Chapter 65: True Gold Fears No Fire (First Translation)

Zhu Hao and the other two arrived at the courtyard of the study hall.

Zhu San was late as usual. The three children sat down and began to busy themselves with the things in their hands. Just then, footsteps sounded from outside, and Zhu San appeared at the doorway, accompanied by Zhu Four.

"Hey, Zhu Hao, look who I've brought!" Zhu San said happily.

Zhu Four was also quite excited. He ran over to Zhu Hao, his face beaming with a wide smile.

For a boy of Zhu Four's age, the true value of friendship was still a vague concept, but he vividly remembered that Zhu Hao had pulled him out from the roaring fire. Combined with the time Zhu Hao had saved him from the deep pool, Zhu Hao had rescued him from the jaws of death twice. This left an indelible impression in his young heart, making him feel an instinctive, profound sense of closeness toward Zhu Hao.

"Why are you two here? Where is Mr. Sui?"

Zhu Hao looked past the window and noticed Lu Song standing in the courtyard with two guards... With Zhu Four's arrival, the security level around the schoolhouse had instantly been elevated.

A single glance made the stark contrast in status between Zhu San and Zhu Four within the Xingwang Manor unmistakably clear.

Zhu San explained, "Mr. Sui had some business to attend to, so I'm afraid he couldn't come... Since he isn't in the manor right now and Xiaosi has no teacher, I asked Mr. Yuan if he could study along with us, and Mr. Yuan agreed."

Would Yuan Zonggao really allow Zhu Houcong to step out of the inner courtyard and take such a risk?

Zhu Hao pondered to himself.

Was this some kind of scheme?

Or had Yuan Zonggao simply had a change of heart?

"Zhu Hao, I heard you've been tutoring my thir... brother, and the results are quite impressive. I want to listen to your lecture too!"

Zhu Four had a simple mind, looking at Zhu Hao with eyes full of undisguised admiration.

When tested by his father the day before, his elder sister had firmly outperformed him. Upon asking her afterwards, he learned that it was all thanks to Zhu Hao. Of course, he refused to be looked down upon, so he had come in person to attend Zhu Hao's class.

At the same time, Zhu Four found the whole idea rather amusing. After all, Zhu Hao was the exact same age as him. It felt like a game of house children play, where Zhu Hao played the role of the teacher while he himself was the student.

Zhu Hao's gaze fell upon Lu Song standing outside the house.

At that moment, Lu Song was positioned just behind the window, eyeing him with a cautious and vigilant look.

"Commander Lu, would you like to come in and join the class?" Zhu Hao asked Lu Song pointedly.

Lu Song suddenly realized that his presence might interfere with the children's studies, and if Zhu Hao were to instigate the heir to lodge a complaint against him, he would likely be in for a harsh punishment. Acting quickly, he retreated with his guards to the courtyard gate, standing strict guard there to prevent any unforeseen events.

Zhu Hao turned to Zhu San and asked, "When you two came over, didn't Mr. Yuan give any instructions?"

Zhu San blinked, looking puzzled, and asked, "Instructions? What kind of instructions? Oh, right... Mr. Yuan seemed to say we shouldn't eat anything you give us anymore. Also, if you want to take us out of this courtyard, we aren't allowed to follow, and we have to let Commander Lu keep an eye on us..."

Just as expected.

Yuan Zonggao had not let down his guard at all.

He was afraid that Zhu Hao might poison Zhu Houcong.

Zhu Hao thought to himself, since you're so worried, why bother letting Zhu Houcong come to see me in the first place? Still, the manor's attitude had softened to some extent; their wariness toward him was not as intense as it had been at the beginning.

"Alright, today we will continue with the *Zizhang* chapter of the *Analects*..." Zhu Hao said.

Zhu San blinked and chimed in, "Shouldn't we be studying *Mencius*?"

Jing Hong felt a strange sense of curiosity. On one hand, he was intrigued by Zhu Four's identity, since today was his very first time meeting Zhu Houcong; on the other hand, he was surprised that Zhu Hao was planning to review material he had already taught.

Zhu Hao explained, "Zhu Four wasn't here the past few days, so I am teaching this specially for him... For the rest of you, it counts as reviewing the old to gain new insights. If I taught something completely new every day, would you be able to remember all of it?"

Zhu San stuck out her tongue. She had simply brought her younger brother along today to witness Zhu Hao's teaching prowess. Since Zhu Hao was going to lecture on something she had already mastered, upon closer thought, it was actually a welcome prospect. When he covered things she already knew, she could put on airs and show off in front of her little brother. What was wrong with that?

...

The lecture began.

The depth of the material Zhu Hao taught this time went a step further than what he had previously shared with Jing Hong and Zhu San. Not only did he explain the meanings based on the *Collected Commentaries on the Analects*, but he also extrapolated by cross-referencing other passages within the Four Books, weaving them into a cohesive whole.

