Sun Miaoqing asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, what are some things to keep in mind when taking care of the Fifth Prince?"
"Although I have the maids to take care of me, there are some things I think it's better to do them myself."
Princess Consort Zhuang said, "As Consort Cheng just saw, Hongzhou is actually a clever and good child."
"It's just that he was born with a weak constitution, so he's a bit weaker than other children. If he's not careful, whether he gets cold or hot, he's prone to catching a cold."
"But this child is also very lively. He likes to run and jump, and in no time he's covered in sweat from all the jumping."
"Just clothes alone, I have to change them three or four times a day when it's not too bad, and seven or eight times when it's not too bad."
"If you restrain him and don't let him run around, he'll look at you with those big eyes, tears in his eyes, and hug your leg, looking at you pitifully. It's enough to melt your heart."
"He also likes to play hide-and-seek with the nannies, seizing any opportunity to hide somewhere else and make people search for him. He will only come out on his own when he feels he has had enough."
"If he doesn't want to be found before he comes out, he will cry and make a fuss, insisting on hiding again until he's had enough fun."
"If Your Highness gets angry with him, he'll admit his mistakes faster than anyone else, but he'll do the same thing next time, leaving you both amused and exasperated."
The wife of Prince Zhuang was also quite helpless. When he first came to her, he was just a little baby who only knew how to drink milk and sleep, and he couldn't stand the slightest noise.
Even if the nannies walked a little too loudly, they would be startled awake and then cry incessantly.
She took care of him diligently for over a year before Hongzhou could finally sleep peacefully. At least, he wouldn't be disturbed by footsteps anymore.
Sun Miaoqing understood perfectly; she was just a spoiled brat who used all her intelligence on reading people's expressions.
He seemed well-behaved just now, probably because we had just met and he didn't know her personality yet, and the environment was different from his own, so he was relatively restrained.
Sun Miaoqing said, "So that's how it is. I understand now. Thank you for your frankness, Madam."
...... ......
Regarding the Fifth Prince Hongzhou's lifestyle, personality, hobbies, and education.
Sun Miaoqing and the wife of Prince Zhuang had a frank, constructive, and productive conversation.
The conversation lasted for nearly two hours, and it didn't end until it was time for dinner and Big Fat Orange was about to arrive.
Princess Consort Zhuang said, "It's almost time, and I should leave the palace and return home. You are Hongzhou's mother, so I'll have to trouble you with these matters from now on."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Thank you, Madam. Now that the Fifth Prince has come to live with me, I will certainly not let him suffer any injustice from others."
"You are the Fifth Prince's aunt and have been kind to him in raising him. If you are worried, please come and visit often so I can ask you for advice on how to raise children better."
Princess Consort Zhuang said, "Thank you, Consort Cheng. However, there are many matters to attend to at the Prince's residence recently, and I am afraid I will not be able to enter the palace for some time."
"You are exceptionally intelligent. With so many experienced matrons in the palace and the Emperor's favor, there shouldn't be any problems."
Princess Consort Zhuang did not take Sun Miaoqing's polite words seriously. A three-year-old child, even if he has started to remember things, is easy to raise and tame.
With careful care, one can forget all the people and things from the past in no time.
But the prerequisite is that she, the aunt who has raised the Fifth Prince for so long, doesn't wander around in front of him all the time.
If she really believed it, and went to the palace every few days to annoy everyone, it would be strange if Consort Cheng was happy.
If Hongzhou becomes close to his aunt, Consort Cheng will harbor resentment and won't treat the child with the same care.
Whether or not she goes to the palace to visit him is not important. Among the nannies and maids who take care of Hongzhou, there are others like her.
If Consort Cheng truly harbored ill intentions towards Hongzhou, then her position as the wife of Prince Zhuang was not merely for show.
Princess Consort Zhuang said, "Your Majesty, please wait. Miss Linglan will see you off."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Hongzhou is still playing over there, won't you go and see him, Madam?"
Princess Consort Zhuang could faintly hear the laughter and chatter of palace maids playing with Hongzhou coming from the room to her right.
She glanced at him reluctantly and said, "No need. If Hongzhou sees me going over there, he'll probably make a scene again."
Sun Miaoqing nodded and smiled as she saw the wife of Prince Zhuang, who also had a big smile on her face but turned back three times with every step she took, out of Chuxiu Palace.
Once inside the house, he revealed his true colors, collapsing onto the kang (a heated brick bed) in a relaxed, Ge You-style slouch.
"After pretending to be a well-mannered and knowledgeable lady for so long, and sitting and chatting with the wife of Prince Zhuang for two hours, my back and neck are sore."
Liuli said, "This servant feels that the Princess Consort of Prince Zhuang does not seem to love the Fifth Prince as much as the rumors say. When Her Majesty asked her to come to the palace to visit him, she declined."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Can a child be raised like this without love?"
"Princess Consort Zhuang is telling me that I can treat the Fifth Prince well without worry. She won't let the Fifth Prince keep thinking about his aunt and put me in a difficult position."
"Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them, just like the old woman who sent the Queen of Yan away. This aunt of Prince Zhuang, the wife of Prince Zhuang, did a really good job."
Linglan peeled an orange and fed it to Sun Miaoqing segment by segment.
"Her Majesty said yesterday that these oranges were good, and today, the Imperial Household Department sent over some more of the best ones. Please try them; aren't they even better than yesterday's?"
Sun Miaoqing tasted it and nodded in satisfaction, "It's even better than yesterday's, it's so sweet it'll get to your throat."
"You should all try some, and when you're done, have the Imperial Household Department send over more."
Both Lily of the Valley and Lapis Lazuli tasted a petal, and they were indeed very sweet.
Although they were just palace maids, they had the opportunity to taste all the delicacies in the world while following Sun Miaoqing.
Whenever there was something delicious to eat, Sun Miaoqing would let them try it too.
Liuli said worriedly, "Fifth Prince doesn't know yet that Princess Consort Zhuang has already left."
“I’m worried that if the Fifth Prince finds out later, he’ll start crying and it will be hard to soothe him.”
Sun Miaoqing said, "What's there to worry about? Didn't the Emperor say he was coming over for dinner? It's his own son, of course he'll let her coax him herself."
"It should be about ready by now. Quickly bring over the pastries, I need to have something to eat first. Otherwise, if things get noisy later, it will be difficult to start eating."
"Yes, Your Highness, please wait a moment, this servant will go and fetch it right away."
Liuli was quick; in no time she brought over several plates of pastries and a bowl of almond milk.
Sun Miaoqing ate very quickly; she was indeed tired after being busy for so long today. She finished more than half of what was in front of her in no time, and then let the two of them share the rest.
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Sun Miaoqing said, "Let's go see my precious eldest son!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
