Chapter 182 - 157: No More Grinding

"Today at Changle Palace, the Mother Empress said I was hoping for him to be a child prodigy. The way I see it, you’re the one who’s actually raising him like one."

Xie Che said with a laugh.

When others mentioned their children, they would often use humble terms like "my unworthy son." But the Emperor never had such thoughts. He was the Son of Heaven; his sons and daughters were Dragon Sons and Daughters, bearers of the noblest bloodline, and destined to be exceptional talents.

If someone were to be even more outstanding than them...

Xie Che believed that a "truly outstanding" official would know when to yield the spotlight to a prince.

"A child prodigy is born with innate knowledge. I wouldn’t dare to think that. The principles of how to be a good person and handle matters can only be taught by his parents. There is much I don’t understand, so I can only ask for Your Majesty’s help,"

Jiang Xian said, grasping his hand. "In the future, Your Majesty will have many children. After Zhao’er, there will be the prince or princess from Consort Guo. I ask for nothing else, only that Your Majesty will personally teach Zhao’er more."

Xie Che’s hand was held in hers, and he was slightly moved.

Ever since she had become highly favored, Jiang Xian rarely asked him for anything. He could see that she was a strong woman with a mind of her own. But this time, she wasn’t playing any games or acting pitiful. She had humbled herself completely, pleading with him to take a more active role with the Eldest Prince.

Xie Che thought for a moment. "Zhao’er is not only our child, but he is also my first prince. I will certainly pay close attention to him. Just today, the Mother Empress told me not to neglect him if he turns out to be mediocre. You see, the Empress Dowager is very fond of him, so you don’t need to worry... Could it be that Jiang Ke was a strict father at home, and that’s what has frightened you, Xian’er?"

The Emperor was projecting his own experiences onto her.

Because he had two older brothers, the Empress Dowager, despite having high hopes for him, never dared to show it too openly. She even had him rein in his brilliance at the Shangshufang and maintain the path of Zhongyong. As a result, he had a similar idea for his son—to be nurtured, but with a balanced approach.

’My beloved concubine is so strict with Zhao’er. It must be because of her family’s ways.’

He pulled her into his arms to comfort her, but the woman in his embrace said that wasn’t it. "My parents never had any expectations for me. It’s just that every time I run into difficulties, I wish they had been stricter with me back then and taught me those lessons earlier. Then I wouldn’t have had to learn what pain was by bashing my head against a wall until I bled."

Jiang Xian said softly.

Although she was smiling, the underlying expression was cold and hard, her jaw tightening slightly. ’The Emperor had it all wrong. Her parents in her past life had been the epitome of laissez-faire, the ultimate slackers. It didn’t matter if she couldn’t get into a good school; if she didn’t like studying, she could just come home and help with farm work. When she was old enough, she’d get married. Once she had the certificate and a baby on the way, her husband’s family would have to support her for life.’

’Her parents never told her that you couldn’t find a good job without a college degree.’

’Her parents never told her that academic credentials came in tiers.’

’That being a woman was easy was the first lie Jiang Xian saw through after coming into this world.’

"When I heard that the Empress Dowager likes Zhao’er, I was truly overjoyed," Jiang Xian said, taking the Emperor’s hand and placing it on her chest so he could feel her racing heart. "I’ve never been one to get along with my elders. I never had the chance to bring joy to my grandmother’s side. I hope Zhao’er can have the blessings that I never did."

She leaned forward, her words earnest and sincere.

Everything she had never experienced, she wanted her children to have.

The soft flesh beneath Xie Che’s palm throbbed, yet not a single romantic thought arose in his mind.

He lifted Jiang Xian’s chin, studying her small, serious face. After staring for a long while, he said, "I’ve just realized... you’re still a child yourself!"

The King Juan froze, blinking in confusion. "Your Majesty, I came of age long ago."

Xie Che said, "The way you blink is exactly the same as Zhao’er."

Xie Che continued, "Zhao’er does indeed look like I did as a child, but if you look closely at some of his subtle little movements, you’ll find they are all reflections of you, Xian’er."

