Volume 5: Fellow Traveler Chapter 785: Concern leads to confusion, the emperor finds fault
The Prince of Jiangdu, who had changed his mind, rushed into the palace at the speed of a 100-meter race. How he coaxed Princess Hailing and whether he made a lot of unequal treaties were not something worthy of curiosity for Zhang Shou... Anyway, the anti-Twenty-Four Filial Piety father was already entangled to the point of collapse, and it was normal for him to be defeated in front of his precious daughter.
Zhang Shou helped Zhu Ying so much and also completed the task of visiting the Fourth Prince and Zhang Chen. He killed two birds with one stone and naturally received a great reward from his beloved wife when he returned home. However, the consequence of this reward was that he yawned constantly when he got up the next morning. When he arrived at Ciqing Palace, he had to ask Chu Kuan to bring him the bitterest strong tea.
He even thought about asking the skilled maid at home to prepare two medicinal dishes to nourish him...
The Third Prince heard his father gloat over the fact that the King of Jiangdu went to Tongzhou with Zhang Shou and bowed to his beloved daughter when he came back yesterday. Of course, he knew that Zhang Shou had also brought people to see the Fourth Prince and Zhang Chen. And Luo Sanhe, whom he sent away, disappeared without a trace. It has been a month since he and the Fourth Prince separated. He was obviously very anxious, but he still felt it was difficult to speak.
He felt that if he opened his mouth, Zhang Shou would think he was monitoring his whereabouts. However, he tried his best to resist the urge to ask about his fourth brother's recent situation and listened to the class carefully. During the break, Zhang Shou took the initiative to speak: "The fourth prince has lost a little weight these days, but he is still full of energy. Your Highness, don't worry."
The third prince's eyes widened immediately, and he asked hurriedly, "Has he lost weight? Is it because he didn't eat well or sleep well? Or is it because he is too obsessed with winning, so..."
Before he finished speaking, he heard Chu Kuan cough lightly. He realized that he was too concerned and blurted out all the words that had been in his heart for days. He was embarrassed, but thinking that this was Zhang Shou, not those other teachers he couldn't confide in, he still whispered: "I just... I just miss him a lot."
Zhang Shou smiled immediately. He was not sure whether the Third Prince would always be such a good brother who loved his younger brother, but at least from now on , he was undoubtedly happy to see it happen. Therefore, he nodded slightly and said softly: "The Fourth Prince should miss you too, but he made big promises when he left the palace, but he didn't want to come back and give in, so he probably has to be separated from you for a while."
"As for Luo Sanhe, whom His Royal Highness sent to the Fourth Prince last time..." He paused, and without looking at Chu Kuan, he casually told the story of how the Fourth Prince had fooled people. Sure enough, when he said that Luo Sanhe had gone to another village, the Third Prince first showed a blank expression, and then became shocked and angry.
"How could this be! How could he act on his own!" However, after scolding Luo Sanhe angrily, he lowered his eyelids again, thinking of the character of the Fourth Prince. He had been like this since he was a child. If his Fourth Prince didn't like someone, or if he found someone he didn't like, he would do everything he could to trick them away, even going so far as to act like a spoiled brat in front of his father.
However, if the Fourth Prince likes someone, he will do everything he can to keep that person! This is just like the Fourth Prince who once left in anger because he failed to pass the Jiuzhang Hall, but then he chased after Zhang Shou as usual, calling him "teacher".
Having said that, although the little prince was very unhappy with Luo Sanhe's self-willed decision, he also didn't want his third brother to have someone who always did what he wanted. After thinking about it, he still felt that it was right to send the person away.
It's just like Chu Kuan, although most of the time the way people act and speak make him feel comfortable, he always keeps a distance from others. He knows very well that he should have someone around him who often dislikes you and gives you honest advice.
So, the Third Prince finally changed his words and said, "Luo Sanhe is certainly wrong, but Fourth Brother is really too worrying... When he comes back, I will make sure he controls his willful temper!"
Zhang Shou chuckled, then shook his head and said, "Your Highness, forgive me for being blunt, but the Fourth Prince's character can only be guided, not corrected. Because his edge is his most valuable thing. If you correct it too much, then he will never be as gentle as you, Your Highness, but will most likely become extreme."
"All we can do is to make him understand what is right and what is wrong, and then let him do what he thinks is right, instead of stopping him because of difficulties or other concerns. As for the idea that His Royal Highness wants someone to stay by his side because he is worried, I think there is nothing wrong with that."
