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When the crown prince was three years old, he officially entered the age of enlightenment, and Zhao Yelan would spend the first two hours of each day going to the East Palace.

At first, Zhao Sui didn’t understand the seriousness of the matter, and when he saw Zhao Yelan coming to see him, he ran over to hug him with a big smile.

His Emperor Father often summoned Zhao-daren, and his Mother Concubine often praised Zhao-daren as being more beautiful than Pan An. Under the influence of what he saw and heard, he also liked Zhao-daren very much.

But he didn’t expect Zhao-daren to be so strict today. He put him on the ground and seriously taught him etiquette. He was not allowed to mess around, and not allowed to eat snacks, which caused him to become a little unhappy and lose his temper for a while.

And Zhao-daren did not come to coax him like in the past, but sat opposite him and looked at him silently.

The two stared at each other for a long time before he realized that his trick seemed to be ineffective, so he used his trump card – his two eyes filled with tears, which dripped down his face, and then he opened his mouth and cried loudly.

This move was effective on everyone. Even Father and the Empress would immediately put down what they were doing to coax him.

But today, it seemed to have no effect on Zhao-daren.

Zhao-daren just stretched out his hand, and when he was about to touch his head, he suddenly withdrew it again. His expression became more serious, and he said without hesitation: “Your Highness is the Crown Prince, so don’t shed tears easily. Learn how to solve your problems instead of using tears to deceive others and evade responsibility.”

Zhao Sui seemed to understand halfway, but felt that Zhao-daren was very different today and didn’t want to play with him anymore.

After returning from the palace, Zhao Yelan was so miserable that he didn’t even want to eat, saying, “I don’t want to be the Grand Tutor anymore.”

“It’s so difficult?” Yan Mingting said with a laugh.

“He either pretended to cry, or treated me half-heartedly, and I didn’t know how to teach him.” Zhao Yelan didn’t know how to teach children in the first place, let alone one who was noble and he didn’t dare to neglect. The more cautious he was, the harder it would be. He complained, “And he’s so foolish, he didn’t even know a single word all afternoon.”

“He is still young.”

“He’s three years old. I could recite poems and write at three years old,” Zhao Yelan said.

“You are an exception. When I was three years old, I couldn’t read a single word. I only knew how to dance with a sword.”

Yan Mingting patted his shoulder: “Shall I go with you tomorrow and take a look?”

“Take a look at what?” 

“At how he made you sleepless, I have to avenge you!”

Zhao Yelan originally thought he was joking, but when he taught Zhao Sui the next day, Yan Mingting really came with him, under the excuse that he wanted to see if His Royal Highness’s foundation was good so that he could teach him martial arts, and the Emperor naturally had no objections.

“General!” Zhao Sui admired the general the most, and usually listened to the palace residents’ stories about the general’s great deeds during war. The little boy’s blood boiled when he heard these stories, and he wished he could also rush to the battlefield to shed his blood. He stepped forward and hugged Yan Mingting’s thigh. “I want to learn martial arts!”

“No problem, I’m here to teach His Royal Highness martial arts,” Yan Mingting said. “But those who learn martial arts must also be able to endure hardships. Can Your Royal Highness endure hardships?”

“I can do it!” Zhao Sui said confidently, “I have even attended Zhao-daren’s class, nothing is more difficult than this!”

Zhao Yelan: “…….?”

“Then let’s go.” Yan Mingting laughed and took him to the courtyard, ordering, “First, horse stance.”

“Ah?”

“Ah, what ah. Horse stance is the foundation. If the foundation is not solid, no matter how much you practice, your moves will be ineffectual. Let’s do it for two hours first.”

“Two hours?!”

“En, two hours is enough. Would you like to go and see how long the soldiers have to fight every day?”

Reluctantly, Zhao Sui squatted down and began to do horse stance.

Yan Minting adjusted his posture, then glanced at Zhao Yelan, who looked back at him blankly. The two looked at each other for a while, and Yan Mingting pointed to an open space next to him: “Come, this spot is yours.”

