Chapter 38: A Disastrous Beginning
The negotiations are going smoothly.
Zhu Jia was afraid that Zhu Niang would threaten to commit suicide if she did not allow her son to enter Prince Xing's Palace, while Zhu Niang was afraid that Zhu Hao would be captured and brought back to the family, where he would live a life in darkness.
In an atmosphere of mutual compromise and fear of losing the outcome, the two sides reached the final terms. When Zhu Jia came out of the main room, went to the backyard and pushed the door open, Zhu Wanjian found that his mother's face was full of anger.
"Walk!"
Zhu Jia said this and took a step forward.
Zhu Wanjian poked his head out to take a look in the yard, only to see Aunt Li coming over to close the door. He couldn't help but ask anxiously, "Mother, why are you leaving? You're not taking that boy home? Is this... the end of it?"
Butler Liu pulled Zhu Wanjian, trying to remind him that the old lady knew her limits. Since she chose to come in for the talks, she would have come out only when she had a result. Was there any need for you to interfere?
Zhu Jia glared at her son and said, "You are so stupid. Don't use your stinky mouth easily in the future. If you don't speak, others won't know you are as stupid as a pig."
Zhu Wanjian didn't expect to be scolded by his mother. He didn't react for a while. When he came to his senses, his mother had walked a distance. She hurriedly caught up with him and said, "Mom, what do you mean by that? How can I be stupid? Isn't everything I say and do for the sake of the family?"
Butler Liu said, "Second Master, you should know the occasion for some words and think carefully about what you should and shouldn't say."
"Why didn't I think it through? That woman is the widow of my Zhu family. Should I give her face? Mother...what do you mean?"
Zhu Wanjian looked unyielding.
Zhu Jia was too lazy to turn around, and said angrily: "You said the wrong thing and did the wrong thing without knowing it, what else can you do but be stupid? With your qualifications, you still want to be in charge of the family business? I am afraid that if you become big, the whole family will be ruined by you... I did all this to let your brother return to Anlu as soon as possible. Only he can lead the Zhu family to survive, and he must inherit the position of Jinyiwei Qianhu in the future!"
…
…
After Zhu Niang sent Zhu Jia away, she felt heavy-hearted.
When she realized that her son had entered Prince Xing's palace as a spy to help the Zhu family gather information, she could no longer feel at ease. However, she could only suppress the grievance in her heart and act strong in front of her son.
Aunt Li didn't understand what was going on, so she started helping Zhu Hao pack his clothes for his visit to Prince Xing's mansion the day after tomorrow.
"…The schoolbag was made by your mother herself. The Four Books and the Five Classics are all new books bought from the bookstore, and there are also the four treasures of the study. Each one is a fine piece …Hao'er, you must study hard."
"Yes, Auntie!"
While Zhu Hao agreed to Aunt Li, he glanced at Zhu Niang out of the corner of his eye.
Seeing Zhu Niang secretly crying, Zhu Hao sighed in his heart and walked over to comfort her: "Mom, I've already said that it's a good thing to enter Prince Xing's mansion. Not only can I study, but I can also get close to the little prince... I'll have a good relationship with him in the future, and he will definitely help me when he becomes successful."
Zhu Niang looked at her son's smiling face with a worried look on her face.
"Madam, is there...something wrong?" Aunt Li didn't quite understand the point.
Zhu Niang shook her head and said, "Xiaohao, now that you are in the palace, I can't stay by your side all the time. If you are bullied, tell me when you come home. I will find a way to get you out of this misery."
Zhu Hao chuckled and said, "What are you talking about, mother? I am going to enjoy myself. I will bring you happiness in the future and win a royal title for you so that you won't suffer. With my brain, not letting others suffer is good. Do you think others can take advantage of me? No way!"
…
…
That's what I said.
But Zhu Hao knew that he would not have a good life in Prince Xing's Mansion.
The Zhu family's background will become a stumbling block for him to gain a foothold in the palace.
