Joy of Life: The Mei Family's Son Grows Up

Chapter 26 New Year’s Eve Talk
The next step is to verify your ideas.

After playing two more rounds, Mei Chengan felt that the trick he thought of was indeed useful, and a hint of excitement appeared in his eyes.

It's just that Bluebird plays cards as he pleases, and the tricks he learned are just the basics, and there are still many things he doesn't understand.

Until the New Year's Eve dinner, Mei Cheng'an had only mastered two tricks.

Looking at the silver cakes piled up like a small mountain in front of him, Mei Chengan smiled shyly and quietly put them away.

This time, the other maids were unable to deal with it. They almost vomited blood. Not only did the young master's card-playing skills improve by leaps and bounds, but his temperament also changed. He no longer mocked. If the young master didn't mock them, how could they complain and fight back? It was so uncomfortable.

Bluebird was very satisfied with the young master's performance. She helped the young master cheat, but the young master did not mock her sisters for her sake. It was really great.

The New Year’s Eve dinner was as sumptuous as usual. This meal took a long time. When the dumplings were finally served, the whole family ate the copper coins wrapped inside, which brought good luck.

After eating Pepsi, fireworks were set off in the palace. At this time, the whole Kyoto was setting off fireworks, and the sound of crackling was everywhere.

After watching the fireworks, the family stayed up all night as usual, talking about the year’s gains and looking forward to next year.

My younger sister will be nine years old next year and will also go to school. The Zanhua Academy is an aristocratic girls' school. Basically, the girls who can attend this school are from the powerful families in Kyoto. It is not particularly large in scale, but the standards are very high.

Mei Cheng'an sighed a little. The little one has grown up and is old enough to go to school. Oh, yes, he can't call her little one anymore. He should call her by her name. He seems to have never called her that before. What is his sister's name?

After thinking for a long time, I remembered it.

Mei Yuxi, Yuxi Yuxi, Wei Wo Xin Xi, does such a delicate name really suit this little foodie sister?

Mei Cheng'an pinched the chubby little face of his sister who had fallen asleep.

Mrs. Mei slapped her hand away and gave her a scolding look.

Mei Chengan smiled embarrassedly.

The younger sister was sent back to her own courtyard, and the mother went back to rest as she felt a little sleepy, leaving only the father and son in the hall.

Sitting like this was quite boring, so Mei Cheng'an and Mei Zhili simply went to the study to play Go.

The father and son were playing chess and chatting at the same time, and they started talking about the current situation in the court. Now that the father and son were officials in the same court and they were chatting privately, there was no need to avoid this topic.

"Since His Majesty allowed the Second Prince to leave the palace and build his own residence the year before last, the Second Prince has been interested in making friends with officials over the past two years, and seems to be trying to compete with the Eastern Palace."

"How old is the second prince?"

When Mei Cheng'an watched the drama in his previous life, he had always been curious about the actual ages of the princes, but both the original author Mao Ni and the screenwriter had blurred this point.

"After the New Year, I should be seventeen."

Seventeen, after the New Year I was eleven, six years older than me, the crown prince was four years older than me, and two years younger than the second prince. I finally figured it out, although it was of no use.

"The Second Prince is also recruiting Dad?"

Mei Zhili shook his head, picked up a white piece and placed it on the chessboard.

"Most of them are officials from the six ministries. My position is very important. We will meet them sooner or later."

"If he recruits him personally, will Dad agree?"

"Of course I disagree."

"Are you not afraid that the Second Prince will get angry and retaliate?"

"Don't worry, I am the governor of Kyoto, and I was appointed by His Majesty personally against all odds. The Second Prince can't do anything to me now."

"That's a very arrogant statement. So, Dad, you are a princeling."

Mei Zhili shook his head, then nodded.

"Between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, I will definitely support the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is the Queen's legitimate son. He has been appointed Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace since he was young and has never done anything bad. It is legitimate and orthodox for him to inherit the throne in the future."

"But your majesty doesn't seem to think so."

Mei Zhili was silent. Over the years, Emperor Qing had intentionally or unintentionally praised the Second Prince for his virtues in front of his ministers. He was crowned a king at the age of thirteen, allowed to leave the palace and build a mansion at the age of fourteen, and to recruit retainers, which provided convenience for him to make friends with officials. At the age of fifteen, he was allowed to attend court affairs in the imperial study.

This is not just about liking the young and intelligent Second Prince, this is about intentionally supporting the Second Prince to fight against the Eastern Palace.

Mei Zhili couldn't understand it. He was loyal to His Majesty, but he didn't understand why His Majesty did this. Why did he deliberately let his sons fight each other? This fight could not be stopped. It would eventually be a life-and-death situation. Wouldn't it be good to train the prince well and pass the throne to him smoothly a hundred years later?

"Dad, it's your turn."

Mei Cheng'an's reminder interrupted Mei Zhili's thoughts. Mei Zhili came back to his senses, looked at the chessboard, and made a move.

Mei Chengan quickly followed.

"What was Dad thinking about just now?"

"I wonder what your majesty wants to do."

