Huayang and Chen Jingzong stayed at the Chen family for three nights and then moved back to the Princess's Mansion.
In fact, Huayang was a little unsure of Chen Jingzong's thoughts: "Are you really willing to live here with me forever?"
According to her observations over the past few years, Chen Jingzong is just not as strict with etiquette as his two older brothers, but he is just as close to his family, including his father-in-law. Although Chen Jingzong always criticizes his father-in-law, when his father-in-law was really bedridden, Chen Jingzong went to see him almost every day, which shows that his filial piety to his father-in-law is no less than that of his two brothers.
This is true for my father-in-law, not to mention my mother-in-law and nephews and nieces.
I wonder if a strong-willed military officer like him would feel suffocated because of being separated from his family for a long time.
Huayang was not the kind of princess who insisted on having her husband by her side all the time. She said to Chen Jingzong calmly, "You can go back and stay for a night every four or five days. If there is anything that happens in the court or the guards, and you can't make up your mind, you can discuss it with father or elder brother."
Chen Jingzong had just come back from washing. Seeing her clear eyes and seeming to be in a good mood for conversation, Chen Jingzong took a round fan and lay on his side beside her. While fanning the two of them, he looked at her and said, "There is no war, so what kind of trouble can there be in the garrison? If there is a problem with military pay and weapons, I will report it directly to the Ministry of War."
Huayang: "Don't you miss your family?"
Chen Jingzong: "I miss you more."
Huayang glared at him, but when he lowered his eyes, a smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Chen Jingzong touched her blushing cheeks with the edge of his fan: "You always urge me to go back and live here. Are you pretending to be virtuous, or have you fallen for some pretty boy and are waiting for me to make room for you?"
Huayang grabbed the fan and turned his back.
Chen Jingzong came closer and his warm breath fell into her ears.
Huayang used the fan to cover his face again.
There was a thin layer of gauze in the middle of the round fan. Chen Jingzong kissed her through the gauze, and his big hands with a thin layer of calluses held half of her snow-white shoulders: "You don't have to worry about having a lover in this life."
Huayang was not thinking about his lover either.
A consort is enough for her to handle, and she still wants a lover. Does she think her life is too long
In the palace, Emperor Yuanyou continued to abide by the daily schedule set for him by Empress Dowager Qi and Lord Chen.
Emperor Yuanyou was actually very tempted by the idea his sister suggested for him, but he was worried that his pretended illness would not be hidden from the imperial physician, who would then tell his mother and Lord Chen. Who knows what new tricks those two strict guys would come up with. Whether they criticized him verbally or punished him by making him kneel or copy books, Emperor Yuanyou was not happy.
It was not until the early morning of mid-June that Emperor Yuanyou was suddenly awakened from his sound sleep by the eunuch Cao Li, who reminded him that it was time to get up and study.
Emperor Yuanyou felt dizzy and just wanted to sleep.
But the excuse of "sleeping in" would not be supported by the Queen Mother and Lord Chen. If he dared to insist on sleeping in, his Queen Mother would ask him if he wanted to be a tyrant!
Emperor Yuanyou forced himself to sit up.
Read, eat, and attend court meetings.
Sitting on the dragon throne, the fourteen-year-old Emperor Yuanyou pinched himself from time to time, trying hard not to fall asleep.
Chen Tingjian glanced at the dragon throne for a few times. The court meeting had only been going on for two quarters of an hour, so he decided to adjourn it early. There were not many things to discuss today.
Emperor Yuanyou looked at Chen Ge Lao below in surprise, but the ministers were waiting for him to leave the hall first. Emperor Yuanyou suppressed his doubts and returned to the Qianqing Palace behind.
Next, it was the turn of the cabinet and ministers to meet the emperor in private.
Empress Dowager Qi was also there. At this stage, Emperor Yuanyou didn't need to say much. He just needed to listen and watch. He would just nod whenever his mother and Lord Chen approved.
When he was in good spirits, Emperor Yuanyou would listen carefully and learn how to handle these state affairs. When he was sleepy, he was too lazy to think about it, knowing that his mother and Lord Chen would definitely handle it anyway.
After all pending matters were resolved, Chen Tingjian took Emperor Yuanyou to the Imperial Study. No matter how busy he was as the Prime Minister, he would take out half an hour every day to personally lecture to the emperor.
At this time, there were only Chen Tingjian, Emperor Yuanyou, and the chief eunuch Cao Li in the imperial study.
Emperor Yuanyou yawned quickly while the elder was sorting out books with his head down.
As a result, before he could close his mouth, he saw Chen Ge Lao sitting across the table, without even raising his head, indifferently ordering Cao Li: "Go prepare a bowl of refreshing tea for the emperor."
Emperor Yuanyou: …
Is there an eye hidden in the elder's beard
Cao Li looked at his emperor with pity and went out to prepare tea.
Emperor Yuanyou looked at Lord Chen nervously.
Chen Tingjian thought of the childhood of his fourth son. Chen Tingjian himself had been a student for many years and had four sons who were also studying. The fourth son was the only one who dared to sleep on the table openly while the teacher was lecturing.
"Your Majesty, did you not sleep well last night?" Chen Tingjian walked over. He had an elegant appearance and his long beard added a bit of majesty, but the look he gave Emperor Yuanyou at this moment was very gentle.
Emperor Yuanyou was very familiar with the ways in which the elders advised him. Sometimes he would criticize him directly and harshly, and sometimes he would gently coax him to speak out his true feelings. Then, in a calm tone, he would quote classics and persuade him to be diligent in study, distinguish right from wrong, be filial to his mother, be generous and love the people, etc.
Therefore, Emperor Yuanyou shook his head and said seriously: "It's a hot summer day, I'm just a little sleepy, sir, don't worry."
