novelraw Chapter 558: The 558th is too scheming.
Chapter 558: The 558th is too scheming.
Xia Ruqing was a bit dizzy.Son, didn’t I teach you this morning?
We had an agreement, remember? Take whatever you like. Have you forgotten?
You usually love writing and studying so much, and you adore your Small Wooden Sword. Why aren’t you taking them?
She had already gnawed on the Small Wooden Sword of purple sandalwood her older brother had given him. Little children don’t know how to express their fondness. They only know to gnaw with their teeth. He hugged it every day, and its top was covered with rows of small teeth marks!
How come, at this moment, he’s acting as if he knows nothing?
Xia Ruqing stared intently at her son, feeling very nervous.
Everyone else was the same, all staring intently at the Little Prince.
Aside from Zhao Junyao and Xia Ruqing, who shared the same emotions, the rest of the Concubines, including the Empress, had extremely complex expressions.
What they were thinking, probably only they themselves knew.
Little Bun looked left and right.
After receiving the ceaseless hints from his mother’s eyes, he finally understood.
So this is that... what’s it called... the item-choosing ceremony?
It seems like it!
Mother even told him to take whatever he liked!
Take whatever I like?! Remembering this, Little Bun’s eyes immediately lit up.
What if I like so many of these nice things? What should I do?
Little Bun wobbled to his feet, standing in the middle of the large mat filled with objects.
First, he looked around at the objects placed all around.
Then...
A truly astonishing scene unfolded.
Little Bun took a few steps forward, squatted down, used his small hand to pick up an item, and tossed it off the mat.
Then he looked around some more, picked up another item, and threw it out.
He got up to look, threw again, and after tossing things out in a full circle, he continued to walk around with his hands behind his back, as if inspecting whether there was anything else to discard.
He had all the airs of a Great General surveying the battlefield!
Xia Ruqing was puzzled. What’s my son doing?
The others were equally baffled. Is the Little Prince... unhappy with everything?
However, even though they were puzzled, they didn’t find it particularly strange. Children, after all, are still young. Many unexpected things could happen during an item-choosing ceremony; it wasn’t worth making a fuss about. A few auspicious words were usually enough to smooth things over.
Just as everyone was thinking this, they saw Little Bun suddenly stop.
He squatted down and, huffing and puffing, gathered all the remaining objects together.
Then he turned and lifted all four corners of the red carpet spread on the ground.
Using that red carpet, he wrapped up all the objects he hadn’t thrown away.
In the end, Little Bun stood beside the bundle, his eyes smiling into narrow crescents, looking so proud he seemed ready to ascend to the heavens!
He looked towards Xia Ruqing with a proud gaze. Look, Mother! These are all my favorites!
Xia Ruqing was speechless.
She put her hand to her forehead and looked skyward. My son, I don’t recognize you anymore!
I certainly don’t have such thick skin! Definitely not!
Xia Ruqing looked at Zhao Junyao, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
However, she found that he, too, was very proud.
The two of them, one big and one small, wore the same proud looks and arrogant eyes, as if they were carved from the same mold.
Xia Ruqing felt like covering her eyes. I can’t bear to watch this!
The Sister responsible for the item-choosing ceremony and for saying auspicious words couldn’t stand watching any longer.
Her composure threatened to crumble, but she finally managed to squeeze out a smile.
"Oh my! The Little Prince is truly intelligent by nature! He keeps everything he likes and throws out what he doesn’t. Just look... how smart he is!"
"In the future, the Little Prince will surely know when to advance and when to retreat, what to take and what to leave! He will excel in both his studies and martial arts!"
Sister Xi found herself at a loss for words by the end of her speech.
She had never seen anything like this before!
Other children, when they are just over a year old, still don’t understand. Most of them only grab one item, and some don’t pick any at all, just crying and causing a fuss.
She had ways to smooth over those situations.
But... this child, what can I say about him?
He chose so many things and had them all wrapped up; I can’t even invent a suitable saying for this!
Too smart! Too cunning! This child is going to defy the heavens!
Zhao Junyao was very pleased.
He first let out a hearty laugh, then had the Little Prince brought over to his side.
"Good boy, truly worthy of being my son!"
"The Imperial Eldest Son should indeed have such an assertive spirit!"
This little rascal will probably be unwilling to accept a loss wherever he goes in the future.
But... doesn’t a Prince of the Royal Family need to be like that?
Otherwise, if he’s timid and indecisive, what would he amount to?
Yes! I am very satisfied, extremely satisfied!
Little Bun, in his father’s embrace, also giggled happily, his little eyes brimming with smug pride, simply adorable!
"AH... OOH... OOH..."
Little Bun gesticulated joyfully!
Zhao Junyao patted his little bottom.
"Alright, stop wriggling. All the things you’ve chosen, Father will give to you! HA HA HA..."
As he spoke, he had the Wetnurse Nanny carry him away.
Upon hearing that all the items were his, Little Bun immediately relaxed.
When he was carried away, he didn’t cry or fuss; his little eyes were still filled with smug satisfaction.
Xia Ruqing’s face turned red. This is so embarrassing to watch!
How did my son learn this from me?
Thick-skinned, proud, and fond of nice things!
TSK TSK, like mother, like son indeed!
「...」
And so, the item-choosing ceremony ended swiftly.
The Empress and the Concubines all felt somewhat disappointed.
Not only did they not get to see the Little Prince make a fool of himself, but they had also been thoroughly outshone!
The Little Prince was smart and handsome—plump and fair-skinned, a joy to behold.
The Emperor was also pleased, and Consort Xian Pin’s face flushed with pride.
Look at him, his future is so bright.
Then look at the kind of lives we are leading.
It really stung!
But no matter how much it stung, they couldn’t show it, could they?
So, everyone, hiding their bitterness and internal struggles, took turns presenting their birthday gifts to the Little Prince.
The Empress Dowager presented a set of clothes, several gold neck rings, and a box of exquisite trinkets.
It was a modest gift, with nothing to find fault with.
The Empress Dowager said with a smile, "I am old and can no longer manage needlework well. I made this set of clothes, but it was mostly with others’ help. I’m really not as capable as I once was!"
Xia Ruqing quickly stood up. "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager has worked hard. This concubine, on behalf of the Imperial Son, thanks Your Majesty for her gracious gift!"
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, indicating for her to sit down.
Xia Ruqing curtsied in acknowledgement and sat down.
After sitting down, Xia Ruqing thought to herself, This set of clothes was supposedly made with help arranged by the Empress Dowager. Who knows, perhaps Her Majesty only paid lip service to the task!
Is this how things are always done in the palace?
Everyone plays along with this charade; I can’t say anything different.
After the Empress Dowager had bestowed her gifts, the others began presenting theirs one after another.
The Empress’s gifts included a set of small garments for each of the four seasons, a gold neck ring with a longevity lock, ten bolts of satin, six bolts of silk, ten boxes of spices, and ten catties of bird’s nest. The sheer abundance of the gifts was astonishing.
In the Empress’s heart, this wasn’t about giving birthday gifts; it was about bestowing rewards.
She was the principal wife, Consort Xian Pin was a concubine; everything she did was as it should be, according to her status.