"Lu Qi, be careful! Don't cut yourself!" Shen Zhao watched with bated breath. "The sharp edges of the toys your son plays with should be rounded off!"
"I know, I know!" Lu Qi didn't even look up, completely focused. "My son, Lu Qi's son, must learn to wield a sword from a young age! Watch your father carve you a peerless sword!" He picked up the small wooden sword that had just been carved into a rough shape, and gestured with it in the air a couple of times, making Xuan Ge'er giggle.
Shen Zhao shook his head helplessly, hugged his daughter and leaned closer to the window: "Xi'er, look, it's snowing, isn't it pretty?" Xi'er stretched out her chubby little hand, trying to grab the snowflakes through the glass window, making "ah...ah..." sounds with her little mouth.
Just then, An'an came in carrying a food box, shivering in the cold, followed by her nanny carrying several thick cotton-padded jackets. "What heavy snow!" An'an chuckled, stamping her feet as she placed the food box on the table. "Here, a freshly cooked mutton hot pot, and some steamed milk-flavored buns, for the children to try." As she spoke, she picked up a red silk jacket embroidered with a plump carp and walked to the edge of the kang (heated brick bed). "Xi'er, look at the new clothes your aunt made for you, do you like them?"
Xi'er seemed attracted by the bright colors and reached out her little hand to grab them. An'an smiled and helped her put them on; the size was just right, making the little one look even more exquisite.
"Sister-in-law's craftsmanship is truly impeccable!" Shen Zhao exclaimed, then picked up another blue tiger-head jacket and showed it to Xuan Ge'er. "Look at this tiger head, it's so spirited! Xuan Ge'er will definitely look majestic in it!"
Lu Qi put down the small wooden sword, leaned over, picked up a steaming hot, milky-scented bun, blew on it, broke off a small piece, and carefully fed it to his daughter. Xi'er smacked her lips, eating with relish. He broke off another piece to feed his son, but Xuan Ge'er turned his head away, staring only at the half-finished small wooden sword in his father's hand.
"You brat! You don't want any good food, all you want to do is play!" Lu Qi scolded with a smile, but his face was full of doting affection.
Outside the window, snow fell silently, while inside, warmth filled the air. The aroma of food mingled with the sweet scent of children's milk, creating a heartwarming scene in the cold winter of northern China.
Meanwhile, in the distant Xiling Palace, within the Kunning Hall, a conversation between a mother and son about the return of their wandering son may quietly alter the course of the game.
Inside Kunning Palace, the charcoal fire burned brightly, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere, yet it could not dispel the invisible chill between mother and child.
Xi Lingche sat properly on the embroidered stool at the lower end of the table, holding a cup of hot tea in his hands, but his eyes were somewhat unfocused, as if he was still lingering among the sea of clouds and pine trees of Yandang Mountain. He had just paid his respects to the Empress Dowager and briefly mentioned his sights and paintings on the road.
Empress Lin leaned back on the chaise longue covered with thick mink fur, her hand gently resting on her still-flat stomach. Her makeup was exquisite, but her eyes were sharp as knives, taking in her son's absent-minded appearance. The anger of "disappointment in his lack of ambition" in her heart flared up instantly, as if oil had been poured on it.
"Che'er," Empress Lin's voice was not loud, but it carried a heavy sense of pressure, breaking the silence in the hall, "You have come of age. As a prince, how can you indulge in the beauty of nature and wander the world all day long? Do you know the high hopes your father has for you? Do you know that someone will have to shoulder the responsibility for the future of Xiling?"
Upon hearing this, Xi Lingche's hand holding the teacup stiffened slightly, the nonchalance on his face fading, replaced by a hint of helplessness and confusion. He set down the teacup, raised his head, and met his mother's sharp gaze with his clear eyes. His voice was gentle yet firm: "Mother, my ambitions lie elsewhere. The throne and its people will naturally be given to the capable. I have no great ambitions; I only wish to find solace in nature, a pot of wine, a pen, and a carefree life. High positions... are nothing but golden cages, why bother fighting for them? Father is still healthy, my elder sister is intelligent and capable, and now Mother is pregnant. Isn't it good that you are safe and happy?"
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