An exclusive interview with the Tang Dynasty royal family: The daily lives of their four children
Host: It's an honor to have four princes with us today! Let's start with the Crown Prince. I heard you've been assisting with state affairs lately?
Crown Prince Hong: (Sitting upright) Yes, I have to review thirty memorials every day. The Empress Dowager says this is "pre-job training".
Li Xian: (Interrupting) My elder brother fell asleep while reviewing memorials last night, and I had to carry him back to his bedchamber!
Host: Your Highness seems to be very interested in engineering and manufacturing?
Li Xian: (Excitedly) That's right! I'm modifying the cargo boat, and I also need to make a safety device for my third brother to prevent him from causing trouble...
Li Xian: (Jumps up) Second brother, what do you mean! I've been behaving very well lately!
Princess Taiping: (Eating snacks) Third Brother tied Lord Di's beard to the pen holder yesterday!
Li Xian: (blushing) I, I was just helping Lord Di tidy his beard!
Host: (Suppressing a laugh) It seems that all the princes get along very well. Could you tell me what you most like to do with your father and mother?
Crown Prince Hong: He loved listening to his father explain the "Essentials of Governance in the Zhenguan Era," and his mother would always add real-life examples.
Li Xian: I love watching my mother give my father acupuncture. My father is clearly afraid of pain, but he pretends to be calm!
Li Xian: (Raises hand) I love to steal my mother's snacks and then get caught by my father!
Princess Taiping: (in a childish voice) Taiping loves sitting on Daddy's shoulders watching Mommy review memorials~
Host: I heard that the four princes often play together?
Prince Hong: (Helplessly) I said it was just for fun, but actually I was helping my younger brother test his new invention.
Li Xian: Last time, the automatic book-flipping machine bounced my brother's copy of the Analects of Confucius into a tree!
Li Xian: And the automatic ink grinder from before last sprayed ink all over Lord Di!
Princess Taiping: (Naively) But Lord Di said that this way of handling cases is more authoritative!
Host: Can you share your impressions of each other?
Prince Hong: Second brother is exceptionally intelligent, but too obsessed with inventions; Third brother... is lively and adorable; Taiping is the family's lucky star.
Li Xian: Big brother is too serious, he should learn from third brother's carefree attitude; Taiping... (laughs) is the joy of our whole family.
Li Xian: My eldest brother looks like an old man, my second brother looks like a craftsman, and Taiping looks like a fairy! Me? I'm the most normal one!
Princess Taiping: (Counting on her fingers) My eldest brother is like a book, my second brother is like a ruler, and my third brother is like a spinning top~
Host: Finally, do Your Highnesses have anything to say to your father and mother?
Crown Prince Hong: I wish my father and mother good health. I will strive to become a qualified heir apparent.
Li Xian: I hope Mother will stop confiscating my tools, and I hope Father will allocate more research funds for me!
Li Xian: I beg Mother to prepare more snacks, and I beg Father to be gentler with me next time...
Princess Taiping: (Opens her little hands) I want my father and mother to play with me forever!
[Interview Highlights]
After the interview, the four princes engaged in a "friendly competition" for the last plum blossom pastry.
In the end, Princess Taiping won by using her charm, while Crown Prince Hong silently gave his share to his third brother.
According to palace servants, the Emperor and Empress, who were secretly standing outside the door, witnessed this scene and exchanged a smile.
Indeed, the most precious thing is always the joy of family life.
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