Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Master Qingtang, she is wronged...
The room suddenly became silent.
Li Shuyao was a little slow and it took her three minutes to react. She thought the eldest prince and the young prince might have misunderstood something.
She quickly stretched out her hand between the two little guys who were looking at each other, and snapped her fingers several times in front of them.
The eldest prince and the young prince were quickly attracted by the movement of her hands. Two pairs of black grape eyes that were 70% similar looked at her with sparkling eyes, obviously very curious.
The eldest prince asked, "How did you do this, this hand, Concubine Ling?"
The little prince had completely forgotten the argument he had just had with his brother. He imitated Li Shuyao's hand posture, putting his short and fat little fingers together as if he wanted to pinch something, and then rubbed them randomly for a long time, but couldn't make any crisp sound.
Instead, he rubbed the white and tender lotus root nodes with his fingers until they turned red.
The eldest prince said, "You are not using the right method. This is not how Concubine Ling does it."
The little prince looked up at him in frustration, then thought for a moment and said, "Then, big brother, please demonstrate it to me."
"I can't demonstrate, because I don't know how to do it either." The eldest prince said with his hands behind his back, sounding particularly righteous.
"You can't do it, yet you still blame me." The little prince was angry, as if he remembered the argument just now. He crossed his arms across his chest, turned his chubby face aside, and didn't even want to look at him.
The eldest prince paused, then walked up to the little prince with his short legs.
The little prince turned his chubby face to the other side in annoyance.
The eldest prince followed closely behind.
The little prince felt a little annoyed, and actually reached out and pushed him, "Stay away from me!"
The eldest prince staggered back a few steps. Li Shuyao quickly leaned forward and helped the little radish head on the ground to prevent him from falling to the ground.
Li Shuyao looked at the little prince who was still angry, and then looked at the eldest prince who was pinching her arm and looked a little lost.
...So what are they arguing about?
Do you want to play hopscotch again?
She squatted on the ground and drew the lines for so long. It must have been very hard, okay?
Li Shuyao had no intention of trying to stop the fight, because she didn't know how the two started arguing.
He simply took one in each hand and pulled the two little guys to the starting point of the line.
Then he said to the little prince in a gentle voice, "Your Highness, can you play hopscotch now?"
The little prince was immediately interested when she mentioned this. He lowered his chubby hands from his chest and carefully examined the lines Li Shuyao had drawn on the ground. He found that they were even simpler than the last time they played. So he nodded seriously and said, "I have already mastered it!"
Actually, he didn't dance well last time, probably because the palace maids around him watched him too closely.
After Li Shuyao left that day, he asked Nanny Ling how old he would have to be to learn hopscotch.
Nanny Ling was stunned by his question and answered him after a long while. She said that in ordinary families outside the palace, children who were only one or two years old had already learned to jump and hop. Not only could they hop on one foot, they even often competed with their friends to see who could jump farther.
He asked Nanny Ling why he couldn't do it.
Nanny Ling hesitated for a long time, as if remembering something. She finally told him hesitantly that it was because when he was six or seven months old and had just learned to crawl, he had always gone to all kinds of dark and secluded corners, such as under the bed, under the table, under the cabinet, wardrobe, wooden box, fish tank...
Because the imperial physician had explained that crawling more often could exercise the muscles in His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's hands and feet, and increase their sensitivity.
The palace maids did not dare to disobey and could only follow behind with brand new clothes and clean cotton cloth. When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had played enough in various corners, they would rush over to wipe his face, head, hands and feet, and then change him into new clothes.
Who knew that one day the emperor saw it...
"And then?" the little prince asked curiously.
Ling Ma said, "Then the Emperor gave them forty lashes of the cane and sent them back to the Imperial Household Department for reprimand."
The palace maids who were sent later fully learned the lessons of their predecessors and took care of the little prince, almost holding him in their mouths for fear that he would melt, and holding him in their hands for fear that he would fall.
