Chapter 1146: Persuasion

When the Crown Prince received the messenger pigeon, his expression went blank for a moment. Then, he expressionlessly handed the letter to Wensu and asked him to pass it to his two younger brothers.

Qi Wenqian and Qi Wenmi had actually already given up hope of coming into close contact with the Westerners. Unexpectedly, the opportunity had come again, instantly arousing their excitement.

Not daring to delay, the duo immediately applied for leave from their Royal Father to leave the palace.

Qi Xiuyuan looked at his sons helplessly. “What’s so fascinating about Westerners? Haven’t you already seen them at the palace banquet?”

“But Brother Tiger Head said that Westerners have green and blue eyes. Since they were so far away from us at the palace banquet, we could only see that their clothes and hair color were different, and didn’t get to see their eye color.”

The brothers looked at their Royal Father eagerly and said in a low voice, “Big Brother and Second Brother have seen those foreigners. We want to look at them up close, too.”

‘In other words, please be fair.’

Qi Xiuyuan nodded helplessly. “Get your big brother and second brother to accompany you out. You’re only allowed to go to your Fourth Uncle’s place. Don’t run around.”

The two children cheered and bowed to their Royal Father before running out.

Knowing that he could leave the palace on the second day of the Lunar New Year, Wenchen decided to forgive his younger brothers for taking the messenger pigeon.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, it was customary for a married woman to return to her maiden home.

Madam Xia no longer had a maternal family, and the Zhu family was far away in Fujian. Thus, she couldn’t go back. Coincidentally, Little Madam Xia’s maternal family happened to have moved to the capital, so Fan Zijin could only accompany his wife back to visit her maternal family on this day.

Before going to sleep, Little An went to look for his mother and said apologetically, “Before the holidays, Teacher gave me extra homework on an eight-legged essay1. However, I’ve been playing like crazy these few days and haven’t figured it out. I don’t know if I can complete it before the holidays end.”

Heart aching, Little Madam Xia quickly hugged him and said, “Then stay at home and do your homework tomorrow. I will bring your younger brother to your maternal grandfather’s house. If there’s not enough time, I’ll help you apply for two days of sick leave? Don’t be so playful in the future and make sure to complete your homework on time…”

Little Madam Xia rambled on for a long time, and Little An agreed to everything she said. In the end, he said awkwardly, “But Grandpa’s house is very noisy, and my cousins always come to look for me when I’m there. Mother, I want to go to Fourth Uncle’s house to do my homework since it’s quieter over there. I have a small study room there, and with Fourth Aunt around, Tiger Head and his brothers won’t dare to disturb me. Also, if I don’t understand anything, I can ask Advisor Qian.”

Little Madam Xia recalled the conflict between her father-in-law and husband over the past two days. There was never a moment of silence in the house. When in front of the adults, the children of the eldest branch always followed behind Little An and fawned on him. But when the adults weren’t looking, they would secretly bully Little An.

Without thinking, she agreed. “Alright, I’ll send you to your Fourth Uncle’s house tomorrow morning.”

Little An secretly heaved a sigh of relief and turned to see his father slowly closing the book and smiling at him, his eyes filled with understanding.

Little An smiled at his father fawningly and lowered his head to look at his toes.

Fan Zijin put down his book and stood up. “Alright, I’ll send Little An back to his room. You should get some rest.”

Little An was half a step behind his father when Fan Zijin sent him back to his room. He picked up the textbook on his desk and looked at it, then asked, “Why aren’t you willing to go to your maternal grandfather’s house?”

This kid was indeed learning how to write an eight-legged essay, and his teacher had indeed given him additional homework. However, because Fan Zijin checked his homework every day, he naturally knew that he had already completed most of the assignment. Besides, there were five more days before the end of the holidays, so he did not have to worry about not being able to complete it.

Therefore, this kid had told a lie because he didn’t want to go to his maternal grandfather’s house.

Fan Zijin didn’t think that he lied to avoid going to the Xia family just in order to play with Tiger Head and the others. One knew their son best. This kid wasn’t someone who would neglect serious matters just because he wanted to play. Besides, this kid didn’t lack opportunities to play with Tiger Head and the rest.

Fan Zijin looked at his son with bright eyes. A bad liar, Little An lowered his head and pouted. “When I go to my maternal grandparents’ house, Aunt always wants my cousins to play with me, but I don’t like to play with them.”

Little An thought for a moment and added, “I know they want me to marry my cousin, but I don’t want to.”

Fan Zijin raised his eyebrows and asked with interest, “Why not?”

