She placed her hands on her hips and said fiercely, "Isn’t that the case? The place is so small, it’s not enough for playing. If the palace is considered a mansion, then it is big enough, but if it’s for raising children, it is too small, much smaller than the town I used to play in as a child. It’s really not sufficient for play, and there isn’t much to do."
Upon hearing this, he suddenly understood. His Majesty was speaking literally about "small households"; there was no metaphorical meaning behind it, focusing on the "small" rather than on the "doorways and households."
Indeed, compared to the towns where His Majesty ran about as a child, the palace was smaller. No matter how large the palace was, it couldn’t be as big as a town, otherwise, it would be extremely extravagant.
He had heard His Majesty talk about her childhood. She used to go out nearly every day, played all over the town and her family’s tea garden, and even explored the countryside. She knew where the teahouses were, where the taverns were, where storytellers gathered, where storybooks were sold, and where sugar figurines and clay toys were sold. She knew these places like the back of her hand.
So, His Majesty was talking about the lack of space, not that the Imperial Palace was a ’small household.’ That was the meaning.
However, "small households" is not used that way...
He suddenly had a realization and nodded, unable to resist the urge to correct His Majesty. He started to speak but then suddenly got a shock, and the words choked in his throat!
Wait a moment, did he miss something?
Free-range children, free-range? Free-range!!!
This child, if he wasn’t mistaken, referred to the prince or princess in His Majesty’s womb. Oh heavens, His Majesty intended to free-range the prince or princess!
If His Majesty knew, if Nanny Qi knew, if the Harem Consorts knew, if the ministers of the former court knew, if the whole world knew!!!
Ah! His Majesty, truly unprecedented and unequaled, actually intended to free-range a prince or princess. How bold, capable of swallowing the sky! Princes and princesses at such young ages are meticulously tutored and supervised in every action and word. They can’t run around and cause chaos like village children without restraint.
Had he discovered some alarming matter?!
No wonder, no wonder. He finally understood why His Majesty had been acting so clandestinely.
Having understood, he widened his eyes, wanting to say something.
His Majesty immediately understood his intention, quick-minded and quick-handed, she immediately spoke out to stop him, "Don’t you shout. If you disturb Nanny and cause her to come here, I will let you endure the cold wind and balance a water basin on your head, humph."
He quickly covered his mouth with his hand, yet inside he was howling in grief. This scare had made his liver tremble.
His Majesty, with ideas as wild as a horse in the sky, his little heart couldn’t bear it!
Calling the Imperial Palace a "small household" was one thing, but wanting to free-range princes and princesses!
Ah! Scare him to death!
At that moment, he felt as if his heart had turned to ashes while His Majesty, without caring further for him, found a place on her own to nail down her plans for this free-range parenting, even making him assist her.
He was like a walking corpse, sleepwalking as he did whatever was asked of him, gradually coming to terms with the situation.
Seeing His Majesty proudly looking at that thick book of free-range methods, he couldn’t help but suggest that His Majesty should change the title to something better.
His Majesty asked why, and he began to advise His Majesty, clarifying the pros and cons. The characters on the book cover were too large, and the title was too eye-catching, making it easy to be discovered. If His Majesty or Nanny Qi were to carelessly see such a title, it would be dreadful.
His Majesty then asked him what should be done, for she was quite fond of the word "debate" on the book title.
Speaking of the word "debate," His Majesty became very self-satisfied, asking him if the use of "debate" was good or not. It was learned from His Majesty’s discussions about the various dynasties, about laws, and about water management.
He now understood the origin of the title, but keeping such a title in His Majesty’s hands was really too audacious. So, with earnest persuasion, he advised her, good and bad, until finally he convinced His Majesty to change her mind and change the title on the book cover to "Complete Collection of Encouragement-to-Learn Poems."
After the change, His Majesty praised him, "Xiao Jizi, you did well, bait-and-switch, very good, very good."
At that moment, he felt relieved and couldn’t help but tease, "Oh no, no, Your Majesty is the clever one. You hide things so well that even the servants know nothing, and His Majesty and Nanny Qi are clueless, very clever!" He then gave a thumbs up.
His Majesty detected the teasing in his words, huffed at him, and turned around to properly place the book.
Only then did he clearly see, His Majesty had always kept these items in a hidden drawer under the bed, in a particularly inconspicuous wooden lattice that looked like it was part of the bedframe—one wouldn’t expect it to open.
Peering inside, he could vaguely see a few more books hidden there, including His Majesty’s copy of the Book of Poetry.
He marveled inwardly, His Majesty was truly like a little mouse, so adept at hiding things. People swept the yard daily and never noticed this secret compartment, only His Majesty had discovered it.
From that time onward, whenever there was a chance, he would tease His Majesty, often glancing meaningfully towards that spot, his face full of insinuations, continuously provoking a coquettish glare from His Majesty.
Xiao Jizi had a gloomy face and begged for mercy, wishing he had never teased His Majesty in the first place. Now His Majesty was getting back at him, watching him be ridiculed, truly instant karma.
Lian Hua, overhearing Xiao Jizi beg for mercy, grinned with delight, her face beaming, as if to say, "Tease her, go on and tease her, watch how she deals with him."
Xiao Jizi, the mischievous one, had found her secret that day, and every now and then he would tease her, especially in the presence of Nanny Qi, even sneakily glancing at her hiding spot to scare her.
Writing this book had been a struggle for her, for her children, racking her brains, wasn’t it hard?
If she had to stay in such a small space in the palace as a child, she would have felt suffocated, unable to play with anything. Luckily, she was clever and had compiled everything playable in the palace into tutorials, turning them into a book, to spare her future children from boredom.
A mother’s heart is just like hers, only, ahem, that might not be suitable for His Majesty and Nanny Qi to know, she sensed.
Hiding it from His Majesty and Nanny Qi was already hard enough, and now to be teased by this young eunuch, humph.
This young eunuch was asking for it, and now he had finally become afraid.
Xiao Linzi, unaware of what had happened, stood there stupified, watching Brother Xiao Ji wail and beg for mercy, while His Majesty just laughed.
He couldn’t bear it and spoke up, "Your Majesty, why not spare Brother Xiao Ji this time?"
Lian Hua, her face bright with joy, turned to look at Xiao Linzi, her eyes rolling around, "Alright then, Xiao Jizi’s culinary skills, from now on, will not be utilized for his benefit, but added as a major punishment for Canglan Court. If anyone behaves poorly or disobeys, humph, they’ll get to eat a few meals prepared by Brother Xiao Ji, ensuring they fall in line."
With that, she eyed Xiao Linzi up and down, her lips curling with a faint smirk.