Chapter 25 Father and Daughter
Zhu Yuhuan had his homework, so he went back and drew a rough map of the map he remembered. Then he studied with Saihazhi while waiting for good news from Shilin.
Unexpectedly, before the news from Shi Lin came, Zhu Zhanji got the good news first.
"The cement used to reinforce the fire channel is indeed useful. It is stronger and more heat-resistant than the materials used to reinforce the city walls. The method of firing the stone bricks is also very special. When Grandpa Emperor returns, we can use this method to strengthen the border defenses and protect our country."
When Zhu Yuhuan heard that Zhu Zhanji had returned, she wanted to show off her recent learning achievements, so she went straight to the main hall with a pile of calligraphy homework. Unexpectedly, she heard Zhu Zhanji's sigh as soon as she reached the door. She couldn't help but curl her lips and felt happy from the bottom of her heart.
As long as these methods can really come in handy, she will feel relieved.
Although she comes from the modern era, she really doesn't have any real talent. She can only do her best to make this era a better place, even if it's only a little bit.
The prince asked curiously, "What about the previous breeding? I remember you had people rushing to build that so-called 'greenhouse' in early February. Can the rice seedlings grow? In the past, planting in the south wouldn't start until after the Grain Rain."
Zhu Zhanji nodded slightly and said, "It's indeed effective. In addition to the greenhouse method, the diagram also describes a method for raising seedlings. Using a simple gauze cover to increase the temperature, the seedlings will emerge faster than before and be more resistant to wind and rain. There's also no need to transplant the seedlings after sowing. They can be transplanted indoors, and after raising the seeds, all you need to do is plant them. If this method can be promoted in the south, every county can set up a greenhouse to raise seedlings and then distribute them to farmers. Not only will farmers save the hard work, but sowing time will also be much earlier each year. In warm and fertile areas, perhaps an extra crop of rice can be planted each year, filling the granaries. In this way, even if a locust plague like the one that hit Daming Prefecture occurs, the court can quickly provide disaster relief grain and will no longer be short of funds."
The Crown Princess smiled upon hearing this and said, "My son, you've been running around outside all this time, taking care of this greenhouse. You understand the hard work of farmers better than ever before."
Zhu Zhanji nodded and smiled. "Lu Fangweng once said, 'What you learn from books is always shallow; you must practice it yourself to truly understand it.' That's true. If you don't practice it yourself, how can you understand the hardship those farmers have to survive?"
The Crown Princess covered her mouth with her sleeve, turned her gaze to Hu Shanxiang who was sitting opposite Zhu Zhanji, and said with a smile: "To be honest, the great hero must be our Shanxiang."
When she said this, Zhu Zhanji and Hu Shanxiang were both stunned. They subconsciously looked up at each other, and then turned their heads away uncomfortably.
Hu Shanxiang stood up and saluted, saying, "Under heaven, all land belongs to the king. This method originally belonged to the emperor, and the concubine was merely relaying it. It wasn't her own achievement. Mother, you're really embarrassing the concubine by saying that."
"How can you say that?" The Crown Princess shook her head and said earnestly, "This method was given to her by someone else, but if she deliberately didn't give it to her, Zhanji might not know, right? You usually don't want to see Hu Shanggong often to avoid suspicion, but she still cares about you and our family, which is enough to show her sincerity."
When the Crown Prince heard what the Crown Princess said, he hummed in agreement and said to Zhu Zhanji, "Zhanji, this Concubine Hu is always respectful to the Crown Prince. Now she has offered such a useful method, which shows that she still supports you and Shanxiang in her heart."
The Crown Princess then looked at Hu Shanxiang and said, "Shanxiang, you should get more involved in palace affairs. I have an important matter for you later."
Hu Shanxiang replied, "Yes."
Zhu Yuhuan leaned over and looked at Zhu Zhanji. He saw that Zhu Zhanji was looking at Hu Shanxiang across from him, but he did not speak. Instead, he said quietly, "A gentleman should restrain himself. Do not look at what is not proper, do not listen to what is not proper, do not say what is not proper, and do not do what is not proper."
As soon as he said this, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess looked towards the door, and sure enough, they saw a little guy peeking out, and they couldn't help but laugh.
Seeing that he was discovered, Zhu Yuhuan came out, hugged the pile of papers in his arms tightly, and muttered embarrassedly: "Huanhuan knows his fault, please punish me, Daddy."