His words seemed to come out of nowhere, so Jiang Xian could only reply, "As long as Your Majesty is pleased."

’A child without a father’s love is so pitiful.’

’She would absolutely not let Zhao’er follow in her footsteps.’

"I already told you when you were attending to my sickbed that I am fond of you. I am the Emperor. To be liked by me alone is better than being liked by ten thousand others. Even if your grandmother had lived a long life, I doubt she could have doted on you as I do, moving mountains of gold and silver before you," Xie Che said after a moment of thought. "Zhao’er is loved by us both, and the royal grandmother likes him too. His fortune is not small. I just want you to have more."

A second-generation heir who grew up in the lap of luxury thought about things very directly.

Forget about compensating the next generation; he wanted to spoil the woman in his heart rotten right now.

This round of heartfelt exchange left Jiang Xian stunned.

Before she could react, Xie Che pinched her cheeks and kneaded them like dough. "The Mother Empress said something that made a lot of sense. Zhao’er is only two weeks old and can’t do anything but eat and sleep. But you’re different. You’ve not only come of age, you’ve also entered the palace and become my concubine. There are many things I can do with you. What your parents couldn’t give you, I will."

The King Juan was a big question mark.

Xie Che added, "Oh, with the exception of your grandmother. The dead cannot be resurrected; even the Emperor is powerless there."

"However," Xie Che said, "I can issue a decree to have her reburied with full honors."

The hopelessly unromantic Emperor didn’t know how to whisper sweet nothings; he only knew how to be good to people in the most direct way possible.

Jiang Xian wanted to refuse, but then she remembered this was the original owner’s ancestor, and she shouldn’t turn down such a good thing. So, she accepted.

Meanwhile, outside the palace, the first task assigned to Jiang Ke after arriving in the capital was to remotely arrange for the restoration of his parents’ tombs. The Jiang family didn’t have much silver, so the original funeral had been respectable but far from extravagant. Now, with a single decree from the Emperor, the Jiang family’s fame exploded in Meize County. The Emperor doted on Mrs. Jiang so much that it wasn’t enough to summon her father to the capital for an official post—his favor even extended to her ancestors!

After Jiang Xian finished her postpartum confinement and held the Eldest Prince’s full moon banquet, the Empress Dowager was ready to send the Eldest Prince back to Bihua Palace.

This move made the jaws of countless concubines, who had assumed Gu Zhaoyi’s son had been taken from her, drop to the floor.

’So he was really just sent to Changle Palace to gain some prestige?’

’Gu Zhaoyi sure is daring!’

No sooner had the Eldest Prince been sent to Bihua Palace than the Emperor announced a summer retreat to Xihua Garden. The list of attendees he named included the Noble Consort, Princess Consort Zhang, Lu Ronghua, Gu Zhaoyi, and Ma Wan Yi.

Consort Guo, who was about to give birth, was not on the list.

The Empress, who was holding down the fort in the harem, promised to take good care of Consort Guo’s pregnancy. "Your Majesty can go to Xihua Garden without worry. I will manage the palace affairs well. It’s just that Gu Zhaoyi has just finished her confinement, and the Eldest Prince is still so young. Perhaps it’s not suitable for them to be moved?"

’It’s fine for the Emperor to go have fun, but he should leave her secretary behind for her!’

But Xie Che said, "This trip is precisely to take Gu Zhaoyi out to relax. The Empress needn’t worry about her."

The Empress said, "Then the Noble Consort..."

’Someone who likes to delegate would be fine, too!’

Xie Che replied, "Leaving the Noble Consort in the palace is a recipe for disaster."

If the Noble Consort were left alone in the harem, there wouldn’t be a single day of peace. An annoyed and irritable Noble Consort would randomly select a "lucky" winner to be summoned to her palace for a lecture.

The Emperor and Empress looked at each other.

In the end, they compromised slightly, leaving Princess Consort Zhang behind to assist the Empress.