Chapter 71: Festival
Lu Song and several other children listened to Zhu Hao's storytelling and even forgot the time.
First, Lu Bing couldn't help it and held his stomach and said, "Dad, I'm hungry."
Lu Song was still not satisfied after listening to what he heard. At this moment, footsteps were heard at the door. It was Lu Song's men who came to see what was going on. Lu Song had clearly just come in to urge Zhu San and Lu Bing to go back to the inner courtyard for dinner, so why was there no movement after he went in?
"Okay, let's stop here for today. We'll talk more after Mid-Autumn Festival." Zhu Hao felt a little dry in the mouth and didn't want to continue.
Zhu San protested, "No, no! I haven't heard enough. You all go away. I'll stay and continue listening."
At this time, Zhu San was immersed in the joy of the little beggar teasing the silly boy, as if he had put himself into the role. He was enjoying it so much that how could he let it go?
Lian Jinghong couldn't help but look at her, as if he remembered his previous entanglement with the story of "Alibaba and the Forty Thieves" told by Zhu Hao. He guessed that this person was just like him, obsessed with the story told by Zhu Hao.
"Sir, please return to the inner courtyard immediately, otherwise you will not be able to explain to the prince and Yuan Changshi."
Lu Song said righteously.
Previously, I was listening to stories with the children, but now adult thinking took over again and I quickly broke free from the world of martial arts.
When Zhu San heard Lu Song using his father's and teacher's names to pressure him, he immediately became discouraged and followed Lu Song while muttering.
…
…
"You are amazing. How do you remember these stories?" Jing Hong looked at Zhu Hao with admiration after Lu Song, Lu Bing and Zhu San left.
Zhu Hao said: "If you listen to it many times, won't you remember it?"
Jing Hong asked with eagerness in his eyes, "Who told you this story?"
"hehe."
Zhu Hao smiled but said nothing.
Without the teacher, Zhu San and Lu Bing had both left, so there was no point in staying in the school. Zhu Hao packed up his books, prepared to go back to the west courtyard to eat something, and then leave the palace.
"It's class time now, right? It might not be convenient to leave the palace." Jing Hong said with some worry.
Zhu Hao said: "Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Who has the heart to study now? Besides, who will care whether we study or not?"
Jinghong thought about it and it seemed to be true.
Since entering the palace, I nominally have a teacher and classmates, but in reality, I have to rely on my own self-discipline for my daily studies and no one supervises me.
If there is any supervision, it is only when Zhu Hao takes on the responsibility and becomes Mr. Zhu that he will supervise them, but usually this guy is only busy with his own work.
Back in the west courtyard, the guards were carrying things, big and small boxes.
"Brother guards, do you need any help? What is this?" Zhu Hao asked with a smile.
The guard named Lian replied, "It's for the festival... The palace is big and powerful, do you think there won't be enough for the festival? Come and help."
If there is free labor, of course we should use it.
At this time, Luo Sheng, deputy ceremonial guard of the palace, came with his men to inspect and shouted sternly: "Hurry up and work, don't delay!"
Luo Sheng's position in the Royal Palace Ceremonial Guard is higher than Lu Song's. Lu Song is only one of the six guards of the Royal Palace Ceremonial Guard. The reason why he is so valued is mainly because his wife is the prince's wet nurse. As the husband is honored by the wife, Lu Song is usually responsible for the security of the outer courtyard and travel ceremonials.
As the deputy ceremonial guard, Luo Sheng is the second in command of the Ceremonial Guard Department. He usually stays at the palace or the farm outside the city and seldom comes back.
Luo Sheng was born as a captain of the Yulin Guard. Now he is over 60 years old, but still in good spirits. Historically, after he passed away in the 16th year of Zhengde, his son Luo An inherited his position. Luo An was the second generation commander of the Jinyiwei after Zhu Houcong succeeded to the throne.
Zhu Chen, the first commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is now the chief of ceremonial guards at Prince Xing's palace.