Not to mention jumping, if possible, they probably don't even want His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to walk the road himself.
After Ling Ma Ma finished speaking, the little prince quickly thought of the few times he had dinner with his elder brother.
——Mingming’s elder brother is only two years older than him, but he can even use chopsticks. He can pick up vegetables, meat and meatballs with every pick.
Yet he still wanted the palace maids to feed him...
The three-year-old prince immediately felt the gap between himself and other children.
During this time, he had been working very hard to learn all sorts of basic life skills. By now, he had learned how to use a spoon to drink porridge, pick up meat with chopsticks, and even put on his clothes. He just waited for Madam Ling to button his clothes, put on his pants, tie his belt, socks, and shoes...
I also learned hopscotch by the way.
The technique of hopscotch is very simple. After standing up on one leg, you just need to find the balance point. If you can't find it, just keep jumping forward quickly until you reach the square where both legs can touch the ground. Then you can take a rest and continue jumping forward!
...What's so difficult about it?
Li Shuyao looked at the little prince, who clenched his fists with a look of confidence on his face, and was instantly infected by his aura.
"Okay, then could Your Highness, please demonstrate it to the eldest prince first?"
Because his brother was two years older than him, during this period of time, no matter where he went or what toys he played with, it was basically his older brother who played with them first. After demonstrating to him three times, the palace people would let him try.
This is the first time he comes to demonstrate to his elder brother.
The little prince was immediately very happy.
Li Shuyao couldn't help but shout "Start" and then lifted up her other foot and jumped forward several steps.
Every step was just right, stepping on the lines drawn by Li Shuyao.
Li Shuyao tried to pretend not to see it, but the little prince was very "fair". He ran back with a clatter, and said shyly on his little face that he was not ready just now. He was just warming up. Now that he was warmed up, he could officially start!
What else can Li Shuyao say?
He could only say "OK" with a smile, then pulled the eldest prince aside and gave the venue to the young prince to perform.
This time the little prince is very reliable.
Although he jumped a little crookedly, he managed to jump through all the squares in front of him. Then he lowered his head and walked back and forth at the curve under his feet for a long time, continued to move forward, and finally jumped through all the levels with a stutter.
He was sweating profusely, his face flushed as he stood in the circle at the finish line, waving and shouting at Li Shuyao, "Empress Lingpin, I, I've finished dancing!"
“I haven’t made a single mistake!”
Li Shuyao clapped her hands out of respect, and the smile on her pretty face was as bright as clouds.
His voice sounded a hundred times more energetic than the little prince's, "Your Highness is truly amazing!"
"Really? Am I really that great?" The little prince put his hands behind his back, his face flushed, and blinked at her shyly.
Li Shuyao nodded, "Really! Your Highness the Crown Prince is the most amazing three-year-old I've ever seen!"
Just one simple sentence made the little prince smile so happily that he almost lost his mind.
He stood there blankly for a while, then, dazed as if he had drunk fake milk, he came over and tugged at Li Shuyao's sleeve, looking up and asking her, "How many three-year-old children has Concubine Ling seen?"
Li Shuyao suddenly pursed her lips, looking a little embarrassed.
In fact, after traveling through time, she had only seen one.
It was the little prince in front of her, with his round head tilted up, looking up at her.
But she had seen a lot before she traveled through time.
There are videos of babies showing off their babies everywhere on the Internet!
The playground in the community is also full of children aged three, four, five, six, and ten.
To be honest, she had seen three-year-old babies eat much more rice than the little prince!
So she puffed out her chest and said, "I've seen tens of thousands of three-year-olds, but none of them are as amazing as His Royal Highness. Among tens of thousands of three-year-olds, His Royal Highness is undoubtedly number one!"
It’s Nampovan!
Li Shuyao had just finished speaking when a strange female voice suddenly rang out from behind her, "What do you mean by first place?"
Li Shuyao was stunned and turned her head towards the door. She was surprised to see that the door of the main hall of her Changchun Palace had been surrounded by many concubines dressed like fairies.
