Red Mansion Rebirth: Ghost Phoenix

Princess Yongning was startled and realized that she had said the wrong thing. She looked at the prince awkwardly.

The prince was as warm as usual. He beckoned his daughter to his side and asked in a low voice, "How much did He Ke hear?"

"I heard from my father that my grandfather asked the Ministry of Rites to investigate the procedures for the abdication." He Ke smiled and whispered, "The Queen Mother said that I have a pair of thief ears, which are very useful."

"Oh?" The prince gently pinched his daughter's earlobe, his fingers slightly cool and his smile deep.

He Ke only felt a chill on his back, and the hairs from behind his ears to his neck stood up!

But she still followed the Queen's instructions, forcing a smile and saying cheerfully, "The Queen told me not to tell anyone else about this! But Daddy and Auntie are not other people, right?"

The prince's heart softened, and he placed the hand that was pinching his daughter's earlobe on her head and patted her, saying with a smile: "The Queen didn't tell you, so even if you heard it, you have to pretend you didn't hear it?"

"I did. But," He Ke hugged the prince's neck, "but Queen Mother also taught me that I can pretend with anyone except Daddy. Everything I say to Daddy must be the truth."

Princess Yongning had already adjusted her mood and expression. She smacked her lips when she heard the words: "Oh my, you keep calling her Empress Wang. If you don't know, you would think that Wang is really the Empress!"

He Ke closed his mouth, too shy to say anything.

The prince held his daughter in his arms and said with a smile, "Your aunt is jealous of the queen! Go and comfort your aunt!"

He Ke immediately rubbed up to Princess Yongning, pulled her sleeve, and whispered: "Aunt, you are the most beautiful woman in the world. If I could grow up to be like you, I would wake up laughing in my dreams..."

After a pause, he suddenly turned to ask the prince, "Dad, can I move in with my aunt?"

Yongning was stunned: "Why do you want to move here?"

"I keep saying 'Empress Wang said' because I have lived with Empress Wang for the past three years, so I naturally have to listen to her.

"If I come to live with my aunt for three years, then from now on, I will definitely tell everyone 'my aunt told me'!" He Ke said seriously.

The prince chuckled: "That's not bad."

After thinking about it, he nodded towards Princess Yongning: "He Ke is very sensible and took good care of her brother when she was in the East Palace. If you don't mind, you can really let her live with you for a year or two."

Princess Yongning paused, thought for a while, her eyes slightly brightened: "In fact, I just wanted to tell my brother that Ah Zhao might not be willing to live in the East Palace.

"If you insist on letting her go, it's not impossible. But she will be unhappy and may only teach for one or two years before finding an excuse to leave.

"If you don't mind, I will set up a small courtyard in my princess's mansion, next to the Lin family's, for Ah Zhao, He Ke and Sister Lin to use for their lessons.

"This way, it's cheap for Ah Zhao to go home or go out for a walk, for Sister Lin to go in and out, and even for my son Zishi to learn one or two things from his sisters!"

As she spoke, Princess Yongning became impatient and wanted someone to clean up the yard right away.

The prince smiled and nodded, "Okay. That's settled. After the new year, Brother Tao will start formally, and He Ke will temporarily go to the princess's residence to study."

He Ke immediately jumped up happily: "Great! I'm so happy!"

After jumping twice, his face fell again, and he pulled the prince and said, "Then I will miss my father, Brother Tao, and Queen Wang. What should I do?"

"You are in the Princess's Residence, not the Tianshan Protectorate! Don't you go back to your family for family banquets during the holidays?" The prince tapped her on the head, "Alright, enough of the fuss, you got what you wanted, go back and play with your brothers and sisters!"

He Ke flew back with a chuckle.

The prince and the princess were laughing behind her, and the prince asked her loudly, "What on earth did you come here for? Have you forgotten?"

"I haven't forgotten." He Ke poked his head out from behind the screen, smiled and stuck out his tongue, "I originally asked Dad to let me stay at my aunt's place and have dinner with my sisters before returning to the palace.

"But since I will be going out to study after the New Year, I will have plenty of time to spend with my sisters. I should go back and show my filial piety to the Crown Princess."

The prince snorted and laughed: "You are smart!"

He Ke laughed and ran away briskly.

The prince and Yongning then looked at each other and lowered their eyes.

"Is this true?" Yongning asked in a low voice.

The prince nodded slowly, "I guess, after the New Year. Father has decided to start the selection on the 17th of the first lunar month, probably to arrange the marriages of the 18th and 19th.

"After that, probably, it's time for this."

Yongning hesitated for a moment and looked at him: "Brother, do you hope so?"

"Why do you think I don't want this?" The prince raised his eyebrows. "Sit on that chair in advance and decide on your status. Shouldn't that be a good thing?"

Yongning looked at him closely: "Father is wise and powerful, and has been in office for many years.

“Although I am rational and willing to make concessions at the moment, the feelings of being in power and not being in power are completely different.

"Madam Ji took me to read so many history books...

"Let's not talk about anything else. Were the emperors of the early Tang Dynasty rational and generous enough? Li Yuan and Li Shimin, father and son, fought against each other. Li Dan and Li Longji, father and son, fought against each other. No emperor had an easy life!

"If father is unhappy and wants to regret but can't say it, brother, your life will be very, very difficult! A hundred times more difficult than it is now!"

When the prince heard this, he reached out and held his sister's hand, his eyes slightly reddened: "Yongning, my deepest gratitude to mother is that she gave birth to you. You will always be your brother's dearest sister."

Letting go, taking a deep breath, the prince leaned back in his chair, spread his hands on the armrests, and smiled up at the sky:

“Why think so much?

"What we say doesn't count in this matter!"

Princess Yongning stared at him steadily. After a long while, she looked away and pursed her lips into a straight line.

Just as the brother and sister were sitting in silence, someone outside came to report: "Master Lin from next door is back to pick up Madam Lin and Sister Lin."

"Oh? Ruhai is back? Let him go to the outer study. I'm itching to play chess! Let's play chess!" The prince stood up impatiently.

Princess Yongning glared at him helplessly: "Okay! Go ahead!"

"Oh, and your Zixiu. There are girls in there. If you go in, you will have a master, and you don't have to keep him in there.

"Tell him to come out. I'll take him to see Ruhai. Ruhai is well-educated. If Zixiu has any questions about his studies in the future, he can just knock on Ruhai's study door!"

The prince called Hong Zixiu out and said with regret, "I was looking for a study partner for Tao. It's a pity that Zixiu is a little old.

"I came here today to ask your Zixie if he is willing. But seeing how he is in a hurry to drag the prince consort away, I'm afraid he is not willing.

"Then I'll find another place."

Princess Yongning hurriedly had someone call Hong Zixiu out, and raised her eyebrows when she heard this: "Whether he is willing or not, is it up to him?!

"You keep shouting that you want to be a general!

"OK!

“The East Palace has plenty of experts!

"Let him go and study with Brother Tao!

"I just have one thing to say: If the archery master doesn't make him cry for help during the first month, then I will consider this master to be unmotivated!"