Chapter 24: A Gentleman's Agreement (Revised)

Zhu San was about to walk over to check on her younger brother, but upon hearing his words, she cast a sideways glance and said, "You saving us is one thing, but what does that have to do with your studies? What... what makes you think Instructor Sui would take you as a student?"

"Sister... Third Brother, he... he saved us..."

Zhu Si was the more pragmatic one. He felt guilty, not only because the rabbit they had caught was lost, but also because the siblings owed their lives to Zhu Hao after falling into the water.

Zhu Hao said, "Do as you please. I’m heading down the mountain."

"Hey, don't go!"

Zhu San realized that Zhu Hao was determined to go back and report the incident to the adults. If he did that, the fact that she had taken her brother out and gotten them into danger would no longer be a secret.

Zhu Hao looked impatient. "What else do you want? My rabbit is gone; are you going to compensate me for my loss?"

Zhu San retorted, "You... we truly cannot help you become Instructor Sui’s student. Instructor Sui is a *Juren* who works for the Prince’s Estate; he won't just take in students from outside."

*Heh, it seems there really is a chance!*

"I don't ask for anything else, just the opportunity to study. If not... I could enter the Prince Xing Estate as a study companion or a servant. I just don't want to be an apprentice at such a young age and end up a common peddler or laborer when I grow up. If you are willing to help me, I will take you out to catch rabbits in the future and show you even more fun places."

Zhu Hao’s attitude this time was exceptionally sincere.

Zhu Si asked, "What is a study companion?"

Zhu San explained, "It’s a young boy who stays by your side to study with you. They’re basically servants."

"Ah?"

Zhu Si was confused. Why would anyone volunteer to be a servant?

Zhu San frowned. "But... our estate never takes in study companions."

Zhu Hao shook his head. "Judging by your appearance, you must have very noble status, right? You’ve never experienced the hardships of the world... If you tell your elders that you want to find a study companion and recruit one from outside the estate, they would surely agree."

"Third Brother, let's just agree to it. It doesn't matter if someone studies with us."

Zhu Si was the first to be swayed. "We can play with him in the future and have him take us to catch rabbits. He’s so capable, and he even saved us."

Seeing that Zhu Si was a good child who knew how to return a favor, Zhu Hao secretly gave him a mental thumbs-up!

Zhu San pouted, "Is this something we can decide? If we tell Father... he will surely ask for the reason. Are we supposed to tell him what happened today?"

Zhu Si replied, "But if you don't say it, he will."

Zhu San was now in a difficult position.

Zhu Hao stepped closer. "As long as you are willing to help me, I will teach you what to say... I only want to enter the Prince’s Estate to study alongside you and have a chance to take the imperial examinations in the future, but I won't sign a deed of indenture... If you agree, we can head down the mountain together, and I will explain it to you in detail on the way."

Zhu San appeared to have many ideas, but she was, in fact, still just a child. How could she match Zhu Hao’s cunning?

Seeing that it was getting late and fearing further accidents on the road, she had no choice but to agree to return to the city with Zhu Hao.

...

The three of them descended the mountain.

Zhu Si was still somewhat weak, often needing Zhu Hao’s help to steady himself. As for Zhu San, having also fallen into the water, she was still shaken and, being a girl, she was doing well just to walk down the mountain on her own, let alone help anyone else.

"Thank you for saving us earlier."

Seeing the provincial city ahead, Zhu San felt a bit apologetic and whispered to Zhu Hao.

Supporting Zhu Si and looking at the road ahead, Zhu Hao said while walking, "In the future, be sure to be careful when you go out. Don't be so reckless; next time, there might not be anyone around to save you."

Zhu San immediately thought of how she had dragged Zhu Hao into the water, only for him to save her. She felt even more ashamed.

"You said... you want to enter the Prince’s Estate as a study companion; what exactly should we do?" Zhu San asked.

