Third, Ji Zha

He is truly a remarkably intelligent child, possessing an understanding of reason and a sense of propriety that far exceeds his age

"It is reasonable and logical, nothing to be surprised about." After pondering for a moment, I murmured, "Zhi Yun is indeed a person of some insight, not like those ordinary officials."

"Is it just teaching 'Han Poetry'?"

"Oh?" I was a bit surprised, but not to the point of being alarmed. "So what are you studying now? Last year you studied the 'Book of Rites,' right? I still remember how you were always tinkering with the 'Greater Dai Li' and 'Lesser Dai Li'... Which one of the Five Classics are you teaching now? Is the pace too fast, and are you finding it too exhausting to learn?"

I breathed a sigh of relief; fortunately, Liu Jing is sleeping at this moment, and Liu Cang just went out for a stroll with the wet nurse and has not returned yet. Otherwise, these six little rascals would surely drive me crazy.

Liu Yang stood quietly at the door, his hair combed neatly. I waved at him, and just as he stepped inside, a petite figure darted out behind him, laughing and shouting: "Mother, let me tell you, Fourth Brother didn't listen to Master today. Master wanted to hit his palm, and he even argued back with Master..."

"Yes"

I smiled slightly, without making a sound

"Come down! Father has been busy in court all morning and is already very tired. You should not be making things difficult for him!" Liu Yang spoke, appearing very much like a little adult.

Liu Yang's small face flushed slightly as he hesitantly approached. A mother knows her child best; how could I not understand his little, petty thoughts? This child is at the transitional stage between childhood and adolescence, exhibiting a maturity in character beyond that of his peers, yet his mentality still cannot escape the confines of a little boy.

Ah

Nonsense

Boys and girls are different; girls can nestle in their parents' arms and act spoiled at will, while boys embody half the nature of a child and half the demeanor of an adult. He is growing up, and within his tender heart, there is not only dependence on his parents but also a greater sense of imitation and admiration. I believe I am not suitable to be the idol he emulates; the role model effect of a father holds greater advantages for a boy.

Liu Xiu could not resist her and had no choice but to let go

As the Crown Prince, Liu Qiang naturally enjoys the most favorable material conditions, a privilege unmatched by anyone else in the world, as dictated by the system, which cannot be forcibly transcended. However, how much Liu Qiang can truly learn depends on his innate talent and subsequent efforts. The entire court, both civil and military officials, is closely watching this young Crown Prince, anticipating his growth, simply because he is the Crown Prince, the heir to the throne of Emperor Jianwuhan.

The father and son exchanged their school bags, and their conversation was filled with knowledge. Not to mention that I am currently not in the mood to pay attention to these matters; even if I were to listen, I would completely fail to understand what they were discussing

I held my breath; Yin Xing is not a master storyteller, so the language of this story lacks any vividness. However, for some reason, I am deeply drawn to it.

......If my mother were the queen...... I could be as imposing as the crown prince, no...... no! There is no such thing as a crown prince! If my mother were the queen, how could a son born of a concubine possibly become the crown prince? The crown prince of this country should be me instead......

I bit my lip with a sense of guilt, feeling anxious and unsettled within

"Indeed, he is quite talented... Has Your Majesty assigned him any other tasks? Surely, you are not still considering having him return to the East Gate as a mere gatekeeper?"

Chen Minqi said, "It seems that the noble person is not surprised at all"

"However..." he paused, raised his head, and a proud light appeared on his face, "The thirteen brothers of the Deng family each focus on only one specialty, and Liang Hou does not teach much. The child once asked him the reason, and he said this is due to the limited aptitude of individuals"

I nodded, considering it to be quite honest

I could not help but scold, "There are no rules or order, hurry down!"

"Your nephew is showing off and flaunting his little cleverness..." I maintained a serious expression and recounted the events that occurred at noon.

I inquired discreetly, "What is being discussed today?"

She was shaking her head and enjoying her mindfulness to the fullest, which earned her a roll of the eyes from Liu Yang: "Go, play over there! What do you know?"

He jumped back in panic, retreating while assuming a defensive stance: "Mother, what are you doing? Father is not angry, and... ah—Mother, you are using trickery, how can you launch a sneak attack?"

I was quite anxious, yet I did not dare to interrupt at this moment. Liu Yang hesitated for a moment, glancing slightly in my direction, but ultimately could not hide his satisfaction as he replied, "Yes"

He stubbornly pressed his lips together in silence, yet his small face, still unskilled at concealing emotions, revealed a hint of disdain.

"Almost."