"This time I went to see Zhang Chen and the Fourth Prince, but not Luo Sanhe. It's not because I think he won't run into problems, but because I think he, who came from the Imperial Library and has been away from the people for too long, may not do better than the Third Prince and Zhang Chen. So, why not let reality correct his extreme personality?"
"He was arrogant enough to criticize Eunuch Chu in front of me before, and he was rude to the Fourth Prince again this time. He is too self-centered. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince expects him to be a loyal minister beside the Fourth Prince, but he is not qualified for the job yet. Only when he understands that it is not enough to have courage and justice to do things well, then he will have a future."
"Although the imperial censors seem to be only finding faults all day long, if finding faults is really enough to be a good censor, then there wouldn't be so few famous censors in history. That kid wanted to be a loyal official, but he chose the wrong person and the wrong method."
Chu Kuan knew that Zhang Shou had chosen the wrong person, and that was a double entendre, referring to the Third and Fourth Princes, as well as himself and Zhang Shou. Even though he knew that Zhang Shou was not completely showing kindness to him , he still nodded with a smile.
Then, he whispered to the Third Prince, "Your Highness, although the Fourth Prince may be tired and thin due to his recent busy schedule, this life may be more suitable for him than spending his days studying in the palace. Didn't you say that whether he likes to be a virtuous king or an idle king is entirely up to his own preference?"
Zhang Shou said so, and Chu Kuan also said so, so the Third Prince had no choice but to nod. However, he hesitated again and again, and still did not speak out his biggest worry in his heart, because he was afraid that after speaking out, it would arouse Zhang Shou and Chu Kuan's unusual concern.
The Fourth Prince was not in the palace, and he was not worried that his younger brother would become estranged from him because of this. Instead, he was worried that because of his heavy schoolwork and various chores, he would gradually forget the happy times they had spent supporting each other in the past, and forget the brotherhood that was once so deep that it seemed like it would never change.
Even now, when he looks back at himself when he first arrived at Banshan Hall to listen to Zhang Shou's lecture more than a year ago, he feels that the shy child was really childish... Then, in a few days, months, or even years, will he feel that the little bits of interaction between him and his fourth brother were also childish?
His father once said to him that time changes a person, and that the things that once seemed most important to him no longer matter. It was like when his father looked up the words and objects he had memorized as a child many years later, he could not find the feelings that had touched him at all.
His father even told him that he could no longer remember Prince Lu's face, and no matter how hard he tried to recall the moments when the two brothers spent time together as children, he could only think of a few very limited images. Every time he thought of his father's confusion when he said that, the Third Prince felt extremely terrified, even a little worried.
The Third Prince had to try his best to look precocious because he had become the Crown Prince. He even had a secret thought in his mind that he couldn't tell anyone. He didn't want to grow up, and even hoped that his father would live a hundred years and continue like this, so that he could just be a little Crown Prince.
The Third Prince was very confused, and both Zhang Shou and Chu Kuan could see it. However, neither of them gave any suggestions on this point. Zhang Shou hoped that the Third Prince could keep his innocent heart for a few more years, and not become sophisticated and sensitive right away. As for Chu Kuan... he had his own ideas.
Regardless, the small matter of Zhang Shou bringing the King of Jiangdu to visit the Fourth Prince and Zhang Chen only caused a small stir among the relevant people. What attracted more attention was that after the five consecutive lectures at the public school, Ge Yong once again invited five celebrities to his house. Then, the exciting drama came, a group of royal family members suddenly came to the door and questioned them.
Although the status of the imperial family in this dynasty is different from the vassal system of the Ming Dynasty, which was like raising pigs, it is more similar to the imperial family system of the Tang Dynasty, but it has added a clause that the imperial family members can take the imperial examination. Except that they cannot enter the cabinet and cannot hold military power, they can hold other official positions. On the contrary, the happy life of being raised as pigs by the court for a lifetime by virtue of their birth is gone.
Therefore, those who gathered in the Ge Mansion this time were not the royal family members who had been well-fed all day long, but a group of people who had served as local officials or officials of the six ministries, and were direct descendants of Emperor Taizu, with outstanding knowledge and abilities.
Therefore, at first, some of the famous scholars were confident of their knowledge and reputation and did not take it seriously, but after dealing with it for a while, they were already very alert. However, no one expected that this scene of the royal family questioning was just a trick, and the emperor was actually hiding quietly in it. After all, neither Yan Yuxi nor Chen Xianzhang had ever seen this emperor who had just passed middle age.
The emperor privately promised these royal family members that whoever could refute a person would be given the best position, which made several royal family members excited. After all, even if they were royal family members who were Jinshi, facing the tacit suppression of civil officials, only a few extremely talented people could finally enter the upper class.
