novelcrest Chapter 397 Can I be a good Crown Prince?
Chapter 397 Can I be a good Crown Prince?
This is absolutely unacceptable. If we agree to this, we will be going against the thousands of years of tradition of studying. Since ancient times, people have encouraged students to study by burning the midnight oil and rising at dawn, and by emphasizing that "youth will not come again and a day will not dawn twice."
The Empress Dowager's every word was to instruct the princes to indulge in hedonism.
Shen Shixi wasn't surprised that Lu Shixun disagreed. There's always a reason for disagreement. She was used to putting herself in others' shoes when dealing with things, so she said, "Tell me, why can't we comply?"
Lu Shixun said, "Diligence is key to reading. 'Jade that is not carved cannot become a useful object, and a person who does not learn cannot know.' Only through diligent study can one gain true knowledge and insight!"
Shen Shixi said, "I admit that what you say makes sense, but the only knowledge a person needs to learn in their life is what is written in books. The princes will not need to take the imperial examinations in the future, so what's the point of reading so many books?"
Whoever wants to pursue scholarship in the future can study; they don't need to be particularly skilled in riding and archery, mainly for physical fitness; what they really need to learn is to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil, to understand the hardships of farming, and to comprehend the joys and sorrows of the common people.
Unfortunately, these things cannot be taught; you have to figure them out on your own.
Lu Shixun said, "The words of sages teach us about right and wrong, good and evil."
Shen Shixi said, "That's right. These ancient sages all wrote books to teach future generations. If reading books could make you understand these things, why was there a Warring States period? Why are sages so rare throughout history, while evildoers are as numerous as hairs on a cow?"
Lu Shixun was confused. "Your Majesty, I am ignorant. Please enlighten me!"
Shen Shixi said, "I have always believed in the saying, 'Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.' Of course, there are wise words in books, but we should learn the principles of life from life itself. It is important to understand the classics, but I think it is even more important that the princes do not say 'Why don't they eat meat porridge?'"
Lu Shixun was unknowingly persuaded and agreed, "Your subject obeys!"
As soon as he stepped out of Qianyuan Palace, the wind and snow hit him in the face, and he suddenly realized, "Good heavens, I've been tricked again!"
But if he were to go back and tell the Empress, "I am afraid I cannot comply," he would be courting death!
When the imperial edict arrived at Chongxian Hall, the teachers all found it absurd. The Third Prince's faction felt that the Empress was trying to delay their studies, while the Crown Prince and others cheered and discussed raising silkworms, going on outings, shopping, and exchanging ideas with students at Yongxi Academy.
This year's New Year's banquet will be grand, and the tradition of the emperor and his officials staying up all night on New Year's Eve will also be observed. Last year, because the empress was pregnant and did not stay up all night, there were already rumors that Guanzhong suffered a severe drought and locust plague.
Shen Shixi assigned the Second Prince to be in charge of the New Year's banquet with the Imperial Household Department, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and the Ministry of Rites, but he only had the right to participate and not the right to make decisions. The Second Prince was so happy when he received the imperial decree that he almost jumped for joy.
After leaving Qianyuan Palace, he rushed to his mother's palace. Upon seeing Consort Xian, he smiled and said, "Mother, the Empress has assigned me tasks. I am to participate in the arrangements for this year's New Year's banquet, and I will also be responsible for preparing for Father's New Year's Eve vigil."
Consort Xian exclaimed in surprise, "Really?"
She looked her son over and said, "You're all grown up now. Your mother will assign you tasks, so you must do your best and never disappoint your mother."
"Your subject understands, Your subject will certainly do a good job." The Second Prince sat down at his mother's feet, massaging her legs, and looked up happily, saying,
"Mother said today that I will go out to practice with the students of Yongxi Academy after the New Year. Wasn't Guanzhong hit by a severe drought and locust plague last year? Now is the time when food is scarce. I will go there to see how I can help and also to study the locust plague and see how to prevent it."
Consort Xian said, "That's good! Your mother is an extremely intelligent person, and she is also upright and honest. If you listen to her often and learn from her, you will surely benefit."
"Your subject obeys!"