The next morning, Zhu Hao went to the flower and bird market and waited for half a day but did not see Zhu San show up. When he was about to leave, he saw several furtive people gathered together to discuss something. After a while, they walked into the teahouse arm in arm.
Zhu Hao followed in as if nothing had happened. Considering his age, he looked absolutely harmless to others, so the group of people were not alert.
But Zhu Hao didn't dare to be careless and get too close to this group of people, so he pretended to find someone and went upstairs.
There were six people in this group. They sat down at a window seat on the first floor with a wide view. They seemed to belong to two parties and were exchanging information in low voices. Occasionally, the word "Wangfu" could be heard.
The teahouse waiter was scolded when he went to serve tea.
Seeing that he could not find out more information, Zhu Hao went upstairs, took a walk around, and then went downstairs and walked out of the teahouse door calmly to avoid alerting the enemy.
"It seems that there is more than one family eyeing Prince Xing's Mansion. I wonder if they are related to the Zhu family?" Zhu Hao felt more and more that the situation in Anlu was not peaceful.
It's normal to think about it. Emperor Zhengde had no children for a long time, so it was reasonable that the Prince Xing's Mansion, which had the greatest hope of succeeding the throne, was closely watched.
Zhu Hao walked forward a few steps and couldn't help but look back at the gate of Prince Xing's Mansion. It didn't matter what he saw, he saw an acquaintance looking for something everywhere. He was short and his vision was easily blocked by the stalls when he was walking on the road. It was Lu Bing who took the selection exam for the prince's palace companion with him.
"Hello!"
Zhu Hao walked over, stood by the road and shouted, which scared Lu Bing.
"Ah? It's you."
Lu Bing was obviously not coming for Zhu Hao. He was a little flustered when he suddenly saw Zhu Hao, and then he grinned.
Zhu Hao asked, "Why are you here? You are so young, aren't you afraid of being kidnapped if you hang out here?"
Lu Bing was young and cried easily, but he looked very proud when he heard this. He held his head high and said, "I have been practicing martial arts since I was young. My father also practiced martial arts. I am not afraid..."
He looked around and asked again, "Did you...did you see a man selling rabbits?"
Zhu Hao immediately realized that Lu Bing took the exam with him, but failed the second round of assessment, but was internally selected, and he "performed his duties" faster than him, and now he is probably successfully appointed as a study partner, and is following the orders of Zhu San and Zhu Si.
Otherwise, why do you say that he is a relative?
"What do you want from the rabbit seller?" Zhu Hao asked.
"I... I followed the young master's instructions and went out to find a rabbit seller. I have something to say to him." Lu Bing was simple-minded and, since he knew Zhu Hao, he did not hide anything.
Zhu Hao looked around and confirmed that Lu Bing was not a decoy deliberately released by someone. Then he smiled and said, "It's dangerous for a to go out and look for someone. Why don't you tell me what you want to say to the rabbit seller? I will help you find him and notify him at the same time."
"Then...thank you."
Lu Bing really fell into the trap, and he looked grateful. "It's nothing, actually. The young master asked me to go out and find the rabbit seller. He said that the man was not very old, probably... about the same age as you. Tell him that there is nothing fun in the palace, and if he wants to study, he should go somewhere else... Hey, do you know what I'm talking about?"
When Zhu Hao heard this , he wondered if this was a "warning" from Zhu San or Zhu Si to him?
Why does it sound so awkward?
"I understand. I'll tell him for you." Zhu Hao grinned.
Lu Bing nodded, as if he had completed his mission, and turned to leave.
Zhu Hao said, "By the way, your name is Lu Bing, right? Have you also been selected as a study partner? I heard from Mr. Jiang that I am also one of the study partners."
Lu Bing said happily: "That's great , we can play together in the future...but you are older than me, so we may not be able to play together."
"Let's study and play together. I'm old and can protect you... Although you have been practicing martial arts since you were a child, my family is not bad either. We are from a legitimate military family. How do you think we can help each other in the future?" Zhu Hao tried to win over Lu Bing.
