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The Empress Governs the Country VIII (2)
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Jing Wan’s birthday although wasn’t grandly held, the womenfolk of the Luo family still all entered the palace. The Grand Elder Princess also didn’t hesitate to come.
Speaking of which, the Grand Elder Princess right now was also increasingly content with her situation. Regardless whether it was her husband or her sons, their future prospects all had an answer. And in this year, Jing Wan’s various performances, she also all took in. There was nothing to be dissatisfied about. In her eyes, there was also no one more suited to be the empress than Jing Wan.
Just, clearly just nineteen years of age, yet the imposing air on her already cannot be crossed. That graceful bearing was something that no women in the world can compare to.
The her at this time, as well as in the many years hereafter, age can actually already be ignored.
Before Li Hong Yuan ascended the throne, the Grand Elder Princess perhaps could still ‘lecture’ Jing Wan, having Jing Wan treated as a younger generation, but now, it was mostly just reverence towards the empress, as well as gratitude for what she has done for Qi Yuan and the people. The change in attitude was just like heaven and earth.
Upon the imperial court was one thing. At normal times, Jing Wan’s temperament actually didn’t really change, quietly speaking and smiling. Just, no one will still have her treated as a younger generation anymore, including Luo Old Madam. The pampering and doting, after she became the empress, was no longer needed. At the same time, they also can’t give it anymore. The empress of the country was the mother of the world. It should be her being magnanimous and compassionate, caring for the people of the world.
When the ninth of the third month came, the crown prince was one year old. As one of the relatively important days of one’s life for a person, the grabbing ceremony can’t be lacking.
However, before that, they needed to offer sacrifices to the ancestors first, reporting to the ancestors that there was a descendant that has reached one year of age, praying for the child to be able to grow up healthily.
After the rites ended, Jing Wan held the little crown prince while standing in Feng Xian Hall. The others have all retreated out.
Jing Wan stared at the portraits of the Li clan ancestors. The so called praying to the ancestors was also just for formality sake. Based on a certain someone’s personality, if the ancestors really had a spirit present, then they would’ve long gotten offended to death by him, so how many would really bless his child?
Jing Wan soundlessly smiled, “In this lifetime of his, perhaps he will just have Tian Lin this one child. If this child cannot successfully inherit the throne, then the Li clan’s mountains and rivers will probably also come to an end. Presumably, this also isn’t what you all are willing to see, right?” After ‘threatening’ the ancestors, Jing Wan just left Feng Xian Hall with the little crown prince.
Jing Wan had the grabbing ceremony arranged in the imperial gardens, making it easier for the court officials, as well as their family, to be able to participate. Jing Wan was actually quite nonchalant about it, and also didn’t practice in advance. For her, whatever he grabbed all didn’t matter, because as long as there aren’t any mishaps, then his future was actually already set in stone, just having one path, the only difference being how the scenery was on this path. ——-Speaking from this bit, the little crown prince seemingly was even quite pitiful.
But, the others didn’t know. As such, they appeared exceptionally nervous.
However, speaking of which, in the grabbing ceremony traditions passed down in Qi Yuan, the things for boys and girls were separate. Especially for boys, things such as rouge and powder absolutely cannot appear. The higher the status, the stricter the restrictions. Probably, it was just fearing that one’s child will grab something they shouldn’t grab, thus making one lose face.
When Gong mama was preparing the things previously, she’d been very meticulous, appearing particularly solemn.
Jing Wan ultimately couldn’t sit still and ended up saying a few words. According to her, rouge, powder, and whatnot can also appear, it’s not that big of a deal. The so called grabbing ceremony, in her eyes, was nothing more than just a game. Using it to make a certain judgement about the future based on something that the child randomly grab clearly was very ridiculous.
If this was the case, then they can completely practice in advance, and also, when practicing, did it mean that it already determined this child’s future path, as well as his future accomplishments?
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
However, considering for the sake of the others’ blood pressure, Jing Wan ultimately didn’t voice this, and also didn’t ‘mess with’ her own son. Slightly pondering, if her husband was present………….hehe, it was best not to think about it.
The little crown prince got placed on a large table covered in satin that was made up of several tables pieced together. The things on top were many and varied, all appearing to be about the same size. Moreover, the color was also relatively similar. This was also to reduce the distraction as much as possible.
Everyone all nervously watched. Under normal circumstances, probably no one would hope for the little crown prince to grab something ‘bad’, right? After all, he was his Majesty’s only child, and even the di son. Prior to another prince being born, everyone had their hopes and expectations all placed on him.
Of course, those brothers that got kicked down by Li Hong Yuan were probably an exception.
