Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 287 Test You

The spring rains continued at the end of March, the Yellow River flooded, and countless crops on both sides of the river were submerged. The court began to respond to the disaster urgently.

The flooding of the Yellow River has been a common problem throughout the dynasties, and the imperial court has always had to invest a lot of manpower and financial resources.

Zhu Houzhao held his chin and sat in the middle hall of the courtyard, looking at the continuous spring rain outside, and sighed: "Ah, it rains all day, delaying my going out to play."

Chen Ce: “…”

The Yellow River burst its banks and flooded the crops on both sides, but you didn't care and you still wanted to go out and have fun. You have a really big heart.

"The water levels of Huai River and Yellow River are rising. Is there any disaster?"

Zhu Houzhao shook his head and said, "I don't know. This is not something I care about."

"Little brother, let the big roosters in the backyard out and let them fight. Let's make a bet."

Bet on your head.

"Little brother, last time Gu Dayong said there is a fun place over at Zhengyang Street, a brothel. I haven't been there yet. Gu Dayong said it is a paradise for men. Shall we go and try it tonight?"

Chen Ce hurriedly said: "Don't go!"

Zhu Houzhao said: "Isn't this a man's paradise?"

Chen Ce said: "You are not a man yet."

Zhu Houzhao: "? Nonsense! I am a man! If you don't believe me, just look."

Chen Ce quickly stopped Zhu Houzhao from taking off his pants and said, "That's not necessary. That's not what I meant. I meant that you are still a boy and haven't grown up yet."

"Is that the place you went to? I'll take you there when you're older."

Zhu Houzhao: "Oh, okay, but Gu Dayong said that all the girls there are very good."

“They’re after your money.”

"Is it beautiful?"

"I don't know. I haven't been there either."

Ever since Gu Dayong mentioned it last time, Zhu Houzhao has been itching to do it.

Bang bang bang.

There was a violent knock on the door. Chen Ce looked at Zhu Houzhao in confusion. Zhu Houzhao also asked curiously, "Who is it? Liu Jin, go open the door."

The door was opened, and the Zhang brothers, holding umbrellas, trotted to the eaves of the central hall.

"It's raining so hard, I'm going to get soaked to death... Uh, Emperor..."

Zhu Houzhao glared at his two uncles fiercely.

Zhang Heling's eyes turned slightly, and he said, "Your Majesty must be worried. With such heavy rain, there must be a flood! Yes, that's it!"

As smart as the elder brother! Zhang Yanling was full of admiration.

Chen Ce looked at the two uncles and asked boredly, "My Lords, what's the matter?"

Zhang Yanling put his hands behind his back and said calmly: "We are guests. Have you eaten yet? We are hungry."

Zhu Houzhao frowned and said, "This is not a restaurant. Go to a restaurant if you are hungry."

Zhang Heling smiled and said, "Haha, what Mr. Zhu said makes sense. Second brother, you should not be reckless... Well, you are a guest, why don't you prepare some tea and snacks to entertain him?"

Chen Ce was about to get up, but Zhu Houzhao stopped him and said to the Zhang brothers, "It's raining outside. If you are thirsty, go out and open your mouth. This is a gift from God. Look at how stingy you are. You still come here to get free food and drink."

Zhang brothers: "..."

No, nephew, we are your uncles, why are you helping outsiders to speak ill of us?
"What's the matter with you?" Zhu Houzhao asked impatiently.

Zhang Heling smiled and said, "Chen Ce."

"Ah."

Zhang Yanling: "Chen Ce!" "Yes."

Zhu Houzhao said, "Are you crazy? Why do you keep calling people by their names?"

Zhang Heling: "Okay, then let us state our intentions. We brothers think you are a promising talent, so we want to take you in as our apprentice."

Zhu Houzhao was shocked. How could his two uncles be so bold and have the nerve to say that they wanted to accept someone as their apprentice?

You two are uneducated guys, not even worthy of carrying my shoes, yet you want to take me as your apprentices? Where is your face?!
Just as Zhang Heling commented on Zhu Houzhao, this nephew...is a worthless person! He doesn't recognize his relatives!

Zhu Houzhao could not help himself and said to Zhang Heling: "If you want to accept others as your apprentices, at least your talents should be higher than others, right? Do you think you are more talented than others?"

"Well, let me give you a question. If you answer it correctly, I will talk about accepting you as my disciple."

Zhang Heling smiled and said, "Please speak, Your Excellency."

Zhu Houzhao said: "Please use the eldest, second, third, fourth, and fifth to make couplets... Forget it, I don't want you to make couplets, just use the words and sentences."

It is too difficult for these two brothers to make a pair.

I don't mean to look down on them. If they can come up with a complete pair, they are considered talented. But they are willing to accept Chen Ce as their apprentice. Why did they suddenly think of this? Are you guys free?

Zhang Yanling pondered over it and whispered to Zhang Heling, "Brother, this may be a little difficult. Why is your nephew's elbow bent outward? Can't you give me a simple question?"

Zhang Heling smiled faintly and said, "Is it difficult? Big brother already has a solution."

He looked at Chen Ce and asked, "If we can write and compose sentences, will you agree to be our student?"

Before Chen Ce could speak, Zhu Houzhao said, "Do you really have to be so outrageous? I just want to test you. You are not worthy of being tested by me now. Pass me first before you talk about becoming my disciple."

Zhang Heling said: "What do you mean by becoming a disciple? We are accepting disciples!"

Zhu Houzhao covered his face, as if he saw two idiots. He said, "You are accepting disciples, and the other party is just becoming a disciple, right?"

Right.

Zhang Heling did not waste any time and said calmly: "Listen, Your Excellency. I have already thought of the answer!"

Zhu Houzhao listened attentively.

Zhang Heling said: "The third brother told the fourth brother that the fifth brother's second brother is the eldest brother!"

Chen Ce didn't react for a while. When he finally reacted, he sprayed a mouthful of hot tea on Zhang Heling's face and gave him a thumbs up, saying, "Awesome!"

Talent!
The amount of information in this sentence was so great that even the bored Chen Ce was stunned.

Zhu Houzhao's face turned red. This was the in-law of the Ming Dynasty royal family, his own uncle!

How can this unlearned guy have the nerve to accept a disciple? It's not even shameful enough!
Zhang Yanling laughed and complimented, "Brother, you are very smart!"

He raised his head and chest and said, "How is it? What do you think of my elder brother's talent? Are you satisfied?"

"No words? That means I agree!"

Zhang Heling asked Chen Ce, "It's your turn now. Please ask some questions and see if I can be your teacher."

Chen Ce was helpless. He had just had a chance to relax for half a day, but was interrupted by two guys. He could only say, "Okay."

"Did you see that porcelain vase?"

Chen Ce pointed to the decorative vase next to him, threw a piece of wood into it, and said to the Zhang brothers, "Don't break the vase, don't touch the vase, and take out the piece of wood I just threw in."

The Zhang brothers leaned forward to look, scratched their heads for a long time, and then asked, "Are you sure you have an answer to this question?"

Chen Ce said: "Yes, there is."

“How do I get it out?”

Chen Ce: "...I'm asking you guys. If you can't think of it, go back and think about it carefully. If I figure it out today, I'll be your student. Oh, don't ask others."

Zhu Houzhao: "A liar must swallow a thousand needles. You must figure out the answer yourself."

(End of this chapter)