Early the next morning, Zhu Di sent the three princes back to the palace early to report, and then took Shen Ruoyu to Fang Xiaoru's house.

Shen Ruoyu was a little worried that Fang Xiaoru would not be at home; However, he soon found that he had underestimated the mind of King Yan. As early as the banquet on the first day, Zhu Di expressed to Fang Xiaoru that he would visit the next day. Fang Xiaoru asked the Son of Heaven for leave and was waiting at home.

After the greetings, the two of them sat down with Fang Xiaoru. Zhu Di took out a red paper bag from his arms and said:

"Before leaving Beiping, the princess specially asked me to bring this, and told me to hand it over to Mr. Fang to thank him for his hard work in teaching the three dogs. This is also a piece of Lone's heart, if Mr. does not dislike it, please be sure to smile. ”

Fang Xiaoru saw that King Yan gave him a gift, and he didn't know what it was, so he was a little drumming in his heart. He knew that King Yan was not a kitsch person, but the court and the vassal king were in a state of opposition, especially King Yan, who was good at scheming and had a deep city, gave gifts to himself at this moment, although it was not against etiquette, but it was inevitable that he would be suspected of bribery. He didn't reach out to take it, and said coldly:

"His Royal Highness King Yan is polite. As a scholar of Hanlin, it is my duty to teach the children of the royal family. Your Highness, why bother? ”

Zhu Di smiled sincerely: "Mr. misunderstood. Zhu Di's gift has no intention of bribery. ”

He opened the paper bag, took out a pair of thick Baina insoles from it, and said:

Before Xiao Wang left, the princess deliberately spent three days to get this pair of insoles for her husband. The princess said, Mr. serves the Son of Heaven day and night, works for state affairs day and night, and at the same time takes care of our children, works tirelessly to teach them, and runs back and forth between the court and the school, and I don't know how many blisters are grinding out of the soles of my feet. Xiao Wang and the princess have no other way to thank Mr., Mr. Jiu Yang has cleared his name, things are valuable, and I am afraid that Mr. will not accept it. I want to send a few persimmons that are special products of Beiping, but the season is not good, and there is no good fresh goods. All the materials on the insoles of this pair of insoles, the cotton cloth is woven by the princess herself on weekdays, and the twine is also rubbed by the princess with the county lord. Chi'er likes gardening, and planted some herbs in the palace to entertain herself, so Xiao Wang plucked some of them and dried them, and asked the princess to include them in the insole, which can be regarded as the meaning of honoring Mr. Chi'er. Mr. Don't look at the rough raw materials and poor craftsmanship, but it is completely a piece of gratitude from the princess and the princess, please don't dislike it. ”

Fang Xiaoru was greatly flattered, carefully took the insoles, and took a closer look; Simple and unpretentious, thick and soft, extremely delicate workmanship, incomparably fine stitches, it is obvious that Concubine Xu has put a lot of effort into every stitch and line.

He held the insoles in the palm of his hand lovingly, and said movingly: "Niangniang is really troublesome, how can Fang Mou afford it?" Xiaoru tutored the three princes to study for half a year, and tried very little, thanks to the three princes' own talents, so they have grown day by day, and Xiaoru actually has no credit. ”

Zhu Di smiled: "Mr. is too modest. The sons of Gu and the princess, we all know in our hearts. During the time when the three princes were in Beijing, they must have caused a lot of trouble to Mr., especially the second and third children, I am afraid that Mr. will have a headache. Usually in the palace, the gentlemen who teach don't dare to tell me and the princess the truth, just sloppy and choose good things to say. Lone knows that Mr. is not such a person. What are the shortcomings of the three princes, please speak freely today, it is rare for Gu to have such an opportunity to understand his children from outsiders, and please Mr. Don't worry about Gu's face. ”

Fang Xiaoru smiled and said, "Your Highness is too careful. The three princes have their own merits, and none of them are ordinary. His Royal Highness the Prince is courteous, gentle, ambitious, studious, tireless, and also a corporal of courtesy, and the Son of Heaven, the Queen Mother and hundreds of civil and military officials have praised him. His Royal Highness and Niangniang are well-educated, before Fang gave the book, His Royal Highness the Prince was already a keen reader of reading, Bo Gu Tong today, writing and flowers, exporting chapters, and talented. Fang Mou really only has the honor of learning from His Royal Highness the Prince, and has no qualifications to advise. ”

"Mr. has raised Chi'er," Zhu Di smiled, "Chi'er is just quiet and honest by nature, a good boy with filial piety, dull qualifications, and no talent, if you don't know how to work hard, you won't be able to succeed." ”