However, speaking of which, aside from Li Hong Yi and Li Hong Ming who have already been reduced to commoners, their wife and children, Jing Wan actually treated quite well. Li Hong Ming didn’t have a son, and Liu-shi was also quite perceptive, so there was nothing to fear. As for Li Hong Yi, his sons, regardless whether it was the di-born or the shu-born, were all looked after by his former side consort. That was also an intelligent woman, knowing what to do. Because of this bit, Jing Wan even had her promoted up as Li Hong Yi’s main wife. These two family were now completely controlled by these two women.
Today, they both had the children in their family brought over. And in reality, this required great courage.
Especially Liu-shi, she was a woman that ‘sold out her husband for glory’. However, she didn’t mind. Because of her decision, her three daughters right now were all pretty good. The only thing she was rather worried about was just her daughters’ marriage in the future. However, right now, to be able to live was already not bad, so pointless to think of those things.
Additionally, because of Liu-shi, Li Hong Ming also had ill-feelings towards his in-law family, causing the people of the Liu family to have very big complaints towards Liu-shi. However, even so, Liu-shi still went back to look for her father more than once, causing the Liu family to become distant from the former Rui Qinwang. But, precisely because of this, the Liu family in the end didn’t participate in the rebellion, thus avoiding disaster. Even Liu-shi’s father, Cabinet Minister Liu, also merely just lost his post, not suffering from imprisonment, nor getting exiled, and further not getting beheaded.
Speaking from this bit, the Liu family really should be grateful towards her.
Getting surrounded by that many people, the little crown prince also wasn’t scared in the slightest, looking around left and right, his eyes filled with curiosity. His mouth even cracked open, revealing a few pearly white baby teeth, making one’s heart melt from watching.
In this way, the little crown prince totteringly stood up, walking two steps. Quite a few people all revealed a look of surprise, each and every one praising, as expected of his Highness the Crown Prince, already able to walk. Although not a unique case, it was ultimately rare.
However, in Jing Wan’s view, this was actually very normal. In her past life, she’d even seen those that can walk at eight months. There were even quite a few that could at ten months. At one year old, that was already very big.
The little crown prince saw something he liked, bending over and sticking out his little butt, wanting to have the thing picked up. However, losing his balance, he fell back down on his butt again, appearing especially cute, making one can’t help but helplessly laugh. However, no matter what, he was still the crown prince, so the others didn’t dare to laugh.
Jing Wan, as the mother, was just an exception, not holding back her smile in the slightest, suddenly having an idea. Perhaps she can have this scene drawn out. In the future, it will be her son’s ‘dark past’, can even bring out to show his wife. Jing Wan slightly narrowed her eyes. Perhaps, she can even draw a few butt naked baby portraits. Sigh, how come she didn’t think of this before? Sure enough, it was still because she was too busy. She hasn’t held the drawing brush in a very long time.
For the little crown prince, his father was a demon king, while his mother was also an expert in screwing over her son. Seemingly, it really couldn’t be more tragic.
For Li Tian Lin who had sat back down again, he ended up casually touching a book. Thus, the onlookers endlessly poured out auspicious words.
However, what made them somewhat crumble down was that the little guy actually passed over that book, reaching for the pile of black rice cake that was bit farther away. After grabbing a piece, he just immediately shoved it into his mouth.
In that moment, Jing Wan clearly noticed quite a few people’s expression froze, even appearing quite funny.
However, this grabbing ceremony for the most part emphasized on the item that was touched first. Thus, they all deceived themselves into believing that the little crown prince grabbed the book. This was also an extremely good implication, no? Although, as the emperor, one actually didn’t need to read that many books, but it ultimately was better than ‘able to eat, having good fortune, not needing to worry about food and clothes in the future’. Heavens, as the emperor’s son, the heir apparent of a dynasty, how could he lack food and clothes? If it really reached that stage, then the mountains and rivers would’ve probably long been gone.
However, a portion of the old ministers were actually quite calm. In reality, they also didn’t have the grabbing ceremony taken too seriously. Besides, based on their level of eloquence, no matter how terrible of a thing, they can still praise it into a flower. And no matter how terrible of a thing, in the heir apparent’s hand, it will also immediately become high-end and impressive, having extraordinary significance.
The heavenly son represented the country, the people. If he doesn’t need to worry about food and clothes, then it just means the people won’t either.
Just look, he immediately just went from a glutton to a wise ruler that let the people live in peace and work happily.
——-This was just skill!
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Those old ministers are truly able to make black into white and vice versa! Have to feel sorry for Li Tian Lin, though, since his mother is already planning his dark history, lol. If anything, Li Hong Yuan would definitely support her actions.
Thanks for the chapter! 😀
Ah, I caught up to the latest chapter – its a bittersweet feeling.
As always, thanks for the chapter, Jen, and I’ll be back in a couple of weeks? months? for more~