Chapter 55: Brothers in Distress
Zhu Hao didn't expect that the son of the county magistrate was so concerned about his reputation.
But face cannot solve practical problems. In a strange place, we should help each other instead of confronting each other. Why don’t you understand this?
After dinner, before it was completely dark, Zhu Hao and Jing Hong were ordered to return to their rooms.
A guard from the palace's ceremonial guard department said sternly, "Drink less water at night. You must report to the duty officer when you get up at night. If anyone dares to leave this courtyard without permission, a beating will be the least of their punishment."
Zhu Hao smiled. Such threats had no effect on him.
But for Jinghong, this restriction of freedom is like being in prison.
Jinghong is one year older than Zhu Hao. At his age, he is temporarily unable to take care of himself. He looks like a little adult on weekdays, but when he suddenly encounters a problem, especially when it involves a change in living environment, it is difficult for him to remain calm. At night... he will definitely miss home.
Zhu Hao packed up his things calmly, took out two scallion egg pancakes from his bag and put them on the table: "If you want to eat, just take them."
Jing Hong was a little angry: "How many times do I have to tell you before you understand? I won't eat it!"
Be firm in your attitude.
Zhu Hao thought to himself, this guy is as smelly and hard as a stone in the toilet!
Humph, I'd rather let you starve to death. With such a light bulb by my side, how can I investigate the situation in the palace in the future? How can I resolve the danger invisibly? How can I spend this boring night?
Then I thought again, I will study with Zhu San tomorrow. Whether I can meet Zhu Houcong is another matter, but if I start studying, it will not be easy to be lazy.
Shaking your head and reciting the Four Books and Five Classics all day long?
Write an article from memory?
Just when Zhu Hao was feeling confused about his future, Jing Hong took out the things he brought from home from a small box, including a pack of candles.
Maybe he was very proud. As the son of a local county magistrate, I can afford candles, but you, Zhu Hao...
etc.
Under Jing Hong's surprised gaze, Zhu Hao also took out a pack of candles.
When it was opened, six candles thicker than two fingers appeared inside. Zhu Hao took out one and placed it on the table. He simply tidied up the candlestick and plugged it in, then took out a lighter and lit it.
"you……"
Jinghong found it a little difficult to understand.
Isn't this guy from an ordinary family? How come he has such good conditions? He eats meat-filled pies and uses big candles...
Zhu Hao seemed to be unaware of Jing Hong's doubts, and discussed: "It seems that we will have to study by candlelight at night in the future, but if we both use candles at the same time, it would be too wasteful... Although I have a tung oil lamp here, the brightness is very low and it is not good for the eyes after a long time. How about this, let's just light one in the future, and we take turns every day, so that we can study a little longer at night, what do you think?"
Jinghong thought about it and it made sense.
Although he brought a pack of candles, there were only six of them. It would be good if each one could burn for half an hour. If Zhu Hao's candle was added... He couldn't help but look at the bright candle. He wanted to ask, why is your candle so thick?
"Can."
Jing Hong nodded and said, "Is this your monthly dosage?"
Zhu Hao shook his head: "Of course not, but it can't be enough for one day, right? Hey, how about this, we divide the days into odd days, use my candles, and use yours on even days..."
Jing Hong immediately discovered the problem and frowned, "No! We have to go home on the fifth day of every ten days, and we don't need candles on that day."
Zhu Hao laughed and said, "Why are you so fussy? Why don't you say that some months don't have a 30th... Well, let's do it this way, you take one day and I take one day, regardless of whether it's an odd or even day, what do you think?"
Jing Hong's face suddenly felt hot. He had finally managed to show off in front of Zhu Hao, but in the blink of an eye, his petty side was revealed. Wasn't it embarrassing?
"Odd and even are odd and even. You have odd and I have even. At worst, we can rotate once a month. It's easy to get confused if we don't distinguish between odd and even." Jing Hong immediately made corrections.
Zhu Hao nodded: "I understand, you are afraid that I will default on my debt, so you have been using your candles ."
"you……"
Jing Hong glared at Zhu Hao, seemingly angry that Zhu Hao had wronged him and looked down on him, but this time he still held back and did not argue further with Zhu Hao.
…
…
The night was dark and windy.
The candlelight flickered.
Zhu Hao took out a paper cover to cover the candlestick. Although the brightness was reduced, it was enough for the two of them to read.
Zhu Hao asked, "Did Zhu San bully you today?"
"Zhu San?"
Jing Hong had just sat down, and hadn't even opened the books in his bag yet. He looked at Zhu Hao in confusion, and then something occurred to him, "Are you talking about the prince?"
Zhu Hao smiled slightly and said, "That's her. She is very willful and especially likes to play tricks on people..."
"He didn't play a trick on me... As his study partner, I was very respectful to him. He is the prince of the royal family and will inherit the title of king in the future. How could he be so rude? You are such a mean person..."
Jinghong originally wanted to criticize Zhu Hao, but when he thought about the fact that he was using Zhu Hao's candles today, and that Zhu Hao's candles were obviously much thicker and longer than the ones he brought, he felt embarrassed to get angry, thinking that he was taking advantage of him.
Zhu Hao pursed his lips, thinking that it was because she was not familiar with you, or she had not found anything to tease you yet. In a few days... you will probably be in trouble.
