Chapter 49 Sincerity
The study hall of Prince Xing's Palace is the Chunyi Hall, which was later renovated with special funds from Emperor Jiajing. It is located to the east of the sleeping palace and is where Zhu Youluo lived. There are five rooms in the front and back, twelve rooms in the left and right wings, and three doors.
In a room at the back, Zhu Youluo was holding his son's hand on the couch with a look of concern on his face.
Yuan Zonggao saw the doctor out the door, and when he returned, he was followed by Zhu San, who lowered his head and dared not look at his father or Yuan Zonggao.
Yuan Zonggao said: "Prince Xing, I have sent someone to inform the princess that the prince is fine."
"Father, I'm feeling better now... Ahem, don't blame anyone else. I might have started the fire accidentally... After I got there, I felt a little sleepy, so I lay on the table and slept for a while. I forgot that there was a lit revolving lantern in front of me. I might have accidentally knocked over the lantern and set the house on fire."
Zhu Houcong's voice was weak. The reason why he was bedridden was that his body was still a little weak, but he was in good spirits.
Children are scheming. If they make a mistake, they will jump up and down immediately. What if they are punished by their father? Even if they pretend, they have to pretend to be sick after experiencing a life-and-death experience.
Zhu Youlang wanted to put on a stern face and teach his son a lesson, but seeing that his son was so weak, he couldn't bear to do it.
Yuan Zonggao asked, "Prince, have you known Zhu Hao for a long time?"
Finally got to the point.
Zhu San was the most nervous.
"Um."
Zhu Houcong just nodded, his eyes falling on his sister.
Zhu Youlang and Yuan Zonggao looked at Zhu San at the same time. Zhu San's face turned red and he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Zhu Youju looked at his daughter and asked with a stern face, "How did you meet?"
"I...I just know..."
Zhu San's little head was spinning rapidly, and he kept talking, "He is a disciple of Mr. Sui's friend. Mr. Sui took me to see him before. If you don't believe me, you can ask Mr. Sui..."
Zhu San's principle when answering his father was to shift the blame onto others as much as possible.
Others might not know how much the Prince Xing's Mansion values her brother, but how could she not know?
She has been dressing like a man since she was young just to cover up for her younger brother. She had to take risks by disguising herself as her younger brother. They have the same parents, but the treatment they receive is very different.
The fact that I took my younger brother out to play and caused him to fall into the water must not be told to anyone unless it is absolutely necessary!
Zhu Youxuan frowned slightly: "A disciple of Sui Jiaoxi's friend?"
It sounded like a child telling a lie, so the father naturally didn't believe it.
Yuan Zonggao asked with great interest: "Tell me more about it."
Zhu San said, "That day Mr. Sui said he wanted to go out of the palace to meet a friend. He also said that the man was an unrivalled poet and painter... It seemed that his last name was Tang. I said I wanted to meet him, so he took me out..."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youluo and Yuan Zonggao looked at each other.
Allowing Sui Gongyan to take his daughter out of the palace was a strategy agreed upon by Zhu Youlang and Yuan Zonggao beforehand, in order to make people think that Zhu San was Zhu Houcong as much as possible. Sui Gongyan did not violate any rules in this matter.
"Zhu Hao was with that person at the time, fishing outside together... He said he was fishing but he didn't have a hook, and he said something like Jiang Taigong fishing, and those who are willing to take the bait will be caught."
Zhu San recalled that her first contact with Zhu Hao by the river was indeed an "accidental meeting" and she did not hide anything about this matter.
Zhu Youqiu muttered: "Both poetry and painting are outstanding? Unparalleled in the world? Could it be Tang Yin?"
Yuan Zonggao said, "I have never heard of Tang Bohu coming to Huguang before."
"What happened next?" Zhu Youqiu asked.
Zhu San saw that it was no use just to perfunctorily meet by the river, so he could only say a little more: "Later, Zhu Hao said that his mother was sick and wanted to sell me rabbits. I also wanted to raise a few rabbits, so I bought his..."
The story became more and more bizarre. Zhu Youxuan didn't want to listen to his daughter's nonsense anymore, so he turned to ask Zhu Houcong: "Is that so?"
Zhu Houcong thought about it and nodded.
