‘The sun shines in the sky, the flowers smile at me, and the birds say: Early morning, why do you carry a small schoolbag? I want to go to school, I am not late every day, I love to study, work, and I must make contributions to the people when I grow up!’

This was the late autumn of the third year of Guangxu. Early in the morning, Zai Tian left the warm bed, finished washing up, first treating the mother and Empress Dowager, then went to Changchun Palace to pay tribute to the Virgin Mother, then ran back to Zhongcui Palace to accompany Empress Dowager Ci'an to have breakfast, and then sent the kind mother and Empress Dowager to set up a fence in the Palace of Peace of Heart to follow the government. Then he carried his small schoolbag to go to school.

This is so busy!

Haha, just kidding. But no matter how busy you are, how could you carry your own schoolbag as an emperor? And naturally, His Majesty the Emperor could not go to school. The place where Zai Tian studied was called Yuqing Palace, where there was a special teacher to teach the emperor to study. Cabinet scholar Weng Tonghe and Minister Xia Tongshan were responsible for teaching the young emperor literacy and Confucianism. In addition, the former minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs taught Manchu and Mongolian language and writing. There was also a riding and archery class every three days - because Manchus won the world immediately, which meant that he would not forget his roots.

Today I am still talking about the Thousand Characters. Although Zai Tian had already memorized the Thousand Characters, Master Weng just refused to speak the Analects of Confucius and had no choice but to speak the Analects of Confucius. Soon, the sound of reading began to be heard in Yuqing's palace.

Hall of Care for Heart.

The two empress dowagers are listening to the ministers' reports on their work. The content is innovating and there is still a disaster in various places. Or they are rebelling. They have not stopped in the past few years, but they cannot ignore it. Of course, they should be pacified and suppressed.

After everyone finished their official talk, Prime Minister Yixin took the lead and said, "Reported to the Empress Dowager, a French envoy sent a brocade box to Emperor Longsheng, saying it was a gift ordered by Emperor Longsheng this summer."

As he said that, he took two steps forward and took out a brocade box that was one foot square.

The two empress dowagers looked at each other and smiled, thinking: Zai Tian was making trouble again. Cixi asked, "Can you know what is in it?"

Yi said: "I don't know. The brocade box is sealed. Without the will of the Empress, I dare not open it. It's just that the slave smells it, and there is a faint fragrance in the brocade box."

The eunuch on the side took the brocade box and whispered: "Empress Dowager, do you want me to open it and take a look?"

Cixi smiled slightly and waved her hand, "No need, I will know when it comes." Then she said: "Prince Chun."

Yihuan is out of the list: "The slave is here."

"You are going to Yuqing Palace later and I will leave it to you to bring it to the emperor."

"Sister obeys the order." Yihuan took two steps forward. A eunuch had already brought the brocade box. Yihuan did not dare to neglect it, so he held the brocade box in his hand and retreated.

In Yuqing Palace, Zai Tian had finished reading the thousand-character text and began to practice calligraphy. The Yishu Pavilion was full and smooth, with a three-point charm, which made Weng Tonghe very happy.

The little emperor was talented and intelligent, and it can be said that he could recite it through the exam. It took at least three or five years for ordinary people to read from a hundred surnames, three-character scriptures to a thousand-character scriptures. It is not that the content is profound and complex in it, because it is difficult for a young man to learn to read.

But the little emperor could read it almost once, and he could remember that it took only one year to understand the three books, and he memorized the Book of Songs, Tang poetry, and Song lyrics. If he hadn't been forced to do so, he would have learned the Four Books long ago. In this way, the little emperor began to read the Zizhi Tongjian and Ming History by himself, and often had some inexplicable questions, which made him and Xia Tongshan feel like a khan.

But no matter how embarrassed he is, he doesn’t like such a smart and studious student. Weng Tonghe always thinks with relief: bless his ancestors, the saints from heaven, and the Qing Dynasty’s rejuvenation is expected!

I just don’t know which ancestor in Weng Tonghe is? I guess it’s not the ancestor of his Weng family. After all, how could a Han ancestor be idle and have nothing to do to bless the country of the people?

Zai Tian’s ability to amaze all the teachers is not only due to his intelligent mind that seems to be born with knowledge, but hard practice is also essential. For example, this calligraphy is not patient, and it is absolutely impossible to write well. Although the little emperor is at a fun age, he knows that Master Weng values ​​a person’s words the most—the so-called seeing words is like seeing people—so he is patient and study hard.

