Chapter 13 Studying is Difficult
On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, Zhu Yuhuan rose early, had a simple breakfast, and then dressed appropriately. He put on the light yellow square-collared patched robe that Han Guilan had mentioned earlier, embellished with a mugwort tiger patch, and paired it with a sky-blue gilded horse-faced robe with three scenes of West Lake, looking fresh and elegant.
Han Guilan looked at the faint morning light outside, checked the time again, and felt a little confused. She muttered to herself, "It's usually late at this time. Why haven't they informed anyone that they're leaving yet..."
Zhu Yuhuan was already bored and was reading a volume of Mengxi Bitan. Seeing Han Guilan lingering at the door, he asked, "It's still early. Why don't you read with me for a while?" Seeing that Han Guilan was worried, she continued, "I just remembered that the prince might still be asleep. We should get up early."
Han Guilan cried out, and said guiltily, "Guilan forgot about this..."
"I forgot too. Anyway, we should rest today. Let's just wait slowly." After saying that, Zhu Yuhuan raised his chin towards Han Guilan, indicating that she should go read a book as well.
Han Guilan had no choice but to read like Zhu Yuhuan, but she was still thinking about going to Wenhua Hall, and no matter how hard she looked, she couldn't concentrate on it.
Zhu Yuhuan didn't care. She usually woke up earlier than today. She just didn't know if San Yang's body could withstand going to the palace during the holidays at such an old age.
Compared to Zhu Yuhuan's leisurely side, old ministers such as the Three Yangs, Jian Yi, and Hu Yi were indeed not feeling well. His Majesty said that he wanted to select a teacher for the prince, and as ministers, how could they dare to delay? Naturally, they came according to the time for roll call. Unexpectedly, neither His Majesty nor the prince came yet, so they could only sit and wait in the Wenhua Hall.
They said they were here to be on duty, and there were no memorials to read. They were also told that today was a day off, and they had to wait in the palace in their official uniforms. Even the youngest, Hu Yi, who was over fifty years old, found it a bit overwhelming.
At this moment, I am in the palace and cannot even say a few words.
On the other side, Zhu Yuhuan finished reading a volume of the book, and then waited for someone outside to inform her that the prince was about to arrive and asked her to prepare to leave.
Zhu Yuhuan responded and then went to the front hall, only to see that Hu Shanxiang had also stood up and was drinking the tonic soup that Xu Wangzhi had prescribed earlier.
"mother."
Hu Shanxiang put down the spoon and small bowl in her hand, and seeing that she was fully dressed, she smiled and said, "It's rare to see you dressed so well."
Zhu Yuhuan chuckled and said, "Aren't you usually afraid of losing it? Today you don't have to do anything, just go through the motions. I'm willing to dress up too."
"That's true." Hu Shanxiang asked her to sit next to her, helped her daughter straighten her hair, and said, "Come back soon. Tongtong was thinking about trying the eight-treasure rice dumplings from the small kitchen with you yesterday."
Zhu Yuhuan leaned against her and said obediently: "Okay——"
While the mother and daughter were talking, an announcement came from outside that the Crown Prince had arrived. Before Zhu Yuhuan could even get up, Zhu Qizhen ran in and said, "Sister!"
He was wearing a bright red robe with a golden python and cloud pattern, adorned with a five-poison patch, and had the golden knife and sachet used for the one-year-old ceremony on his waist. He looked very impressive.
Seeing Hu Shanxiang still there, Zhu Qizhen bowed and said, "Zhen'er greets mother."
Hu Shanxiang smiled and said, "Your Highness, there's no need to be so polite. Have you had your meal yet?"
"I have." Zhu Qizhen lost his stubbornness in front of Hu Shanxiang and said obediently, "Grandma said that breakfast cannot be missed. It will keep you healthy."
"That's good. Your health is the most important thing." Hu Shanxiang looked at Zhu Yuhuan and reminded her, "Huanhuan, you are the elder sister. You must take good care of the prince."
"Don't worry, mother." Zhu Yuhuan stood up, took Zhu Qizhen's hand, and said with a smile: "I will definitely protect my brother this time. Things like last time will not happen again."
Children don't remember things at all, and only when Zhu Yuhuan mentioned it did Zhu Qizhen remember the incident.
When the two siblings left Kunning Palace together and got on the sedan chair together, Zhu Qizhen said with some envy: "Mother is so kind."
