Chapter 57: Indulgence

Walking through the outer corridor of the West Courtyard, the group finally arrived at the West Corner Gate of the inner palace within the King of Xing's Mansion. Upon entry, they found a long, narrow alleyway. The door at the far end of this alley led to the main hall of the prince's residence, while the western side featured four moon gates opening into several distinct courtyards, all designed in a traditional quadrangle layout.

Heading straight to the final courtyard, where guards stood watch at the entrance, Lu Song exchanged a few words with them and then led the three youngsters inside.

"Wait here. None of you are allowed to go anywhere."

After issuing this instruction, Lu Song stepped outside, presumably to welcome the instructor and the heir apparent.

However, Zhu Hao guessed that Zhu Houcong would not appear here just yet. Since the prince's residence was on guard against him, they would most likely use Zhu San to impersonate the heir apparent, thereby continuing to confuse and pacify the Embroidered Uniform Guard spies lurking within the estate to gather intelligence.

Zhu Hao asked, "Lu Bing, do you guys usually study right here?"

Lu Bing lacked any cunning and answered candidly, "Not entirely here. Sometimes we are over at the study hall..."

Zhu Hao nodded, roughly forming a clear picture in his mind. Because companion readers had been brought into the estate to study, the prince's residence might be temporarily dividing the classes between Zhu San and Zhu Four.

The real heir apparent, Zhu Houcong, was heavily protected. As for Zhu San, she served as cannon fodder, freely making appearances across various parts of the mansion to fully draw the fire of outside attention.

Jing Hong walked over to a desk inside the room, took his books out of his satchel, and began chanting articles while shaking his head, looking every bit like a "model student."

Like Lu Bing, Zhu Hao remained in the outer courtyard.

Lu Bing asked about this and that, inquiring mostly about the revolving lanterns that had been consumed by the flames, hoping Zhu Hao could bring a few more of them into the mansion.

What Lu Bing did not know, however, was that these little trinkets had been explicitly banned from the estate. Lu Song had warned Zhu Hao that aside from lighting lamps at night, any contact with open flames was strictly forbidden.

Even if Zhu Hao wanted to use saltpeter to make ice in the future, it would prove to be a tremendous hassle. Ever since the massive fire, the vigilance of the prince's residence toward him had deepened.

...

After a long wait, Zhu San finally arrived.

She was still dressed in boys' attire. Seeing Zhu Hao, she split into a grin, revealing her white teeth: "Zhu Hao, you're not dead?"

Even Jing Hong, who had entered the study hall earlier, couldn't help casting a sidelong glance at this peculiar way of greeting. Did the heir apparent lack all worldly manners? How could anyone greet someone as if cursing them to an early grave?

Zhu Hao sighed, "My life is tough; I didn't die. They say that surviving a major disaster brings subsequent good fortune."

Zhu San spat lightly. "What subsequent good fortune? I'd say it's just that good people don't live long while scourges live for a thousand years... A-Bing, go inside and fetch me a chair."

Hearing Zhu San call him "A-Bing," Lu Bing felt a flicker of resentment but dared not say a word. He walked straight into the study hall to fetch a chair, whereupon Jing Hong's voice drifted out: "The teacher is coming soon, hurry up and review your lessons!"

Zhu San chuckled playfully, "Little Jing, you're still as fond of studying as ever. But you don't need to put on an act for me; Mr. Sui isn't coming today. He told us to review our lessons on our own... Since he's not even showing up, why bother reviewing? We can talk about it once he actually gets here..."

For children, without a teacher breathing down their necks, the natural inclination was to find an opportunity to play.

Zhu San was merely a young girl, born a princess. As long as the dynasty did not collapse, she would be clothed and fed without worry for the rest of her life. Why bother learning so many poems and essays?

The prince's residence had poured all its educational resources into Zhu Four. Right now, this courtyard housed a fake heir apparent, Lu Bing—who was essentially an inherited household servant—and two companion readers recruited from the outside. The mansion could just have any random tutor teach them whatever; did they really expect elite scholars to take turns providing individual coaching?

You must be dreaming!

Zhu San assumed Mr. Sui Gongyan was simply busy with something, but Zhu Hao knew that Sui Gongyan was most likely off teaching Zhu Four, leaving the remaining youngsters to fend for themselves.

