That evening, as they were going to bed, Zhao Wenqi whispered to Zhao Changqing, "Uncle, I think Madam Han really likes me."
Zhao Changqing paused in taking off his clothes: "Hmm?"
"She praised me for being capable and kind today. No one has ever praised me like that before. Moreover, she lets me do whatever I want without stopping me or saying that I am playful and don't study."
"oh."
"Since she likes me so much, then... could she sleep with me?"
Zhao Changqing reached out and covered his mouth: "No."
"Mmm...mmm..."
Zhao Changqing stripped the struggling little figure naked, stuffed it into the quilt, and held it down.
I even considered putting him to sleep with a pressure point.
"If you don't sleep well, I'll send you back to the capital tomorrow."
Zhao Changqing pondered for a moment and still felt that threats were more effective.
Upon hearing this, the little one immediately huddled under the covers and dared not move.
The next day, we cooked a meal and ate rice made from elm seeds and elm bark.
I made two kinds of elm seeds.
It's the same method: mix elm seeds with wheat flour, steam them in a steamer, then add salt, sesame oil, and other seasonings and mix well.
Another dish was steamed buns made from elm seeds.
The powder ground from elm bark was used to make noodles.
The kitchen staff knew that the masters only needed to taste it; they didn't need to make much, just a little for each person to try.
Elm bark powder is very sticky and should not be consumed in large quantities, as it can cause bloating and is difficult to digest.
Zhao Wenqi was quite well-behaved today.
I ate half a bowl of elm seeds, half a steamed bun, and a small half bowl of noodles.
However, her obedience lasted for no more than an hour.
Not long after finishing her meal, He Youyou saw Qin Ming carrying the soaking wet Zhao Wenqi in the yard.
Qin Ming originally intended to take him directly to the room to change clothes, but Zhao Changqing stopped him.
Zhao Changqing told him to find He Youyou.
Qin Ming was puzzled. Why was he looking for Madam Han? Could Madam Han really change the Second Prince's clothes herself?
But he didn't say much.
What could he possibly say? He just followed his master's orders in everything.
The Emperor told him to listen to the Governor, and the Governor told him to listen to Madam Han, so... listen to Madam Han.
He Youyou squatted down and looked at the little person who was soaking wet.
Her chest and front were soaked, and her fair face was covered in wet mud.
"Didn't you just say you were going to play in the garden? How come you've turned out like this after only half an hour?"
Zhao Wenqi pouted and said, "I was playing in the garden when I fell into the pond."
He Youyou asked in confusion, "A pond? We don't have a pond at home."
Qin Ming, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but speak up: "Madam, it's a puddle."
He Youyou understood: There were several uneven spots on the ground in the garden, and it had rained these past few days during the Qingming Festival, so there was probably some water accumulation.
Zhao Wenqi looked at He Youyou nervously.
Based on his life experience, he was bound to hear a lecture here.
If he were in the palace, he could just let the nagging go in one ear and out the other.
But this auntie... really likes him. She praised him several times yesterday, and he's trying to salvage her goodwill.
"I...I didn't mean to jump in and play in the water. I just wanted to take a look and see if there were any small fish. I slipped in by accident..."
He Youyou nodded and said, "Oh, I see. After the rain, the ground is slippery, and it's inevitable to slip and fall. Be careful next time."
Zhao Wenqi felt extremely relieved.
She actually believed herself and didn't think she was making excuses.
“But your clothes are all dirty, you need to take them off and wash them,” He Youyou asked. “Do you know how to wash clothes?”
Zhao Wenqi shook his head.
He was always surrounded by servants since he was a child, so why would he need to do his own laundry?
"Oh, you're eight years old and still can't do laundry? Hmm... it's a bit late, but there's nothing shameful about it. I'll have Ahri teach you."
Without giving him a chance to refuse, she had Ahri take him to change his clothes.
"Ali, take him back to his room and change his clothes. Then go to the backyard and find a wooden basin, and teach him how to wash his own clothes."
When the little boy was led away by Han Wenzheng, he hadn't quite grasped what was happening.
I was feeling quite pleased that I wasn't scolded, so why was I suddenly dragged away to learn how to do laundry?
Zhao Wenqi was completely bewildered.
Shock overwhelmed him, and he didn't even have time to say anything more before leaving.
It wasn't until he was changing clothes that he asked, somewhat bewildered, "Brother Wenzheng, do all the children in your family wash their own clothes?"
Han Wenzheng solemnly replied, "That's right. My mother often taught me that the most valuable thing about a person is self-reliance. If you can't do anything without others, then you're not a truly self-reliant person. You haven't tasted the hardships of life because someone is helping you shoulder the burdens. I not only wash my own clothes, but I also cook and clean the house myself."
"Is this all you have to do as an adopted son in the Han family?"
"Yes, we need to do these things."
Zhao Wenqi began to silently calculate in his mind.
Returning to the palace meant studying and being scolded, but not having to do any work.
In the Han family, you don't have to study, you don't have to be scolded, and you can do whatever you want, but you have to do the chores yourself.
After much deliberation...
Let's do it!
Qin Ming, a master of martial arts, stood silently under the eaves, watching everything unfold without a word.
The second prince is going to wash his own clothes...
If this got out, who in the entire palace would believe it?
That's really rare; I've never seen anything like it before.
I'd really like to meet him.
In the backyard, Han Wenzheng and Zhao Wenqi, the two children, were squatting next to a wooden basin, diligently washing clothes.
On the rooftop next door, several top imperial guards were craning their necks to look down.
"Hey, Qin, you know what, the Second Prince is actually quite good at washing clothes."
"Yeah, it uses up a lot of soap. I've already rubbed it on seven or eight times..."
"It's a pity we didn't bring a court painter with us. If we could paint a picture of the Second Prince washing clothes and take it back, it would surely broaden the horizons of the palace servants."
It took Zhao Wenqi a long time to wash these clothes.
Han Wenzheng helped him wring out the clothes and hang them to dry in the yard.
Facing the wind, his clothes billowed out like a flag fluttering in the breeze. The Second Prince stood proudly with his hands on his hips, his face beaming with a sense of accomplishment.
He trotted around excitedly, searching for the person all over the yard.
Finally, they found He Youyou in the study.
He Youyou was standing on a stool, rummaging through the bookshelves, seemingly searching for something.
"Auntie, I've finished washing my clothes. I washed them so many times, they're really clean," Zhao Wenqi boasted.
He Youyou smiled and got off the stool, not holding back her praise: "Very good, diligent and capable, deserves a reward."
As he spoke, he pulled something out of his sleeve and gave it to him—
The reward for completing the beginner's quest is a small cake.
Holding the small cake, Zhao Wenqi said expectantly, "Auntie, would you like to come with me to take a look? It's really clean."
"Let's go, lead the way."
"Okay."
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