Chapter 82 Routine
Five miles from the city.
The convoy arrived at a relatively flat meadow, and all the children got off the carriages, and the autumn outing officially began.
Just when Zhu San and Zhu Si were getting ready to have fun, they found that the guards spread out the silk cloth they had brought, and then used the trees near the grass, or sharpened wooden sticks and stuck them into the ground, to start making curtains around them.
Zhu San frowned and asked Lu Song who was directing the work: "Lu Dianzhang, what are you doing? Why do you want to cordon this place off?"
Lu Song said: "To answer the prince, this is to prevent someone from snooping..."
Zhu San's eyes widened, not understanding what Lu Song meant.
On the other side, Zhu Si seemed to have known this would happen. He sighed, "They just let us play in a fenced area and not let us run around."
"ah!?"
Zhu San looked around and saw the river and mountains in the distance were gradually blocked by the curtain. He was very dissatisfied and almost roared, "It's such a narrow place... Then why did we go out of the city? Any courtyard in the palace... is bigger than this!"
Zhu Hao finally figured out the palace's tactics.
They said they agreed to let the children go out of the city to play, but they were not allowed to move freely. Not only did they send a large number of guards to protect them closely, but they also marked out an area and only allowed the children to play in this designated area and not to go beyond the line.
This is probably the sadness of being in the royal family.
Lu Song said, "Yuan Changshi has specifically instructed that if the two princes cannot follow the rules and want to force their way out of the city and put themselves in danger, then today's plan to leave the city will be abandoned. I have been asked to take the two princes back to the palace immediately... Please don't embarrass me, my Lord."
It was a naked threat, and Zhu San was so angry that he was speechless.
Before and on the way out, she was fantasizing about how to have a good time. She had planned to catch rabbits and pheasants, but the reality was that they were only allowed to move around in a small circle, and the silk cloth even isolated them from the outside world. They didn't even know what was happening outside...
Just then, Gongsun Yi and his wife came over.
Madam Gongsun bowed respectfully to Zhu San.
Zhu San turned a blind eye to everything in front of him, pouted his lips, and sulked alone: "My father is untrustworthy and actually fooled me like this... Humph, I must find him to have a good argument when I get back."
Zhu Hao said, "I think Cuju here is pretty good. Look how flat the grass is. Let's add a few guards and play Cuju together... Isn't it fun?"
"well!"
Zhu Si was the first to agree with this proposal.
Originally, it was just a few kids playing, and it was not exciting enough. But if the guards were allowed to form a team with them and have a multi-player Cuju match, Zhu Si would suddenly find it very lively and interesting.
Zhu San wrinkled his nose and didn't take it seriously.
Gongsun Yi asked in confusion: "Why are you playing Cuju here? Shouldn't you be reciting poems or painting?"
Zhu Hao walked over and bowed to Madam Gongsun with a smile: "Student greets Master's wife."
This one sentence made Madam Gongsun look embarrassed. She stood there with a red face, not knowing how to respond.
"Mr. Gongsun, we are just out of town for fun today. The specific method of playing is just a formality. Why don't we play Cuju together... Mr. Gongsun, do you want to join us?"
Zhu Hao actually invited Gongsun Yi to join this Cuju competition.
Gongsun Yi looked at his wife, and Madam Gongsun gave him an encouraging look. He didn't know what to do for a moment.
It is a very embarrassing thing for a teacher to play with students in this era where teachers are respected.
But he was a big kid himself. Zhu Si approached him at the right time and said eagerly, "Mr. Gongsun, why don't you play Cuju with us? It's so much fun."
Gongsun Yi hesitated for a while, and finally nodded in agreement.
…
…
A unique outdoor Cuju game officially began.
Six to six.
There are two children on each side, which means there are four adults in each team.
The rules were made by Zhu Hao. Since children and adults were competing on the same field, certain restrictions had to be placed on adults. First of all, adults could only touch the ball with their right foot. If they touched the ball with their left foot, it would be a foul.
