Returning to the Past (2)

And in reality, just as how certain people thought, those families that had their children watched very tightly all got dismissed. Moreover, aside from the study companions, the other playmates can still enter the palace to accompany the crown prince every once in a while. However, those people didn’t even have this privilege. Jing Wan’s reasoning was also simple. Those children aren’t small anymore, so to continuously enter the palace isn’t good, instead should just properly study at home.

To put it bluntly, it was all just an excuse. The oldest ones were all still present after all.

Based on natural behavior, when the child is still small, the mother or grandmother looking after a little tightly isn’t that serious, but when already eight or nine years old, yet still insisting on having them tied to the waist, Jing Wan didn’t want to go challenge that ‘compassionate motherly love’ of theirs either, making it like as if she was a bully trying to steal their children. Thus, why go through the trouble.

Because of this, those that had gone back to reprimand their wife or daughter-in-law during the lantern festival once again flew into a thundering rage.

Even though Jing Wan never once state clearly, no one was stupid, so how could they not be able to tell. Thus, those boys that got sent back home by the empress, when going out to play, all got mocked and laughed at by the other children of the same age for still needing to drink milk, and ‘don’t bother coming out, quickly go back home to nestle in one’s mother or grandmother’s bosom’.

A eight nine year old child’s ego was also extremely strong, so they naturally just went back to throw a tantrum, having those elders that overly spoiled them all angered quite terribly. However, afterwards, those elders still didn’t know to ‘reflect and repent’, still coaxing their precious child like a baby. As for whether or not those people will hold a grudge against Jing Wan inside, who would care?

Never mind that Jing Wan knew nothing about this, even if she knew, the her right now won’t even furrow her brow.

And in this way, the little crown prince pitifully started his schooling. His teachers simply weren’t just those few that got appointed, but rather all the civil and military officials of the court. That’s right, also including the military generals. Aside from his main course everyday, those people all took turns teaching him. His schedule everyday was full to the brim, not having much time for crooked thoughts.

Jing Wan at first was still worried whether or not he was able to handle this level of studying, paying attention to his situation everyday, even flicking through his hair from time to time, seeing whether or not he had white hair, just fearing that he would age prematurely. However, reality proved that her worries were purely excessive. In front of her, this brat would pretend to be pitiful in all kinds of ways, wanting hugs and kisses, but in reality, when needing to study, he would all study diligently, and even have it all absorbed. In the remaining time, when not in front of her, he was as lively as a dragon, full of energy, occasionally even finding the time to continue causing mischief.

Because her worries were a bit overboard, Jing Wan didn’t get laughed at and ‘sorted out’ by her husband any less.

Jing Wan rolled her eyes at him, “If you’re so capable, then when you were this big, what were you doing?”

“From the start, I just got excluded as a successor to the throne, so naturally don’t need to learn these things. Even when formally starting one’s schooling, can also just ‘fish for three days and dry the net for two days[1]‘.” Li Hong Yuan quite confidently said, “But your son, who let him be born as the crown prince.”

Jing Wan had that tiny bit of heartache, but afterwards, she just fakely smiled, “You ‘fishing for three days and drying the net for two days’, yet still can be a ‘good emperor’ now.”

Whether it was actually praising or not, Li Hong Yuan naturally could make out, but he didn’t mind in the slightest, “That’s because this emperor has a good empress.” That’s why, regardless of what, it was all Jing Wan’s own ‘credit’. How you evaluate yourself inside, heheh, Li Hong Yuan expressed that it had nothing to do with him.

Jing Wan felt her hand itch, wanting to beat him. However, if she really were to beat him, the one out of luck would just be her. Unable to win in argument, unable to win in a fight, Jing Wan was also quite sullen.

In this way, even though the masters in the palace were few, it was still very lively.

In a flash, the little crown prince was five years old, already completely accustomed to high intensity learning. And at the same time, he continued going to the imperial study to ‘listen to politics’. Going to listen at this time won’t just simply be listening. Li Hong Yuan will even throw him some memorandums to take back, and once he finished reading them, he even needed to give his evaluation. These memorandums absolutely won’t just be the kind with empty words, because that kind of thing simply won’t appear before Li Hong Yuan.

