Chapter 63: A Good Teacher Produces Good Students
Zhu Youqi's test of the two children ended with Zhu San's complete victory.
In the end, Zhu Youlu could only give Zhu Houcong a simple recitation topic. Even so, Zhu Houcong still recited it haltingly. It was obvious that he was overshadowed by his sister's brilliance, and he became a little unconfident.
After Zhu San and Zhu Houcong left the study, Zhu Youlu looked up at Yuan Zonggao, wanting Yuan Zonggao to explain what had happened.
Yuan Zonggao said: "Ever since Zhu Hao went to the palace to study, Sui Jiaoshi has been taking care of the prince's studies and rarely went to the West Courtyard to teach. Now it seems that in some aspects... he is still not up to the task."
He was actually in a very difficult situation. As the chief historian of the palace, he was usually responsible for selecting the palace's instructors. Sui Gongyan had always been placed with high hopes after entering the palace. Who would have thought that such a thing would happen now, which really slapped him in the face.
Zhu Youqi's eyebrows showed worry: "What about Zhu Hao's talent and learning?"
Yuan Zonggao said: "He is very intelligent and has the potential to be cultivated. Moreover, it is very likely that Tang Yin was the one who taught him. I will go and verify this with Teacher Sui."
"No need."
Zhu Youjun seemed a little disappointed and said, "It is indeed time for the mansion to change the instructor. The teaching level of the instructor Sui is... I can't praise it. I have already noticed it in the previous tests. If there is really no good one in Anlu, we can look for one in Huguang."
King Xing had high hopes for his son. Now he finds out that the teacher he hired is not as good as a seven-year-old child. How can he tolerate this?
I give you gifts and treat you with enough respect, and you just fool me like this?
Yuan Zonggao thought for a moment and said, "The biggest problem with hiring another instructor is that we are afraid of spies from the Imperial Guards sneaking in... We should think about this matter carefully."
"Don't delay it indefinitely."
Zhu Youju stood up and left, saying, "Since Zhu Hao was able to save the prince from the fire, it shows that he is loyal and righteous. We don't need to be too wary of him... Since he is talented in studying, let him study with the prince, so that they can influence and promote each other... Yuan Changshi, you can make all the arrangements and report the results later."
…
…
Yuan Zonggao was in a bad mood.
It seems that King Xing has some dissatisfaction with Duke Sui's words, but doesn't he also have some dissatisfaction with him?
The previous arrangements seemed reasonable, but in fact there were large deviations, especially in the attitude towards Zhu Hao. Yuan Zonggao felt that he was somewhat stumbling.
Yuan Zonggao found Sui Gongyan and asked him about Zhu Houcong's academic studies.
Sui Gongyan was a little puzzled.
"Yuan Changshi, is it possible that my teaching of the Crown Prince is inadequate?"
In Sui Gongyan's opinion, he was just teaching Zhu Houcong step by step. As for not teaching Zhu San and Zhu Hao, it was also arranged by you, Yuan Zonggao. Now you meet with me alone and put on a condescending attitude. Could it be that the rumors outside are true and the palace really wants to drive me away?
Yuan Zonggao said: "Gong Yan, I fully appreciate your talent, otherwise I would not have asked you to teach the prince. How much do you know about Zhu Hao?"
The twists and turns in these words left Sui Gongyan confused for a moment.
My talent deserves recognition. What does it have to do with Zhu Hao?
"Zhu Hao... should be Tang Bohu's disciple. At least that's what Tang Bohu introduced. He stopped at Anlu for a few days on his way to Jiangxi and Gan..."
Sui Gongyan had nothing to hide in this matter, so he told it all.
After Yuan Zonggao confirmed what he was thinking, he couldn't help but sigh, "The disciples taught by others are better than you. Don't you know that you have something to reflect on?"
"It's all right. Teach the prince well. If possible, teach him the Four Books Annotations as well. You can't just know the facts without knowing the reasons...Okay, you can go back first."