After that, only children can shoot, and goals scored by adults do not count.
The last rule is that if a child is dribbling the ball, adults must be more than one meter apart. They are only allowed to block the passing line and are not allowed to compete for the ball or have physical contact, otherwise it is also a foul.
Lu Song will be the referee.
After the game started, the children had a great time, and even Gongsun Yi quickly integrated into the carefree atmosphere of the competition.
As a result, no one forgot that people were surrounding the field outside. Even Zhu San was fully involved. At her strong request, Zhu Hao joined her team, but unfortunately it was not two-on-two now. There were many restrictions for adults, but the quality of the game was still determined by the adults' skills. The children were just participants.
By noon, all the children were exhausted and out of breath. In the end, a few of them just stayed in the front court waiting for the pass to shoot, which was equivalent to leaving all the burden of defense to the adults in the team.
…
…
After playing for more than an hour, when it was time to prepare lunch at noon, Zhu San was so tired that his whole body collapsed. He lay on his back on the grass, gasping for breath.
Zhu Si, however, was full of energy. He sat next to Zhu Hao as if nothing had happened, wiping the sweat off his forehead while talking about the game just now, how the ball should have been played, what I should have done, and what you guys shouldn’t have done…
"You're just bragging. Didn't Zhu Hao score the most goals? You're talking as if you won."
Zhu San couldn't stand it anymore, so he struggled to get up from the ground, staggered to the two of them, held his waist, and spoke with disdain in his tone.
Zhu Si smiled and said, "Third brother, how about letting Zhu Hao team up with me this afternoon, and Jing Hong team up with you?"
"Ah? We have to play Cuju in the afternoon? Aren't you tired? I also want to catch rabbits." Zhu San immediately objected.
She had a lot of fun in the morning, but this was not the purpose of going out of the city for fun. If she wanted to play Cuju, she could do so in the palace. Why did she have to go out into the wild?
Lu Song was arranging for the guards to grill meat. The fire had already been set up. Zhu San walked over and asked, "Lu Dianzhang, can you take us to catch rabbits this afternoon? Hunting is also fine. Why can we only stay here?"
Lu Song said with regret: "Please forgive me, my lord. I cannot neglect your safety. This is the order of Yuan Changshi, and I cannot disobey."
Zhu San said anxiously: "We are only allowed to move around in this small circle... It will suffocate us to death!"
No matter how she protested, Lu Song remained unmoved.
Finally, Zhu San could only come back and look at Zhu Hao with a sad face: "Zhu Hao, can you help me talk to Lu Dianzhang? You have a lot of ideas, as long as you can convince him..."
Zhu Hao shrugged: "I'm afraid this is what the prince wants. There's nothing I can do about it."
Zhu Si glanced at Zhu San and pouted, "It would be great if we could play Cuju here. It's much more fun to play on the grass than on the bluestone slabs in the palace. Why do we have to catch rabbits? This is what my father ordered. How could Lu Dianzhang disobey my father's order?"
"Hey, Xiao Si, we fought together for this opportunity. Not only do you not help me, but you actually teach me a lesson?" Zhu San was even more dissatisfied.
Just when Zhu Si was about to argue with his sister, Zhu Hao said, "Forget it, forget it. I'll go talk to Lu Dianzhang. Maybe Lu Dianzhang will give in."
At the same time, Gongsun Yi happened to bring his wife over. When he heard the conversation between the children, he immediately felt that Zhu Hao was a little "arrogant".
Lu Song is acting on orders from the palace. Who do you think you are, Zhu Hao? Can you change Lu Song's attitude by talking to him? Will Lu Song put himself in a position of being punished for you?
"Zhu Hao, it all depends on you!" Zhu San's eyes were full of resentment, but also with a bit of hope, as if he really placed his last hope on Zhu Hao.
…
…
Zhu Hao went to see Lu Song alone.
