Chapter 297: Chapter 297
The facts proved that although the system was usually quite unreliable, the items in the mall were not fake.
Over the next several years, while An Ning step by step implemented reforms to the official system and reduced redundancy, the little child Zhao Xi also grew up strong and healthy under everyone's care.
Having traveled through several lifetimes, this was actually the first time An Ning had seen what a truly gifted child looked like. Not to mention, this little one before her was a child whose physical constitution and intellect developed exceptionally together.
Before she was even five months old, she could sit up by herself. By six or seven months, she could slowly crawl around the room covered in cashmere blankets, and could even cleverly find the route with the fewest obstacles and requiring the least effort.
Every time she saw the bright sunshine outside, she would gaze at her own mother with exceptionally beautiful, pleading starry eyes.
Clearly, even though the little clever one was small, she knew exactly who was truly in charge in this place.
Just after turning seven months old, she could fluently call out "Mother". Once she could talk, it was even more remarkable; the little one, barely over one year old, had already begun accurately expressing her preferences.
For example, the little one usually liked bright and dazzling colors, preferring Chinese flowering crabapple over water lily magnolia. Regarding food, her favorite was all kinds of delicious fish, and she most disliked various steamed fruit purees, especially apple puree. Every time she saw it, she would wrinkle her little nose, then turn her head and pitifully act spoiled towards An Ning beside her:
"Mo...ther, no... eat!"
Knowing her big, watery eyes were most deceptive, the little one put in great effort.
Unfortunately, in this era, there were no vitamin supplements, so poor Xi Bao's protests were always suppressed by her mother every time.
She could only swallow the super-disliked fruit puree with a wronged pout.
When she got a bit older, whenever An Ning handled official business, she would obediently stay nearby, playing by herself with the brain-teasing toys An Ning had previously ordered the Imperial Household Department to specially customize.
Before she was even three years old, she had already taken apart the specially made nine-linked rings many times.
Honestly, bringing up this child was truly worry-free!
Especially when this child cutely blinked at you, or looked at you with big, pleading eyes. Sometimes An Ning suspected whether this body's obsession with good looks was simply excessive...
She glanced up and saw Sima Xiang and the others nearby also covering their faces, their eyes almost filled with red hearts.
Hmm... seems it's not my fault then!
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several years passed.
In the eleventh year of Jiayou, through the joint efforts of An Ning and the ministers, while the Great Song's bureaucracy became increasingly clean and efficient, the young Zhao Xi, only five years old, also reached the age to begin her studies.
Because An Ning had not become pregnant again these years, anyone in the court with slightly clear vision could see that the future ruler of the Great Song would undoubtedly be this little Highness. On her birthday last year, the little Zhao Xi, just four years old, was directly enfeoffed as the crown prince.
Having witnessed her methods and her prestige among the military and common people, in today's court, let alone the civil and military officials, even the various imperial clansmen of the neighboring Zhao family honestly didn't dare utter a single peep!
Zhao Zongshi, who had earlier nearly been established as the imperial prince, and who was the ruler after her cheap father in the previous lifetime, had been extremely well-behaved these years.
He ordinarily didn't even dare go out. If he accidentally met an important court official, before An Ning, the ruler, could even react, this one would scare himself into illness for quite some time.
The whole person lived in constant fear.
According to rumors from the servants attending him, he was even once so frightened that he developed a mental disorder. If not for his wife and children strenuously stopping him, this cheap cousin even wanted to submit a letter of apology to An Ning!
No wonder, back when cheap father was on the throne, those people planning things didn't involve this more legitimate candidate!
However, being timid also had its advantages.
Seeing his miserable life , at least An Ning currently truly had no intention of doing anything to him...
In any case, in the eleventh year of Jiayou, the crown prince Highness, only five years old, formally entered the Zishan Hall, taking the first step towards becoming the monarch of an empire.
An Ning, her biological mother, went even further and with a grand gesture, equipped her daughter with her initial set of resources.
Grand Tutor: Ouyang Xiu, head of the Secretariat-Chancellery. Participating in Governance: Han Qi. Even the elderly Lord Fan, who had retired due to age years ago, was rehired.
Additionally, the younger generation - Su Shi, Zhang Dun, Zhang Zai, Zhang Heng, Cao Xi, Han Shuo - were each responsible for poetry and rhapsodies, classical strategy, academics, engineering, agriculture, calligraphy, chess, and so on...
As for martial arts, they were personally taught daily by An Ning, her mother.
Even the several study companions were meticulously selected children of important ministers, accomplished in both literary and military arts.
It could be said that as the crown prince, the future firmly designated successor of the Great Song, the little Zhao Xi, upon just starting her studies, attracted the attention of almost everyone inside and outside the palace.
Even among the common people, there were quite a few discussing it.
In the eleven years since An Ning succeeded to the throne, the administration had been effective and the people united. Externally, she recovered Western Xia; internally, she repeatedly promoted improved seeds, developed animal husbandry, reduced taxes, and exempted corvée labor. The Great Song could now be said to be in a state of flourishing prosperity.
With bellies full and thirst quenched, people will always have other pursuits. As government schools and private schools were continuously established everywhere, the number of common folk who could read and study also increased more and more.
They understood even more clearly in their hearts exactly who had brought about this good life now!
Due to their admiration for An Ning, the ruler, towards the crown prince Highness, this ruler's own child, everyone naturally held a bit more expectation.
And in fact, the crown prince Highness truly did not disappoint everyone's expectations.
After a period of time, the various new and old ministers looked at each other and discovered, with particular shock:
Isn't our crown prince Highness a bit too brilliantly wise?
Having a photographic memory was still just basic. Any complex and profound classical texts, she understood immediately upon explanation, never requiring a second time.
The saying 'see one leaf and know the autumn' was exactly .
In chess, her talent was even more extraordinary. Not to mention her teacher Han Shuo; by age nine, among the various senior ministers, there were hardly any opponents left for her.
"The Highness is truly worthy of being the current ruler's own child!"
Headed by Ouyang Xiu, the various officials couldn't help but sigh with emotion, and at the same time, their hanging hearts were completely set at ease.
Among them, the rebellious Su Zizhan, slightly unbelieving, had even specially gone to test her. The result was, well...
In any case, no one knew what happened that day.
They only knew the final result was that the usually carefree and unrestrained Su Zizhan was nearly tormented to the point of staring blankly, utterly questioning his life! Just after stepping out of the palace gate, he couldn't help but heave a long sigh to his good friend:
"Zihou, as the common saying goes, there's always a mountain higher than another. However, I only realized today that a person can actually be intelligent to such a degree!"
"Indeed, the crown prince Highness is truly worthy of being the ruler's own child!"
The already famous great literary figure Su, in his thirties, wore an expression of deep emotion. Finally, he turned to look at his clearly quite pleased friend beside him.
With a face full of gossip and curiosity, he asked:
"By the way, Brother Zihou, haven't you meticulously studied chess for many years? I wonder, compared to our crown prince Highness, how do you fare?"
Because he was going the same way and accidentally overheard the entire conversation, his good eldest nephew Zhang Heng: "..."