Chapter 1458: Growing Up (Part 2)

Zhao Hanzhang greatly praised Zhao Mingming and recapped her trip to Liaodong. The mother and daughter had lunch in the grand hall and chatted until around 3:00 PM, when Zhao Yunxin, the Secretary General, arrived with a large stack of documents.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang let Zhao Mingming go to rest, saying, "Go visit your grandmothers."

Zhao Mingming missed her father and brother more and quickly asked, "Is Father coming back tonight?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "I’ve already sent someone to the Observing Things Department; he will definitely come back."

Zhao Mingming was happy to head to the rear palace.

After leaving the main hall, she avoided the gaze of the ministers and took off running.

The attendants behind her hurriedly chased after, "Crown Princess, Crown Princess, it’s inappropriate to run in the palace..."

Zhao Mingming darted away and replied, "I’m going to visit the Empress Dowager!"

But after running through the corridor, she turned a corner and went to another side hall first.

Around 3:00 PM, the Second Prince had just woken up from a nap and was sitting quietly on a mat in the grand hall, playing with toys in front of him.

Upon hearing the sound of running footsteps, he quickly looked up. There was only one person who dared run like this in his palace.

He dropped the toy in his hand and pushed himself up to stand.

As soon as he stood up, Zhao Mingming ran in, standing not far from him.

Upon seeing each other, the siblings’ eyes brightened with excitement, and Zhao Mingming shouted, "Fu Jingjing!"

The calm Fu Jingjing also shouted, becoming animated, "Sister!"

Fu Jingjing rushed over barefoot, and Zhao Mingming grabbed him up, spinning him three or four times amidst the astonished cries of the eunuchs and palace maids. She even lifted him up and down, feeling slightly disdainful, "Have you gotten thinner?"

Fu Jingjing replied, "No, you’ve just become stronger!"

Zhao Mingming put him down, trying to press down the tuft of hair sticking up on his head, but his hair was too soft. Having just woken up, it stubbornly stuck up, only slowly straightening out when her hand was removed, still messily standing on end.

After pressing twice to no avail, Zhao Mingming’s rare patience ran out, and she briskly tousled his hair as before. Seeing it completely messed up, she felt somewhat comforted.

Fu Jingjing looked at his sister pitiably.

Feeling guilty, Zhao Mingming averted her gaze, took his hand, and said, "Let’s go visit Grandmother."

The eunuch hurriedly brought up shoes to help Fu Jingjing put them on.

Zhao Mingming held his hand and walked off. The eunuchs and palace maids hesitated, wanting to tidy up the Second Prince further, but Zhao Mingming had already taken Fu Jingjing away quickly.

Fu Jingjing’s palace was not far from Mrs. Wang’s main hall. He was also busy, having just finished discussing with Wang Hufeng about sending supplies next month to places around Poyang Lake affected by flooding.

This was part of the royal family’s charitable endeavors. While the court handled disaster relief, the Imperial Family was expected to set an example by aiding disaster victims wherever calamities occurred.

The country was stable, and despite occasional natural disasters across various regions each year, most areas enjoyed favorable weather conditions, allowing the nation to accumulate substantial resources. Thus, Zhao Hanzhang’s practice of using personal funds to supplement the national treasury had slowed down.

In recent years, apart from rewarding officials, funding Fu Tinghan’s various scientific research, and some national studies with no immediate returns, most of her private treasury had been saved.

Money, after all, is useless unless spent; it gains value through usage.

Especially for Zhao Hanzhang, the emperor.

Therefore, she provided Mrs. Wang with considerable resources to carry out charitable work everywhere.

Disaster relief, aiding the weak, supporting orphans, caring for the elderly, and assisting education — any benevolent act she conceived could be pursued.

All of this was planned and executed by Wang Hufeng.

Years of noble living and engaging in charity had cultivated Wang Shi’s grace and confidence, making her the ideal image of the nation’s mother in the people’s hearts.