"... Confucius emphasized learning and teaching, establishing the orthodox tradition of Confucianism, while Mencius focused on propagating benevolence, righteousness, and goodness, placing great importance on governing the state and bringing peace to the country. Therefore, when you try to understand the *Analects* and *Mencius*, keeping these two guiding principles in mind is crucial. Next, we will discuss the *Yaodiao* chapter..."

Standing at the lectern, Zhu Hao truly looked and acted like a proper master.

Jing Hong, who had always been proud and aloof, stared fixedly at Zhu Hao, listening with rapt attention. Zhu San, however, dropped her head, lacking any real enthusiasm for studying just like Lu Bing, and covered her mouth to yawn from time to time.

Zhu Four, on the other hand, was astonished by the vastness of Zhu Hao's knowledge. He listened with total concentration, nodding his small head repeatedly as expressions of sudden enlightenment crossed his face.

"... 'Be cautious with weights and measures, examine legal standards, and restore abolished offices.' This passage speaks of establishing a set of effective and functional systems. Whether it is the standards of measurement, laws and regulations, or the system of appointing and dismissing officials, all are meant to provide a clear framework to rely on; otherwise, the people would be left completely at a loss as to what to do. Only under such a well-established system can society be said to have order, thereby achieving the state where 'the governance of all directions is put into practice'..."

As soon as Zhu Hao finished this segment, Zhu Four could no longer hold back. He leaned over to Zhu San and whispered, "Third Brother, no wonder you can answer Father's questions fluently. I understood everything Zhu Hao explained the very first time I heard it."

Just as Zhu San was about to gloat, a figure suddenly flashed at the doorway. She turned and looked over in surprise, only to see Yuan Zonggao, the manor's Chief Administrator. She immediately fell silent, shaking with a sense of awe, not daring to make any rash comments.

Just as Zhu Hao was about to step forward to pay his respects, Yuan Zonggao waved his hand with a smile and said, "Zhu Hao, you are lecturing very well. Please continue; this old man will just listen from the side."

So Yuan Zonggao had arrived long ago and had been hiding behind the door eavesdropping.

How else could one describe such an old and cunning fox?

Zhu Four coming over to sit in on the class today under the guise of having nothing better to do was fake; acting as a bait was the real purpose. Yuan Zonggao, the fisherman, had lingered behind to eavesdrop on Zhu Hao's lecture and verify whether what Zhu San had claimed was true.

He wanted to find out if a disciple cultivated by Tang Yin could truly lecture on scholarship at the tender age of seven.

...

Previously, Zhu Hao had no idea that Yuan Zonggao was present, so he had lectured without any inhibitions or concerns. He could freely evaluate the Confucian classics and even encourage his students to let their imaginations roam and engage in discussions, studying the texts deeply from a dialectical perspective.

However, with Yuan Zonggao here, certain things were no longer appropriate to say.

If not phrased carefully, it could easily be construed as questioning the words of the sages.

"... Without understanding the Mandate of Heaven, it is impossible to become a gentleman. Without understanding the rites, one has no way to establish oneself in the world. Without the ability to discern the words of others, one cannot truly understand people... Confucius proposed these three requirements for a gentleman to establish himself in the world—'knowing the Mandate,' 'knowing the rites,' and 'knowing words.' This demonstrates a high level of expectation for shaping a gentleman with an ideal personality, hoping that qualified gentlemen will emerge to put their families in order, govern the state, and bring peace to the world..."

Zhu Hao finished explaining the remaining contents of the final chapter of the *Analects*, the *Yaodiao* chapter, keeping his explanations relatively conventional and standard. Yet, seeing the broad smile on Yuan Zonggao's face, the old man's mood seemed quite pleasant.

"Very well, you may continue with your studies. This old man has other matters to attend to, so I won't keep you company any longer."

Without offering any further critique, Yuan Zonggao turned and left.

The moment Yuan Zonggao departed, both Zhu San and Zhu Four breathed deep sighs of relief.

Zhu Hao paused his lecture and signaled that everyone could take a break. At this point, it was effectively recess time.

"Mr. Yuan actually came to listen to Mr. Zhu's lecture. That's so interesting," Zhu San said with a giggle.

When Jing Hong had undergone the selection process to enter the manor, he had been tested by Yuan Zonggao. Knowing from his father how profound Yuan Zonggao's learning was and how lofty his position within the manor was, Jing Hong quickly asked, "Why did Chief Administrator Yuan come here today?"

Zhu San replied, "Of course it's because he was worried about Xiaosi's studies, afraid that I brought him along just to play, so he specially came to take a look. Don't make such a fuss over it... Zhu Hao, what you just lectured was a bit different from before. Did you purposely teach at a deeper level because my fourth brother was here, and were you holding back on us previously?"

Even Jing Hong looked at Zhu Hao with a suspicious gaze.

