Chapter 121 Growing Up
In October of the fourth year of the Dingyuan era, even the warm Nanhua region gradually began to feel chilly.
Xiao Qing yawned widely, raised her dizzy head, looked at the gray sky above that seemed to have darkened a bit, and thought to herself that it was going to be another rainy day.
As they were talking, Ma Hong walked over holding a long umbrella and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the weather is not good today, so why don't you stay home?"
Xiao Qing quickly shook her head, her mind clearing up a bit.
"No, no, if we don't get out today, all the suffering we've endured these past two weeks will have been for nothing!"
"Why don't we talk to the Grand Tutor and ask him to reschedule for another day?"
Xiao Qing pouted, "Don't count on him. He'd love for me to bury my head in the Southern Study all day. Last time he even complained that I didn't recite the poems well. Does being an emperor require composing poems?"
Ma Hong was amused by her statement. "The South values literature, and the Grand Tutor doesn't necessarily want His Majesty to be able to compose poems. It's just that His Majesty is growing up and needs to attend more occasions, so..."
Xiao Qing waved his hand, "I understand. The Grand Tutor wants me to be able to appreciate poetry even if I can't compose it. You don't need to explain for him. In any case, we must leave today."
She had to study this and that every day, attend court, and learn how to handle government affairs from Fu Mingyi. She had no freedom at all and was almost suffocating.
To make matters worse, Prime Minister Wang has been constantly trying to get her attention lately. She really feels that this job is terrible. She needs a vacation, she needs to relax, and she needs to leave the palace!
Ma Hong knew he couldn't be persuaded anymore.
"What about His Highness Yan?"
Xiao Qing raised an eyebrow.
For young people, time always flies by.
Whether it's due to increased physical training like riding and archery, or improved nutrition, Xiao Qing and Xiao Yan have grown incredibly fast in the past few years.
By today's standards, Xiao Qing is now nearly 1.6 meters tall. She has a slender figure and usually dresses as a man, behaving and interacting with others according to masculine standards. So even though her face doesn't look particularly masculine, she still has a certain dashing and heroic air about her.
Moreover, Fu Mingyi has recently been forcing her to memorize poems and prose. As the saying goes, "A person with a wealth of knowledge naturally exudes elegance." The South cherishes literature, and many ministers felt that their Emperor had an excellent complexion and a refined, jade-like appearance. If it weren't for his extremely noble status, they would all be tempted to get closer to him.
Xiao Qing sighed, "The Grand Tutor has been keeping a close eye on me lately. Xiao Yan is his die-hard fan, his tagalong, and his tattletale. Although I'm not afraid of him, there's no need for me to cause trouble."
She clasped her hands together, one fist against the other, and said, "Besides, it's not convenient to take him with us to where we're going today, so let's not wait for him!"
As she walked out, she said, "Ma Hong, where's the carriage? Ziye is still waiting for us outside the palace. We need to hurry."
As Ma Hong caught up, he said, "His Majesty just agreed to Prince Yan's request yesterday..."
"It's his fault for getting up late. Time waits for no one, so you can't blame me."
For the past three years, Xiao Qing and Xiao Yan have attended the Imperial Academy together, practiced riding and archery together, and even studied courses on the art of being a ruler and handling government affairs, personally taught by the Grand Tutor. At first, Xiao Qing was somewhat indifferent, but as time went on, she sensed something was amiss.
Unlike her inner free spirit, Xiao Yan was an extremely self-disciplined and hardworking child. Although he was younger than her, he never relaxed his standards for himself because of that.
Xiao Yan always completed the assignments given by the Grand Tutor in a very proper manner, and he always did them even better.
In contrast, Xiao Qing seemed to be just going through the motions.
Fu Mingyi was a man of deep thoughts. Previously, on the carriage during their southward escape, he would use the ruler bestowed upon him by the late emperor to discipline Xiao Qing. Now, however, while teaching in the Southern Study, he would no longer easily take out the ruler. Instead, he would focus on evaluating Xiao Yan's studies and frequently praise Xiao Yan in front of the two of them.
