Chapter 36: Encountering a Strange Event
Seeing that Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Yuhuan still wanted to pay a visit to the emperor, the three of them did not bother them any more. After bidding farewell to the father and daughter, they walked out along the palace road. Only after they left the imperial city did the three of them separate, return to their mansions to change into casual clothes, and go to Yang Rong's mansion to drink and chat together.
The three of them sat in the courtyard. Yang Rong saw that Yang Pu was still smiling, so he said, "Dan'an, are you still smiling?"
Yang Pu didn't know why he said that, and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Seeing that he still seemed oblivious, Yang Rong shook his head in frustration and said, "I think you've been in prison for too long. Your mind isn't working as smoothly as it used to." He then explained, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is always on target. He brought the princess here specially and told you so much. It seems he's taken a liking to you."
"You're interested in me?" Yang Pu thought for a moment, then raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I was just being polite. Could it be that... His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really wants me to teach the princess?"
When he was working in the Eastern Palace, he did lecture to the current emperor, but that was the crown prince at the time and now the emperor. Now he is not allowed to teach the crown prince, but instead asked to teach the princess. Is this appropriate?
"Didn't you see the Crown Prince bringing Princess Shunde to meet the Emperor? It's likely they were planning to report this to the Emperor." Yang Rong jokingly said, "You'll have your hands full then."
Seeing that Yang Pu seemed to be really overwhelmed, Yang Shiqi finally spoke up, "Mianren, don't scare him. Dan'an is now a Hanlin scholar, so he won't let him teach in person. At most, he can find a few young tutors to teach the princess some principles of human relations."
Yang Pu heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but then he felt something was wrong and said, "That's not the way to teach a princess. How would it look if it got out to others? There are tutors to the crown prince, the emperor's sons, and the emperor's grandsons, but how can a princess be tutored to a princess? This rule has never been passed down from our great grandfather."
Yang Rong took a sip from his wine glass, revealing a satisfied expression. Then, as if expressing emotion, he said, "You don't know that the late emperor doted on Princess Shunde. He once allowed her to study martial arts with Eunuch Liu Ma and Sai Hazhi. I heard that she even studied military tactics later on. This is an honor not even available to other imperial grandchildren, let alone a woman."
Yang Pu was a little puzzled: "This... will all this be useful? As for teaching princesses and princesses, there are female officials in the palace who can teach the ladies..."
Seeing his bewilderment, Yang Shiqi explained, "Princess Shunde is precocious. I heard she could speak fluently at the age of one, and she learned to read much faster than most children. She began practicing calligraphy at the age of three. Although I have never seen her handwriting, seeing that both the late emperor and the emperor doted on Princess Shunde, I know she must be quite talented."
Yang Pu was speechless after hearing this, his hand resting on his forehead. "Could it be that I've been in the Imperial Prison for too long, and my thoughts are different from everyone else's...?" Princess Baoqing lost her father at a young age and was raised in the palace by the late Emperor and Empress, treated like their own daughter. She didn't even have this kind of honor..."
Yang Shiqi shook his head helplessly, pointing upwards and saying, "Among all the princes, the only one with a child is the Crown Prince. However, he has no grandchildren. However, the princess is naturally intelligent, which can be considered as a first consolation."
Yang Rong was amused by his words and said, "Just wait and see. The imperial edict will be issued soon. I think you should pay more attention and find a few reliable tutors to teach this unique princess."
Yang Pu was stunned for a moment, and felt that Zhu Yuhuan was very rare.
What kind of intelligence could make the late emperor, the current emperor, and the crown prince raise this little princess like the emperor's grandson?
Zhu Zhanji and his daughter Zhu Yuhuan did not know what the Three Yangs were thinking. They entered the palace. The eunuch who delivered the message stayed in for a long time before coming out to invite the father and daughter in.
Logically speaking, Zhu Gaochi had just met the Three Yangs and should still be handling official business. Even if he was taking a short break, he should be able to respond quickly. It is really unbelievable why this eunuch took so long to convey the message.
Zhu Yuhuan couldn't help but look up at Zhu Zhanji, but Zhu Zhanji gave her a warning look, obviously warning Zhu Yuhuan not to have any wild thoughts or talk nonsense.
When the two entered the inn, Zhu Gaochi was not wearing his Yishan cap. He was sitting at the imperial table, drinking tea and rinsing his mouth. Seeing them coming, Zhu Gaochi smiled and said, "Why did Huanhuan come here today? I heard from your grandmother that you have been paying no attention to the outside world lately and have been concentrating on reading the books of sages."
Zhu Yuhuan saluted and stood up, then answered obediently: "In reply to the emperor's words, I remember that I have never thanked the emperor since I was granted the title of princess. The emperor is busy with government affairs and has no time to take care of the harem, but etiquette cannot be abandoned, so I beg father to take me to the emperor's palace to express my gratitude."
Zhu Gaochi took the handkerchief handed to him by the palace maid and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He said, "Good, it seems that Huanhuan has devoted himself to studying recently and has learned a lot."
Zhu Zhanji was worried that Zhu Yuhuan might say something wrong, so he spoke first: "Dad, Huanhuan is at the age when she should study hard, but the palace ladies-in-waiting are not talented enough to teach her now..."
Zhu Gaochi seemed a little uneasy. After listening to his words, he pondered for a moment, and soon understood what Zhu Zhanji meant. Then he said, "This... In my Ming Dynasty, there is no precedent for princesses to go out to study."
Zhu Zhanji nodded slightly. "Of course not. So I'd like to ask you to allow Huanhuan to attend the daily lectures and imperial lectures with me, and consider it a form of learning."
While the Zhu family father and son were talking, Zhu Yuhuan's attention was gradually drawn to the faint fragrance in the air. She sniffed gently and felt that the fragrance was indescribably strange, as if it was a little too fragrant, making people shiver...
Zhu Yuhuan saw that Zhu Gaochi seemed to be sweating a little, and vaguely thought that it was probably because of the fragrance. She was about to speak, but she couldn't help sneezing. Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji, who were originally talking, looked at her, and the sneeze even caused a loud noise.
Zhu Yuhuan couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed. Before he could explain, Zhu Zhanji had already shouted in alarm, "Someone's here!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the eunuchs serving in the hall immediately became alert and moved towards the source of the sound.
A woman with a bun on her head and a light green dress walked out from behind the screen. She was holding an overturned incense burner in her hand and looked embarrassed.
Zhu Zhanji couldn't remember who this person was for a while, but Zhu Yuhuan recognized her at a glance. It was Zhu Gaochi's concubine Tan. Because she was not favored by Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaochi only gave her the position of beauty when he conferred titles on the six palaces. Tan also lived in seclusion on weekdays. If Zhu Yuhuan had not often visited his grandmother, he would not have forgotten the existence of Tan in Zhu Gaochi's backyard.
But this is the previous dynasty, why is Tan here?
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