"Hey, Zhu Hao, do you still have any ice cream? I've been reminiscing about that wonderful taste these past few days... It was simply too delicious."

Zhu San gazed expectantly at Zhu Hao.

Originally, Jing Hong and Lu Bing had been wondering why Zhu San was so short-tempered with them yet all smiles toward Zhu Hao. It turned out she was asking a favor.

Ice cream?

Was that something to eat?

With the lavish resources of the prince's residence, a dignified heir apparent was actually begging Zhu Hao for food? Could the heir apparent casually eat food of unknown origin?

Jing Hong's heart was filled with doubt. He had been studying diligently, but because of the conversation between Zhu Hao and Zhu San, he put down his book and perked up his ears to listen to the dialogue outside.

...

Zhu Hao said, "That fire burned all my belongings to ashes... You know the condition of my family. We can only wait until we can gather the materials again, which will take some time."

Zhu San looked disappointed. "It's all my younger brother's fault. If it weren't for him... Sigh! Never mind, I won't say anymore."

Their conversation sounded simple, but it contained a massive amount of information. Jing Hong silently memorized every word, especially when Zhu San mentioned having a younger brother. Jing Hong found this very strange because his father had told him the Prince of Xing had only one son. Why would there be two brothers?

Who on earth was the younger brother the heir apparent kept referring to?

Although Jing Hong had entered the prince's residence to study, he was also there to gather intelligence—not to dig up information for the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but to help his father.

Jing Kangkuan was adept at currying favor in official circles. After arriving in Anlu, he racked his brains to suck up to the Prince of Xing, sending his son into the mansion as a companion reader with the dual purpose of getting close to the heir apparent and having his son nose around the estate's affairs to report back faithfully. This allowed Jing Kangkuan to plan prudently for the future.

For the Jing family, getting close to the Prince of Xing's Mansion was a bold political investment.

To a certain extent, Jing Hong's purpose in entering the mansion was identical to Zhu Hao's: both sought to leverage favorable relations with the Prince of Xing's estate to secure future merits of supporting the dragon's ascension.

"Where is Zhu Four?"

Zhu Hao asked.

Zhu San spread her hands and said, "I don't know either. These past two days, Mr. Yuan has been acting all secretive, always calling him away alone. Come to think of it, I've only seen that kid twice... Zhu Hao, don't you have any other fun things? How about... we sneak out of the mansion together to catch rabbits?"

Knowing that Mr. Sui Gongyan was unlikely to show up today, Zhu San was plotting to escape the residence and have Zhu Hao, a local child of Anlu, lead her around to play—preferably slipping out of the city to catch rabbits just like last time.

Although it had been dangerous back then, looking back now... those might well have been the happiest days of her life.

Zhu Hao replied, "On my very first day as a companion reader in the prince's residence, I'm going to sneak out behind your back... Are you trying to get me expelled early?"

Zhu San wrinkled her nose and retorted, "Stingy! Putting your own studies ahead of friendship and loyalty... Hmph, I look down on you... Let's go, let's go. A-Bing, let's go inside and play with Little Jing."

Angered, Zhu San marched toward the classroom, dragging along Lu Bing, who was standing nearby holding the stool he had just carried out from the room, looking utterly bewildered.

Jing Hong inside the room was nearly dumbfounded.

Wasn't it said that Zhu Hao had already entered the mansion long ago? Why did he just claim it was his first day as a companion reader? And what was this about catching rabbits...? If Zhu Hao had been a companion reader here all along, it would make sense for him to be so familiar with Zhu San. But this directly contradicted Zhu Hao's own words. How on earth did the two of them meet?

...

Zhu San, Lu Bing, and Zhu Hao entered the room one after another, each taking out their books and the four treasures of the study.

There were six desks inside, four of which were clearly new. The desks were very low, and lacking chairs, the students had to kneel directly on round straw cushions to read and write.

After Zhu Hao came in, the front two desks were already occupied by Jing Hong and Zhu San. Lu Bing sat in the second row, and without a second thought, Zhu Hao headed for the very last row and sat down.

Zhu San turned back to look at him. "Hey, you can come to the front... A-Bing, move behind Little Jing. Zhu Hao, take this seat."

