Ever since His Highness "Tuanzi" successfully ended the childish battle between the Emperor and Empress over "Father" and "Mother" with a stunning display of his "eating" skills, this war without gunpowder has ended in a farcical draw.
However, for Xiao Che, the end of one battlefield merely meant the beginning of another.
Soon, a more important and symbolic ultimate showdown than "who is the first to be called" was presented to the Emperor and Empress as "Tuanzi" turned one year old.
The first birthday celebration, or "Zhuazhou," where a baby chooses objects from the surrounding objects.
At last year's full moon celebration, Xiao Che used the Imperial Seal of the State as the object for the "first birthday celebration," staging a domineering scene of "my son seizing the country," which is still talked about by storytellers in the capital.
Now, almost a year later, the real "first birthday celebration" is happening again.
Inside the Kunning Palace, on a huge floor mat covered with a whole snow-white carpet imported from Persia, the highly anticipated "first birthday celebration plus version" is about to take place.
This time, Emperor Xiao Che clearly learned from the "lesson" of only providing a "single choice" last time. He believed that while simply releasing the imperial seal was grand, it lacked vision and failed to fully and scientifically tap into his son's potential.
So, after several days of careful consideration, he prepared a set of props for his son's first birthday celebration that could be described as a "luxury package for raising an emperor".
"Wanwan, look!" Xiao Che said with a smug look, placing the items he had carefully prepared one by one on the mat. His expression was like that of a master who was showing off his masterpiece.
Placed at the very center, it was once again the Imperial Seal, symbolizing supreme imperial power. However, this time, it was no longer the only option, but rather the bright moon among the stars, representing ultimate glory.
Next, Xiao Che took out the second item—a small abacus made entirely of pure gold, with beads carved from warm, lustrous white jade. The abacus gleamed in the candlelight, exuding an air of nobility; it was so exquisitely crafted that it seemed less like a tool and more like a work of art.
“A ruler should be knowledgeable about the finances of the world,” Xiao Che explained with a serious expression. “This is the ability to manage finances.”
Then, he solemnly presented a miniature version of the "Laws of the Great Liang Dynasty," wrapped in black brocade. The pages were made of the finest silk, and the characters were handwritten by the best calligraphers in the palace, exuding an atmosphere of solemnity and reverence.
“A ruler should understand the laws and regulations and know how to be fair,” he said in a deep voice. “This is the heart of justice.”
Finally, he took out a tiger-head military tally, no bigger than the palm of his hand, from a sandalwood box. It was a ten-fold replica made entirely of black iron. The tally was cold to the touch and incredibly heavy. The tiger carved on it was lifelike and full of a chilling aura of killing intent.
"A ruler should command the armies of the realm, secure the state, and pacify the four corners of the land." His voice was filled with pride. "This is the power to command the army!"
Imperial seal, abacus, law, military tally.
Financial management, fairness, military command, imperial power.
Xiao Che looked at the "prop matrix" he had laid out and was extremely satisfied. In his view, this was no longer a simple first birthday celebration, but a complete and logically rigorous plan for the path to becoming an emperor. No matter which item his son picked up, it foreshadowed a bright and great future. This was a perfect test in which every option was the correct answer.
Lin Wanwan looked at Xiao Che's "Praise me for my foresight" expression and couldn't help but laugh and cry.
She could see perfectly well that Xiao Che's entire plan had only one core idea—to maintain the status quo. To safeguard the empire he had built and to be a qualified and all-around successor.
That's not wrong, but...
Lin Wanwan smiled and took out the things she had prepared for "Tuanzi" from the tray held by the palace maid.
"Your Majesty has made such thorough preparations, so I, your humble servant, would also like to add a few 'trinkets' for our son."
She kept saying "thing," but what she took out stunned Xiao Che on the spot.
The first thing she took out was a ball made of soft deerskin wrapped around cotton and sewn together...?
The "ball" was about the size of two fists, round and plump. But strangely, it was embroidered with bizarre patterns he had never seen before, using colorful silk threads. There were large blue areas, as well as green and yellow sections, which looked chaotic yet seemed to follow some mysterious pattern.
"What is this?" Xiao Che asked curiously.
"I call it the 'Kunyu Map,' or... a world map," Lin Wanwan explained with a smile. She had spent several days drawing it by hand to create a simple prototype of this globe. "The blue parts are the oceans; the colorful parts are the land beneath our feet. Our Great Liang is roughly... here."
She pointed to a vast expanse of green and gently tapped it.
Then she took out a second item. It was a small, retractable cylinder made of brass.
“This is a ‘telescope’.” Lin Wanwan pointed one end of the cylinder to her eyes and looked into the distance. “With it, you can see very, very far away.”
