Chapter 52: Each Takes What It Needs

Zhu Niang followed him into the shop. She originally wanted to thank Yuan Zonggao for the palace's cultivation of her son, but after hearing what Yuan Zonggao said, she was a little confused for a moment.
Isn’t my son studying in the palace?
What do you mean it would be better to let him enter the palace?
Zhu Niang is a traditional Chinese woman, and she is particularly humble in front of the noble. She said, "My son's father died early, and he had not been formally educated before entering the palace. He was only taught by Mr. Lu who passed by. If he has done anything wrong in the palace, please forgive him, Mr. Yuan."
What I meant was, I have already sent my son to the palace, and I will not interfere with how you discipline him.
Master, Master, he has no father, so you should be half his father.
Yuan Zonggao smiled, then looked at Zhu Hao who was hanging his head, and asked, "Zhu Hao, what do you think?"
Zhu Hao did not look at Yuan Zonggao, and said dejectedly: "I... I'm scared."
At this moment, Zhu Hao had to behave like a child should. He almost died in the fire today. Some people even shouted that the fire was set to burn him to death and blocked the door when he was saving people.
If he had experienced life and death and still fearlessly chose to stay in the palace, it could only mean that he was very scheming and had other purposes.
Zhu Niang stroked Zhu Hao's head and said, "Xiao Hao, it's rare that Mr. Yuan appreciates you so much... Why, are you afraid of disappointing Mr. Yuan's expectations?"
Zhu Hao looked embarrassed, as if he wanted to explain to his mother, but he couldn't say it.
When Yuan Zonggao saw Zhu Hao's reaction, he understood that the child was afraid of death and also afraid of disappointing his mother. A child who had lost his father early and was already able to stand on his own could only keep his grievances in his heart.
"How about this, Zhu Hao, you just went through a life-and-death test, why don't you rest at home for a few days, and when your mind is completely calm, it won't be too late to return to the palace."
Yuan Zonggao was considerate and offered to let Zhu Hao not go to the palace for the time being.
Zhu Hao hesitated slightly, said "hmm", and nodded slightly.
"In that case, I will not bother you any more. I have already arranged a place for you to stay in the palace. You can study with the prince when you return this time... Since you have not yet started formal education, you must work harder so that you can keep up with the progress... Let's go!"
Yuan Zonggao didn't want to stay in the market for a long time. He walked into the shop and took a look around to show that he had no intention of looking down on others. He would leave naturally after the work was done.
Zhu Niang didn't expect Yuan Zonggao to leave so soon, and hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay: "Mr. Yuan, why don't you stay and have a simple meal?"
"Ha ha."
Yuan Zonggao had already walked to the door. Hearing this, he turned around and said with a smile, "I still have some things to deal with. Besides, it's getting late, so it's inconvenient to stay here... When Zhu Hao has a promising future, I will definitely not refuse."
From the sound of his voice, he seemed to be very optimistic about Zhu Hao and was ready to train him carefully.
These words made Zhu Niang feel very comfortable.
Look, even Mr. Yuan, the chief historian of the royal palace and a Jinshi graduate, thinks that my son has a talent for studying. It is worth it for me to go through any hardship for him to succeed.
… …
Yuan Zonggao, accompanied by Zhu Niang and her son , walked out of the shop and headed towards the street corner with Lu Song and others.
Yuan Zonggao was not in a hurry to get into the sedan chair.
Lu Song followed closely, and finally couldn't help but approach and ask, "Yuan Changshi, if you want to take him back, why are you... not in a hurry anymore?"
The most confused person at this moment is Lu Song.
Zhu Hao was determined to escape from the palace and had no intention of going back, while Yuan Zonggao was determined to take him back. Shouldn't the situation be the other way around?
Yuan Zonggao had been very anxious before, but now he asked Zhu Hao to rest at home for a few days...
I don’t know what to think.
Yuan Zonggao said meaningfully, "Do you think that he, a child, can come and go as he pleases in Prince Xing's Mansion? There are many things that are beyond his control!"