Just moments ago she had been giving Zhu Hao the cold shoulder, yet in the blink of an eye, Zhu San was actively inviting Zhu Hao to sit right behind her.

Reluctantly, Lu Bing stood up and began gathering his things, but Zhu Hao spoke up, "No need, I'm quite fine right here."

"From the back, you won't even hear what the teacher is saying..."

Zhu San was merely trying to bait Zhu Hao. The room wasn't large to begin with, and in this era without blackboards where no copying was required, what difference did it make where one sat?

Moreover, though Zhu Hao claimed to have entered the estate to study, his true purpose was to find an excuse to approach Zhu Houcong and secure an opportunity for soaring success by supporting the future dragon.

Yet even this wasn't one hundred percent foolproof. Perhaps the butterfly effect of his time-travel would cause Zhengde to suddenly produce an heir, or perhaps Emperor Zhengde would come to his senses and select an adoptive son from among the vassal princes... Or perhaps Zhengde wouldn't die young in a few years after all, living to be seventy or eighty, leaving Zhu Houcong with no way to ever become emperor...

Therefore, Zhu Hao's greatest hope was still to find a reasonable backstory for his vast erudition; with a resume of studying in the Prince of Xing's Mansion, he would have a solid foundation for taking the imperial examinations in the future.

Depending on others is never as reliable as depending on oneself!

But right now...

The sun was shining brightly, and the flowers smiled at him...

He was so sleepy. Taking a nap right now was more important than anything else.

...

While Zhu San was making fun of Jing Hong, Zhu Hao had already slumped over his desk, snoring softly and quickly drifting off to dreamland.

Normally, Zhu Hao might not have fallen asleep so fast at night, but for some reason, the classroom environment gave him a familiar and peaceful feeling. It felt as though such a wonderful morning, with gentle sunlight spilling across the desk, would be utterly wasted if he didn't take a good nap to live up to this second lease on life.

...

Zhu Hao was sleeping soundly.

Suddenly, he felt something tickling his nose. Before he could even open his eyes, he heard a burst of giggling.

Without guessing, he knew Zhu San was up to mischief.

"Is this fun?"

Zhu Hao asked with his eyes still closed, a note of dissatisfaction in his voice.

Zhu San giggled. "Zhu Hao, just how sleepy are you... Didn't you sleep well last night? Hurry up and get up, the sun is shining on your backside!"

Zhu Hao furrowed his brows.

The words sounded normal enough, but coming from the mouth of a young girl, why did they sound so odd? You are a princess, after all—don't you have any sense of modesty at all?

Confucius says: Do not look at what is contrary to propriety; do not listen to what is contrary to propriety; do not speak what is contrary to propriety; do not make any movement which is contrary to propriety.

Zhu Hao straightened up and opened his eyes. He saw that Zhu San had moved her straw cushion right in front of his desk, sitting opposite him with a mischievous grin. One hand propped up her cheek on the desk while the other held a blade of grass. As for Jing Hong and Lu Bing, they were staring at the two of them as if looking at monsters, utterly failing to comprehend Zhu Hao and Zhu San's bizarre sense of humor.

Zhu Hao glanced at the sun, which had now climbed to the middle of the sky, and realized he had slept for quite a while.

This meant Zhu San had actually shown him some mercy, letting him sleep soundly for a long time before she finally came over to disturb him.

"What time is the teacher coming?"

Zhu Hao asked casually.

Zhu San pouted. "Didn't I tell you earlier that the teacher isn't coming? Why wouldn't you believe me? Hmph, you just focused on sleeping by yourself and completely ignored me... How boring. Why don't we go outside and play? How about Cuju?"

Zhu Hao rolled his eyes. "Don't you guys know how to study at all? You only ever think about playing."

The three children all looked over at once, their gazes exceedingly strange.

You were clearly the only one who didn't study and just slept like a log, yet the moment you wake up, you lecture us about not loving to study?

"Forget it. Since the teacher isn't coming, I will teach you instead... How about this, come with me to order a custom blackboard. That will be very useful for teaching."

Zhu Hao offered his own solution.

Zhu San chuckled, "You?"

Zhu Hao put on a stern face. "Are you going to listen to Teacher Zhu's lecture or not?"

"I'll listen!"

Zhu San agreed without a second thought. "That blackboard you mentioned—what kind of thing is it? Is it fun?"