darknovel Chapter 442 Extra: The Little Peach Blossom Spirit 2
Chapter 442 Extra: The Little Peach Blossom Spirit 2
On the day before the Dragon Boat Festival, Li Yuanke said that there would be too many people at Jinming Pond early the next morning, and he would be coming to pick her up, which would definitely be quite late. If she could go to the palace with him and stay overnight at his mother's palace, they could go together the next day and get a good spot early.
Shen Shixi also wanted to visit the palace, but she didn't want to stay in Consort Xiao's palace because she wasn't familiar with her and it would be too awkward.
"Brother Yuan Ke, why can't I live with you? I don't even know your mother."
Li Yuanke originally wanted to say that they would get to know each other after just one meeting, but then he thought that Yang Tingyue had been there these past few days, and that the little peach blossom spirit would be bullied because she was so young, and she was only a little over three years old.
Shen Shixi just turned three.
"Then you can stay in my palace. I'll give you my bed and I'll sleep in the study," Li Yuanke said.
"Okay, okay!" Shen Shixi was delighted.
Old Master Shen was still worried, but Li Yuanke repeatedly assured him, and Shen Shixi kept pestering him until he finally agreed.
Upon hearing this, Shen Shiyan was incredulous that her sister was living with a man. However, considering how biased her grandmother and mother were, and how her sister always thought she was right, she didn't bother to interfere. She only said to Han Dan, "She's actually living in the palace. When she grows up, won't she want to fly to the heavens?"
Han Dan said, "Second Miss has always liked good-looking people. The Eighth Prince is really handsome, so it's no wonder that Second Miss and the Eighth Prince are so close."
That's right. There are cousins in the family, but my second sister has never said she's so close to anyone. Thinking about the Eighth Prince, he is indeed handsome.
Shen Shixi was brought into the palace and had to pay her respects to the Emperor and Empress first, regardless of whether they granted her an audience or not; this was the proper etiquette.
Unexpectedly, the Emperor wanted to see her, so Li Yuanke took her to Qianyuan Palace. Shen Shixi stood and stared at Emperor Zhenyou for a while, which terrified Li Yuanke. He quickly reminded her, and she then calmly bowed to Emperor Zhenyou.
"Your subject, Shen Shixi, greets Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
Shen Shixi is really beautiful. Under Li Yuanke's feeding, her face is much rounder than before. Her hair is tied into two little buns with pink ribbons. Her peach blossom eyes are bright and sparkling. Her chubby body is adorable. Her bowing movements are neat and proper, and her voice is sweet and gentle.
Emperor Zhenyou took a great liking to it at first sight.
None of his princesses possessed the child's plumpness, and he hurriedly said, "Rise! Your grandfather always speaks of you to me, and I have always wanted to meet you. What books have you read?"
"This humble woman only knows a few characters and has never been to school."
Emperor Zhenyou chuckled. Most people would boast a bit in front of him, but this child was interesting, doing the opposite. "Why? The Shen family is known for its scholarly traditions. If you don't study, wouldn't you be disgracing the family?"
Shen Shixi said, "Even if my daughter is learned beyond measure, talented beyond compare, and possesses extraordinary abilities to govern the world and bring peace to the country, she cannot serve Your Majesty. So why should I bother studying?"
Emperor Zhenyou laughed heartily, finding it amusing to talk to a three-year-old child and hear her speak like an adult. He asked, "Your grandfather devoted half his life to the Spring and Autumn Annals; have you ever read that book?"
He just said he doesn't read books, but what he said was exactly what a child who doesn't read books would say?
This child is just as her grandfather described—a clever and mischievous little devil!
Shen Shixi naturally knew that Emperor Zhenyou was testing her. A person without value could not gain the respect of others. If she wanted to avoid being bullied in the palace, she had to win Emperor Zhenyou's favor and protection.
"I have never read the Spring and Autumn Annals, nor can I understand it, but I often hear my grandfather read it to me, and I know that the Spring and Autumn Annals uses history as a mirror to clarify names and titles, to express praise and criticism, and to maintain the order of rites and music. The Spring and Autumn Annals contains profound meanings in concise words, focusing on major issues of right and wrong, defining crimes by killing, subtly criticizing by restraining, and clarifying the righteousness of execution."
