Chapter 1225: Hiring a Teacher (Part 1)

Chapter 1225

Yue Er suddenly became interested and couldn’t help asking.

"Who is this person, so arrogant?"

"How come I’ve never seen them before?"

Xia Chengze thought for a while and shook his head.

"I haven’t seen them either!"

"There are only a few infamous nobles among the major families in the Capital City!"

"Even if we haven’t interacted, we’ve at least seen them!"

"Such arrogance... this is the first time I’ve seen it!"

"I suppose they’re not from the Capital City!"

The Capital City is, after all, under the King’s supervision.

The sons of official families and noble scoundrels cause chaos within limits; it’s impossible to be this brazen.

It’s even rarer to see someone causing trouble and hitting people in a venue.

"Most likely some outsider who just arrived in the Capital City!"

Zhao Qichen squinted his eyes.

"Whoever they are, it’s none of our business!"

"We’ve been out for half the day; we should head back now!"

"Yue Er, let’s go!"

He said and turned to leave.

Xia Chengze nodded in agreement and also left with his people.

Yue Er lagged behind.

She looked dazed, her eyes couldn’t help but glance at the departing figure of the person from earlier.

’Such a dashing figure!’

’Such an agile personality!’

’This person seems very agreeable to my eyes; wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could get to know them?!’

"Yue Er?"

Zhao Qichen turned to look at her.

"Why aren’t you coming?"

Yue Er snapped back to reality and quickly smiled.

"Brother, I’m coming now!"

After saying that, she couldn’t resist looking back once more at the youth in ink-black clothes before reluctantly following them away.

...

The group wandered a bit more on the delightful little street before heading back to Hou Mansion by noon.

After lunch, they went to the small garden to admire the scenery.

Zhao Qichen and Xia Chengze were fond of archery competitions.

Zhao Qiheng couldn’t resist painting the snowy landscape across the courtyard.

Zhao Qiye neither wanted to practice martial arts nor paint, so he asked people to bring him an ancient qin for a casual melody strumming.

The faint sound of the qin paired with the snowy scene was indeed harmonious.

Being the youngest, Xia Chenghui and Yue Er were left unoccupied.

Finding neither archery nor painting enticing, they were quite bored.

Yue Er tugged at Xia Chenghui’s sleeve.

"Second cousin, I’m so bored; why don’t we go pick plum blossoms?"

Xia Chenghui glanced at her and shook his head maturely.

"No way!"

"The plum blossom tree is too tall! We won’t be able to reach and it’ll be dangerous!"

Yue Er glared at him.

"Bah, it’s not that tall, and I’m not scared. What are you afraid of? Let’s go!"

Like a little adult, Xia Chenghui shook his head and began to lecture her.

"Sister!"

"I was born into a General’s Family, so it’s excusable I don’t know poetry or songs, but you are a Princess, you should know them!"

Yue Er glanced at him.

"I don’t bother to learn!"

"Even if I don’t know, who would dare mock me!"

"If you won’t go, then forget it. Why preach this nonsense! I’m not playing with you anymore!"

With that, she stomped away, going to find someone to pick plum blossoms with.

Xia Chenghui touched his nose.

Then ran off to watch the elder brother and Crown Prince practice archery.

...

The group played in Hou Mansion for almost the entire afternoon.

When dusk approached, they rode their horses back to the palace.

Zhao Qichen took his two brothers to the outer palace.

Yue Er took her large bags back to Duanning Palace, dust all over.

Xia Ruqing was already preparing for dinner.

Seeing Yue Er returning only now, and so laden with packages, she couldn’t help but laugh and cry.

"Did your aunt give you all this?"

Yue Er cheerfully replied.

"No, I bought these myself! Mother, look quickly."

"Although it’s a plaything, it’s a rare item I specifically bought to give as a gift to mother!"

Saying this, she instructed the Little Palace Maid to bring up the talking parrot.

Yue Er personally unveiled the black cloth covering the birdcage, smiling as she handed the parrot to Xia Ruqing.

"Mother, have a look; isn’t it lovely?"

Although Xia Ruqing was quite troubled by her daughter’s mischievousness, at this moment she didn’t have the heart to dampen her spirits.

She took the charming, colorful bird to glance at it and then smiled.

"Indeed, it is lovely!"

"Can it talk? Later have your father see it too!"

Yue Er’s face lit up with excitement.

"Father will surely praise me!"

Xia Ruqing shook her head helplessly.

"Alright then, go change your clothes!"

Yue Er flashed a grin.

"Yes, Mother!"

She said and turned to leave, but then quickly turned back.

"Mother, please take care of this parrot for me!"

"Later, find a Little Eunuch to teach it to talk!"

Xia Ruqing looked puzzled.

"Can’t it talk now?"

"It can only say a few words, find someone to teach it good phrases later!"

"Alright!"

Xia Ruqing nodded understandingly.

After Yue Er left.

She personally took the parrot to hang it under the corridor outside, and instructed Zi Yue.

"Later, have Xiao Zhu Zi find someone appropriate to take care of it!"

"And teach it to speak properly!"

"Yue Er likes it, so be sure not to let it get neglected!"

Zi Yue joked while setting the meal and serving the tea.

"Didn’t the lady dislike these things?"

Xia Ruqing shot her a look.

"This was brought by Yue Er!"

This protective display was just seen by Zhao Junyao as he entered!

"What are you talking about?"

Xia Ruqing turned around in surprise.

"Emperor, why didn’t you announce your arrival!"

Zhao Junyao sighed.

"I come every day, do I still need to announce?"

Xia Ruqing chuckled, stepping forward to help undo his cloak, and personally accepted the tea the palace maids handed over.

"Emperor, did you see the parrot outside when you came in?"

Zhao Junyao took a sip of his tea and replied lightly.

"I saw it, what about it?"

"Yue Er went out today to get it, claiming it can speak human words!"

"She also got a bunch of novel gadgets, saying she’s not only going to play with them herself but also gift them to her sisters!"

"See, this is what you’ve pampered her into!"

Xia Ruqing scolded playfully.

Zhao Junyao’s eyes brightened, and he seemed amused yet resigned.

"That girl!"

"She grows up to become more and more unruly!"

His tone was blaming, yet full of indulgence.

"It seems... I should find her a teacher!"

Xia Ruqing’s eyes sparkled.

"Indeed!"

"After the new year, she will be six years old! It’s time she learned to read and write, know some music, chess, calligraphy, and painting!"

"Even if she doesn’t like it she must learn a bit, to avoid being laughed at!"

Though she’s a modern person.

She has lived in ancient times for so many years.

A feudal society inherently favors male dominance; though a princess may be distinguished and dignified, if she knows nothing and is unlearned, her reputation won’t be good.

Even if people don’t dare say much openly, the mocking in secret wouldn’t be little.

She doesn’t want her daughter to suffer such embarrassment.

So she must learn some things.

In modern times, with its freedom and equality, children must attend school, right?

Regarding finding a teacher for Yue Er, she’s wholly in favor.

Unexpectedly.

Zhao Junyao listened to her words and frowned.

"You want Yue Er to learn these things?"

Xia Ruqing nodded.

"Yes, Emperor, you don’t believe that lack of talent in women is a virtue, do you?"