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Fishing For Information (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!
That said, things have completely changed beyond recognition. If not for the people all for the most part matching up, the ‘little crown prince’ would even start to suspect whether or not he’d ended up in the wrong family.
There was one more thing he was very curious about. If his imperial mother had married his imperial father early, then why was he still born at the same time. This body was also the same as his. He was unmistakably certain.
It seems, the more he found out, the more confusions there were. However, sure enough, the most suspicious was still his imperial father.
Speaking of which, Gong mama had a pair of sharp eyes. The people that can deceive her were very few. But, the ‘little crown prince’, in this aspect, can be said to have ‘honed to the point of perfection’. One has to know, in the past, he even had Li Hong Yuan and numerous court officials all deceived. Although, for Li Hong Yuan, it was because of not interacting with him much, and for the most part, didn’t care. And as for the court officials, it was mostly feeling sorry for him. At the same time while treating him as the heir apparent, they also had him treated as their own family’s child on the inside, so when looking at him, they naturally just carried filtered lens. Just, it has already been a few years since that time. The ‘little crown prince’s’ abilities have once again improved. Furthermore, when looking at this body’s original host, Gong mama also carried filtered lens. As long as it wasn’t something that absolutely didn’t match with his usual behavior and habit, she all won’t question.
The ‘little crown prince’ actually wanted to ask more, but the time didn’t allow it.
What to do next, it was actually very clear, because the original host felt it was miserable, so the ‘dream scenes’ were very vivid.
After slightly exercising outside, the ‘little crown prince’ just discovered that although it was the same body, this current one was better than his. It was probably because of having been raised better in the womb.
After exercising, it was another round of washing up and changing clothes. Afterwards, it was the morning meal.
When it was more or less about time, he just headed to the study hall, and his study companions were already waiting there.
The lessons in the very beginning were just ordinary lectures.
The contents of the lecture, the ‘little crown prince’ expressed that he perhaps was even more clear than the lecturer. However, evaluating based on the original host’s age, en, not bad, it was earlier than when he’d originally started learning it.
After the lecturer finished, the ‘little crown prince’ aptly raised some questions, voicing some of his thoughts, and following the other party’s expression, adjusted little by little. Afterwards, he also roughly figured out the original host’s learning level. Although grumbling all day long, feeling it was arduous, his learning was still pretty good. As such, the ‘little crown prince’ was a bit more satisfied with the original host. At least he didn’t let down imperial father and imperial mother’s expectations.
Once class ended, the ‘little crown prince’ imitated the original host’s personality as much as possible and started to fish for information from his study companions. This was actually much easier. Even if slightly making a bit of mistake, it can still be easily covered up, simply not having any difficulty, and the harvest was also pretty good.
That Wu’an Marquis Fu Yun Ting that got ‘valued’ by imperial father, when fighting West Xiongnu, that biggest turn of events not only didn’t happen, he even made heroic contributions. Afterwards, even though he got his military power taken away, idling away at home, but when imperial father personally took to the battlefield against Southern Qi, he got brought out again, once again making meritorious contributions.
And his imperial father actually had Southern Qi directly extinguished, completely integrating into Qi Yuan’s territory. However, unknown as to what kind of mentality his imperial father had at the time, Southern Qi’s capital city got named Southern Qi city, a prefectural capital. This is letting the Southern Qi people that once lived there forever remember the humiliation? Imperial father, you being this vile, even if not getting beaten up, you’ll probably still get cursed at.
As for Wu’an Marquis Fu Yun Ting, not long after returning from Southern Qi, he just got thrown to fight Former Wei. Others perhaps would think that he was deeply valued by imperial father, but the ‘little crown prince’ instead felt that he was incomparably miserable. Although not knowing why, the ‘little crown prince’ was just exceptionally certain towards this kind of perception.
In reality, the ‘little crown prince’ wanted to learn more about his imperial mother, but as the mother of the country, she certainly can’t be casually discussed about. Moreover, if he were to accidentally ask something ignorant, he might very likely attract suspicion. That’s why, he could only forcibly hold back.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
However, from those fragmented understanding, he was able to learn that his imperial mother was actually very impressive. Seemingly, all the follow-up matters for Southern Qi were entirely handled by imperial mother. From dispatching officials, to the administration in various aspects, it was for the most part all singlehandedly handled by imperial mother.
In reality, from his initial understanding of her, even though she didn’t become the mother of the country, one similarly can’t deny her contributions, no?
