"I may just have a stomachache. It's nothing serious. Let me rest for two days and then I'll go back to class with you guys."
Zhu Hao was telling the truth this time. I just had a stomachache.
Zhu San said: "You were so smart in the past, why are you so stupid this time? You also have a stomachache, it's obvious that you were poisoned, but the thief's target was not you... It seems that you are really a big fool."
When Zhu San saw that Zhu Hao was also stupid, he was very happy and finally felt that he was not inferior to Zhu Hao in every way.
Jing Hong who was standing next to him understood why Zhu Hao said that. It was obvious that he didn't want the prince to feel that he owed him anything.
This mindset...
Tsk tsk!
There is no comparison, really no comparison.
"Zhu Hao."
Zhu Si, who had been silent the whole time, said, "If you want to eat or drink anything, just tell me and I'll have someone prepare it for you. The palace will definitely take good care of you."
Zhu San rolled his eyes at his brother and said, "You talk as if he's going to die soon. Is he going to eat something good before going to the execution ground?"
Zhu Si frowned: "Third brother, your words seem to be even more unpleasant."
"It was obviously you who said something inappropriate first. I was correcting you, and you still blame me? You are such a blockhead." Zhu San didn't want to admit defeat in front of his brother, and the two siblings actually quarreled in front of Zhu Hao.
"OK OK!"
Zhu Hao was a little impatient. "There is a patient here. Can you please consider my feelings? There should be a proper occasion for arguments."
Zhu Si said: "Yes, listen to Zhu Hao, I will settle it with you when I get back ."
Zhu San said disdainfully: "You have no awareness at all, you are totally clueless... Well, Xiao Jingzi, A Bing, let's go, don't disturb Zhu Hao's rest, I still have to go find my father and ask him to teach that person who disrespected our palace a lesson."
In front of outsiders, she was always the "crown prince" and her words were very effective. Several children filed out of the door, and even Jinghong followed them to the classroom.
…
…
The palace study.
Zhu Youqiu listened to Yuan Zonggao's detailed report, focusing on Zhang Zhong's local movements in Huguang.
"... Zhang Zhong hurriedly led his men away from Anlu early this morning. It seems that he has something to hide. This incident is most likely his doing." Yuan Zonggao finally made his judgment.
In fact, Yuan Zonggao didn't really understand. Zhang Zhong dared to poison the Prince of Xing in the Prince of Xing's mansion. Wasn't he afraid that he would not be able to leave Anlu?
Zhu Youjun asked, "How is Zhu Hao doing?"
Yuan Zonggao said: "We sent someone to check it out early this morning, and it seems nothing serious. We need to wait and see."
Zhu Youqiu seemed to be thinking: "Then it's not a fatal poison?"
"this……"
Yuan Zonggao hesitated for a moment before saying, "According to what Zhang Fengzheng and Lu Dianzhang said, when Zhu Hao met Zhang Zhong, he was very cautious about food and tea. He only drank a sip of tea at Zhang Zhong's repeated request. After he came back, he became abnormal. We sent people to the restaurant for a detailed inspection last night, but no poison was found. I think Zhang Zhong destroyed the poison in time to cover up the evidence..."
Zhu Youqiu asked in confusion: "Is it fatal or not?"
Yuan Zonggao shook his head: "It's hard to draw a conclusion."
Zhu Youjun said: "No matter what, it is you, Yuan Changshi, who had foresight in not letting the prince go in person, nor letting the third girl attend the meeting. If something unexpected really happened... Alas!"
Yuan Zonggao did not intend to take credit for it, and said cautiously: "Prince Xing, this matter has some unusual implications and should be investigated in detail. Logically speaking, Zhang Zhong would not dare to do anything wrong in Anlu, but I heard that he is very close to Prince Ning of Jiangxi. Even if he was poisoned, it might not be instructed by someone in the palace..."
As a minister of the Ming Dynasty, Yuan Zonggao was very clear about the rules and could not let Zhu Youju feel resentful towards the emperor.
"Prince Ning?"
Zhu Youqiu didn't quite believe this statement.
Yuan Zonggao said: "Prince Ning's ambition is becoming more and more apparent. There are rumors in the capital that after he resumed his guard, he asked Your Majesty to give him the authority to punish the vassal states in Jiangxi on the grounds that many of them committed illegal acts. With the help of the scoundrels, Your Majesty actually agreed to his request. If things go as expected, the vassal states in Jiangxi will probably be targeted by him."
Zhu Youjun asked hurriedly: "Will he attack my Prince Xing's Mansion?"
Yuan Zonggao continued to shake his head, not to say that he didn't want to, but that he was not sure.
"What about Zhu Hao...?"
Zhu Youju also intended to ask Yuan Zonggao to do something.
Yuan Zonggao said, "Prince Xing, please relax. I will arrange everything so that the Zhu family will not know about this. If they know that the Crown Prince is fine, they may take further action... Unfortunately, Zhu Hao is still a member of the Zhu family. I don't know if we can recruit him... No matter what, we must always be on guard against him."
Zhu Youqiu looked at Yuan Zonggao with confusion.
Zhu Hao has saved my son from danger many times, but even so, can't he be fully trusted? Isn't this unfair to a child?
Yuan Zonggao added: "Perhaps he really has a connection with the Crown Prince, which is why he has helped the Crown Prince so many times. Keeping him in the palace is a mistake in some ways. I hope he can devote himself to the Crown Prince in the future and make the Palace's support for him worthwhile."
…
…
An old fox is still an old fox after all. Zhu Hao knew that Yuan Zonggao could not completely trust him.