The child solemnly remembers the teachings of the father emperor

Liu Yang's face flushed with anger as he said, "The Analects was compiled by many hands, with its recorders being Confucius's disciples, their successors, and also individuals outside of the Confucian school. In the present day, there are already three versions in written form: the Lu version contains twenty chapters; the Ancient Text version contains twenty-one chapters; and the Qi version contains twenty-two chapters... Since the master is teaching the Analects today, I am curious about which version he is teaching. What is wrong with asking?"

At that time, when the state was in chaos, Ji Zha happened to be on a diplomatic mission to the state of Lu. Consequently, Ji Zha's half-brother Liao seized the position of the ruler and became the King of Wu

I was anxious and called out, "Your Majesty, actually..."

"No... I have already finished reading the "Spring and Autumn"."

Zhong Li secretly glanced at me. Usually, when I say one, she would never dare to retort with two, of course, this is under the condition that Liu Xiu is not present. When Liu Xiu is around, she relies on her power and completely disregards my words, only slightly taken aback before continuing to cling to her father's neck, acting coyly and saying, "Mother has scolded me again. Father, please issue an edict that Mother is not allowed to scold me in the future."

My son cannot possibly become Wu Jizi, even if his fate, due to my negligence, has unfortunately placed him in the same predicament as Wu Jizi. However, his final decision will never be the same as that of Wu Jizi.

A chill ran through my heart; just last night I was contemplating investigating this Zhi Yun to see if he could be of use to me, yet I did not expect that I was already a step too late.

King Yi crossed his arms and, feigning profundity, cleared his throat. Imitating Liu Xiu's demeanor, he squinted his eyes and smiled, saying: "The 'Book of Songs' states: 'In fear and trepidation, it is only you and I. In peace and joy, you have turned away from me.' In my humble beginnings, I married into the Yin family..."

How did Ji Zha do it

"I believe this is the crux of the matter." Yin Xing's gaze was piercing, "If it is to ensure that the Fourth Prince matures into a talented individual, how can one conceal his brilliance? The timing of this matter, whether early or late, makes little difference." Suddenly, he burst into laughter, so unexpectedly that a chill ran down my spine, and the hairs on my neck stood on end, "It is no wonder that the noble does not understand the 'Spring and Autumn Annals,' and thus fails to grasp His Majesty's intentions. In my view, today's events are an auspicious sign"

The righteous king added, "Today, the master teaches the first chapter 'On Learning': 'Is it not a joy to learn and to practice it at the right time? Is it not a pleasure to have friends come from afar? Is it not a mark of a gentleman to remain unperturbed when others do not understand him?'"

Oh? Which master do you usually teach under? As soon as Liu Xiu finished speaking, Dai Ang, who was waiting at the door, immediately sent someone to call the master.

What do you think the purpose of this 'Ji Zi' is? It is briefly mentioned in the "Spring and Autumn Annals, Gongyang Commentary" that this person is named Zha, ranked fourth, hence he is referred to as Ji Zi, a prince of the State of Wu from six hundred years ago. Ji Zha's father, Shou Meng, was a king in the State of Wu, and he had four legitimate sons: Ye, Yu Ji, Yi Mei, and Zha. Ji Zha, the youngest, was the most intelligent and talented, and his elder brothers all wished for their younger brother to inherit the throne, thus making a promise of brotherly succession. The throne of the State of Wu was inherited by Ye, who died and was succeeded by Yu Ji, and after Yu Ji's death, Yi Mei ascended to the throne...

I had already known the answer three years ago, had I not

Can you explain the "Analects"?

"You little brat, I told you to learn some restraint!" I angrily punched him, "Always showing off how capable you are, huh? Let's see how capable you are in the future!"

"Truly, my nephew is remarkable; at such a young age, he possesses such talent and pride, daring to mock those whom the world praises as sages and virtuous individuals!"

Chen Min saw the two of them return and was already busy preparing lunch, with no outsiders around. I called Liu Yang over and asked him very seriously, "Is what your sister said true?"

Liu Yang shot her a glance and remained silent. I quickly interjected, "In the future, be more humble in your studies and do not always think too highly of yourself. Now, go wash your hands and get ready for dinner"

In front was Liu Hongfu, behind him was Liu Zhongli, and beside them was Liu Yi Wang, who kept clapping and cheering loudly, looking as if he thrived on chaos. I saw Liu Xiu still smiling without a trace of anger, which made me furrow my brow and angrily say, "Why don't you hurry up and come down? This is truly disrespectful." I raised my hand in a threatening gesture, glaring at Zhongli, "If you don't come down soon, be careful or I will hit you!"

The words left the King of Righteousness dumbfounded, and after a long pause, he finally asked in a daze, "So... which one do you think is the best?"

