Chapter 18: Teach Well

Zhu Yuhuan has always been very proactive, especially since organizing the key points of agricultural work was much simpler than compiling enlightenment books. Not to mention that she had previously asked the palace servants around her to record many key points. All she had to do was to quickly integrate them and then check for any omissions.

This was a good opportunity to test Wu Ning and Yu Ying's abilities. Zhu Yuhuan knew the imperial examinations were not easy, and even harder to pass. Only fewer than two hundred people were selected nationwide over three years. Passing the exams was one thing, but ability was another. Zhu Yuhuan had never seen the essays the two had written, so he could only use a simple test to verify their abilities.

Wu Ning and Yu Ying naturally understood this, so they worked extra hard. During the few days they were at the imperial farm, they worked almost non-stop to collect and organize the farming essentials. They finished them in less than half a month and had someone send them back to the capital at full speed, and handed them in together with the drawings of the farm carts.

Zhu Zhanji praised them for their diligence. Seeing that the agricultural book they had compiled was well-organized and well-done, he granted them the status of Shujishi and allowed them to skip the assessment directly. This shows Zhu Zhanji's affirmation of them.

The top three candidates in the imperial examination can directly enter the Hanlin Academy to serve as officials, while most of the others are directly sent to various places to serve as minor officials. Only a few can become Shujishi and enter the Hanlin Academy to study, which gives them the opportunity to continue to rise.

The status of Shujishi alone was extremely rare, and the two of them could directly jump over this hurdle. How could they not be ecstatic? They suddenly felt that Princess Shunde was their benefactor, and were quite obedient to Zhu Yuhuan.

As far as Zhu Yuhuan was concerned, although Yu Ying and Wu Ning ranked low in the imperial examinations, they were more respectful to her because of this. In addition, both of them were cautious and proper in their work, so Zhu Yuhuan was quite satisfied with them. He used both kindness and strictness, and they got along well with each other. Soon, the task of compiling enlightenment books was put on track.

The two of them were so happy that they worked harder and faster, and soon the work took shape. In their spare time, they taught the children of the tenants in the imperial farm. Seeing that the tenants all respected and loved Zhu Yuhuan, they felt that Princess Shunde was more kind.

Zhu Yuhuan was busy at the imperial farm, and Zhu Zhanji was also working non-stop.

Chen Shan handed over the records of the inner study hall, and Zhu Zhanji briefly flipped through them. However, these eunuchs were still young after all. The oldest was only thirteen or fourteen years old. They still had a playful nature. No matter how well they learned, Zhu Zhanji could not be completely at ease letting them accompany the prince.

Zhu Zhanji has been quite diligent in the past few years since he ascended the throne, but he gets a headache after reading these reports for too long, so he has to go to the harem to have some free time.

The empress was cold, the imperial concubine was difficult to deal with, and the other concubines rushed over as soon as they saw Zhu Zhanji. After thinking it over, Zhu Zhanji ran towards Wu Miaosu.

It just so happens that Zhu Qiyu will be able to start learning in half a year, so it would be perfect to arrange it for the second prince as well and solve the problem all at once.

Wu Miaosu was originally teaching Zhu Qiyu how to read. When she saw Zhu Zhanji coming, she brought the second prince to pay her respects.

Zhu Qiyu was still young, and although he couldn't see Zhu Zhanji often, he didn't distance himself from Zhu Zhanji like Zhu Youtong did, and obediently called him "Daddy."

Since Zhu Qiyu was born, there has been no news of any offspring in the harem. Zhu Zhanji was naturally happy to see his well-behaved little son. He first smiled and touched his head, then held Zhu Qiyu in his arms. Then he picked up the piece of paper on the table and asked, "Is this... the big characters you wrote?"

Wu Miaosu responded and said, "I don't have much to do on weekdays, so I thought I could teach my son to read."

Zhu Zhanji flipped through it for a moment and then put it back, saying, "I remember the Queen often used these little things to teach Huanhuan before. In just a few days, she memorized them all. Although she occasionally forgets one or two, she still remembers a lot."

Wu Miaosu smiled and said, "I learned this method from the Empress. Unfortunately, Yu'er is not as talented as the princess, so I can only take it slowly."

Hearing the word "talent", Zhu Zhanji sighed softly, as if to comfort Wu Miaosu, and as if to reassure himself, and said: "The child is still young after all, why rush for success?"

Wu Miaosu pretended not to know and said with a smile, "Yu'er is not as talented as the princess and the prince, so she can only make up for her shortcomings with hard work."

Zhu Qiyu thought of Zhu Yuhuan's usual fearlessness, and tried to muster up his courage. He pointed at the words on the paper and said, "Man, big, heaven."

Zhu Zhanji was slightly stunned. He didn't expect Zhu Qiyu to remember it so clearly. Seeing Zhu Qiyu in his arms looking up at him eagerly, he smiled and said, "I can't believe that our Yu'er can learn so quickly."

Zhu Qiyu received his father's praise, and a proud expression appeared on his face. He said, "Mother... you taught me well."

Zhu Zhanji was amused by his childish words and said to Wu Miaosu, "You are not very old, but you are still trying to take credit for your mother."

Zhu Qiyu said seriously: "Mother, very smart, mother, very smart, sister, very smart."

Zhu Zhanji didn't expect his son to say that. After thinking for a moment, he said, "How about Daddy find an eunuch to be your teacher?"

Wu Miaosu was a little surprised and said, "I heard that His Majesty is looking for a suitable companion for the Crown Prince..."

Zhu Zhanji waved his hand. "Looking for one is the same as looking for two. What's the difference?"

Wu Miaosu then asked cautiously, "Then... does Your Majesty have a choice in mind...?"

Seeing her like this, Zhu Zhanji teased her, "What's so exciting about this?"

At this time, he had forgotten that he had once suspected that Wu Miaosu had a connection with Huang Yan, and just felt that Wu Miaosu was making a big deal out of nothing.

Wu Miaosu looked a little embarrassed and said, "I'm afraid if I ask too much, I might accidentally involve the affairs of the previous dynasty."

Zhu Zhanji disagreed and simply said, "Earlier, there was a man named Wang Zhen in Concubine Cao's palace. I saw that he had some knowledge, so I sent him to serve Jia Jia. I heard from the imperial concubine that Wang Zhen not only served her wholeheartedly, but also guided Jia Jia in her studies."

Wu Miaosu understood and said, "Princess Changde has always been respectful and sensible, and she keeps her feelings to herself. This shows that Wang Zhen is indeed a real talent. He comes from the Imperial Concubine's palace, so I'm sure the Imperial Concubine will be satisfied."

Hearing her say this, Zhu Zhanji smiled and said, "Yes, I think he is a good person. I have also asked people to investigate. He was a scholar before entering the palace and worked as a private school teacher for several years. So I thought of letting him be with the prince."

Zhu Zhanji naturally understood that in addition to the simplest enlightenment, what was more important for Zhu Qizhen now was to have someone who could be close to him and had experience as a teacher to serve him and teach the prince subtly.

Wang Zhen just met these two requirements, and he even worked for Concubine Sun. To her, he was "one of her own", and he was the most suitable candidate.

"I see……"

Zhu Zhanji saw that Wu Miaosu was looking forward to it, so he continued, "As for Yu'er, I remember there's a eunuch named Cheng Jing in the Yinshou Bureau who is also quite knowledgeable, so I'll transfer him to serve Yu'er."

Wu Miaosu's face was filled with joy, and she followed Zhu Zhanji's words and said, "Anyone who can be remembered by Your Majesty must be extremely knowledgeable. I would like to thank Your Majesty on behalf of Yu'er."