Xiao Qing would never admit that this had sparked her competitive spirit.
However, for Fu Mingyi, the effect was very good.
Xiao Qing, this lazy rabbit, sometimes needs to be stroked gently, and sometimes needs a little stimulation.
Xiao Yan's temperament was like a complementary side to Xiao Qing's.
Unfortunately, Xiao Qing never really liked Xiao Yan.
She had just stepped out of Chengde Palace and was about to head for her carriage when she unconsciously slowed her pace and lowered her gaze slightly.
Xiao Yan stood beside the carriage holding a cat, followed by Liu Yi, who looked like they had been waiting for some time.
Xiao Qing's lips twitched, and she slowly walked over.
Good morning, Your Majesty.
"Hmm." Xiao Qing was not very happy. She glanced at Xiao Xiao, who was lazily lying in his arms like a boneless creature—it was still called Xiao Xiao, but it was no longer the lively and mischievous Xiao Xiao that used to jump around.
It was fat and lazy because Xiao Yan had raised it, and it stayed on Xiao Yan's body all day long, unwilling to get down and walk more than ten steps.
Xiao Qing felt increasingly distressed the more she thought about it.
What's worse is that Xiao Xiao's closest person now is Xiao Yan, and he often feels tired just looking at her.
Because of this incident, Xiao Qing cursed Fu Mingyi and Xiao Yan countless times in her heart.
"Good morning, Imperial Brother Yan." She greeted him indifferently, her tone clearly displeased. "Why are you up so early today?"
"The Grand Tutor said that the Emperor is going to Tianyin Temple to offer incense today, and Yan is afraid that if he gets up late, he will miss the auspicious time."
Xiao Qing thought to herself, "What do you mean by 'afraid of missing the auspicious time'? It must be that bastard Fu Mingyi who made Xiao Yan get up early, afraid that he would be left behind, right?"
"I do indeed intend to visit Tianyin Temple today. It is a quiet place, and I wonder if my younger brother Yan will be able to settle in. How about this: I will send my younger brother Yan to the Grand Tutor's residence, where you can enjoy tea, play chess, compose poems, and appreciate paintings. What do you say?"
Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind offer, Your Majesty. I actually also want to go to Tianyin Temple to ask for a peace charm for the Grand Tutor. The Grand Tutor has been working hard lately, and I am very worried about him."
Xiao Qing looked at him speechlessly and decided not to say anything.
Die-hard fan, tagalong, tattletale!
Xiao Qing got into the carriage first and sat upright inside. After Xiao Yan also got into the carriage, he instructed Ma Hong to leave the palace.
Zhao Youchen waited in front of the palace gate. When he saw Xiao Qing and his entourage's carriage arrive, he went forward to pay his respects.
Xiao Qing drew back the curtain and asked, "General Zhao, are you also going to Tianyin Temple today?"
Zhao Youchen smiled and said, "If I were to go, I fear it would expose Your Majesty's whereabouts. Your Majesty, rest assured, I have already arranged for guards to accompany you secretly, and Ying Ziye is also waiting outside the palace. Your Majesty and Prince Yan, please go and return as soon as possible, and be careful on the road."
Xiao Qing nodded and left the palace, where he soon saw Ying Ziye.
As Zhao Youchen watched the palace gates slowly close, his gaze met Ying Ziye's for a moment through the narrowing gap between the two heavy gates. Only after they were both blocked on the other side of the palace gates did they slowly walk into the palace.
Outside the palace gates, Ying Ziye greeted them with a smile, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty."
Xiao Qing's gloomy mood, which had been affected by Xiao Yan, immediately brightened.
"Come on up!" she said unconsciously, raising her voice.
Ying Ziye smiled inwardly, greeted Ma Hong, and then got into the carriage.
However, when he saw Xiao Yan sitting upright with a calm expression next to him, and the fluffy little one in his arms, the joy in his heart was as if it had been shrouded in gloom.
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