TV Series: When the Villain Chooses to Stand by

Chapter 195 Yixiu 64

"Your Majesty is right. I will definitely urge Third Prince to study hard and will not disappoint Your Majesty."

Hongli frowned slightly and looked at Hongshi with complicated eyes.

Brother, it turns out you are living such a good life.

Yixiu signaled Jianqiu to bring someone in. A clever little eunuch was holding a booklet in his hand.

"I have had the Fourth Prince's daily reading time recorded. From now on, the Third Prince must strictly follow the instructions above. I will have someone monitor his reading."

"Don't worry, Concubine Qi, you can go and see as you please. Just one thing: you are not allowed to interfere with the Third Prince's studies."

Yixiu's words calmed Concubine Qi's originally uneasy mood a little.

She sat back down and asked hesitantly, "Your Majesty, may I take a look..."

"Take a look." Yixiu raised her chin slightly and asked someone to hand the manual to Concubine Qi.

"Studying starts at 3:00 AM, and archery lessons end at 5:00 PM. And even reviewing at night?"

"Empress, if this is calculated, we can only sleep two or three hours a day. Third Prince is still growing. How can this be done?"

The more Concubine Qi read, the more frightened she became, and her hands holding the booklet were trembling slightly.

When the emperor was still a prince, he once told Hongshi to study hard.

At that time, she only persisted for half a day. Hongshi cried and refused to get up early. She had lost two children in succession, so how could she bear to let her only surviving child suffer.

At that time, she cried and begged for a long time, and the emperor finally agreed to relax a little.

The one giving the order now is the Queen, and the Emperor probably won't listen to her pleas anymore.

Yixiu's expression turned serious. "Concubine Qi, be careful with your words. The Fourth Prince has always been so diligent, never slacking off even in the cold or the heat."

"Your Majesty is very busy with official duties every day, so it's not uncommon for him to sleep for only an hour or two. When the late emperor was alive, every prince was raised this way. Do you have any objections?"

Concubine Qi thought about the boast she had made, raised her eyes and looked at her son, and there was bitterness in the eyes of both mother and son.

"I dare not. Everything will be arranged by the Queen."

"Concubine Qi, you always say that Hongshi should share the emperor's worries, so naturally the burden on him should be increased."

Hongli was listening at the side and had no reaction. He didn't know what to say.

At this moment, he had a little doubt whether the decision he made was correct. With such a competitor, was it really necessary for him to leave his hometown?

But this thought was fleeting. What he had to do was much more interesting than fighting here.

There is no psychological burden in dealing with those foreigners.

Concubine Qi and her son left Jingren Palace in tears, taking a little eunuch with them.

From that day on, Hongshi's happy life ended.

The emperor naturally heard of this news. Raising the royal heir is the queen's duty, so of course she should support such a good thing.

The emperor waved his hand, and the third prince's teacher became even stricter.

Hongshi and Hongli lived together in the prince's residence. Seeing his younger brother working so hard, Hongshi felt more pressured.

But he had never suffered such hardship before. It was okay for a day or two, but he could not bear it for a long time.

Concubine Qi brought ginseng soup that she had cooked herself to visit her son. As soon as she entered the room, she saw that Hongshi had a black eye and his eyelids could not be opened, but he was still forcing himself to read.

Just as she was about to step forward, she was stopped by the young eunuch standing by.

"Empress Qi, it's not time for the Third Prince to rest yet. Please wait for a quarter of an hour."

"How dare you, even I'm trying to stop you... Do you have to be so harsh?"

Concubine Qi opened her eyes wide, raised her finger and pointed at the other person, wanting to get angry but not daring to.

This is someone sent by the Queen, and she cannot humiliate him at will.

"Please forgive me, Concubine Qi. I am only following orders. It is important for the Third Prince to study."

The young eunuch tried his best to lower his voice, but the noise here still caught Hongshi's attention.

When he saw Concubine Qi, Hongshi's eyes suddenly became red, but he still shook his head at her and continued to read.

This scene made Concubine Qi feel heartbroken, and she turned her head away, not daring to look again.

"Okay... I'll just wait."

Hongli, who was standing by, was puzzled by the bitter and resentful look on the mother and son's faces.

This is an opportunity that many people would love to have. You will be taught by the best master in the world. As long as you want to learn, all resources are at your fingertips.

Cry, cry, cry! What's there to cry about?

The only thing that made Hongli look at him with some suspicion was Hongshi's personality.

Even though the gap between the two was obvious, Hongshi did not lose heart or speak ill of Hongli.

He felt it was hard but he was gritting his teeth and persevering.

It was unknown how long this went on, but Hongshi became visibly thinner. Even though he took various supplements every day, he became more depressed day by day.

Seeing all this, Concubine Qi also couldn't eat or sleep well.

When she came to deliver clothes again, looking at Hongshi's sagging waist, Concubine Qi finally couldn't help but hugged Hongshi and cried bitterly.

"Hongshi, tell my mother what's going on?"

"Tell mother, did those people bully you behind your back? Why are you so thin when the Fourth Prince is fine?"

Concubine Qi couldn't control her strength and was afraid of hurting her son, so she could only reach out and gently touch his sunken cheek.

"Don't be afraid. Mother will protect you even if it costs her own life. Don't be afraid. Tell Mother!"

Hongshi looked down at Concubine Qi's collapsed appearance and felt very sad.

He moved his lips but didn't know what to say.

How should I put it? I have tried very hard, but I just can't keep up with the Fourth Prince's progress.

Although they studied for the same amount of time, the Fourth Prince was very energetic. They both drank the same tonic soup, and the other prince even gave him some refreshing sachets.

If there was anything I didn't understand, the other party would teach me privately.

But it just doesn’t work…

It was only then that Hongshi realized that all the praise he had received over the years was false, and he was far from being as smart as his mother said.

The Emperor's father doesn't value me as much as my mother says.

Concubine Qi's voice continued, each word piercing Hongshi's heart.

He gently took his hands away from his face and looked at Concubine Qi blankly.

"Mother? I'm not smart, and I don't have the ability of my fourth brother. Will you stop loving me in the future?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? How could my mother not love you? You are a piece of my flesh!"

Concubine Qi looked at Hongshi in front of her somewhat at a loss, her hands suspended in mid-air, wanting to comfort him but not knowing how to say it.

"Mother, I will try my best, but... I may disappoint you."

"No one bullies me, no one. Mother, please go back first. I haven't finished reciting my lessons for today."

Seeing Hongshi hanging his head and becoming increasingly listless, Concubine Qi felt as if a huge hole had been leaked in her heart, and a biting chill gradually spread throughout her body.