Chapter 26 Not Heartbeat
Zhu Zhanji was almost busy with things outside the palace, so he naturally had time to teach Zhu Yuhuan how to paint to complete the homework assigned by Saihazhi.
He was best at painting flowers, birds, fish, insects, and landscapes, and everything he painted was lifelike. Zhu Yuhuan was so impressed by Zhu Zhanji's paintings that he wanted to take away all of his paintings and carefully preserve them for five hundred years, lest they be used by some emperor in later generations to become barrage notes on video websites.
Zhu Yuhuan enjoyed watching Zhu Zhanji paint, but it was a completely different experience for her. Calligraphy was already difficult enough, and painting was even more challenging. She had originally thought that drawing maps wasn't a difficult task, and that perfection wasn't necessary, as long as the idea was conveyed. However, Zhu Zhanji's expectations of her were completely different. He clearly hoped that Zhu Yuhuan would inherit his talent for painting and strive to achieve both form and spirit.
Because of this, Zhu Yuhuan received more scolding than in the past few years. People either complained that she was too fast or too casual. This gave Zhu Yuhuan a completely new understanding of painting.
The weather is hot now, and people are prone to being restless and irritable. If Zhu Yuhuan had not kept repeating in his heart "This is my father, the future emperor", he would probably have turned against Zhu Zhanji long ago.
"Look, I got distracted while I was painting."
Zhu Yuhuan was hit on the head by Zhu Zhanji with a brush, and he couldn't help but say in pain, "I haven't even mastered the form of calligraphy yet, and Daddy is comparing my paintings with yours. Isn't this like Tian Ji's horse race? Daddy is the top horse, but I'm a colt. How can we be compared?"
Zhu Zhanji was amused by her analogy, then shook his head helplessly, saying, "You, a young man, possess a wealth of wisdom. It seems you haven't slacked off on your studies while accompanying the commander. You even know the story of Tian Ji's horse race."
Zhu Yuhuan rubbed his head, picked up the pen again and began to sketch, muttering, "Dad and Mom both have their reasons, and I naturally have my own reasons..."
If she didn't have her own reasons, wouldn't she be completely crushed by these ancient rules?
She had finished painting the longevity peach and was about to dip it in paint when Zhu Zhanji patted her outstretched hand and said, "How can you paint a good picture if you're already coloring it before the shape is complete?"
Zhu Yuhuan curled his lips and said, "Daddy is stingy... Master never said that he wouldn't let me watch the battle formation drills because I was just starting to learn military tactics."
Seeing how seriously she was painting, Zhu Zhanji casually said, "You, not only haven't practiced martial arts enough, you've also started learning military tactics. Are you going to become Princess Pingyang Zhao?"
Zhu Yuhuan secretly complained to herself, she was Princess Pingyang Zhao, but no one was Princess Pingyang Zhao's brother, Emperor Taizong of Tang. If the Zhu family could really produce such a person, why would she still be here? She would have been an idle person long ago.
Therefore, Zhu Yuhuan just smiled and said, "Then I will be Liang Hongyu and beat the drum to resist the Jin army."
Zhu Zhanji patted her head and said, "Liang Hongyu was born into a humble family. It was only through good fortune that she was granted an imperial decree. How can Huanhuan compare her to him? Isn't this self-deprecating?"
Zhu Yuhuan looked him in the eye and said seriously, "A person's value lies in his character. Even if Qin Hui passed the imperial examination, he would still be a traitor reviled by all the people thousands of years from now."
Zhu Zhanji hadn't expected her to answer him so firmly. After a moment, he felt both helpless and emotional, saying, "You have so many bizarre ideas. I really don't know where they come from... I say you're smart, but I've never seen anyone as stubborn as you. But if we talk about stupidity, you're only slightly better than the King of Han."
Zhu Yuhuan: “…”
How can you compare her with the King of Han... But no matter how stupid she is, she can't make roast suckling pig.
