Chapter 179: The Year of the Son of Heaven (Part 2)

Chunjia and Yuan Niangniang didn't get along very well when they first met. The Empress Dowager Yuan thought that children were forgetful, and besides Chunjia was not a stingy person, so just coaxed her.

In fact, it was indeed the case.

If Chunjia hadn't heard Concubine Zhuang say in a contemptuous tone that Yuan Niangniang is a girl who is "not even qualified to be in charge of the palace".

After hearing her grandmother's evaluation of Yuan Niangniang, and seeing that Yuan Niangniang was indeed inferior to many maids in the palace except for her background, it was hard for Chunjia not to believe what Concubine Zhuang said.

And no matter how careful he was, he was the only male heir of the palace, the vassal king who inherited the throne at a young age... How could he accept Yuan Niangniang?

After Chunjia grew up, it wasn't that she didn't suspect that Concubine Zhuang was unwilling to die because her relationship with her daughter-in-law was too bad. No, I thought it was revenge.

But the fact is, no matter what kind of intentions this grandmother has, Chunjia believes that what she said about Yuan Niangniang is the truth.

Although he believed in Concubine Zhuang at that time, he still had hope for Queen Mother Yuan.

So in private, he euphemistically expressed his dislike for Yuan Niangniang and the idea that he did not want her to stay in the palace.

Empress Dowager Yuan spent a lot of effort coaxing him, and then told a lot of allusions about how the heavenly generals will be appointed to the people.

He obediently obeyed, as Empress Dowager Yuan said, he was too young at that time, and he was the new owner of the palace in name, but in fact he had to rely on Empress Dowager Yuan for everything...he could only be obedient.

Later, Chunjia thought, if he had acted like a baby, or even acted a bit more aggressively, maybe the Empress Dowager Yuan would have considered his thoughts and agreed to change to someone he could accept.

But he didn't.

Because he is not Queen Mother Yuan's biological son, his title of eldest son and title at that time were all managed by Queen Mother Yuan and the Fuyang Yuan family, so he didn't have the confidence to lose his temper, he dared not.

From then on, he never once said that he didn't like Yuan Niangniang in the palace.

Even the Empress Dowager Yuan couldn't stand her niece's unruliness, so when she complained to him, he comforted him softly, saying that Yuan Niangniang was young and ignorant, she had no bad intentions, and it would be better if she grew up... He often thought of Kunze when he said these words.

His only biological sister, according to the rules at this time, Kunze is the legitimate daughter of Queen Mother Yuan.

But Empress Dowager Yuan didn't even raise her personally, saying that she was sympathetic to the separation of Qu's mother and child and handing her over to Qu's upbringing, but in fact she didn't care about it at all.

Chunjia watched coldly, Yuan Niangniang's treatment in the palace was much better than that of Kunze, the official daughter of the palace.

Empress Dowager Yuan knew all these things, but she let them go as a matter of course.

So it's hard for him not to feel in danger.

He spends more time on his studies, and of course he fulfills the teacher's requirements to the letter, and he will do his best to do what the teacher doesn't ask for. The teacher was relieved and praised him to Queen Mother Yuan , Empress Dowager Yuan was distressed and advised him not to work so hard, he is a vassal king after all, and he doesn't want to be the number one scholar like ordinary people.

It means it.

Wouldn't it be nice to spend more time with Yuan Niangniang?

Maybe Empress Dowager Yuan was giving an example casually, and she didn't mean not to want him to be too capable, but Chunjia broke out in a cold sweat, and he hurriedly said: "My son wants to make the empress proud."

Seeing Empress Dowager Yuan's delighted smile, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that if one day he can't become a vassal king, he won't even be able to keep this palace and the property of the palace...Study hard, at least you will have a skill, can earn a living.

He was in his early tenth year.

Outsiders look like a very lucky little nobleman, but as a concubine, he has to make an exception to become a nobleman. He has passed on the beauty of his biological mother but not the frailty of his biological father. And getting along day and night since childhood... is something that many people dream of, and they dare not dream of in ten lifetimes.

But Chunjia felt that, as if in response to his grandmother's words, he actually had nothing.

Only the handwriting that becomes more and more fluent day by day, the classics and anthologies that are more familiar with each day, and the bow and horse riding that is more proficient day by day can give him a moment of peace of mind.

Then he was forced by the sense of urgency and continued to work hard.

And Empress Dowager Yuan was taken up by her difficult niece for most of her time and energy. Listening to the teacher's praise, she didn't feel that her son needed to worry too much—even occasionally seeing Chunjia calm and not too tired, she would Complain to him that Yuan Niangniang is not well-behaved and ignorant.

She didn't know that in Chunjia's opinion, those complaints were worded in distasteful terms, but the tone was intimate and conniving.

This is cruel and cold for a child who doubts his status in the eyes of his aunt.

If it was Yun Fenghuang, she would cry, make trouble, and use tricks to fight for favor... If it really doesn't work, she will kill Yuan Niangniang.

But Chunjia was very patient, and repeatedly persuaded Queen Mother Yuan to forgive Yuan Niangniang, and told Queen Mother Yuan not to care about this cousin again and again, so Queen Mother Yuan thought that he and Yuan Niuniang had already developed feelings for each other.

Chunjia's idea is that the aunt is not really angry, if he follows her, it may cause some troubles, so that the already estranged mother-child relationship will be further cracked.

