Jing Xingzhi’s Daily Life in Ancient Times

Li Jialin was a good and obedient son. After a meal at noon, he led his son out of the palace in the afternoon and went to Jing Xingzhi’s house.

Li Jialin had changed into casual clothes and was holding Li Mingguan, who was dressed in light blue.

He smiled and called out to Jing Xingzhi, “Hello, junior uncle. You didn’t invite me during the washing day and the Full Moon a few days ago, so I had to come uninvited.”

Seeing Li Jialin arrive with a child, Jing Xingzhi felt a little perplexed. Why bring a child?

‘Could it be that the Li family had discovered I have some talent in raising children? Are they all rushing to have me take care of their kids now?’

Jing Xingzhi’s mind was full of random thoughts as he welcomed Li Jialin with a smile.

Once inside, Li Jialin looked around the courtyard and asked, “I heard that my junior uncle fell asleep on the street yesterday. Are you feeling better now?”

“It’s fine, thank you for your concern,” Jing Xingzhi replied, leading them into the front hall.

After chatting for a while, Jing Xingzhi simply asked, “I wonder what brings His Highness to visit today?”

Li Jiading and Li Jiafu were young and didn’t involve themselves in court matters. They visited for meals, and they were polite enough. Besides, the fourth prince was fun, so Jing Xingzhi was always happy to have them over.

But Li Jialin and Jing Xingzhi had only met once and weren’t particularly familiar with each other. Jing Xingzhi couldn’t believe that Li Jialin had come just to discuss childcare out of boredom.

‘Can’t even change diapers?’ he thought. ‘You’re just teasing me about my childcare experience.’

Li Jialin was taken aback. He hadn’t expected this young junior uncle to be so direct and straightforward.

Li Jialin felt that it was quite easy to get along with Jing Xingzhi like this. He smiled and, imitating Jing Xingzhi, asked directly, “I wonder what my junior uncle thinks of me?”

‘Thinking of you?’

Jing Xingzhi looked at Li Jialin, then his eyebrows twitched. He quickly stretched out his hand toward Li Jialin!

After two breaths, Jing Xingzhi pulled back his hand, which had been about to put into the child’s mouth.

Then, Jing Xingzhi warned Li Jialin, “Be careful when taking care of your children. No matter who you’re talking to, remember to pay attention to your child and give them your full attention. Otherwise, if I say something bad and something happens later, how much will you regret it? And regret won’t help, okay?”

Li Jialin, confused, nodded and grabbed his son’s little hand. “Yeah, um… I remember.”

“But junior uncle, you haven’t answered the question I asked earlier,” Li Jialin pressed, shifting the conversation to business.

“Do I still need to say this?” Jing Xingzhi had already prepared his answer. “Of course you are a good boy, but you’re not mature enough because you’re young. Compared to your father, you’re a son. As a son, you must act like a son, or else you’ll suffer.”

Li Jialin’s mouth twitched after hearing this.

‘A good boy? I’m the oldest and already have a son. And you are telling me to act like a son?’

After hearing this answer, Li Jialin thought he had figured it out. Although Jing Xingzhi was talented, he was still too young.

Li Jialin thought for a moment, put aside those thoughts, and smiled as he asked Jing Xingzhi, “I heard that the peach blossom soup in my junior uncle’s house is very good. I wonder if I have a chance to try it?”

After asking this question, could Jing Xingzhi really let his eldest nephew leave without satisfying his appetite?

Jing Xingzhi nodded, pinched Li Jialin’s son’s face, then nodded again and said, “There must be some. Feel free to eat.”

The emperor’s little grandson, who had been pinched on the face, suddenly felt uncomfortable. He stared with wide eyes and called out, “Father!”

Jing Xingzhi smiled. “You’re quite sensible. You’ve been quiet until now.”

Li Jialin hugged his son, gently shaking him to calm him down, and then said to Jing Xingzhi, “Junior uncle, just call him Mingguan. His mother is very strict and won’t allow him to talk nonsense.”

“It’s hard work for the crown princess, to teach him such rules at such a young age.”

It wasn’t easy to teach children discipline, and crying was indeed an invincible weapon.

“Yeah, it’s not easy.” Li Jialin heard this, and although he didn’t fully understand it, he still felt something.

It wasn’t easy for her wife; she had to take care of herself and Mingguan. It wasn’t easy for him either; he had to go out and coax his mother.

‘So… I won’t let you down tomorrow, junior uncle.’

Li Jialin suppressed the apology in his eyes and began talking and laughing with Jing Xingzhi around his child, acting like an ordinary father.

.

The next day.

Above the court, Li Yunxi brought up old matters again and pressured the Minister of Civil Affairs to name candidates.

“You have to do something in your position no matter what. If you’re afraid of offending this person or that person every time you act, how can you accomplish anything?”

Seeing that the Minister of Civil Affairs did not take the initiative, Li Yunxi was already a little angry.

“My dear minister, have you chosen the right person?” Li Yunxi looked at the official minister who stood up, his tone cold and teasing.

The Minister of Civil Affairs trembled and hesitated before slowly speaking: “I think Wang Zikai and Zhang Po are suitable, but Sir Zhang Po will need an exception.”

Zhang Po still obeyed filial piety at home and couldn’t come out to work for Li Yunxi without making an exception.

Li Yunxi still remembered what the Minister of Civil Affairs had told him yesterday and replied, “Didn’t beloved minister say yesterday that Zhang Po wasn’t good enough and had to observe his mother’s filial piety? Is it possible that if the father’s filial piety is observed, the mother’s can be ignored?”

The Minister of Civil Affairs lowered his head so much that it was almost buried in the ground, and he nearly cried.

Li Yunxi said something to the minister, and just as he was about to name the last person he preferred, Li Jialin walked out.

Li Jialin asked, “Father, is Mr. Wang Zikai in charge of governance?”

Li Yunxi nodded.

Li Jialin continued, “What’s missing is someone to discipline and educate. Although education is also important, it is not as urgent as governance. Moreover, education is not something that can be accomplished in a day. This son thought that if there is no suitable person for the time being, perhaps we can recruit new people to try.”

“Recruit new people?”

After hearing this, the Minister of Civil Affairs quietly pulled out a scroll, thinking that the crown prince was still young. Was a place like Anbei and Dingbei a place where newcomers could try? Educating the people of such a place sounded simple, but it was difficult to do.

Simply put, the Minister of Civil Affairs believed newcomers were not up to the task.

In fact, the other ministers shared the same thought. When the crown prince mentioned newcomers, they even discussed it quietly with those around them, some even covering their mouths and snickering.

Hearing the faint laughter, Li Jialin blushed with shame.

It was not easy. If it weren’t for his mother, he wouldn’t have mentioned it.

Unexpectedly, Li Yunxi’s eyes lit up, and he nodded in agreement.

“I think the crown prince’s idea is good!”

The Minister of Rites raised his head completely and looked at His Majesty in shock.

‘Holy Majesty, when can I go?’

Those ministers who had covered their mouths and snickered froze, and they all wondered in their hearts—’when can I go?’

Even Li Jialin, who had made the suggestion, was stunned. He asked blankly, “Father, what do you think is better?”

After asking, Li Jialin realized that his expression seemed wrong. He was supporting the newcomers!

So, Li Jialin forced a smile and looked at his father seriously, waiting for an answer.

Although he truly didn’t understand… how could newcomers handle such an important and difficult-to-manage place?