He is both smart and studious, and it is even more rare to be well-behaved and clever. Therefore, not only are he masters but also the two empress dowagers, he also likes Xiao Zai Tian very much.

In the more than three years since entering the palace, Zai Tian has brought his innocence and cuteness to the extreme, especially his small mouth, which is like smearing honey. He slapped the two empress dowagers so refreshingly. He really deserves the word "sweet" in his name.

In terms of title, because Empress Dowager Ci'an had no offspring, he called Empress Dowager Ci'an "Emperor Mother" and Empress Dowager Cixi "Dear Dad". The name was completely accurate for the pulse of two middle-aged women, saying whatever they heard and what they liked to hear.

Especially the title of Empress Dowager Cixi fully reflects the cleverness and wisdom of the little Zai Tian.

Manchus generally call their aunt "Auntie", which makes them look close and intimate. Cixi was Zaitian's 'aunt'. Even if they were adopted, they would not be able to fight with "Auntie". However, Cixi once said: "The emperor's father is Prince Chun, and his mother is my sister. The son born to my sister is the same as my own." Xiao Zaitian deeply understood Cixi's intention and respected her preferences. Not only did she call her "Dad", but she also added the word "Keene" in front, which not only seemed intimate and could conceal her suspicion of not being a relative.

Xiao Zaitian not only has a sweet mouth, but also makes Cixi very comfortable. She also has great scruples for her mother and Empress Dowager today, and will give her the Queen Mother and the Queen Mother tomorrow, and wash her feet.

Do you think such a child is not attracted by people?

Originally, Empress Dowager Ci'an took Zai Tian to her palace to launch a "family offensive" to make Zai Tian, ​​who left her mother in childhood, depend on her and lay the groundwork for her happy life after the emperor took power in the future. Naturally, she would not treat Zai Tian badly. Now that being fooled by the little Zai Tian has made Ci'an, who has no offspring, feel extremely maternal.

Although Cixi's desire for power would never be reduced, she told her that her own sons must be reliable, let alone her nephew. She is forty, and the emperor grows up day by day and takes power sooner or later. In order to not be kicked aside like Empress Jiashun in her later years, she must not relax her affectionate offensive against Zai Tian.

What's more, Ci'an is so kind to the little emperor. If he doesn't express his feelings, he will not be eaten by the mother and mother in ten years.

Therefore, in addition to not relaxing in power, the two empress dowagers compete to show their kind side in daily life.

For example, this summer, the two empress dowagers allowed the ministers to congratulate the young emperor on the birthday of the young emperor, and also held a banquet to invite the ministers from all over the country to come and have fun together.

At the banquet, the ministers and his wife from all over the country came to salute the young emperor. When they met the French minister, the young emperor asked, "I heard that the perfume in France is very good, is that true?"

The French minister smiled but proudly said: "Dear Emperor, you are right, France's perfume is the best in the world."

Zai Tian lit his head and said, "Okay, I want to buy some. Is there a perfume called 'aromatics'? I hope your minister can help me buy some from France."

"Of course, it is my honor to serve you. However, there are many perfume brands in our country. I don't know if there is any brand that His Majesty the Emperor wants. I will write a letter to my friends to find. If there is, I believe I can find it. I wonder what His Majesty the Emperor is going to do?"

Zai Tian said seriously: "Today is my birthday. My mother and I will give me many exquisite gifts. In a few months, my mother will also have a birthday. I also want to give my mother a gift, so I hope that your minister can buy it for me as soon as possible."

The French minister laughed and said, "So that's the case. You are such a filial child. Oh, please forgive my offense. You Chinese seem to be evaluating this. I think the two empress dowagers will definitely like this gift."

"Thank you for your help, Mr. Minister, I hope you have a great time at the banquet."

After talking to the French ambassador, Zai Tian also chatted with the US ambassador to China for a few minutes.

Naturally, someone paid attention to the little emperor's every move, and soon someone came to ask the two ministers what the little emperor had told them?

"Oh, your emperor is a filial child, and he hopes to buy gifts from our country to send blessings on the birthdays of the two queens."

"Oh, that's right. I wonder what His Majesty the Emperor of Our country wants to buy?"

"No, I won't tell you this. This is a secret. You will only have surprises when you open the gift on your birthday. Please be patient."