"Come on, I'll take you to see someone."
Lu Song was very surprised when he heard this.
After thinking about it for a while, he realized what Yuan Zonggao was talking about.
Zhu Hao was sent by the Zhu family to the palace to gather intelligence. Now Zhu Hao was almost burned to death. He was so scared that he wanted to escape from the palace and didn't want to go back. But will the Zhu family agree to Zhu Hao's wishes?
I'm afraid that the Zhu family will still forcibly send Zhu Hao back to the palace. If he insists on not complying... all kinds of threats will be used.
Zhu Hao was not in a hurry at all to send Yuan Zonggao and Lu Song away.
Return to the palace?
What’s the hurry?
With Yuan Zonggao's foresight, how could he not consider the consequences of driving him away? Would the Jinyiwei represented by the Zhu family give up monitoring the Prince Xing's Mansion?
To put it another way, even if the palace didn't let him go back, Zhu Hao wouldn't lose out.
He saved Zhu Houcong twice from danger of fire and water, and established a connection with the future Emperor Jiajing.
Zhu Houcong is now seven years old and is no longer an immature child. Once this life-and-death friendship is established, will he write off the past two times he was rescued when he grows up?
If he stayed outside the palace now and met Zhu Houcong occasionally, it might be more effective than studying in the palace.
Zhu Niang quickly took her son's hand and returned to the shop, and asked with concern: "Xiaohao, you said that there was a fire in the palace, and someone wanted to burn you to death, what happened?"
Zhu Hao said, "Mom, I can't explain the details to you clearly. Anyway, I escaped from the fire today. Let me calm down for two days before considering whether to return to the palace."
In order to prevent Zhu Niang from worrying too much, the details of the fire rescue are not described to her.
But how could Zhu Niang and Aunt Li not worry?
It turns out that entering the palace is so dangerous!
At first, she didn't think much of it, but when she thought about how Zhu Jia let her son enter the palace to spy on information, which was tantamount to making an enemy of Prince Xing's family, Zhu Niang began to wonder whether she should let her son completely give up the idea of ​​returning to the palace to study.
Yuan Zonggao never took the sedan chair and took Lu Song to meet a mysterious man.
As the sun was setting, the man appeared outside the villa where they had agreed to meet. This villa was not the property of Prince Xing's Mansion, but was privately owned by Yuan Zonggao.
Lu Song waited outside for a while, and saw a middle-aged man of medium build and ordinary appearance appear in front of him. He stepped forward and asked the other party's surname and purpose, and then took him into the villa to meet Yuan Zonggao.
"Sir, the person has been brought here."
Lu Song was afraid that this person did not know Yuan Zonggao's true identity, and it would be bad if the details were leaked due to his improper address, so he only called Yuan Zonggao "Sir".
Yuan Zonggao smiled and said, "Old Liu, you are here? Let me introduce you. This is the head of the royal guard, Lu Song. As for him... he is the old butler of the Zhu family of the Jinyiwei, Liu Hong."
Lu Song's heart instantly rose to his throat.
The person in front of me is actually the Zhu family’s housekeeper Liu?
How did Yuan Zonggao bribe and recruit people to become spies for Prince Xing's Palace?
Lu Song thought, maybe in Yuan Changshi's heart, I am trustworthy, so he let me know the true identity of Zhu's insider, but in fact, I am doing something that is not right for the palace behind his back...
Thinking of this, Lu Song felt full of shame.
"Liu Hong has been in the Zhu family for more than 20 years and knows everything about the Zhu family, but his identity is special and outsiders don't know it. If there is anything you need to pass on in the future, you can contact him."
After speaking to Lu Song, Yuan Zonggao said to Butler Liu, "Old Liu, Lu Dianzhang is the pillar of our Xingwang Palace and is absolutely trustworthy. If there is any emergency in the future, just tell him."
Butler Liu quickly bowed to Lu Song and said, "I'm honored to meet you, Lu Dianzhang."
Lu Song clasped his fists in return.