Fang Xiaoru said: "His Royal Highness King Yan is also modest. Among the three princes, in terms of morality, manners, talents, qualifications, talents, and diligence, His Royal Highness the Prince is the best, and I am afraid that he is also the most outstanding among all the princes and brothers. ”

Zhu Di said: "Mr. really thinks so? It seems that the second prince and the third prince have left a very bad impression on Mr. ”

Fang Xiaoru smiled and said, "Where is it, His Royal Highness King Yan is too careful." His Royal Highness is quick-witted and has a high level of understanding, but it may be because he is still young, not as quiet as his brother, always a little playful, often skips class, even if he is in class, he is always distracted, he can't sit for a long time, and he doesn't want to be enclosed in the palace, and he will ask the Son of Heaven to let him go out to play for an hour or two every day. Every time he went out, he always threw off the escort's entourage at the first time, so that everyone had no way to find out his whereabouts, and the entire palace was panicked and worried about his safety. In addition, His Royal Highness loves to practice martial arts, and he is also strong in martial arts, and often likes to compete with the close guards around the Son of Heaven, which makes the entire Imperial Forest Army a little restless. Since he is distracted from time to time, he naturally can't look at His Royal Highness the Prince in his studies. The Second Highness is so young, the Third Highness is even younger, the young man is strong-blooded, and he is not very good at self-discipline, and there are often palace maids who report to the Queen Mother and the Queen Mother that the two Highnesses behave lightly and rudely. After the Queen Mother and the Queen Mother explained to Banzai, Banzai had no choice but to choose two beautiful young palace maids to serve the two Highnesses, but they were driven out by the two Highnesses, saying that Banzai was testing them and looking down on them. ”

Shen Ruoyu couldn't help snickering in her heart; If it weren't for seeing King Yan's face a little unpleasant, he would have felt that these things were even more funny.

Zhu Di's face was gloomy, and he said slowly: "That's the case; It's the first time I've heard of it. ”

Fang Xiaoru said: "Your Highness doesn't need to be too anxious. Poor self-control among young people is a common problem. At least, there is also His Royal Highness the Prince of the World, who is quiet and dignified, quite knowledgeable, and very proud of His Highness. His Royal Highness must have heard of it a long time ago, and Emperor Taizu Gao also praised His Royal Highness the prince. In the twenty-eighth year of Hongwu, His Royal Highness the Prince had just been canonized by Emperor Gao, and he was ordered to come to Beijing to study, and did several things that made Emperor Gao very satisfied. ”

Zhu Di didn't know, but he hesitated at this moment, and asked knowingly: "I don't know much about Lone, please tell me more?" ”

Fang Xiaoru said: "First of all, in the early morning of winter, Emperor Gao ordered Qin, Jin, Yan, and the fourth prince to read the army, and the other three princes all returned early after reading, but His Royal Highness Yan Shizi returned to Taizu very late. When Taizu asked him why, he replied, "When it is very cold, I will read it after eating, and then I will read it." The prince was worried that the soldiers would not be able to endure the cold in the morning, and would rather fall behind the other princes, and must wait for the soldiers to have breakfast before reviewing, which shows that benevolence and righteousness are out of his heart. On another occasion, Emperor Gao ordered the princes to read the recital, and then report the content of the recital to him. His Royal Highness the Prince of the World alone chooses matters related to the vital interests of the military and civilians. There is a typo in the recital, and His Royal Highness never says it. Emperor Gao was deeply surprised and asked him if he had neglected it. The prince said: 'Don't dare to ignore it, so it's not enough to blaspheme the virtues of heaven.' Emperor Gao asked him again: 'Yao, when the soup is dry, the people are ridiculed?' He said, "The saints have compassion for the people." Emperor Gao was overjoyed when he heard this, and praised His Royal Highness the Prince for having the knowledge of a gentleman. Among the grandsons of Emperor Gao, in addition to Jinshang, the most favored is probably His Royal Highness the Prince. ”

Zhu Di groaned: "Chi'er, this kid is loyal, but unfortunately he lacks bravery. Xu'er is the complete opposite, more than brave, but too indulgent and unbridled, sometimes causing a deep headache for Gu and the princess. Sui'er is even worse than his two older brothers. Fortunately, they are still young, and maybe as they grow older, they will gradually become mature and sensible, so that they can stop worrying their parents so much. ”

Fang Xiaoru said: "Definitely." The three Highnesses are all gifted and intelligent, as long as they are carefully trained and guided in the right direction, they will all have a very bright and ambitious future. ”

Zhu Di said: "Thanks to Mr. for bothering! Lone and the princess were extremely grateful. ”

