Chapter 28 Registration
Jing Zhongkuan spoke highly of Zhu Niang, but it was obviously just a show for the onlookers.
"My fellow villagers, if my people can live longer and be as faithful as Mrs. Zhu San, why should we worry about the county's education not flourishing? Why should we worry about the people not being able to live and work in peace? And why should we worry about the Ming Dynasty not prospering?"
Jing Zhongkuan speaks a lot of clichés, and at first glance, he sounds like an old pedant who is not smart and just keeps reading books.
Zhu Hao felt something was wrong.
Would a corrupt scholar, upon taking up a new post, go to the place where his predecessor fell and give such a long speech?
"good!"
But for the common people, this kind of cliché is the most effective in winning their hearts.
Amid the cheers of the crowd, Jing Zhongkuan bowed to Zhu Niang, then turned around and walked with his head held high to greet the officials from the county government who had come to greet him.
Jing Zhongkuan left, and the onlookers left naturally, and the rice shop returned to peace.
Aunt Li came to the door, looked at Qian Chuanzi who was glaring at her with resentment, and asked curiously, "What's going on?"
Zhu Niang frowned slightly: "Maybe the master is loyal to the country and has a good reputation."
Zhu Hao passed through the curtain and trotted to Zhu Niang's side: "This has nothing to do with Dad's reputation. I think this new magistrate is quite capable. I'm afraid he's a difficult man to deal with. We should be more careful when doing business in the future."
Aunt Li was puzzled: "This kind of official is very good, he understands the people's feelings and is approachable. Why does Master Hao have such a big problem with him?"
Zhu Hao said, "Mother, he is just a county magistrate who was born as a juren. His career is limited. He was transferred before the end of his term as county magistrate Shen. How can it be related to us? He came here to report before he arrived at the government office. Can you say that such a person has no ulterior motives?"
Zhu Niang and Aunt Li exchanged glances, and finally their eyes fell on Zhu Hao.
When Zhu Hao saw this, he stuck out his tongue and ran back to the backyard.
…
…
In the afternoon, Zhu Hao had just gone out when he heard that Jing Zhongkuan went to Prince Xing's mansion to pay a visit, but was turned away.
Zhu Hao went to the inn to meet Mr. Lu who was about to leave Anlu.
Mr. Lu was quite surprised by Zhu Hao's arrival: "Zhu Hao, did you know I was here?"
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "I've always known this... Didn't Mr. Lu talk to that instructor Sui about where to live? I was right next to him and I'm not deaf. Is Mr. Lu leaving now?"
At this time, Mr. Lu had already packed his luggage.
Although Zhu Hao did not come in person these two days, he asked Yu San to keep an eye on him all the time and greet him if he found any signs that Mr. Lu was leaving.
Mr. Lu sat at the table by the window and nodded slightly: "Although I accepted you as my disciple, it's a pity that I didn't teach you a word. I'm so ashamed...Tomorrow I will leave for Jiangxi."
Zhu Hao asked, "So Mr. Lu is planning to go and seek refuge with Prince Ning?"
"hehe."
Mr. Lu did not answer.
At this moment, an old servant came in from outside, and seeing that there was a guest in the room, he quickly retreated.
Mr. Lu asked, "Is the carriage ready?"
"Yes, sir, everything has been arranged. It will not delay tomorrow's trip." The old servant replied.
Mr. Lu waved his hand: "Then go and have a rest. We have to set off early tomorrow morning ."
After sending the old servant away, Mr. Lu turned to look at Zhu Hao. He noticed that Zhu Hao looked different and asked, "Zhu Hao, you came to see me for something?"
"Um."
Zhu Hao nodded, "I want to enter Prince Xing's Mansion."
Mr. Lu looked slightly puzzled, then he seemed to understand something: "I heard that Prince Xing's Mansion is recruiting companions for the prince, and they will be selected from the sons of the gentry and wealthy merchants in the city. You are going to apply... Is it related to your family?"
Zhu Hao thought, how else can I say that you are not simple?
After just a few words, he realized that I might have been sent by my family to Prince Xing's Palace to act as an insider.
"No, I just want to have a chance to study... Mr. Lu should know that I have a bad relationship with my family. The elders in the family want to take me back and take care of me, so as to force my mother to hand over the property left by my father to our family. I really want to get out of the control of the family."
Zhu Hao's words were very direct, and Mr. Lu shook his head after hearing them: "From a righteousness perspective, this is not appropriate... Don't you have someone behind you teaching you? Could it be that the person behind you wants you to sneak into Prince Xing's Palace?"
Zhu Hao smiled and shook his head.
"Zhu Hao, do you want me to help you?" Mr. Lu asked.
Zhu Hao said: "Mr. Lu has been through a lot, so he doesn't want to care about worldly things now, right? Even if Mr. Lu knows the instructor of Prince Xing's Mansion, it is unlikely that he can help me."
"I know you are going to Nanchang, so I came to see you off. I would also like to remind you that if you find out... that someone in Nanchang wants to lead troops to cause chaos and endanger the country, it would be best to withdraw in time."
Mr. Lu looked calm and waved his hands, not taking it to heart at all.
"Okay, Mr. Lu, I won't ask you if you are a lay Buddhist like Liu Ru. To me, once a teacher, always a teacher. I hope we will have the opportunity to meet again in the future. I am leaving now!"