Yuan Zonggao thought for a moment and said, "It seems like they are destined to be together... Zhu Hao passed the test for selecting study companions at Prince Xing's Mansion based on his real ability. If he is Tang Bohu's disciple... a good teacher produces a good student, then everything makes sense. But why would a disciple of Tang Bohu want to enter Prince Xing's Mansion?"
Zhu Youjun continued to ask: "After Zhu Hao entered Prince Xing's Palace, how did you know that he lived in the East Courtyard? Why did you go there?"
This is the issue that Zhu Youlang and Yuan Zonggao care about most.
Zhu San didn't know how to answer for a moment.
Yuan Zonggao said: "Tell the truth, don't hide anything."
Zhu San suddenly thought of something and said, "It was A Bing... No, it was Lu Bing. He told us that Zhu Hao entered the palace and lived in the East Courtyard... Father, go ask him."
When it comes to shirking responsibility, Zhu San did it from beginning to end, and she did not lie this time.
"Lu Bing?"
Zhu Youqiu looked at Yuan Zonggao in confusion.
Yuan Zonggao explained, "Lu Bing is the son of Lu Song, the chief guard of the palace's ceremonial guard. He was also among the candidates for the palace's selection of companions, and he had an encounter with Zhu Hao during the selection. Third Master, you mean that it was not Zhu Hao who came to you, but you who went to find him, right?"
Yuan Zonggao seemed to be only presiding over the last round of examinations, but in fact, he was well aware of the selection of companions in the royal palace, and naturally knew that Lu Bing had communicated with Zhu Hao during the examination.
Zhu San thought about it and nodded seriously: "He can't enter the inner courtyard again... It's only because Lu Bing said so that we went to play with him."
When Yuan Zonggao heard this, he sighed slightly.
His last mystery was also solved.
This is the problem that has been bothering him. If Zhu Hao took the initiative to find Zhu San and Zhu Houcong, then it is very likely that Zhu Hao set up the trap and Zhu Hao might be an accomplice of the arsonist.
But if it was because Lu Bing knew Zhu Hao and told Zhu San and Zhu Houcong that Zhu Hao was in the palace, and the two younger ones took the initiative to look for him...
Zhu Hao was the passive party, so arson had nothing to do with Zhu Hao!
Originally, Jianmao Hao and others had deliberately set fire to Zhu Hao, but by some strange mistake, Zhu Houcong went to play with Zhu Hao and the fire burned Zhu Houcong. Fortunately, Zhu Hao stepped forward at that time...
"King Xing, everything makes sense now. We just need to verify it and we will know if anyone is lying."
Yuan Zonggao did not completely trust Zhu San, but the matter was very simple. He only needed to ask Sui Gongyan and people related to the matter to find out the truth.
Zhu Youqi nodded, and seeing Yuan Zonggao giving him a look, he realized that his father seemed to care too much.
Being in the royal family, no matter how much you care about your son, you have to appear indifferent and avoid letting people know your weaknesses. This is the responsible attitude towards your son.
"Alright, everyone, go out... Let Xiao Si rest here and notify the princess to come over."
Zhu Youlang handed over the task of taking care of his son to his wife, and even Zhu San was temporarily kicked out of the house. There is a high possibility that this girl will be ordered to reflect on her mistakes behind closed doors.
…
…
Zhu Youju and Yuan Zonggao came to the study room in front together.
In front of the desk, Zhu Youqiu slammed the table fiercely: "A bunch of lowly people, actually acted on their own initiative and dared to set fire and commit crimes in the palace. Do you really think that my Xingwang Palace is a den of thieves?"
Killing Zhu Hao was not Zhu Youlang's intention, nor was it even Yuan Zonggao's intention. It was just that the people below followed the wishes of their superiors and made their own decisions based on their own assumptions.
It is unclear whether the sharp-bristled hoe killed anyone intentionally or not.
But now the case has been settled.
Yuan Zonggao shook his head: "Speaking of which, even I cannot understand why the Zhu family's child... risked his life to save others?"
Zhu Youqi frowned slightly and glanced at Yuan Zonggao, as if to say, from what you said, do you think he shouldn't save people? If he doesn't save people, my son might be in danger!
"Prince Xing, you should call the person in to ask him!"
Yuan Zonggao proposed.
Zhu Youqiu nodded and agreed to Yuan Zonggao's request, but after he sat back at his desk, his face returned to calm.
…
…
Zhu Hao and Lu Song were called into the study.
