The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

"Bingkuan, give them some questions later and let them answer them."

"This is the last time. If you, Crown Prince, can really surpass your sister, I can let her study alone and not interfere with your study progress in Wenhua Palace."

"But if you lose, everything will remain the same. And I will punish you by grounding you for a month."

Zhu Youtang was very rude to his son in words, but in fact he loved him very much in his heart.

A daughter is indeed a father's little cotton-padded jacket, but the Ming Dynasty is ultimately handed over to his son. He has to be careful with his father's hands, and usually he just puts on a stern face when trying to intimidate his son.

The father doesn't know how to get along with his son.

However, when getting along with his daughter, there are not so many dogmatic things, because his daughter will not have to bear any major responsibilities in the future, and as a father, she does not have to worry extra about education and other matters.

More importantly, Zhu Xiurong is so "well-behaved" that his father doesn't need to worry about her at all.

Zhu Houzhao said: "Father, the questions must be from the Four Books and Five Classics. I think I have the ability to beat her."

Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "Listen, this sounds like what a brother would say? You're going to do anything to win your sister over? How long have you studied the Four Books and Five Classics? How many days has your sister only studied? Do you still have any shame?"

"But father... when she went to Wenhua Palace, didn't she also learn the contents of the Four Books and Five Classics? Since she couldn't learn it, why did she go to Wenhua Palace?"

Zhu Houzhao seemed justified.

She is interfering with my studies, and I am just trying to get rid of her in the most reasonable way.

Because she was not there to study, but to make trouble.

Zhu Xiurong said, "Father, since my brother wants to compete with me in writing articles, then let's do it. At most, we can write an article together. Whoever writes better will win."

"Xiu Rong..." Zhu Youtang seemed to disagree with this kind of competition.

Because my son is taking too much advantage.

Zhu Xiurong smiled and said, "Father, do you not believe in me? I have been studying hard recently. I believe that it won't be long before I can write an eight-part essay better than my brother."

Seeing his daughter's confident look, Zhu Youtang nodded with satisfaction and said, "Xiurong is ambitious and eager to learn, unlike your brother."

Zhu Houzhao said angrily: "Father, ambition alone is not enough. Learning also depends on talent. She has no talent, so it's useless to learn anything."

"Brother, don't be so confident. We'll see what happens."

……

……

Zhu Houzhao was ordered to go back to study.

In the afternoon of the same day, Zhu Xiurong received individual tutoring from Zhang Zhou.

Zhu Xiurong seemed very happy, as if this was a very interesting thing.

When Zhang Zhou appeared in front of her with the lesson plan, she asked eagerly, "Sir, what are you teaching today?"

Zhang Zhou said: "I won't teach you today. There are some things I need to explain to you clearly."

"Please speak, sir." Zhu Xiurong smiled.

Zhang Zhou asked, "Princess, do you know what craftsmanship is?"

Zhu Xiurong frowned and asked, "What is craftsmanship? I... don't quite understand."

Zhang Zhou said: "But you know eight-legged essay?"

"I..." Zhu Xiurong seemed puzzled. "Is there something wrong? Selecting scholars through the eight-legged essay is not a very common thing. Isn't this how the Ming Dynasty's imperial examinations selected talents?"

Zhang Zhou nodded and said, "I have your usual homework here as well."

"Sir...let's talk about homework later." Zhu Xiurong said hurriedly.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Also, when I discussed the military affairs of the Northwest with your prince last time, I mentioned in the military strategy that the Northwest soldiers might lie down and do nothing. What does lying down mean?"

Zhu Xiurong smiled awkwardly and said, "Isn't it just lying down and doing nothing? Sir, why do you care about trivial things? Didn't the emperor ask you to teach me knowledge today?"

Zhang Zhou said, "You want me to teach you how to write an essay?"

"Yeah, no, not...it's not about writing an essay. I don't know what it means." Zhu Xiurong said.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "The word 'composition' has been quoted in many classics. It was mentioned in the first chapter of 'Dream of Red Mansions', 'Since I came here last year, I have been stranded and have temporarily stayed in the temple. I make a living by selling calligraphy and writing compositions every day, so Shiyin often interacts with him.'"

"Oh? Is that so?" Zhu Xiurong asked with eyes wide open, "It seems so."

Zhang Zhou asked again: "Have you read Dream of the Red Chamber?"

