"Then go ahead."
Hua Bolin raised her head suddenly, her face full of joy, "Eldest sister!"
Hua Zhi straightened his collar and said, "Go if you want to. I'll be waiting for you to come back when you become stronger."
Hua Bolin nodded vigorously.
Young man who is in a hurry to grow up, Hua Zhi hid the sigh and gave earnest advice, "Being outside is different from being at home. No matter what happens, you can't be impulsive. Decisions made under impulse will usually make you regret. If you are really anxious, think about me, think about mother, and think about your family who are far away in the north and have not returned. Berlin, I would rather you grow up slowly step by step at home. Although it is slower, it is safer. But if you want to go out, I won't stop you."
Touching her brother's still chubby face, Hua Zhi smiled and said gently, "You have to walk your own path. No one else can do it for you, and neither can I."
So I won't stop you, I won't make decisions for you, and I won't hold you back with worry. Whether you rise to the top or fall back on your feet, it all has to do with yourself.
Hua Bolin was almost in tears, he could only continue nodding vigorously.
Hua Zhi felt that she should not have children in the future because it would cause too much worry and the worry would never end.
"When to set out can be discussed by yourselves. I will not be in charge. But you must bring a few more guards. Oh, and bring Xu Ying with you. He is now quite capable. Liu Huai needs to learn more from him."
"Yes, elder sister, I will listen to you."
"You'll be good now." Hua Zhi poked his forehead. "Go and have dinner with mother. You have to convince her to go out. I won't help you."
"yes."
Hua Bailin almost jumped out. Xiaoliu and Yang Sui'an came out from the next room. They looked at each other and said nothing. One walked out of the yard and the other went to the study.
Hua Zhi smiled when she saw him, "It looks like you all have something to say to me today."
Xiao Liu lowered his head and smiled, then explained his purpose, "I'll go with them."
Hua Zhi was not surprised at all. She had guessed it when she saw Xiao Liu coming in alone. Considering his identity, Hua Zhi was much more cautious than when facing Berlin. "Xiao Liu, I am not qualified to agree or object."
Seeing his hurt expression, Hua Zhi did not comfort him, but just said: "It's not just me. When you grow up, you will gradually have various identities imposed on you as a prince. At that time, there will be very few people who can decide what you do or don't do. With your identity, no matter what decision you make, it will inevitably affect the life and death of many people. I hope you can develop the habit of thinking carefully before making every decision."
Xiao Liu looked sad. "Just because of my identity, can I do whatever I want? I can go if I want to, and not go if I don't want to? Can I do whatever I want and not do whatever I don't want to do in the future?"
"Everyone has no choice about their birth. They can only decide what to do based on their unchangeable identities. Some are honest officials while others are corrupt. Some are writers while others hang out in brothels and write obscene songs that create a sensation while others write books and become famous for generations. Some are carpenters while others are only craftsmen while others can create things that have never been seen before. Some are princes while others live a foolish life while others fight on the battlefield to defend their country."
Hua Zhi spoke lightly and with great weight. Although she was looking at Xiao Liu, her eyes were not aggressive. She was not born with a pair of affectionate eyes, but her eyes seemed to hide a mountain, a sea, and an entire vast world. Just by being looked at by these eyes, all resentment and unhappiness would disappear without a trace.
Hua Zhi couldn't bear to see him in a daze, so she waved for him to come over. She straightened his clothes just like she did to Berlin and held his cool hand.
In this world where boys and girls sit at different seats after the age of seven, she has crossed the line. She knows it, but she doesn't shy away from it.
"Xiao Liu, you are a prince. The princes of the Daqing Dynasty have always participated in politics. You are already eleven years old. If your mother was still alive, she would have carefully taught and cultivated your discernment, sense of right and wrong, and various skills, so that you would have a foothold in the court in the future. If your mother was still alive, she would have told you that you cannot rely on others for these things, even if that person is me. I am very happy that you trust me, and because of this, I cannot harm you. Some people are born without the qualifications to be willful, such as you, Yan Xi, and me."
Hua Zhi smiled lightly and summed up the hard work of the past year in one sentence, "Because sometimes we can't rely on anyone, and there is no one to rely on."
At this moment, Xiaoliu was so sad that he couldn't control himself, for Sister Hua and for himself.
He pretended to be innocent, well-behaved and sensible, just to get more care from Sister Hua, like family. But now, Sister Hua would not allow him to do so. From now on, he can only be the Sixth Prince, and not Little Six.
Hua Zhi opened the drawer. There were no files or important things there, but a plate of brown square things. She took a piece and put it into Xiao Liu's mouth. Seeing that his brows were furrowed, she smiled, "It's bitter, isn't it?"
Xiaoliu nodded, "It's a little sweet."
"Fudong spent a long time researching this kind of candy, specially for me to eat. I guess not many people like this taste."
Xiaoliu shook his head, "I like it."
"I'll bring you some on your way out."
Xiaoliu was stunned, and the candy in his mouth seemed to be sweeter.
Hua Zhi took out a candy and smelled it. The caramel smell was overwhelming. She didn't eat it and put it back.
"I'm telling you this not because I don't care about your family. I just hope you can realize your own identity. As long as you are willing, the Hua family will always have a room for you and a set of dishes for you. But as a family member, I hope you can protect yourself when you are outside and not be bullied."
"I understand." Sister Hua didn't want to push him out of the Hua family or draw a line between them. She just hoped that he could have a clear understanding of his own identity. She was afraid that he would rely too much on her and become indecisive, and would suffer when facing his brothers in the future. He really understood this.
"I see. But I still want to ask, why do you want to go with them? Are you worried?"
"That's one reason. More importantly, what I see and learn outside is far from what the teachers teach me. I want to see more of the world outside Beijing while I can still leave Beijing."
Yes, the princes of the Daqing Dynasty were not allowed to leave the capital without permission after they came of age, and they had to be trapped in the capital for the rest of their lives. Hua Zhi shook her head, not knowing why the founding emperor would make this rule. If the princes didn't go out to see the world, they would think that Jiuzhou was as prosperous as the capital.
"Okay, take all your guards with you. Safety comes first."
"yes."