Chapter 1522 Filial Piety
At the end of the class, Mr. Zhuang said with a smile, "Although you may not lack food and clothing to support your parents, filial piety is universal. If you can provide for your parents, even if the money you spend is not your own, I think they will be very happy."
"So, next time you have a day off, when you return, give your parents or grandparents something, perhaps a set of clothes or a bowl of rice."
Seeing that everyone responded respectfully on the surface, Mr. Zhuang smiled slightly and said, "I'll ask."
Everyone: ...
This was the first time that the students encountered a teacher forcing them to give gifts to parents, and they felt a little distressed.
The Crown Prince was unaware of their distress, as he didn't think it had anything to do with him. However, he was late in the afternoon handling government affairs in Taiji Hall and had to stay to eat with his parents. While enjoying his meal, he looked up and saw that his mother seemed to have a poor appetite. He picked up a piece of greens from the plate in front of him and offered it to her with his chopsticks, "Is your mother suffering from the summer heat?"
The queen was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Yes, the weather has been getting hotter and hotter, so my appetite has been a little poor these past two days."
The emperor couldn't help but look at her with concern. Knowing that she didn't like to see the imperial physician, he thought for a moment and said to the prince, "Tell Zhou Man to come to the Taiji Hall for a walk when he's free. See if there's anything he can do to beat the heat."
The emperor said, "It's only May, and you're already suffering from the summer heat. What will you do next month?"
The Queen didn't object this time. Seeing that he only ate meat and no vegetables, she smiled and said, "Your Majesty, don't blame me. You've been sweating a lot these past two days. The Imperial Physician has told you to eat less meat and more vegetables and fruits."
The emperor lowered his head and ate in silence.
The queen turned her head to look at the prince and gave him a wink.
The prince was slightly stunned. He glanced at the vegetables that were very close to him, then looked at the meat in front of his father. After thinking for a moment, he also picked up a piece of greens for him with his chopsticks and said, "Father, eat more vegetables."
After picking up the food, the prince felt it was not enough, so he signaled Eunuch Wu to bring all the vegetables in front of him to the emperor.
Eunuch Wu trembled with fear and moved forward hesitantly.
The emperor looked at the pile of vegetables in the bowl and couldn't help blowing his beard, but he looked up at the queen, then at the prince, and silently picked up his chopsticks to eat.
Forget it, at least it was the prince who picked it up.
Speaking of which, among his children, only the third and Mingda would put food into his mouth. This was the first time that the prince had picked up food for him.
It’s a pity that this dish is not what I like.
Even though the joy is cut in half, it is still joy after all, right?
When Eunuch Wu saw that the emperor was actually eating vegetables, he immediately stepped forward swiftly and placed the plate of vegetables in front of the emperor.
The emperor glanced at his son who was gnawing on a chicken leg, then ordered a plate of vegetables from a distance and said, "Bring it to the prince. It's hot, so eat more vegetables and less meat."
The queen sat aside and watched the father and son hurt each other with a smile, and her appetite improved a little.
The appetites of the two sons are like their father's. They only like to eat meat and drink alcohol, and don't like to eat vegetables. Mingda is the same. Although he is weak and can't eat much meat, he always craves meat.
The prince ate and drank his fill, and then worked overtime with the emperor. After it was completely dark and all the palace gates were locked, he finished reviewing the memorials assigned to him, handed them to his father, and was ready to leave.
Thinking of what Zhuang Xun said today, that children should work for their parents, even concubines' sons should share the benefits of the land, be frugal and thrifty, and be filial to their parents, he doesn't need to work as hard as concubines' sons, but he can still give them some advice.
There is no need to do it for him. Putting aside the question of whether he is willing or not, if he really offers to do it for him, his father might think that he wants to seize the throne and become emperor.
So the prince tried to appear sincere and said some nonsense, "Your son will take his leave first. Your Majesty, please go to bed early and don't stay up late to harm your health."
The emperor nodded and let him go. Adhering to the rule of reciprocity, he also reminded Eunuch Wu: "Light a few more lanterns and be careful where you step."
Eunuch Wu responded respectfully and, together with the palace maids, lit the lanterns to light the way for the prince.
After the prince left, the emperor turned around and asked Gu Zhong, "The prince didn't lose his temper with the court officials today?"
Gu Zhong thought for a moment and then bent down and said, "Your Highness is in a good mood today and is not angry."
The emperor was quite puzzled. "You even care about me. What's going on?"
Gu Zhong felt that the emperor suspected that the prince was a weasel paying New Year's greetings to a chicken, so he immediately said, "I heard that the prince went to Chongwenguan this morning to study the Book of Filial Piety."
The emperor was surprised. "Kong Jijiu? What's so strange about him teaching the 'Book of Filial Piety'? I remember that he taught the 'Book of Filial Piety' to the crown prince many times a few years ago, but the crown prince didn't listen much. Instead, he often tried to compete with me."
Gu Zhong smiled and said, "It was a lecturer named Zhuang Xun who gave the lecture. His Majesty recently appointed him as a ninth-rank lecturer and allowed him to teach in the Eastern Palace."
The emperor reacted after hearing this, "Zhou Man and Bai Shan's teacher?"
"yes."
The emperor put down his brush, stroked his beard, and began to think. "Let's not talk about Zhou Man and Bai Shan, they are both filial people. But does their junior brother, Bai something, also respect his parents?"
How would Gu Zhong know?
However, he still bent down and smiled, "That Mr. Bai was not only able to enter the Imperial College, but also the Chongwen Academy. He must be a filial person."
The emperor pondered for a moment, then said, "Confucius is good in every way except that he can't compare to anyone else in teaching the Book of Filial Piety. He also has a bad temper. The prince has a temper like mine. No wonder he won't listen to his nagging."
Gu Zhong: ...
Who is it that scolds the prince for his bad temper every time he doesn't listen to the teacher?
Now I know that the prince has a temper like yours.
Gu Zhong agreed with a stiff smile, and glanced around the hall. He found that only his apprentice and two palace maids were there, so he felt relieved.
Well, it’s easy to keep it secret. I don’t think what I said just now will be spread out.
These words were indeed not spread, but the news that the prince not only had a friendly dinner with the emperor and empress yesterday, but the emperor also showed concern for the prince's lighting problem when walking at night was spread.
Everyone in the court and the palace knew about it.
Everyone knew that the relationship between the prince and the emperor had become more harmonious, and before the prince realized it, his work in the court was going more smoothly.
Even Wei Zhi, who had always been critical of him, smiled at him for once, and during the break, he even chatted with him, "Your Highness handled a good report from Shengzhou today."
The prince nodded modestly, but couldn't help feeling happy.
Even his father rarely received praise from Wei Zhi.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Tang, standing by, smiled and said, "The weather has been scorching lately, and the Empress has been feeling unwell. Your Highness, why don't you suggest that she go to Daming Palace to escape the heat?"
Now that the Queen has gone, why not take the opportunity to suggest that the Emperor go with her?
This is also filial piety.
After a while, the relationship between father and son naturally improved.
Mr. Tang, who has always had a good relationship with his son, understands this deeply.
See you at 8pm
(End of this chapter)
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