Lu Bing nodded hurriedly.
In the eyes of the ignorant little guy, having Zhu Hao as a friend is a very good thing.
"Then let's make a deal. I will be entering the palace tomorrow, and the son of the magistrate of Beijing has also been selected. He is not very friendly to us, so we will join forces to deal with him in the future." Zhu Hao said.
"Uh-huh."
Lu Bing thought of Master Jing's unruly appearance, and his eyes instantly became more alert.
For a child, it is very clear to distinguish between friends and enemies. Zhu Hao has helped him, so he is a friend, but Master Jing has scared him, so he is definitely not a good person in his eyes.
Therefore, before Zhu Hao officially entered Prince Xing's Palace, he won over Lu Bing as his "ally". Whether he was useful or not is another matter, but this kid was too young and his brain was not big enough, but he could help to get some information and pass on some intelligence.
Moreover, after hearing the warning sent by Zhu San or Zhu Si, Zhu Hao realized that after entering the palace, he might not be able to become a real companion in a short period of time, so it was important to have "one of our own" to pass on the message.
…
…
The next day.
Accompanied by Yu San, Zhu Hao officially embarked on the journey of becoming a companion student in the Prince Jinxing's Palace.
Zhu Niang did not see her off in person.
Perhaps it was because the parting was too sad, and the journey was not far, just within the city, but because the Prince Xing's Mansion was like a den of dragons and tigers, and Zhu Hao was burdened with the family mission, Zhu Niang felt that she owed her son and was even more unwilling to face it head-on.
On the way, Zhu Hao started thinking about what Lu Bing had said to him.
It was agreed that Zhu San or Zhu Si would be asked for help so that he could enter the Prince Xing's Palace as a companion, but in fact, the two of them did not really contribute to the selection. They only helped in facilitating the selection. But why did they remind him to stay away from the Prince Xing's Palace?
There is only one explanation. One of the two must have learned some news that was unfavorable to Zhu Hao, but could not say it openly, so he asked Lu Bing to come out and convey the message.
With this suspicion, the careful Zhu Hao discovered many things that were not right when he entered the east gate of Prince Xing's Mansion.
"Zhu Hao? I know you are the prince's servant. Go this way... Don't look around. This is Prince Xing's mansion, not a vegetable market. If you break the rules, I'll break your legs..."
Zhu Hao was received by the palace's gatekeeper.
Unlike the seventh-rank official at the prime minister's door, the royal palace usually does not receive visiting officials, and few people come to ask for favors and intercede, so the doorman is just a decoration.
This person may not seem to have any status, but his every word and action is a sign of the times for Zhu Hao.
As soon as Zhu Hao saw this man giving him a cold look, he knew that the situation was not good... He entered the palace as the prince's companion, not for any other reason. Why would he get angry and show off with a child?
That only means that even my family members know my identity as Zhu Hao and are very wary of me.
Zhu Hao didn't expect that he would be listed on the "hostile forces" list by the Prince Xing's Mansion as soon as he arrived.
In this situation, you still want to get close to Zhu Houcong?
I'm afraid it's just wishful thinking.
Zhu Hao followed the doorman through the east wing and came to the center of a low courtyard.
The doorman stopped and pointed to a small room at the back, saying, "You live in that room."
Zhu Hao cupped his hands and asked, "Big brother, can I ask if the other two people who were chosen as study companions with me also live here?"
Menzi said impatiently, "Why are you asking so many questions? We have food, drink and shelter here. You won't starve to death. Why do you care about others? Listen carefully, you must not enter the door in front. If you are caught... hehe."
"I know. If you get caught, break your legs."
Zhu Hao was very calm and said with a pout, "But you should also tell me where this is, right?"
The doorman said, "This is where the servants of the palace live. Next to it is the firewood room. If you have nothing to do, go and chop some firewood and exercise your body... Anyway, someone will tell you what to do next!"