Zhu Hao replied, "Just tell your elders at home that you want to find a few children of the same age in the city—regardless of their background, as long as they are talented and well-versed in study—to be brought into the estate to study with you. Tell them that in the future, these people might pass the imperial examinations, enter the court, and perhaps become excellent assistants... If you say that, your elders should agree to help you find study companions."

Zhu San looked astonished. "Why say it like that?"

*Zhu Hao thought to himself, with your childish brain, could I even explain it clearly?*

Others might not understand that the Prince Xing’s eldest son is the first in line for the throne, but would your father not know?

Following the Ming principle of succession from brother to brother, even if your father were alive, the one to inherit the throne would inevitably be you, little Zhu Si—this kind-hearted little guy. Would your father not consider the need for people to assist you in securing the throne?

The Prince Xing Estate is exceptionally closed off, but the more tightly you wrap yourself, the more people outside want to peek inside.

If the old Prince Xing were smart, he would understand that blocking is not as effective as channeling. Accepting children from the city with talent for study to learn alongside his sons is equivalent to breaking open the closed shell. The fewer secrets the Prince’s Estate has, the less the imperial court will be on guard, and the greater the chances of his son moving closer to the center of power.

Once you make this suggestion, it might provide your old father with some inspiration. If there are advisors nearby to analyze it, they will feel that the two children’s idea was a fortuitous stroke of luck, perfectly matching the situation the Prince Xing Estate is currently facing.

By then, I will have the chance to sneak in.

"I just want to study... If I don't say it like that, what do you suggest I say?" Zhu Hao could only play the fool.

Zhu San nodded. "We will do as you say when we get back, but if it doesn't work out... will you still tell people about what happened today?"

Zhu Hao shrugged, not answering.

*You’ve already said it; what can I do?*

*If you don't help me, I have no choice but to expose the fact that the two of you bratty children went out and fell into the water. Perhaps your father, in his gratitude for me saving you, will have a change of heart and recruit me into the estate anyway!*

Zhu Si asked, "When it comes time to choose the study companions, will my... Third Brother and I be the ones to choose you?"

Zhu Hao smiled. "Big brother understands things well—that’s exactly it. Besides, even if we were to compete based on talent, I am confident that I am not inferior to others. Instructor Lu has such high learning and insight, yet he still chose me as his student, didn't he? You must trust in my ability."

"Braggart."

Zhu San stuck out her tongue upon hearing this, but her expression softened significantly.

Zhu Hao said, "Except for falling into the pond at the end, today was quite fun overall. If I can really enter the Prince Xing Estate in the future, shall we sneak out to play again?"

Zhu San looked at Zhu Hao and asked, "Do you know where there are more rabbits?"

"Don't even mention rabbits; I can even catch birds... I grew up in the fields. In winter, I catch civets; in summer, I glue cicadas. Let me tell you, catching rabbits in winter is especially easy. You just need to find a rabbit trail, dig a snow pit, and set a wire snare to catch them... I know many strange and wonderful tricks. You’ve lived in luxury since you were young, so it’s normal that you don’t know these things."

Zhu San and Zhu Si both had longing in their eyes.

Growing up in the Prince’s Estate, their daily schedules were arranged like clockwork. They never had the opportunity to enjoy the carefree life of an ordinary child. Now that they were at an age where they craved play and excitement, they naturally felt that the picture Zhu Hao painted was the paradise of their dreams.

Zhu Si couldn't help but tug on his sister’s sleeve. The meaning was clear: we must get Zhu Hao into the Prince’s Estate and have this big brother lead us in living that kind of life!

Seeing the open city gates, Zhu Hao pointed to the shops along the main road. "There are clothing stores in this row of shops. Do you have any money on you? If we spend a dozen copper coins to buy some ordinary children’s clothes to change into, we won't be seen as suspicious by the guards when we enter the city."

Zhu San hurriedly felt her pockets.

Only then did she realize her purse was gone.

"Oh no, my purse fell into the pond. That was a purse my mother embroidered by hand..."

"I... I don't have any money."

Zhu San and Zhu Si turned their gazes toward Zhu Hao.