Chen Tingjian: "Is that so? I thought Your Majesty would have to study hard and handle government affairs, and your body might be overloaded. Since Your Majesty has never felt tired, I don't need to adjust your schedule for you."
Emperor Yuanyou's heartbeat suddenly quickened!
Is the old man serious, or is he setting another trap for him to fall into
Cao Li will be back soon!
Thinking back to the fact that the old man's attitude towards him had softened a lot over the past year, Emperor Yuanyou decided to trust the old man once again. His face instantly fell, and he said sincerely, "To be honest, sir, I am really tired. I often feel like I don't get enough sleep in the morning. Although I can still get up and study, my head is dizzy, and my study is half the result with twice the effort. I wonder if you can reduce the number of court meetings and resume normal court meetings when I am older and stronger enough to support it?"
By removing the morning meeting time, he could sleep at least half an hour longer every day!
Chen Tingjian saw a hint of bloodshot in the young emperor's eyes.
He looked hesitant.
Emperor Yuanyou: "I know what you are worried about, you are just afraid that I will be lazy and neglect my duties in the future. But I promise you that when I take power, I will be a diligent and wise ruler."
Chen Tingjian finally said, "Okay, I believe your Majesty."
At this time, Cao Li came back with some refreshing tea.
Chen Tingjian continued to sort the books, and Emperor Yuanyou raised his sleeves and pretended to yawn again.
After the class, Chen Tingjian went to ask for an audience with Empress Dowager Qi.
When Empress Dowager Qi heard that Chen Tingjian wanted to reduce the number of court meetings, she frowned and asked, "Did the Emperor complain to the cabinet ministers about the hardship of attending court?"
Chen Tingjian bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Emperor not only did not complain, but also tried his best to hide his tiredness. I feel that the Emperor is now at the age of growing up, and health is as important as study. If the body does not get enough rest, it will be difficult for the Emperor to concentrate when studying. The more this happens, the harder it will be to see results, which will lead to the Emperor becoming tired of studying and politics. In the long run, the gains will outweigh the losses."
Empress Dowager Qi was silent.
Chen Tingjian glanced at her and said, "Your Majesty, the emperor is only fourteen years old after all. I think it is more important to cultivate his interest in learning and governing. If the emperor becomes resistant due to the heavy workload, he will have to listen to your and my teachings at this young age. Who will be able to restrain him when he takes charge of the government in the future?"
Not to mention the distant past, there are already enough emperors in this dynasty who acted recklessly.
Empress Dowager Qi was obviously very clear about the ancestors of the royal family. It was precisely because her emperor father-in-law and emperor husband were "too successful" that she was afraid that her son would follow in their footsteps, so she taught him strictly since he was young.
Empress Dowager Qi had already approved Chen Tingjian's proposal, but she still asked curiously: "The elder was always strict before, why has he been so gentle to the emperor in the past two years?"
She also had to be on guard against Chen Tingjian deliberately indulging her son's bad habits in order to please him.
Chen Tingjian said ashamedly, "I'm not afraid of being laughed at by the Empress. When I was young, I won the first place in the imperial examination and was praised by everyone. Later, I was appreciated by the late emperor and the Empress and entered the palace to teach the emperor. My eldest son, second son, and third son were also the first and third place in the imperial examination. I also felt that I really have some real skills in teaching. I believe that strict teachers produce excellent students is also a true saying."
Empress Dowager Qi nodded. Who in the court did not admire Chen Tingjian's way of parenting
Chen Tingjian continued, "Among my four sons, I always thought that my unruly and undisciplined fourth son would be the least promising one, and that he could only rely on his status as the eldest princess's son-in-law to show off his power in this life. However, the year before last, my fourth son led the Daxing Left Guard to win the championship in the martial arts competition, and last year he made military achievements in suppressing the rebellion. Outsiders praised me for being a good father and a good son, but they all forgot that my fourth son returned to his old house in Lingzhou when he was ten years old, and his current success has nothing to do with me."
"I have often reflected on this over the past two years. My eldest and third sons were able to win the first and third place in the imperial examinations because of their own talents. I never really taught them anything. The only ones I really taught were Your Majesty and my fourth son. Because of my strictness, my fourth son became more and more rebellious and even stopped reading. After I discovered his true talent, I would often break out in a cold sweat when facing the emperor, fearing that my previous strictness might have planted a rebellious attitude towards studying in the emperor's heart."
At this point, Chen Tingjian knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, if this is true, I will be a sinner for all eternity. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"
Empress Dowager Qi said with a smile, "Your words at the end are too heavy, and your words at the beginning are too modest. It is true that the two elder brothers of the Prince Consort are talented, but their achievements today are inseparable from your careful cultivation as a father. As for the Prince Consort, it is his nature that he does not like to study, and it is not completely against you."
Chen Tingjian: "Perhaps, it may also be that I am old and have a new understanding of teaching and educating people. This understanding may not be correct. How to teach the emperor, please let your majesty make the decision."
Among all the civil and military officials in the court, Empress Dowager Qi always trusted Chen Tingjian the most. Even if Chen Tingjian's way of teaching the emperor changed, as long as it was reasonable and well-founded, Empress Dowager Qi would still support it.
"What you said makes sense. Let's try it first. If the emperor fails to live up to your efforts and becomes even more lazy, you can continue to treat him harshly."
Chen Tingjian accepted the order, bowed his head and left.
Empress Dowager Qi looked out the window.
She had heard about the discord between the prince consort and Chen Ge Lao and his son, but who knew that the emperor was not very close to her, his mother
She knew how to be a good queen, but whether she was a good mother or not can only be judged by future generations.
(End of this chapter)