eldest son of Ming dynasty

Chapter 2 The Imperial Decree Is the Imperial Decree
after dawn,

Zhu Houzhao got up and wandered around the hall for a few times, then stared blankly at the withered dead trees in the courtyard of the East Palace with his chin in the air.

The little head was in front of the window, fascinated by the blue sky of a different time and space, and his thoughts flew out of the Forbidden City.

With a time span of 500 years, he really wanted to know what the city of Beijing was like in this era?

What about the vast land of China?

how do people live

Women from the south of the Yangtze River, men from the northwest, soldiers on the frontier, children, girls, scholars, traffickers...

Why not eat minced meat and think, maybe not the prince, maybe every day will be more exciting.

But now he is the prince, this Forbidden City, Hongwu Yongle, Hongxi Xuande, and Hongzhi today are destined to be his stories in the future.

"Your Highness," the old eunuch wearing a black gauze hat walked over quickly from outside the hall. He was a little out of breath and wiped his sweat. His movements were slightly exaggerated.

"How?" Zhu Houzhao rested his chin without looking at him.

Liu Jin added embellishment and said: "These foreign ministers are really abominable. I heard that His Majesty proposed to several cabinet elders in a discussing tone before bringing up the East Palace to give lectures after the warmer spring, but I didn't expect the elders to kneel down. One place, just do not agree with His Majesty's request."

In fact, I probably guessed so, but I still sighed when I heard it.
What a waste.

Originally, the courtiers of the Hongzhi Dynasty were very good, and a large number of capable and famous officials were born.

But the relationship between these emperors and their courtiers always made him feel uncomfortable.It's like going to jail.

Zhu Houzhao's delicate brows drooped a little, his eyes were a little contemplative, and then he said slowly, "Is there any official from Zhan Shifu in the East Palace now? If so, call me two."

Zhan Shifu is an official institution dedicated to serving the prince, similar to the concept of a team of teachers.It's just that many of them are not so real.

For example, Wang Hua, the father of the famous Wang Yangming, is Youchunfang Youyude, which belongs to Zhan Shifu.But he is also the daily lecturer of the Imperial Academy.

The prince is still very young and has not officially started studying, so compared to the latter, the former is almost just a name, basically nothing to do.

Wu Kuan, the top leader of Zhan Shifu, returned to his hometown to observe his filial piety in the eighth year of Hongzhi, and he will not be able to return until the end of this year.No one was there and it was business as usual.

However, not everyone is absent.

There are small officials in Zhan Shifu who are responsible for recording the words and deeds of the prince, called Zuo and You Zhongyun.

Liu Jin also thought of these two people, "Go back to Your Highness, Zhong Yun is here, Your Highness wants to see them?"

The old eunuch resisted a little in his heart, and the crown prince began to contact civil servants, which is not a good sign.

It's like civil servants don't want the prince to only contact eunuchs.

The eunuch also doesn't like the prince and civil servants getting too close,
So much so that in the real history, the officials of Zhan Shifu even complained to the emperor, saying that the eunuchs always found reasons for the prince to ask for leave and not come to study.

"Well, let's go!"

The late autumn breeze is a little cool, but it still feels good to blow on the body.

Not long after, the two in blue official uniforms... should be middle-aged.

He is not young, and his official position is not high.But they were all born in the Imperial Academy of the Qing Dynasty, and they were all in the East Palace. Once the dynasty changes, they will rise straight to the top.

Zhu Houzhao sat on the stone bench, and the two kowtowed as usual, saying: "Chen Zuo Zhong allows Yang Tinghe, and Chen You Zhong allows Zhang Tianrui to meet His Highness."

Yang Tinghe?
The name was familiar, so he couldn't help but take another look, and found that his temple hair was also white.

"Let's be flat. What fame do you two have?"

Yang Tinghe first said that he spoke neither fast nor slow, "I was born as a Jinshi with the 14 Division of Chenghua in the [-]th year of Chenghua."

Zhang Tianrui replied: "The minister is the No. 17 of Xin Chou Ke Yijia in Chenghua in 3 years."

Zhu Houzhao nodded, as if he knew the difference between Citong Jinshi and Yijia No.3.

All I could say was, "It's all good."

After saying that, he asked Liu Jin to bring over the desk, on which were pen, ink, paper and inkstone and a copy of "University".

He was small, so he could only place the desk lower. At the same time, he asked Liu Jin to hold up the book, open the first page, and write eight words crookedly on it: The way of university lies in Ming Mingde.

Then he said: "These two words, which of the two gentlemen will read it for me?"

Yang Tinghe and Zhang Tianrui glanced at each other, Your Highness wants to study?
But they all knew in their hearts that the prince had great rules for studying, and it was definitely not something that the two of them could teach privately here.

To put it bluntly, who knows what you teach the prince in private?In the late Ming Dynasty, some courtiers scolded some elders for being too powerful, and they even had to show them the content of teaching the crown prince.

These particularities, the two of them have been working as officials for more than ten years, do not have this sensitivity.

But the Crown Prince summoned the two of them directly for questioning, so it seemed that he had to answer?

Moreover, it was the first time that the prince called them to his side, and this opportunity to get close was very attractive.

Yang Tinghe thought about it, and said: "The prince asks, you must answer."

This is actually what Zhang Tianrui said.

Later, I told the prince, "His Royal Highness, read this sentence: The way of university lies in Ming Mingde."

Yang Tinghe read it, and he followed suit, then turned to the other side, ready to soak in the rain and dew, "Mr. Zhang, do you know the meaning of this sentence?"