Zhu Hao never made any requests to Mr. Lu until he left.
Mr. Lu sent Zhu Hao to the door of the inn. After saying goodbye, he looked at Zhu Hao's thin back as he walked forward and fell into deep thought.
"Master, who is this?"
The old servant came quietly behind Mr. Lu and asked in confusion.
Mr. Lu retracted his gaze and said with a smile, "This young man is not a simple person. He is a descendant of a loyal and righteous man. He is eloquent at a young age and mature enough to be presentable. Even when Su Dongzhu mentioned him in his letter, he was full of praise for him."
The old servant asked, "Master Su, could it be that Shopkeeper Su from the salt business?"
"It's him. Two months ago, he bought two of my paintings and treated me to a trip to Huguang... His brother-in-law is Huang Fantai, who was demoted to Huguang just half a year ago and has a strong background... This Su Dongzhu has extensive connections in Jiangxi, and it can be beneficial to get to know him." Mr. Lu nodded slightly.
The old servant was puzzled: "Master, you are willing to sell paintings to Mr. Su, why do you ignore the local gentry who ask for paintings?"
Mr. Lu shook his head and sighed, "That's different. Merchants are only after profits. If officials and gentry ask for paintings, the nature of the matter changes... The former local magistrate offended the powerful and was transferred to another place a few days later. His future is bleak... It's best not to get involved in officialdom..."
…
…
On that day, the Tianxing Palace set up two tables outside the south gate of the palace to accept applications from Anlu boys of appropriate age.
By the afternoon, there were only a few people coming to register.
At sunset, a man in his thirties dressed in elegant clothes came out of the gate and came to the registration table to ask, "How is it, has the number exceeded 100?"
The clerk in charge of registration hurriedly stood up and saluted: "Sir, there are only more than 30 people who have signed up."
The middle-aged man was displeased: "My Xingwang Palace is recruiting boys to study in the palace. It is such an honor. How come there are only thirty people who responded to the selection in one day?"
At this moment, a child with a cute little round face, eyes like black gemstones, clear pupils, slightly upturned eyes, and a smart look ran over and asked with a smile: "Can I apply?"
The clerk looked at the visitor and said, " Ask your elders."
"My elders are busy making a living and have no time to spare, so I signed up on my own... My name is Zhu Hao, and I can recite the Four Books and Five Classics by heart, so I should meet the selection requirements, right?"
The person who came was Zhu Hao.
The clerk was about to refuse when the man next to him pulled him back and asked with a smile, "You are so young, but you can recite the Four Books and Five Classics by heart?"
Zhu Hao nodded his little head vigorously: "Yes, how about you test me?"
The clerk frowned and said, "Sir, this kid is always naughty and mischievous. Just chase him away. Why waste so much time talking to him?"
Zhu Hao pretended not to hear anything. He looked at the thirty-year-old man and asked in surprise, "Oh, this is Mr. Jiang, right? I've heard that Mr. Jiang comes from a family of military merit and is a rare talent in both civil and military affairs."
Flattery never wears out, no matter how many times it wears out.
When Zhu Hao heard the clerk call this man "son-in-law", he knew that the person in front of him should be Princess Xing's younger brother Jiang Lun.
In fact, Princess Xing's father, Jiang Jue, had no son. Jiang Jue was a father who gained status because of his daughter. When he passed away in the fourth year of Zhengde, he had no children. Prince Xing felt pity for Jiang Jue and asked the court for an imperial decree to adopt the son of Jiang Jue's brother, Jiang Bin, the governor of the Beijing camp, to become Princess Xing's nominal brother.
Jiang Lun was only a seventh-rank official in the Prince Xing's Palace with no real job. He was a person who could control everything but did not have much power. After Zhu Houcong ascended the throne, this nominal "uncle of the emperor" suddenly became the Earl of Yutian, a prestigious relative of the Jiajing Dynasty.
Jiang Lun is now in an awkward situation. Princess Xing does not treat him like a sister, and his status in the palace is far lower than that of Yuan Zonggao, Li Ji, Zhang Zuo and other subordinate officials.
After hearing what Zhu Hao said, Jiang Lun smiled and said, "Boy, you are good at talking... Here, write down his name, I will test him myself later!"
"Uncle, this...isn't it a bit bad?"
The clerk's face fell, thinking that Jiang Lun had broken the rules.
Jiang Lun's face suddenly turned stern: "There were not many candidates in the first place, and finally someone who looks smart came. Do you want to drive him away or something? Whether he gets elected or not is another matter, just record his name... Hey, I'm not asking you to vote, why are you so nervous?"
After being scolded, the clerk could only look at Zhu Hao angrily, and then pick up his pen to write.
"Mr. Jiang, when will the election be held?"
When Zhu Hao saw the clerk register his name in the registration book, he felt relieved, but his expression did not change. He looked at Jiang Lun with a smile.
Jiang Lun said: "The palace will post a notice in a day or two, go back and wait."
The clerk had a gloomy face. After writing down Zhu Hao's name, he asked about his family background. Zhu Hao answered all the questions one by one.
Jiang Lun was watching with a smile on his face. When he heard Zhu Hao say that he was from a family of military honors, he said with a smile, "No wonder you know me. It turns out that your father was a captain of the Imperial Guards of the Ming Dynasty. We are both from a military household... It is said that it is difficult for children from military households to study. You should take the exam well and don't bring shame to our military family!"