The leader was Concubine Tong, with Concubine Hui standing on her right, and Concubine Rong and Concubine An on her left. Behind Concubine Rong and Concubine An was Concubine Duan, who was watching the situation in the hall while talking to Concubine Jing behind her.
——Probably recounting the scene inside the hall?
Because Li Shuyao saw that after Duanpin finished speaking, Jingpin behind her suddenly jumped up high, revealing her head and looking into the hall for a few times, then fell to the ground and did something unknown, and Duanpin turned her head towards her again...
Concubine Xi stood silently behind Concubine Hui, as well as Concubine Nara and Concubine Bu.
Li Shuyao looked around but didn't see Qingyao, and was a little disappointed for a moment.
The eldest prince next to her had already started running towards his mother with his short legs clacking.
"Mother!"
"Hey, mother, you are so safe!" When Huipin saw the eldest prince running towards her, she quickly bent down and hugged him in her arms.
She pulled out a silk handkerchief from her chest and carefully wiped the non-existent sweat from the eldest prince's forehead.
The little prince looked at her with inexplicable envy, and grabbed Li Shuyao's sleeve and wiped the sweat on his sweaty head.
Li Shuyao paused as she was about to walk over to pay her respects.
She looked down at the little prince.
The little prince then realized what he had done, and with a flushed face, he let go of Li Shuyao's sleeve.
At the door, Concubine Tong saw that she didn't answer, so she simply asked again, "What was Lingpin talking about first place just now?"
Li Shuyao took a breath, shifted her attention away from the young prince, and looked towards the people at the door. After hesitating for a moment, she walked over and curtsied to Concubine Tong, "Your Majesty, I greet you."
"You're welcome. You haven't told me yet. What do you mean by first place? Also, what are these messy lines on the floor in your room?" Concubine Tong asked as she pulled her up from the ground.
Li Shuyao had no choice but to answer her first: "I was just praising His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
She briefly recounted what had happened, then turned to look at Concubine Hui and bowed to her. "This concubine greets Concubine Hui, oh no, Sister Hui, and also Sister Rong, Sister An..."
Before she could finish her words, Rongpin, who was smiling, interrupted her and said, "Why don't you just call them 'sisters'?"
"Otherwise, by the time you read them one by one, I'm afraid it will be dark."
Is it dark?
Li Shuyao raised her head and took a look curiously.
No, the sun was still high in the sky, and the light it cast was very dazzling. When it was reflected by the remaining snow piled up in the yard, it was even brighter than in autumn.
After Rongpin finished speaking, she was still waiting for her to change her words.
Unexpectedly, she looked up at the sky with a look of belief.
Rongpin: "..."
There was a hint of surprise in Rongpin's eyes.
She had only heard Concubine Tong talk about Concubine Ling's personality, which was as straightforward and pure as a child. Now she saw it with her own eyes...
She felt a little embarrassed to continue joking.
After taking in the sky, Li Shuyao turned her gaze to the elegantly dressed concubines at the door. Following Rongpin's suggestion, she continued to greet them with a smile, "My concubine greets all the sisters."
After she finished speaking, she paused and continued, "Come in, sisters, it's very cold outside."
Concubine Tong took into consideration that the girl was pregnant and it would not be appropriate for her to stand at the door with them and the others and get caught in the wind, so she nodded slightly and stepped in first.
Then everyone walked around the carbon line on the ground, being careful not to destroy the thing that could make His Royal Highness the Crown Prince the "number one".
After coming in, it was Concubine Tong who led all the concubines, waved to the little prince, and performed a temple-stroking salute.
The little prince clenched the fingertips of his two small hands a little nervously and bowed to Concubine Tong.
When it was the turn of other concubines, they just had to stand up straight and nod slightly.
Li Shuyao took Concubine Tong and others to a small room and sat down.