With Shen Shixi's decree, the court granted a New Year's holiday, and Chongxian Hall followed suit. No longer looking forward to the old year, the princes had to study even on New Year's Eve, and only had a holiday on the first day of the new year.
The Crown Prince and Xihe were also given a holiday. They heard that after the start of the new year, they could sleep until dawn. Xihe was very happy, but the Crown Prince was a little depressed.
Shen Shixi asked curiously, and Xihe said, "Master told my brother that he is the Crown Prince, unlike us. He must not play wildly during the holidays, but study hard so that he can be a good heir apparent."
Shen Shixi found these words offensive. She pulled the crown prince onto her lap and asked, "Son, what are you thinking?"
The prince nestled in his mother's arms, looking pitiful, and asked, "Mother, can I be a good prince?"
Shen Shixi kissed him on the forehead, "Of course you can! If you can't, then there's no one else in the world who can be a good crown prince."
However, when your mother gave birth to you, you were not yet the crown prince.
The prince exclaimed "Ah!" Even Xihe was caught off guard, and asked, "What was my younger brother like when he was born?"
The crown prince was also curious.
Shen Shixi said, "No one is born a prince. At least for the first fifteen minutes after Dongjun was born, he was not a prince. He was himself, a child who came into this world happily."
"So how did my younger brother become the crown prince?"
Shen Shixi looked at the two children who had a strong thirst for knowledge and said, "Then, because he was born of his mother, he was the son of his father and mother, and also Xihe's younger brother, so his father made him the crown prince."
"Dongjun, do you understand what your mother means?"
Dongjun seemed to be thinking about something, then nodded after a moment's thought, "Mother means that I am who I am, I am the son of my parents, the younger brother of my sister, the older brother of my brothers, and only then am I the Crown Prince."
Although he didn't understand what it meant, he at least understood one thing: being the crown prince meant being last in line, and he himself was the most important.
Xihe cried out and threw herself into her mother's arms. "Mother, I don't want to be the crown prince anymore. I'm happy just being myself. I'm still my parents' child, and my brothers' older sister!"
Shen Shixi held one child in each arm, feeling particularly gratified. "Oh, Mother is so happy! My darlings are all so smart! Dongjun, just be yourself. Xihe, do whatever you want. As long as you are healthy and happy every day, Mother will be very happy."
My older brother and sister are on holiday and don't have to go to school anymore. They spend a lot of time in the palace every day, which makes Fuguang and Wangshu very happy. They playfully chatter with their older brother and sister every day, running around in the palace. The palace is filled with laughter and joy every day, and the atmosphere is wonderful.
The Ninth Prince was the Crown Prince's shadow, and he came to see the Crown Prince almost every day.
When he arrives, he naturally has to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager. Other princes and princesses, seeing this, would feel obliged to pay their respects, lest they be branded as unfilial and ruin their lives.
I come every day.
Shen Shixi got annoyed and ordered that the emperor not to come unless necessary.
Just two days ago, the Seventh Prince was ill and did not come. He had just arrived today when he encountered Chao En, who was sent out by imperial decree, to deliver a message: "Her Majesty the Empress has decreed that since it is cold, Your Highnesses are free to sleep in a little longer each day and do not need to come to pay their respects every day. If you wish to play with the Crown Prince and Princess Xihe, you may come directly."
The fourth prince then said to the seventh prince, "Seventh prince, we greeted him just fine every day when you weren't here. But now that you're here, even Mother doesn't treat us well anymore. Why did you come? Aren't you just harming us?"
The seventh prince gave his fourth brother a deep look, but said nothing.
Everyone knows he was born to the former empress. His father does not acknowledge his birth mother's position as empress. Several of his brothers are jealous of Dongjun and Xihe and ostracize him, fearing that if they get along with him, it will offend their mother.
Xihe passed by and, upon hearing this, said to the Fourth Prince, "Fourth Brother, are you bullying Seventh Brother again? Who said that Mother doesn't like Seventh Brother and that's why she doesn't let you come to pay your respects? Mother just wants the imperial brothers to sleep a little longer. What you're doing is very annoying!"