This group of guards originally wanted to use Zhu Hao as free labor, but when they saw Luo Sheng, they all became silent and worked silently. Luo Sheng looked at Zhu Hao, and without any expression, he led his men to the inner courtyard.
Looking at this scene, it is probably because the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching and the top leaders of the palace have gathered together.
The lunch in the cafeteria had been cleared away long ago.
After returning to the room, Zhu Hao took out some snacks and handed them to Jinghong, who shook his head to refuse.
"It won't be long before we leave the palace. You're going home hungry. Will you eat more or less at night? If you eat more, your family will think you're having a hard time in the palace. If you eat less... aren't you hungry? We're friends. Just fill your stomach."
Zhu Hao's words are well-founded.
Jinghong thought about it and realized that it was true.
At noon, he was so busy listening to stories that he didn't think carefully about what would happen if he didn't eat when he got home . As a filial son, he certainly couldn't let his family worry.
"Thank you then."
Jinghong was not as restrained as before. The two of them ate some snacks, drank some water, and returned to the dormitory together.
"What happened to Guo Jing afterwards?"
When Jinghong saw that Zhu San and the others had not returned, he couldn't help but want to continue listening to the story.
Zhu Hao said, "We agreed to talk about it after Mid-Autumn Festival. I can't break my promise. So I'll study hard."
…
…
I didn’t see Zhu San again in the afternoon.
As the sun was setting, Lu Bing followed his father Lu Song to the study.
"You can go now." Lu Song came forward to deliver the message.
Jing Hong said "Oh", put down the book in his hand, stood up to leave, but saw Zhu Hao walking towards Lu Song with a smile.
"Lu Dianzhang, tomorrow is Mid-Autumn Festival. Since the gentleman is not coming today, why don't you let us go home early?" Zhu Hao asked.
Lu Song glared at Zhu Hao and didn't answer.
Lu Bing asked with some excitement: "Dad, can I bring things home this year?"
Lu Song still didn't answer.
When he returned to the west courtyard, Zhu Hao found two bamboo baskets outside the room where he and Jing Hong lived. There were many things in the baskets. They should be holiday gifts given by the palace to the study companions.
Lu Bing went over to take a look excitedly, but Lu Song grabbed it back and said, "I've asked your mother to take your copy home. You can see it when you get home."
"Great." Lu Bing was very happy.
Although he did not earn any salary in the palace at a young age, he had already started to bring things home, and the child felt quite a sense of accomplishment.
Lu Song said: "You can go in and pack up and then go home."
After saying this, Lu Song didn't even stare at him. He told the guards something and took his son away first.
…
…
Zhu Hao and Jing Hong packed their things respectively, and they were very curious about what was in the bamboo basket.
After looking at it, I found that it was not a very expensive thing. There were some ingredients for making eight-treasure porridge, a bag of grains, some dried salted fish, two inkstones, a few brushes, and some salted duck eggs and hard-boiled eggs wrapped in a bundle.
Finally, it’s the mooncakes, there are eight of them, but I don’t know what the filling is.
"The treatment in the palace is really good." Zhu Hao said with a smile.
Jing Hong looked up at Zhu Hao. He really wanted to say, “Is this not bad?”
What you normally eat is better than this.
Zhu Hao said: "I'm going home first, do you want to go?"
"Walk!"
Jing Hong didn't want to stay in the palace for long, so he quickly packed up and left the palace with Zhu Hao.
The guards on the way saw the two children and ignored them. At this time, some people were moving things into the palace. It was obvious that these things were not bought by the palace to be distributed, but gifts from outsiders to Prince Xing's palace.
Even though the Xingwang Mansion usually has little contact with local officials and gentry, they still have to observe due courtesy during festivals and holidays. This is also a customary practice. After all, given the Xingwang Mansion's superior status, if it deliberately stirs up trouble it will cause local unrest.
Especially those officials and gentry with wealthy families are most afraid of being seized by powerful forces.
