Chapter 375: Chapter 15: Teaching a Child (First Update)
Qin Miao saw right through Batraj’s tricks, so she pretended to be moved by Batraj privately, pretended to loathe the current Emperor (no need to pretend about this, it was completely genuine!), and pretended to resent her family, becoming closer to Batraj.
She would also speak of the wealth of Great Chu and the prosperity of the Capital, to which Batraj, having spent quite a significant amount of time in the Capital, naturally resonated with.
It could be said that Batraj’s premature decision to wage war against Great Chu two years in advance had no small contribution from Qin Miao.
She didn’t want to be another Wang Zhaojun!
Thus, even when the Tartars invaded Great Chu, Qin Miao remained the exalted Tartar Queen, having everything except freedom!
When Great Chu began its counterattack and Batraj paced the palace restlessly, Qin Miao was still admiring the flowers in the Imperial Garden.
On that third day of March, a fine time of year, when you could make Jiangnan bloom in the desert with enough spent silver, forget about the Tartar Royal Palace.
Listening to the whispers of the Hidden Guards, Qin Miao laughed and said, "Indeed, ’Spring colors are unstoppable; a branch of red apricot blossoms outside the wall.’"
...
With the predicament in Hami resolved, Susu brought Mantou back from Aunt Qin.
Aunt Qin was reluctant and worried, after all, resolving the predicament didn’t mean there was no danger; keeping Mantou in Ningxia Guard meant he could at least be sent away under the worst circumstances.
But both Susu and Mantou were determined.
"Aunt Qin, rest assured, unless I were completely sure, I wouldn’t have come to take Mantou!"
"Granny Qin, I want to be with my parents; the three of us together, never to be separated!"
What moved the Qin family most was not Susu’s assurance but the little Mantou’s words, "never to be separated!"
Qin touched Mantou’s little head and laughed, "You little thing, do you even know what it means ’never to be separated!’"
Mantou earnestly replied, "Of course I do. ’Never to be separated’ means to be together for a lifetime. Master Xin said he and Aunt Piggy will be together forever for a lifetime."
Shu Xin: ...
Can I return this apprentice who plots against his master?
Aunt Piggy: ...
Sweet words just like that, tricking me for a lifetime, beautiful thoughts you’ve got there.
Everyone: ...
We seem to have learned something astounding!
...
The third day of the third month of the fourteenth year of Kangping was also Susu’s twenty-first birthday.
If it were modern times, at twenty-one, university wouldn’t yet be over. But now, her son was nearly five.
On this day, although Hong Sheng couldn’t return from the camp, leaving only Susu and Mantou as the masters of the house, Susu hosted a high-profile birthday banquet to dispel the gloom hovering in her heart and to pacify the hearts of the people.
Right at the gates of the Hong Mansion, thirty banquet tables were set up for three days straight, allowing any local of Hami to come and freely eat and drink, with just one stipulation: no waste.
If there were children under five or elders over sixty in a family, they could claim five pounds of white flour and a piece of meat at the gate with household registration!
That morning, dozens of servants gathered in the main courtyard. Because Susu had exempted them from the ritual kneeling, they cupped their hands or bowed respectfully, loudly saying, "Wishing madam longevity like the East Sea and agelessness like the Southern Mountains."
Susu originally intended to maintain a noble demeanor, but upon hearing this blessing, she couldn’t help but laugh, "Hearing you say that, I suddenly feel as if I am celebrating my eightieth birthday!"
Following them were Aunt Piggy, Long Jiao, and Shu Xin, representing the Youye Twelve Guards in sending birthday greetings to Susu.
Then came Mantou, her son.
Looking at her son, who was quite refined yet amiably warm, inheriting his uncle’s jade-like grace and his father’s martial vigor, Susu felt an overwhelming sense of pride.
Her son was remarkable, indeed remarkable, especially since in a household of only them, the mother and son, it was her not yet five-year-old son who took up the responsibilities of a Young Master.
Though Susu was reluctant and tender-hearted, she could only hold and kiss him when he seemed frustrated by failing at certain tasks.
"My little Mantou is the best! Do you remember what mommy said your nickname means?"
"Steamed to rise, inside and out the same!"
"Mommy even made mantou step by step for you; no step was dispensable.
You may be discouraged, you may fail, and you may be frustrated because you are still young, because mommy is behind you.
But mommy hopes you don’t give up; Daddy and mommy can help you start over."
Susu remembers Mantou leaning against her, whispering, "Daddy’s not here. It’s been a hundred and thirteen days since I last saw Daddy!"
At that moment, Susu’s heart twisted in pain, so much so that she had to hold her son tightly to refrain from resenting certain people.
Having her son made the resentment in her heart much lighter than before.
She no longer even curses when mentioning the current Emperor. Although the Ruan Family was destroyed because of him, it’s just a classic story of those who succeed claim kingship and those who fail become mere bandits.
While they were indeed innocent, much like Qin Miao’s resolute marriage to the Tartars, enjoying the wealth and glory brought by the family naturally meant enduring the suffering it inflicted.
Why do great clans last for generations? Is it solely because of the occasional talents that emerge?
No, while talents are important, they are merely stepping stones for strengthening the family. What truly sustains all is the shared honor and disgrace among clan members, never leaving or forsaking each other.
Yet, Susu’s reluctance to harbor resentment is largely to avoid burdening her child with such hatred at such a young age; it’s too heavy a load.
"Son, mommy apologizes on behalf of daddy. He upholds the nation, serves the people, and even stands by mommy, but he has let you down. He’s not by your side when you need him.
But mommy hopes you still love and adore him as you did before.
Mommy would never explain on daddy’s behalf now, but someday, you will understand; daddy is someone we can be proud of."
Mantou discreetly wiped his tears on his mother’s shoulder, raised his head, revealing a toothy smile, "Mommy, I’m just a little sad. But I love daddy very much too."
After pausing a moment, his tone slightly sheepish, he added, "But don’t tell him I love him a little less than I love you!"
Saying this, seeing Susu smile, he grinned widely, hugging her neck, "Mommy, you are my top favorite, I like myself second, and daddy third, is that okay?"
"Why do you like yourself second; putting daddy at third might make him cry!"
"Huh? Would daddy cry? I just think because I look like mommy, liking myself second is like liking mommy even more!
Maybe I should try to like daddy a little more? But not more than I love mommy! What about you, mommy?"
Susu listened to her son’s innocent yet determined questioning, pondered for a while, and seeing his exquisite little face growing more anxious, she laughed, "Mommy’s first love is Mantou, then myself second, and daddy third!"
Mantou couldn’t help but burst out laughing, "Daddy would be so sad! Mommy, what a disdainful tone!"
And while waiting for Hong Sheng to be appointed, he finally received Liu Dusi’s command: offense is the best defense!
