Chapter 374

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

Eunuch Qiu clearly hadn't expected Xin Derui to ask this question the moment he woke up; he paused slightly, then hurriedly replied: "Last night a report came saying Yi Xin Cheng has already fallen."

Xin Derui's expression instantly turned gloomy, his fists clenched tight, clearly very angry and disappointed by this news.

"How could Yi Xin Cheng fall so quickly?" he demanded angrily, "What exactly are those city-defending officers and soldiers eating?"

Eunuch Qiu hurriedly explained: "It is said Dachang's army suddenly launched a fierce attack, and our garrison troops were caught somewhat off guard..."

"Enough!" Xin Derui interrupted Eunuch Qiu's words, "Xiao Qiuzi, immediately go call the Crown Prince for me!"

Eunuch Qiu assented, quickly turned and ordered someone to summon the Crown Prince. After he had arranged it, the Yushi's morning meal had just arrived. Eunuch Qiu dared not be slow, quickly stepping forward to serve Xin Derui his meal.

After a while, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

Xin Hong strode in, and upon seeing Xin Derui, he quickly knelt to pay respects: "Huangdi, are you well? I only received news of Your Majesty's fainting yesterday this morning; I am late, and hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Xin Derui looked at this son before him who bore a five-part resemblance to himself, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart. Xin Hong's temperament and nature were even more steady and decisive than his own; indeed he was more suited to be an emperor.

Xin Derui's thoughts gradually drifted away, recalling some things from the past. He originally had little fondness for the Crown Prince's birth mother, even feeling some aversion.

However, as time passed, he gradually discovered this woman actually had many strengths, and the Crown Prince had grown quite excellent under her teaching.

Speaking of those years, the woman she had admired was actually the mother of Second Young Master Xin Tong.

However, because his own Empress Dowager considered Xin Hong's birth mother more dignified and imposing, more suited to be Empress of a state, while Xin Tong's birth mother seemed somewhat petty and not quite suited to this noble position, the Empress Dowager therefore forcefully compelled him to establish her as Empress.

Although he had little affection for this Empress, it cannot be denied that she indeed possessed considerable ability and talent.

She managed the harem in perfect order, whether it was relations among the consorts or the handling of palace affairs, she did everything very excellently.

Even after he later married the woman he loved, namely Xin Tong's birth mother, this Empress showed not the slightest intention of jealousy.

On the contrary, she gave Xin Tong's birth mother all the respect and treatment she deserved. It can be said she was a true lady of a distinguished family, possessing a broad mind and noble character.

Moreover, he knew very well in his heart that she had no love for him, and entering the imperial palace was not voluntary on her part.

Therefore, he gave her the treatment due an Empress, staying overnight in the Huang Hou Qin Gong on the first and fifteenth of each month. It was precisely because of this that Xin Hong this son came to be.

Xin Hong had shown extraordinary intelligence and wisdom from childhood, and under his Empress Dowager's careful teaching, whether in etiquette or temperament, he was exactly like his birth mother, admirable indeed.

However, regrettably, life was so fragile. The Empress passed away from this world forever in an accident, which was undoubtedly a heavy blow. And this accident was precisely what he was most unwilling to see.

After all, as Mother of a State, the Empress not only needed to carefully teach her own children, but for the children of other consorts she likewise bore the responsibility and obligation of teaching them.

On that day, Xin Tong committed a mistake, and this mistake triggered a series of chain reactions. It turned out Xin Tong had been quite mischievous since childhood, never paying attention in class.

Once, he was severely disciplined by the tutor, but he not only failed to realize his mistake, instead he grew dissatisfied with the tutor.

So, while the tutor was napping at noon, he secretly sneaked into the tutor's room, took out a fire starter, and actually set the tutor's beard on fire!

Xin Tong moved swiftly, running off in a puff of smoke. Although he ran fast enough, after all the tutor's beard was not long; as soon as it was lit, the tutor immediately noticed the abnormality.

He suddenly opened his eyes, and at a glance saw Xin Tong fleeing outside; looking again, his own beard had already burst into roaring flames, the fire continuing to spread upward.

Fortunately there was a washbasin in the room, and the washbasin happened to contain water. The tutor without hesitation plunged his head into the washbasin, thus barely extinguishing the fire. However, this sudden fire still gave him no small fright.

After the incident, the tutor naturally could not tolerate such behavior; he went straight to the Emperor to lodge a complaint, hoping the Emperor would severely punish Xin Tong to correct the academic atmosphere.

The Emperor thought: Xin Tong had become like this entirely because his birth mother did not know how to teach her child. The Emperor believed it was precisely due to his birth mother's excessive indulgence that he had become so unrestrained and willful.

So the Emperor decided to ask the Empress to help teach Xin Tong. After hearing this, the Empress quickly replied: "This is naturally within my duty as a concubine; it's just that previously I felt I had spoken too harshly, worrying the child might not accept it. After all, he is not my own child; if I am too strict, I fear it will cause resentment."

Upon hearing these words, the Emperor's expression darkened, and he sternly said: "You need not worry about anything else; just teach Xin Tong in the same way you teach Xin Hong." Seeing the Emperor's attitude so firm, the Empress also resolved to teach Xin Tong well.

The Empress immediately sent someone to summon Xin Tong to Fengyi Palace, and had him kneel in the Zheng Ting to quietly reflect on exactly what he had done wrong. However, Xin Tong thought little of it, feeling resentful in his heart, believing the Empress was deliberately making things difficult for him.

Although in front of the Empress Dowager Xin Tong behaved exceptionally meekly and obediently, once the Empress Dowager turned and left, he immediately stood up, completely disregarding whether his behavior was proper.

The yatou beside him, seeing this, originally wanted to speak up and advise him, but was frightened by Xin Tong's cold gaze into not daring to make a sound. After all, Xin Tong was a Prince, of noble status; how could a lowly yatou easily accuse him?

There was not only one person who thought this way; regarding Xin Tong's behavior, everyone chose to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear. Seeing this, Xin Tong's dissatisfaction grew even stronger; he suddenly stood up, like an arrow leaving the bow, and ran out of the Zheng Ting.

At this moment, the Empress Dowager sat properly in the Shufang, discussing today's lessons with Xin Hong. Their conversation was soft and gentle, the atmosphere harmonious, like a beautiful scroll of a kind mother and filial son. However, in Xin Tong's eyes this scene was especially glaring.

Xin Tong tiptoed to the window, carefully poked a small hole in the window, and then through this small hole peered at the scene inside. He saw the Empress Dowager and Xin Hong chatting happily; that gentle smile and caring words made the jealousy in his heart grow wildly like weeds.