The Prince Xing's Palace had a good reputation in Anlu. Firstly, Zhu Youji was a kind person, and secondly, the Palace Chief Clerk Yuan Zonggao was humble. Even though there were some villains in the Palace, they did not dare to cause trouble easily because they were being suppressed.
On the contrary, some local prefectures where vassal states existed were not necessarily so peaceful. The most obvious example was the Ning Prince's Mansion in Nanchang.
"Zhu Hao, do we want to go listen to a book?"
After leaving the palace, Jinghong was not in a hurry to go home. He wanted to go to the bookstore.
Zhu Hao shook his head and warned: "Jinghong, I have to remind you to go home early after school, so that your family won't find out about our secret of staying out all night. If you really want to listen to a story, why not invite your family to go with you at night and say that you heard the prince's storytelling place was very lively in the palace..."
This is something I speak from experience.
It is natural for children to be playful and fun-loving, but the problem is that everyone in your family knows that you have to go home now. If the time doesn’t match, how will you explain it?
Jinghong nodded as if he understood, and the two said goodbye at the street corner.
Zhu Hao had not walked far when he saw the runners from the county magistrate's office coming to pick up Jinghong. Apparently, the Xingwang Mansion had informed the county office in advance that the child would return home early in the afternoon. Perhaps Zhu Hao's status was not high and no one cared about him, but as Jinghong was the son of the county magistrate, it would be difficult for the palace to explain if something happened.
If Jinghong went to listen to the story, he would miss the person who came to greet him, and it would be difficult to explain when he returned.
…
…
Zhu Hao returned home.
The shop was very busy, with many neighbors coming to buy holiday items.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the four major traditional festivals. Since ancient times, there have been customs such as worshiping the moon, appreciating the moon, eating moon cakes, playing with lanterns, appreciating osmanthus flowers, and drinking osmanthus wine. In addition, people have extra money just after the autumn harvest, so they will naturally buy some things to celebrate the festival. The business of the shops that are usually deserted has obviously improved.
"Xiaohao, your mother is waiting for you in the back."
The one who was calculating the bill behind the counter was Aunt Li.
Zhu Hao walked in with the basket and heard the ladies outside talking: "Mrs. Zhu's child? He's grown up so big now? I heard he's working in the palace now? That's amazing."
Zhu Hao really wanted to say, thank you for the compliment.
When I entered the yard, I saw Zhu Niang and Zhu Ting picking vegetables there. The festival was about to begin, and the family was making preparations in advance.
"Your aunt cut her hand and can't touch water for the next two days, so let her take care of it at the counter, and I'll come over to do some work...Xiaohao, what is this?"
Zhu Niang was very kind. She did not bully Aunt Li, who was a concubine, just because she was the eldest wife. Now that their husbands were gone, the two of them could not remarry due to the shackles of the secular world, and they would be sisters who depended on each other from then on.
Zhu Hao said, "It's a holiday gift from the palace. It contains mooncakes and salted duck eggs...Xiaoting, do you want to eat some?"
Zhu Ting's eyes lit up and she turned to look at Zhu Niang.
Zhu Niang smiled and said, "Go in with your brother and eat."
"Mom, I'll help you."
Zhu Hao put his things down and sat down to help.
Zhu Niang waved her hands quickly: "It's very hard for you to study in the palace, just let me do these things...Xiaoting, you can go in too. If Xiaohao has free time, teach your sister to read. She is very smart and learns quickly."
For Zhu Niang, her son is a scholar with great potential in the future. In this era, the concept that a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen is deeply rooted. Zhu Niang does not want her son to do anything that would undermine the dignity of a scholar just to reduce her burden.
It was not Mid-Autumn Festival that day, but the family sat together for a reunion dinner in the evening.
Zhu Niang was very happy: "This year we have finally settled down, we have money, Xiaohao has started to study, and everything will be fine for our family in the future."
Zhu Hao said, "Mom, now that we have some spare money, why don't we just hire a maid instead of doing anything else?"