Even Lu Song was secretly on guard.
They are all in name only. For the sake of his own interests, he can only use his "sincerity" to impress them little by little. But no matter what he does, the Prince Xing's Mansion will still treat him as an enemy and guard against him. But this is not important. The only thing Zhu Hao needs is to gain Zhu Si's trust.
There is no need to worry about what Zhu Youlang and Yuan Zonggao think, as long as Zhu Si remembers his kindness.
After a few days of rest, Zhu Hao was finally able to return to class, but he was still very weak.
When Gongsun Yi saw Zhu Hao, he felt like a savior had arrived. He went up to him and asked about his well-being. Because the palace did not tell Gongsun Yi about Zhu Hao's poisoning, they just thought that Zhu Hao was absent from class because he was sick.
"Zhu Hao, you have been ill for quite some time. Now that you are feeling better, you should teach today's class." Gongsun Yi fully demonstrated his shameless nature.
What I mean is that the teaching position in this classroom is yours, and I am just a nominal teacher. When you, the real teacher, come back, you will naturally be the one giving the lectures, and I will just be your assistant.
Zhu San said with a sarcastic look on his face: "Mr. Gongsun, Zhu Hao is teaching all the lessons, what are you going to teach? You are paid by the royal palace."
Gongsun Yi didn't blush at all, and said with a smile: "You can't say that. In the matter of learning, it is important to learn from each other's strengths and make up for one's weaknesses. There must be a teacher among three people. Zhu Hao can be regarded as a teacher in some aspects... Teacher, as long as it helps you improve your studies, it doesn't matter who says it."
Zhu Hao said: "Sir, I have just recovered from a serious illness and may not be able to give lectures yet, so please..."
Gongsun Yi nodded: "In that case, then you can sit down and talk."
As soon as these words were spoken, not only Zhu San, but also Jing Hong and Zhu Si looked at Gongsun Yi with ridicule, thinking that this gentleman was a bit shameful.
Zhu Hao did not argue with Gongsun Yi anymore. He sat back in his seat and said, "Since Mr. Gongsun asked me to talk, I will talk a little. If I am not strong enough... I will have to rest. I hope Mr. Gongsun and all the students will understand."
Zhu San said happily: "Very good, Mr. Zhu is back again, we welcome Mr. Zhu to give lectures!"
…
…
After the afternoon class, Gongsun Yi left early, while Zhu Hao sat there sickly, closing his eyes to rest.
Several children surrounded Zhu Hao, their concern evident in their words. Just at this moment, Yuan Zonggao brought Lu Song into the school.
"Mr. Yuan."
Several children stood up together and saluted Yuan Zonggao.
Yuan Zonggao looked around and asked, "Where is your master?"
Zhu San spoke frankly: "He left after class. He was always so quick to leave when school was over. He was also lazy during the lectures. He would never speak if Zhu Hao was allowed to speak..."
In the past, Zhu San did not have so many complaints about Gongsun Yi, but this time Zhu Hao stepped forward to help her and her brother to avoid disaster, and she was grateful. But today, seeing that Gongsun Yi continued to let Zhu Hao, who had not yet recovered from his illness, give lectures, she felt indignant, and did not care about the difference between teacher and student, and directly complained to Yuan Zonggao.
Yuan Zonggao smiled.
Even if Zhu San didn't complain, would he know nothing about it? He had already sent someone to investigate the situation in the classroom . Even Gongsun Yi himself did not hide the fact that Zhu Hao usually helped him teach.
Because of this, Yuan Zonggao felt that Gongsun Yi was very honest and worth using.
Anyway, there is no suitable replacement at the moment. If someone else were to take over, the children would have to adapt and it would take a long time to observe whether they are good or not. It is really too troublesome...
Since Zhu San and Zhu Si's academic performance are improving steadily, there is no need to mess around without finding a suitable candidate.
"Zhu Hao, Jing Hong, I have something to tell you." Yuan Zonggao stated his purpose.
Zhu San asked, "Mr. Yuan, do you want Xiao Si and I to take A Bing away?"
Yuan Zonggao said, "No need. You can just listen. It's not a big deal. Just tell them... about Zhu Hao's illness. After you two leave the palace, don't mention it to your family."
Jing Hong and Zhu Hao both understood why Yuan Zonggao gave such instructions.
Zhu San didn't understand: "Why? If someone is doing something bad to me, I can't tell anyone else. If the world knows, it won't be our fault."
Zhu Si beside him reminded: "Third brother, I think what father and Yuan Changshi meant is to ask Zhu Hao to pretend to be me...You should not let more people know about your affairs. We are still members of the royal family. Why should the people know about the internal affairs of the royal family?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Zhu San pouted, obviously unhappy with his brother's teaching him a lesson.
Yuan Zonggao looked at Zhu Si with admiration.
Although he is very young, he has a different perspective from other children and can actually understand the pros and cons behind this matter.
If the content in class was taught by Zhu Hao, then these experiences in dealing with people should have some credit for Gongsun Yi's teaching, right?
"Yuan Changshi, you don't need to say it."
Zhu Si looked at Yuan Zonggao sincerely, "Zhu Hao explained it to me before, and reminded Jing Hong not to tell his family. We all want this matter to be settled as soon as possible..."
Yuan Zonggao originally thought that Gongsun Yi still had some abilities, but after hearing what Zhu Si said, he realized that he had overestimated the young instructor. Even the principles of how to behave in society were taught by Zhu Hao. Thinking of this, the smile on Yuan Zonggao's face became a little distressed.