There were two people sitting on the couch - Concubine Tong and Concubine An; there were four people sitting on the chair opposite - Concubine Hui, Concubine Rong, Concubine Duan and Concubine Jing; when it was Concubine Xi's turn, there were no more chairs in the small room, so Li Shuyao became nervous. Just as she was about to go out to move a chair, she saw Nanny Yan and the palace maids coming in to rescue her.
Nanny Yan brought five chairs of the same style, one for Concubine Xi, one for the little prince, one for the eldest prince, and one for herself.
The last remaining one was placed next to Li Shuyao's right hand.
Nanny Yan explained it this way: "What if Concubine Yi comes over later?"
It’s better to be prepared.
Li Shuyao thought about it and it made sense.
Because of their low rank, Noble Lady Nara and Noble Lady Bu could not sit on chairs, so Nanny Yan brought two embroidered cushions.
Looking at the two of them sitting on the small embroidered cushion with a wronged look on their faces.
Li Shuyao once again clearly felt in her heart that she was now living in a feudal dynasty society with a very strict hierarchy.
If it weren't for the fact that she suddenly had a baby in her belly... she would probably be one of the members sitting on the embroidery cushion now.
After Li Shuyao finished her sigh, she turned her head and saw that the little prince and the eldest prince seemed to be competing with each other. They didn't want the palace servants to support them. They each grabbed the handles of the chairs with both hands, stuck out their butts, and climbed onto the chairs with a grunt.
After all, the eldest prince was two years older, and his hands and feet were stronger than the little prince's. He climbed up in no time, then kicked off his boots and sat cross-legged on the chair in a very proud manner, watching his younger brother continue to climb, with no intention of lending a hand to help.
The little prince had a very hard time climbing.
But I finally climbed up.
He knelt on the chair, holding the back of the chair with his hands, took a few breaths, then turned his head and saw that in the small room, one noble mother and nine concubines were all looking at him in surprise.
Little Prince: “…”
The little prince was so frightened that he almost slipped off his chair.
Fortunately, Li Shuyao was quick enough to grab his arm and pull him back, then put him on the chair with a serious expression.
The eldest prince suddenly said at this moment, "I win!"
The little prince said nothing and lowered his round head reluctantly.
Li Shuyao paused for a moment while taking off the little prince's shoes.
I really want to beg them both to put aside their inexplicable competitive spirit for a while!
What's the comparison with climbing a stool?
If you have the guts, go to the backyard and grill some lamb skewers for her!
Thinking of lamb kebabs...
Li Shuyao seemed to realize something all of a sudden. She straightened up instantly, her watery almond-shaped eyes widening into a circle.
She looked at Concubine Tong on the couch with some disbelief, "Your Highness, why are you here today...?"
Concubine Tong rested one hand on the ivory table and replied calmly, "I heard this morning that Eunuch Dai came to your Changchun Palace?"
Li Shuyao nodded blankly, with a bad feeling rising in her heart.
Then Concubine Tong continued, "Did Eunuch Dai even pay out of his own pocket to buy you a whole lamb from the imperial kitchen?"
She had never heard of this.
Li Shuyao suddenly turned her head towards Nanny Yan, who nodded at her.
Li Shuyao turned her head and looked at Concubine Tong again, "How did Concubine Tong know?"
This was the first time she had heard of this. She had always thought that Nanny Yan had given Eunuch Dai some money, which was why he was so attentive...
Now it seems that he actually joined Changchun Palace at his own expense?
What does Eunuch Dai want...
Concubine Tong sneered, "It's spread throughout the palace, and you still don't know?"
Li Shuyao clenched the handkerchief in her hand, her expression a little nervous, not knowing how to respond appropriately.
At this time, Huipin spoke calmly, "I heard that this morning, before dawn, the Empress summoned Eunuch Dai to come over. I don't know what they said, but when he came out, he had a purse in his hand that looked heavy."
"Oh, so the Queen wants to treat me to a roasted whole lamb!" Li Shuyao said with sudden realization.
