Chapter 2 Nine Links
As autumn approached, the capital was no longer as tense as before, and people gradually returned to their normal lives. Zhu Yuhuan's business naturally had to continue as usual.
Previously, Taiping Teahouse often invited scholars and poets from Beijing to appreciate paintings and write poems. Now, because Zhu Yuhuan is still in mourning, he no longer actively organizes poetry gatherings. However, some students have developed a habit of gathering together with like-minded people and regularly come to Taiping Teahouse to recite poems, write couplets, or discuss academic matters. Therefore, many people are quite curious and come in to drink a cup of ordinary tea and listen to the discussions of these scholars.
Therefore, Zhu Yuhuan had the store expanded a lot and renovated it. He also asked several aunts to send people to inspect the layout of the teahouse, striving to make it more elegant and exquisite.
When Zhu Yuhuan returned to the palace, he saw Zhu Qizhen in his mother's palace. Books were placed on the table, and there seemed to be no signs of reading. However, there were a few pieces of snack crumbs scattered on them. It was obvious that Zhu Qizhen was using the excuse of studying with his brothers and sisters, but in fact he was just taking a break.
Zhu Youtong, standing next to him, had completely lost interest. She was holding a book, a rare sight, and studying diligently alongside Zhu Qiyu. Her expression, tinged with pain amidst her calm, showed she was clearly not used to it.
Although Zhu Qizhen had not formally left the palace to study, he still had to review the memorials submitted by his ministers, especially since he had only just begun his studies and was inevitably unfamiliar with them. To ensure that Zhu Qizhen could master this skill as quickly as possible, Empress Dowager Zhang and the Three Yangs, apparently disregarding everything else, opted for a cramming education method, directly shoving numerous memorials in front of Zhu Qizhen and using a vast sea of practice questions to force him to quickly understand them.
Judging from how happily Zhu Qizhen was eating the snacks, this method probably wouldn't be very effective.
When Zhu Youtong saw Zhu Yuhuan coming, he immediately showed an expression as if he had been pardoned. He quickly ran to his sister and whispered in her ear: "Sister, please take care of him. He has been sitting here for half an hour. He said that grandma asked him to take a nap, but it is obvious that he will not leave... Grandma still has to deal with matters in the palace, and there are other ladies here, so it's just Xiaoyu and me..."
Zhu Yuhuan reached out and tapped his sister's forehead, signaling her to do her own thing.
Zhu Youtong originally wanted to take Zhu Qiyu with him, but unexpectedly, Zhu Qizhen next to him took the initiative to speak: "Brother Yu, you are already eight years old. You can't always follow behind your second sister. You are a prince, not a princess."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youtong could only roll her eyes in her heart. She bowed perfunctorily and disappeared in a flash.
She would rather paint a hundred paintings than stay with her brother who is the emperor!
Zhu Qiyu held the book and watched Zhu Youtong's figure quickly disappear. He then looked at his brother and finally said to Zhu Yuhuan obediently, "Big sister is back."
Zhu Yuhuan responded with a smile, touched the bun on Zhu Qiyu's head, and then walked up to Zhu Qizhen and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Zhu Qizhen put down the snack in his hand, took the clean handkerchief handed to him by Wang Zhen, and said, "Sister, have you gone out of the palace again?"
"Yes, I also brought a few fashionable gadgets from outside, all woven by skilled women. I brought them back for the ladies to see and pass the time." Zhu Yuhuan asked Han Guilan to bring the things to Zhu Qizhen and said, "If Your Majesty and Yu Ge'er like them, I also bought a few nine-linked rings. You can solve them and have fun with them on weekdays."
Zhu Qizhen's eyes lit up when he heard this and he said, "Grandma has issued an order that no one in the palace is allowed to play casually. My Cuju and kite have been taken away. What if grandma finds out that my sister takes these?" Although he said this, his eyes were still fixed on the toys, and he was obviously reluctant to let them go.
