Chapter 43 Human Fat
The family was inside the house when someone outside announced, "Empress, Concubine Cao is here."
Zhu Zhanji had been frowning over Zhu Youtong's homework when he heard this. He quickly put down the calligraphy he was holding and asked, "What medicinal herbs did Concubine Cao come to get?"
When Zhu Yuhuan first started practicing writing big characters, although he was a little unfamiliar with them, at least they looked like characters. Zhu Youtong's big characters took him quite some time to practice, which made Zhu Zhanji frown.
Instead of practicing calligraphy, it would be better to teach my daughter to paint. Who knows, Zhu Youtong might be more talented in this area.
Hu Shanxiang smiled and said, "Some time ago, Madam Xu was seeing patients in the palace, and Concubine Cao was feeling a little weak, so I wanted to give her two ginseng sticks. But Concubine Cao said it was too wasteful, and she couldn't use the extra, so she came to me to get more every once in a while."
Zhu Zhanji was a little surprised and said, "For such a small matter, you can just ask the palace servants around you to come. Why do you have to come here in person?"
"Mrs. Xu said that women should move around regularly to stay healthy, so Concubine Cao often comes to my place to move around."
"I see."
Zhu Youtong saw his parents talking and Zhu Zhanji finally stopped looking at his homework, so he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She really had no interest in practicing calligraphy. If her sister hadn't asked her to take it away from time to time, she wouldn't have practiced it. At least someone could understand what she wrote.
While the Emperor and Empress were talking, Concubine Cao came in with her palace maids. Seeing Zhu Zhanji there, she was startled at first, then hurriedly greeted him and said, "I didn't know Your Majesty was in the Empress's palace. I'm sorry to bother you and your Majesty..."
Zhu Zhanji smiled and asked her to stand up. Seeing that the eunuch behind her was holding an embroidered basket in his arms, he knew that Concubine Cao had originally planned to sit in the Queen's Palace for a while, so he teased her, "It's quiet here, no wonder you guys are running around so hard."
The palace maid brought over an embroidered stool, and Concubine Cao sat down somewhat embarrassedly, mumbling, "It is I who always bothers Her Majesty the Queen..."
Hu Shanxiang consoled him, "What's the big deal? I'm just here to look after palace affairs, so I don't have many people to talk to. Tongtong is so absorbed in playing. Your presence here makes Kunning Palace a little more lively."
Zhu Zhanji caught a glimpse of Zhu Youtong moving cautiously and said, "Tongtong, calligraphy practice is not something you can do overnight. Daddy won't force you, but you still have to memorize the article, right?"
Zhu Youtong, who had originally wanted to take this opportunity to slip away, had no choice but to stop and stammer, "What does the Emperor want me to carry..."
Zhu Zhanji glanced at the two sisters and said, "Then recite a passage from the Book of Rites."
Zhu Youtong suddenly felt his scalp tingling and looked at his sister for help.
She had listened to Zhu Yuhuan's lectures in his study for a few times, but she only remembered a few sentences. How could she memorize them?
Zhu Yuhuan naturally knew that Zhu Youtong was not old enough to learn this, and Zhu Zhanji just wanted to restrain Zhu Youtong and make her study hard.
But seeing his sister in such a pitiful state, Zhu Yuhuan couldn't help but feel distressed and whispered a reminder: "Etiquette and morality are the most important qualities of a person..."
Zhu Youtong had no choice but to bite the bullet and recite from memory: "Benevolence is righteousness...righteousness is the root, and following it is...its essence. Those who obtain it are respected..."
Although Hu Shanxiang always urged Zhu Youtong to study hard, she couldn't bear to see her like this. However, Zhu Zhanji was right next to her, so she had to watch Zhu Youtong stammering as she recited the article.
Concubine Cao was a little confused, but she still praised: "Princess, you are so young and can recite articles. It's really amazing. At my age, I can only embroider."
Zhu Youtong nodded like a chick pecking at rice and said, "When the emperor comes next time, Tongtong will definitely memorize it!"
Judging from the frequency with which the emperor visits Kunning Palace, it’s still unknown when the next time will be... Anyway, the longer it’s delayed, the better!
Seeing her like this, Zhu Zhanji said, "You should have someone else to teach you. When your sister was your age, she could memorize any article she had learned after reading it six or seven times."
