After a moment's hesitation, Qian Shengyan also pulled Hongli to the study.
The bedroom was still bustling with activity, with maids and eunuchs coming and going, tidying up clothes and bedding. Fortunately, the study had already been tidied up, so there was hardly anyone there at the moment.
Qian Shengyan sat in the armchair in front of her desk, intending to pick up Hongli and let him sit on her lap, but Hongli struggled and refused. Helpless, she could only pull out a chair next to her for the little boy to sit down. After a slight hesitation, she decided to explain things to him: "Hongli, do you know why the Third Prince suddenly moved to Xifeng Xiuse?"
Hongli's big eyes darted around, then he nodded: "I know, because Third Brother pushed Fifth Brother into the water. Father felt that Third Brother should be taught a lesson, so he moved him out."
The little girl was quite thoughtful; she didn't mention Li in a single sentence, yet she spoke clearly and explicitly.
Qian Shengyan breathed a sigh of relief, then bent down and cupped Hongli's chubby little face, tilting her head to ask him, "What if Hongli gets bullied when you can't see him?"
Hongli let out a long "Oh~", a small dimple appearing at the corner of his lips: "Mother is worried about this."
Qian Shengyan raised an eyebrow at him.
“I noticed that Mother has been somewhat uneasy since just now…” Hongli smiled again, thought for a moment, then jumped off the chair and climbed onto Qian Shengyan’s lap, sitting obediently in her arms. He patted her shoulder, “Mother, don’t worry. I don’t think Third Brother is an unreasonable person. Since we are brothers, I will treat him well, and he shouldn’t make things too difficult for me.”
Qian Shengyan: "..." She looked at her son in disbelief, and after a long while asked, "Hongli, you're not even three years old yet, are you?"
"My third birthday hasn't come yet, why is Mother asking me this?" The child tilted his head, completely puzzled.
Is it reasonable for a child under three years old to be able to speak such long and logical sentences?
Qian Shengyan could hardly believe it. She couldn't recall anything before she was three years old! She could only remember things from kindergarten, around five or six years old!
"Mother thinks what you said makes sense, but... one should always be wary of others. I'll ask your father for a bodyguard to protect you personally, shall I?" No matter how talented her son was, Qian Shengyan couldn't help but worry.
Hongli, however, wore an expression that was hard to describe: "Mother... there are no fewer than twenty guards protecting Xifeng Xiuse, Mother, you don't need to worry about me."
Qian Shengyan understood that Hongzhou had been rescued by the guards as soon as he fell into the water that day, but it was too late!
She was still trying to persuade Hongli when she heard the sound of bowing outside the study. A moment later, Yinzhen strode in and asked, "What are you and your son talking about?"
"I was just thinking, should we add a martial arts lesson for Hongli and the others?" Qian Shengyan said with a smile. Yinzhen nodded, "A little earlier... but that would be good too." He walked over and sat down next to Qian Shengyan. "This courtyard is still a bit small. Hongshi's Haha Pearl can't stay in the garden for long now. I'm thinking of cleaning up the depths of the cave for them to use for their studies and training."
Originally, there was only one prince in the mansion, Hongshi. However, because the previous two sons died young, and Li Shi was very protective of him, the rules that should have been established for the princes were all passed by in a muddled manner.
Qian Shengyan only then learned that princes in the royal palace usually had four "haha beads" (a type of attendant) from the age of five or six, who would accompany them to study and practice horseback riding and archery. When they got older, they would have their own guard squad. Once the princes grew up, the "haha beads" and guards would become their own people.
The guards were selected from the guard battalion, while Haha Zhuzi were mostly chosen from their birth mothers' families.
Hongshi's birth mother, Li, came from a family that was not prominent. Perhaps for this reason, the nine-year-old Hongshi still had no playmates.
Qian Shengyan looked at her precocious son and hesitated for a moment: "Master, should we choose Hongli's Haha Beads from the Niohuru family?"
"We should choose one or two, and the rest can be selected from those under the Bordered White Banner." Yinzhen already had a plan. "Hongli is only three years old. Let's wait two more years before deciding."
"Isn't Your Highness currently selecting a bride for the Third Prince? Why not arrange one for Hongli as well?" Qian Shengyan said cautiously. "Finding children a year or two older than Hongli would be fine, so that Hongli will at least have a companion. Otherwise, I'm worried..."
The scenery of West Peak is closer, but the deepest part of the cave is moved directly to the northeast corner, because it is to house men outside the main residence, so it is further away from the inner courtyard.
“That’s good. Five- or six-year-old children are old enough to understand.” Yinzhen nodded. “It’s good to arrange it all together.”
Qian Shengyan couldn't help but show a hint of joy. Hongli, who understood what his parents were saying, also became happy. He blinked and climbed onto Yinzhen's lap: "Father, is this a friend they found for their son?"
"I suppose so." Haha Zhuzi wasn't a servant, but their status was somewhat different. Yinzhen hesitated for a moment before saying, "They've come to be your companions, so they're your people, understand?"
"Your son understands, your son will protect his people!" Hongli proudly patted his chest.
Yinzhen and Qian Shengyan laughed together, and Qian Shengyan couldn't help but reach out and pinch Hongli's little nose: "You..."
The study window was wide open, and the specially enlarged window let in all the sunlight without blocking the view of people outside.
Hongshi withdrew his gaze, but could not hide the bitterness and envy in his eyes. He turned and went back to his study, and the little eunuch Feng Ming, who was following behind him, quickly followed him in: "Is Master still going to look for the Prince?"
"I'm not going." Hongshi sat listlessly in the armchair, his eyes welling up with tears of grievance. "Feng Ming, when do you think... Father will release Mother?"
"This..." Feng Ming forced a smile, "How could this servant possibly guess what Your Highness is thinking?"
“It’s been two months, and I’ve only seen my mother once.” Hongshi became more and more upset as he spoke, and Feng Ming could only comfort him, “Prince, don’t be too sad. Consort Li has always been thinking of you. Just yesterday, she sent some new clothes over.”
"Hmm..." Hongshi's lips trembled, then he suddenly slumped onto the table, buried his face in it, and mumbled, "I still want to go back and live with Mother..."
Feng Ming was a newly appointed eunuch at the end of last year, and he was also carefully selected by Yinzhen to serve Hongshi. He understood the prince's intentions and immediately began to comfort him, saying things like "A good man should have ambitions in all directions" and "Only by enduring hardship can one rise above others." But no matter how much he said, Hongshi still looked listless and couldn't muster any energy.
It wasn't until a young eunuch came to report that the prince had left Xifeng Xiuse that Hongshi stood up from his armchair, returned to his bedchamber listlessly, and lay down without washing up or eating.
Yinzhen went to Wanfang Anhe on business, so Qian Shengyan returned to Peach Blossom Village by herself. Although the courtyard looked no different, Qian Shengyan still felt a little empty.
She couldn't stay still either, so she went to the east side hall to see her daughter.
Folgochun was trying hard to stand, his chubby little legs dangling back and forth. When he saw Qian Shengyan coming, he plopped down on the ground, crying out "Ah ah!" as he crawled towards her.
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