“You don’t want me to do horse stance, do you?” Zhao Yelan asked in disbelief.

“En, how long has it been since you practiced?” Yan Mingting said strictly, “You’re tired every day when you go back home, and your basic skills are going to waste, so just set an example for His Highness today. What do you think, Your Highness?”

“It’s lonely by myself.” Zhao Sui immediately looked at Zhao Yelan with a smile. “Zhao-daren too~”

Zhao Yelan felt a headache, and suspected that Yan Mingting was here to take the opportunity to train with him, so he glared at him before dawdling into horse stance.

When Sun Muyun came to visit, she found one big and one small person squatting in a row, and laughed so hard that she couldn’t straighten up, holding onto a beam and shouting: “General Yan is still amazing, ah!”

“Mother, this son doesn’t want to practice martial arts anymore.” Zhao Sui was sweating profusely. As soon as he saw his mother, he began to act like a baby, but Sun Muyun was hard-hearted in this regard, pointing at him and saying: “You must listen carefully to Zhao-taifu and General Yan, so that you can become as capable as them in the future!”

Zhao Sui had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue. Glancing at Zhao Yelan next to him from the corner of his eye, he suddenly said: “General, Zhao-daren is being lazy, he isn’t squatting down!”

Zhao Yelan: “…….”

Yan Mingting came over to press Zhao Yelan’s shoulders down, and then secretly pinched his waist: “Squat.”

“…….” Zhao Yelan glanced at Zhao Sui, who was staring at them. He was taken advantage of, yet unable to do anything about it or say anything. Gritting his teeth, he said: “Just you wait.”

Sun Muyun had a panoramic view of this scene from nearby. Her eyes lit up, and the smile on her face gradually became odd.

After a stick of incense, Zhao Sui finally couldn’t hold on anymore and lay down on the ground, not daring to cry yet. He felt ashamed, and got up by himself.

“Do you want to practice calligraphy or martial arts now?” Yan Mingting asked him.

“Practice calligraphy.” Zhao Sui walked over and tugged Zhao Yelan’s sleeve, saying obediently, “Zhao-daren, let’s go study and practice calligraphy.”

“All right.” Zhao Yelan stood up with relief. “Your Highness, wash your hands first.”

Zhao Shui followed Sun Muyun to wash his hands, not waiting for Zhao Yelan. He found his mother hiding behind the beams and pillars, staring furtively at the corner. He ran over curiously and tilted his head behind her. At the end of the corner, General Yan, who had been acting majestic just now, was apologizing to Zhao-daren, and tried to massage his hands and thighs. After being pushed away, he grimaced and made faces to make Zhao-daren happy.

Sun Muyun found that he had followed her, and hurriedly carried the child back, asking: “What did you see?”

“I saw General Yan giving in again,” Zhao Sui said. “Isn’t it strange? Are they always like this?”

Sun Muyun smiled and said with emotion: “Yes, Sui’er, you will meet many women in the future, but I hope you can find someone that you like, just like they did, and stay in love for many years.”

Zhao Sui had some vague understanding, but when he grew up, he would fully understand his mother’s words.

At this time, his father had passed away several years ago, and he became a ruler at a young age, but behind him was the regent Zhao Yelan, who was handling government affairs for him.

There were people who came to maliciously instigate the relationship between him and Zhao Yelan, and every time they finished speaking, Zhao Yelan dealt with it covertly.

Zhao Yelan would tell him clearly, but he knew that Zhao Yelan had done it, and he couldn’t help feeling a little panic in his heart, fearing that the other party would hurt him.

However, within a few days, this feeling was swept away by Yan Mingting’s words.

Yan Mingting would still come to the palace to teach him martial arts from time to time, but in fact, he came to pick up Zhao Yelan and go home, and taught him martial arts on the way. If Zhao Yelan was at home in his spare time, Zhao Sui would have to ask again and again, and maybe even have to go to the General’s Mansion himself.

