chapter 11

Chapter 11: Educating the Child

Ever since Shen He successfully uttered the word "brother" during his first birthday celebration, he started to speak sporadically, throwing out a few words every couple of days.

This brought immense joy to everyone around him, and their daily highlight became teasing him, saying, "Young master, this is rice porridge, porridge..."

"Flower, flower, leaf, can young master say it?"

Shen He, with his tiny stature, would wriggle through their legs, only to be promptly caught by those sent by Empress Liu Xuan.

Lianqiao and Heling took this as routine, watching as someone picked up the young master and took him to the inner palace.

Shen He, feeling indifferent, thought to himself that his aunt would surely torment him soon.

Upon entering Empress Xuan's palace, before Shen He could react, he was scooped into a pair of arms.

Empress Xuan's laughter was particularly bright, pinching Shen He here and there, touching his squishy little belly, his soft, tender arms, and his chubby cheeks.

"Our little He has started calling out 'brother.' When will he start calling me 'aunt'?" Empress Liu Xuan was somewhat discontented.

The first person he addressed was the young prince. Considering the prince had cared for the child for a year, it was acceptable that he called the prince first.

But shouldn't she, at the very least, be the second one he addresses?

After all, she was the first relative he ever met.

Empress Liu Xuan planted a kiss on Shen He's cheek, playfully tickling him, "Sweetie, say 'aunt', au—nt—"

Unable to resist the tickles, the child wriggled in her embrace, giggling uncontrollably.

With his mouth wide open, he exclaimed energetically, "Ah! Ah ah!" Full of zeal, yet lacking substance.

Empress Liu Xuan persevered, "Look at my lips, au—nt—"

Seeing his aunt's eager expression, Shen He hesitated momentarily, then tried, "Hmm... Aunt, au—nt—"

Overjoyed, Empress Liu Xuan lifted the child, bouncing him slightly, "Our little He is truly clever! Aunt loves you the most!"

Shen He, overwhelmed by a flurry of kisses and unable to escape, resignedly accepted them.

He was then handed a large peach.

Comforted, Shen He held the peach and began to nibble on it joyfully.

His teeth had grown stronger over the past couple of months, with two more than before.

The task of biting into the peach was no longer as challenging as last time.

In Empress Liu Xuan's kitchen, a pot of chicken soup simmered, its fragrant aroma filling the air once the fat was skimmed off.

Typically, a child of Shen He's age shouldn't be consuming such richly flavored dishes.

But the tantalizing scent of the chicken soup tempted him immensely. Considering the simpler ingredients of ancient times compared to modern ones, he figured a couple of sips wouldn't harm, right?

After all, he wasn't a real child.

Shen He momentarily put the peach aside and sidled up to Empress Liu Xuan, resting his little hands on her knee, gazing up at her with longing, then at the small bowl of soup in her hand.

His eyes, glossy with desire, looked as though drool might escape any moment.

Holding back her laughter, Empress Liu Xuan asked, "Little He, would you like some?" pointing to the bowl.

The child eagerly nodded.

Blinking innocently and clutching at Liu Xuan's dress hem, he cooed, "Auntie, Auntie..."

Her heart melted with just two utterances of that soft 'auntie'.

Before he could call out a third time, she scooped a little soup, shielding any drips with her hand, and fed it to him, "Here, a taste for our little He."

The maidservant by her side cautioned, "Your Highness, the young master is still very young. I'm afraid he shouldn't consume such a rich soup yet..."

Shen He didn't care and slurped it up instantly.

His eyes squinted in satisfaction.

Oh, it tasted heavenly.

Such a familiar flavor.

The maidservant: "..."

After a moment of hesitation and seeing Shen He's delight, Empress Liu Xuan brushed off her concerns, "It's fine, just a little taste, not a full serving."

She paused, then added, "In the future, when Little He visits the palace, have the kitchen prepare lighter soups. I'd like him to enjoy them."

With such evident favoritism, all the maidservant could do was comply, "Yes, Your Highness."

Shen He, knowing when to stop, savored the soup and then resumed relishing his peach.

He had been brought over early in the morning.

Typically, after spending half a day with Empress Liu Xuan, someone from the Eastern Palace would come to fetch him.

If he were brought to Liu Xuan in the afternoon, sometimes, by sunset, the young prince himself would come to carry the child home.

But today, no one came.

The nanny asked in surprise, "Your Highness, no one from the Eastern Palace has come today. Should we bring the young master there ourselves?"

Empress Liu Xuan replied, "Why should we send him? They will come to fetch him. Besides, the prince has no time for Shen He today. Sending him back to the Eastern Palace where he'll just be with servants isn't as good as staying here with me."

Shen He pricked up his ears, focusing especially on the first part.

Why was the male lead unavailable today?

Though he was often busy in the Eastern Palace before, it was mostly with his studies, and Shen He could always hear from him daily.

So today, he's so preoccupied that even the empress is aware?

Shen He wracked his little brain, trying to recall any significant events around this time for the male lead.

It's late June now... just a month after the queen dowager's death anniversary.

Suddenly, it dawned on Shen He.