Zhu Yuhuan pondered for a moment and said, "It's fate and timing. Liang Hongyu was able to seize the opportunity, defend her country, and leave a good reputation. Isn't this why she is superior to those men? Not to mention her real talent and knowledge, she has never lost to others."
Zhu Zhanji looked at her small body and could not help but bend down and put his hand on his daughter's shoulder and said, "You can't say such things. If you become Liang Hongyu, what will become of the Ming Dynasty?"
Zhu Yuhuan laughed dryly in his heart, thinking that it must be approaching the end of the Northern Song Dynasty.
If it weren't for Yu Qian, the 276 years of the Ming Dynasty would have been discounted, but these 276 years were already the result of a discount.
The father and daughter were standing there when the voice of an eunuch came from outside the room: "This servant pays homage to the Crown Prince's Consort."
Zhu Yuhuan looked up and saw that his father had withdrawn his hand and calmly adjusted his bamboo green Taoist robe.
He was being nice to her just now, but as soon as he saw her mother, he put on a sour face... This is what we often call pretending to be dead in modern times.
Hu Shanxiang was wearing a sky-blue and lake-blue dress today. Seeing Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Yuhuan standing in front of the desk, seemingly not studying painting, she looked surprised and then respectfully said, "I pay my respects to the Crown Prince."
Wu Miaosu was also with her. She was holding a tray with a booklet on it. No one knew what it was used for.
Zhu Zhanji walked back to the desk and waved to Zhu Yuhuan, signaling her to come over and concentrate on painting. Then he said, "What's the important matter, Crown Princess? I don't usually see you come to my study in person."
Zhu Yuhuan rolled his eyes in his heart, walked obediently to Zhu Zhanji's side, and picked up the paintbrush again.
Nervous... Isn't this just to avoid disturbing you while you're studying or working?
Hu Shanxiang acted as if she hadn't heard and continued with her business as usual. "The locust plague in Daming Prefecture hasn't completely subsided. Although the imperial court has provided relief grain, the Crown Prince should also set an example. That's why my mother specifically asked me to discuss raising funds with the ladies of the imperial court, both inside and outside the capital, and send them to Daming Prefecture to help the victims. After all, this is my first time doing something like this, so I thought I'd ask the Crown Prince to review the plan." She looked at Wu Miaosu and said, "Miaosu, present the booklet to the Crown Prince."
Wu Miaosu responded and walked to Zhu Zhanji, bowed and held up the booklet.
Zhu Zhanji simply picked up the book on the table and asked nonchalantly, "Since this is a matter concerning the harem, have you told Mengqiu about it?"
Zhu Yuhuan was still copying the pattern, but when he heard Zhu Zhanji's words, he almost put down a heavy stroke and his eyes swept towards Hu Shanxiang opposite him.
Not to mention Zhu Yuhuan, even Wu Miaosu, who was responsible for submitting the booklet, had some opinions. Zhu Yuhuan happened to see that she looked a little surprised and puzzled, and she obviously didn't understand why Zhu Zhanji said such a thing.
Why did Sun Mengqiu have to inquire about the task that the Crown Princess gave to Hu Shanxiang?
Zhu Zhanji stood up, took the booklet, flipped through it briefly, and asked Hu Shanxiang to sit with him at the tea table. Then he explained, "She has finished her confinement and has been bored in the backyard every day. You should give her some tasks so that she won't be lonely and depressed."
Zhu Yuhuan's hand painted faster, but he muttered in his heart why didn't he assign the greenhouse work to her uncles? Even his brother Zhu Zhanji, who had the same father as him, was afraid of him, and he had the nerve to let Hu Shanxiang hand over the work to Sun Mengqiu...
Men’s power is power, but women’s power is not power?
Wu Miaosu looked at Zhu Yuhuan who was venting his anger on the drawing paper and couldn't help but sigh in her heart. Thinking of the estrangement between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess that she had accidentally learned from Hu Shanggong before, Wu Miaosu felt even more pity for Zhu Yuhuan.
