The Slender Waist-Chapter 822 - 580: Crown Prince Jun_3

As the Crown Prince grew older, he became increasingly wise and clever. Once, under the gaze of many, he argued persuasively for over ten advantages of being an only child compared to having siblings. He even won the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat’s waistband during a game of chess, forcing him to clutch his trousers in humiliation as he departed, making a spectacle of himself. Since then, the court officials no longer dared to speak recklessly.

The Crown Prince is the future heir to the throne.

He holds the fate of three generations’ peace and prosperity.

Rather than make the Crown Prince uncomfortable, it’s better to turn a blind eye.

From then on, the mother’s and son’s influence grew even stronger...

Rui Bao broke into a smile upon hearing his mother’s words.

"Yes."

Pei Jue watched his exuberant expression and sighed softly.

Nothing brought the child more joy than returning to Huaxi.

Especially during this season, Feng Yun would take him to Huaxi to catch crabs, splash around, and play wildly with a group of childhood companions. In the palace, the days were filled with rules and restraints; where could one find such carefree fun?

Rui Bao glanced at Pei Jue, who remained impassive, then pursed his little lips and looked over.

"Father..."

Pei Jue waved his hand, "If your mother has agreed, then go ahead."

Rui Bao immediately beamed and clasped his hands in gratitude, "Thank you, Father."

Pei Jue sighed.

This child was good in every way, but he was overly reverent toward him, often acting like a little adult. He was far less at ease with Pei Jue than with Feng Yun, in front of whom he could indulge in some childish behaviors.

Pei Jue secretly felt a pang of jealousy but didn’t voice it.

Feng Yun simply laughed at him, "You’re notorious; it’d be strange if he weren’t afraid of you."

From then on, Pei Jue tried to smile more in front of the child.

But his smile only made matters worse. Whenever he smiled, Rui Bao treated him with even greater deference, assuming he must have done something wrong.

Eventually, he gave up.

If he couldn’t be a kind father, then he would settle for being a strict one.

After all, this was his only son.

In the future, the entire Da Yong would be entrusted to him. A stern demeanor wouldn’t hurt...

-

Back in Huaxi, a group of children came running over.

They were all children of Changmen families—Xiaoman’s family, Ying Rong’s family, Guan Wei’s family, Wenhui’s family, Ge Guang and Ge Yi’s family, Xing family, and even Doctor Yao’s family from next door. A large group of them were all gathered at the estate.

Normally, they attended lessons at the village school, and during their breaks, they would arrange to visit Long Huan Pavilion in Andu City to read. Feng Yun was very fond of them, and Rui Bao loved to invite them to the palace to play.

The bond formed from growing up together was always stronger.

Feng Yun had invested considerable effort into nurturing these children.

She only hoped that one day, they would become assets to Rui Bao.

In the past, she had never thought about such things, even reluctant for her child to tread this path...

But what could she do, knowing his father was the Emperor?

Her son would inevitably take this seat. As a mother, she had to plan for him.

Don’t underestimate Rui Bao for being younger; he had a natural ability to control them.

One by one, they came over to pay respects to the Crown Prince, answered the mature questions posed by Rui Bao, and even had their schoolwork checked before bursting into laughter in the courtyard with their "martial arts competitions."

Feng Yun, sitting in the study, watched a group of guards nervously keeping an eye on the children’s play.

Out of the blue, she seemed to recall something. Distractedly, she opened the cabinet beside the bookshelf and took out a soft whip.

The leather whip, polished by water craftsmen, had a smooth, dark-black rounded tip with a centuries-old patina. Its exquisite craftsmanship clearly indicated its value.

This was the Black-tip Whip Feng Yun had once obtained from Chunyu Yan.

Later, she named it—Qiu Tong. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

As for the Scissor Feather, which she had received from Pei Jue, she always kept it on her person. Qiu Tong, being too large and cumbersome, was stored in the Scripture Pavilion in Changmen.

Counting the years, however long Chunyu Yan had been away from Huaxi, that was how long she hadn’t used Qiu Tong.

Feng Yun unfurled the whip, tested it by gently flicking it, and stared at the trailing afterimage of the whip for a moment, dazed, before storing it back in its box and summoning Ge Guang.

"Send someone to deliver this soft whip to Yunchuan."