Fang Xiaoru smiled and said: "Your Highness is too polite, filial piety is within the scope of the matter." ”

Zhu Di smiled: "Mr. Fang has a deep understanding of the third son of the orphan for half a year, and he has taught him according to his aptitude, and the results are outstanding. Lone has a reluctant request, and I hope that Mr. can appreciate his face and agree. ”

Fang Xiaoru was slightly stunned, secretly vigilant in his heart, and said with a smile: "Your Highness, why should you be polite; What is the commandment, but it is better to speak. As long as the subordinate can do it, the subordinate official is naturally extremely willing. ”

Zhu Di said: "I left Beijing and returned to Beiping after a few days, and the three dogs stayed in Yingtian and followed Mr. Fang to continue their studies. However, Yingtian is not their home after all, they will have to return to Beiping one day, and the princess is also old, and I hope that the children will accompany them in front of them. Chi'er's child is still very small, and it is far from enough to have the care of his mother, especially if the child is a grandchild, and Princess Gu and Princess hope that Chi'er can be by the child's side, and he will start to have a good education from a very young age, and fulfill his father's duties. Also, Xu'er has also reached the age of marriage, and Lone and Princess are planning for this matter. But now that the three princes are not at home, everything cannot be done. So, I hope the three princes can return home soon. However, their studies are also very important, and they cannot be delayed for a day, so Gu also hopes that Mr. Fang can come to Peking with him and teach for my three princes all the time. Lone had already expressed this to the Son of Heaven before, and now promised Mr. Fang in person that if Mr. is willing to appreciate his face and be the gentleman of the three princes, Lone will follow the eleventh brother of the King of Shu and set up a special study room in the mansion for Mr. to study the scriptures. ”

Shen Ruoyu couldn't help but secretly sigh that King Yan was clever. obviously just wanted his three sons to go home, but he said that he was asking Fang Xiaoru to teach in Beiping. In fact, in the heart of the prince, what he is most concerned about is that the three princes only need to go home, as for whether Fang Xiaoru follows him to Beiping and continues to teach, he doesn't care; However, the prince knew very well that his studies were the best excuse for the Son of Heaven and the imperial court to continue to detain the three princes, so he had to erect this signboard, and carry out an emotional offensive at the same time, showing the affection of his parents and the young Zhu Zhanji to influence Fang Xiaoru. That is, Mr. Fang; If he was facing Zhu Yunwen, the Son of Heaven, Shen Ruoyu deeply suspected that the simple and weak emperor would immediately be overwhelmed, and fully agreed to the request of the Fourth Emperor Uncle.

Fang Xiaoru was obviously not indifferent to King Yan's beautiful words. He sighed softly and said in a somewhat sympathetic tone:

"His Royal Highness and the princess think about their sons, and as parents, the lower officials can deeply understand it. However, lowly duties are also helpless. Before the Son of Heaven, I need to serve all the time; The three princes could not give up their studies halfway. Therefore, the only way that Xia Guan could come up with was to continue to wronged His Royal Highness King Yan and the princess Niangniang, and let the three princes stay in Beijing. When children grow up, they must always learn to be self-reliant, learn to leave home, completely throw away their dependence on their parents, and take care of their own life and studies alone, so that they can eventually become great. With Fang's foolishness, when he was young, he still left his mother and left home, and went to study under Mr. Song Lian alone. and after the funeral, he will leave to return to the school until he dies. With the qualifications of the three princes, if you can study quietly like a humble job, your future achievements will not be as good as mine! His Royal Highness and the princess have endured the pain of separation, and they will surely be blessed in the future. ”

Zhu Di pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "Mr. Fang's heartfelt words, the direct teaching is suddenly enlightened. The world is the same as the heart of parents, and the princess and the princess are lonely for their children, not to mention the loneliness and loneliness that they endure for a few years, even if they are willing for a lifetime. Sir taught the three princes so sincerely, let them continue to stay in the capital until they graduated. With Mr. here, the princess and I can rest assured. ”

Fang Xiaoru said: "You can rest assured. The lowly office will do his best to tutor the three princes in their studies and share the worries of His Royal Highness. As for the lives of the three princes, the Son of Heaven pays attention to them every day, and the servants in the palace take care of them carefully, and His Royal Highness and the princess don't have to worry about it at all. ”

Zhu Di thanked him: "In this case, Princess Gu and Princess thank you, sir!" ”

Fang Xiaoru hurriedly picked up King Yan and said, "I can't help it, Your Highness is really too polite, and you have tormented the lower officials." Your Highness, please return to Beiping with relief. This pair of insoles, filial piety accepted it with a shy face, and thanked His Royal Highness King Yan and the princess for their affection. ”