Some things, how should I put it… well… ideals are actually quite beautiful, but reality always has its share of minor disappointments.

Ahem, to be precise, not every one plus one equals or is greater than two, right?

Glancing at the little fellow who once again walked out of the study dejectedly, and casually taking a bite of the crab roe pastry offered by the person beside her, An Ning couldn’t help but sigh from her soft couch.

Genetics, this thing, is truly a mystery!

Our Jun’er, needless to say, has a photographic memory and a mind that approaches the pinnacle—a true powerhouse. As for the little fellow’s biological father, while others might not know, An Ning understands clearly in her heart.

Cui Huan, the top scholar of the current imperial examination, is not only a top graduate in his early twenties but also a rare triple crown winner—achieving first place in the county, provincial, and palace exams.

Photographic memory goes without saying, it’s practically a basic skill for him. What’s rare is his handsome appearance, possessing a demeanor of refined elegance, and his martial skills are also quite impressive.

Moreover, he hails from a Jiangnan family of officials for generations. While not excessively prominent, for hundreds of years, they have ensured that each generation has descendants who pass the imperial examinations and enter officialdom.

Within the last few generations, individuals with exceptional talent like the new top scholar are rare, but not entirely unique.

It can be seen that in terms of inheritance, it’s somewhat stable.

But unfortunately, even with these two figures whose intelligence is almost overwhelmingly superior, their offspring still falls somewhat short of expectations.

It’s not that he’s mediocre;
after all, the foundation is there, so major deviations are unlikely. But to be a top-tier genius like his parents, honestly, there’s still a certain gap.

For example, given the same complete ancient text, Jun’er and that Cui Family’s Second Son can basically memorize it after one reading, grasping it entirely in less than an hour.

But our grandson? Two readings, three readings? The time he spends to memorize it completely is more than double that of his parents.

In terms of thinking, it’s even harder to compare. You must know that when Jun’er was eight years old, she could already outwit most of the strategists in the Princess’s Manor, even including the current emperor himself. Only here, with her, did she suffer a dismal Waterloo.

But as for A’Jue, at the same age, to this day, he hasn’t even managed to outwit the several Grand Tutors above him a few times.

With such an obvious gap, how could the Crown Princess, accustomed to dealing with smart people, possibly feel at ease?

Could it be that all his talent points were allocated to his face?

Shangguan Jun couldn’t help but think.

Sigh, no wonder that not long after A’Jue began his education, the usually refined and elegant Academician Cui, when leaving the Eastern Palace in the evening, despite trying his best to conceal it, not only had dark circles under his eyes but his legs beneath his wide official robes were also trembling uncontrollably.

“Sigh, actually Jue’er is already quite intelligent!”

In the evening, watching the little fellow’s departing figure, Shangguan Huai couldn’t help but sigh.

After all, he is the dear grandfather and someone accustomed to taking it easy. Seeing A’Jue like this at such a young age inevitably made him feel a bit heartbroken.

Of course, heartache aside, when it comes to the education from his mother and daughter above, like An Ning, Shangguan Huai has never interfered excessively.

At most, when the grandson comes over, the couple gives him a small break.

Not to mention, perhaps because he’s been accustomed to setbacks since childhood, Shangguan Jue is remarkably steady for his young age. Not only does he have strong resilience to pressure, but he is also closest to this amiable and kind grandfather.

As for An Ning…

Ahem, actually, among the people the little fellow was originally closest to, there was also his lively, interesting, beautiful, and generous grandmother. He was always so happy whenever he saw her. Until one day, he witnessed his own mother and grandmother playing chess in person.

???

Shangguan Jue: “!!!”

So the intelligence ranking in the family is actually: Grandmother >
Mother >
Himself. Which means the one below him, from beginning to end, is only his own grandfather?

It must be said, upon learning this devastating news, the little fellow was depressed for quite a while.

However, soon, Shangguan Jue, including the couple An Ning and Shangguan Huai, had no time to dwell on these thoughts. For no other reason than that not long ago, in the imperial court, the Crown Princess suddenly announced a major piece of news.

The border is in critical danger. What’s important is that the Crown Princess will soon personally lead the army on an expedition.

In short, the moment the news spread, not to mention the shock that swept through the entire court, old father Shangguan Huai was completely dumbfounded. For several nights in a row, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep well.

In contrast, An Ning, looking at her daughter before her dressed in neat, practical attire with a long sword hanging at her waist, wasn’t particularly surprised.