Finally, she took out a book that was completely different from Xiao Che's serious "Laws of the Great Liang". It was a beautifully illustrated "Collection of Herbs", in which all kinds of flowers, plants, insects and fish were drawn with vivid strokes, and their names and habits were labeled next to them.
"Your Majesty's preparations are about how to protect the country before us." Lin Wanwan looked at Xiao Che, her eyes sparkling with wisdom. "And what I'm preparing is to help him understand what kind of world we live in."
"The Kunyu Map is to let him know the vastness of the world and that his heart should be as vast as the ocean; the telescope is to let him know that his vision should reach far and that his perspective should not be limited; the herbal collection is to let him know that all things have their own spirit and that he should have a benevolent heart."
Her words, like a clear spring, slowly flowed into Xiao Che's heart.
Looking at the three "weird" props his wife had brought out, and then at the "heavy weapons" he had prepared, full of power struggles and the art of governance, he fell into deep thought for the first time.
He hoped his son would maintain the status quo and preserve the empire he had built.
But she hoped that her son would explore and discover a wider world beyond this land.
Two completely different educational philosophies collided in the gentlest and most profound way at this moment, through a few small props used in the baby's first birthday celebration.
Xiao Che was silent for a moment, then laughed loudly. He didn't refute, but instead reached out and mixed the three items Lin Wanwan had prepared with his own "Emperor's Set Meal".
"Excellent! As expected of my Empress!" His eyes were full of admiration. "Maintaining the status quo and expanding the territory, my son wants both! Let him choose for himself!"
Thus, a peculiar scene appeared on the ground mat.
On one side are metal and jade artifacts, symbolizing power, wealth, law, and war, imbued with a profound sense of history.
On the other side are "strange objects" that symbolize the world, the distance, nature, and life, and are full of novelty and a sense of the future.
Ancient and modern, tradition and innovation—two completely different aspirations were miraculously blended together at this moment.
"Here, Mu'an." Lin Wanwan placed the "tuanzi" (a type of dumpling) that she was already eager to eat at one end of the mat.
The little guy's eyes lit up instantly when he saw the huge pile of colorful items in front of him. He excitedly shouted "Ya ya!" and began his second and most important "treasure hunt" in his life, using both his hands and feet.
Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan knelt at the other end of the mat, both holding their breath, their eyes fixed on the small figure.
"Tuanzi" climbed very fast, and his first target was the largest and most conspicuous Imperial Seal of the State.
Xiao Che's heart jumped instantly, and his eyes shone with immense anticipation.
He's here! Truly worthy of being my son! The mandate of heaven has decreed him!
However, just as his hand was about to touch the jade seal, "Tuanzi" used it merely as a support. He braced his chubby little hand on it, used the leverage, and nimbly... climbed over.
Xiao Che's expression froze instantly.
"Tuanzi" had no interest in the cold jade; his next target was the black iron weapon talisman that gleamed with a cold light.
Xiao Che's heart tightened again. Good! He'd choose martial arts over civil administration! He'd surely become a war god in the future!
"Tuanzi" crawled to the military tally, stretched out his little hand, and curiously patted it. He seemed to find it a bit rough, so without hesitation, he walked around it again.
Xiao Che's expression was beginning to crack.
Next, the gleaming abacus and the solemn law were both ruthlessly "chosen" by the young prince, and then... ruthlessly discarded.
He was like a king inspecting his territory, examining all the "empire" his father had prepared for him, and then finding nothing that met his approval.
Xiao Che was completely numb.
Lin Wanwan couldn't help but chuckle as she watched from the side.
Just then, "Tuanzi" stopped. He seemed to have finally found his desired target.
His eyes, bright and sparkling, were fixed on the roundest, largest, and most brightly colored item in the pile of items—the round "ball" that Lin Wanwan had sewn by hand, painted with the five continents and four oceans!
Under the starkly contrasting gazes of the Emperor and Empress, "Tuanzi" burst forth with unprecedented enthusiasm, rushing forward at top speed, using both hands and feet!
Without the slightest hesitation, he grabbed the simple "globe" and hugged it tightly to his chest!
A relieved smile appeared on Lin Wanwan's face.
Xiao Che was stunned, his expression complex. He watched his son abandon the empire and choose a ball representing the "world," and his heart was filled with mixed emotions. So be it, he had a pioneering spirit, not bound by his homeland… this… this was the magnanimity of an emperor!
However, before he could find a suitable reason to comfort himself, his son's actions the next second completely shattered all his mental preparation.
After successfully catching the giant "ball," the little "dumpling" wore a satisfied expression. He adjusted his position and opened his tiny mouth, which had just sprouted two tiny, rice-grain-sized teeth.
Then……
He used all his strength and bit down hard!
He actually wanted to devour this "world"!
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