Yihua didn't know how Yinzhen comforted Honghui, but in the past few days Honghui seemed to be in much better spirits. He not only spent more time talking to Yihua every day, but also took Liuliu running around the yard like crazy.
Yi Hua was relieved, but she noticed that Hong Hui still looked somewhat unhappy.
Yihua deliberately chose a time when she could avoid Yinzhen to have a heart-to-heart talk with Honghui.
Honghui bowed to Yihua somewhat embarrassedly: "Your son has caused you worry lately."
Yi Hua handed him a cushion, gesturing for him to relax: "Your mother thinks you shouldn't push yourself too hard. No one can be number one in everything their whole life. Just like compared to your Ninth Uncle, you probably won't earn as much as he does in a month. Everyone has their own expertise, and you're already very capable."
Honghui nodded: "Son understands. Actually, it's not that son can't accept defeat, but that he doesn't want to lose in an unclear and unfair way."
“Mother, even in a place like the Imperial Study, where so many officials hold high positions, there are teachers who bow to power. If we look at this from a few examples, then the triennial imperial examinations for selecting talent have long been nothing but empty talk, merely a formality for the powerful and wealthy.” Honghui always spoke his mind to Yihua, telling his mother everything he dared not or could not say to his father. “If I feel so aggrieved by just one of the ten-day examinations, what about all the scholars in the world?”
“Honghui, there are two concepts involved here,” Yihua said after thinking for a moment, “relative fairness and absolute fairness.”
“If you’re looking for absolute fairness, then I can tell you right now, it’s impossible,” Yi Hua said firmly. “Take birth, for example. Your starting point is the endpoint of several lifetimes of effort for others. How can that be fair?”
“But relative fairness, Mother thinks this is achievable,” Yihua said. “The imperial examination held every three years is to select talents from all over the country. This is actually giving the general public a chance to rise above their circumstances. This opportunity is relatively fair. It’s just that some unscrupulous people have made this relatively fair opportunity unfair.”
“You’re still young, so put your questions aside for now. When you have the ability in the future, you can change all of this, Honghui.” Yihua said, her eyes filled with expectation as she looked at Honghui. “Your mother hopes that you will remember the confusion you feel today and never become like the scholar in the Imperial Study.”
Honghui nodded vigorously: "Son understands."
Yinzhen stood at the door, listening to the conversation between the mother and son with some surprise. He had not expected that Honghui was not concerned about his own gains and losses, but about fairness for all the students in the world. It was extremely rare for someone his age to be able to put himself in others' shoes and think about such things.
What surprised him even more was the wife's understanding; her thoughts were so broad and inclusive, no wonder Honghui was willing to communicate with her when he had something to say.
He stopped and remained silent, lost in thought.
Chen Mama and Yu Xiao were a little anxious. They didn't know what the Fujin and her son were whispering about. Seeing that their master's expression wasn't good, they wanted to speak up, but Su Peisheng was watching them, so they didn't dare to open their mouths.
In the end, it was Ah Bao who was quick-witted. He brought in the tea, but his foot slipped and he fell to the ground. The crisp sound of the teacup brought the conversation in the room to an abrupt halt.
Yinzhen glanced down at Abao, said nothing, and stepped into the house.
Su Peisheng sneered: "Eunuch Bao has quite the nerve. I was blind before."
Abao immediately scrambled to her feet, ignoring the dust covering her, and bowed and scraped, saying, "Father-in-law, save me! I really slipped just now. The Princess Consort prepared the First Prince's favorite milk tea, and I was only looking ahead and didn't see where I was going."
"The master didn't say he would punish you, why are you making this show?" Su Peisheng turned to leave, but then turned back and said, "The master has his reasons for not wanting the wife to know. Today, seeing your loyalty to the master, I'll let it go. But if you do this again in the future, the wife won't be able to protect you."
"Thank you for your guidance, Eunuch," Abao said gratefully.
After seeing off Yinzhen and his son, Yihua called Chen Mama to ask what had just happened. Chen Mama, looking frightened, said, "Madam, is the master angry?"
“I’m not such a stingy person.” Yi Hua smiled. “I gave A Bao a reward of twenty taels of silver, thanks to his quick thinking. But next time this happens, we can’t do it this way, or I won’t be able to protect you.”
"yes."
Yi Hua thought about it for a moment. She hadn't said anything outrageous, so Yinzhen probably wouldn't have any objections.
******
Today, the Prince's mansion welcomed a regular guest: the Ninth Princess Consort, who arrived with a basket of cherries.
"This is from the estate I brought as part of my dowry. It wasn't easy to send it over, so let our Liu Liu have a taste." Ninth Princess sat down and looked around for Liu Liu, but couldn't find her.
"You've come at a bad time. This child is tired from running around today and is catching up on sleep."
Ninth Princess Consort expressed some regret, then leaned back in Yihua's chair in a familiar manner: "Fourth Sister-in-law, I need to stay here a little longer."
"What's wrong? Did you quarrel with Ninth Uncle?" Yi Hua asked, seeing that Ninth Princess Consort seemed alright.
"What's there for me to argue about? We barely even see each other." Ninth Princess Consort didn't seem to care much. "It's Fourteenth and his wife."
"What do you mean?"
"The Fourteenth Prince's residence and our residence are connected by a small section, isn't that a coincidence, Fourth Sister-in-law? It's the main courtyard. Although they are connected, there are mountains, rivers and trees separating them, so it's fine and they don't disturb each other."
"These past few days, the fourteenth couple has been arguing every day. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I came to Fourth Sister-in-law's place to find some peace and quiet," Ninth Princess said impatiently, frowning. "They're breaking porcelain every day. You can tell they're fighting again just by the sound."
Yi Hua was puzzled: "A few days ago, the two of them seemed to be getting along very well, like they were in a honeymoon phase. What happened?"
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