He had been so engrossed in his joys, he almost forgot the male lead's storyline.

The young prince is starting his regency at nine!

No wonder Shen He hadn't seen him since early morning.

From the start of his regency, it marked the male lead's official entry into the royal court and the beginning of his political struggles.

The peach in Shen He's hand suddenly seemed less sweet.

Taking a few more bites, he headed towards the palace gates.

Lian Qiao exclaimed, "Young master?"

Empress Liu Xuan stood up, catching Shen He just before he crawled over the threshold, "You little rascal, where are you off to?"

Shen He leaned eagerly towards the gate.

Auntie, the male lead is going to be reprimanded today.

Not just by the emperor for his regency, but he's also going to be falsely accused.

Recalling this event, Shen He naturally couldn't just sit by, watching the young prince get reprimanded and unjustly blamed.

The male lead is impressive, able to swallow his pride, and bide his time after being wronged.

But thinking of this, picturing the young prince's innocent face enduring such injustice, Shen He felt his anger rise.

Now that they were all real people, not just characters on paper, experiencing injustice would be painful. Shen He couldn't bear such an indignity.

The child struggled with all his might, showing no cooperation whatsoever.

With no other option, Princess Xuan tried to persuade him, "Little He, do you want to go home? The sun is harsh outside now. Why not stay and play here with Auntie until the Crown Prince comes to fetch you?"

Princess Xuan invoked the Crown Prince's name, hoping the little one would comply.

Shen He nestled into Princess Xuan's embrace, pausing for a moment before saying, "Flower, flower!"

"Auntie, you understand what I mean, right?"

To the Imperial Garden.

If we go earlier, there's a chance the male lead won't be wrongfully accused.

Even if we're a bit late, we can still offer our support.

Shen He carefully considered. The Liu family was powerful, and even without children, Princess Xuan's favor with the Emperor remained undiminished. If she were present, the Emperor would undoubtedly be more amicable and receptive to her words.

As for Shen He himself, he's just a child. Whether he creates a bit of chaos or acts cute, the Emperor wouldn't take issue with a one-year-old, even if he were just a common official's child.

Thankfully, Auntie did not disappoint Shen He.

Without waiting for more hints from Shen He, Auntie asked, "Little He, do you want to go to the place where you picked flowers last time?"

Shen He nodded with sparkling eyes!

Auntie is so clever!

Princess Xuan sighed, kissed Shen He on the forehead, and playfully remarked, "I was just praising how good you were, and now you're showing your mischievous side."

Shen He looked innocently up at her.

Princess Xuan ordered an umbrella to be brought as they headed to the Imperial Garden.

Upon reaching the Imperial Garden, they alighted from their sedan. Shen He insisted on walking by himself.

Princess Xuan bent down to hold his hand, watching the toddler, no taller than an adult's thigh, waddle forward, looking all around.

The Imperial Garden was vast, but luckily, Shen He had been carried there by Princess Xuan a couple of times before and had a general sense of the place.

And thankfully, the original author had a common issue found in many male-centric stories: excessive descriptions.

Unnecessary scenic descriptions filled most of the chapters, as if every detail, down to the number of rocks where the male lead was scolded, had to be spelled out.

Of course, Shen He couldn't remember all these details, but a vague impression was enough.

Princess Xuan let the child lead the way. He pulled her past several rockeries until they reached the lake.

Princess Xuan swiftly picked up the child, "Little He, you mustn't go near the water, okay?"

Pointing at the artificial lake, Princess Xuan wore a serious expression as she warned the child, "If you do, Auntie will be upset."

Princess Xuan didn't overthink it, attributing the child's actions to innocent wandering.

She had never brought Shen He to this place before.

The little toddler nestled in her embrace, giggling twice, unphased by her stern expression.

Princess Xuan began to worry – had she been spoiling the child too much?

But soon, she dismissed that thought.

Little He was barely a year old, a time when indulgence was warranted. He couldn't grasp these intricacies. There'd be time to establish elder authority when he was older.

The toddler still held his peach, now misshapen from his nibbling.

He giggled and held the peach up to Princess Xuan's lips, murmuring softly, "Auntie, Auntie."

Princess Xuan thought, indeed, now is the time to pamper him.

The child is so young; the servants just need to watch him closely. He couldn't understand these complexities.

Her stern face didn't last even half a minute before breaking.

Just as she was about to play with the little one, she suddenly heard voices.

"Second Prince, please be cautious..."

"Hmph, mind your tongue. If you dare speak of this to a third person, I'll ensure the Empress Mother tears out your tongue!"

The smile on Princess Xuan's face faded instantly.

Holding the child, she shot a glance at the palace maids behind her, signaling them to remain silent.

There weren't many accompanying her: those carrying the sedan stayed behind, leaving only the maids Quezhi and Lianqiao, along with a nursemaid.

Princess Xuan looked down at the child in her arms and saw the little one with his lips pursed, fully attentive, all ears to eavesdrop.

She couldn't help but chuckle.

Could this little one actually understand?

With that thought, Princess Xuan glanced towards the source of the voices, leading her entourage to a more concealed spot.

A hint of coldness flashed in her slender phoenix eyes.