Therefore, some mistakenly believe that it was written by the sage specifically for rebellious ministers and traitors. I believe, however, that the significance of the *Spring and Autumn Annals* lies in its clear and profound meaning; since the sage wrote it, everyone has a copy of the *Spring and Autumn Annals* in their heart.
It means that justice and fairness reside in the hearts of the people.
Only then did Emperor Zhenyou believe that Old Master Shen's praise of his granddaughter was not unfounded, and he asked, "Shen Shixi, how dare you! You actually dare to deceive the emperor!"
Shen Shixi was startled, while Li Yuanke was terrified, nearly losing his soul. He knelt and begged, "Father, Miss Shen didn't deceive the Emperor. She truly doesn't like studying. When I was studying, she was always sleeping!"
Emperor Zhenyou chuckled. With the two little ones in front of him, he didn't need to worry about his image. "You have the nerve to say that to her? Have you been studying hard yourself?"
Shen Shixi hurriedly said, "Brother Yuan Ke studies very hard. He reads when I am awake and he reads when I am asleep. Sometimes when I wake up and don't hear him reading, I see him writing. If Your Majesty doesn't believe me, you can test Brother Yuan Ke."
Emperor Zhenyou originally had no intention of doing so, as the throne was not in Li Yuanke's hands and it didn't matter whether he studied well or not. But the little man said that he didn't want to govern at the moment, so he might as well test this son.
"What have you been reading lately? Tell me!"
"Yes, Father! The Grand Tutor taught me to read 'The Great Learning,' and I have memorized it and also learned its interpretation."
When students are young, teachers usually only teach them to memorize the texts and do not explain their meanings. Students have to wait until they are older and can no longer understand the texts themselves before they can ask their teachers for clarification.
Emperor Zhenyou found this strange and asked, "Then tell me, what principles does the *Great Learning* teach?"
Li Yuanke then thought of what Shen Shixi had taught him. In fact, Old Master Shen hadn't actually taught him anything; it was all Shen Shixi who taught him in a rambling, disjointed way, and even taught him how to apply what he had learned in a practical way.
He glanced at Shen Shixi and saw her hand reaching into the pastry dish. Emperor Zhenyou also saw it, and the father and son quickly looked away, pretending not to have seen anything.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her secretly stuff a piece of pastry into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out like a greedy little hamster.
Emperor Zhenyou could no longer suppress the smile playing on his lips. He coughed lightly and said, "Speak!"
"Yes!" Li Yuanke followed Shen Shixi's example and recited the "Three Principles" and "Eight Items," and then said, "The relationship between the Three Principles is from 'cultivating oneself' to 'bringing peace to others,' from the individual to the world; among the Eight Items, investigating things, extending knowledge, making one's will sincere, and rectifying one's mind are internal cultivation, while regulating one's family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world are external governance, and the overall goal is 'cultivating oneself to bring peace to the people.'"
This explanation is far more profound than a word-for-word interpretation.
Emperor Zhenyou's eyes lit up as he listened to his son's explanation, and he nodded unconsciously. "Very good! This is true understanding of the book. Guards, reward him!"
Emperor Zhenyou not only rewarded Li Yuanke, but also Old Master Shen. He felt that the Eighth Prince was not bad at learning, but that Li Jizhong had not taught him well before. A learned person is not necessarily a good teacher!
Emperor Zhenyou had the idea of having Old Master Shen return to teach the princes, so he let Shen Shixi stay in the palace for a few more days to have fun. He also told the eunuchs around him and everyone in the harem not to bully the Second Miss Shen, and that if he found out, he would not let it go easily.
Shen Shixi went to pay her respects to the Empress again. The Empress was very kind and instructed Li Yuanke to take good care of Miss Shen. She also gave her many gifts and asked the Imperial Clothing Bureau to make several outfits for Shen Shixi.
Li Yuanke lived in a side hall of Xianfu Palace, which had three rooms in total: one main room and two side rooms. The main room was for living, and one of the side rooms was a bedroom and the other was a study.
The space is quite large. Shen Shixi stayed in the bedroom, and there was a canopy bed in the study that was usually used for afternoon naps. Now Li Yuanke also sleeps there at night.
Just as Shen Shixi finished her tour, two children slightly older than her came over, a boy and a girl. The boy was Li Yuanyin, and the girl was Yang Tingyue.
Upon seeing Shen Shixi, Yang Tingyue reacted like a bellowing rooster, her hair practically standing on end. "Who are you? What are you doing in my cousin's palace?"