"How are the princes these days?" The Queen Mother asked the palace people.

"Back to the Queen Mother, the prince gets up in the morning to practice, then has breakfast, and then enters the study, and reads at night, and never slacks off every day." Miyato replied.

The Queen Mother listened and didn't speak, because she didn't know whether to praise or how, the prince was just an eight-year-old child, but he had to bear more than a child of his age, and in the current situation of Nanxia, who knows what this child's life will be like in the future?

The Queen Mother was really worried, she single-handedly pulled Zhao Zheng into the court of Southern Xia, thinking that she could get through the difficulties at that time, but now she found that the current situation was no longer under her control, and Zhao Zheng could replace him at any time except for the prince.

After the palace people went down, the queen mother waited outside the study hall until the prince got out of the study hall, and the queen mother stepped forward and took the prince's hand, "Let's go, I will have lunch with the imperial grandmother today." ”

Prince Zhao Yincheng is a thin child, his eyes are full of indifference that does not match his age, he is very quiet, whether he walks or behaves, he has been taught by his royal etiquette mother, you can't find fault with him, but looking at it makes people feel inexplicably depressed.

"Do you understand all the homework in the study?" On the way, the Queen Mother asked the prince.

"Back to the emperor's grandmother, I can understand it." The prince replied.

"Then what kind of person do you want to be when you grow up?"

"Back to the emperor's grandmother, when Cheng'er grows up, he will be a virtuous emperor and benefit the common people in the world." The prince replied loudly.

"Then do you know how to govern a country?"

"Back to the emperor's grandmother, Taifu taught the emperor that the well-being of the people of the world should be the first, the pro-virtuous ministers should be far away from traitors, not be mediocre, not tired, not indulged in love, do not have selfish desires, and everything must be for the people."

Hearing such an answer, the Queen Mother sighed secretly in her heart, none of what the prince said was about himself, he had a mission, he was born to carry the livelihood of the people of the world, he was tired, being an emperor is tired, but in the royal family, everyone is fighting for a throne, who can predict whether it is a blessing or a curse.

"Have you ever wondered what you like? What do you want? The Queen Mother asked again.

When the prince heard this kind of question, he raised his head and looked at the queen mother in a daze, he has not existed in the education he has received since he became sensible, he is an emperor who will be in charge of Southern Xia in the future, and everything he has learned exists for the prosperity of Southern Xia.

What do you like? What do you want?

What are you?

He hadn't thought about any of that.

The Queen Mother didn't ask any more, but said: "It's a good weather today, you want to play, you want to climb trees, pick flowers, catch fish, swing and kick bows, no matter what you want to do, it's up to you." ”

The prince thought for a moment, "After lunch, Cheng'er still has homework to do." ”

There is almost no fun in the prince's life, and the acts that the queen mother has just mentioned are all dangerous behaviors, and there are a hundred palace people who want to watch the prince, and they are never allowed to do those things.

The people in the royal family also have the bondage of the royal family.

"Cheng'er, do you miss your father and mother?"

The prince thought about it and didn't know how to answer, because he grew up with his nursing mother, personal palace people, and palace maids since he was a child.

The Queen Mother sighed, holding the prince's hand and walking slowly, on the long palace road, the figure of the old and the young looked a little lonely.

Slowly walking to the front of Fushou Palace, the Queen Mother asked the prince again: "Cheng'er, do you know what happiness is?" ”

The prince raised his head, "Taifu didn't teach Cheng'er this." ”

Hearing this answer, the Queen Mother's eyes suddenly filled with tears, too much emotion came to her heart for a while, she bent down and hugged the prince, distressed, but did not say a word.

**

In the Kangping Palace, the courtiers dispersed, and Zhao Zheng slowly walked back to Tengchong Courtyard.

Shen Yuexi was standing at the gate of Tengchong Courtyard, and when she saw Zhao Zheng, she stepped forward, "How about the seventh master accompany me for a walk?" ”

Zhao Zheng snorted.

The two of them slowly walked towards the Huxin Pavilion.

"What is the Seventh Master going to do?" Walking slowly, Shen Yuexi asked.

"I have promised the ministers to go back and continue to take charge of the government."

"I'm not talking about this, is it that in the future, Seventh Master, you have been in charge of the government as a regent?"

"Let's do it for now."

"You're really going to be busy in the future."

This time it's not for the time being, this time it's really going to take over the court of Southern Xia, in the eight years before the prince came of age, Zhao Zhengdu has been so busy, forgetting to sleep and eating, and disappearing.

"Seeing that autumn is coming, the days will get shorter and shorter, and in a few days, you can also go into the palace to live, lest we often fail to see each other, you are now bulky, I don't worry about letting you be alone in the palace." Zhao Zheng said.

Well, Shen Yuexi nodded, but still had some concerns, "Will this be true?" ”

Zhao Zheng smiled, "Who dares to say half a word?" ”

Shen Yuexi also smiled.

Then, the two of them were silent and stood in the pavilion in the middle of the lake for a long time, such a peaceful time will be rare in the future.

**

The next day, Zhao Zheng entered the palace and went to court as usual.