However, although he wasn’t proficient in martial arts, his physique had been trained well in the past few years, and his horse riding and archery were not inferior to the children of other noble families. He was also someone who could hunt deer, but his mother forbade him from hunting tigers, so he could only let the General have the attention.

“Your Majesty, let me discuss something with you,” Yan Mingting said.

“What is it?” Zhao Sui asked curiously.

“Can you eat more and grow up quickly, so that Mengting and I can go out for a tour of the mountains and rivers, ah?”

“You guys want to go out and play?”

“Yes, ah. Because of your father’s last request, our plans have been delayed for several years!” Yan Mingting said indignantly, “If you can’t take charge, my wife will have to do it, and that’s really a loss to me!”

Zhao Sui couldn’t help but laugh, and he asked the question in his heart: “Is Zhao-daren willing to give up his current position and go out to play with you?”

“Who do you think proposed this plan?” Yan Mingting said, “He drew up this big plan for me, and every time he gets busy, he says that when you grow up, he will accompany me to tour the mountains and rivers, but I think you will be like this for ten years or so.”

“Nonsense! I will grow up quickly, don’t look down on me!” Zhao Sui said.

“Okay, that’s good news.”

After that, Zhao Sui never believed other people’s slanderous rumors. He didn’t know if Zhao-daren wanted to go into the countryside or not, but he saw the affection between Zhao-daren and General Yan with his own eyes. In his opinion, the countryside was not as important as the bosom friend who was considerate of you, ah.

Now that he was almost thirteen years old and those two were still the same as when he was young, arguing a bit from time to time, then turning around and being so affectionate, he showed a little envy and jealousy.

He also wanted to find someone to be with for the rest of his life.

And at this age, he also had his first love, and found someone whom he admired.

It was Zhao-taifu’s goddaughter, Kan Xingyue, daughter of Minister Kan. She was one year older than him.

The two often met in the General’s Mansion when they were young, and it was the first time he had seen Zhao-daren being so gentle and kind to another child!

He was so jealous that he pushed Kan Xingyue away, and the little girl immediately burst into tears. The two became enemies.

Kan Xingyue usually went to the General’s Mansion when she had nothing to do, and also studied literature with Zhao Yelan and martial arts with Yan Mingting. The two competed with each other, and scrambled to ask who was more capable.

Zhao Yelan was annoyed by the questioning, and said: “Yue’er cries a lot, and His Majesty is a good coaxer.”

Neither of them received a satisfactory answer, so they huddled together and muttered bad things about Zhao Yelan.

Zhao Sui: “I don’t think he’s very good at archery. He’s not as good at archery as I am.”

Kan Xingyue: “That’s right. Yifu isn’t as good at eating as I am.”

“I say…..” Zhao Yelan stood behind them and said softly, “Do you not know how to control your volume, or do you insist on slandering me at my door?”

The two of them ran off together like thieves, and had since become allies.

As Kan Xingyue grew older, Zhao Yelan was willing to buy clothes for her again, and was closer to her than a mother-in-law. She wished she could live in the General’s Mansion every day, eating delicious food and dressing nicely. There was no richer lady in the capital than her!

She liked to talk sweetly, and would boast when she had nothing to do, often speaking of her father and her Yifu: “Yifu, you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen, and I will buy you many, many beautiful clothes in the future!”

Zhao Yelan smiled and said: “It’s a deal. If there is one thing missing, I will come to the door and ask for it.”

“No need to visit the door, I will deliver them to you personally, and I won’t forget the sachets! I want to eat braised pork, you can feed me~”

The dinner table was full of joy and harmony, filled with love between parent and child, but Yan Mingting couldn’t stand it anymore. He grabbed her by the collar and backed away, chiding: “What is this, how old are you, and you’re still clinging to your Yifu all day long? At this age, hurry up and become working girl. I hear that someone has come to the house to propose marriage to you.”