With a serious expression, Zhu Hao replied, "Learning has always been a process that progresses from the shallow to the deep. If you haven't even learned how to walk yet and want to start running or even flying, you're putting the cart before the horse... The imperial examinations in the future will involve these very Confucian classics. One must study and ponder them repeatedly, and naturally, each pass must go deeper than the last."

"Hehe." Zhu San just giggled.

Jing Hong felt utterly shaken upon hearing this.

Goodness gracious, are you showing off?

The level of proficiency you displayed earlier was already high enough to make me look up to you with absolute reverence, and now—even better—you're going a layer deeper... Judging by what you mean, you still have even more profound content to teach us in the future. You aren't just flying up to the heavens; you're practically turning straight into an immortal!

"Alright, the teacher is gone. Let's go outside and play," Zhu San proposed.

Zhu Four had originally wanted to delve deeper into his studies, but hearing Zhu San's suggestion made his eyes light up, and he nodded repeatedly: "Yes... yes!"

For a seven-year-old child, without anyone supervising, of course playing was the ultimate priority.

This time, even Jing Hong didn't object.

To Jing Hong, studying felt meaningless now. If they were going to play, he would join in too. Anyway, no matter how hard he studied, he could never surpass this kid Zhu Hao. So screw it all, let's just ruin everything and get it over with.

...

This time, Zhu San had specifically brought along a *cuju* ball.

The group went out into the courtyard to play.

Zhu Hao re-established the rules, which were roughly modeled after modern football, where the winner was decided by the number of goals scored.

Once *cuju* involved winning and losing, the children's competitive spirit was instantly ignited, making the game far more passionate and exhilarating.

"Zhu Hao and I will be a team, Xiaosi and little Jingzi, you two are together..." Zhu San immediately decided the teams.

Lu Bing foolishly asked, "What about me?"

"You?"

Zhu San glanced at him sideways and said, "You're too small. I'd knock you over with a single bump. Just stand on the side and watch."

Lu Bing wore a aggrieved expression.

You guys get to play, and you're making me stand on the sidelines and watch?

Lu Bing couldn't help but glance over at his father standing by the courtyard gate, but Lu Song's sole mission was to watch over Zhu Four and ensure nothing happened to him. How could he possibly have the attention to spare for his son's grievances?

Zhu Hao offered a solution, "Lu Bing can be the substitute. Whenever anyone gets tired, they can step down to rest and let Lu Bing come in to play... Besides, he can also act as the referee."

Hearing that he could actually participate, Lu Bing asked with eager anticipation shining in his eyes, "What is a referee?"

"It's someone who watches both competing teams to see if anyone commits a foul. You can't use your hands in *cuju*, and definitely no kicking people. If anyone breaks the rule, it's a foul, and the ball goes to the other side." The rules Zhu Hao explained were as simple as could be, yet to the children, they sounded like profound truths of life.

So *cuju* could be played this way?

Zhu Hao picked up the *cuju* ball, squeezed it, and sighed, "Pity it's not a genuine leather ball. Later on, I'll make one; it'll bounce and roll much better."

Zhu Four's eyes shone brightly: "What is a leather ball?"

Clearly, he was the one who loved *cuju* the most among them all.

"It's a sphere pieced together from leather, but it needs an inner bladder inside. I'll figure out a way to inflate a sheep's bladder to make one," Zhu Hao explained.

Zhu Four continued to ask, "What is a sheep's bladder?"

Zhu Hao replied, "It's the sheep's urine bladder."

Zhu San chuckled mischievously, purposely pinching her nose and saying, "It's the place where sheep store their urine inside their bellies. How gross."

Zhu Four, however, didn't mind in the slightest: "As long as we can make a leather ball, I don't care if it's gross or not."

For the sake of playing, he didn't care about anything else.

"Alright, let's start."

...

The *cuju* match began.

The rules were simple, and both sides launched continuous attacks and defenses. Although the opposing team consisted of two boys while this side had one boy and one girl, Zhu Hao relied on his agile positioning and overall tactical vision to score several goals successfully, leaving Jing Hong and Zhu Four utterly exhausted and struggling to cope.

"Good, good, good!"

At that moment, Lu Bing completely forgot his primary duty as a referee and cheered from the sidelines like a cheerleader.

Jing Hong felt deeply depressed.

It was one thing to lose to Zhu Hao in a battle of wits, but now he was losing in physical stamina too?

And he was a whole year older than Zhu Hao!

No way, I must win.

Gripped by this mindset, he grew increasingly anxious and impatient as he played, which ultimately created a gaping defense hole and allowed Zhu Hao to score yet again.

"Ooh! Another goal! Six to one, are you guys even trying?" Zhu San cheered, triumphant both for the victory and proud of her exceptional eye for choosing a teammate.

Right at that moment, Zhu Hao suddenly stopped, because he saw Yuan Zonggao returning.

Zhu San and Zhu Four immediately froze, terrified of being punished.

Yuan Zonggao smiled and said, "Keep playing, you guys. Zhu Hao, step outside for a moment."