The threat from the foreign tribes beyond the border had already become a significant force during the reign of the emperor before last. If it weren’t for the Grand Princess turning the tide at the critical moment back then, even disregarding criticism to slaughter all the able-bodied men of the enemy who participated in the war at that time, completely destroying their foundation,

it would probably only have been a matter of time before those nomadic tribes moved south.

And now, decades have passed since the last major defeat. This period has been more than enough for the other side to recuperate and rebuild. Moreover, the Late Emperor was benevolent and scholarly. After ascending the throne, he not only continuously suppressed military officers but also mostly employed a policy of appeasement and kindness towards those tribes outside the pass.

This decrease on one side and increase on the other, didn’t it just give the other side an opportunity to develop?

Now, coupled with the current emperor’s advanced age and greatly diminished authority, isn’t this the best time for invasion, or at least probing?

As for why the Crown Princess must personally lead the expedition?

“Military power, naturally, is most reliable when held in one’s own hands!”

In the great hall, Shangguan Jun, approaching thirty, stood with her hands behind her back. Dressed in a set of crimson practical attire, she had shed her usual gentleness and elegance. The whole person seemed more like a long sword that had already been unsheathed, sharp and imposing.

Even with her old father’s many tears, it was still impossible to stop the Crown Princess’s determination.

Shangguan Jun understood clearly in her heart that other things could be compensated for through various means, but military prestige could not. Especially since her grandmother originally ascended through a military coup and has always relied heavily on military officers.

If she cannot surpass these people in this aspect, in the future, there might inevitably be concerns about the tail wagging the dog.

As for drastically purging meritorious officials, in the Crown Princess’s view, that is fundamentally the lowest method.

The reason she gave birth to an heir early on, aside from worrying about poor aptitude and leaving some leeway for the future, was also in anticipation of today.

A’Jue is already eight years old this year. Although a bit slow in the head, his body has always been healthy. Even if something unexpected were to happen to her, there would be no need to worry about lacking a successor in the future.

As for the risks of the battlefield?

One cannot possibly covet immense power and authority without taking on even a tiny bit of responsibility or risk, right?

After gently comforting her red-eyed, tearful old father, Shangguan Jun then turned her gaze to her own mother beside her, who also had reddened eyes. Her tone was unusually solemn:

“Mother, if something unexpected happens to your son, with A’Jue… Mother might find it hard to remain idle in the future…”

The Imperial Grandmother is advanced in age and experienced the battlefield several times in her early years. Her health hasn’t been good these past years and she may not live to see A’Jue grow up.

Although Mother is lazy, dislikes toil in daily life, and hasn’t been involved in political affairs these years, as her daughter, Shangguan Jun understands in her heart that Mother simply dislikes these schemes and struggles, finding them bothersome and uninteresting.

With A’niang’s intelligence, if it truly comes to that point, getting the hang of it would only be a matter of time.

As for whether there might be other hidden dangers in the future?

She is her own mother’s only daughter. What does she have to fear?

Those foolish relatives from the Changping Earl’s Manor who are also not favored by her own mother?

Moreover, Shangguan Jun actually understands A’niang’s temperament very well over the years. As the Imperial Grandmother said, she has more than enough intelligence but lacks a truly ruthless and decisive nature. Unless A’Jue in the future becomes foolish enough to seek his own doom, the possibility of him being deposed is extremely low.

Of course, if he really is stupid to that extent, with A’niang in power, cultivating the next generation is also an option.

But with something like power, no one can be completely certain.

But so what? Shangguan Jun didn’t mind. One can even choke to death on water, right?

In this world, where are there things with absolutely no risk at all? It all depends on whether one dares to gamble and whether it’s worth gambling on?

How could An Ning not see through these thoughts of hers?

Gently stroking her daughter’s resolute little face, just like when she was a child, An Ning reached out and softly pulled her into her embrace:

“Jun’er, you must return safely!”

As for words telling her not to take risks, An Ning did not speak them.

Because both of them knew that was impossible…

Great glory similarly implies great responsibility.

The night before departure, ignoring the red-eyed, tearful old father who was driven out of the room, mother and daughter once again shared the same bed.

“Jun’er, your father and I will be waiting in the palace for your safe return…”

“A’niang…”

Facing life and death, even the hardest of people have a bit of softness in their hearts, though perhaps not much. Lying in her own A’niang’s warm, soft, and fragrant embrace, at this moment, Shangguan Jun even felt somewhat fortunate.

How wonderful. Even though born into the imperial family, her father and mother are simply pure parents, just her own father and mother.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep