"How could that be? Your mother is only doing this for your own good. That's why she wants you to be a role model for the princes and to work harder on your studies," Xueying said, tapping Yonglian's nose.
"Yonglian knows, but Yonglian is really a little tired!" Yonglian said, pouting as she looked down.
Looking at his small face, Xueying realized he was only 7 years old. How could he possibly endure studying so hard every day?
"Does Yonglian know how to play chess?" Xueying asked, somewhat reluctantly.
"Yes!" Yonglian replied.
"How about playing chess with me for a while?" Xueying said with a smile.
Yonglian nodded.
The maid brought over the chessboard and placed a brazier at Yonglian's feet. To keep him warm, she also placed a hand warmer on his back.
Meanwhile, Yonglian's governess discovered that the Second Prince had disappeared again. She was worried, but dared not report it to the Empress, for she was certain the Empress would punish them for their poor service.
"Granny, the Second Prince hasn't returned yet. If the Empress finds out he's not here, she'll scold us again," said the maidservant serving the Second Prince.
“Oh dear, this second prince isn’t a three-year-old child. He has hands and feet, and he always likes to run around. We can’t keep an eye on him even with several eyes on him,” said the governess.
"Granny, let us go out and look again," the palace maid said.
The governess knew that complaining was useless, so she gestured for them to go out and look for it quickly.
It was very cold outside, and several palace maids searched everywhere, but naturally they couldn't find Yonglian. He was currently playing chess in Yikun Palace.
"Second Prince, you should go back now. Come again next time." Xueying glanced at the quartz clock, knowing it was time to clock in at Xiefang Palace.
"Yes. I must go back now. Lady Xian's chess skills are truly excellent," Yonglian said, looking at the chessboard.
“Actually, your father’s chess skills are better. You can play against him next time,” Xueying said.
"Your Highness, Yonglian has returned." Yonglian said.
Xueying instructed the palace servants to escort Yonglian out of Yikun Palace. There was still snow and wind outside, so she made sure the servants escorted him to the entrance of Xiefang Hall.
However, after leaving Yikun Palace, Yonglian wouldn't let them go back with him, saying it would be best for him to go back on his own, because if someone saw them, his mother would probably scold him again.
The palace maid couldn't dissuade him, so she had to tell him to be careful before turning back to go inside and report to Xueying.
“The Second Prince looks so pitiful. The Empress has robbed him of the joys of childhood,” A Luo couldn’t help but say from the side.
“As the eldest son of the legitimate wife, the Second Prince naturally holds a different significance. The Empress's insistence that he study diligently is not wrong, but it is a bit too much. I hope Yonglian can get a moment's rest here with me. That would be good,” Xueying said.
Meanwhile, when Yonglian came out of Yikun Palace, a palace maid from Jingyang Palace happened to be passing by the entrance of Yikun Palace and witnessed the scene.
When she returned to Jingyang Palace, she reported what she had seen to Consort Jia.
"The Second Prince came from Consort Xian's place?" Consort Jia was indeed surprised. Her Fourth Prince was almost a year old now and was very much loved by the Emperor. Consort Jia's thoughts were starting to wander.
"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. I'm just wondering, Her Majesty the Empress and Consort Xian have always been at odds, so why did the Second Prince go to her place?" the maid said.
"Interesting, very interesting. If Her Majesty the Empress finds out, I'm afraid her expression will be quite unpleasant," Consort Jia said with a smile.
“That’s right, Your Highness. Should we report this to the Empress?” the palace maid said.
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