Volume 2: Residence in the Capital Chapter 90 The Emperor has arrived!
In Zhang Shou the streets must be cleaned by sprinkling water, soldiers and horses must lead the way, the imperial procession must be in procession, and the people must burn incense... In any case, it must be a very tedious process, and it must be slow.
However, contrary to his expectations, just like when Concubine Yu and Princess Yongping arrived at Yuehua Tower, although there were hundreds of soldiers and horses surrounding them, the defense was far from strict. From the time Zhu Ying hurriedly delivered the message early in the morning, to the time when hundreds of cavalrymen as the emperor's vanguard arrived at Guozijian Street and Jixian Street ahead to set up defenses, and then the news of the emperor's departure came, it took only a little over an hour.
This also includes the court meeting when the emperor announced the news.
As for the Imperial College, from academic officials to students, there was no crowd of four or five thousand people coming out to greet him. It was not because they were being disrespectful, but simply because from the archway at the entrance to the Yilun Hall in the middle... there was simply no room for so many people!
There are too many people to fit these words. Zhang Shou heard these words with his own ears from Zhou Xun, the chief academic officer of the Imperial College.
Zhang Shou knew in his heart that in such a peaceful and prosperous era, there must be 4,000 to 5,000 students in the Imperial College, and maybe even more. However, there must be many students like Zhang Chen and Lu Sanlang who are in the Imperial College but are just students in the Imperial College. Even if the emperor cannot count the number of people, it doesn't matter if there are a few dozen people missing, but if there are a few thousand or two thousand, it will be exposed!
As a member of the academic officials, Zhang Shou was standing together with a group of doctors from the Imperial College at this time. Zhang Chen and Zhu Er, who were likely to be higher than them in terms of family background and future official positions, fell behind with Lu Sanlang and a large group of noble children. Zhu Ying, Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai were even further behind. The academic officials, students and their families were clearly divided into three levels, until the sound of horse hooves broke the silence.
However, this time there was no huge escort team, only one person on horseback. As the person got closer, Zhang Shou quickly recognized that it was Chu Kuan, the secretary of the Imperial Household Department, whom he had met once in Yuehua Tower.
A man rode up alone, jumped off his horse, nodded with a fake smile, and said calmly, "The emperor has ordered that all students, be they school officials or students, should study and give lectures. The emperor wants to see the real scene of studying, not the empty ceremony of welcoming them."
After saying this, seeing Zhou Xun leading everyone to bow and salute, he smiled and said, "So, Grand Secretary, Junior Secretary, let's disperse now. The emperor didn't use a grand procession, nor a legal procession, he was just escorted by the Sharp Cavalry Battalion, so there's no need for everyone to wait here."
Chu Kuan's words were warm, but Zhou Xun and Luo Yi, the chief priest and secretary, knew that this eunuch seemed to be low-key and did not seem to have power, but he was extremely smart and capable, so he was regarded as the best candidate to succeed the Silijian as the chief. So, Luo, who always liked to step back and not take responsibility, took a step forward for the first time based on the principle of caution.
"Then may I ask, Eunuch Chu, when will the emperor arrive?"
"How would I know that?" Chu Kuan laughed, and swept his eyes through the crowd. He fell on Zhang Shou, who was wearing a doctor's cap and robes, but still stood out from the crowd. Then he said lightly, "Anyway, what the emperor wants to see is reading and teaching."
After thoroughly understanding Chu Kuan's implication, Zhou Xun and Luo Yi immediately turned around and gave loud instructions to the school officials. Naturally, Zhang Shou, who had just taken office but had not even greeted the two superiors and had caused a lot of trouble, was completely left aside. Even when the two hurriedly chased the school officials back to the lecture hall, they ignored Zhang Shou.
Zhou Xun, who was a second-rank official, remembered this after walking a few steps. He turned around and ordered: "Dr. Zhang, since the emperor is here to reward Zhang Chen and other meritorious students, please take them here to welcome the emperor. I will go to inspect the Imperial College now!" Anyway, Zhang Shou was a person who had a name in front of the emperor, so he couldn't care less about showing his face in front of the emperor again!
Before Zhang Shou could agree, he saw Zhou Xun trotting away at a speed that was totally inconsistent with his age. He couldn't help but feel angry and amused, but of course he also understood the implication of his words.
Anyway, you haven't been assigned any duties yet, and Zhang Chen's students never attend classes. If you don't welcome the emperor, who will?
When Zhang Shou turned around , he saw Zhang Chen, Lu Sanlang and others surrounding Chu Kuan with smiles on their faces. They started talking to him at once, calling him all kinds of names. However, no one tried to sneakily bribe him with valuables such as gold, silver or jade pendants.
It was obvious that Chu Kuan was no longer someone who could be dismissed with such a small thing.
Zhang Shou glanced at Zhu Ying who was talking to Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai, and after a brief thought, he walked towards Chu Kuan, intending to try to ask when the emperor would arrive. However, at this moment, he heard the sound of galloping horses, and just like the hundreds of cavalrymen who arrived in advance last time, a group of people and horses suddenly turned from Jixian Street to this Guozijian Street.
When passing the Confucian Temple, everyone dismounted in unison and rode quickly, and then got on their horses again after passing that section.
The series of actions were completed in one go, and at first glance, their quality was in no way inferior to the majestic cavalry he had seen before.
