Qian Shengyan doesn't believe in the idea that human nature is inherently good, but children are like blank sheets of paper, ready to be painted on. If you teach them well and patiently guide them, the blank sheet will present you with a beautiful picture. But if you let the blank sheet be stained by everything in the world, can you guarantee what it will become?
Hongshi's behavior is also due to the fact that Yinzhen and Lady Li failed to teach him well.
But that's definitely not how it should be said.
Qian Shengyan mentally processed her thoughts before speaking, "I remember seeing the Eighth Prince's son leading our Third Prince into that alley that day. Thinking about it, it makes sense. The Third Prince is used to being pampered and focused on his studies in the mansion, oblivious to the world around him. How did he suddenly end up in that deep alley?"
"Hmph, you're absolutely right!" Yinzhen sighed.
Qian Shengyan knew she had found the right pulse, and she continued, "Fortunately, the Third Prince is still young. If the Emperor is not able to keep him close and teach him properly, it is not a bad thing to restrain him more."
Yinzhen stroked her shoulder and slowly nodded: "That makes sense."
Qian Shengyan almost rolled her eyes. She knew that's what you were thinking!
She paused for a moment, willing to do Hongshi another favor in front of Yinzhen, but unsure if it was appropriate to say such a thing. Just as she was pondering, Yinzhen said, "There's no one else here. It's just the two of us talking tonight, and we've only been talking about the children. Just say what you have to say. Why are you so hesitant in front of me?"
"As a woman, I'm afraid I oversimplify things and might cause Your Majesty worry," Qian Shengyan said hesitantly. "I was thinking that Hongshi is growing up now, perhaps it's time for him to start taking care of some things..."
Yinzhen didn't answer immediately, and the hand that was stroking her shoulder stopped. Qian Shengyan felt uneasy, so she simply got up and knelt on the bed: "Your Majesty..."
"You actually... are willing?" Yinzhen looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and curiosity.
Qian Shengyan: ?
What do you mean? Does that mean she didn't want to be assigned tasks to Hongshi before?
Yinzhen looked at Qian Shengyan with even greater surprise.
He himself knew that the successor for Hongshi and Hongli would have to be chosen from among these two children.
Hongshi, being the eldest, was not particularly intelligent, but he was honest and simple, and could maintain the status quo without any problem. Hongli, on the other hand, was naturally intelligent and very clever. In addition, Emperor Kangxi liked him very much, which undoubtedly gave Hongli a lot of leverage.
In the Forbidden City, a mother's status always depended on her son, but a son also looked up to his mother. For example, Yinzhen preferred Qian Shengyan to Consort Li, so he naturally saw Hongli more often and had a deeper affection for him.
Because of this, Yinzhen felt that he still owed Hongshi something.
Hongshi was born just before Honghui died, creating a somber atmosphere in the mansion. The child's one-month and one-year celebrations were not even celebrated. Moreover, since Hongyun was born before him, Hongshi could hardly be considered the eldest son. He and Li Shi had been somewhat indulgent towards him, but unexpectedly, Hongfen died when he was ten years old.
Hongshi, who had been pampered since childhood, suddenly became the eldest son and the only child in the household. However, during that time, the Crown Prince was deposed and reinstated, and then deposed again. Yinzhen was completely confused about the affairs outside the palace and had no time to take care of the household. When he finally turned around and remembered his eldest son, he found that he had already developed that kind of personality.
No, no, it's just that he was too cowardly and taciturn, and even looked timid in front of him. Yinzhen gradually stopped caring about him. But who knew that as soon as he relaxed his control, the child grew up.
He went to great lengths to find a good marriage for Hongshi, but Hongshi didn't like Dong'e Shi, finding her too dull and lacking in charm. So he let Hongshi take two more concubines, thinking that he would mature after getting married, but who knew...
She's just a woman, why is Hongshi so obsessed with her?
Yinzhen didn't understand. He put his arm around Qian Shengyan's shoulder and sighed again. Qian Shengyan, still half asleep, snuggled into his arms and said, "I'm so sleepy, let's go to sleep..."
...Never mind, there's only one woman in the whole world who dares to talk to him like that.
But he actually seemed to enjoy it.
He lay down with Qian Shengyan in his arms, feeling her legs draped over him. This person always treated him like a... pillow when she slept, hugging and pressing down on him. Fortunately, Yinzhen was well-behaved when he slept; he would stay in the same position he was in before falling asleep and still be in the same position when he woke up. It was just that sometimes when Qian Shengyan pressed down on him, he would wake up feeling suffocated...
Thinking about this, Yinzhen was still a little puzzled—he felt that he had been lenient enough with Qian Shengyan, so why did she seem to be even more afraid of him?
No, it's not fear, it's just a kind of...
Yinzhen couldn't quite describe the feeling either; he couldn't figure it out.
She dared not speak to him, nor act as she pleased. Yinzhen did not understand, but the two of them knew perfectly well what was going on with Lady Nian. The Empress was only powerful because of her status as a consort, but now he had stripped her of most of her power in the palace. In this kind of harem, Qian Shengyan could do whatever she wanted, but she was more cautious than ever before in the mansion...
Was it for Hongli's sake?
However, after looking at her over and over, Yinzhen felt that Qian Shengyan did not seem to be enthusiastic about the position. Just like when he was vying for the throne, Qian Shengyan could be said to be his confidante, but she remained rational and indifferent. Even when the late emperor revealed a little bit to him, he was almost overjoyed, and his advisors were all clapping and celebrating. But when it came to Qian Shengyan, she just smiled.
When it came to Hongli, Qian Shengyan was completely in a state of letting things take their natural course. The two of them spent every day together, but apart from sharing some funny stories about their children or the troubles of growing up, she never mentioned anything about the position of crown prince.
Just a few days ago, he had made it clear in court about the secret system of establishing an heir. Even the Empress, who had no sons, was a little uneasy and contacted the Ulanara family to offer Hongshi a concubine. But Qian Shengyan seemed to be... completely indifferent.
Is it that she genuinely doesn't care, or is she just good at pretending?
Yinzhen gazed intently at Qian Shengyan's sleeping face, though in the pitch-black night only a rough outline could be discerned.
She was naturally extremely beautiful; even her facial features were exquisite.
After being together for many years, Yinzhen no longer cared about beauty or ugliness. Being with her now was not only out of habit, but also because it was what his heart desired.
But when will she understand...?
Qian Shengyan slept until dawn, but when she opened her eyes, she found that no one was beside her.
After asking Qingxue, Qian Shengyan learned that Yinzhen had gotten up early to attend court. She yawned and calculated Yinzhen's sleep time—tsk, he only slept for three hours a night, how terrible.
"By the way, has the Third Prince woken up yet?" Qian Shengyan only remembered to ask about this after getting up early. Qingxue nodded: "He was moved to the South Third Palace last night. The imperial physician went to check his pulse this morning and said that his wound was fine and he had woken up."
Qian Shengyan nodded: "Take some medicinal herbs from my storeroom and send them over."
Qingxue replied, "When we get back, I'll open the storeroom and get it for you, Master, and then have Wang Baoen deliver it."
After finishing her business, Qian Shengyan got up and stretched a bit, just in time to wait for Yinzhen, who had just finished court, to have breakfast together.
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