He was just not satisfied with working behind closed doors, and under various banners, asked the teachers of the palace to lead him out to increase his knowledge.

In those few years, he personally traveled all over Fuyang County, saw all kinds of people and things, grew and transformed in the stumbles, and accumulated the initial word of mouth and confidantes, and even went to the village quietly to express his condolences toffee.

Because he was afraid that Empress Dowager Yuan would find out, he didn't dare to stay longer, so he just burned some paper money for the grandmother and told her in a low voice: "The grandson is grateful to you now."

After getting in touch with Li Shu's marketplace, Chunjia realized more and more that, not to mention Concubine Zhuang's intentions, her exhortations are really worth listening to.

The prince can be snatched away, the wealth will be gone, and those who vowed to go through fire and water for him today may be strangers tomorrow...Only his accumulated talents, skills, experience, vision, and courage are always his. of.

This is the basis for him to settle down even when he is demoted to a commoner, and it is also the confidence that he will not be controlled by others when he is a vassal king and emperor.

It was not without grievances and heartaches. I imagined that if I was born to my aunt, would I not need to work hard like this? No need to endure girls I don’t like? How much but dare not reveal it?

However, when the discussion in the county about the vassal king being young and wise, which is a blessing for the fief, became more and more prosperous, the eyes of the whole palace looked at him with increasing awe, and the attitudes of the fief officials became more respectful every time when they came to report, and those sufferings and hardships quickly disappeared. Forget it.

At that time, Chunjia felt that the palace that he thought was the whole world when he was young was actually very small.

Outside the palace, the splendor of the fiefdom is enough for him to stop worrying about how much the Empress Dowager Yuan treats him with sincerity or hypocrisy, regardless of Yuan Niangniang's savagery, and Concubine Zhuang's intentions... Not to mention the world outside the fiefdom.

In contrast, the palace where Concubine Zhuang left was simply monotonous and boring.

Empress Dowager Yuan cleaned up the entire palace thoroughly, and dismissed all the old people left behind by the concubine, and she was the master of the palace from now on.

She arranged for the steward to take care of the daily routine, and freed up her hands to concentrate on coaxing her wayward niece.

As for the concubine, she was handed over to Qu's family and raised in a side courtyard without going out. Both of them are very knowledgeable and never come out to be an eyesore.

Cute and non-existent.

So every time Chunjia went to pay her respects to Empress Dowager Yuan, the mother and son greeted each other warmly, and the only topic they could talk about was Yuan Niangniang, except for some boring parents.

It's not that Chunjia didn't try to tell the queen mother what she had seen and heard outside, but the queen mother always focused on pitying him for being wronged and persuading him not to work so hard next time.

From the Empress Dowager's point of view, she truly loves this hardworking son.

But in Chunjia, he was worried that the queen mother would not let him go out if he said too much, so he shut up decisively and would not mention this next time, and just honestly accompanied the queen mother to discuss Yuan Niangniang.

Empress Dowager Yuan thought she was being hypocritical towards her niece at this time, and every time she finished coaxing her niece lovingly and affectionately, she would turn her head and tell Chunjia her heart and soul: If Niang can't give birth to a son, she can be replaced, and Niang is My son showed the evidence of being tolerant and kind, remembering the old love, and my mother dismissed her when she was almost of use, which is not in vain for our mother's indulgence to her all these years...

Chunjia responded on the surface, but she was very suspicious in her heart. What would she say when she was in front of Yuan Niangniang and the nephew and aunt in private?

Is it coaxing her with hypocrisy, or is it so heart and soul, so that Yuan Niangniang doesn't have to take herself too seriously, because: "Everything is with my aunt, even if the emperor is unhappy, Aijia will help you coax him Just like... A concubine who can inherit the king's title is not because the Ai family has contributed money and efforts to our Yuan family, otherwise, how could he have such a great fortune! If it wasn't for the matter of Chengjue that left a little impression in the court, later His Majesty Xiaozong has no heirs, who would think of him? It is all thanks to our family that he has today, and he should give you a more comfortable life!"

Otherwise, there were no discerning people around Yuan Niangniang, even after he couldn't stand the fiancee's savagery, he also turned around and hinted many times, why didn't she grow up?

During this period, he wanted to have a good and straightforward talk with Empress Dowager Yuan several times, but every time he thought about it, he remembered what Concubine Zhuang said before she died.

She said that the tree in the embrace is born at the end of the millet; the nine-story platform starts from the pile of soil.

These are words in "Lao Tzu" that imply the importance of subtle accumulation and being serious and down-to-earth - but Chunjia's understanding is that his grandmother is suggesting to him that he should be tolerant, and not let go of the shackles for a day, and don't show up for a day.

Because he may not be able to afford the consequences after the showdown.

Under the circumstances at that time, Chunjia weighed the pros and cons. If the Empress Dowager Yuan really loved Yuan Niangniang more than him, if the Fuyang Yuan family turned against him because of his rejection of Yuan Niangniang... Even if he didn't lose the king, he would definitely do what he did in the future. Subject to various constraints.

And this will inevitably affect his future.

In contrast, it is safer to endure Yuan Niangniang.

He has been cautious in his words and deeds for so many years, and there is no need to ruin his previous efforts and hard work for a momentary impulse.