Zhu Qiyu also nodded, with a hint of grievance in his tone, and said, "My things have also been taken away."
There was no way around it. Empress Dowager Zhang took into consideration the good relationship between the two brothers and was worried that Zhu Qizhen would take things from Zhu Qiyu to play with, so she didn't even keep Zhu Qiyu's share.
Even if the two brothers got together, they had nothing to play with, so they could only study.
Zhu Yuhuan was amused by the two brothers and said, "My grandmother once taught me that governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. It requires meticulous attention to detail and perseverance..."
When Zhu Qizhen heard this, he suddenly realized something and couldn't help asking, "Sister, are you also teaching me something like those people?"
Zhu Yuhuan didn't hide his feelings, nodded slightly, and said, "Of course, I remember everything my father asked me before he died. Of course, I can't just sit there and watch." She half-jokingly asked, "Why, are your Majesty annoyed by my great teachings?"
Zhu Qizhen thought seriously for a moment. His sister was certainly better than those old men. She was gentle and kind when she reasoned, unlike the Three Yangs, especially Yang Rong, who always had a stern face and a resolute demeanor that made him look very rigid. Zhu Qizhen hated him the most when he spoke. After Yang Rong came Yang Shiqi and Yang Pu. Although Yang Shiqi was not as stiff as Yang Rong, he was also very stubborn when preaching. Yang Pu was the quietest of the three, and Zhu Qizhen had a good impression of him.
Thinking of this, Zhu Qizhen immediately shook his head and said, "Of course I won't bother my sister."
Zhu Yuhuan continued, "This nine-linked ring toy is a test of patience. Isn't it also a form of learning? I'm certainly not worried that Your Majesty will lose his ambition due to playing with it."
Zhu Qizhen then excitedly took the nine-linked ring and said seriously, "This little thing must be very simple. I can untie it in two or three tries."
Zhu Yuhuan then handed the other one to Zhu Qiyu and said, "Brother Yu, try it too."
Although Zhu Qizhen's eyes were fixed on the Nine Linked Rings, he suddenly realized what was happening when he heard Zhu Yuhuan calling Zhu Qiyu. He said, "Sister, there's no one else here, why don't you just call me?"
Wang Zhen also echoed, "Don't worry, Your Highness. The people around the Emperor are very tight-lipped and won't go out and say nonsense."
Zhu Yuhuan raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard this and said, "Wang Banban is truly loyal and keeps a close watch on Your Majesty."
Although Wang Zhen was considered half-teacher of Zhu Qizhen, there were more than one palace servants serving Zhu Qizhen, not to mention that Zhu Qizhen was now the emperor. There were countless palace servants who were jealous of the position beside Zhu Qizhen. Wang Zhen was not only able to firmly occupy his "territory", but also to defend it strictly. It can be seen that he spent a lot of thought and effort.
Wang Zhen just smiled when he heard this and said, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. Protecting the Emperor is my duty."
The more he held, the more at ease Wang Zhen felt. Although he was inevitably nervous about meeting Zhu Yuhuan, compared to the days when he was just a subordinate eunuch in the Eastern Palace, life was much better now. Wherever he went, people fawned over him. Wang Zhen felt that his back, which had been bent for many years, had straightened up again.
Although there were occasional disagreements with Jin Ying, Jin Ying saw that the emperor was close to him and did not dare to be too blatant, which invisibly made Wang Zhen's arrogance even higher.
Zhu Yuhuan nodded in understanding and agreement, saying, "Wang Banban is right." She met Zhu Qizhen's gaze and smiled, "With Wang Banban by Zhen'er's side, I feel relieved."
Zhu Qizhen couldn't help but feel a little proud when he heard this. He puffed out his chest and said, "Of course, Mr. Wang is much more obedient than the others and is the most efficient in handling matters. That's why he won't refute me like the others. Besides, Mr. Wang also knows a lot of knowledge. He's no less knowledgeable than the old man... and no less than Mr. Yang and the others!"
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