The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Wenhua Hall.

The day's classes were over and Zhu Houzhao was ready to return to the Duanjing Hall.

But before he could leave, he heard some "crunch" and "crunch" sounds coming from behind the screen. He immediately walked over, pushed the screen aside, and glared at Zhu Xiurong who was eating from a paper tube inside.

"What is this?" Zhu Houzhao asked with a dark face.

Zhu Xiurong said, "Are you asking about this? This is a paper tube. It's quite delicate, isn't it?"

Zhu Houzhao asked impatiently: "I asked you what you ate?"

"Popcorn. It's put in a paper tube and is extra crispy. There's also sugar on it, so it tastes really good." Zhu Xiurong looked like, "Are you making a fuss?"

Zhu Houzhao frowned and said, "I've eaten rice flower, but yours...how is it different from rice flower?"

"Oh, the one you are talking about is made of rice, and mine is made of corn. Didn't you eat corn a few days ago?" Zhu Xiurong said, not paying attention to his brother's burning gaze, and continued eating.

He even stuffed the popcorn into his mouth faster, as if he was afraid that his brother would snatch it away.

Zhu Houzhao said angrily: "Does it mean that any good things in the palace must pass through your hands first? Why doesn't anyone bring me popcorn?"

Zhu Xiurong looked mature for his age. He shrugged and said, "Then I don't know. How about you ask our father, my brother?"

Gao Feng said, "Your Highness, please stop bringing up irrelevant issues."

Zhu Xiurong pursed her lips and said, "What's wrong with him? He's always like a punching bag. I don't know how the imperial sister has offended you. It's just some popcorn, right? If you like it... go get it yourself. Anyway... what's mine is mine..."

"Okay, you're cruel."

Zhu Houzhao said, "Royal sister, don't say that your brother is bullying you. These two days I heard that Tang Yin led his troops into the grassland again. Don't you claim that you know the battlefield situation very well? Even my father and Mr. Zhang are helping you. Do you dare to compete with me again? Let's compare the process of this battle!"

Zhu Xiurong finished the popcorn in his hand, clapped his hands, and said with a gloating look: "Why should I compete with you?"

"I……"

Zhu Houzhao suddenly felt weak in his limbs.

This sister seems to be very self-controlling, even her emotions are controlled by her.

Zhu Xiurong smiled and said, "The things I got from my brother are all good, especially the map set. I draw on it when I have nothing to do. It's really fun."

"That's a map! It's something that concerns the rise and fall of the Ming Dynasty, and you actually took it back and scribbled on it? Believe it or not, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of my father?" Zhu Houzhao was instantly provoked and became extremely emotional, baring his teeth and claws.

Zhu Xiurong touched the front of him with his hand and said with a smile: "Oh, my brother, you are so powerful, I am scared to death by you. That is my thing, I can draw it however I want, even draw a turtle on it. Who made you lose, my brother?"

"You...are going too far!" Zhu Houzhao waved his fist and almost wanted to hit someone.

But he finally endured it.

Because he didn't dare to really hit her, and he didn't have the courage to really punch his sister. If he couldn't hit anyone, it was obvious that his sister was not afraid of him at all.

It seemed that my sister knew that he was just talking nonsense.

Zhu Xiurong sorted out the textbooks on the table, stood up and said, "Brother, if you want to compete, do it next time. Anyway, I don't have time to discuss military and political matters with you recently. For a girl, it's too boring. How about this, next time you want to compete, tell father, and if father agrees, then I will compete with you."

"You...you..." Zhu Houzhao was so angry that he couldn't speak clearly.

Zhu Xiurong said: "Here's the paper tube for you. If there's popcorn, you can use it to get it. But the prerequisite is that you don't mind my saliva. Hehe, see you tomorrow!"

After saying that, Zhu Xiurong walked away carrying her new schoolbag like a happy little girl.

Only Zhu Houzhao was left standing there in impotence and rage.

……

……

That night, Zhu Houzhao was not in the mood to sleep. He was rummaging through a pile of books on his desk, as if trying to find a way to restrain his sister.

Gao Feng walked over and changed the candle, saying, "Your Highness, it's late, it's time to rest."

Zhu Houzhao said, "No, I'm studying Sun Tzu's Art of War. Why can't I find a way to deal with that little girl? Doesn't it say that if you learn this well, you will be invincible?"

"..."

Gao Feng was speechless.

This prince... is not very old, but he has set his goal on defeating his sister?

You are the first prince since ancient times, right?
"Got it!" Zhu Houzhao suddenly exclaimed.

