Chapter 80 Don't bother with me
In the afternoon, Zhu San and Zhu Si told Zhu Hao the good news that they had passed the exam.
Of course, the brother and sister knew who helped them pass the test. Given the depth and breadth of Gongsun Yi's lectures, as well as his teaching level, it was difficult for them to meet Zhu Youlang's expectations for his children.
But what Zhu Hao teaches is different. His teaching is easy to understand, with quotations from classics and analogies. Not only is it easy to understand, but it also makes it easy to pass the exam. It is a teaching template tailor-made for them.
"Father has agreed to let us go out of the palace to play. We will leave the city in the next few days. We have to plan what to do after we go out."
Zhu San seemed to be a smart guy, and he started planning early, "Zhu Hao, you'd better investigate clearly where there are rabbits. If there are no rabbits, catching a goby or a sika deer will be fine too..."
Zhu Hao said angrily: "Do you think the area near Anlu Prefecture is a primitive jungle with few people? Why don't you let me catch a tiger for you?"
Zhu San said with a grin, "It would be great if we could catch a tiger...Okay, don't be angry. Even if we can't catch those, there's always a chance to catch a pheasant, right?"
Zhu Hao didn't explain any further to Zhu San.
Perhaps it was because of the previous rabbit catching incident that made the two little guys think that he was a survival expert in the wild, but they didn't know that it was just a scam.
At this time, Zhu Si was concentrating on studying the ball that Zhu Hao made for him.
Zhu Si had a look of joy on his face. The ball in his hand looked so cute no matter how he looked at it that he couldn't let it go.
"Are you going to kick it or not?"
Zhu San walked over and asked.
Zhu Si hesitated a little: "How about... we still play the old Cuju. Cuju made of leather... is easy to break."
Zhu San said, "Are you stupid? If you break it, why don't you just ask Zhu Hao to make another one for you?"
Zhu Si thought he was very smart, but he felt that his sister was a bit shameless. People went through a lot of trouble to find materials and make a good thing, but now she said it was broken and asked them to make it again?
Even if we are children of the royal palace, we can't be shameless, right?
Zhu Hao looked calm and waved his hand, saying, "Cuju was made to be played by people. If it can't be played, it can only be used as a decoration. What's the point? As she said, if it breaks, we can make a new one... It just takes some time and money..."
You can make a new one, but it’s not free. You have to pay for it and wait for a while.
This is also a kind of subtle teaching from Zhu Hao to Zhu Si. Things are good only when they are put to the best use. The same is true for people. You should make the best use of their talents. As for asking others to make things for you, you must also pay them accordingly. You can't think that others can do things for you without asking for anything in return just because you are a child of the royal palace or will become an emperor in the future.
"Okay, let's play Cuju!"
At Zhu Hao's call, several children started a game of Cuju.
…
…
Gongsun Yi had seen Prince Xing come back and was visibly more motivated during the afternoon classes.
Even if Zhu Hao didn't ask, he probably knew that Mr. Gongsun might have received some encouragement, or that the old fox Yuan Zonggao had used some tricks on him to make this young man who was ignorant of the world willing to work for the palace.
At dinner time, Gongsun Yi ate with particular relish.
Zhu Hao asked, "Sir, did Mr. Yuan say anything to you?"
Gongsun Yi put down his chopsticks and asked seriously, "Zhu Hao, I heard that you are Tang Bohu's disciple?"
Good man, you are so outspoken, you say whatever you hear!
At the beginning, Yuan Zonggao talked to me for such a long time about "Mr. Lu", but he didn't tell me the slightest information that he was Tang Bohu. And you, you revealed the secret in the first sentence?
Zhu Hao shook his head and said, "I don't know any Tang Bohu. Before I entered the palace, only Mr. Lu taught me knowledge."
"ah!?"
Gongsun Yi seemed very puzzled, and murmured, "Why did Master Yuan say that you are Tang Yin's disciple?"
good.
That's what I want you to say.
Zhu Hao said: "Mr. Lu was on his way to Jiangxi, passing through Anlu. Perhaps Tang Yin was his real name, but it doesn't matter. Once a teacher, always a teacher. Mr. Gongsun... you mean the same to me. I will treat you as a teacher in the future."
Gongsun Yi was stunned.
At first he did not understand what Zhu Hao was saying. After careful thought, he realized that Zhu Hao might have thought that he said Tang Yin was his teacher and was worried that his self-esteem would be hurt, so he spoke to comfort him.
What the hell is going on!
"Zhu Hao, you are able to accept Tang Bohu's teachings. That is a great opportunity for you. It also indirectly shows that your talent has been recognized by the world. Your future prospects must be limitless."
When Gongsun Yi made this comment, it was obvious that it came from the heart.
Zhu Hao pretended to be puzzled and asked, "Whether Mr. Lu is Tang Yin or not, has he... achieved great success? Could it be that Mr. Lu was a high-ranking official in the past?"
Gongsun Yi was so anxious that he was about to go crazy, while Jing Hong on the side looked at Zhu Hao as if he was a monster.
Jing Hong said, "Zhu Hao, are you really ignorant or are you just pretending? Tang Bohu, he's so famous, you really haven't heard of him?"
Even Jing Hong knows Tang Yin?
"I only know what's in the books. All the knowledge in the books was taught by Mr. Lu. No one has ever told me about him. How can I know?"
