Wan Zhen’er’s tears turned to laughter, and she said: “How shameless, saying you’ll listen to Aunt’s words forever? When you grow up and get married, you won’t listen to Aunt anymore.”
Yi Wang said: “When I grow up, I don’t want to get married! I want to marry you, Aunt. I want Aunt to be my wife!”
Wan Zhen’er, despite her bad mood, couldn’t help but laugh uncontrollably.
After all, he’s just a child, and his words are so childlike.
Wan Zhen’er said: “When you grow up, Aunt will be old. Aunt can be a grandmother, but not your wife.”
Yi Wang seriously said: “Aunt, I want you to be my wi-wife!”
Wan Zhen’er said: “Okay, okay, when you grow up, remember to marry me as your wife!”
Yi Wang said: “I, I will definitely remember!”
Wan Zhen’er couldn’t help but laugh again.
The kite-flying season arrived unknowingly. In the sky, from who knows when, various kites began to float – butterflies, small birds, fish, flowers, and an old man with a long beard.
Colorful and diverse, they soared in the sky, accompanying the white clouds, flying, dancing, jumping, free and happy.
Wan Zhen’er saw Yi Wang standing in the courtyard, tilting his head up, looking longingly.
Wan Zhen’er asked: “Do you like those kites?”
Yi Wang nodded forcefully: “Li-like.”
Wan Zhen’er asked again: “Want to play?”
Yi Wang’s head nodded even more forcefully: “Yes!”
So, Wan Zhen’er rummaged through her belongings, found some silver, and ordered a servant to buy kite-making materials like bamboo strips, silk paper, and colored paints. The servant thought the money was too little and believed he couldn’t make any extra profit, so he refused to run around.
Wan Zhen’er looked up and said: “The sun is so warm. You’re not an unmarried young lady, why are you afraid of the sun?”
The servant made another excuse: “Not enough silver.”
Wan Zhen’er said: “How can it not be enough? Those things won’t cost much silver.”
Wan Zhen’er got angry, took a quick step to the servant, put her hands on her hips, and spat fiercely in his face, pointing at him and cursing: “You’ll go whether you want to or not! How much do you want? Do you want me to give you a horse-drawn carriage? Are you trying to embezzle my silver to buy a coffin?
The servant insisted: “The silver is not enough.”
Wan Zhen’er was furious, thinking he was clearly trying to take advantage. She grabbed a small stool nearby and threw it at the servant. The servant dodged, but the stool hit the wall, bounced back, and broke into pieces.
The servant looked at Wan Zhen’er in terror. He never expected her to be so rough and wild.
Wan Zhen’er stood with a raised eyebrow, asking in a high-pitched voice: “Are you going to buy or not?” The servant didn’t dare to speak, barely breathing. Finally, he took the meager silver and left dejectedly.
Yi Wang ran over and threw himself into Wan Zhen’er’s arms. Yi Wang’s face was pale, but his expression was incredibly excited. He looked at Wan Zhen’er like a hero, saying: “Aunt, you’re so, so amazing.”
Wan Zhen’er smiled. Wan Zhen’er knew she was a shrew. But could she not be a shrew? She was forced by circumstances.
Before, when Wan Zhen’er was in the palace, working as a small attendant to the Empress Dowager, she was gentle, trying her best to be a proper lady, smiling without showing teeth, walking without swaying her skirt.
Three Obediences: obey father before marriage, obey husband after marriage, obey son if widowed; Four Virtues: wifely virtue, wifely speech, wifely appearance, and wifely skills.
Wan Zhen’er hoped to be such a woman. But if she followed the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, not fighting back when hit and not answering when scolded, how could she and Yi Wang survive? Those despicable and shameless people bullied Yi Wang for being young and ignorant, taking advantage of his lack of support, often making things difficult for him.
No wonder they were opportunistic. A deposed crown prince would never see daylight again. Moreover, the person on the dragon throne was not his father, but his uncle.
Because of Wan Zhen’er’s fierceness, the King of Yi suffered less grievance; he found support and developed an inseparable attachment to her.
The bamboo paper was bought back, and the silver was not only sufficient but also surplus. It seems that the kind are bullied, and the gentle are ridden. Rather than being bullied by others, it’s better to bully others.
After the meal, Wan Zhen’er and the King of Yi started making a kite. At first, they were unsuccessful, and it wouldn’t fly.
They tried again, still without success, and then again, the kite barely managed to fly, but not high or stable. Wan Zhen’er and the King of Yi summarized their experience and patiently started over.
The kite finally flew high.
It was a large butterfly. The King of Yi painted colors on the butterfly, with green wings dotted with black patterns and red and white spots, very beautiful. Then, holding a thin, long string, he released the large butterfly into the blue sky, letting it spread its brilliant wings and fly freely.
The King of Yi called out happily: “Aunt, aunt, look, the butterfly, how high it’s flying!”
He called again: “There’s a large dragonfly over there! Aunt, that dragonfly doesn’t fly as high as ours.”
Wan Zhen’er said: “Yes, that large dragonfly isn’t as beautiful as our butterfly.”
The King of Yi said: “Because you’re amazing, aunt, the butterfly is naturally beautiful.”
Wan Zhen’er praised him: “The King of Yi is also amazing, the painted butterfly is naturally beautiful.”
The King of Yi said: “It’s because of aunt.”
Wan Zhen’er said: “It’s because of the King of Yi.”
Then, Wan Zhen’er and the King of Yi burst into hearty laughter.
The laughter echoed far and wide.
Sometimes when bored, Wan Zhen’er would stand at the gate of the King of Yi’s residence, watching these handsome guys.
Especially after the King of Yi grew a bit older, his uncle remembered to teach his nephew literacy, sending a tutor to teach the King of Yi to read.
In the first few days, Wan Zhen’er accompanied the King of Yi. She was initially worried about the tutor, but later saw that he was honest and polite. Not just Wan Zhen’er, but even the King of Yi relaxed his tense nerves.
Listening to “zhi hu zhe ye” for days gave Wan Zhen’er a splitting headache. The King of Yi understood Wan Zhen’er’s feelings and told her: “Aunt, you don’t need to accompany me to read anymore.”
Wan Zhen’er was delighted, immediately hugged the King of Yi, and gave him a loud kiss on the forehead. The King of Yi chuckled.
The King of Yi’s smile was rare, except for Wan Zhen’er. He had a stern face for everyone else in the world.
Without having to accompany the King of Yi to listen to “zhi hu zhe ye,” Wan Zhen’er had more time. With nothing to do, she would stand at the gate of the King of Yi’s residence, watching the tall and mighty Jinyiwei guards walking back and forth.
Among these guards in golden uniforms carrying embroidered spring knives, one was particularly eye-catching.
Oh, he was truly a great handsome guy, no one was more handsome than him. He had clear, delicate features, white teeth and red lips. He could probably attract a basketful of women just by whistling casually on the street.
Seeing Wan Zhen’er staring at him, he noticed her and looked back. Suddenly, he smiled, his snow-white teeth dazzling in the sunlight.
Wan Zhen’er’s face inexplicably turned red.
The next day, Wan Zhen’er saw him again. He was still walking back and forth with his Jinyiwei colleagues in front of the King of Yi’s residence. Their task was simply to patrol in front of the residence, preventing outsiders from entering and insiders from leaving.
