Kangxi suppressed his anger and said helplessly, "This is really too stupid. I have never seen such a stupid person. Not to mention Bao Cheng, even Bao Qing when he was a child was not this stupid."
"Pfft"
Mingxiu couldn't help but laugh: "You've gone too far. Little Stone is only four years old and hasn't even started his formal education yet. You insist on teaching him some difficult things. It's good enough that he didn't cry. And you still complain that he's stupid."
“People outside usually start their formal education at six years old. Some families who dote on their children even start at eight. It’s just that you sent your child to school so early. Poor child, he hasn’t even had a proper childhood yet, and he’s already been severely damaged by his studies,” Mingxiu said, thinking of how Yinreng and the others were when they first started school.
"Hmph, they're not pitiful at all. Everything else is just external possessions. Only what you learn and put into your own hands truly belongs to you. Look at those kids now, aren't they all outstanding?" Kangxi said confidently.
These children, especially the older ones, are all outstanding. Isn't that thanks to him?
Mingxiu was speechless and didn't want to get entangled with this person anymore.
"Alright, I'm not going to talk about that anymore. I want to ask you something. Didn't I tell you to recruit students around here? Have you not started yet, or haven't you met the right people?" Her milk tea shop is already open, but Kangxi hasn't made a move at all.
"There aren't any suitable ones. I've visited the academies here recently, but there aren't many promising talents." Kangxi said with obvious disdain, noting that each of them seemed far from being up to par.
"Anyway, it's up to you to decide. But let me tell you, the essays you've read before were from the imperial examinations, written by some of the smartest people in the country. It's bound to be different from what you're going to encounter. So if you're hoping to meet someone really smart, it'll be hard. If you really can't find someone suitable, you can just teach Little Stone properly, and go fishing in your spare time, that's good too." The point of going out is to have fun, and Mingxiu doesn't necessarily want Kangxi to do any work, as long as he's not bored.
"I understand, I'll take care of it." Kangxi said with a glint in his eyes. He hadn't met a suitable person recently, and he also had other things to do, so he couldn't focus all his attention on this.
"Alright, I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm going to the store to check out the new products today. Oh, and Little Stone is coming over later, so be gentle, okay?" Mingxiu still couldn't help but instruct Kangxi.
"Hmm," Kangxi nodded.
Seeing Kangxi's helpless expression, Mingxiu left. This little stone was also pitiful. He lost his mother when he was just born, and his father raised him. There were also a bunch of concubines who would give him a hard time from time to time. This time, his father went out to work and didn't come back for several months. The little child was abused and became skin and bones. Mingxiu and the others happened to see this when they arrived. Mingxiu was heartbroken and had a fight with the family. Later, it was only after the little stone's maternal grandparents found out and took the child away that things got a little better.
Because of this incident, Xiao Shitou's maternal grandparents were very grateful to Mingxiu and her family, so they settled down near them. One reason was to see when Xiao Shitou's father would return, since the entire family, including the Fu family, didn't have a single trusted confidant. Another reason was that Xiao Shitou, for some reason, really liked Emperor Kangxi, so Xiao Shitou's maternal grandparents decided to stay there.
Not long after Mingxiu left, a furtive little figure appeared at the door, peeking into the room every now and then, thinking that no one had noticed him. In fact, everyone knew as soon as he came in.
However, this situation has happened so many times recently that everyone has gotten used to it.
Emperor Kangxi glanced at the small figure at the door and said calmly, "Why is there a little mouse at the door? Come out quickly, or I'll have someone take you away."
Upon hearing Kangxi's words, the little figure at the door trotted over, grabbed Kangxi's leg, tilted its head back, and said in a childish voice, "It's not a little mouse, it's a little stone. Master, you can't let anyone take the little stone away."
Kangxi glanced helplessly at Xiao Shitou, bent down and picked him up in his arms: "Why did you come by yourself today?" Xiao Shitou had only been back for a short time, and hadn't gained much weight. He was still very light and didn't look like a four-year-old child at all.
"The nannies are following behind, but I can run fast," Little Stone said softly. He remembered that the master had said before that he shouldn't run like this.
"You can't do that again, understand?" Kangxi looked at Xiaoshitou's scared and guilty face, wanting to be angry but unable to.
"Yes, yes, I won't do it again." Little Stone was still scared, afraid that Kangxi would be angry, but when he heard that Kangxi was not angry, he quickly sat up straight and said obediently.
Kangxi held the little stone and said, "Perfect timing. I have some free time now, so you sit quietly and I'll read to you."
Emperor Kangxi swore he had never been so gentle with his own children, but he just couldn't bring himself to be harsh with Xiao Shitou. He didn't know if it was because the child was too pitiful, or if Xiao Shitou reminded him of his own childhood.
Although no one dared to mistreat him when he was a child, watching Kangxi made one see a reflection of oneself in Xiao Shitou.
Little Stone sat obediently, nodding as he listened to Kangxi begin reading. Although he couldn't understand a word of what was being read, he felt safe and secure just being near this great master.
The old woman outside went outside and saw the scene inside, with the older one studying diligently and the younger one looking at the older one with longing.
Upon seeing this, the old woman burst into tears, wondering how her young mistress and young master had encountered such a thing.
The young lady passed away at a very young age, leaving the children to suffer in the mansion.
"Alright, don't be sad. The most important thing for us now is to take good care of the young master so that the young lady won't feel uneasy in heaven." Another nanny next to her was also wiping away tears while comforting her.
"Yes, the most important thing now is to take good care of the young master."
The two inside, one big and one small, were completely unaware of what was happening outside. They sat there quietly, one reading and the other listening. Before long, the smaller one started shaking its head and closing its eyes, about to fall over.
Emperor Kangxi was watching closely, and as soon as he saw that the man was about to fall, he quickly reached out and pulled him into his arms.
Looking at the person who was about to fall asleep in his arms, Kangxi didn't know what to say.
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