"That's easy. Your Majesty is so young, and he will be in charge of Qing for a long time. Now the eldest princess intends to get closer to the prince. She controls the inner treasury, and many people in the court support the prince. Your Majesty, if you find an opponent for the prince, it will not only prevent the prince from threatening your power in the future, but also weaken the power of the powerful prime minister Lin Ruofu in disguise. When the various forces are intertwined and fighting each other, it will be easier for your majesty to control and adjust the forces in the court, and you will be more stable. So this is the situation your majesty hopes to see the most."

Mei Zhili was stunned. Mei Cheng'an's words were a bit outrageous, but he had to admit that his analysis made sense. His Majesty had a clear view of the court.

"I have never talked to you about the affairs of the court in the past. I didn't expect that you would have such insights and see things so clearly."

"I don't know the true face of the court because I am in it. Dad, you are just confused by the authorities."

"Are the first two lines of your poem? I don't know the true face of the court because I am in it. It's a good poem with deep meaning, but it feels weird. Did you make it up? What about the other part? And aren't you also in the court?"

Mei Zhili's series of questions gave Mei Cheng'an a headache. He really wanted to slap himself in the face. What kind of poem was he reciting that was neither salty nor bland?

"I don't count. I just sorted the books for your majesty and didn't participate in the affairs of the court. So far, I haven't even attended the morning court."

Mei Zhili did not comment on Mei Cheng'an's statement and turned his attention back to the current situation in the court.

"Since you see it so clearly, then according to your opinion, how should you and I deal with each other in the future?"

Mei Chengan spread his hands and said, "Dad, I'm just a child. Shouldn't this be something you should consider?"

Mei Zhili's mouth twitched, and he had the urge to hit the child. "Now that things have come to this, you tell me you are a child?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Just say it when I tell you to."

"Why not just act according to your own wishes? If you want to stand on one side, then stand on one side. If you don't want to stand on one side, then make your attitude clear. Not only should you make your attitude clear to the party you are recruiting, but you should also make your attitude clear to His Majesty. Regardless of whether you stand on one side or not, you should do your part well and only do your part with a clear conscience. Then... that's it."

"Is this the end?" "It's over."

"So simple?"

"How much more complicated could it be?"

"....."

Mei Zhili always felt that Mei Chengan's words were too careless, like a joke, but after thinking for a long time he couldn't figure out what was wrong with them.

Could it be that it is really that simple?
Maybe I'm really overthinking it?
I have a clear conscience. What a great phrase! I have a clear conscience!
Mei Zhili's expression gradually relaxed from his original uncertainty, and his eyes became brighter.

Mei Cheng'an naturally noticed the change in his father's expression and knew in his heart that his father had figured it out.

Pinch the pieces and write the words.

Mei Chengan chuckled.

"Dad, you lost."

Mei Zhili was worried before and didn't pay much attention to the situation on the chessboard. Now that his worries have gone away and his mind is clear, he looks at the chessboard again and his face changes drastically. His white pieces are surrounded by black pieces and he is powerless to save the situation.

"Did you take advantage of my distraction to do something?"

Mei Chengan was speechless.

"No."

"Then why do you have so many more black pieces than I have white pieces?"

"The white piece was eaten."

"Impossible! When did it happen? How come I don't know about it?"

"Just now, Dad, what do you mean? Are you trying to cheat?"

"What are you talking about? I was just thinking about something and didn't even look at the chessboard. So whatever you say is up to you. Anyway, this game doesn't count. Let's play again!"

Mei Cheng'an laughed in silence and was too lazy to argue with the old man.

"Okay, then listen to Dad and come again."

.........

"Wait a minute, let me think about it."

"Dad, don't you know that Luo Zi Wu Hui is the real reason? How can you pick up the chess pieces even after they have fallen to the ground?"

"Nonsense, it didn't even land."

“I heard the sound.”

"That's your illusion."

"........."

.........

"Hey, hey, I regret every step I take."

"No, Dad, I've already made my move. I won't regret it like this."

"Who told you to play it so quickly? You didn't even give me time to think. You just rushed it."

"........."

.........

"Are you sure you want to play here? Don't you want to think about it again? If you don't change it, I'll make it. Let me make it clear first, I can't take back my move after I make it. Dad, do you want to think about it again?"

"Just go ahead. Why are you talking so much? Am I, your father, such an unreasonable person?"

"Aren't you?"

"How dare you! How dare you talk to your father!"

"Then I really got off."

"Oh, oh, oh, you're talking too much nonsense."

With a crisp sound, Mei Chengan's move decided the outcome.

"Concession!"

"Ouch, wrong, wrong, wrong move!"

Mei Chengan stretched out his hand to block it.

"You can't take back your move. We just agreed on this."

"If you hadn't been so long-winded that I was dizzy, would I have misjudged the position and made a wrong move? Don't you feel ashamed? Isn't it right to make me regret a move?"

"You were the first to make the move, and I said it later."

"So what? Aren't they all the same?"

"That's totally different. You can't put the blame on me."

Mei Zhili sighed.

"Well, I'll let you play one round, and then we can play again."

"Oh, thank you so much. I've been regretting my moves all night, and I've been giving in all night. It's really not easy. Please don't come again. I'm very sleepy, so I'm sorry I can't keep you company!"

After saying this, Mei Cheng'an slipped away at lightning speed.

Mei Zhili was stunned for a long time, then suddenly stood up and slammed the table with his right palm.

"Treason!!!"

(End of this chapter)