"A Dream of Red Mansions...? What is that? I don't know what you are talking about." Zhu Xiurong said, "I have brought many books from my brother, and I have read many of them. I don't know if this one is available."

Zhang Zhou said: "That should be the case. Books like Red Mansions are not suitable for the prince to read. He is not old enough to digest the knowledge in it."

Zhu Xiurong seemed to understand something, and nodded his head quickly, saying, "Yes, he still can't digest it."

Zhang Zhou asked, "Does the princess know the contents and think he can't digest it?"

"No." Zhu Xiurong said calmly, "I just think that my brother is too naughty by nature, so he can't digest the content."

Zhang Zhou asked curiously: "It seems that the princess is very familiar with the word digestion. Does the princess know what it means?"

"I... I don't know." Zhu Xiurong said, "I just followed what the teacher said. Digestion... this word is very interesting."

Zhang Zhou said: "The concept of digestion has a history of thousands of years. For example, Wang Xizhi of the Jin Dynasty once wrote, 'I had a small problem with my diet before, and I got sick after eating a few times. This is because of poor digestion.'"

"Really? I think my father and mother once said that, so I wrote it down." Zhu Xiurong said, "It means to dissolve the food in the stomach, right?"

Zhang Zhou nodded and said, "That's what I mean. However, this word is used to digest knowledge, which is beyond the scope of today's word application."

"..." Zhu Xiurong seemed speechless and frowned, "Sir, are you kidding me?"

Zhang Zhou said: "You play with my word. According to your usage, it should be unusual. Is your highness also beyond the scope of application?"

Zhu Xiurong said angrily: "I don't think it's beyond the scope."

Zhang Zhou asked curiously, "What does "super outline" mean here? Beyond the outline?"

"I……"

Zhu Xiurong seemed to realize that she made more mistakes than she said. Then she smiled and said, "Sir, what are you talking about? I don't know anything. Are we going to learn how to use vocabulary today?"

Zhang Zhou said: "Okay, Princess, I am not qualified to teach you anything. Or rather, there are too many things you can learn and I don't know where to start. Or in many areas, I still need to learn from you."

"Sir, why is it that people can't understand what you say?" Zhu Xiurong asked, blinking his innocent big eyes.

Zhang Zhou sighed, "Let me put it this way. As for the princess's ability to play dumb, I'm afraid I won't be able to learn it even if I study for a few more years."

The look on Zhu Xiurong's face was as if he had eaten bitter gourd.

Zhang Zhou said: "Princess, if you want to compete with the prince in craftsmanship, unless you have innate ability, otherwise from what you have seen, the prince has been exposed to the Four Books and Five Classics for several years, and he has been writing articles for several years. His intelligence is not comparable to that of ordinary people." Zhu Xiurong asked: "Are you saying that I will lose?"

"It's hard to win." Zhang Zhou said, "I also said, what if the princess has an innate advantage?"

"What do you mean?" Zhu Xiurong asked.

Zhang Zhou laughed and said, "It depends on the person. When I first appeared in the imperial examination, I didn't think I could write an essay that could win the first prize. You know Tang Yin, right?"

Zhu Xiurong blinked, then nodded: "I know."

Zhang Zhou said, "Have you heard of Tang Jieyuan's title?"

"Tang Jieyuan? Wasn't he the second place winner? You, sir, were the Jieyuan winner of that session." Zhu Xiurong said.

"Yes. OK." Zhang Zhou said, "There are some things I need your advice on."

Zhu Xiurong sat there with a pout, seemingly thinking about how to fight Zhang Zhou.

But after thinking about it for a long time, she finally gave up and shook her head and said, "After hearing what you said, I feel that it may be beyond my ability to compete with my brother. But nothing is absolute. How can a person who doesn't study hard and thinks about how to fight all day learn very well?"

Zhang Zhou said: "Then I wish you, Princess, to win again in the competition with the Crown Prince."

Zhu Xiurong smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Xie. I will work hard."

……

……

Zhang Zhou had been gone for a long time and Zhu Xiurong seemed to have not come back to his senses.

It was not until a maid came over to remind her to leave that she looked up, as if looking for someone, and asked, "Has that person...left?"

"Your Highness, who are you talking about?" the little palace maid asked in confusion.

"It's the one who taught me before. I mean, Zhang Zhou, Mr. Zhang... I call him Mr. Zhang." Zhu Xiurong frowned.

"gone."

The little palace maid said, "It's been a while since he left. When Master Zhang left, he reminded us not to come in and disturb you while you were studying. I guess he has left the palace now."

