“You’re just spoiling your son.” He put down his book this time and criticized Meng Chifeng with a serious expression. “When have you ever done this? You give in to everything he says when he cries and throws a tantrum.”
"Who are you calling his mother?" Meng Chifeng retorted, displeased.
Duan Tingzhen didn't want to argue with him, so she said, "Consort Duan, the late Emperor's Consort Duan, is that enough?"
Meng Chifeng sat opposite him with a dark face, stealing glances at what book he was reading. The title was half-covered by his finger, and the rest was something about arithmetic. Meng Chifeng couldn't help but roll his eyes.
If Duan Tingzhen saw this, he would probably call him "illiterate." This is probably what happens when two people with completely opposite personalities and interests come together.
Meng Chifeng's ability to adjust his mindset was first-rate. Before long, he was hungry again and complained that eating alone was not interesting. He pulled Duan Tingzhen, who was reading half of a book, and they ate two plates of pastries together. Duan Tingzhen did not like pastries. He held half a savory shortbread and looked at him, clicking his tongue: "Why don't you stay? Without your salary, I'm afraid I can't afford to support you."
He downed a cup of tea and thought to himself, "This is the partner I chose myself, so what else can I do but forgive him?"
Life on the journey was certainly different from life in the capital. Firstly, it was much more arduous, and secondly, it was a rare opportunity for the two of them to spend so much time together. Normally, when they were busy with political affairs, it was common for them to not see each other for several days. This journey was a unique and interesting experience for them both.
The territory of the Great Chu was vast; if they really wanted to travel it, it might take twenty years to traverse it all. They traveled for seven or eight years and all felt they had gained a great deal. Duan Tingzhen wrote a travelogue and sent it to the young emperor who remained in the capital, only to receive a barrage of complaints from the emperor. Duan Tingzhen said to Meng Chifeng, "This child has the same style as you did back then."
Meng Chifeng said, "Hmm?"
Duan Tingzhen: "During the two years you went to the northern frontier, your letters were like this too, a thick stack, and the handwriting was not good. Every time I read them, it hurt my eyes and saddened me. It hurt me because I had to compile a stack of the same thickness, otherwise you could write twice as many letters next time."
“I think you’re getting senile. It’s clearly you who thinks too much about me.” He retorted, “I still remember you. You can think of me when you see a tree, or when you see a flower. It’s so cheesy that I’m embarrassed to look at you.”
Duan Tingzhen complained, "Those are just filler to reach the word count."
Despite his advanced age, Meng Chifeng lost all composure upon hearing this and immediately jumped up: "I brought the letter with me, do you want to take a look?"
Duan Tingzhen laughed: "Fine, I'll take a look."
At the end of that year, urged by the young emperor, they finally decided to return to the capital to rest for a while before deciding whether to continue their journey.
Inside the palace.
Empress Qin listened to her wet nurse's words and pondered before saying, "Imperial Uncle Prince Jin and Mr. Duan are going back to the capital?"
"Yes," the wet nurse said. "The old master even sent a special message to tell you that you must not neglect these two. Although the Emperor is nominally their uncle and nephew, or master and disciple, they are actually like father and son and have a very good relationship. You should treat them as you would your own elders, and the Emperor will be pleased."
Qin Shi said, "I understand."
Just then, a palace maid announced that Meng Jiaxun had arrived. She hurriedly rose to greet him, but seeing that he looked rather unhappy, she quickly asked, "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"
"It's all because of my uncle's side. They said there's a mountain on the way with amazing scenery, and we need to see it carefully before we come back." He said indignantly, "How can they treat me like their own son... How can they be close to me? Don't they miss me at all after all these years?"
"It is rare to see Your Majesty so close to your elders. Before I married, even though my brother already had children, he was still like a mouse before a cat when he saw my father." Qin Shi immediately put her knowledge to use, praising Meng Jiaxun's good relationship with his two adoptive fathers in a roundabout way, which immediately made him feel comfortable.
So he said, “My master and uncle dote on me. When I was almost six years old, my master would often hold me in his arms. I remember that for this, he even had your grandfather write a memorial against me.”
Qin covered her lips and laughed, "That's right. When I first received the decree that I had been chosen as Empress, my grandfather repeatedly instructed me to keep an eye on the Emperor and not let him spoil the children too much." After saying that, she put on a stern face and, imitating her grandfather, said, "Boys shouldn't be spoiled! They're so big, and you're still carrying them on your back and in your arms. What kind of behavior is that!"
Meng Jiaxun completely forgot her anger at this moment. After Qin Shi's words, she thought, "Where is A-Zhao? Is she still not awake?"
Qin said, "She's sleeping soundly."
“Children should sleep more. I remember when I was a child, my master never restricted me in this respect, which is why I was able to grow so tall.” Meng Jiaxun sighed. “Your brother got second place because he wasn’t tall enough. If he were taller, I would have made him third. People say that third place is romantic, but he’s so short, how could he be romantic?”
"Very well, Your Majesty is absolutely right. I will write home tonight and ask my grandfather not to restrict my nephew's sleep." Madam Qin narrowed her eyes and sneered, "Let my grandfather judge whether what Your Majesty said makes sense."
The emperor was immediately alarmed and hurriedly apologized to his wife, Qin Shi, who then burst out laughing.
Meng Jiaxun has been very busy lately. On one hand, he is urging his unreliable adoptive fathers to come back and love him again. On the other hand, he has people carefully inspect the Prince of Jin's mansion to make sure there are no oversights. He is also talking to his son about the glorious deeds of his two grandfathers so that they can get close to each other as soon as they meet.
His child was a book lover, having read Duan Tingzhen's travelogue countless times. As expected, he readily accepted his father's brainwashing and clung to Duan Tingzhen as soon as they met.
Duan Tingzhen had tolerated Meng Chifeng's illiteracy for many years, and was very pleased to have such a grandson with whom he shared common interests. Meng Chifeng and his nephew looked at each other, and finally Meng Chifeng said, "Your Majesty has grown taller."
Meng Jiaxun said with a straight face, "My uncle probably forgot how tall I used to be."
Meng Chifeng gestured and said, "So it's about this tall, up to Uncle's eyebrows." Then he sighed, "Maybe Uncle has gotten older and has become shorter."
Meng Jiaxun was easily swayed by this tactic, and upon hearing his words, her anger vanished. That evening, she invited the two elders to dine at the palace, and they resumed their previous close relationship. Duan Tingzhen glanced at Meng Chifeng without revealing his expression; Meng Chifeng nodded, the plan had succeeded.
This child has become increasingly difficult to please since he became emperor.
Springtime remained unchanged in the Prince of Jin's residence, much like it had been eight years ago. Duan Tingzhen still often sat under the tree, with a book in hand and a cup of tea, while Meng Chifeng sat beside him watching.