Zhu Youjun looked at Lu Song and nodded, saying, "Lu Dian, in recognition of your meritorious service in putting out the fire today, I will increase your salary by three months."
Lu Song was absent-minded at first, but upon hearing this, he quickly clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Yuan Zonggao smiled and said, "Lu Dianzhang is loyal and is truly the pillar of our Xingwang Palace... You go and do your work first. I have something to ask Zhu Hao."
"yes."
Lu Song originally had a lot of questions, but after communicating with Zhu Hao, he figured out one thing, that is, he must be of one mind with Zhu Hao.
Lu Song walked out the door and closed the study door .
"Greetings to His Royal Highness Prince Xing."
Zhu Hao bowed and saluted, "Meet Mr. Yuan."
Zhu Youqiu did not make any comment.
Yuan Zonggao smiled and said, "Zhu Hao, when I tested you that day, I felt that you were very intelligent... I wonder who your teacher was?"
They didn't ask about the arson and the rescue, but asked who was his master first. Zhu Hao made a judgment immediately. The two old foxes asked Zhu San and Zhu Si first. Are they trying to verify the answer from me?
Zhu Hao said: "I didn't formally become your disciple. I learned from a gentleman who passed through Huguang and went to Jiangxi and Ganzhou. He refused to reveal his name. He taught me a lot about life and he is my enlightenment teacher."
"Then why do you want to enter Prince Xing's Palace ?"
Yuan Zonggao's next question was more pointed.
I entered Prince Xing's Palace to gather intelligence. Heaven and earth know it, you know it, I know it, and even the craftsmen know it. Is there any need to ask?
"I...want to study."
Since you all know, I will pretend that you don’t know.
Yuan Zonggao smiled and said, "Just for studying?"
Zhu Hao said: "To be honest, my father was a captain of the Jinyiwei, and he died for his country while suppressing the rebellion, leaving his property to us orphans and widows. However, my family has always wanted to take the land and house back, and even framed my mother for selling illegal salt and put her in jail. They also asked us to hand over 40 taels of silver to the clan every month..."
"Oh, is it so?"
Yuan Zonggao seemed uninterested, and it seemed that he already knew all this.
"My mother went to the city to invite a teacher for me to study, but the Zhu family spread the word that no scholar would be allowed to teach me... I wanted to study in the palace so that my family wouldn't control me, so I signed up for the examination... But before I entered the palace, my grandmother called me to give me a lecture, telling me to tell her everything I learned in the palace."
Zhu Hao was very sincere and actually told the whole story of how he came to the palace as a spy.
Yuan Zonggao sighed, "Zhu Hao, you are very intelligent and have a great talent for studying. You are indeed a talent that can be cultivated. But what you did is wrong. The palace hired you as a companion and provided you with study, but you told outsiders about the palace's affairs. Isn't that repaying kindness with ingratitude?"
Uncle, do you need to tell me this?
Zhu Hao said, "I know this is wrong, but I just want to study. If I don't obey, the Zhu family will take me back and take away the property left by my father. Not only will I not be able to study, but I will also be assigned to do hard labor. Even my father's position as a centurion will be given to my second uncle's child... We are an orphan and a widow, and we are really forced into this situation."
Yuan Zonggao smiled and glanced at Zhu Youlang, only to see that Prince Xing had a look of disgust on his face. It was obvious that in his heart, even if Zhu Hao saved his son's life, he could not let him stay.
Who made Zhu Hao a member of the Jinyiwei Zhu family?
And the Zhu family was arranged by the court to move to Anlu to monitor Prince Xing's Mansion?
"Then Zhu Hao, why did you save people today?"
Yuan Zonggao continued to ask soul-searching questions.
Zhu Hao asked in surprise: "Mr. Yuan, I don't quite understand what you mean... I saw a friend in the fire, shouldn't I save him?"
"friend?"
Yuan Zonggao found it difficult to understand why Zhu Hao said this.
"Yes, I have never had any friends since I was a child. Zhu San and Zhu Si are my best friends. I know that they are of noble status and I am not worthy of being friends with them, but isn't it natural for me to help my friends when they are in trouble?"
"Besides, the incident happened when Zhu Si was playing with me. I was the one who caused it. Even if I had to sacrifice my own life, I would save him from the fire... Alas, I really didn't think too much at the time..."
