Chapter 51: Give in
Zhu Yuhuan first sent someone to ask Zhu Hanjia in the Imperial Concubine's Palace, and learned that his third sister had already thanked Zhu Zhanji when he stayed overnight in the Imperial Concubine's Palace. Then he went to inform Wang Jin and confirmed that Zhu Zhanji would be free the next day.
The next day, Zhu Yuhuan went to the Qianqing Palace with his sister's scroll to express his gratitude to Zhu Zhanji at the time Wang Jin had told him.
After Zhu Yuhuan expressed his gratitude, Zhu Zhanji beckoned Zhu Yuhuan to come to his side and said, "I heard from Wang Jin that your sister's practice work has been framed?"
Zhu Yuhuan spread Zhu Youtong's scroll on the table and said, "It was just framed yesterday. This is the one she put the most effort into. It depicts a corner of the Renzhi Hall." She glanced at it and saw a small bottle on the table, and quickly looked away without making a sound.
She had seen this bottle before at Liu Yuanran's place. It was specially used to hold refined pills.
Zhu Zhanji didn't notice his daughter's little movements, but just carefully appreciated the painting.
Zhu Youtong's energy was limited, preventing him from painting a long scroll, so he only painted one, but this one was meticulously executed. The painters and eunuchs depicted each with their own distinct demeanor and duties, vividly capturing a day in the Renzhi Hall. Although his painting skills were still somewhat immature, they possessed a vibrant spirit, and the colors were vibrant and bold.
In addition, this painting was created by his only daughter who liked painting as much as he did. Zhu Zhanji liked it very much. After admiring it for a long time, he couldn't help but raise his hand to write an inscription.
Zhu Yuhuan quickly stopped him and said, "Daddy hasn't praised the painting yet. Tongtong is still sick and waiting for me to go back and tell him about the praise."
Zhu Zhanji uttered an "eh", put down his pen, and asked, "Is Tongtong sick?"
"She was always so focused on painting that she neglected the details. She even took off her cloak while painting outside, and the spring breeze caught her a little cold."
Zhu Zhanji frowned slightly and asked, "Have you asked the imperial physician to take a look?"
Zhu Yuhuan said with a smile: "I have seen it. Now Tongtong drinks medicine every day and sweats under the quilt."
Zhu Zhanji summoned Wang Jin again and instructed him, "Have someone take the finest ginseng and royal jelly from my storehouse and send them to Kunning Palace. When Princess Yongqing recovers from her illness, have the imperial physician prepare a tonic for her and nourish her well."
Wang Jin responded and sent someone to give the order.
Zhu Zhanji then took up his brush and inscribed the eight characters "A Masterful Painting, Lifelike" on it, and then stamped it with his own Wuying Palace seal. He glanced at Zhu Youtong's "Chaoyang Believer" seal and said with a smile, "When Master Liu was in Beijing, you were considered a half-disciple. Why don't you take a pseudonym?"
Zhu Yuhuan said with a smile: "Even if Huanhuan is a disciple, she is still a princess. Huanhuan's name was chosen by the emperor. How could Master Liu dare to give me a name for me?"
This is true. If Liu Yuanran dared to give Zhu Yuhuan a name at will, he would be the first to suffer. No matter how close the relationship between Liu Yongcheng and Saihazhi and Zhu Yuhuan was, there was no reason for them to give Zhu Yuhuan a name at will, not to mention that Liu Yuanran was just a Taoist priest.
Zhu Zhanji pondered for a moment, then wrote the four characters "Binglang Jushi" next to it. He smiled at Zhu Yuhuan and said, "How about this name? I'll have someone carve a seal for you later. You can keep the 'Shunde Princess' seal for daily use."
"Binglang" means shining and radiant, which complements Zhu Yuhuan's name very well.
Zhu Yuhuan said obediently: "Huanhuan thanks Daddy for taking the number."
Wang Jin had snacks and tea served, and he carefully put away the scroll on the table. Father and daughter sat down at the table, and Zhu Zhanji finally spoke, "How do you like the farm your father has chosen for you three sisters? Are you satisfied?"
Zhu Yuhuan said with a smile, "The place Daddy picked out will definitely be good. Besides, Daddy has already built me an imperial farm, and now he's given me additional farmland. How could Huanhuan not be satisfied?" After she finished speaking, she asked curiously, "Why hasn't Daddy bought farmland for Zhen'er and Yu'er?"
Zhu Zhanji smiled and said, "I let him choose. He asked for the 150 hectares of farmland in Fengrun, saying that it was closer to you, my elder sister, and he could also hand over the farmland to you. Since Fengrun didn't have enough land, Yu'er also chose Dong'an for her farmland."
Wang Jin stole a glance at Zhu Yuhuan and saw that she was smiling as if nothing had happened. She said, "That's perfect. People always say, 'It's the same whether you drive one sheep or let two sheep go.' Since Zhen'er trusts me as his sister, why should I be unwilling?"
Zhu Zhanji reached out and touched his daughter's head. He felt that she was no longer the mischievous little girl when she was little. He couldn't help but sigh: "You are becoming more and more calm now. You can take good care of your younger brothers and sisters. Daddy is relieved."
Zhu Yuhuan held Zhu Zhanji's arm, tilted her head slightly, and looked at him, revealing a rare affection. She said, "No matter how calm and clever I am, I am still Daddy's daughter and need Daddy's protection. Since Daddy ascended the throne, he has been working day and night, eating and drinking, and the days he can spend with us are not many. Huanhuan just wants to be by Daddy's side."
The farmland had been prepared long ago, but Zhu Yuhuan already had an imperial farm, and Zhu Youtong and Zhu Hanjia were still young at the time, so Zhu Zhanji was not in a hurry to prepare farmland for his daughters. But now that the children have reached the age of being governors, it is natural to prepare in advance.
The crown prince had 150 hectares, the second prince had 120 hectares, the three princesses had 80 hectares each, plus the 50 hectares of Xihe Imperial Farm. Zhu Yuhuan was treated better than Zhu Qiyu, the second prince.
On the day when the farmland was granted, Zhu Zhanji stayed overnight in Concubine Sun's palace. This was Concubine Sun's suggestion, saying that Princess Shunde was already fourteen years old and would soon reach marriageable age, so she should be chosen in advance.
Zhu Zhanji naturally took it to heart. After all, his daughter was extremely talented, and he also hoped to find a distinguished man to be her husband.
But seeing Zhu Yuhuan so reluctant to leave, Zhu Zhanji swallowed his words that were originally about to persuade his daughter and changed his words: "You, you can do this in front of your father, but you must not let others see it, otherwise they will laugh at Princess Shunde's childish temper."
Zhu Yuhuan chuckled and said, "As long as a daughter is with her parents, she will always be a child."
Zhu Zhanji felt soft-hearted when he heard Zhu Yuhuan's words and said, "I've never seen you act so spoiled before."
Zhu Yuhuan just shook his arm and said, "Even if I act like a spoiled child to Mother, she won't fall for it. This trick only works on Father."
Knowing that Zhu Hanjia had already expressed her gratitude, Zhu Yuhuan understood that Zhu Zhanji was going to spend the night in the Imperial Concubine's palace. Given Imperial Concubine Sun's personality, she would probably just do what Zhu Zhanji wanted, so she would naturally give in at the right time.
Anyway, Liu Yuanran still has a group of disciples waiting to make elixirs for Zhu Zhanji, so just giving in will be fine...
Zhu Zhanji was amused by her words and said, "Daddy likes this trick of yours."
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