Zhang Tianrui knelt down after speaking, and said in a trembling voice: "If your Highness wants to study, you can play it to His Majesty. His Majesty has decreed that the Ministry of Rites will prepare the East Palace to go out of the pavilion to give lectures. At that time, His Majesty and the elders of the pavilion will choose good teachers for His Highness. "

Zhu Houzhao couldn't understand the meaning of this. This gentleman probably didn't dare to go beyond the unspoken rules of the civil servant circle, so he said with a smile: "Mr. Zhang is right, then Mr. Zhang will go down first."

Zhang Tianrui didn't know what it meant, and he couldn't tell what it meant from Yang Tinghe's expression beside him, but His Highness had already said it, so he could only respond miserably, and then retreated into the distance, wiping the sweat from his forehead behind his back.

Privately teach the prince, this matter can be big or small.

How could Zhu Houzhao not understand this section?

It is not a simple matter of teaching and learning at all.But he couldn't help it. The emperor's will to study again now that the spring is getting warmer can't go on, so he was put there,
In order to understand the emperor's set, we can only give them another set.

He asked Yang Tinghe meaningfully: "It's not easy for a sage to learn, but Mr. Yang has read a lot of poetry and books, and he must have read it thoroughly. Would you like to clarify my doubts?"

Yang Tinghe Zhili, "Your Majesty has a great reputation, and I dare not say it is clear. I just studied "Great Learning" since I was a child, and I occasionally got something. However, learning calligraphy and reading has its own sequence. The words and sentences of the article are all connected. If you only explain half a sentence, it will inevitably be difficult from the beginning to the end. Gu. Why don't you write it again, and teach me again, until you can read all the articles smoothly, and when the time comes, I will explain the meaning to you, and your Highness will naturally understand it."

Zhu Houzhao was a little surprised, this guy... really smart.

To put it bluntly, the matter came so suddenly, Yang Tinghe didn't dare to teach casually.

Interpreting the meaning will contain private goods, and when the time comes, someone with a heart will deliberately say that you deliberately guide the prince.

But it’s okay to teach how to read. Even if the courtiers pursue it, it can be said that it is just a thorough reading. Although it is still not in accordance with the etiquette system, it is not a big mistake...

After gaining this time, after retreating today, the elder Ge will choose the teacher who will teach the prince.

And he, since he showed his face in front of the prince and satisfied the prince's request, at the same time, he would not offend the eyes staring at Donggong too much.
The main reason is that this attitude means that not only did I, Yang Tinghe, not intentionally violate the rules, but I tried my best to abide by the rules when asked by the prince. I don't want to be a lucky minister!
Zhu Houzhao asked again: "Aren't you worried about what Mr. Zhang is worried about?"

Yang Tinghe said very righteously: "Your Highness wants to learn from the sages. As a courtier, how can you have other ideas and refuse to teach? Every time Your Highness learns, my Ming Dynasty will be more stable. Compared with this , What is there to worry about about your honor or disgrace?"

Zhu Houzhao was convinced after listening to it, and it would be meaningless to chase after him.

So far, his goal can be achieved.

So let's talk about others.

"Speaking of which, Mr. Yang is wondering why I did what I did today?"

"Your Highness is wise. Minister, there is indeed something unclear."

Speaking of which,
It's time to show off your acting skills again.

Zhu Houzhao sighed, and then said with a solemn expression: "Recently, my father has not hesitated, but he still persists in government affairs and insists on reviewing memorials. It is hard work, and the son of man cannot bear it. But I can't read the article thoroughly, and I can't share my father's worries. Feel guilty."

"Your Highness is filial and loyal to the father, and the sun and the moon can learn from each other. This is the blessing of His Majesty, and the blessing of Ming Dynasty!" Yang Tinghe was also raised by Confucianism.

A seven-year-old child has such filial piety, how can he not be shocked, especially the prince, that is even more gratifying.

"Father has already decreed that my going out to give lectures will be handled as soon as the spring weather warms up next year."

Yang Tinghe didn't feel anything when he heard these words.

For three or four years,

This has been said many times.

What about "Aiqings are right, let's do it like this", "very good", "I will do it in a month", and so on, even Xu Shoufu and others were appointed as the East Palace official, and it was not all in vain in the end?

But the superficial words still have to be said.

"Your Majesty Shengming."

Thus, Zhu Houzhao's last paragraph is finished.

Then his face suddenly changed, since he was a child anyway, he could be happy or angry, "But I heard that even if the emperor made the decree that next year's spring will be warm, there are still many ministers who want to persuade the emperor to change the time! They even recommend it with blood! "

Yang Tinghe was confused, as far as he knew, His Majesty had not made such a decree yet.

Why did the crown prince hear that someone is going to go to school like this?
But he is a prince, that's all he said, as a junior minister, he has nothing to do.

Zhu Houzhao continued to speak angrily: "How do they know? My father loves me because I am afraid of the cold. I am connected by blood with my father. Can this father-son relationship not be fulfilled?"

Speaking of the excitement, the prince slapped the table and shouted loudly: "This is what I said here. The imperial decree is the imperial decree. I am the son of the emperor, and I am a subject of the emperor. I will obey the order!" Next year, if the weather is not warm, I will not be out of the pavilion to give lectures!"

Yang Tinghe was a little dazed, because the relationship between the crown prince and him hadn't reached that level, and he suddenly talked so much... Although he still couldn't figure out why, it was obvious that he had other plans.

"Mr. Yang, the way of the university, what is behind Ming Mingde? You can teach me how to read."

(End of this chapter)