He was originally confident in his children, but when he saw Zhu Youtong like this, Zhu Zhanji's confidence immediately disappeared.
Zhu Youtong tugged at the corner of his clothes and whispered, "That's because my sister has been so powerful since she was a child..."
Zhu Yuhuan reached out and patted her head, lowering his voice and saying, "Stop talking."
Zhu Zhanji couldn't help but sigh and said, "Do you know what Dashun is?"
Zhu Youtong simply gave up, shook his head like a rattle, and said straightforwardly: "I don't know!"
Zhu Zhanji felt even more troubled, thinking that if he really had a prince in the future, he must seize the opportunity and train him from a young age.
A princess could be raised this way, but a prince is the future heir to the country...
Zhu Yuhuan glanced to the side, and Wang Zhen, who had been following Concubine Cao, spoke cautiously, "The body is straight, the skin is plump, and the person is fat..."
Concubine Cao was startled and quickly scolded: "You eunuch, how dare you speak so casually in front of His Majesty and the Empress!" She looked back and forth between Zhu Zhanji and Hu Shanxiang, fearing that the two would blame her.
Previously, the female officials around her said that Wang Zhen was quite honest, so she promoted him to serve by her side and often took him to Kunning Palace to pay homage to the queen. However, she did not expect that this eunuch would be so bold as to humiliate the princess in public, which made Concubine Cao so angry that she regretted it.
Wang Zhen knelt down hastily and said, "I acknowledge my guilt!"
Zhu Zhanji waved his hand and said, "Continue to recite."
Wang Zhen's throat tightened, and he swallowed before speaking, "A family is prosperous when fathers and sons are loyal, brothers are harmonious, and husbands and wives are harmonious. When high officials follow the law, low officials are honest, officials are in order, and the ruler and his subjects are upright, then the country is prosperous. When the emperor uses virtue as his chariot and music as his chariot, when the princes treat each other with courtesy, when the ministers follow the law, when the scholars test each other with trust, and when the people abide by harmony, then the world is prosperous. This is called great harmony."
Zhu Zhanji asked with great interest, "Have you ever been educated?"
"In reply to your Majesty, I have studied for a few years."
Zhu Zhanji looked at Zhu Youtong and said, "Look, Tongtong, as a princess you can't be inferior to the eunuchs."
Zhu Youtong knew he was in the wrong, so he said, "Tongtong, you must study hard in the future."
Zhu Zhanji then looked at Wang Zhen and asked, "What's your name?"
"My name is Wang Zhen, and I serve in the Concubine's Palace."
Zhu Zhanji thought for a moment and said, "It's a pity to have you serve others when you can recite the Book of Rites."
Concubine Cao was stunned. She had not expected Zhu Zhanji to admire this eunuch so much. She tried to ask, "Your Majesty wants to reward him?"
Zhu Zhanji smiled slightly upon hearing this and said, "Why not transfer him to the Imperial Concubine's Palace? Coincidentally, the Third Princess is also studying, so let him accompany her. What do you think, Queen?"
Hu Shanxiang nodded slightly and said, "Your Majesty is right."
Concubine Cao was frightened half to death by Wang Zhen and naturally wanted to send him away quickly. She said to Wang Zhen, "Why don't you thank His Majesty for his appreciation?"
It doesn't matter whether he is favored or not. She didn't think about how long she could live before entering the palace, but she also didn't want to live a few years less for no reason because of a eunuch. The most important thing is to drive Wang Zhen away.
Wang Zhen kowtowed hurriedly and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."
Although he wanted to ascend to the top in one step, he also knew that such a thing was unlikely. However, getting the opportunity to serve the Third Princess was already a rare opportunity for him.
The third princess is the biological daughter of the imperial concubine. Compared with Concubine Cao, her treatment is much better. Not only is it more respectable than working in Concubine Cao's palace, but she can also meet the emperor frequently.
As long as I serve the Third Princess well, why would I be afraid of not having His Majesty's favor?
Wang Zhen was feeling complacent, but when he looked up, he saw Zhu Yuhuan looking at him with a half-smile on his face, which made him feel a chill for no reason.
His heart trembled, and he quickly lowered his head, not daring to look again.
Although Princess Shunde didn't say anything, she knew very well that compared with her master, the life and death of slaves like them were just a matter of talking and laughing.
At least he couldn't get rid of Princess Shunde for the time being, and he had to give her some "reward" as soon as possible.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