However, when the group arrived in front of the university archway, he only gave an order and more than a hundred people dismounted again. Only the leading young man in his early thirties, who was riding a yellow horse, had a beautiful mustache and looked a little lazy and casual, remained perched high on his horse. The next moment, he slowly rode over and jumped in front of the archway with extremely agile movements.
At the same time, Chu Kuan, who had just been surrounded by Zhang Chen and others, had already pushed through the crowd and stepped forward.
"Your servant respectfully welcomes His Majesty."
Zhang Shou was already stunned at this moment. This young man who was mixed in with a large group of cavalrymen, obeyed orders, and just performed a tacit cooperation, was actually the emperor?
Didn't they say that he was sickened by the roar in the Linhai Camp? Looking at his current state, he doesn't look like a sickly emperor who would be easily sickened!
At this moment, he suddenly understood how he got this position as a doctor of the Imperial College; he also understood why the emperor agreed to Zhu Ying so easily and even rewarded those so-called meritorious noble children behind him in the Imperial College; he also understood why someone took Princess Yongping on a secret visit and acquiesced to the Yuehua Tower Literary Gathering... In short, it was obvious that the emperor was a willful emperor!
With Chu Kuan bowing his head and greeting him as a model in front, and Zhang Chen leading a large group of famous children in the back as a reference, Zhang Shou couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, feeling very fortunate that he didn't have to be a kowtow man. He followed suit and bowed deeply, and then he heard a warm voice.
"Are you Zhang Shou? Raise your head and let me see what the otherworldly bamboo gentleman, the banished immortal from heaven, that Yingying mentioned, looks like."
Zhang Shou's heart skipped a beat, and when he straightened up, he saw that the emperor, who was still in his prime, had walked to a place only seven or eight steps away from him. He stood with his hands behind his back, staring at him up and down for a long time, and finally laughed: "You are indeed a handsome man, but I am very curious, how did you subdue these guys!"
Before Zhang Shou could answer, the emperor waved his right hand and pointed at Zhang Chen and others one by one: "Of course, I am more curious about how you can lead these rabble to defeat those chaotic troops?"
The eldest lady wouldn't let slip that she drugged me in the middle of the night, right? And Hua Qi...
Zhang Shou's mind turned, but he knew that he absolutely could not go to see Zhu Ying at this time, nor could he expect Zhu Ying to remind him what she had said in front of the emperor before. He could only gamble based on his understanding of the character of this rich lady.
Therefore, he smiled and said sincerely: "Your Majesty, of course, we are showing weakness to the enemy and luring them deeper into our territory."
"Oh? How do you show weakness to the enemy and lure them deeper into your territory?"
"It's very simple. I arranged for someone at the entrance of the village to talk to the leader of the rebel army that came to the village. He said that everyone was worried about the rebel army on the road, so they sent people to the capital to ask for help, while relying on the large number of guards, they continued to stay safely in the teacher's Cuiyun room."
Zhang Shou paused, and when he saw the emperor nod slightly, he continued to write.
"When the rebel army broke in, Yingying played the piano, Zhang Chen and Lu Zhu played drums beside them, and the others stayed in the house with their guards, pretending to be defenseless. Three groups of rebels broke into the three bamboo houses, but were caught in one fell swoop. The remaining two groups were captured by Ah Liu and the guards of the Duke of Zhao's mansion when their leader was captured by Yingying. It can be said that this victory was achieved because everyone worked together."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Zhu Ying's voice: "That's right, Your Majesty. This time we were able to wipe out the rebel army almost without any damage, thanks to everyone's unity and concerted efforts!"
Zhang Shou heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed that his bet was right. Zhu Ying had said the same thing in front of the emperor!
The young master is so kind! The young lady is so kind!
At this moment, everyone except Zhang Chen and Lu Sanlang was thinking this in their hearts. However, when the emperor glanced over, they couldn't help but lower their heads, their hearts beating, and they secretly encouraged themselves not to reveal the truth. Fortunately, after a long while, they finally heard the emperor's laughter.
"Haha, that's quite good. Everyone says they are useless, but who knows they will have a day when they can show their courage and bravery. You are truly worthy of the name of a teacher... Zhang Chen!"
What a shameless bunch of people who are just trying to get credit! Zhang Chen was complaining in his heart, and when he heard this, he was startled and hurriedly replied, "Yes!"
"Is what your young master just said true?"
If it was the Zhang Chen of the past, he would definitely expose Zhang Shou’s lies, but at this moment, he only hesitated for a moment before answering loudly: “Yes… it’s true!”
Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying, the two people who made the greatest contributions, were willing to share the profits. Even if he was not happy, he had to let it go! After all, he had not won the argument that day against the commander, and it was only thanks to Zhang Shou's retort that he was able to save face. He did not help when the fight broke out...
Seeing the emperor looking at him again, Lu Sanlang quickly nodded his head like a chicken pecking at rice: "Your Majesty is wise, of course it is true!"
"Oh." The emperor laughed and nodded as if he was very satisfied. "Not bad, very good. A prodigal son who returns to his right path is worth more than gold. So today I want to use this wonderful place, the Imperial College, to reward you guys! All right, Zhang Shou leads the way, and you all follow. It's rare for me to come to the Imperial College, and I want to take a good look at this important university that Taizu personally led people to build!"
At that moment, Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai, who saw the emperor for the first time, couldn't help but be amazed.
The emperor is so decisive and his words and actions are so refreshing!
