nashuaworldcup Chapter 467 The World
Chapter 467 The World
Chapter 467 World
An Lingrong nodded. She knew that once he figured it out, he wouldn't make the same mistake again. She changed the subject and asked, "Then tell me, why did you skip class today? Did you just want to catch crickets? I remember you didn't like playing with crickets."
Hongxu finally told the truth: "Godmother, I have already learned the lessons taught by the teacher. It was boring in the study, so I found an excuse to come out for some fresh air. I met my two sisters and thought I hadn't seen them for many days, so I took them to catch crickets!"
"Then why don't you let the teacher teach you new lessons?"
Hongxu hesitated for a moment and said, "My third and fourth brothers are both in the study. I don't want to show off too much, so as not to arouse fear..."
These words made An Lingrong stunned for a moment.
"Why do you think that? Or who taught you that?"
"Godmother, I know that you have been hiding your edge and keeping a low profile in the palace these years. Naturally, I want to learn from you."
"You..." An Lingrong was speechless. She had actually revealed her true identity in front of an eight-year-old child!
No wonder some people say that the princes in the palace were "born in the deep palace and raised by women", and everything they did was deeply influenced by the women in the deep palace.
It was not until now that she realized that Hongxu had been imitating her style of doing things without realizing it. It turned out that her every move had already subtly influenced him.
She sat upright, her face more serious than ever before. At this moment, she could no longer treat Hongxu as an ignorant child.
"Hongxu, you and I are different." Her voice was deep and clear. "All I faced were the disputes within the deep palace. I only needed to understand one person's mind and dress myself up to be what they wanted to see, and then I could find a glimmer of hope in the harem. But you are different. You are a prince, born to enjoy the support of the people, and naturally you should shoulder the responsibility for the people. Your path is far more difficult and more profound than mine."
She paused and continued, "That's why I hope you can become a person with an open mind and a clear conscience. Everything we do is so that girls like Longyue, Xinyue, Lingxi, and Jinghe can break free from their constraints and live freely. It's so that you and Hongzhou can stand before everyone with dignity, without having to hide or be afraid. We are already in darkness, so we want to leave the light to you."
Hongxu listened, his brows knitted tightly together, trying to digest the words. A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes, but more of it was seriousness and thought.
"It doesn't matter if you don't understand now," An Lingrong said in a softer tone, "You still have a long way to go. You'll slowly understand what I'm saying in the future."
Hongxu nodded solemnly.
"Furthermore, you can't limit your gaze to just your third and fourth brothers, or even to the Qing Dynasty itself. You should look beyond the vastness of the world. The world is far too vast to be encompassed by a single dynasty, generation, family, or surname."
"world?"
An Lingrong picked up the paper beside her, gently unfolded it, and placed it in front of the two of them.
"Godmother, what is this?" Hongxu moved closer curiously, his eyes falling on the yellowed paper.
“This is a map of the world.”
This was what she had just found from Wenyuan Pavilion.
Her fingertips paused at a spot and gently tapped: "This is the Qing Dynasty." She turned her gaze to Hongxu, "Have you always thought that the Qing Dynasty is vast, prosperous, and strong, and that all the surrounding countries are subservient to us?"
Hongxu nodded subconsciously, with a hint of confidence and pride in his eyes.
What he was exposed to since childhood was the Qing Dynasty's status as the Celestial Empire, with all the barbarians submitting to it and all nations coming to pay tribute.
However, An Lingrong's next words stunned him.
"But what about other countries?" An Lingrong said in a serious tone, "You know nothing about them."
Hongxu's gaze fell on the map again, and this time, his vision was no longer limited to the Qing Dynasty area.
His gaze followed An Lingrong's finger and slowly swept across the rest of the map, those unfamiliar country names and unfamiliar territories.
"Look here," An Lingrong moved her finger to the other end of the map. "This is Great Britain, a country far to the west. Their ships have sailed to every corner of the world, even to our southern seas."
"And here," she pointed her finger at another continent, "this is France. Their firearms and warships are no longer something we can underestimate."
After saying this, An Lingrong pointed to a piece of land east of the Qing Dynasty and said, "And the Japanese here, they have wolfish ambitions and have coveted us for a long time."
"Let's talk about Junggar. You've already met their Khan. He's been eyeing us for a long time. Sooner or later, there will be a life-and-death battle between us and him."
Hongxu's brows gradually furrowed, and his confidence began to waver. He had never imagined that the world outside the Qing Dynasty was so vast, and that those countries he had never heard of actually possessed such powerful forces.
"Godmother, what you mean is..." Hongxu's voice was a little hesitant.
An Lingrong sighed softly, her gaze still fixed on the map. "What I'm saying is, be prepared for danger in times of peace. The Qing Dynasty may be powerful, but it's not invincible. Those overseas nations are no longer content with mere swords and horses. Their firearms, machinery, and knowledge are all changing the rules of the world. If we continue to cling to our own ways and call ourselves the 'Celestial Empire,' we will eventually be left behind by the times."
After hearing this, Hongxu's expression gradually became solemn. His gaze lingered on the map for a long time, re-examining this world that he once thought he was familiar with.
I do not know how long it has been.
"Godmother, I understand." Hongxu finally spoke, with a hint of determination in his voice, "I will learn about these countries and understand this world."
An Lingrong's eyes flashed with relief. "Very good, this is what you should do. Only by understanding this world can we truly understand our place and make the right choices for the future of the Qing Dynasty."
Hongxu raised his head, his eyes burning: "Godmother, can you give me this map?"
"of course can."
After saying this, An Lingrong finally smiled and patted his shoulder: "Let's go, go back, your mother must be worried!"
Hongxu quickly stood up, walked to her side and helped her up.