Lu Song seemed to know what Zhu Hao was here to say, and said with a straight face: "Prince Song's life is on your shoulders, so you don't need to say anything more."
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "You seem to know why I'm here?"
Lu Song thought about it and suddenly realized that Zhu Hao was an undercover agent arranged by the Jinyiwei in the palace. Why would he ask for his favor in order to help Zhu San and Zhu Si ask for freedom to play?
This kid is probably using this as an excuse to come to me and talk about other things, right?
"What are you going to do?"
Lu Song felt nervous for no reason.
If Zhu Hao really had any conspiracy, Zhu Houcong would be in great danger.
Zhu Hao spread his hands and said, "I just want Lu Dianzhang to do us a favor and let us go around."
"Impossible!" Lu Song refused sternly.
Zhu Hao said: "I know that Lu Dianzhang was ordered by the king, and it was Yuan Changshi who ordered it personally, but I think, Lu Dianzhang, you may have misunderstood Yuan Changshi's meaning."
"Um?"
Lu Song squinted and looked at Zhu Hao.
"I don't think Yuan Changshi wants us to stay somewhere outside the city without moving for the whole day. This would make us too obvious... If someone attacks, I'm afraid everyone here will be in trouble." Zhu Hao analyzed.
Lu Song sneered disdainfully: "This place is heavily guarded. Even if someone wants to launch a sneak attack, they will definitely not succeed."
Zhu Hao said: "From what I know, Captain Lin is a ruthless person. It is impossible for him to launch a sneak attack in broad daylight as a captain of the Jinyiwei. He cannot put the court into an unjust situation. But who is standing behind him? Qian Ning... This person will do anything to please the emperor...
"If Captain Lin leads his men to disguise themselves as river pirates or mountain bandits, with 200 to 300 men...all elite Jinyiwei, and suddenly attack us...what are the chances of Lu Dian's victory?
"Lu Dianzhang, don't answer in a hurry. Let me analyze it. There is an open space around here, and there are no obstacles to rely on. When the bandits gather around, you guards may be able to break through the siege, but we children... I'm afraid we will have to give our lives here. Why do you think we should let such a big target stay in a certain place for a long time, so that the enemy can take advantage of it?"
After Zhu Hao finished speaking, Lu Song's face turned dark.
He didn't believe Zhu Hao's words at first, but after thinking carefully, the little guy's analysis was reasonable. The enemy launched a sudden attack in an open space, and they must have surrounded him from all sides and swarmed in. If the enemy's number far exceeded his own, how could he ensure the safety of Zhu Houcong, who was only seven years old and had no ability to protect himself?
And there was one thing Zhu Hao didn't say, but Lu Song understood it very well.
If Captain Lin really brings people to kill them, then Lu Song, as the accomplice, will not be able to escape responsibility. Others can say that they are loyal to their master, but what about you, Lu Song?
If you want to gain a reputation for loyalty and righteousness as a traitor, just dream on!
If anything happens to the prince, you, Lu Song, will be a sinner for all eternity.
"what do you want to say in the end?"
Lu Song felt that Zhu Hao had something else going on.
Zhu Hao said, "I think it's not a good idea for the prince to stay here for a long time. Why don't we make a little... change and not stay here in the afternoon. We can return to the city a little earlier. On the way back, the route will be slightly deviated. Just pretend that we took the wrong road and went to another place. Allow the prince and the princess to get off the car and walk around. Finally, return to the city on time...
"This way, the enemy can't find the target, the prince can achieve his goal of having fun, and you can still complete your mission...killing two birds with one stone, what do you think?"
After Zhu Hao finished his proposal, Lu Song felt uncomfortable and almost started coughing violently.
Is this possible?
Go ahead and stop here and there to look around. This way, even if you are held accountable by the palace later, you will have a reason to respond.
Yuan Zonggao was required to stay in a small circle after being stationed to prevent his children from running around or being spied on by the Jinyiwei, but there was no regulation on which route to take back to the city or how long it would take?