Zhu Hao took out his books, including the Four Books and Five Classics, and there was a thick stack in his schoolbag.
Zhu Hao asked, "Hey, Jinghong, is Mr. Sui teaching you today? Did he assign any homework?"
"Operation?"
Jinghong felt this term was very new to him and looked confused.
Zhu Hao immediately understood.
Obviously Sui Gongyan did not assign any homework. He was originally a private tutor in the palace. Even if it was not one-on-one teaching, it could be considered as special tutoring. If there was anything that Zhu San and Zhu Si needed to learn, he would teach and check it on the spot.
Jing Hong came to the palace as a study companion. No matter how serious and responsible Sui Gongyan was, he had to consider the actual situation. The homework was simple, but it was dark at night. How could it be completed without tung oil lamps or candles?
"This term is not easy to explain. To put it simply, it means that the teacher assigns some homework for students to complete after school. If there is no homework, then studying is entirely up to self-discipline."
When Zhu Hao came to this point, he saw Jing Hong nod, so he asked again: "What did Mr. Sui teach you today? I just arrived in the afternoon, so why don't you tell me so that I can make up for the missed courses as soon as possible, so that I won't be unable to answer when Mr. Sui asks me about it tomorrow." Zhu Hao looked humble and eager to learn.
Jing Hong didn't want to say it, but he still patiently took out the Analects and pointed at it: "Just memorize this part..."
Recite "The Analects"?
What a low-level coursework.
"Oh, then you recite it, and I'll write it down from memory."
Zhu Hao took out a pen and paper. He naturally didn't know how to memorize it, but now that he had the rare leisure time to write something, he might as well write down what he could.
What can be written is, of course, something beyond the cognition of this era, such as the Four Great Classics, or a play script, etc.
In short, just don’t do your homework!
Jinghong was very curious. You haven't even started reciting yet, and you want to recite it by heart?
Isn't that just asking for trouble?
When Zhu Hao took out the paper he brought, Jing Hong's face turned unhappy again, because what he saw was thick, high-quality letter paper made of three layers of rice paper, all bound in a thick book. Then he saw that there were dozens of books in Zhu Hao's box. If he added the loose white rice paper, pens, inkstones, brush washers, etc.
Jinghong really wants to ask, does your family sell the four treasures of the study?
"Jinghong, what are you looking at? Do you need some paper? Just take any." Zhu Hao waved his hand generously.
To Jinghong, such polite words were pure showing off.
Jinghong didn't answer, but picked up "The Analects" and began to recite.
Zhu Hao quickly said: "Don't be in a hurry, let's set some rules."
"Rules?" Jing Hong put the book down.
"right."
Zhu Hao said seriously, "From now on, we should review of our own things. We should not interfere with each other's work, nor ask each other what they are reading or writing, and we should not peek... Do you agree?"
Jing Hong's cheeks puffed up, and he said angrily: "Who wants to peek at you? Do you have a big face?"
Zhu Hao said, "Don't make the atmosphere so tense... I'm talking about each other, not specifically targeting one of us... This is to leave the other party with ample room to play freely."
Jinghong felt that Zhu Hao was making fun of him sincerely, so he ignored him and continued reading with his head shaking.
If an ordinary person were to write something, they would definitely not be able to concentrate if there was someone nagging them next to them. But who is Zhu Hao? He can write in a busy city without being disturbed, and at the same time he can take into account the surrounding environment. Even if he can't do multiple things at once, he can definitely do two things at once.
I'm writing something, just don't bother me.
…
…
A candle took more than an hour to burn out.
Zhu Hao put down his pen in advance and prepared to go out to fetch water for washing.
Jing Hong reminded: "Didn't you hear what that person said just now? You are not allowed to go out casually after dark..."
"You listen to him?"
Zhu Hao rolled his eyes and said unhappily, "Who knows where he is right now, hanging out with someone in some room, rolling dice, playing mahjong, or chatting. If you don't believe me, go out for a walk now. If you see him, I lose."
Jinghong tremblingly left the house with Zhu Hao.
There really was a figure flashing past outside the yard, and he was so scared that he almost hid back in the house.
Zhu Hao smiled and comforted: "Don't worry, it's just the night watchman. The guards have to be on alert now. The palace is very large, and it is difficult for dozens of guards to cover everything. We only need to guard a few passages in the outer courtyard. Although the subordinates have sentries... but the people on the sentries are often not there... It's a pity that the industry and commerce in Anluzhou City are not developed enough, so there is nothing fun after dark, otherwise..."
"What else?"
Jing Hong looked at Zhu Hao with wide eyes.
Zhu Hao wanted to say, otherwise most of the guards would probably sneak away, so I can take you out to play.
But in this era, there are no entertainment places such as Internet cafes and bars. Restaurants are basically closed after dark. The only places that can be open after dark are brothels, but the problem is...
What can two children do in a brothel?
Even if I could get in, my body wouldn’t allow it!
Thinking of this, Zhu Hao suddenly realized that it was time to enrich the night life of people of this era.
Open a storytelling place after dark, or set up a stage for performances, and specialize in doing business with the neighborhood.
Even if I don't make much money, being able to go out and have some fun with Jinghong in the future seems to be a good choice to kill boring time.