The only difference is that the crown prince, as a quasi-emperor, also came to the court, sat on the dragon chair, and began to get acquainted with the court.

The date of the crown prince's accession to the throne has been chosen, and the day of his accession to the throne will be ten days away.

The first time he entered the Jinluan Hall to accept the courtiers' bows and greetings, the prince was a little dazed, he didn't seem to understand the political affairs that everyone was talking about, he looked at everything in front of him in a daze, always kept quiet, and sat up straight.

After the early dynasty, the prince had to go to the study hall to do his homework again, and an eight-year-old child was not much easier than an adult.

The Queen Mother specially sent people to the study hall and the Qinzheng Hall respectively to spread the word, and asked the prince and Zhao Zheng to go to Fushou Palace for lunch.

"Have you seen your Uncle Seven Kings?" When Zhao Zheng and the prince came to Fushou Palace, the queen mother asked the prince.

"I saw it this morning." The prince replied.

"In the future, follow your Uncle Seven Kings to learn how to govern a country, and ask Uncle Seven Kings for advice on everything, understand?" The Queen Mother said softly to the crown prince.

"Cheng'er remembered." The prince nodded earnestly.

The Queen Mother smiled, looked at the prince with pity, and said to Zhao Zheng: "This child is diligent, hardworking, and benevolent, but he has taken on too many responsibilities at a young age, which makes people feel distressed. ”

Zhao Zheng smiled and didn't speak, but he secretly thought in his heart, which royal child is easy? At that time, he and the princes didn't all have to get up early to practice, go to the study hall to learn homework, learn the complicated etiquette of the royal family, and be calm and abide by the rules at a young age, because of the love of his father at that time, he was probably the most lively among the princes.

The prince doesn't say it, it's not easy for princesses, and there are more etiquette rules to learn, and in the end, the fate of these princesses is nothing more than to marry for the benefit of the court, they have never had their own will, isn't it distressing?

Seeing that Zhao Zheng didn't say anything, the queen mother was a little worried when he didn't like the prince, it seems that in the future, she will have to let the prince and Zhao Zheng get along more privately and cultivate their feelings, only if Zhao Zheng likes the prince, can he help him sincerely, and he will not pose any threat to the prince in the future.

The Queen Mother only thought that Zhao Zheng would be unfavorable to the prince, but she never thought that if the prince became an adult, it would be unfavorable to Zhao Zheng.

"I'm busy with government affairs now, and I can't help but live in the palace from time to time in the future, and Yuexi is getting bigger, and I'm really not at ease to leave her alone in the palace, so I want to bring Yuexi close to the palace to live, what do you think, Queen Mother?" During the meal, Zhao Zheng asked the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother nodded, "It's okay to save you from seeing each other often, the most taboo between husband and wife is to separate for too long, and frequent conversations can make the relationship stable." ”

Zhao Zheng nodded yes.

"By the way, now that Yue Xi is pregnant and can't serve you, why don't you take the opportunity to marry a few more side concubines and enter the palace, and pick a few young ladies of the right age from the ministers of the court, which can not only fill your palace, but also consolidate your power in the court, killing two birds with one stone." The Queen Mother suggested.

Zhao Zheng didn't refuse, but thought about it, and then said, "Let's talk about this later." ”

The Queen Mother didn't say anything more, thinking that after Shen Yuexi entered the palace, she would tell her in private that there was only one princess by Zhao Zheng's side, which was really a bit unusual.

**

Outside the capital, Yunyou Temple.

Huineng and Shen Yi have fasted together, and have been coming to Yunyou Temple for some days, and Shen Yi has always used vegetarian food.

Huineng said to him: "If you think the vegetarian diet is too light, you can catch some game and eat it yourself, but the monastery can't cook it for you, you need to think of it yourself." ”

Shen Yi smiled: "I have been in prison for so long, and all I eat is glutinous soup, and now I can have such sufficient and clean food to enjoy, I am very content." ”

Huineng said no more.

After lunch, Huineng took out the scriptures and showed them to Shen Yi. These days, Shen Yi has not done anything next to Yunyou Temple, practicing martial arts with warrior monks, and reading scriptures with Huineng, but he has learned something he has never learned before.

The wisdom in Buddhism is vast and boundless, and it often gives people ideological enlightenment, and many things that Shen Yi couldn't think of before, and his resentful thoughts have gradually been let go. The past is gone, and we have to face the future and start anew.

The warrior monks of Yunyou Temple are all top masters, and under the orders of Hui Neng, they teach Shen Yi as much as they can in their spare time, and Shen Yi has to practice for several hours in the morning and dusk, and his martial arts have improved rapidly.

Huineng knew that Shen Yi's presence in Yunyou Temple was only temporary, and he would have a great world in the future.

"Who are the bravest generals in Beihu?" While chatting, Huineng asked Shen Yi.

"In addition to clumsy, there is Tolu, but compared to clumsy, Tolu is still slightly inferior, Tolu is brave and resourceful, and clumsy and wise and brave," Shen Yi replied.

"If there is chaos on the frontier, do you think Xu Du's ability can compete with Ku Zhuo?" Huineng asked again.