Yuan Zonggao was over sixty years old, older than Sui Gongyan, and a Jinshi graduate, as well as the chief historian of the royal palace. His knowledge and status were far superior to Sui Gongyan. Even though he had some opinions in his mind, Sui Gongyan did not dare to raise them in front of Yuan Zonggao. He bowed respectfully and then took his leave.
…
…
Inside the school yard.
Zhu Hao and Jing Hong sat around a table by the window playing chess. Since no one cared about their studies, they could learn while having fun.
Jinghong brought Go board games home specially this time, just to show that he is better than Zhu Hao in some aspects, but in the end he found out... he was not even Zhu Hao's match in playing Go.
"I'm back!"
Zhu San rushed into the room excitedly, and scared Lu Bing, who was almost asleep with his head propped up.
Lu Bing didn't understand how to play chess, and sat there bored, so he imitated Zhu Hao and slept in class.
Jing Hong was concentrating on thinking about his next move, but Zhu Hao didn't take it too seriously. He looked up at Zhu San, who looked excited, and asked, "Why are you coming to the classroom when the sun is almost setting? School will be over in an hour... What happened?"
Zhu San said happily: "You may not believe this, but my father just summoned me... and Xiao Si to take the test together. Guess what? I answered all the questions, and my father is impressed by me!"
When children encounter something they are proud of, they are usually eager to find others to share it with and cannot keep secrets at all.
The person she wanted to tell the most was Zhu Hao, because it was because of Zhu Hao that she was able to show off in front of her father and Mr. Yuan today.
Jing Hong looked over when he heard this and asked, "Who is Xiao Si?"
Seeing Zhu San looking at him eagerly and ignoring Jing Hong, Zhu Hao smiled slightly: "Congratulations."
"Hey Zhu Hao, don't you want to know what questions our father gave us? Hehe, those questions are exactly the same as the ones you explained to us on the blackboard... Are you a worm in my father's stomach that you even know what questions he gave?" Zhu San now treated Zhu Hao like a god.
Jing Hong looked at Zhu Hao in surprise.
How could Zhu Hao actually predict what questions Prince Xing would ask?
What kind of skill is this?
Zhu Hao casually picked up a chess piece and placed it on the chessboard. "I just followed the teaching progress of Instructor Sui and went a little deeper. Is that called guessing the question? It just so happens that your father tested this part. You did better than your brother who memorized by rote, but it doesn't mean that your future academic attainments will be better than his."
Zhu San looked very proud: "I don't care about the future, as long as I am better than him this time... Instructor Sui has always taught him but not me. I think you are better than Instructor Sui in teaching us."
…
…
Zhu Hao did not teach the children that afternoon.
Being better than Sui Gongyan in teaching is not a good thing at the moment. Knowing Sui Gongyan's petty and narrow-minded character, how could he not target him after knowing the truth?
He is a teacher and is qualified to teach you. Why should you cause trouble for yourself?
But Sui Gongyan never came.
After school, Zhu Hao, Jing Hong and Lu Bing returned to West Foreign Affairs College. Jing Hong was holding a chessboard, looking unhappy.
As a child of destiny, he was inferior to Zhu Hao in everything, which seriously undermined his self-confidence.
At this moment, Lu Song brought people over and walked quickly to Zhu Hao, "I have arranged a new place for you to live. It's in the school dormitory. You can move in after the renovation is completed!"
Jing Hong looked worried.
I finally got used to life here, but now I have to move again.
This was not good news for Zhu Hao. Although the Academy Courtyard was not strictly speaking the inner courtyard of the palace, there was an additional gate between it and the outer courtyard, making it more difficult to skip school in the future... Thinking of skipping school, Zhu Hao had been back for three days this time and had not gone out to see how Yu San's book show preparations were going.
After coming back from dinner, Zhu Hao said with a smile: "Jinghong, I'm going out of the palace tonight, do you dare to go out with me?"