Zhu Yuhuan was a little confused and asked, "Why do you say that suddenly?"
"Mother looks very gentle." Zhu Qizhen said seriously: "I am obviously the prince, but grandma always doesn't let me do this or that. If I am slow in learning to read, grandma scolds me and asks me to read many times. Mother is the same..."
Zhu Yuhuan patted his head and said, "You can't say that. The deeper the love, the more severe the criticism. Have you ever seen Grandma discipline Xiaoyu like this?"
It’s not that Empress Dowager Zhang didn’t love Zhu Qiyu, but Zhu Qizhen was the crown prince, and Zhu Qiyu would at best be a carefree prince in the future, so there was naturally no need to discipline him strictly.
Zhu Qizhen said, "Oh," and then said, "Can I switch with my brother? The virtuous concubine is also very good."
Zhu Yuhuan was a little amused and said, "How many common people out there dream of being reborn into the royal family? Why would you keep thinking about changing like you do... When you grow up, I'll take you to the fields to see if you still want to change."
Zhu Qizhen fiddled with the knife at his waist in grievance, "Dad said that we will choose a teacher today..."
"Dad is just talking. It's nothing more than selecting a few highly respected officials for you to strengthen the staff of the Eastern Palace. Those like the Prince's Grand Tutor and the Imperial Household Department's Left Spring Office Instructor should be selected in advance to prepare for the future." Zhu Yuhuan saw the worry on his face and joked, "You've only just started learning. You haven't even learned all the characters yet. What are you afraid of, teacher?"
Zhu Qizhen did have some free time, but these officials were all busy with their duties, so how could they have the time to personally teach Zhu Qizhen? They just promoted some officials of lower ranks to teach the prince.
Zhu Qizhen grumbled, "It's boring to sit and read all the time... It's better for my sister to accompany me on horseback riding."
Zhu Yuhuan just politely refused, "You should wait until you are a little older, or let Daddy take you there."
She didn't want to be blamed for "murdering the prince" for no reason again.
Zhu Qizhen was fooled by her and said a little depressedly: "Second sister not only can not study, but also can play the pipa. Can't I not study? Dad has so many officials. When I become emperor in the future, I will let them do things."
If Zhu Youtong knew that Zhu Qizhen used her as an example, she would be so angry that she would jump on the spot.
Zhu Yuhuan couldn't help but sigh in his heart, and didn't tell him that Zhu Youtong could at least read and write. At least at Zhu Qizhen's age, Zhu Youtong still studied hard with his master's wife.
She simply changed the subject and asked, "Have you read the book my sister gave you?"
Zhu Qizhen was confused. "What book?"
The two looked at each other for a long time before Zhu Yuhuan said nonchalantly, "Nothing."
She thought it was normal that Concubine Sun rejected the books she sent later, but she didn't expect that Concubine Sun didn't even show the first few books to Zhu Qizhen. Maybe she used them to pad the wall.
The more she kept silent, the more curious Zhu Qizhen became. He couldn't help but ask, "What book is it? Is it a book written by your sister? Mr. Wang, who is with my third sister, told me that your sister is very capable and treats me very well."
Zhu Yuhuan raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Mr. Wang?"
How could she not know when Wang Zhen had contacted Zhu Qizhen privately and spoke well of her?
Zhu Qizhen thought she didn't know Wang Zhen, so he introduced her: "Third sister is learning to read and write with Mr. Wang. I've met him. What book is yours? Is it interesting?"
This Wang Zhen is really motivated and hardworking...
Seeing him pressuring him like this, Zhu Yuhuan had no choice but to let go and said, "You weren't even born yet back then. Your second sister and I worked together on five or six primers, illustrating stories from the Three Character Classic and the Thousand Character Classic. We compiled them into books. We thought you'd need them in the future, but then Grandma and Empress Sun taught you, so we stopped."
Zhu Qizhen suddenly felt itchy, shook Zhu Yuhuan's hand, and asked: "Sister, do you have anything ready? I want to see it."
“Yes, there is…”
Zhu Qizhen looked at Zhu Yuhuan eagerly and said, "I want to see it."
Zhu Yuhuan thought for a moment and said, "You can read it, but you have to promise me that after reading it, you must remember the contents in it by heart, okay?"
Zhu Qizhen nodded seriously, which was rare.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