Zhu Hao frowned. "How can you be like this? I... I do have a dozen copper coins, but that is for buying medicine for my mother. If I don't have this money in two days, my mother’s medicine will run out..."

Zhu San said, "Stingy! We’ll pay you back later. Hurry up and get the money to buy us clothes. We’re soaking wet; the guards will surely question us when we enter the city."

*This is the effect I wanted.*

Zhu Hao’s goal was to make the two children owe him. Even if entering the Prince’s Estate didn't work out this time, at least he had created an opportunity to see them again.

"You promised to pay me back! If I don't have the money to buy medicine for my mother, I..." Zhu Hao pouted, looking wronged, as if this would truly plunge his family into a predicament.

Zhu Si said firmly, "Zhu Hao, don't worry. You saved us; if we don't even return your mother’s medicine money, then we really would be heartless."

Zhu Hao nodded. "In that case, we are friends. You can't just stand by when a friend is in trouble; you must help me enter the Prince’s Estate!"

...

Zhu Hao had already arranged everything.

In the clothing shop outside the city, he had specifically prepared children’s outfits—not just one set, and the quality was quite good.

If the two little ones had even a little bit of social experience, they would know that three sets of clothes without patches—even if they were children’s sizes—could not be bought for a dozen copper coins.

After changing their clothes, everything went smoothly when entering the city.

Zhu San and Zhu Si hurried home.

When they entered the main gate of the Prince’s Estate, the guards noticed something unusual, but because of the distinction between master and servant, and because Zhu San had snuck out before, they didn't ask further questions.

However, after Old Prince Xing, Zhu Youyuan, received the report, he immediately sent someone to summon the two children to the study.

At the desk, Zhu Youyuan, dressed in a python robe, sat upright with a calm expression. The jade thumb ring on his hand was chipped in several places, yet he still treated it like a treasure, occasionally rubbing it with his fingers.

The two children, knowing they had done wrong, didn't dare to look up.

"Why were you not studying this afternoon? Where did you go to play?" When Zhu Youyuan spoke, his eyes were as sharp as lightning, possessing an inherent authority.

Zhu San stammered, "We... we went out of the estate to play."

Zhu Youyuan’s expression grew colder. "Where did you go?"

"To... to the city."

Zhu San had lied more than once or twice. In the past, she would make up excuses about observing the customs and lives of the people, but this time, to avoid letting anyone know that she and her brother had fallen into the water, she could only admit to playing in the city.

Zhu Youyuan said with a dark face, "It’s one thing for you to be unruly, but why did you take your brother along? And to sneak out without even bringing guards—can you take responsibility if something goes wrong?"

Just then, an old Confucian scholar with gray hair tied in a bun and wearing a square cap entered. He was about sixty years old, with a kind face, and he bowed to Zhu Youyuan with a smile.

It was the Prince’s Estate Chief Historian, Yuan Zonggao.

Yuan Zonggao, a native of Shishou, was a *Jinshi* from the third year of the Hongzhi reign. He was the Right Chief Historian of the Prince Xing’s Estate and one of Zhu Youyuan’s right-hand men. After the Left Chief Historian Zhang Jingming returned to Jiangyin, Zhejiang, to observe the mourning period at the beginning of the ninth year of the Zhengde reign, Yuan Zonggao became the pillar of the Prince’s Estate.

Historically, Yuan Zonggao accompanied Zhu Houcong to the throne, entered the cabinet as Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, and helped Zhu Houcong propose the Great Rites Controversy, though he passed away just four months later.

As for Zhang Jingming, he passed away in the same year as Yuan Zonggao, but he died at the beginning of the year before Zhu Houcong ascended the throne. His status and treatment were worlds apart from Yuan Zonggao, which led Gu Lin, who wrote his biography, to lament, "Everyone regrets that Jingming was not able to be used greatly in the restoration dynasty."

"Prince Xing, it is human nature for children to be playful. Going into the city for a stroll can be considered observing the lives of the people. There is no need to be too harsh. As long as you teach them not to leave without notice in the future, and ensure they have someone accompanying them, it will be fine."