Volume 2: Residence in the Capital Chapter 214: Your son is not as good as my son, his father is worse than my father
Since I told Zhang Shou that I would never scare people, the questions asked by the emperor to the next four people were more normal. When these four noble sons who came in one by one saw Zhang Shou sitting beside them with a smile, they naturally felt confident. Although they could not answer fluently, they behaved quite calmly in front of the emperor. Of course, this was also because the emperor did not test their knowledge.
However, at the end, this time the emperor asked everyone the same question: "Which of my daughters or nieces do you want to marry?"
No matter how calm they appeared at first, Zhang Shou found that everyone was stunned by this sudden question, and no one was spared. And after they reacted, the four people gave different answers.
"I have admired Princess Yongping for a long time. Although I know that I am not talented and knowledgeable enough, I still want to give it a try..." This is the straightforward type .
"I know that the princesses of the royal family are always of good character and appearance. No matter who I marry, he will definitely be a good match for me." This is the type of person who tries not to offend anyone.
"I heard that Princess Ning He's father died when she was young, and she likes watching plays. My father is kind-hearted and happens to be a play lover..." Hearing that the third guy had unknowingly diverted the topic, Zhang Shou seriously suspected that if he were to choose a son-in-law for his daughter and niece, he would definitely scold them immediately, asking, "Are you going to marry your own wife, or do you want to find a stepmother for yourself?"
"I have only seen Princess Yongping from afar, but I saw that she was extremely beautiful and charming. From this, I can see how charming the other princesses and princesses are. I hope that my future children can have excellent mothers like you princesses and princesses." This is what the daughter-in-law starts thinking about her children before she even gets married.
Because the emperor did not ask Zhang Shou what he thought of each person he met this time, after meeting these four people, Zhang Shou felt exhausted. He even had to be thankful that the emperor did not ask this question to everyone before, otherwise the strange answers would definitely make him laugh out loud. In this era when marriage is entirely up to parents, most young people dare not even think about their other half.
And even if you thought about it, would you dare to say it in front of the emperor? If you really said that you liked a certain princess or county lady by name, and the emperor asked one more question, when did you meet them, what if you didn't respond well and the emperor flew into a rage?
Just when he was wondering in his heart, after the fourth person left, the emperor suddenly asked: "Zhang Qing, what do you think of these four?"
Even though they agreed to speak well for others, they still had to behave well themselves. At this time, Zhang Shou could not help but say unhappily, "The first one can't write eight-part essays, and being brazen won't impress Princess Yongping; the second one's answer is universally applicable, which is really too cunning. The third one, I don't know where he heard about Princess Ninghe's preferences, but he actually got the point wrong."
"As for the fourth one..." Zhang Shou paused, then sighed and said, "He's already thinking about his children before he even gets married. I don't know what to say. If he doesn't marry a princess or a county lady this time, I suspect that once his future wife gets married and knows about this, the look in her eyes will make him miserable for the rest of his life."
As he spoke, he looked at the few people in the hall and said sincerely, "So, in order to prevent these four boys from ruining their lives because of a moment of stupidity, I beg the emperor and everyone not to laugh at them and not to spread their stupid words. After all, like them, most unmarried men have never imagined who their future wives will be, let alone say it in public."
"Zhang Qing, your words have reminded me." The emperor glanced around with a smile, then said lightly, "How these forty people performed today, only I, Zhang Qing, and you know. If any messy words are spread outside in the future, then I will only hold you accountable, and don't blame me for being implicated when the time comes!"
Naturally, no one dared to take the emperor's warning lightly. Whether it was Liu Feng, the manager of the Qianqing Palace standing beside the emperor, or several other palace servants, or Chu Kuan, the secretary of the Silijian, they all responded in unison. As for whether someone would be resentful of Zhang Shou for bringing up this matter, that was another matter. Under such a clear threat of collective punishment, everyone would naturally stare at each other.
After warning his attendants, the emperor smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang just commented on their answers to my last question, and didn't mention their previous performances. This is unfair. But generally speaking, this judgment is really sharp. Next are Zhu Jia Erlang and Zhang Chen. One is your future second uncle, and the other is the head monk you personally appointed. I wonder how they are."
These two... have more uncontrollable factors than Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu. Fortunately, that guy Lu Sanpang is engaged, otherwise today would be a headache!
Zhang Shou thought so in his heart, but his face was calm: "Second Master Zhu has always been unstable and impulsive, and easily instigated by others, but now he has gradually learned to reflect on himself and can objectively recognize the gap between himself and his elder brother. It is a great virtue to know how to correct mistakes, but the future is still too far away."
