Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 294 Selecting a Lecturer for the Prince

"Pan'er, come here!"

Hearing his mother's call, a child of about five or six years old walked slowly into the courtyard.

He looked up at me with a serious expression and asked, "Mother, when my younger brother and sister are born, could you please stop calling me by my childhood nickname?"

Zhu Yuying stroked her slightly protruding belly and looked at her obedient son: "What's wrong?"

The child pursed his lips, showing a hint of stubbornness: "I'm all grown up now."

Zhu Yuying couldn't help but chuckle: "Ever since you learned to walk, your steps have been exceptionally steady. Your father said you were as steadfast as a rock, which is why he gave you the nickname 'Pan'er' (meaning 'rock'). Isn't it nice?"

"But my child has grown up, can't he call me by my full name?"

"Zhongcheng!"

No sooner had the words been spoken than a clear voice came from outside.

"Daddy!"

The child's face immediately lit up with a smile, all his previous composure vanished, and he ran over like a joyful little deer, burying his head in his father's arms.

Haiyue caught her eldest son steadily, her gaze passing over the top of the child's head as she looked tenderly at her wife.

Zhu Yuying placed one hand on her belly and the other on her waist, her eyes filled with happiness, but when she pointed to her eldest son, she couldn't help but smile.

Haiyue was also holding her eldest son, feeling both amused and exasperated.

The child's full name is Hai Zhongcheng.

The homophony was just a coincidence; the next generation of Hai family members were already given names containing the character "中" (zhong).

For example, Hai Rui's three sons in history were named Hai Zhongdi, Hai Zhongliang, and Hai Zhongqi respectively.

Later, Hai Rui died without an heir, and the historical figure Hai Yue adopted his second son, Hai Zhongshi, to continue the family line.

It's no longer needed.

After Hai Rui stepped down as magistrate of Chun'an County, he returned to the capital to report on his work. Because he was sent by the Hanlin Academy and had made outstanding contributions, he was appointed as the Imperial Inspector of Zhejiang Province, becoming the youngest Imperial Inspector among the fourteen provinces in the country.

Although his rank is low, his future is limitless.

While his official career was going smoothly, Hai Rui's wife also gave birth to two sons and a daughter, which was a happy ending for everyone.

Their family is even more prosperous than Haiyue's.

Of course, if Haiyue and Zhu Yuying wanted to have more children, they would not only have one son, but would definitely have one or two more children.

However, continuous childbirth takes a heavy toll on the body. Many favored concubines in history died young because their health was damaged by frequent childbirth.

The ancients believed that having many children meant having many blessings, but they either did not understand or did not take these things into consideration.

As the newcomer, Haiyue naturally had to consider his wife's health.

Zhu Yuying became pregnant again after her eldest son turned four and was able to live independently.

He first inquired about Zhu Yuying's pregnancy symptoms, then smiled at his eldest son who was following behind him and asked, "How's your homework going?"

Hai Zhongcheng stood tall and proud: "Please test me, Father!"

"Okay!"

Haiyue sat down in the study.

Hai Zhongcheng stood obediently before his father, his little hands behind his back, and his clear, childish voice rang out: "Heaven and earth were dark and yellow, the universe was vast and boundless. The sun and moon waxed and waned, the stars and constellations were arrayed..."

He recited it fluently, clearly, without a single pause.

"Gold comes from Lishui, jade comes from Kungang. The sword is called the giant tower, and the beads are called luminous..."

As Haiyue listened, a look of approval appeared in her eyes.

When my son recited, his little head swayed slightly, but it wasn't a mechanical repetition; rather, it was an expression of his understanding of the rhythm of the words.

This is particularly remarkable.

Children from scholar-official families in the Ming Dynasty generally began to learn to read around the age of five and completed their basic literacy before the age of seven, while children from commoner families had to wait until the age of eight to ten.