The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to meet her. Even that invisible longing from the past was all rapidly accumulating, and don’t know when it will just lose control and thoroughly erupt.
“Tian Lin.”
Because of being too lost in thought, when hearing this voice, he was greatly startled. In the entire imperial palace, there was only one person that would call him like this. Moreover, the voice from the ‘dreams’, in this moment, also completely overlapped with reality. He wanted to meet her, but under this kind of circumstance, while this caught off guard, all the mental constructions seemingly all lost its purpose. He somewhat rigidly looked over following the voice. It was her. It was precisely her, can’t be wrong. Regardless whether it was those paintings he’d seen, or the scenes in the ‘dream’, even if the former had some slight differences from the present, the details weren’t that different, and the latter, even though it appeared somewhat blurry, her bearing and temperament were the exact same.
She was alive, right in front of his eyes, and not floating on a sheet of paper, nor just hearing about from other people’s mouths.
But, clearly when first ascending the throne, he’d never once felt at a loss. When facing the court officials and the major matter of the world, he was all able to handle with ease. Yet, at this very moment, he was nevertheless at a loss for what to do, not knowing how to react.
Just, Jing Wan had already walked over. The others all greeted and then retreated to the side.
Jing Wan bent down, stroking his head, her eyes containing visible worry, “What’s wrong, just now, heard Gong mama say, you didn’t sleep well last night. Did you have a nightmare?”
The ‘little crown prince’ that got his head stroked was instead like as if startled, suddenly backing away, even nearly tripping, appearing somewhat in a sorry state.
Jing Wan’s hand was still stuck in midair. She lightly furrowed her brow, her eyes containing doubt.
The ‘little crown prince’ inwardly shouted ‘crap’, his expression changing in seconds, wrinkling his little face, “Imperial mother, I’m already five, don’t rub my head randomly, heard people say, won’t be able to grow tall.” And on the inside, towards his own performance, he was quite dissatisfied. The first time meeting with imperial mother, to think he actually performed this terribly, will he leave behind a bad impression on imperial mother?
In this moment, he’d completely forgotten that he was just a little beansprout, an age where even if embarrassing oneself a little, it all won’t be remembered.
Jing Wan helplessly laughed, “Nonsense.” She reached out and had him pulled over. However, her son’s reaction today was indeed a bit off, “Should we call the imperial physician over to examine you?”
“Don’t want to, I’m perfectly fine.” He immediately refused.
“Alright, then let’s go to the imperial study, don’t let your imperial father wait too long, else he’ll reprimand you again.”
The ‘little crown prince’ got pulled along by Jing Wan, his heart madly beating ‘putong putong’, very much nervous, but he also needed to do his best to not get discovered. This, for him, was practically just the greatest challenge he has ever encountered since birth.
Speaking of which, he’d been served by palace maids since he was little, and the young women he has came in contact with absolutely weren’t few, but feeling-wise, imperial mother was completely different. Seemingly, regardless whether it was his self-control, or his ability in dealing with situations, in this moment, it all lost its effect, his body no longer listening to him.
Because he didn’t want anyone discovering his abnormality, that’s why, he absolutely can’t make a mistake. He didn’t dare to gamble, if discovered, what will happen to him. In terms of age, imperial mother will probably have a hard time accepting a son as old as him. In terms of feelings, imperial mother had raised the original host for five years, and him? To put it unpleasantly, don’t even know where he came from. Even if he says he’s her son, nine times out of ten, he all won’t be believed. That’s why, he absolutely can’t get discovered.
His personality actually greatly differed from the original host’s, so to want to imitate, it actually wasn’t easy, but a person’s potential was all forced out.
Upon hearing her words, his little face directly dropped, “Imperial mother, do you know what it’s for?”
“The great majority of the matters have already been handled upon the imperial court. The remaining matters are all relatively important, so still haven’t been decided yet. That’s why, later, you just need to listen, no need to worry.”
The ‘little crown prince’ however was once again shocked. He was around ten years old when his imperial father started teaching him the way of a ruler, starting to come in contact with governmental affairs. The original host, this brat, right now, was just a bit pitiful, but he also couldn’t help but be jealous. The discrepancy in treatment was truly a bit too big.
However, to just start fostering while this small, what did his imperial father want to do? How come it felt a bit like he was preparing to throw him the pot?
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I feel a bit sad… I want the original kid!prince back, I worry about where he’s gone. But I also will feel bad if this older prince ends up going back to his original timeline after having met his mother finally…