After the meal, Changning told the children to go back and rest early, as they would have to leave the palace early the next day, but she kept Hongchen behind.
When Hongchen saw that his mother had closed the door again, he knew he was going to be criticized again. He could only sigh and feel how difficult life was.
Changning was both amused and exasperated by his behavior, and couldn't help but reach out and tap his forehead with her finger: "You little rascal, what are you sighing for? Be careful you don't turn into an old man."
Hongchen pouted: "Mother, are you going to scold me again? Is it because of Seventh Brother?"
Changning clicked his tongue. How come he hadn't noticed before that Hongchen was so hostile towards Hongyang?
Perhaps because Hongyang was younger before and not clingy, but now that he can run and jump, he likes to play with older children. However, Hongyan and Hongzhao are too busy with their studies, so they want to follow Hongmin around every day.
Hongchen could no longer tolerate it.
He was originally closest to Hongmin, and the two had grown up in the same bed since they were little. In his eyes, his mother spent more time taking care of his younger brother, and only his fifth brother was the person who spent the most time with him. But now his younger brother wanted to take his fifth brother away, and he was furious!
Upon learning of Hongchen's thoughts, Changning couldn't help but laugh: "What makes you think Mother loves your younger brother more?"
Hongchen pouted: "That's how it is. They say that Father and Mother always preferred younger siblings. We're like little cabbages, yellow in the field, nobody wants us."
Changning's expression suddenly changed: "Who said that?"
Hong Chen said confidently, "It was Hong Qing who said it."
Changning gritted her teeth, it really was...
Since Yinzhen ascended the throne, he dealt with the eighth, ninth, and tenth princes, and punished many others. He was afraid that others would say he was harsh and ungrateful, but he really didn't want to show favor to his unreliable brothers, so he set his sights on his nephews.
A decree was issued some time ago, allowing the princes of various households to continue studying in the Imperial Study, which can be considered as keeping the imperial princes company and demonstrating the joy of family life within the imperial family.
Let's see who still calls him mean-spirited.
He's so good to his nephews; he's quite a responsible royal uncle.
So, after several years, Hongxi, Hongqing, and Hongchun entered the palace again.
I didn't expect Hongqing to be so unreliable.
Unable to compare with Hong Yan or defeat Hong Zhao, he set his sights on Hong Min and Hong Chen, constantly sowing discord between them.
Hongchen is young and cannot distinguish right from wrong. After being told that, he felt uneasy.
Of course, it's also possible that Hongqing herself is like that. I heard that the Third Prince's wife is almost giving up on this son and treating the younger Hongsheng like the apple of her eye. The Third Prince now also thinks that he is hopeless. So it's understandable that Hongqing made such a statement in a fit of anger.
However, Changning felt that Hongzhao still needed to teach him a lesson.
Having already entered the palace, it won't do if you still haven't learned the rules.
This was for Hongqing's future, not for revenge. Changning felt that she was being incredibly kind-hearted.
After learning that Hongqing was the ghost, Changning decided to have Hongzhao suppress it. Then, it was time to comfort her son.
Changning explained to him, "You are all your mother's children, and your mother and father love you equally. Moreover, you are brothers, blood is thicker than water. No matter what difficulties you encounter in the future, you can always look out for each other and help each other. So you must keep your mind straight and not resist your own brothers."
Seeing Hongchen's indifferent expression, Changning had a flash of inspiration and remembered a story, so she asked Chuixue to bring her a pair of chopsticks.
Upon hearing this order, Fubuki was taken aback for a moment.
Chopsticks?
Although she didn't understand, she had no reason to ask questions about her master's orders, so she nodded in agreement and went to pick out some exquisite and expensive chopsticks herself.
Changning casually picked out an ebony piece inlaid with silver and said to Hongchen, "Son, look, this is a chopstick. Your mother can break it with a little force."
Hongchen was skeptical: "Mother, this is ebony, you shouldn't be able to break it."
Changning strained, her veins bulging, but she still couldn't break the chopsticks, and she was panting heavily the whole time.
Hongchen was completely confused, but still very supportive: "Mom is awesome!"
Changning was exasperated and gave Chuixue a wink.
Knowing she had done something wrong, Fubuki quickly turned around and went to find a few more that were of lower quality and softer.
This time, Changning used a little force and the chopsticks broke.
“Hongchen, look, a chopstick can be broken so easily.”
Hongchen nodded. If you ignore the ebony, these chopsticks, which look very brittle, are indeed easy to break.
Changning nodded, then gripped the chopsticks tightly in his hand and tried to break them, but they wouldn't budge.
Then she looked directly into Hongchen's eyes: "Look, this bundle of chopsticks, no matter how hard I try, I can't break it."
Hongchen scratched his head, still not understanding: "Isn't this the proper thing to do? Mother, you're not strong enough, let Third Brother do it, he can definitely break it."
Changning felt like everything was going to go black. Why wasn't this the way the story was going?
However, she still forced herself to explain: "What Mother means is that a single chopstick is easy to break, but a bundle of chopsticks is not. This is the power of unity, which is why you brothers and sisters can have such power when you work together as one. Many hands make light work, that's the principle."
Hongchen is a smart child; he already understands that his mother is teaching him to get along well with his brothers.
However, he still asked in return, "Mother, I know I should get along well with my brothers. But, do you really not favor my younger brothers more?"
Changning understood; what Hongchen wanted was fairness, to treat everyone equally.
So she explained gently, "Of course not! Your mother treats you all the same! And think about it, actually your mother loves you more!"
"Huh?" Hongchen didn't understand.
“Look, you’re four years old now, but Hongyang is only three. Your mother has doted on you for four years, but only on him for three. How are you doing with your counting rods?”
Hongchen's eyes suddenly lit up. That's right! He would always receive more love than his seventh brother by one year!
"Wow! Mother, you really love me the most!" Hongchen grinned, his excitement overflowing.
Changning thought to herself, "A three-year-old is so easy to fool..."
However, she really needs to pay extra attention to fairness when it comes to her children. She doesn't want any of her children to feel neglected or unloved by their father and mother.
She wants to give them a warm and loving childhood.
Thinking of this, Changning picked up Hongchen and kissed him on the cheek, which made Hongchen embarrassed: "Mother, I'm all grown up... don't kiss me anymore, go kiss your little brother instead."
Ha, you were just saying you wanted your mother's love.
(*￣m￣)
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