Yuan Zonggao waved his hand and said, "Lu Dianzhang, wait outside first and don't let anyone get close to me. I have something to ask Butler Liu."
They told Lu Song to contact them later, but he could not participate in the secret conversation this time. Lu Song did not feel unhappy about this. He knew that his identity was embarrassing. Before leaving, he thought to himself that he must not reveal Butler Liu's true identity.
Deep down in his heart, he was on the side of Prince Xing's Palace.
After Lu Song left, Yuan Zonggao asked in detail about Zhu Hao.
However, Yuan Zonggao did not tell Butler Liu that Zhu Hao had rescued someone in the palace, and the person he rescued was the Prince of Xing. He just wanted to verify the relationship between Zhu Hao and the Zhu family.
Butler Liu picked out some of the situations he knew and explained them.
"…This child is very intelligent and his actions are unconventional, but very targeted. He is indeed a very talented person. However, the third branch has never been favored by the old lady. His father lacked parental love since he was a child, so he wanted to excel in military affairs. Unfortunately, he went north to suppress the rebellion and died for his country, leaving behind an orphan and a widow who are often bullied by the family. It is difficult for him to even preserve his father's inheritance."
"As for this child entering the palace as a companion, it was afterward that his family learned that he had participated in the selection and had passed it. For this reason, the old lady was very angry, and she went to the house to reprimand him, and ordered him to gather intelligence after entering the palace..."
Although Butler Liu had a prejudice against Zhu Hao, it was not as deep-rooted as those of Zhu Jia and Zhu Wanjian. At this time, he stood from a relatively neutral perspective and felt that the Zhu family had treated Zhu Niang and her son unfairly.
In other words, Butler Liu did not take advantage of Zhu Hao's misfortune.
He knew very well that as long as he said that Zhu Hao had a bad relationship with the Zhu family, Prince Xing's Mansion would not kill Zhu Hao.
Yuan Zonggao's expression was indifferent: "It seems that this boy did not plan this for a long time. Did he tell the Zhu family about what happened in the palace?"
Butler Liu said in embarrassment: "This... I don't know."
Yuan Zonggao nodded and continued to ask, "Didn't the Jinyiwei send someone to contact the Zhu family before? Did they find out where this person lives in Anlu? And who has he met with?"
"this……"
Although Steward Liu was an insider of the Zhu family hired by Prince Xing's Mansion, everything he did involved the Zhu family's affairs. His ability was only reflected in managing the business and making arrangements. Asking him to spy on information was obviously a bit too much to ask.
"Whatever."
Yuan Zonggao did not force it. "If someone from the Imperial Guard visits the Zhu family again, you must inform Lu Dianzhang immediately. He lives in Xiaoguaizi Hutong, which is close to the palace. Ask him to tell you his detailed address later."
"Yes Yes."
Butler Liu responded quickly.
Yuan Zonggao said, "Well, go back early before dark, before the city gates close, to avoid arousing suspicion. The palace will arrange for your son, a scholar, to be a county clerk near his hometown."
Butler Liu knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, expressing his gratitude profusely.
The county chief clerk is a ninth-rank official, usually promoted and appointed from the tribute inspectors and clerks. He is the assistant official of the county magistrate and is in charge of the household registration, arrest, and clerical affairs of the county. When the position of the county magistrate or county magistrate is vacant, the chief clerk also has the hope of acting as the county magistrate.
Being appointed as the chief clerk of a county means a step-by-step leap from a commoner to an official. No wonder Butler Liu was so grateful.
After Butler Liu left, Lu Song looked at Yuan Zonggao with some concern, "Yuan Changshi, can this person... be trusted?"
Yuan Zonggao curled his lips and said, "What is there to trust? For the future of his descendants, he betrayed his master, and the palace gained an extra spy. They both get what they need. He will get corresponding rewards if he does a lot. If his identity is exposed, he will suffer. Wouldn't he know the seriousness of the matter? This kind of thing... it's a matter of one willing to fight and the other willing to be beaten!"
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