After all, I am still young, and no matter how many times I write the word "忍", there will always be times when I can't help myself.
Hu Shanxiang nodded slightly and said, "The Crown Prince is indeed very thoughtful. Once he confirms that the rules are correct, I will inform the Second Consort and work with her to prepare for the fundraising."
Both Wu Miaosu and Zhu Yuhuan didn't know what to say because of Hu Shanxiang's "magnanimity".
There was nothing that could be done about it. How could Hu Shanxiang defeat Zhu Zhanji, the crown prince?
Hu Shanxiang and Zhu Zhanji were there going through the motions, but Zhu Yuhuan felt a bit depressed. He painted faster and faster, and when Zhu Zhanji wasn't paying attention, he unceremoniously dipped his hands in paint and colored his "masterpiece". He simply blew on it a few times and placed it on the table.
When Zhu Zhanji and Hu Shanxiang finished their discussion and turned back to the desk, Zhu Zhanji saw two long-tailed, multicolored pheasants on Zhu Yuhuan's drawing paper. He was at a loss for words and asked, "What are you drawing?"
Zhu Yuhuan said confidently, "With such a long tail, it must be a phoenix. This is all taught to me by my father. I have been drawing for a few days and I feel that I have made great progress."
Hu Shanxiang shook her head helplessly and said, "You're just being stubborn. If your painting isn't good, just admit it. You're still being stubborn like a phoenix."
Zhu Yuhuan curled his lips and asked, "Miaosu, what do you think? Is that a phoenix I drew?"
Wu Miaosu was startled when she was named, but she agreed reluctantly, "Yes, I have never seen such a divine bird before. It must be a phoenix."
Zhu Zhanji looked at the phoenix for a long time, still unwilling to believe that this was the result of his teaching. When he heard Hu Shanxiang bluntly say that Zhu Yuhuan's painting skills were poor, he had to change the subject and asked, "Why are you painting a phoenix for no reason?"
"Why are mandarin ducks embracing each other? How can they fly together?" Zhu Yuhuan said righteously, "This painting was inspired by seeing my father and mother discussing disaster relief. I'll also write down the reason for my painting later."
In fact, she wanted to say that Zhu Zhanji was just like the author of this fu, ruthless and heartless.
Zhu Zhanji saw that she was talking very clearly and was about to tease her, but he caught a glimpse of Hu Shanxiang's rare embarrassed expression in his peripheral vision. He couldn't help but feel moved and said with a smile: "Then I will accept this painting on behalf of your mother and frame it for you later."
Seeing this, Hu Shanxiang hurriedly said, "The Crown Prince advocates frugality. Huanhuan was just joking. It is really a waste for the Crown Prince to frame such a painting. Let's forget it."
Seeing that Hu Shanxiang seemed a little anxious, Zhu Zhanji curled his lips and smiled, saying: "Since this is Huanhuan's first painting, it must be framed well."
Normally, Hu Shanxiang never showed any fear and was always calm. But today, it was as if a small stone had been thrown into his heart, causing ripples. It was completely different from usual, so he naturally became interested.
Zhu Yuhuan fell silent, secretly complaining that Zhu Zhanji was actually serious about it. He had just been disapproving of her painting skills, but now he turned around and said he wanted to frame the painting.
She turned her eyes and saw Hu Shanxiang uncomfortably raising her hand to adjust the tassel hanging from her hairpin. Only then did she understand why Zhu Zhanji changed his tone.
It turned out that he found Hu Shanxiang so interesting and was attracted to her.
This kind of "like" is particularly frivolous, just like liking a flower or a tree.
Zhu Yuhuan didn't know whether Zhu Zhanji treated Sun Mengqiu in the same way, but as the daughter that Hu Shanxiang carried for ten months, Zhu Yuhuan knew very well that Hu Shanxiang must cherish her "love". She was not shy, but really embarrassed.
She also understood better why Hu Shanxiang would not be attracted to Zhu Zhanji, and no one else would be attracted to her either.
Zhu Yuhuan just felt a chill.
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