She tilted her small face up, with tears still clinging to her eyelashes, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.
"The other day, Father Emperor taught me to read the 'Essential Techniques for the Common People,' saying that 'water is the source of all things,' nourishing both the monarch and the people."
The Grand Tutor only allows water to have the function of "carrying a boat and capsizing it", but does not allow it to have the function of cooking porridge and irrigating fields. Isn't this just killing the water?
How was it wrong for me to say, "It can also be used to make porridge"?
The emperor was taken aback by her words, looking at his daughter's stubborn "I'm right" expression.
I suddenly remembered that when I was twelve years old, I was also punished by the Grand Tutor to copy the Analects a hundred times because I questioned the annotations.
Back then, didn't he also stubbornly insist on his own way, thinking that the old man's reasoning was too rigid?
Looking down at the small figure below, clearly only six years old, with two round buns in her hair, the bright yellow ribbon tied in her hair swaying gently with her breath.
The two pearls adorning it trembled slightly, resembling the downy hairs on the tips of a small animal's ears.
But her little face was tense and serious, her big, black grape-like eyes wide open, and her chin tilted back.
Every word and sentence exudes the self-righteousness of "I'm not wrong, it's the Grand Tutor who's too stingy."
The Emperor was amused by her clever and witty way of "being able to make even the most twisted logic sound plausible." He stepped down the stairs, raised his hand, and tapped her forehead with his fingertip.
He applied the pressure as lightly as if afraid of shattering a porcelain doll: "You little brat, you come up with one twisted argument after another. You've actually put the 'arguing with reason' I taught you into practice here!"
He gazed at the lively yet mischievous glint in his eldest daughter's eyes, and for a fleeting moment, he saw a glimpse of that person—
The regent back then was just like that; seemingly charming, but actually very perceptive, able to refute his ministers with just a few words.
He still vividly remembers the extraordinary scene on the day his eldest daughter was born: the sky above the palace, which was originally gloomy and about to rain, was suddenly swept up by a sky full of golden and red clouds, and the glow was like a waterfall.
The entire imperial palace in the capital was dyed a glassy color, and even more strangely, a clear phoenix cry came from the depths of the clouds, lasting for three quarters of an hour.
The entire court was so shocked that all the officials knelt outside the palace gates, shouting, "Auspicious omens have descended from heaven!"
At that moment, he held the warm jade pendant with phoenix patterns that had been passed down from his ancestors. The pendant was burning hot in his palm, and he was almost certain that the regent who was always accompanied by phoenixes had returned.
It was precisely because of this extraordinary birth phenomenon, coupled with the exceptional talent that the eldest daughter displayed after starting her education—knowing a thousand characters at the age of three and being able to recite the Analects of Confucius at the age of five.
She even had some insight into policies for governing the country, which is why he strongly advocated making her the Crown Princess, hoping that she could inherit the throne and continue the glory of Zhaoning Kingdom.
But who would have thought that this child's intelligence would be used in the "right place"?
They can recite the Four Books and Five Classics fluently, but they always find loopholes in these "unorthodox" methods.
The Grand Tutor said, "The people are the foundation of the state," but she insisted on asking, "If the people are picky about food, won't the state go hungry?"
Today, she talked about "water can carry a boat," and then added "water can also be used to cook porridge," which made the veteran of three dynasties throw down his ruler on the spot.
However, every time she defended herself, she was always logical and clear, and she could always bring up the principles he had taught her in the past as a "shield," leaving him speechless for a moment.
At only six years old, he's already so sharp-tongued and full of mischievous ideas. What will he be like when he grows up?
The emperor shook his head helplessly, but he wasn't really angry at all. He just thought that the girl should be taught to control her temper.
Stop being so "lawless"—he also wanted her to be like an ordinary child, chasing butterflies in the Imperial Garden and playing marbles under the long corridor.
Instead of being bound by her identity as "Crown Princess" all day long, frowning at a table full of memorials.
He was about to speak up and give her a good "lecture" to make her understand what it means to "respect teachers and value morality".
A gentle yet authoritative voice suddenly came from outside the hall, with a clear hint of amusement in its tone.
Like a spring breeze, it melted away the seriousness in the imperial study: "Oh my, whose little rascal is this, so quick-witted that he has left our emperor speechless."
Look closely at that bun hairstyle, isn't that my little one?
Upon hearing that familiar voice, the little girl, who had just been bowing her head slightly and unconsciously twisting the hem of her bright yellow brocade dress while being reprimanded by the emperor, instantly brightened up.
Like a small lantern lit in the dark night, or like stars after the rain has cleared.
Even the grievance of being punished to stand had mostly dissipated, and her little body unconsciously leaned towards the direction of the palace entrance.
The Emperor twitched his lips helplessly, thinking to himself: Well, with the Empress Dowager as his "big backer," this little brat will be fearless again.
His admonition as the emperor will likely fall on deaf ears once again.
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