Chapter 25 Pure Friendship
"Mr. Yuan."
When the two little guys saw Yuan Zonggao, they both looked happy.
Normally, Yuan Zonggao treated them very well, both as a teacher and a friend, and this time it was like a rescue force sent from heaven.
Zhu Youqiu's expression eased a little: "You are not allowed to enter and leave the palace at will in the future. Your father will send people to watch the gates. If you leave without notice again, or even without guards, your father will punish you by confining you to your room and confining you to reflect on your mistakes. You are not allowed to come out for months!"
These words were very intimidating to Zhu Si, and his face suddenly fell.
But Zhu was the elder and had a lot of ideas. His eyes rolled around and he was thinking about how to leave the palace without being caught.
"You guys step back."
Zhu Youlu had something to discuss with Yuan Zonggao, so he waved his hand and asked the two little guys to leave.
Zhu San said: "Father, we don't have to go out to play, but we don't have any playmates around us. Only my brother and I are together... We want some classmates..."
"Classmate? What is that?"
Zhu Youqiu looked puzzled.
Yuan Zonggao's old face was wrinkled.
Zhu San remembered Zhu Hao's advice and continued, "We heard that children outside usually go to cram schools with other children. When they grow up, they become classmates and help each other. Why don't my brother and I have that?"
If one rashly brings up the idea of finding a book boy or inviting someone of the same age to the palace as a study companion, Prince Xing will certainly be suspicious of the two's motives.
It would be better to compare yourself with outsiders directly, propose the concept of "classmates", and inspire Zhu Youqiu.
Zhu Youqiu smiled and said, "Who are you? How can you compare yourself with the common people?"
Yuan Zonggao's eyes lit up and he said, "Prince Xing, it's not impossible to consider the two little princes' request. They are at the age of studying and making friends. If they don't have any playmates around them, I'm afraid they will even think about sneaking out of the palace."
Zhu Youqiu looked at Yuan Zonggao in confusion.
"My two little princes, I will discuss with your father about finding classmates for you. You should go back early to prepare for the evening class."
Yuan Zonggao spoke for Zhu Youqiu.
Zhu San and Zhu Si bowed respectfully, and Zhu San said, "Father, Mr. Yuan, we are leaving now."
…
…
The two little guys left the study.
Zhu Youqiu immediately asked in confusion: "Yuan Changshi, didn't you say before that no one must know Hou Cong's identity to avoid any accidents? And you also asked people to raise the third girl as a boy and wear men's clothes every day. It would be best if even the people in the palace didn't know their true identities?"
Yuan Zonggao walked to the desk, shook his head and sighed: "Your Highness, I just received news that a minister in the capital has submitted a memorial, requesting that those with both moral integrity and talent be selected from the heirs of the princes of various vassal states to enter the palace to study."
Zhu Youqiu asked in surprise, "Sir, are you saying that Hou Cong has a chance to enter the palace?"
Zhu Youlang, who wanted his son to be successful, of course hoped that his son could become the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty and have the opportunity to inherit the country left by his father, Emperor Chenghua.
Yuan Zonggao smiled bitterly and said, "According to the ministers' opinion, we should look for one among your Majesty's descendants, adopt him as your adopted son first, and then establish him as the crown prince, following the example of Emperor Renzong of Song. However, the crown prince... is of the same generation as your Majesty, so I'm afraid he won't have this opportunity."
When Zhu Youqiu heard this, his face was filled with frustration.
"From what I can think, the minister made this memorial because the world knows very little about the prince, and the current queen mother is somewhat wary of the prince's status."
Yuan Zonggao continued , "I heard that the Jinyiwei sent a large number of people to infiltrate Anlu, trying to investigate the internal affairs of the palace. If we continue to use the policy of imprisonment at this time, I am afraid that not only will the future of the prince be worrying, but he may also suffer an unexpected event like the eldest prince."
Yuan Zonggao mentioned Zhu Youqiu’s “sad story” again.
Zhu Youlang had two sons. His first son died unexpectedly shortly after birth. At that time, all he knew was that he was murdered, but no clues could be found. This led him to love his second son, Zhu Houcong, very much and take all concealment and precautionary measures.
"Then according to Yuan Changshi's intention...?"
Zhu Youqiu looked at Yuan Zonggao with a dependent look.
Yuan Zonggao said: "Since the two little princes have requested to have classmates, why not select a person with good character from Anlu to enter the palace and study with the two little princes, and treat the little princess as the more respectful one."
Zhu Youxuan frowned: "Is Yuan Changshi on guard against the imperial spies sneaking into the palace?"
"Um."
Yuan Zonggao nodded. "If the Jinyiwei knew about this, they would definitely try every means to place their children in the palace. In this way, we can paralyze them. Even if someone harms the prince, we won't be able to find the real culprit. Moreover, if the prince wants to achieve something in the future, he will definitely need someone to assist him. If we can grow up together since childhood, this kind of friendship will be deeply rooted."
When Zhu Youqi heard this, he thought it would not only paralyze the enemy, but also let the civil and military officials in the court know that there was a young prince with both moral integrity and talent in the Prince Xing's Mansion, and prevent anyone from proposing to select young people from the families of local princes to study in the palace. Especially since it would help his son in the future... With so many benefits, there was no reason not to agree.