After she finished saying this, she saw several concubines sitting in the side room looking at her in unison, with obvious inquiry in their eyes.
Even Concubine Tong's eyes instantly became dark and deep, as if she was wondering whether she was on the Queen's side...
Li Shuyao stammered and hurriedly explained, "Yesterday, the Empress also invited me to Kunning Palace. She said she wanted to thank me for my previous contributions and asked me if there was anything I wanted. I mentioned Eunuch Dai's name."
"I said I wanted to have Eunuch Dai come to Changchun Palace to serve for a while, so I could experience his cooking skills. Eunuch Dai, he hasn't cooked in a long time... I sent people to the imperial kitchen to order several times, but Eunuch Dai either said that roasting a whole lamb was too time-consuming and laborious, or that the Forbidden City didn't have the ingredients unique to the grasslands..."
"There is really no other way, so I have come to the Empress for help."
"You!" Concubine Tong had never thought that this would happen. She was furious and speechless for a moment.
She stared at Li Shuyao for a moment, then suddenly recalled something, and said in a deep voice, "Mutton is a dry food. You're pregnant now, so have you asked the imperial physician to take your pulse today?"
Li Shuyao nodded. "The imperial physician has examined me. He said that although mutton is dry in nature, it's winter now, so eating some in moderation won't be a big deal."
Huipin and Rongpin saw that the atmosphere was a little off, and quickly spoke up to help Li Shuyao, saying, "What the imperial physician said actually makes some sense."
Rongpin said that when she was pregnant with Yinzhi, she had eaten mutton several times, but in the end she gave birth to Yinzhi safely, didn’t she?
Concubine Bu and Concubine Nara also had experience with pregnancy, but because of their low social status, they had never eaten roasted whole lamb during pregnancy, so they simply kept silent.
When Concubine Duan heard them suddenly mention the various precautions after pregnancy, she probably remembered her two daughters who unfortunately died young. Her eyes became dazed for a while, and then her expression looked very sad.
Seeing this, Concubine Jing quickly reached out and patted the back of her hand a few times, whispering a few words of comfort to her.
Concubine Tong was talking happily with Concubine Hui and Concubine Rong, while Concubine Xi and Concubine An were somewhat silent.
Li Shuyao lowered her head and was being scolded by Concubine Tong with a look of remorse on her face. Suddenly, she felt someone pulling her sleeves a few times.
She turned her head and met the little prince's dark eyes.
He must have been getting a little impatient listening in the side room. When he saw her looking over, he pointed to the outer room separated by a screen and whispered to Li Shuyao, "My Lady Lingpin, I just finished demonstrating to my brother, but he hasn't danced yet."
"How about you guys keep talking inside while my brother and I go out and play hopscotch?"
"Yes, yes, we are boys and cannot bear to hear your talk about being pregnant. Lady Lingpin, please be kind and let my brother and I go out to play, okay?"
"My brother just finished dancing, but I haven't jumped yet..."
The eldest prince also quickly agreed.
Although the two little guys intentionally lowered the volume, to the concubines in the room, it sounded almost like they were plotting loudly.
As Concubine Tong was talking, she suddenly stopped, and the whispers between Concubine Jing and Concubine Duan also stopped.
Everyone looked towards the two kids on the chairs.
Li Shuyao hadn't noticed their gazes yet, and was lost in thought with a frown on her face.
In fact, she didn't want to stay in the house. Concubine Tong kept forbidding her from doing this or that. If she continued to talk, she might not even be able to eat mutton today.
It’s better to slip away quickly.
She said she had to go out and take care of the kids, and she didn't know if it was okay...
Just as she was thinking, someone suddenly came out from behind the screen. Seeing the small room filled with concubines, she was instantly furious. She ran directly to Li Shuyao's chair and shouted at her angrily: "Well, you invited so many sisters to eat roasted whole lamb, but you didn't invite me!"
"You, you are not my best friend anymore!"
Li Shuyao: "..."
Master Qingtang, she is innocent!
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