Zhu Hao said righteously.
Gongsun Yi smiled and said, "It is a blessing for you to know Tang Yin. Master Yuan also said that you once studied with Tang Yin and you have a deep understanding of Confucian classics, especially in teaching people. Let's exchange ideas later."
This time it was Zhu Hao and Jing Hong's turn to look at Gongsun Yi with strange eyes.
Do you think we are here to exchange martial arts skills?
I've never heard of a teacher who is not ashamed to ask questions and discuss academic matters with his students. The key point is that the student is still a child. Can't you be a little reserved or put on airs?
"Okay, I'm done eating. I'll go first!"
Gongsun Yi looked very excited. Those who didn't know him would think he was a child who had not grown up yet. He picked up the food box that had been packed before dinner and left.
Jing Hong asked: "Zhu Hao, how many secrets do you have?"
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "I have a lot of secrets. If we remain friends, I will slowly let you know them in the future."
"Tsk, so you're just studying hard... Just wait, I will definitely be more successful than you in the future."
Jinghong suddenly found confidence. It turned out that Zhu Hao's knowledge was limited to a certain range. He was not as "well-informed and knowledgeable" as me. Then I have more confidence than you.
Zhu Hao looked at Jing Hong who was trying hard to shovel rice into his mouth and said with a smile: "Young man, you are ambitious. I am optimistic about you."
Naturally, this earned him another cold stare from Jing Hong.
…
…
The palace said it agreed to let Zhu San and Zhu Si leave the palace, and actually made the arrangement.
The date is set for September 2nd.
Zhu Youluo and Yuan Zonggao also took into consideration that the Mid-Autumn Festival had passed and the weather was gradually turning cooler, so they asked the guards to take the little ones out for a walk while the autumn weather was clear and cool to broaden their horizons.
As the future King of Xing, Zhu Houcong was not allowed to leave the city at will according to the rules after the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty. This meant that after Zhu Houcong succeeded to the throne of Xing, it would be unrealistic for him to go out of the city for fun.
Zhu Youqi took advantage of the fact that his son was still young and would not be pressed too hard by the court, so he would have the opportunity to get out of the "cage" and naturally would not set up obstacles.
When the Crown Prince goes out, the palace takes extra care in arranging security.
On the afternoon of September 1st, Lu Song told Zhu Hao about the preparations for Prince Xing's Palace. He revealed this information to Zhu Hao because he wanted to secretly observe how Zhu Hao passed on the information, whether there were other insiders in the palace who could be contacted, or whether he escaped at night to meet someone so that he could catch him in the act.
But Zhu Hao was not impressed.
"Lu Dianzhang, don't worry. I believe that the Jinyiwei people are just trying to spy on the palace. They don't have the courage to do anything improper to the prince... This is not something that can be determined by the class they are in." Zhu Hao said casually.
At this time, Zhu San and Zhu Si were playing Cuju, and wanted to let Zhu Hao play, but the problem was that whichever side Zhu Hao joined would easily win. Zhu San and Zhu Si both wanted to be on the same team with Zhu Hao, and the final result of the discussion... was to let Zhu Hao be the referee on the sidelines, or when Zhu Hao played, it would be three against two, and pull little Lu Bing to the "weak" side.
Lu Song said: "Such important news, aren't you going to pass it on to the Zhu family?"
Zhu Hao spread his hands: "How can I go home before the fifth day of the New Year... Besides, my purpose is to stay in the palace to study. Can I tell them any news?"
This answer made Lu Song feel helpless.
I wanted to set a trap for Zhu Hao and lure him into the trap, but I found out that this guy was smarter than anyone else.
But just because you say nice things doesn't mean you won't actually take action. I can just secretly monitor your every move. You will definitely find a way to go out to listen to a book tonight. Then I will make an excuse that I have something to do at home and won't go with you, so that you can relax your vigilance. Then you will definitely make contact with someone...
"Zhu Hao, you'd better play with us. They are too weak and there's no fun in playing with them." Zhu Si saw Zhu Hao sitting on one side of the yard and talking to Lu Song, so he made an invitation.
Zhu Hao stood up and said, "Lu Dianzhang, are you going to escort the guards out of the city tomorrow?"
Lu Song frowned at first, then nodded after thinking about it: "Yes."
"Then help catch a rabbit or pheasant in advance. The princess and the prince like these the most. Also, go to bed early when you go back, so you don't have enough energy tomorrow... I won't leave the palace tonight, so don't waste your time on me!"
Zhu Hao's words were earnest and carried a bit of anger of "hating him for not fighting back", which just hit Lu Song's soft spot.
Lu Song didn't expect Zhu Hao to be so vicious. He actually blurted out all the plots he had thought of before. When he was about to refute, he found that Zhu Hao had already run towards the group of children.
Lu Song muttered, "If he wasn't among a group of children, no one would remember that he was only seven years old. Such deep scheming really shouldn't be possessed by a child... No wonder he can gain a foothold in the palace. If this kid continues to stay, I'm afraid it will seriously harm the interests of the palace. But... How should we get rid of him?"
In fact, the person who wanted to drive Zhu Hao away the most in the palace was not Yuan Zonggao, nor the craftsmen in the West Courtyard.
It was Lu Song.
Lu Song frowned as he looked at the majestic Zhu Hao on the court, and secretly made a plan in his mind. Since ordinary means didn't work, he would try something radical.