"Zhang Chen once stood up during the chaos caused by the Linhai Camp. He has a rare sense of justice." Zhang Shou deliberately left it vague. He did not specify whether it was Zhang Chen's previous exposure or his risky behavior in the Cuiyun Room. After a pause, he continued, "Although he is unruly, violent and impulsive, he can raise his arms and call for action at critical moments. He has great leadership potential."
Liu Feng couldn't help but laugh secretly. Zhu Er was the shame of the Duke of Zhao's mansion, and Zhang Chen was a playboy that even his father, Duke Qin, didn't want to take care of. With just these two people, how could Zhang Shou praise them so highly?
The emperor said thoughtfully: "Since there are only two of them left, and they are old acquaintances, then let them come in together and I will question them together!"
There is no doubt that this is against the rules, and for the 38 people in front, it can even be said to be unfair. However, there is no absolute fairness in this world. Chu Kuan immediately agreed and went out to call someone. While waiting for someone to come in, the emperor suddenly asked with a smile: "I heard from Duke Qin that he entrusted Zhang Chen to you?"
This time, Zhang Shou was extremely shocked. Duke Qin Zhang Chuan is not that bad, right? You, as a father, don't care about your son, and you pushed everything to me, your teacher. This is outrageous enough, but you don't feel ashamed, and you even said this in front of the emperor? He immediately frowned and said coldly: "This is the first time I know that there is a father like Duke Qin in the world!"
"Oh, why do you say that, Mr. Zhang?"
Seeing that the emperor did not show any strange expression when he criticized Zhang Chuan, but asked back with interest, Zhang Shou said unhappily: " As a father, you should also have the responsibilities of a father. How can you just leave the child to the mother and nanny when he is young, and leave it to the teacher and daughter-in-law when he grows up? Raising a child without teaching is the fault of the father, and teaching without strictness is the laziness of the teacher. Duke Qin raised a child but did not teach him. Has he never reflected on this?"
At this moment, even the other palace servants couldn't help but secretly smack their lips, thinking that Zhang Shou was really bold to criticize the Duke in front of the emperor. Liu Feng couldn't help but look at the emperor, but what he didn't expect was that the emperor not only didn't blame Zhang Shou for overstepping his bounds, but instead said meaningfully: "According to what Zhang Qing said, Duke Qin seems to have made a big mistake?"
The emperor laughed as he spoke, "Does it mean that Zhang Chen was naughty in the past, but he himself did nothing wrong?"
"If the father disciplines the son but he does not listen and keeps making trouble, then of course it is the son's fault. However, if the father lets go and the son becomes rebellious and abandons himself, then of course the father is at fault. Duke Qin used to ignore Zhang Chen, but today he entrusted Zhang Chen to me. He is taking his father's job too lightly!"
"Oh? Zhang Wu just said that it was because of his father's bloody battles that he has the current wealth and glory. As a concubine's son has never had to worry about food and clothing since childhood, so he cannot demand that his father treat him equally. He is more determined to be self-sufficient and work hard. When I looked at Zhang Qing, didn't you look very admiring of Zhang Wu at that time?" The emperor continued to ask.
"Your Majesty, I agree with Zhang Wu, not the Marquis of Nanyang. The Marquis of Nanyang has more than one son, and Zhang Wu has almost no chance of inheriting the family business. So, if Zhang Wu cannot broaden his mind and take a long-term view, he will only destroy himself in his self-pity day after day. But even so, I still want to say that as a father, the Marquis of Nanyang is only responsible for giving birth but not raising the child."
"Zhang Chen is the only heir of Duke Qin, so naturally, others will regard him and Duke Qin as one. Everything he has done since he was a child, whether good or bad, will be attributed to Duke Qin's family education. I wonder why Duke Qin doesn't care about him? So, that day at Duke Qin's mansion, I said to Zhang Chen, after you get married and have children, you must treat your son well."
"In my opinion, if Zhang Chen works hard to improve himself and educates his son well, his son will be able to achieve great success one day when he surpasses him."
Chu Kuan had just brought Zhang Chen and Zhu Er to the steps of the Qianqing Palace when he happened to hear the last half of Zhang Shou's words. He couldn't help but glance at Zhang Chen. Seeing his gloomy face, he thought for a moment and decided to stop for the time being. The next moment, the emperor's voice came from inside: "Oh? What achievement?"