“What kind of working girl? Why didn’t you teach me female crafts when you taught me to swing a whip and a sword?” Kan Xingyue ran out, leaped lightly onto the big tree in the courtyard, and looked down at their figures walking side by side. She said crisply, “Hmph, if I want to marry, I will also marry someone like my Yifu.”

“What a beautiful dream,” Yan Mingting said. “You get down from there.”

“I won’t, it’s really not possible, not when you’re like this.” Kan Xingyue giggled. “Okay, okay, you two just have a good time by yourselves. I’m going to go see which family’s leper came to my house.”

“Surnamed Zhao, first name Sui.” Yan Mingting raised his voice.

With a plop, Kan Xingyue fell from the tree.

Yan Mingting laughed heartlessly, and sent her home with Zhao Yelan before coming back.

“Sui’er really wants to marry her?” Zhao Yelan frowned.

“En, he heard that many people have gone to the Kan residence with betrothal gifts recently, including the eldest son of Ruan Xian’s family. The three of them were childhood friends, so he is naturally anxious.”

“How do you know so much?” Zhao Yelan wondered.

Of course because Yan Mingting was in a hurry. When he heard about Zhao Sui’s male concerns, he wished that he would get married right away, then take over the country and let him and Zhao Yelan go on a long trip.

“This is great, we can finally go out to play.” Yan Mingting hugged him.

Zhao Yelan smiled, then said worriedly: “But he is the ruler of a country, and I worry that he will neglect Yue’er in the future.”

“He mentioned to me that he only wants to marry Yue’er alone, because he has the two of us as role models, hehe.” Yan Mingting touched his shoulder blades and said in distress, “Have you lost weight recently? You should eat more, you will look better if you’re fatter.”

Zhao Yelan pushed him away: “Are you saying I don’t look good now?”

A month later, Zhao Sui and Kan Xingyue’s marriage was finalized, but it took more than two steps to get married. Thus, the families got together at the General’s Mansion to discuss the marriage process.

The banquet was a lively one. Xiao Gao suddenly ran up to Zhao Yelan and whispered something in his ear. Zhao Yelan’s expression changed and he set down his chopsticks, leaving the table in a hurry.

“What’s the matter?” The others followed and came to the back courtyard.

The chickens were still clucking, and there was a dejected Yan Mingting squatting in the distance.

“When did it die?” Zhao Yelan asked, stepping forward.

Everyone turned pale with fright, gathering around one after another to see the corpse of the rabbit lying in front of Yan Mingting.

“Just now. I fed it, and it died after a few mouthfuls. I’m sure I didn’t poison it, ah,” Yan Mingting said sadly.

“This should be the end of its life.” Zhao Yelan crouched down, staring at the rabbit in a daze.

This rabbit named Hongshao was still in the hunting grounds years ago. Yan Mingting had caught it, and had been taking good care of it since he brought it back to the house. Its status immediately surpassed that of the chickens and fish, and Yan Mingting would occasionally call it his son. Only when it was about to give birth did he change its address to daughter in embarrassment.

Everyone comforted them that rabbits could not be resurrected after death, they must look forward, condolences, condolences.

Zhao Yelan adjusted his mood and asked solemnly: “Are you sure it just died?”

Yan Mingting nodded: “En, as soon as it closed its eyes, I asked Xiao Gao to deliver the message to you.”

“Then it can still be braised?” Zhao Yelan asked again.

Yan Mingting was stunned, and his eyes lit up: “Right, ah, why didn’t I think of that! If it died and was braised, it could be regarded as a worthy death.”

Everyone: “…….?”

In the end, Hongshao still couldn’t be placed on the dining table. The two dug a pit in the back mountain, buried it, and placed a tomb labeled “Hongshao” over it. Looking around, there were many white and tender rabbits along the path.

“Let’s go home.”

“En.”

They held hands as usual, through the dusk and through the four seasons. The sun would still rise tomorrow.

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