"ah?"
Jinghong was obviously an obedient and well-behaved child, and he had never thought of running away at night.
Zhu Hao said, "If you don't want to go, you can stay in the room and study. I will go by myself."
Jing Hong thought that from talent to skills, he was surpassed by Zhu Hao in every aspect. If he was not even as brave as Zhu Hao... he might as well just kill himself.
"I go!"
Jinghong expressed his position.
…
…
The sky gradually darkened, and the days became noticeably shorter in autumn.
Zhu Hao led Jing Hong out of the courtyard gate. Jing Hong followed Zhu Hao carefully and asked in a low voice, "What if we are discovered?"
Zhu Hao curled his lips and said, "We are not going into the inner courtyard of the palace, nor are we offending the nobles in the palace. Why do you think these people have nothing better to do than to interrogate us about leaving the palace?"
That being said, they were required to live in the palace after all.
When we arrived at the west gate of the palace, there were guards guarding it and the gate was closed.
"what!"
The guards on the west gate were also Lu Song's subordinates. One of them, Zhu Hao, was called "Lao Lian" by Lu Song, but he didn't know his specific name.
Zhu Hao stepped forward and bowed, "General Lian, my mother is sick, I want to go out and see her."
A guard being addressed as "general" did not make him feel proud, but rather ashamed. He felt that Zhu Hao was insulting him. After all, the three companions who were guarding the gate together were already laughing.
"By the way, Lu Dianzhang seemed to have said that we can go out freely, right?" Zhu Hao said again, "Here is some wine money, why don't you use it to have a drink?"
Zhu Hao actually took out ten cents.
It’s not a lot, but it’s not a small amount either. With the purchasing power of copper coins in that era, it’s enough to buy a few pots of wine.
"Go early and come back early!"
The guard named Lian didn't ask any more questions, and didn't care how unreasonable it was for Zhu Hao to take Jinghong out of the palace when his mother was sick. He opened the door and let the two out.
…
…
Zhu Hao and Jing Hong left the palace smoothly.
The Anlu prefecture city is located in a remote area, and the prefecture and county government offices have very limited staff. Once the city gates are closed at night, the curfew is not strictly enforced, but there are still few pedestrians on the streets.
Jing Hong was a little scared: "It's so dark, what if a thief wants to do something bad?"
Zhu Hao sneered and said, "Jinghong, do you have so little confidence in your father's ability to govern the area and stabilize the people?"
"ah?"
Jing Hong was stunned for a moment, then he remembered that his father was the magistrate of Changshou County, the local official. If there were thieves in the city, it only meant that his father was not capable of governing.
Thinking of this, Jinghong suddenly regained his confidence. He held his head high and walked forward, and even his steps seemed much firmer.
It is obvious that his family has had a great influence on him and he worships his father almost blindly.
The two men came out of the alley in front of the palace and just as they entered West Street, they noticed that the flow of people was getting denser and a large number of people were walking westward on the street.
“Why are there so many people?”
Jinghong looked into the distance and saw bright lights, with men and women, old and young, gathered there.
Zhu Hao walked forward and took a look. Although it couldn't be called a huge crowd, it was definitely crowded.
Zhu Hao stopped a man passing by and asked, "Uncle, what happened up ahead?"
The man said, "There's a storytelling tent over there. You can go there and listen to the story for free. The story is very good. It's a pity that it's too late. I have to go back to bed."
Zhu Hao thought, is it late because it just started?
It can only be said that the life pattern of people in this era, working from sunrise to sunset and resting from sunset, is almost unchanged, so that they feel they must rest as soon as night falls, and their biological clock cannot be changed for the time being.
"Let's go and listen to a book!"
Zhu Hao actually likes to join in the fun.
When he arrived outside the palace, he suddenly felt the breath of life. It was no longer as boring as playing a single-player game. Zhu Hao felt a little touched that his life was not lived in vain.