Gao Feng was startled and asked hurriedly, "Your Highness, have you found a solution to this?"

"I didn't find it." Zhu Houzhao threw the book on the table and said with a determined look on his face, "I have an idea. I want to embarrass her and make her feel ashamed. Let her know that a girl has no confidence to fight with me!"

Gao Feng was surprised and said, "Your Highness, you spent half the night thinking about it and you only came up with... this?"

Zhu Houzhao said, "What else? She is simply a little devil! I thought I could control her, but who knows... No matter what, I can't let her have a good life! In Wenhua Palace, either I or she!"

Gao Feng said: "I'm afraid it won't be easy..."

You can defeat her, so why do you want to keep her in Wenhua Palace? Or do you think your father loves you more than your sister?

That little princess... is truly the apple of everyone's eye. Could it be that Your Highness the Crown Prince still hasn't realized this?
Zhu Houzhao smiled confidently and said, "That's why you are ignorant. You may not know what my advantage is!"

"What?" Gao Feng asked quickly.

"Not in the military, because some people make biased judgments on those things. After all, in military terms, it's hard to say which of the two strategies is right or wrong. What really matters is practice. But if we compare talent... then even if she studies for a few more years, she won't be as good as me." Zhu Houzhao said.

"Are you going to compete with the princess in talent and learning?" Gao Feng exclaimed.

This brother is really a hero. He will do anything to defeat his sister.

Your sister has only been studying here for half a year, while you have been systematically studying the Four Books and Five Classics for six or seven years. You are doing this to win and don't even care about your face.

Don't talk about martial ethics.

Zhu Houzhao said, "I will go and talk to my father tomorrow. It happens that my father will go to Kunning Palace for dinner tomorrow. I will show you how I can embarrass her!"

……

……

noon the next day.

Zhu Houzhao arrived early in the Kunning Palace.

He waited until lunch time but still didn't see Zhu Youtang, or even Zhu Xiurong.

"Mother, where is the emperor? Didn't he say that the whole family would have lunch together today?" Zhu Houzhao asked hurriedly. Empress Zhang seemed very lazy at this time. It was obvious that she had no appetite for lunch. She said casually, "Your father is having lunch with your Mr. Zhang in the Qianqing Palace, so he won't come over."

"What?" Zhu Houzhao asked, "Did Mr. Zhang enter the palace? Why... didn't he go to Wenhua Hall?"

"I don't know." Empress Zhang was too lazy to answer her son.

"What about the imperial sister? Why haven't I seen her?" Zhu Houzhao asked, "Is she out playing somewhere again and not even able to eat? Mother, you should take good care of her. She is becoming more and more unreasonable."

Empress Zhang said, "Your sister also went to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. It was your father who sent her there."

"Pfft! Why? As a son and a student, I have no right to eat at the same table with them. The imperial sister is so young, why did you summon her and not me?" Zhu Houzhao was already very angry.

After hearing this news, he was immediately devastated.

Empress Zhang said coldly, "As a brother, how can you be angry with your sister all the time? What's the point?"

What you mean is, you and your sister are from the same nest, so why do you have to act like a bully in your own nest?
If you want to fight, you should find a way to compete with your younger brother. What's more, there is a potential younger brother. Until now, I, your mother, don't even know whether you have a younger brother or a younger sister.

Zhu Houzhao said: "I just don't like her. It's not that she is so annoying, but she always annoys me."

"It's up to you," said Empress Zhang. "After dinner, please leave. Don't you have classes in the afternoon? You don't have to come in and greet me when you leave. Eat more!"

After saying this, Empress Zhang walked towards the inner hall with lazy steps.

……

……

Zhu Houzhao was a little hungry, but now he had no appetite at all.

After thinking it over again and again, she decided to go to the Qianqing Palace in person.

"Your Highness, you can't go." Gao Feng, who came with him, reminded him hurriedly.

"Get out of the way!" Zhu Houzhao said, "Is there any place in the palace that I can't go to? Who do you think you are? Do you want to block my way?"

Gao Feng was frightened and quickly took two steps back.

Zhu Houzhao rushed to the outside of the Qianqing Palace with great momentum.

But no one informed him, and the eunuch outside would not let him in.

"Father, I have something to tell you. Can you let me in?" Zhu Houzhao had no choice but to shout at the door.

This scared Gao Feng and others, but they saw that Zhu Houzhao was very determined at this time, and he would not give up until he saw his old father, so they could not stop him.