There are so many poems all day long saying that a gentleman does not do this, a gentleman does not do that, and there are so many poems about what a gentleman can do, why don’t you say it now?
Hu Shanxiang frowned slightly, but before she could speak, Zhu Zhanji called her over and looked at the pile of papers in her arms. He said, "Is this your recent homework?"
Zhu Yuhuan bowed again, pretending not to notice Hu Shanxiang's reproachful gaze, "Yes, please take a look, Daddy."
Zhu Zhanji flipped through a few pages, his once stern face softening considerably, a faint smile appearing. However, when he spoke, his tone was far from gentle: "Your handwriting has indeed improved a lot. In view of your diligent practice, I will not punish you. However, I will keep the gift I originally brought you from outside the palace for now, and will give it to you when you correct this little flaw."
Zhu Yuhuan knew that he was teasing her on purpose, so she curled her lips deliberately and said, "Then Huanhuan won't say what she was going to say to Dad. I'll tell Dad after Dad returns the gift to me."
Seeing that she was so good at drawing inferences from one instance, Zhu Zhanji couldn't help but draw out his voice: "Hey - you girl -"
The prince smiled and shook his head, saying, "You, hurry up and give the things to Huanhuan. There aren't many people in our family who lose their patience. Even if you were one, your patience might not even be as good as Huanhuan's. And you still want to surpass this little girl."
Zhu Zhanji had no choice but to rub Zhu Yuhuan's head and said, "Okay, okay, even if you, a little girl, win, tell me, what do you want to say to Daddy?"
Zhu Yuhuan pulled out two sheets of paper from the bottom of his homework and said with a smile, "My teacher asked me to draw a simple border map. I remember the general pattern on my great-grandfather's screen, but my drawing skills are really poor. I beg Dad..."
Before she finished speaking, Zhu Zhanji raised his eyebrows and said, "Are you asking your father to write for you? I won't do such a thing."
Zhu Yuhuan quickly defended himself: "How could Huanhuan be such a person? It was my master who said that my father was an excellent painter. Even my great-grandfather treasured my father's paintings. That's why my master asked my father and I to learn more."
Zhu Zhanji was naturally very pleased to be flattered by his daughter. He waved his hand and said, "Isn't it just painting? Daddy will teach you."
Seeing that he agreed, Zhu Yuhuan took his homework from Zhu Zhanji, chuckled, and said, "The master will definitely be shocked when the time comes."
Zhu Zhanji hadn't noticed it at first, but when he saw her stretch out her hand, he saw that a horrible scar had appeared on the palm of his daughter's right hand at some point. The newly grown tender flesh was a different skin color from the palm, making it particularly conspicuous.
Zhu Zhanji frowned and asked, "What's wrong with this wound? It doesn't look like a simple blister or callus."
Before the Crown Princess could speak, Zhu Yuhuan tilted his head slightly and said proudly, "This is proof of my diligent daily archery practice. That's why the Immortal Lord left a mark on my palm, like a bowstring, isn't it? This proves that Huanhuan's hard work is known by the heavens, and will surely yield results."
When Hu Shanxiang heard her say this, a smile appeared on her slightly stiff expression.
Only her daughter is so optimistic that she can even say that suffering and injury are natural.
Zhu Zhanji looked at his mother and saw her shaking her head slightly. He could only touch his daughter's face with heartache and said, "You, you still want to learn painting when you are injured? I think you should rest for a few days first, otherwise it will be very difficult for you to hold the brush."
Zhu Yuhuan immediately became unhappy. He pulled Zhu Zhanji's sleeve and shook it, saying, "Master will have the soldiers on the training ground practice formations later. If I don't hand in my homework on time, Master might not let me see the formations. We can't delay this."
Zhu Zhanji often rested outside the palace during this month. Even when he returned to the palace for a short time, he would fall asleep in his study or stay by the side of the prince to handle government affairs. Naturally, he knew nothing about the affairs of his wives, concubines and children in the backyard. He couldn't help but show a somewhat puzzled expression when he heard this.
Seeing this, the Crown Princess said, "I'll explain this to you in detail later." She then looked back and forth between the father and daughter, then laughed, "Look at you two. You've darkened quite a bit lately. Even walking down the street, you wouldn't be able to tell you're royal children."
The father and daughter looked at each other and just smiled knowingly.
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