At Hai Zhongcheng's current age, it would be remarkable if he could recite the entire "Three Character Classic," but he has already memorized most of the "Thousand Character Classic" before gradually stopping. He is definitely a child prodigy.

"it is good!"

So, as the last word fell, Hai Zhongcheng looked up with his little face, his eyes full of expectation. Hai Yue also sincerely praised him, took out some pine nut candy and stuffed it into her son's mouth: "You've improved since the beginning of the month. Don't forget to brush your teeth after you finish eating..."

"Well!"

Hai Zhongcheng's face lit up with a big smile.

Haiyue reached out and ruffled her son's hair. The soft strands of hair she touched carried a child's unique warmth, which made her feel happy.

However, after praising him, Haiyue tested him, asking, "Do you know the meaning of 'Do not talk about others' shortcomings, nor rely on your own strengths'?"

Hai Zhongcheng blinked: "It means don't talk about other people's shortcomings, and don't show off your own strengths."

Haiyue's lips curled up slightly: "Then what will you be carrying for outsiders?"

"The Three Character Classic!"

Hai Zhongcheng immediately said, "When I went to the palace to recite for my grandmother, I recited the Three Character Classic, and I paused more often than my two older brothers!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

Haiyue gave it a thumbs up.

The father and son both smiled knowingly at each other.

"Come out for dinner!"

Zhu Yuying's voice came from outside.

At the dinner table, after her son finished eating and left, Zhu Yuying mentioned the princes in the palace: "I heard that His Majesty is going to select tutors for several princes to educate them..."

Haiyue's eyes flickered: "Who is spreading this news?"

Even when no one else was around, Zhu Yuying said softly, "It's happening both inside and outside the palace; many noblewomen are talking about it."

She had long been integrated into the circle of noblewomen in the capital. When Empress Dowager Jiang first adopted her as her goddaughter and arranged her marriage, many noblewomen in the capital were somewhat amused and thought that this mother-daughter relationship would not last long.

But over the years, the relationship between Empress Dowager Jiang and her daughter Zhu Yuying has not only not faded, but has become closer and closer. The noblewomen who used to ignore her now deeply regret it and are even trying their best to curry favor with her.

Zhu Yuying was well aware of this hypocritical circle, and of course she wouldn't refuse it, making several close female friends worth associating with.

The news we have now originated from them.

Seeing such an opportunity, Zhu Yuying was also tempted.

Haiyue has been in the Hanlin Academy for seven years, having spent three years as an editor, three years as a compiler, and one year as a lecturer.

Although he is young now, that's because he was too young when he became the second-highest scorer in the imperial examination. In terms of seniority, he is no less qualified than many Hanlin scholars.

If you get promoted at this point, no one will say anything.

After all, he was personally bestowed a courtesy name by His Majesty and passed the imperial examinations three times in a row. Whether it was the Emperor's favor or his achievements, he was impeccable.

It was thought that his rise to prominence was just around the corner, but he spent seven long years in the Hanlin Academy, and repeatedly refused to be promoted beyond the usual standards.

Even the most demanding veteran officials had to acknowledge the prestige cultivated by this humble and unassuming nature.

Zhu Yuying felt that her husband could take things a step further.

Haiyue, however, was in no hurry. She picked up a piece of stir-fried vegetables, chewed and swallowed slowly, and then asked, "Did they have any comments on the princes?"

Zhu Yuying's expression changed slightly. This topic was extremely dangerous. If her son were here, she would definitely cover her ears. She leaned closer and whispered, her voice barely audible: "Of course it's the eldest prince!"

Haiyue said, "Even if His Majesty delays in establishing a crown prince?"

Zhu Yuying asked in surprise, "Isn't it because the eldest prince is too young?"

"Ah!"

Haiyue let out a laugh that was hard to decipher.

Emperor Jiajing now has five princes and four princesses.

Historically, Emperor Jiajing had eight sons by this year.