"Haha," the visitor smiled awkwardly, "Okay, then I'll ask you."

A few minutes later, Ci'an and Cixi both learned that the young emperor had asked the ministers of France and America to buy gifts to offer on their birthdays. Naturally, the two empress dowagers would not stop the children from showing their love at this time, which led to the scene in the previous article that Yi brought out a brocade box.

The achievements made by the cute child art and flattery skills of Xiao Zai Tian have far more than that. He even successfully intervened in a political decision.

It was one year and a half ago, one day in the second year of Guangxu. At this time, the little Zai Tian had not started school.

On that day, Empress Dowager Ci'an returned to Zhongcui Palace after taking power from behind the curtain. Little Zai Tian waited beside him as usual. After changing his clothes and cleaning the dough, the little emperor obediently brought a bowl of warm bird's nest.

"My mom, this is the bird's nest prepared for you by my son." He held the golden bowl in his hands and looked at Ci'an who was slightly tired with black eyes. There was a smile on his lips, which made people unable to refuse.

Ci'an finished bird's nest and smiled and said, "Please let the slaves do this kind of thing. You are the emperor."

"But, when the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the son of the

Ci'an was exhausted after saying a few words, and suddenly felt that he was not in vain for his usual care.

Seeing Ci'an ate the bird's nest for a few bites, the little emperor tilted his little head and asked crisply: "My mom, is it sweet?"

Ci'an handed the empty bowl to the palace maid beside him and replied with a smile: "The bird's nest the emperor gave to his mother is of course sweet."

"My mom, are you tired? Let me rub your head for you, it's so comfortable." As he said that, he was about to climb onto the brocade couch.

Ci'an quickly stopped him: "The emperor has a heart."

Looking at the cute boy in front of him, Ci'an suddenly felt a long-lost warmth in his heart, just like when he was young, he was with his mother at the kang on his own.

"Come on, Emperor, sit next to your mother and talk to her mother."

"Yeah," he agreed, moved a Jindun casually, and sat at Ci'an's feet.

"Mom, are there really anyone in this world who have yellow hair and green eyes?"

Ci'anchi said: "Why did the emperor think of asking?"

Zai Tian pointed to a clock in the house and said, "They said the clock was a French country that paid tribute, and they also said that the Frenchman had yellow hair and green eyes. Is it true?"

Ci'an nodded: "Not bad, and that's right, just today, our Qing Dynasty is still planning to send students to France to study manufacturing."

"Is that right? Do you also learn how to make a clock?" Zai Tian asked after hearing Ci'an say something about politics.

"No, our craftsmen have already known this clock. It's Li Hongzhang, Shen Baozhen, Ding Richang and others who have submitted a memorial and have to select more than a dozen people to learn how to build machines, turrets, warships, and firearms."

"Oh. Mother Huang, is there only France in this world except our Qing Dynasty?"

"Of course not. Our Qing Dynasty was rich in all over the world and had many vassal states. There were Korea, Ryukyu to the east, Vietnam, Myanmar to the south, and Langka to the west. But there were several countries in the extreme west, which were very strong, and France was just one of the countries in the Thai world."

"Since there is more than France, why do we only arrange to study in France? Is France the strongest?"

When Ci'an heard Zai Tian's question, she was also wondering, yes, why did she go to France?

Zai Tian saw Ci'an thinking, knowing that his goal had been achieved, so he stopped talking and just sat quietly aside.

Soon, Ci'an wrote an eunuch to draft an eunuch: Today, Li Hongzhang, Shen Baozhen, Ding Richang and others reported to send people to France to study. Ai's family thought that the barbarians were cunning and deceived me and did not know the skills of other countries, and often used inferior products as good people. If they only went to France, they might be deceived and did not know about it. In addition to France, there are also English, Geely, America, and other countries, and they are all strong and not weak, with France. There are those with better skills. It is advisable to choose more talents, contact various countries and various sects to make plans."

After writing, he handed it to the eunuch to give it to Cixi. Cixi had no objection to some trivial matters, so she used a seal and sent it to the Zongli Yamen. She asked Yi to contact the countries and handled them uniformly. A few months later, the first batch of Qing Empire sent more than 200 international students to study medicine, electronics, mathematics, chemistry, physics, machinery and other subjects in the UK, France, Germany, America, Italy and other countries.
Chapter completed!