"Oh?" I said with a smile, "How does Your Majesty respond?"

I was momentarily taken aback. If the previous moment left me confused, then these three seemingly unrelated words left me even more perplexed. Wu Jizi? A person's name? A place name? Or...

"Indeed, the servant has checked, and this person is well-versed in the 'Han Poems' and 'Yanshi Spring and Autumn', and is knowledgeable in astronomy and calendars"

"Wu Jizi?" Yin Xing's reaction was unusual; he was not anxious about Liu Xiu discovering that Liu Yang had another teacher. Instead, he inexplicably focused on the peripheral details, asking, "Did Your Majesty truly say 'Wu Jizi' to the Fourth Prince?"

"Your Majesty, the command is to serve in the hall..." The clever little girl, clearly having anticipated my thoughts, blinked her eyes and smiled, saying, "In the hall of service, it is only necessary to readjust the Fourth Prince's studies, which will also free up time for attending the lectures."

Her pair of eyes closely resembled her father's, deliberately mimicking Liu Xiu's smiling expression at that moment. The charmingly naive demeanor truly left one both amused and exasperated. In front of these children, my face was ultimately not thick enough; the moment was lacking in finesse, and my ears subtly flushed, as if they were about to catch fire. I glanced hurriedly at Liu Xiu, but he remained as indifferent as a clay statue, completely unmoved, allowing the little ones to tease him without a trace of anger.

Liu Xiu was clearly taken aback by his response, his eyelids widening abruptly, and his gaze radiating brilliance. In that moment, I stood by the side and felt an overwhelming sense of suffocation.

Liu Xiu did not even furrow his brows, still smiling as he crouched down. Before he could lift Hong Fu, Zhong Li behind him had already leaped onto his back, wrapping his arms around his neck and laughing heartily.

She smiled gently and said, "How could a servant dare to indulge in play and forget the matters instructed by the noble one? You surely cannot imagine that early this morning, Zhi Yun presented a memorial, stating, 'In the past, King Wen did not dare to indulge in leisurely pursuits, for he was concerned about the welfare of the people. Yet Your Majesty hunts in the mountains and forests, day and night, what does this mean for the state and the ancestral temples? The warning of the fierce tiger crossing the river, though it may seem trivial, is indeed a concern of this humble servant.'"

"I do not care whether he has lice or not. You need to understand that the crux of the issue is not this right now." For more than three years, I have deliberately nurtured Liu Yang, with the hope that one day he would have the strength to compete with Liu Qiang. However, such intentions can only be hidden deep within my heart and cannot be brought to the surface for discussion—if a woman from the inner court were to rashly comment on state affairs, harboring selfish desires for the change of the dynasty and its principles, if this were to be publicized, it would quickly lead to catastrophic consequences.

Liu Xiu's smile increasingly bore a touch of affection. As I watched the father and son together, I suddenly felt a strange sensation. Liu Xiu reached out to stroke his son's head, and within that affection, there seemed to be a layer of sorrowful regret. Before I could comprehend the deeper meaning of this complex emotion, Liu Xiu had closed his eyes, his long eyelashes concealing all light. His chest rose and fell as he silently sighed, murmuring, "Wu Jizi..."

"Do not be too complacent!" I tapped his forehead with my finger, "Sometimes, showing off too much only reveals one's own superficiality and ignorance"

When that six-year-old child stood before my bed, vehemently expressing his grievances, I had already discerned the answer hidden within his heart

I took Liu Yang to dine, and only when the meal was nearly finished did I remember, hurriedly reminding him: "Your father, the emperor, has asked Professor Zhi Yun to teach the Crown Prince the 'Han Poems' in the lecture hall. If you have time, you may attend as an auditor, but there is one thing to keep in mind: do not be arrogant due to your talents."

I heard that you have already learned the "Spring and Autumn" recently

The Crown Prince is the heir to the throne, which concerns the future rise and fall of the nation. The so-called bond between mother and child is significant; Guo Shengtong and Liu Qiang have held high positions for over a decade. Setting aside their own factions, the entrenched conservative forces within the court are not something we can easily shake in a short time

Liu Yang knew who Wu Jizi was, yet he looked down upon the virtuous deeds he performed from the bottom of his heart

"Let the nation be in light!" Yin Xing sneered coldly: "Wu Jizi is recorded in the bamboo annals and is highly esteemed by the world, merely for being recognized for his virtue and morality. He was supposed to be the rightful heir of the State of Wu, yet he repeatedly and consistently relinquished the throne that belonged to him... If it were you, what kind of evaluation would you give him?"