The only way is to knock the person unconscious, or gag him and carry him away.

But obviously these two tricks don't work on Zhu Houzhao.

……

……

Zhu Houzhao shouted loudly outside for a while, and just when his voice was almost hoarse, Zhu Xiurong appeared at the door of the palace, jumping and skipping.

"Royal sister, why are you here? I'm here to see my father. Go in and let him know."

Zhu Houzhao suppressed his inner anger and said to Zhu Xiurong.

Zhu Xiurong smiled and said, "My father asked me to say that you are very rude and you are not behaving properly here. I want you to go back."

"No, I won't stop until I see my father today! Besides, I still have a lot to say to my father! Mr. Zhang is here too, right? I'm here to learn from you." Zhu Houzhao said.

Zhu Xiurong went back excitedly.

After a long time, Zhu Xiurong came out again and waved, "Come in."

At this time, the people outside finally made way.

Zhu Houzhao followed Zhu Xiurong into the hall angrily, and after turning a corner, they arrived at the side hall of the Qianqing Palace. At this time, Zhang Zhou and Zhu Youtang were sitting in front of the emperor's dining table.

"Father, my brother is here." Zhu Xiurong said in a crisp voice.

"Yeah." Zhu Youtang also looked annoyed. He didn't even call his son to come to the table. He just said coldly, "Why are you here shouting and yelling instead of staying in the East Palace?"

Zhu Houzhao said: "I have some academic matters that have not been explained, and I feel sad. Today I heard that Mr. Zhang was here, so I came to see him specially."

Zhu Youtang said coldly: "How do you know that your Mr. Zhang is here?"

"It was said by the Queen Mother." Zhu Houzhao said, "Your Majesty, Father also hopes that I can make progress in my studies, right? I am rude and impolite today, and I will accept the punishment, but if I don't get an answer to my academic questions, I will be unable to sleep or eat."

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "It is a good thing that the prince is so open-minded and eager to learn. One should indeed be persistent in learning."

"Bingkuan, you don't have to speak for him." Zhu Youtang said, "In my opinion, he just wants to cause trouble! He even made up a reason out of thin air. Tell me, what academic matter do you have that you must ask Mr. Zhang for advice today? Can't others explain your doubts to you?"

Zhu Houzhao said, "Of course not. I just want to know why the Ming Dynasty would send troops to the grasslands after winter. Isn't it that the further north you go, the colder the weather will be? Sending troops in this kind of weather doesn't mean you are disregarding the lives of our Ming soldiers."

Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "What kind of knowledge is this?"

Zhu Houzhao said: "I can't get an answer. I think the ideas are different, and I even think someone is taking human lives lightly!"

Zhu Youtang said angrily, "Asshole! You are still acting rashly! Someone, take him back to the East Palace. I don't want to see him in the next half month! He is not even allowed to leave the palace!"

"Father, you are not fair!" Zhu Houzhao saw a group of eunuchs coming to arrest him, and he quickly protested, "My sister can come to see Mr. Zhang and ask him for advice, why can't I? Is it because you think your son is fooling around? But recently, your son has been studying hard, but your father is always biased against your son in some things! Your son thinks this is unfair!"

"Cough cough cough..."

Zhu Youtang was so angry at his son's behavior that he started coughing immediately.

Zhu Xiurong hurried over and said, "Father, please don't be angry. In fact, my brother just felt that I was studying with him, and he was not happy. Yesterday, because I ate popcorn, he felt that he didn't get the good things first."

"Imperial sister, are you trying to instigate me?" Zhu Houzhao glared at his sister.

Zhu Xiurong spread his hands and said, "Brother, I am only speaking the truth. You said yesterday that you wanted to compete with me in military insight. I did not refuse intentionally. It was my father who told me not to mess around with you in the future. He also said that we can pretend not to see each other when we meet in the future, and it is best not to have too much interaction."

"What did you say?" Zhu Houzhao was confused.

This sister...is she pretending to be innocent here, or is she really innocent?
Zhu Xiurong said: "If I can compete with you, or leave Wenhua Palace, and let you put aside your prejudice and stop making trouble, will your sister not give you face?"

Zhu Youtang said: "Look! How sensible is your sister?"

Zhu Houzhao was so angry that his nose was crooked.

"Father, in fact, my brother is just very competitive, which is a good thing. I can't blame him. Please ask Father to give him a question so that he can beat me once, so that he will give up the desire to fight." Zhu Xiurong said with true feelings like an excellent actor. (End of this chapter)