, she decided to wait and see.
"Does Miaomiao like this?"
Emperor Hongde raised his hand.
Jiang Shumiao nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling.
Jade thumb rings can also be sold for money.
Xiao Yitang: "..."
Emperor Hongde was very surprised that a four-month-old baby could understand human speech and respond quickly.
Smart and beautiful children are always especially likable.
Even the emperor was no exception.
Xiao Yitang saw him generously take off the jade thumb ring and put it into his daughter's hand.
Jiang Shumiao held the jade thumb ring, grinning from ear to ear.
Emperor Hongde was also pleased.
Sure enough, he must have been seeing things.
Jiang Shumiao, however, was mentally estimating how much this thing was worth.
As for the issue of not being able to sell items bestowed by the emperor, that was completely outside her consideration.
She even used the Kongtong Seal to crack walnuts.
For an emperor, the greatest value was a small jade thumb ring that could be exchanged for money.
Emperor Hongde had no idea what she was thinking. He only thought the child was really smart and cute, and he held her tightly, unwilling to let go. When he spoke, his voice was filled with laughter.
"Zhi Xuke is truly blessed to have such a beautiful daughter."
Xiao Yitang smiled when she heard his affectionate address.
"He's just a roughneck. He wrote home a few days ago and asked me to send him a picture of Miaomiao. The child changes every day. By the time he comes back, Miaomiao will probably be able to walk."
Mentioning Jiang Zhixu, Emperor Hongde recalled his former classmates and sworn brothers. After a moment of silence, he said, "I heard that Aqing has returned. I plan to send him to the Censorate for some experience in two years. What do you think?"
Xiao Yitang and the Empress Dowager exchanged a glance.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Just now, Huyang was asking me when the Emperor planned to hold the imperial examinations so that Aqing could prepare for them."
Emperor Hongde was surprised, his eyes filled with an inscrutable emotion.
“Aqing is of noble status and has been intelligent since childhood. He can directly enter officialdom without having to go through the hardship of taking the imperial examinations.”
Xiao Yitang pretended not to understand his probing, and continued to smile.
"No matter how noble he is, he is still a subject and must naturally abide by the laws of the court. Besides, he is too young and a bit arrogant; he needs to be tempered. Yesterday, my elder sister told me that these ignorant and conceited monkeys should be taught a lesson. They shouldn't just think about the favors of their ancestors. If they want to receive a salary from the court, they need to have the ability. When the court opens the imperial examinations, let Yan Ru go too. A future earned by himself will bring him honor."
Emperor Hongde remained silent.
Jiang Shumiao snorted to herself.
Look how good my mother and aunt are to you. Knowing you're surrounded by enemies, they still offered their support. If you dare repay kindness with enmity, I'll twist your head off and use it as a football.
Xiao Yitang's flawless smile almost crumbled.
Emperor Hongde finally spoke again, "In that case, I'm afraid they'll have to wait a little longer. The Imperial Preceptor has recently claimed to be ill, and I need to discuss matters related to the imperial examinations with him again."
His eyes softened considerably.
"Pah! He was harming someone with his magic and got burned. Serves him right. If he wasn't still alive, I would have struck him dead with a bolt of lightning long ago."
"That's perfect."
Xiao Yitang remained expressionless and said, "Let them have more time to prepare, so they don't embarrass themselves later."
"Um."
Some things don't need to be said too explicitly; it's enough to understand them implicitly.
Emperor Hongde was in a good mood and said, "A-Ning is almost five years old now, isn't she? It's time for her to go to the Imperial Academy."
Xiao Yitang smiled and nodded, and then heard her daughter's excited scream.
【Aaaaaaah, I want to go to the Imperial Academy too!】
Going to school = making friends = playing.
When she was studying at the Heavenly Palace, she would spend her days having fun with a group of divine children; she was carefree and happy.
If the gods could hear her thoughts, they would spit in her face.
Her fun included roasting phoenix cubs like pheasants, kicking dragon princes' clubs like balls, using the Kongtong Seal to crack walnuts, and burning ancient Kunlun wood as firewood... Her various misdeeds were too numerous to list.
She stayed in the Heavenly Palace for a month, and every day was a disaster scene.
So much so that the gods had an unspoken consensus—the only stain on the life of Nuwa, the Mother Goddess of the Earth, was raising this little ancestor.
This time, Xiao Yitang chose to ignore her daughter's request and shut her up with a mouthful of minced meat porridge.
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