Little An pursed his lips. “I don’t fancy them. Someone like Fourth Aunt is more my type. If I were to marry in the future, I’d marry someone like that.”

“Wait a minute.” Fan Zijin interrupted his son and widened his eyes at him. “What kind of aesthetic standards do you have? What’s so good about her? You ought to marry someone like your mother instead!”

Little An looked at his father stubbornly.

Fan Zijin insisted, “Your mother is gentle, kind, virtuous, and capable. Your Fourth Aunt…” That’s a shrew!

Not wanting to badmouth his son’s elders in his presence, Fan Zijin did not say anything bad, but his attitude made it very obvious that he didn’t fancy a woman like Mu Yangling.

Little An was very surprised. “Daddy, don’t you like Fourth Aunt very much? Why are you so against it?”

Fan Zijin couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “How can you tell that I like your Fourth Aunt? If I actually like her, wouldn’t your Fourth Uncle fight me to the death?”

Little An scratched his head and deliberated over his words in distress. “Haven’t you always gotten along well with Fourth Aunt? Why don’t you like her?”

“That’s on account of your Fourth Uncle. Besides, we grew up together and have been acquainted for so many years that I no longer view her as a woman to fancy. Besides, I’m not the one living with her.” Fan Zijin felt that if it weren’t for Qi Haoran, he definitely wouldn’t have become friends with Mu Yangling.

Little An, on the other hand, felt that his father was just being stubborn. He went straight to the point and said, “Fourth Aunt is also gentle, kind, virtuous. On top of that, she’s also very capable. I like girls like that.”

Chest heaving up and down rapidly, Fan Zijin exhaled and said, “You’re not even 11 yet. It’s too early to discuss what type of woman you fancy. When you grow up, you definitely won’t like someone like your Fourth Aunt anymore.”

Fan Zijin tried his best to persuade his son. “Don’t think that Fourth Aunt is a wonderful woman just because your Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt seem to be doing well. Your Fourth Uncle is suffering.”

Little An’s face was filled with disbelief. “Fourth Uncle seems to be in a jolly mood every day. I’ve never seen him suffer.”

“That’s because you only see the surface and don’t see the essence. Your Fourth Uncle can only be suppressed by your Fourth Aunt for the rest of his life. How good a life can that be?” Fan Zijin scolded. “Look at him. Little Bear is already so old, but he doesn’t even have a concubine by his side…”

“You don’t either,” Little An replied quickly.

“Who said I don’t? That’s because you don’t remember. When Daddy was in Lingnan, I had a concubine. Besides, I have two handmaids by my side. What about your Fourth Uncle? He doesn’t even have a servant girl by his side and is only served by manservants. Are you going to be suppressed by your wife for the rest of your life?”

Little An hesitated. “If I’m willing…”

“Also, you can’t spend money at will.” Fan Zijin quickly cut him off. “Look at your Fourth Uncle. His monthly allowance is only 200 taels of silver every month, which is just enough to last him till the middle of the month. He doesn’t dare to ask your Fourth Aunt for more money and can only borrow from me. Then, when he receives his monthly allowance next month, he will return it when his will is strong. When his will isn’t strong, he will continue to borrow more from me. I don’t remember how much money your Fourth Uncle has borrowed from me for so many years. As for how much he owes.” Fan Zijin was silent for a moment before shaking his head. “I really don’t remember how much, but it must be a lot.”

“On the other hand, since you were eight years old, I’ve not restricted you from spending money from your account. Let me ask you, are you willing to live such a restricted life in the future?”

Little An hesitated even more.

Fan Zijin almost cheered in his heart, but he continued to persuade him sternly on the surface. “Son, how skilled do you reckon you are in martial arts?”

“It’s alright, I guess. It won’t be a problem for me to take down two or three people.”

“Compared to Tiger Head?”

Little An shut his mouth and didn’t say anything. Was there a need to compete? Anyone could tell that Tiger Head was naturally better in this regard.

“What about comparing your Fourth Aunt to Tiger Head?” Fan Zijin asked. “If you find someone similar to your Fourth Aunt, what if you quarrel with her in the future and she beats you up? With my old arms and legs, I won’t be able to save you. Can you escape with your qinggong?”

Little An fell silent.

Fan Zijin exhaled softly and patted his son’s shoulder. “Son, I know that you often stay over in the Prince’s Residence and have warm sentiments for your Fourth Aunt because of this. But this is different from the feelings towards a woman whom you’re going to marry and have children with. In this world, your Fourth Aunt and your Fourth Uncle are a unique existence. Only someone like your Fourth Uncle can live with your Fourth Aunt.”

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