Yun Qingluo smiled and said, "I'm very happy that Zeyan said that. I'm already very satisfied with Zeyan waiting for me here all morning. Zeyan, why don't you go and keep Father company? Then come and have lunch with Father."
Zeyan put on his shoes, stood on the ground, holding a book in his hands, thought for a while, looked up at Yun Qingluo, and said considerately, "Alright then, I'll go keep Father company first, bring Father back, have lunch together, and then keep Mother company."
"Yeah, Zeyan is great. Go ahead, but walk slowly and watch your step." Yun Qingluo said, winking at Yun Xin to signal her to follow.
Yun Xin curtsied to Yun Qingluo, then followed Ze Yan out.
As Yun Qingluo watched the little dumpling slowly walk away, she couldn't help but think: How wonderful it would be if he were just a child from an ordinary family, forever innocent and kind.
But which person sitting on the throne didn't have blood on their hands and tread upon thousands of white bones to get there?
Her son, Zeyan, will be no exception; after all, a soft-hearted person cannot be a good emperor.
After Yun Qinglu finished dressing and getting ready, she headed towards the kitchen.
At noon, she cooked a simple home-style meal. When Mo Beichen brought Zeyan over, they ran into An Jiu, who was looking for them.
"Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Her Majesty the Empress has sent me to invite you and Your Highness to have lunch at Chengqian Palace," An Jiu said, bowing.
Mo Beichen nodded, indicating that he understood, and carried Zeyan, who had small arms and legs, towards Chengqian Palace.
Xiao Zeyan muttered to himself, "I wonder what delicious food Mother made. I can't wait."
"However, after lunch I can take a nap with my mother again. It's so good that my mother is back."
"I wonder if my little lazybones sister is awake yet. I've already written so many big characters. Sigh, being the crown prince is so hard. Father, can I not be the crown prince?"
Mo Beichen initially felt quite comfortable listening to his son's nagging, but he fell silent towards the end.
Before he could even speak, Xiao Zeyan convinced himself, "No, I have to be the Crown Prince. The Grand Tutor said that the people need a good Crown Prince and a good Emperor. Now Father is a good Emperor, and I am a good Crown Prince. If Father stops being Emperor and someone else becomes Emperor, and if that person is not a good Emperor, then the people of the world will suffer. Sigh, forget it, let me, the good Crown Prince, be Emperor, right, Father?"
Mo Beichen was shocked by his son's surprising conclusion. He was silent for a moment, then asked in a deep voice, "Zeyan, how do you know that you are a good crown prince?"
Zeyan spoke of this with a touch of pride, “The Grand Tutor said that I am kind-hearted, but I have the sharp edge of my father and am not sentimental. He also said that when my father was the regent, he protected the country and expanded its territory. When my father was the emperor, he cared about the people and never forgot his original intention. As my father’s son, I will definitely do better in the future and bring peace and prosperity to the people.”
Mo Beichen was slightly surprised. "Oh? Does the Grand Tutor really say that?"
Zeyan nodded seriously, "Yes, that's right. But Father, what does 'peace and tranquility' mean? I asked the Grand Tutor, and he said I'll know when I grow up."
Upon hearing this, Mo Beichen understood that the Grand Tutor wanted Zeyan to figure it out on his own, but seeing his son's eager eyes, he softened.
"Peace and tranquility mean a peaceful world, free from war and strife, where people live and work in contentment," Mo Beichen explained.
Zeyan nodded, looking bewildered, and asked, "Oh, I see. Right now, Tianmo Kingdom is at war with Beiyue Kingdom and Dongwu Kingdom. Aren't the people unhappy?"
Mo Beichen glanced at his son with slight surprise; the child was indeed very quick to understand.
"Yes, those soldiers who fight in wars, they all have their own families, they are not only soldiers, they have other identities."
"Other identities?"
"Yes, they might be children, fathers, husbands... If they can't come back, the family will lose its pillar, and the family will fall apart. Just like our family, without me, your mother, would you be sad?"
The thought of losing his father or mother filled Zeyan with fear, and he hugged Mo Beichen's neck tightly. "Zeyan doesn't want to be sad, Father. I will definitely be a good crown prince and a good emperor in the future, so that the people won't suffer like I have."
Mo Beichen nodded with satisfaction and patted his child's head. "I believe Zeyan will definitely do it, and he will do it better than me."
Zeyan was pleased to be praised by his father, but remembering the Grand Tutor's words, he buried his head on Mo Beichen's shoulder and smiled secretly.
Hehe, Dad praised him again.
If he works hard, he'll get more praise from his father. I'm so happy!
At this moment, Zeyan seemed to have found his goal, his eyes filled with determination.
When Mo Beichen and Zeyan arrived at Chengqian Palace, Yun Qingluo was holding Qianyue and feeding her, but the little one insisted on eating by herself.
Yun Qingluo had a headache, and seeing her trembling appearance, she was alarmed.
"Qianyue, be good, let Mommy feed you, okay?" Yun Qingluo gently coaxed the little dumpling.
"No, no, baby, be good, oh, eat." Qianyue said, gesturing as she tried to eat by herself.
Seeing that the little girl insisted, Yun Qingluo reluctantly handed her the small spoon. The little girl took the spoon, smiled happily, and poked at the bowl in front of her with the spoon.
Hearing a sound behind her, Yun Qingluo turned around and saw Mo Beichen carrying Zeyan as he walked in.
"Ah Chen, are you done with your work? Come and eat." Yun Qingluo greeted Mo Beichen with a smile. Mo Beichen nodded and placed Zeyan on a slightly higher chair next to him.
When Yun Qingluo returned, she specially ordered two small chairs overnight to fit the two little ones, which were delivered at lunchtime.
Zeyan sat on the small chair with a look of surprise and delight, touching and looking at everything with a face full of curiosity.
"Did Mother make these chairs for my sister and me? Wow, they're just the right size, so comfortable!" Zeyan said happily.
Yun Qingluo smiled at him, "That's right, from now on you can sit in your own chairs and eat with your father and mother." Yun Qingluo was thinking that she would be leaving soon, so she wanted to take advantage of this time to spend with them.
The family of four finished their meal chatting and laughing.
Zeyan suddenly covered his mouth and belatedly said, "Oh dear, the Grand Tutor said that one should not speak while eating or sleeping. It seems that Zeyan has not followed this rule. I'm doomed to be punished by the Grand Tutor."
Seeing Zeyan's nervous little movements, Yun Qingluo thought it was too cute. She smiled and said, "Well, you have to listen to the Grand Tutor, but when the four of us eat together, you don't have to follow his orders. If there are guests, Zeyan and Qianyue have to behave well."
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