Liu Xiu, wearing the celestial crown, entered with an air of elegance. Zhong Li tugged at his robe, following closely behind, while Hong Fu directly opened his arms to block Liu Xiu's path, signaling for him to embrace.

Hongfu nestled against her father's chest, giggling: "Mother is too fierce, Hongfu likes Father Emperor, not Mother!"

"Now we begin to study the Book of Documents... The Marquis of Liang said, currently the curriculum of the Taixue consists of the 'Current Text of the Book of Documents' as recorded in the clerical script, totaling twenty-eight chapters. If one can find the 'Ancient Text of the Book of Documents', then the number of chapters contained within it exceeds by sixteen chapters."

Let the nation be governed by sages and virtuous individuals

Liu Xiu chuckled lightly and said to him: "Do not be eager for quick success, nor should you be tempted by small gains. If you are eager, you will not achieve your goals; if you focus on small gains, you will not accomplish great things"

In that moment, a flash of insight struck my mind as Liu Yang's response surfaced, and my heart sank suddenly, causing me to exclaim without thinking: "Utterly foolish!"

This child's studies have indeed paid off; during meals, he strictly adheres to etiquette, never speaking or chatting casually. His demeanor is strikingly similar to that of his father.

Yang Er, how do you think you compare in learning to those brothers of the Deng family

What is the matter

Thus, Wu Jizi is utterly foolish

I could not help but frown: "What Lord Liang said is reasonable; one cannot be greedy for knowledge without mastering it. However... you still need to invest some effort to thoroughly understand the 'Book of Documents'"

"Do you understand the 'Spring and Autumn Annals'?!" It sounds like a question, yet the tone is undeniably affirmative.

Although Yi Wang is intelligent, she is still a child. Her elder brother's extraordinary erudition did not attract much of her attention. Upon hearing that there was food, she raised her hands and cheered, laughing as she ran outside.

"Oh." The young Hongfu seemed to understand yet not understand, but he listened to his second sister's words. His small hand pressed against Liu Xiu's chest, struggling to get down to the ground

Let the nation

He nodded obediently

When the younger sisters were affectionately clinging to their father, Liu Yang did not approach. He deliberately averted his gaze, appearing shy, but occasionally stole glances out of the corner of his eye, feigning indifference while feeling envious, as if to prove that he was a man.

He trembled slightly, lowered his head, and replied in a muffled voice: "The child has no intention of showing off."

After finishing lunch, the dining table was just cleared away, when the unique voice of the attendant outside the hall sharply announced: "His Majesty has arrived"

I smiled, for Liu Qiang's mentor was none other than the Grand Tutor Zhang Zhan, a man known for his strictness and propriety, who served as a model of decorum among the officials in the entire Sanfu, and was deeply respected by the people. Although Liu Yang's status as a prince is not as high as Liu Qiang's as the crown prince, I always think of doing my utmost to provide him with the best education, much like many modern parents who aspire for their children to succeed, going to great lengths to enroll them in prestigious schools and various tutoring programs.

"Your Majesty not only did not reprimand him, but instead rewarded him with one hundred bolts of cloth, and also ordered that the gatekeeper who was released last night be demoted to Canfeng County."

Without waiting for me to step out to welcome the royal carriage, Prince Yi had already dashed out with his two younger sisters, shouting all the way: "Father! Father! When will you take us out of the city for hunting again"

The boy's eyes flickered, and he grinned: "I understand my mother's intentions and will diligently study the 'Book of Documents' so as not to disappoint her"

The esteemed individual truly possesses remarkable foresight; His Majesty has commanded him to teach the Crown Prince the "Han Poems"

Before Yin Xing arrived, I had paced back and forth in the hall dozens of times. The moment he stepped into the palace, I anxiously grabbed him. My reaction startled him, who was usually calm, and he immediately understood the gravity of the situation, hastily signaling to Chen Min. Chen Min understood and led all the servants out of the hall, retreating outside himself.

Wu Jizi was the legitimate ruler of the State of Wu, who ultimately abdicated the throne. Liu Xiu referred to Liu Yang as "Wu Jizi"; could it be that he subconsciously compared his son to Ji Zha?

"Your Excellency, His Highness the Fourth Prince has returned." I was so lost in thought that it wasn't until Chen Min reminded me twice in my ear that I came back to my senses

Liu Yang's expression changed, but it was only for a moment. He maintained a stern face and let out a cold snort, ignoring the complaints of Prince Yi.

Yi Wang, feeling indignant, said: "Yes, I do not understand; it is precisely because I do not understand that I seek to learn! You think you are the smartest and the most remarkable? Mother, you have no idea how malicious he is. In front of so many people, he challenged the master, questioning whether what the master taught was 'The Analects of Confucius from Lu', 'The Analects of Confucius from Qi', or 'The Ancient Text Analects'. He is deliberately causing trouble; he does not want to learn and is also preventing me from studying with Second Brother and Third Brother..."