Zhang Shou said calmly: "He can take his son to tell Duke Qin that your son is not as good as my son, and his father is worse than my father!"
Outside the Qianqing Palace, Chu Kuan was stunned at first, then he couldn't help laughing. However, when he saw Zhu Er squatting on the ground, almost choking with laughter, he was so angry that he quickly went up to pick him up and scolded him in a low voice: "This is the Qianqing Palace, be careful of impoliteness!"
When he glanced at Zhang Chen with some concern, fearing that Zhang Chen would get furious because of Zhang Shou's overly joking statement, he saw Zhang Chen muttering to himself, repeating Zhang Shou's just two sentences, and in a moment he was beaming with joy.
Zhang Chen’s idea is very simple: If there ever comes a day when my son is better than me, and I am better than my father, then I will definitely do as Zhang Shou said and bring him to my father to show off. That would be so proud!
Seeing this scene, Chu Kuan really felt that he could not figure out the thoughts of young people these days, so he could only ignore Zhang Chen and go straight to the gate to report. Then he turned around and said to the high-spirited Zhang Chen and the dejected Zhu Er: "The emperor summons you."
Regardless of how his mood changed in an instant, Zhang Chen suppressed his raised corners of his mouth, while Zhu Er raised his drooping corners of his mouth, and then they both went up the stairs. Although the door of the Qianqing Palace was large enough, a thick curtain had been hung because of the cold weather, so the two of them struggled for a while when entering the door, and in the end Zhu Er was defeated as expected.
So, poor Second Master Zhu could only complain in his heart, why did they have to meet together when it was their turn to meet the last two people, while everyone else went in one by one? Could it be that the emperor got impatient because he had to meet too many people? If that was the case, he was really unlucky that the list was suddenly reversed!
After they both paid their respects, Zhu Er was stunned by the emperor's words before he had time to calm down.
"Zhu Erlang, I heard that you once planned to marry Yingying to Sanlang from Lu Shangshu's family?"
Zhu Er almost wanted to cry. I have already received so many lessons for my inappropriate matchmaking, why are you still holding me back, Your Majesty? He thought it was Zhang Shou who was holding a grudge, but when he saw Zhang Shou's stunned expression and then seemed to be trying to defend him, he suddenly woke up and shouted passionately.
"Your Majesty, I have long known that I was wrong. Could you please not mention this shameful past? Minister Lu is cunning, and Fatty Lu is even more cunning. How can they be a good match for Yingying? If I had known that Dr. Zhang and Yingying were arranged by my father, and that the two fell in love at first sight, and were in love with each other, how happy it would be, I would never have had such thoughts!"
This time it was Zhang Chen who couldn't help laughing, but after realizing that this was the emperor's presence, he stood up straight and didn't say a word. Zhang Shou wanted to speak up for Zhu Er, but he was so amused by the praise that sounded like a poem at the end that he could only say with a straight face, "Your Majesty, Zhu Erlang has frankly admitted his mistakes, please don't tease him."
Seeing that the emperor was indeed laughing and trying to change the subject, he said with a half-smile, "When Mr. Zhu heard that his elder brother was studying under Mr. Liu, he learned from his mistakes and decided to cheer up. He wanted to throw those nonsense past events into the ditch. As the only male left in the Zhaoguo Mansion, can the emperor send a reliable master to let him practice martial arts?"
Zhu Er was stunned. Practice martial arts? He had practiced martial arts since he was a child, and he didn't know how many times he had been scolded by his grandmother and father. He thought he had an elder brother to stand in front of him, but now... no, what if something really happened in the future? Seeing that the emperor was indeed looking at him thoughtfully, he made up his mind and finally made a decision.
He bowed deeply and whispered, "Your Majesty, my foundation is not solid. Please send a patient, gentle, calm and not impulsive master who can talk to people well. I will work hard to learn... As long as he doesn't think I have no qualifications..."
The emperor couldn't help but laugh when he found Zhu Er's voice was getting smaller and smaller. Was he really eager to practice martial arts but afraid of the hardship and the bad temper of his master? However, seeing that this cousin who everyone thought was useless could actually have such determination, he was naturally willing to help him: "Okay, get up, I promise you!"
Zhang Chen didn't expect that Zhu Er's outrageous request would be granted. He stared at Zhu Er with wide eyes and suddenly shouted, "Your Majesty, I also want to ask you for a favor... I want to learn how to write eight-part essays. Please help me talk to Master Ge and ask him to teach me, your disciple!"