"Then follow Yuan Changshi's idea and recruit students from Anlu to join the palace. As for how to select them, it will be up to you, Yuan Changshi, to decide."
Zhu Youqiu had no idea about this. Since the plan was proposed by Yuan Zonggao, he should be the one to implement it.
…
…
the next day.
Zhu Hao went to the flower and bird market to wait, and during the lunch break he saw Zhu San jogging towards him from the east gate of the palace.
"There you are, you meanie."
When Zhu San saw Zhu Hao, his face suddenly turned stern. "Does that mean that since you can't see me, you're going to report me to your husband? Saying that I took my brother out to play and fell into a puddle and nearly drowned him?"
Zhu Hao smiled and took the initiative to change the subject: "Where's your brother?"
"He...was fine when he went back, but suddenly had a fever at night. The doctor went to see him in the middle of the night and said he had caught a cold and needed to rest. Fortunately, I saw...Dad when I came back yesterday afternoon. My brother was fine at the time and was alive and well, so my family didn't suspect me."
Zhu San felt a little scared when he said this.
Zhu Hao said, "Then I'll ask you to talk to your family about the selection of study companions. Have you made any progress?"
"Stingy guy, we've said it for you. Today, we heard from Yuan... our master that we're going to select talented children from the local area to study in the palace... but looking at your appearance, you haven't even studied for a few days. I'm afraid you won't be able to pass the test, right?"
Zhu San looked Zhu Hao up and down, then pursed his lips with a mocking look on his face.
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "Just say it out loud. I just want to give myself a chance to study and make progress... Just think about how good my teacher is. He thinks highly of me. If even I can't pass the palace selection, others will be even less likely to fail... Besides, don't we still have you guys?"
Zhu San cursed: "Bah, I won't help you. Besides, I can't help you even if I want to. We are not the ones who choose the people."
Having said that, the two children came to a corner of the flower and bird market and sat down on a large rock with a big tree above them to provide shade.
Zhu San was in a bad mood and kept fiddling with stones under his feet, feeling guilty about his brother's illness.
Zhu Hao asked, "Is the rabbit I sold you two days ago okay now?"
"Um."
Zhu San responded casually, not wanting to reply.
"Rabbit are creatures that not only need to be fed well, but also need to be cared for like humans..." Zhu Hao lied in a serious manner.
Zhu San glanced at Zhu Hao and asked, "Is your mother's illness better?"
Zhu Hao was a little confused for a moment. Maybe the girl was too naive to believe this?
"If you hadn't asked this question, I wouldn't have remembered the dozen cents from before..." Zhu Hao immediately showed his mercenary face.
Zhu San's mouth sank: "Stingy guy, I knew you would say this... Here, take it, this is twenty coins!" After that, she took out a new purse from her bosom, poured out all the copper coins inside, and stuffed them into Zhu Hao's hand, looking a little sad: "The purse my mother embroidered for me is gone."
He doesn't care about the money in his pocket, but only cares about the pocket itself, which shows that he is a wealthy person.
"Everything has its own gain. You can go back and tell your mother that your purse was lost, and ask her to make a new one for you, right?" Zhu Hao comforted.
Zhu San glared at Zhu Hao and said, "It's all your fault. You insisted on taking us to catch rabbits. Otherwise... But thank you anyway. The situation was really dangerous at that time. I know you had good intentions. If you have the opportunity to enter the palace in the future... let's have fun again!"
"Um."
Zhu Hao smiled and nodded.
From this point alone, we can see that Prince Xing's two children were well brought up. Even though the little girl in front of us likes to be naughty, she can distinguish right from wrong, which should be related to the careful teaching of Zhu Youlang and his wife.
"Let's go. If you have rabbits to sell, come back here. But I may not be able to see them. I was caught by my father yesterday. I will have fewer opportunities to come out in the future."
Zhu San stood up to leave, and there was still some reluctance in her words. Although she had only known Zhu Hao for a short time, Zhu Hao was one of the few playmates she had since she was old enough to understand.
More importantly, the two of them had caught rabbits together, fallen into a pond together, and experienced life and death together. This friendship is far beyond the friendship between ordinary children.
Seeing Zhu San's nostalgic look, Zhu Hao felt a little guilty, thinking that he had taken advantage of the child's innocent emotions.
However, when he saw Zhu San's receding back, Zhu Hao immediately became hard-hearted again.
"If a man does not work for himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth. If I don't use you, won't I be controlled by the family forever in the future, and be controlled by others for ten years or even a lifetime? Besides, I tried every means to get to your side not to harm you, but to help you! If you achieve something in the future, you should thank me!"
…
…
Zhu family manor outside the city.
Captain Lin came in a hurry to visit and brought Zhu Jia an urgent message, which was that Prince Xing wanted to select boys of appropriate age in Anlu to study in the prince's palace.
"…Prince Xing's move is clearly to cultivate a confidant for the Crown Prince. His intentions are sinister!"
Zhu Jia never hesitated to assume the worst of others, and she herself was a scheming woman.
Captain Lin said: "For us, this is a godsend opportunity. If someone takes advantage of this opportunity to sneak into the palace and find out the truth..."
Zhu Jia didn't waste any words and nodded, saying, "I will ask the young men of my family to prepare it right away, and then I will trouble Captain Lin to take care of it. If the matter is successful, the Zhu family will reward you handsomely."