Zhu Xiurong pursed his lips and said, "This person is so weird."

The little palace maid said, "People in the palace also say so. Many people say that the weirdest person in the world is Master Zhang."

"You think so too, right?" Zhu Xiurong said angrily, as if he had found someone like him. "He asked me some inexplicable questions, and I didn't know how to answer him. Is there anything to eat? I had lunch with my father at noon, and I didn't eat much, not even half full."

"Princess, if you are hungry, you should go back first. There are snacks over there. Here... there is nothing." said the little maid.

Zhu Xiurong said, "Get me some more popcorn, and make sure to add caramel... um, add some maltose. Do you have any butter? Never mind, it's already delicious with just some maltose! I'm in the growth stage, so eating something sweet won't make me too fat, right? It's okay to be a little fat, because I'm so cute."

"..."

The little palace maid next to her was stunned.

This little princess is really narcissistic.

……

……

Zhang Mansion.

Before sunset in the afternoon, Lin Han came to visit.

Zhang Zhou received Lin Han in the main hall of his house, and then Lin Han handed something to Zhang Zhou.

"Mr. Lin, are you going to resign?" Zhang Zhou finally understood after reading it. Lin Han had served as the Minister of Personnel for a long time and was ready to go back to enjoy his retirement.

Or, go back and prepare to have a baby.

Lin Han sighed, "I have experienced everything I should have experienced and had everything I should have experienced during these years in the court. I really have no regrets. It would be better to return home early and live a few days of peace and stability."

Zhang Zhou smiled and asked, "Isn't life in the court peaceful enough now?"

Lin Han said: "There are too many waves in the court. You are deeply involved in it and may not feel it, but from the perspective of others... it is really turbulent and indescribable."

"Well." Zhang Zhou said, "I shouldn't have seen this document. I should have submitted it directly."

Lin Han smiled and said, "Do you think I haven't made a report? But His Majesty obviously wants to keep me. If you go and speak for me..."

According to Lin Han, I want to have a stable retirement now, but it all depends on your and His Majesty’s mood.

Now I am begging you to give me a chance and let me go back, so that I can have a good beginning and a good end.

Even if he stayed in the court for a few more years, he might not be able to escape unscathed.

Zhang Zhou asked, "Can't we wait until spring comes and the flowers bloom?"

"Not good." Lin Han said, "Of course, I know that you can't make the final decision on this matter. It depends on the emperor's will. There hasn't been any major event in the court recently, so it's okay to replace him with someone else. As far as I know, the emperor has always wanted you to take care of the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel. Why not... take it a step further?"

Zhang Zhou said, "Mr. Lin, you should know that I am already very busy with the affairs of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue. How can I have the energy to take care of other things?"

Lin Han frowned and said, "Are you busy now? Others may not know, but I know that you are... not that busy now."

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Why can't we wait until the end of the year? It's only a few days away anyway, and your son should be back soon."

"he……"

Lin Han naturally knew that Zhang Zhou was talking about his son Lin Ting who was on the ship out to sea.

But for Lin Ting, it was obviously not enough to make him feel hopeful in the court.

Zhang Zhou said, "Mr. Lin, let me put it this way. Everything we do now is for the battle in the early spring of next year. This may be the battle I can prepare for the most, and it is also the most promising... Why can't you wait a little longer?"

"Um……"

Lin Han seemed very reluctant.

Zhang Zhou said, "I will help you to tell His Majesty about Elder Lin's retirement to the countryside, but there is really no one in the court who can replace you. Your Majesty may have to think hard about it."

"It's all the same, it's all the same." Seeing that Zhang Zhou was willing to help, Lin Han seemed to be in a much better mood. "I am an old man, and I can't help much if I stay in the court. Sometimes it's better to have me than not. You can ask anyone to come, even you."

"Mr. Lin is really not greedy for power and has an open mind. I still need to learn from you."

"Where."

The old and the young could not help but be flattered by the business.

Zhang Zhou said: "Even if Elder Lin leaves the court, it is best for him to stay in the capital first. When you have free time in the future, you can sit down and talk about all sorts of things. There are many things to learn about being an official that I would like to ask Elder Lin for advice."

"Bingkuan, you are too polite. You want to learn from me? Forget it. For someone like you, not only can I not teach you, but no one in the world can be your teacher... This is the most profound experience I have gained from working with you for many years." (End of this chapter)