TN: All

Thus, the little crown prince could only continue being miserable.

Sometimes, he would even secretly think, it’ll be great if he can become the emperor some day.

But, this thought was very distant. His father was still young and vigorous, clearly already in his early thirties, yet still the same as before he became the emperor———-He’d seen Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan’s portraits from that time. His mother had changed a little, just appearing even more mature and wise, having extraordinary bearing. She was also just twenty-three, so naturally won’t appear old. That’s why, no matter how one looked at it, he all had the possibility of being the crown prince for a lifetime. Truthfully speaking, he can’t guarantee whether or not he will just end up with some problems, if he were to sit stifled in this position for too long. Is it just this sullenly living under his parents, or simply imitate his father for once, having his own old man overthrown, and ascend the throne himself? ——–The matter of rebelling and forcing the emperor to abdicate, it was even Li Hong Yuan personally telling his son, even rather looking forward to his son accomplishing a magnificent feat.

However, the little crown prince knew that his father and grandfather were different. If his father doesn’t lower the difficulty for him, then the success rate of his ‘grand scheme’ will be close to zero. But if he really were to make it easy, then it would just mean that even if he becomes the emperor, he would still get ruthlessly suppressed.

The little crown prince expressed that he really was very ‘melancholic’.

The ‘melancholic’ little crown prince covered himself with the blanket, and very quickly just fell sound asleep, sprawled out on all four, his sleeping posture very ‘bold and unconstrained’, not the least bit like someone that was ‘anxious and worried’.

Gong mama came in to check on him twice, just helping him cover his stomach with the blanket. Although it was just the middle of the third month, not that long since the imperial birthday, but because of knowing that he didn’t sleep properly, Jing Wan didn’t take down his sleeping chamber’s ground fire. That’s why, one didn’t need to worry about him freezing.

Unknown as to when, the little crown prince woke up, but not fully awake, just subconsciously shifting his position, properly covering himself with the thin blanket, with his two hands folded on top. A very proper and strict sleeping posture. “Someone come.” Just, as soon as his voice sounded, his little brow just furrowed, a trace of confusion flashing across his face.

Gong mama immediately came in with the lamp, “Your Highness, is it needing to go to the toilet?” There was also a trace of confusion in her eyes. When has the crown prince ever slept this properly before?

The little crown prince opened his eyes, but then closed them again, “No need, what time is it?”

“Still early, still more than an hour to go.”

“En, why don’t you withdraw first.” The little crown prince said with a blurry voice, seemingly about to fall asleep again.

Gong mama felt a bit baffled, but she also didn’t think too much of it, tucking the blanket for the little crown prince, just treating it as him having himself ‘covered tightly’ because he was cold.

Once Gong mama left, the person on the bed opened his eyes again, and afterwards, sat up. His eyes slightly adapted to the dark, discovering a faint moonlight. He soundlessly got up from the bed, and following the moonlight, he walked barefoot over towards the window. During the entire process, he even checked out his surroundings, just roughly looking at the layout. It was unfamiliar, yet also familiar.

Where the window was located, the night breeze won’t directly blow into the room. That’s why, it was just half covered. Through the window, the moonlight directly spilled in. The field of vision was pretty good.

The little crown prince extended his little hands, clenching under the moonlight, like as if confirming his body. Afterwards, he rolled up his sleeves, looking towards the inner side of his right elbow. That place sure enough had a little red mole. Although it wasn’t considered big, it was still very distinct. This was without a doubt his own body.

“This is having returned to the past?” He soundlessly opened his mouth, still carrying a bit of uncertainty. But, there wasn’t any fear, also appearing very composed. “Just now, that must have been Gong mama.”

However, he felt that things seemingly weren’t the same. The most obvious was just….

He turned around. The things scattered on the ground were clearly children’s toys. In his memory, he never had these things. He didn’t have them when he was five, and he also didn’t have them at an even early age.

Things seemingly were a bit interesting. However, prior to figuring out some things, it was best for him to not act rashly.

Thinking to here, he returned back to bed.

[1] This proverb just means work for three days and then be lazy for two days.