The Fifteenth Year of Jiayuan, end of July.
Three major families in Jinling were dealt with:
Among them, the entire Lian Family was executed.
Additionally, the Rong Family and Song Family had their properties confiscated, and the maids and servant boys were sold.
Considering that Old Master Rong and Old Master Song hadn’t committed any major cris, and their attitudes in confessing and admitting mistakes were sincere,
Zhao Junyao left them a few acres of land, and ordered that for the next three generations, they were forbidden from engaging in comrce or taking imperial exams, only allowed to farm.
Scholar, farr, artisan, and rchant.
Although farrs have a higher status than rchants, agricultural labor is the hardest.
They were accustod to wealth and luxury, dining on exquisite delicacies, living a life of indulgence and physical comfort, no longer suitable for such toil?
One day is manageable, two days are feasible, but after a month, it’s unbearable.
Less than a month in, they were all complaining of backaches and leg cramps.
Thinking about living like this for a lifeti makes them wish for death.
This is worse than being killed.
The Fifteenth Year of Jiayuan, mid-August.
Zhao Junyao secretly went to Guangnan with Xia Ruqing.
Supposedly for sightseeing, but in reality... to lure the snake from its hole.
Inside the simple and plain carriage.
Zhao Junyao looked at the beautiful scenery outside, his hands clenched into fists.
"Zhao Junqi!"
"After competing with for over ten years, it’s ti to settle this!"
On the other side of the carriage sat Xia Ruqing.
With her elbow propped on her cheek, she was lost staring at the curtain.
She hadn’t the ti to ponder the state’s affairs.
Her worries were all about her children.
Especially that girl Yue Er.
When they left, she didn’t cry or fuss, almost eager to see them go; who knows what mischief she’s planning.
Not sure if Chenchen, being so busy, can keep an eye on his sister.
Henger and Yeye, those two little troublemakers, are even less reliable.
If Chenchen could sohow persuade them.
Then Henger and Yeye would just help their sister in her antics.
Rember when Yue Er ran off to skate on ice and hurt her leg in the cold?
If it weren’t for the two secretly helping, how could a little girl have got ice skates from the Ministry of Internal Affairs?
The more Xia Ruqing thought about it, the more her head hurt.
She closed her eyes and silently massaged her temples.
Zhao Junyao turned to see her like this, knowing she was thinking about the kids again.
While ward in his heart, he was reminded of his own unhappy childhood mories.
He felt both joy and sorrow, his expression complicated.
Xia Ruqing was unaware of his mood.
She couldn’t understand why his brow was furrowed again.
After thinking for a mont, she spoke.
"Emperor!"
"Look at that mountain, it’s so tall and vast!"
"The river at its foot, the water is so clear and abundant!"
Zhao Junyao was left speechless by her sudden nonsense, casting her a cold glance.
"If you have sothing to say, say it directly! There’s no need to beat around the bush!"
Xia Ruqing coughed awkwardly.
"Emperor, rest assured!"
"We’ll succeed this ti for sure!"
Zhao Junyao was amused and exasperated.
"Succeed in what??"
"Succeed in luring the snake out of its hole, of course?!"
Xia Ruqing was puzzled, wasn’t he hoping for success?
Zhao Junyao remained silent, a faint bitter smile spread across his lips.
’Even if it’s successful, so what?’
’Is it fun for brothers to kill each other?’
While Xia Ruqing couldn’t comprehend his strategic mind, just as he couldn’t understand her maternal worries.
Zhao Junyao: ’Just keep worrying about the kids in your heart, there are so many Palace Attendants and Sisters looking after them, they can’t possibly be mistreated.’
Xia Ruqing: ’Of course not, servants are just servants, how can they compare to their own parents?’
Both carried their own thoughts, the carriage fell into silence.
...
anwhile, at the Imperial Palace Training Ground.
"Ah-choo!"
"Ah-choo!"
Yue Er rubbed her sore nose discontentedly, while Chenchen sneezed briskly.
"Brother! What’s wrong with you today? Why do you keep sneezing?"
Zhao Qichen was helpless.
"I don’t know, just... Ah... Ah-choo!"
Yue Er couldn’t help but rub her itchy, sore nose, soon she started sneezing too.
The brother and sister were on horseback, talking while sneezing.
Back and forth, continuously.
Even the horse beneath them got ’infected’, shaking its head, kicking its hooves, and snorting.
The scene looked quite comical.
The Palace Attendants standing nearby held back their laughter, faces flushed, but dared not laugh out loud.
So they bowed their heads hard, continuing to stifle their laughter.
Finally, after two quarters of an hour.
Zhao Qichen and Yue Er gradually stopped sneezing.
Yue Er rubbed her sore nose, mumbling.
"Mother must be thinking about us, talking about us!"
Zhao Qichen thought for a mont.
"Little sister makes a good point!"
Yue Er looked up curiously.
"Brother, when do you think Mother will return?"
With a smile, Zhao Qichen looked into the distance.
"Probably soon."
Then he raised an eyebrow at her: "What, you miss Mother?"
Yue Er shook her head quickly.
"No, no, no! I want her to co back after the Mid-Autumn Festival!"
"I’m almost learning to ride a horse, if she cos back won’t it spoil everything?"
Zhao Qichen was amused.
"Don’t worry, even if Mother returns, you can still learn!"
Yue Er tilted her head in disbelief.
"I don’t believe it!"
"Mother would be more likely to have Father spank !"
Zhao Qichen affectionately ruffled her hair.
"Mother loves you dearly!"
"Not letting you ride is to prevent injury!"
Yue Er protested, getting rid of her brother’s big hand, looking doubtful.
"So, Brother isn’t afraid I’ll get hurt? This horse is so big!"
Zhao Qichen was confident and assured.
"With around, how could you possibly get hurt?"
Yue Er giggled.
"True, Brother is amazing!"
"Second brother won’t play with , third and fourth brothers don’t dare teach , only big brother dares!"
"I knew big brother is a heroic figure from the battlefield!"
Yue Er sweetly flattered his colorful praise.
Yet Zhao Qichen remained unmoved, gently patting her head.
"Don’t talk nonsense!"
"Co on, practice another round!"
"Once you truly learn to ride, I’ll give you a gentle little mare, how about that?"
Yue Er imdiately cheered with joy.
"Big brother is the best!"
"Big brother, you’re the most caring person to Yue Er in the world!!"
With that, the little girl pulled the reins at her brother’s hand and urged the horse forward with bright enthusiasm.
"Giddy-up!!"
Racing into a gallop across the training ground, the pure black horse dashed forward proudly.
The fierce wind rushed past her ears, and its glossy mane shivered stunningly in the breeze.
Yue Er excitedly shouted.
"Wow! I’m riding a horse!"
"I’m riding a horse!"
Zhao Qichen watched his ecstatic sister, smiling dotingly.
Tightening the reins, he encircled her protectively, ensuring her safety.
Speaking of teaching his sister to ride a horse, how could it be?
She was still so young.
But he couldn’t bear seeing her look so pitiful every day.
So he took the ti to bring her to the training ground each day for a run.
She always thought she was really riding.
Hmm...
Then let her continue thinking that way, as long as she’s happy!
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