Under the cover of these passionate royal family members, the emperor who restrained all his edges and didn't speak much would naturally be inconspicuous. However, if this emperor just listened to the whole thing obediently, and then selected the appropriate lecturer for the East Palace based on the observations afterwards, then... he would not be the current emperor who is known for his willfulness!
The emperor, who seemed to have only ears but no mouth at first, finally asked after watching for a while: "May I ask why all of you gentlemen gathered in the capital just at the time of Zhang Xueshi's wedding? Is it really such a coincidence, or is it because the four principals of Zhaoming Academy, including Yue Shanzhang, were summoned to the capital, and now three of them have become teachers in the Eastern Palace, and you all want to follow suit?"
As soon as these words came out, at least four of the five celebrities suddenly changed color, including Chen Xianzhang, and the last one, Yan Yuxi, had a gloomy face. Seeing that the other clan members kept silent for a while, as if they were only following the lead of this middle-aged man who had been keeping a low profile just now, everyone was in a very bad mood even though they saw that this man was smiling and seemed very easy-going.
While others were considering, Chen Xianzhang was the first to speak: "I was recommended by the former Grand Secretary of the Imperial College to go to the capital. It just so happened that a student of mine was taking the examination next year, so we set off together. Before I left, the head of Zhaoming Academy, Yue Shan, had already responded to the call and set off. It would be a lie to say that I had no thoughts in my mind, but it would also be unrealistic to say that I had the idea of replacing him."
"Mr. Yue is an expert in agriculture. I have also been to Zhaoming Academy for advice, so I know that he can teach His Royal Highness, but I am definitely not qualified. As for Confucian classics and history, although I am confident, it is a matter of selection by the emperor. I have never heard of anyone recommending themselves. For me, when I was in the Imperial College, the Grand Secretary was my teacher. Now that he recommends me, I cannot refuse."
"After all, I have received money and food from the Imperial Academy and the Imperial College, and I have passed the imperial examination. My family now has a total of 100 acres of land that is tax-free, and I can often get preferential treatment at post stations and government offices when I go out. I can't just want to have a leisurely life and owe the court many years of subsidies. I should do something. After all, I can teach and educate people in the countryside thanks to the protection of my fame."
The emperor saw that the others had different expressions on their faces, so he continued to ask with interest: "So Mr. Baisha's so-called doing something, I guess it doesn't mean that even if the court doesn't value you and only uses you as a minor official, you are willing to be a low-ranking official for the rest of your life?"
How could this clan member speak so harshly? This was the biggest thought in the minds of Yan Yuxi and the other three celebrities at this time. Of course, they were also glad that they did not speak first. Of course, some people were even more fortunate that since Chen Xianzhang had said it, the possibility of this famous scholar with profound knowledge entering the Ciqing Palace should be very low.
Of course, the most important thing was Chen Xianzhang's next response. However, the next moment when Chen Xianzhang's answer came out, even Yan Yuxi, who had not changed much color when he was questioned by the middle-aged royal family member at first, could not help but change his expression.
"What I mean by doing something is naturally to repay the court for its investment in me as a scholar. After I have repaid the court, it will be time for me to return to my hometown to give lectures." Chen Xianzhang said this very frankly, and even revealed an indescribable determination.
The emperor seemed to have heard from the man's words a meaning in "Mencius" that was deeply hated by most emperors, which is... If the monarch regards his subjects as his own hands and feet, then the subjects will regard the monarch as their own heart and soul; if the monarch regards his subjects as dogs and horses, then the subjects will regard the monarch as their fellow countrymen; if the monarch regards his subjects as dirt, then the subjects will regard the monarch as an enemy.
Although Chen Xianzhang had not extended to the last sentence, the meaning of the middle sentence was already very obvious. However, the emperor, who had always been independent, was not annoyed by such a truth. Instead, he asked again with interest: "If Mr. Baisha wants to set a deadline for this matter, how many years should it be?"
"In other words, how long do you think the grain distributed by the court to the students of the imperial academy and the taxes exempted by you as a juren should be worth your service to the court?" The emperor still had a smile on his face when he said this. However, the royal family members around him could not help but feel secretly awe-inspiring. They were all worried that Mr. Baisha, who had just spoken too boldly, would make another shocking statement.
Under everyone's gaze, Chen Xianzhang actually frowned and thought for a while, then smiled and said, "I passed the examination for a scholar at the age of sixteen, and passed the provincial examination at the age of twenty. Now I am thirty-seven years old. If you calculate, I have received four years of government subsidies, and then my hundred acres of land was exempted from taxes for another seventeen years. So even if I am only a minor official this time, I should work diligently for five years."