During her last visit to Chang’an for poverty alleviation and education support, she also checked in on her youngest son’s family. The streets were crowded with people welcoming her, and even some fainted on the spot from excitement.

The Empress Dowager had become the first star of Hua Country.

Not just the entire assembly of civil and military officials, even Zhao Hanzhang himself hadn’t anticipated this: the most popular royal figure turned out to be her mother.

However, Zhao Hanzhang gladly welcomed this.

As Zhao Mingming entered, Fu Jingjing walked in too, and Wang Hufeng, sitting beneath the Empress Dowager, immediately stood up to salute.

Zhao Mingming and Fu Jingjing also stopped to bow.

Seeing Zhao Mingming, Mrs. Wang was pleasantly surprised, "Your mother let you come over? Come quickly, let me take a look."

Mrs. Wang touched her from head to toe, paying special attention to her hands, feeling distressed, "Your hands have become rougher and you’ve lost weight. Have you been hurt?"

Zhao Mingming straightened her back, proud and confident, "I’m in the Central Army; who can hurt me?" She didn’t mention leading a troop onto the battlefield.

Mrs. Wang believed her and was relieved. Then she looked at Fu Jingjing, feeling both sorry and amused, "Have you had water since waking? Is your hair messed up by your sister?"

She playfully scolded Zhao Mingming, "Your brother is growing up; he needs to carry himself with dignity. You can’t keep tousling his hair."

Zhao Mingming said, "His hair is too soft, Grandmother. Let him grow long hair, and with braids, it won’t stick up anymore."

Mrs. Wang hesitated and smoothed Fu Jingjing’s hair but shook her head, "No, your brother’s hair is not very healthy; it can’t grow long yet. It needs to be shaved a few more times."

Fu Jingjing’s hair was both soft and scarce, and his personality and interests became apparent early on.

Unlike Zhao Mingming, who showed an outgoing nature since infancy, Fu Jingjing was quiet, quietly observing the world with his round eyes except for occasionally murmuring when he needed something.

If it weren’t for this child’s pure eyes, Zhao Hanzhang might suspect him of having wisdom beyond his years.

Mrs. Wang was very fond of Zhao Mingming, who had only come back after three months. Right now, she cherished her dearly, finding the tales of scenic roads intriguing.

Fu Jingjing listened with admiration, his eyes shining as he watched his sister boast.

Wang Hufeng finally found a chance to interrupt, "Eldest Prince, you should also visit the Eldest Princess and Prince Consort today; the hour is almost up."

As the Chief Steward of the Imperial Palace, guiding the princes and princesses in etiquette was also Wang Hufeng’s responsibility.

Zhao Mingming reluctantly stopped, glanced at the clock in the corner, and realized if she didn’t leave the palace soon, she might not make it back in time for dinner with her parents. So she stood up and took Fu Jingjing’s hand, saying, "I’ll take Jingjing!"

Mrs. Wang hesitated before nodding, "Go ahead, spend some more time talking with your grandmother."

Then she glanced at Fu Jingjing, affectionately stroking his hair and said, "Take good care of Jingjing."

Although Fu Jingjing’s temperament and appearance resembled Fu Tinghan more, Princess Hongnong was quite indifferent towards him, rather favoring Zhao Mingming.

Even from the holiday and birthday gifts, the difference was evident.

This made Mrs. Wang feel for Fu Jingjing.

She didn’t know whether Princess Hongnong was avoiding suspicion for political stability or simply didn’t like him personally, but she was displeased with the clear favoritism and thus wasn’t too happy about Fu Jingjing visiting the Eldest Princess Mansion.

Her Jingjing was only five years old; he shouldn’t suffer such grievances because of these matters.

However, she couldn’t block the reunion between the grandmother and grandchild, so she could only have Zhao Mingming take good care of Fu Jingjing.

Zhao Mingming readily agreed, taking Fu Jingjing’s hand and leaving.