However, most of them did not survive. The only two who lived to adulthood were Prince Yu, Zhu Zaiji, who was ranked third, and Prince Jing, Zhu Zaizhen, who was ranked fourth.

When Prince Jing died, there was no one else to inherit the throne except Zhu Zaiji, who became the Longqing Emperor.

In this world, Zhu Houcong had nine sons, four of whom died young. Currently, there are five princes, three of whom are older and two are still young.

However, apart from the eldest son Zhu Zaiji, whose birth date and mother are basically consistent with the historical record, the birth dates of the other three sons are different from the historical record, and even their names have changed.

The second son was Zhu Zaiyi, born in the fifteenth year of the Jiajing reign (1546), but he was born two years earlier in this life, in the thirteenth year of the Jiajing reign (1546). His mother was Consort Wang.

The third son even changed his name from Zhu Zaiji to Zhu Zaiyuan, and his mother was changed to another concubine. He is now also five years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning).

The fourth son, Zhu Zaizhen, was born to the same mother, Consort Jing, née Lu, but his birth year was later. He is now just three years old and has been given this name...

The five children were still in swaddling clothes and had not yet been named, because it was unknown whether they would grow up.

So in theory.

The lineage from the Longqing and Wanli periods is gone.

Of course, the person is not that person, but emperors with similar temperaments could still appear.

Some signs have already appeared.

For example, when the eldest son, Zhu Zaiji, was three years old, Zhu Houcong appointed the chief minister Yan Song and the second minister Xia Yan to teach him to read.

But everyone knows that the struggle between Yan Song and Xia Yan is getting more and more intense. These two Grand Secretaries are already overwhelmed with affairs in the court and have no time to teach their three-year-old child.

Therefore, the matter of enlightenment was delayed, and the eldest prince, along with his two younger brothers, received his enlightenment in the inner palace.

Previously, Hai Zhongcheng mentioned that when he entered the palace to recite the "Three Character Classic," the two older brothers who stumbled along with him were the eldest prince and the second prince.

Now that the eldest prince is eight years old, his studies cannot be delayed, so the selection of Hanlin scholars from the Hanlin Academy has been formally initiated.

Selected from among young and promising talents.

This gentleman certainly cannot be too old, after all, the prince is too young. If an elderly scholar were chosen, and he were to die prematurely, wouldn't the imperial family be branded as a jinx? Not to mention the consequences of the prince's studies being interrupted...

That's why Zhu Yuying felt this was a great opportunity for her husband.

But Haiyue slowly shook her head and said very directly: "Don't get involved in this matter. Being a tutor to the Crown Prince is definitely not a good job!"

"I understand!"

Zhu Yuying's expression turned solemn, and a hint of sadness appeared on her face: "However, Mother seems to be urging His Majesty to establish an heir as soon as possible!"

Haiyue's expression finally changed: "The Empress Dowager's health..."

Zhu Yuying's eyes reddened.

Empress Dowager Jiang passed away in December of the seventeenth year of the Jiajing reign (1548) at the age of sixty-two, which was not a short lifespan for people in ancient times.

It is now the nineteenth year of the Jiajing reign.

The reason she was able to live so long was that Empress Dowager Jiang originally died from boils and carbuncles, which she could not cure.

Knowing this, Haiyue, under her care, made sure that Zhu Yuying, her goddaughter who frequently entered the palace, took precautions in this regard.

Ever since.

Having Zhu Yuying as a goddaughter has truly brought longevity.

The old lady is now sixty-four years old.

Unfortunately, although he could escape the torment of sores, he could not avoid the pain of old age.

I've been bedridden lately, and the weather this year is exceptionally cold and gloomy; I'm afraid I won't be able to get through this.

"If the phoenix chariot returns to the west..."

Thinking of the gentle yet unquestionable Empress Dowager, Haiyue couldn't help but sigh deeply, her voice so low it almost dissipated in the wind: "The peaceful days are probably coming to an end!"

(End of this chapter)