"That’s right!"
After Yue Er finished reciting her lessons, Zhao Junyao praised her actively.
The little girl was so happy that she wouldn’t let go of her father’s neck.
"Father loves me the most!"
Xia Ruqing sighed softly from the side.
"Do I not love you?"
Yue Er blinked her eyes.
"Mother also loves me!"
"That’s more like it!" Xia Ruqing was satisfied.
Someone secretly wiped their sweat:
Both father and mother need to be appeased, it’s exhausting for the baby!
Dinner was served.
At the end of spring and beginning of summer, when the spring cold is harsh, it’s a time of scarcity.
The meals at Xia Ruqing’s place were as usual quite simple.
A dish of wild greens, Eight Treasure Duck, Mandarin Fish soup, and Spicy Chicken.
The rest of the cold dishes were simple dishes from Chef Jiang’s hometown.
The preparation was not difficult but they were delicious, Xia Ruqing was very fond of them.
Zhao Junyao, troubled by the affairs in the Northwest, still did not have much appetite when he saw these dishes.
But he felt a bit relieved.
After all.
While his people suffered, his Empress did not indulge in luxury and waste.
Each meal was made of homely dishes, refreshing and simple.
Not bad!
Zhao Junyao thought to himself.
Perhaps after turning thirty, he could no longer bear to see the people suffer.
Compared to his younger self, he was less rash and more composed.
Even in matters of state affairs.
He was hesitant to make drastic changes.
After all, the various factions in the court were like towering trees.
Appearing lush and vigorous on the surface, yet deeply intertwined and connected underneath, a small move could affect the whole system.
Such covert actions existed in every dynasty.
Even the wisest monarch could not ensure that all their officials were free from corruption.
As long as it wasn’t too excessive.
Zhao Junyao preferred to turn a blind eye.
He began to understand the words his father once told him.
’The governance of the realm is valued for its clarity, the management of subordinates is valued for its balance!’
’Balance, balance, there is power, there is balance!’
Sometimes, because of an occasional tiny pest, disrupting the balance and the overall situation is unwise!
The most important thing in the court is: ’The overall situation is paramount!’
...
After dinner.
Yue Er was taken away by the wetnurse and Sister to sleep.
Xia Ruqing sat on the kang reading a book.
Zhao Junyao was a little puzzled.
"Why did you start reading, weren’t you not fond of books before?"
It was hard to imagine that a woman who found reading fiction tedious would enjoy reading books!
Xia Ruqing was somewhat helpless.
"What else can I do if I don’t read?"
"If I don’t, even Yue Er could look down on me!"
The little girl was too clever.
No matter whether she understood those books or not, as long as someone taught her, she could soon memorize them.
This intelligence, whom on earth did she inherit it from!
Xia Ruqing glanced wryly at Zhao Junyao.
’This guy’s genes are too strong, how each of these little kids turned out so extraordinary!’
’Are these really the children she gave birth to?’
’When she studied back in her days, she was always among the lowest performers!’
Zhao Junyao chuckled a few times.
He also took a book and started reading.
Half a Shi Chen passed.
The two put down their books, washed and prepared for bed.
Zhao Junyao held her in his arms, suddenly whispered in her ear.
"Qingqing..."
"Hmm?"
"I want to send Chenchen to the battlefield!"
Xia Ruqing: "..."
"No!"
Xia Ruqing sat up abruptly and instinctively refused.
Zhao Junyao patted her back to comfort her.
"Your brother is going too!"
Xia Ruqing hesitated for a moment.
"Still no!"
"He’s already ten!" Zhao Junyao continued.
Xia Ruqing’s heart tightened.
"He’s just ten years old! Emperor, he’s only ten!"
A ten-year-old child, in modern times, would still be in elementary school!
Letting an elementary student go to war, ha-ha, isn’t that ridiculous!
Xia Ruqing strongly protested.
Zhao Junyao was very helpless.
"Qingqing, just follow along, he’s not the commander-in-chief!"
"He’s the Crown Prince, he must be trained!"
The Crown Prince of a country cannot merely learn about the power struggles among ministers in the palace!
He needs to experience the wider world.
Xia Ruqing saw his serious expression and knowing that his tone was incontestable.
Her heart skipped a beat and a bad premonition filled her.
’It’s over, this is not changeable now!’
What to do?
What to do?
It’s the battlefield! Going to the battlefield!
Letting a ten-year-old child go to the battlefield, she couldn’t accept that!
Aren’t ancient people psychotic! This is child abuse, isn’t it?
Couldn’t it be later at least? Thirteen, fifteen, that would be okay!
But Chenchen is just ten, isn’t that too young!!
She didn’t know until she became a mother.
After becoming a mother, she truly became unbelievably soft-hearted.
Wishing like a mother hen to spread wings and shield her children under her protection, only feeling assured when watching over them constantly.