Chapter 225 - 193: A Mother’s Influence
"Alright, alright, don’t cry. I’ll go have that chicken killed right now. We’ll make chicken soup for Qi’er, and you can have the big drumstick."
The Emperor summoned Liang Yuyin and instructed him to find some more fine katydids for the Third Prince.
Xie Qi wasn’t actually craving the chicken leg. Nanny Mu, who served his mother, the Lady of Bihua Palace, made food far more delicious than anything from the imperial chefs. But the thought of killing that chicken to avenge his precious katydid made him feel a little better. He replied meekly, "Thank you, Father."
"Xie Zhao, do you want to return to Bihua Palace or stay here in Zhaoyang Palace?" the Emperor asked.
"I’d like a chicken leg too, but my mother is waiting for me."
"That’s easy enough. I’ll summon your mother, and we can all dine together."
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By the time Jiang Xian arrived at Zhaoyang Palace by palanquin, she overheard the Emperor asking Noble Princess Consort Rong, "Why on earth did you start raising a chicken in your palace? You never used to give even cats or dogs a second glance."
"I saw how much fun the Third Prince was having with his bugs, so I decided to get a chicken to keep his katydid company."
Noble Princess Consort Rong said impassively.
The Emperor asked, "Noble Consort, did you do that on purpose, or was it an accident?"
Noble Princess Consort Rong pursed her lips and looked away. "It was a deliberate accident."
Everyone understood. The Noble Consort was throwing a tantrum and taking it out on a child.
The Emperor was both amused and exasperated. At the same time, he pitied her for the rumors she had endured over the years. He didn’t have many heirs, and as it happened, the only two concubines who had borne sons were seen by outsiders as part of Noble Princess Consort Rong’s faction, leaving her the only one without children. It was understandable that she would feel uncomfortable seeing the Third Prince, so the Emperor had no desire to punish her for it.
Fortunately, Noble Princess Consort Rong still had some sense. She had already prepared a grand gift set of katydids, crickets, and rhinoceros beetles—an apology gift no little boy could refuse—for the Third Prince. The moment Xie Qi saw the insects, his eyes lit up. He held them, unable to put them down, completely forgetting the precious katydid that had met a tragic end in the chicken’s beak. He thanked Nanny Rong profusely, declaring that she was the best.
Then, Noble Princess Consort Rong deliberately added, "The Eldest Prince and Second Prince will soon be heading to the Upper Study Room to begin their formal studies. Is the Third Prince going to do nothing but play with his katydids? Ma Ronghua, you can’t slack off. It’s time to prepare some lessons for the Third Prince."
As soon as Xie Qi heard this, his bright smile wilted.
Ma Ronghua, however, shot the Noble Consort a look of profound gratitude. ’The Noble Consort truly has a sharp tongue but a soft heart,’ she thought. ’She bullies a child to tears one moment, yet still worries about his studies the next. She really does care about my son and me after all.’
"Speaking of which, have the companion readers for the two Princes been chosen yet?"
Noble Princess Consort Rong asked.
Normally, the Emperor would draft a list of candidates for the Empress to choose from. But since she asked so casually, it was clear she suspected the Emperor had other plans.
"A list has been drafted, but I must still review it carefully. However, one of Xie Zhao’s companion readers is set—it will be the Pure Consort’s younger brother."
Companion readers were chosen from among the most outstanding sons of imperial relatives and high officials, so it was perfectly reasonable for the Pure Consort to recommend her own brother.
In this regard, Guo Xiao Yi’s treatment was entirely different.
Because of Guo Xiao Yi’s own poor reputation, the Emperor suspected the Gu Family was lax in their children’s upbringing and that their family values were lacking. Thus, all her proposals to recommend relatives as companion readers for the Second Prince were rejected by the Emperor. In response, Guo Xiao Yi couldn’t help but resent the Emperor, believing he was showing favoritism toward the Pure Consort and the Eldest Prince.
That night, before retiring to bed, Jiang Xian asked about the selection of the Second Prince’s companion readers.
"’Xie Sheng is deeply influenced by his mother. Although his disposition has improved since spending more time with Zhao’er, I still worry that Guo Xiao Yi will negatively mold his character. That is why I am being especially careful in choosing his companion readers.’"
Contrary to what Guo Xiao Yi thought, the Emperor had reserved the candidates he considered to have the best moral character for the frail, introverted Second Prince, hoping they would have a subtle, positive influence. Xie Che could have made these arrangements without a word. Jiang Xian didn’t know any of the youths from the Imperial Family, so she would have no basis for comparison. But he felt compelled to tell her, afraid she might be upset, and full of apology toward her.
But Jiang Xian, nestled in his arms, broke into a smile. "Your Majesty, your actions are exactly what I would have hoped for. The two Princes have such a good relationship right now. If the Second Prince’s temperament were warped by Guo Xiao Yi’s influence, Zhao’er would be heartbroken too."
After all, anyone who could be a Prince’s companion reader was bound to be an exceptional young man.
Jiang Xian didn’t care in the slightest about the minor differences between the companion readers.
’In the end, for any Prince, it all comes down to their mothers.’
"Your Majesty treats me with such sincerity, I couldn’t be happier. Besides, it is to Zhao’er’s benefit if he can make his father worry less. Just one thing... Your Majesty can’t start ignoring Zhao’er just because he’s well-behaved."