Faced with his father's piercing gaze, Liu Yang showed no signs of fear or retreat. His slender waist stood straight, his delicate shoulders bore the weight of his small head, and his face displayed a stubborn determination that he would not give up until he achieved his goal

What

He waved his hand and said, "It’s alright, allow me to think it over again." After a pause, he turned his head and shouted, "Yang'er!"

"All's fair in war!" I caught up with him and delivered a series of powerful punches

Not long after, Liu Yang's wet nurse and his tutor were brought in together, both kneeling at the steps. Liu Xiu, with a kind and pleasant demeanor, inquired about the Fourth Prince's studies. The tutor was drenched in cold sweat, and in the brief exchange, he revealed more flaws. I lowered my head, preparing to face Liu Xiu's questioning, but unexpectedly, he merely turned back and gazed intently at his son, after a long pause, he sighed, "Ten years old, you are only ten years old..."

"How is it almost the same? How do you know it is almost the same?"

The heir of Marquis Liang, Deng Zhen, has learned better than I, and Marquis Liang often praises him

Liu Xiu's complexion appeared somewhat fatigued, as expected, the physical exertion from yesterday's hunting in the outskirts had not yet been fully recovered. I signaled to the palace maid to have the women take the children out of the main hall. The three little girls initially refused to leave, insisting on getting a kiss from Liu Xiu on each of their faces before they were finally satisfied and departed.

He rubbed the top of his head with his large hand, let out a gentle sigh, and turned to walk out of the hall

After Ji Zha returned to his country, he did not instigate a struggle for the throne, but instead honored Liao as the king, considering himself a subject. At that time, the son of Ye, Prince Guang, was quite dissatisfied, believing that if the promise of the late king regarding the succession of brothers was followed, Ji Zha should inherit the throne. If not, then the king should rightfully be succeeded by him. Therefore, Guang sent someone to assassinate Liao, intending to pass the throne to his uncle Ji Zha

The Analects

Father, Father, is Mother very fierce?

"Your Majesty." I wanted to catch up and explain, but I was held back by Liu Yang who grabbed my arm

When the elder brother passes away, the younger brother succeeds... So after the demise of Yi Mei, did Ji Zha become the King of Wu

Deeply anxious, Liu Xiu's reaction at noon left me feeling as if I had a fishbone lodged in my throat. Therefore, unable to wait for the midday rest, I summoned Chen Minxuan to hastily enter the palace.

I retreat in despair, my heart in disarray

"Utterly foolish!" Liu Yang's crisp and bright voice interrupted my thoughts. He raised his head high, locking eyes with his father, and the disdainful expression on his rosy little face was unmistakable.

Upon waking early, Liu Xiu was no longer by my side. I crawled out of bed and began my busy day. I arranged for someone to take Liu Yang and Yi Wang to the master for their studies; Zhong Li refused to let the palace maids comb her hair and insisted that I do it for her; just as I had finished half of it, Hong Fu and her brother Liu Cang started fighting over a toy, causing a great commotion.

"The child pays his respects to the Emperor." This conventional manner of greeting carries an oddity, as he strives to present himself as an adult, unaware that such actions only serve to provoke more laughter.

I am truly not interested in these ancient and modern versions, and I cannot express my true feelings for fear of setting a bad example for the child by appearing to not take studying seriously. Thus, I feign agreement with nods, while still worrying in my heart whether he, at such a young age, can keep up with this rote teaching method and pace

It was quite easy to send these little rascals away, allowing the palace maid Huangmen to take them for a stroll in the garden, and it was already the time between the Chen and Si hours. Chen Min quietly approached me, and only then did I remember what happened last night: "I told you to give me a reply by dawn, so why didn't I see you this morning? Where have you gone to play?"

"Yes"

If this remark was made without intention, then Yang Er's response is no different from laying bare the "ambition" deeply buried within that young heart, revealing it entirely to his father, the Han Emperor.

"Yang'er." After the daughters had bounced away, Liu Xiu called to his son with a smile

Perhaps due to the relationship of being an elder brother, Zhong Li did not disregard my presence, but instead showed great respect to Liu Yang, obediently sliding down along Liu Xiu's back. Moreover, he called out to Hong Fu, saying, "Third sister, come down as well; Fourth brother says that Father Emperor has worked hard."

Utterly foolish—"...Mother, why do you allow this? Why? If you were the Empress, my sisters and I would not be bullied by others..."