Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 239: Reading at Night
That night, Zhu Youtang and his wife received the "leisure book" written by Zhang Yanling specifically for them.

One watched "Journey to the West" and the other watched "The Scholars".

The couple were like studying at the same table, each sitting quietly at the table, concentrating on studying, and they didn't even think there was anything wrong with adding two more lamps.

Fang'e was standing near the door. When she saw a candle with wax dripping down, she walked over tentatively, propped up the wax dripping from the candle, and sealed the side of the candle where the wax dripping was flowing. In this way, the burning speed of the candle was slowed down.

The couple completely ignored her from beginning to end, obviously immersed in the book.

"Yu'er, look at this part, there's a dragon lantern show somewhere in Shandong, it's very interesting."

Zhu Youtang had never read any leisure books since he was a child. This time he finally had the opportunity to see the folk scenes described in the books, and he immediately felt that his horizons were broadened.

When I come across a part I like, I quickly share it with my wife.

Zhang Yu said, "Let's not talk about it for now. Let's each look at our own. Mine is also very interesting."

"Really? Let me see."

Zhu Youtang suddenly became curious about the "Journey to the West" in his wife's hand.

Then Zhang Yu put the book down and laid it flat on the table. Then the couple put their heads together and read the words together.

Zhu Youtang watched with great interest.

Zhang Yu glanced at her husband and asked, "It has no beginning or end. Can you understand it at first glance?"

"Isn't this just about a stone monkey? It's very interesting."

Zhu Youtang suddenly felt that the book "The Scholars" was no longer interesting.

Seeing this, Zhang Yu quickly closed the book.

Zhu Youtang looked at his wife curiously and asked, "Yu'er, what are you doing?"

Zhang Yu looked at Fang'e who was standing nearby. Fang'e then realized that she was beyond the reasonable distance between a servant and her master, and quickly retreated to the palace gate.

"Prince, this is a leisure book my family brought me to kill time. The most important thing for you now is to read the books of sages. How can you delay it?"

Zhang Yu spoke with the attitude of a good wife who cares about her husband.

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter..."

Zhu Youtang was a little embarrassed.

I can't even study hard during the day, but I have to continue studying hard when I get home at night and spend time alone with my wife? Is this a bit too much?
Zhang Yu said softly: "After all, there are a lot of people watching you."

"Who?"

Zhu Youtang asked casually.

Following his wife's gaze, Zhu Youtang instantly understood something.

"Forget it, forget it, I'll just read my own book. Actually, this one of mine is pretty good too..."

Zhu Youtang sat back and picked up "The Scholars" to read carefully.

Zhang Yu no longer insisted and continued reading his "Journey to the West".

The couple became good classmates again.

Fang'e looked confused and thought, do you two love reading so much? In the past, no one could come in at night, and now you have only been together for more than half a month, and your relationship has become cold?

This speed is a bit too fast!

"Your Highness, Your Majesty, it's getting late. You two should rest."

Seeing that things were not developing as she had expected, Fang'e couldn't help but step forward to give a reminder.

Zhu Youtang waved his hand and smiled, saying, "Bring me a pot of hot tea, and you can go back and rest... You are in good spirits tonight, so it is okay to sleep a little later."

"Yes."

Fang'e thought that the opportunity to make a contribution had finally come.

I was placed in the East Palace and after several years of hardships, I finally gained the trust of the prince. Now I have finally seen the "unprofessional" side of the prince and I can report it.

Oops, wait.

It seems like my employer has passed away due to illness and has just been replaced by a new owner, which is... very embarrassing.

But no matter what, I will be loyal to my duties and will do what I should do.

Let’s see how I perform!
……

……

When Fang'e went out of the back hall to change the tea, Qin Ji and Jiang Cong were waiting quietly outside. When they saw her coming out, they hurriedly came forward and asked, "What's the matter?"

Fang'e reported in a low voice: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked for a new pot of tea, and I will not be required to serve you later."

Jiang Cong asked with a dark face: "Why are we asking you what the Crown Prince and Crown Princess are doing? You kid, do you not understand what people are saying or what?"

"This……"

Fang'e said somewhat embarrassedly, "They are reading."

"read?"

Jiang Cong glanced at Tan Ji.

Qin Ji nodded and asked with a smile: "Then... are the Crown Prince and Crown Princess watching it seriously?"

"Ah."

Fang'e nodded repeatedly and replied, "He could hardly take his eyes off the pages... In the middle, His Highness wanted to take a look at the book that His Majesty was reading, but His Majesty stopped him and advised the Crown Prince to focus on his studies. Then His Highness and His Majesty continued to read their own books, just like before."

Jiang Cong asked, "Eunuch Tan, what happened?" Tan Ji smiled and said, "It's just reading a book, no big deal. I read the book on the way to the palace, and there is nothing unorthodox about it. It's better to use it for entertainment than... the young couple's nightly revelry has ruined their health... What do you think?"

After listening to this, Jiang Cong thought to himself, what do I think is useful?
Whether the prince is busy with sex or concentrating on reading a book, I, as a servant, would not mind, but... isn't this a matter of principle?

However, Jiang Cong did not comment immediately.

After Fang'e left, the two returned to the side hall, and Jiang Cong asked in a low voice: "Eunuch Tan, the prince is reading idle books now, and no longer studying the classics of sages, will he be slandered by villains?"

"If you don't tell me and I don't tell you, who would do such a thing?" Qin Ji asked.

Jiang Cong smiled bitterly and said, "Don't we have any spies and informants planted by others in the Eastern Palace?"

He was just about to say Fang'e's name!

After all, Fang'e was Concubine Wan's person, and it was a fact almost known to everyone in the Eastern Palace.

It was just because Concubine Wan was too powerful before and she was the one who made the decisions in the harem, so even if she forcibly arranged for people to come to the Eastern Palace, the Eastern Palace would not dare to object.

Even though Concubine Wan is dead now, they still dare not act rashly. Who knows if these spies are gathering information for the emperor?

The correct principle is to respond to ever-changing situations with constancy!

Qin Ji said: "The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess always need some entertainment, we just need to know it. If someone really wants to gossip in front of Your Majesty, we can't stop them. This is not class time, so what if he reads some books at ordinary times? As long as the Crown Prince stays happy and healthy, it will be a great thing for us servants!"

……

……

It was already late at night, but the lights in the Duanjing Hall were still on.

The couple read by lamplight at night, and no one wanted to rest first.

In fact, this is a matter of course. When they first came into contact with such a wonderful story, the couple didn't feel sleepy at all. Although they watched their own stories, they were both very excited.

"Prince, I think we should take a break."

After all, Zhang Yu has more experience, and she has not been completely addicted to it. Tonight she is more enjoying the joy of reading with her husband.

Of course, appreciating the content of the book also brings her a lot of joy.

Zhu Youtang shook his head regretfully and said, "I can't bear to put it down."

Zhang Yu smiled, and her charming demeanor almost stunned Zhu Youtang. She immediately said coquettishly, "Don't you think that you should make a copy of the manuscript and give it to your father for review?"

"What!?"

When Zhu Youtang heard this proposal, his expression immediately became panicked.

It's fine if I just read some idle books, but you actually want me to report myself and show this to my old father?

Will your idle life last longer?
Zhang Yu explained, "On the first day I entered the palace, you told me that after Queen Wan passed away, my father had been unhappy and depressed, and his body became thinner and thinner. If that's the case, why can't we do our filial duty?"

"But……"

Zhu Youtang was too busy reading at this moment. He lowered his head and said with a bitter face like a child who had made a mistake, "Father may not like to read these..."

"How can we know if we don't try? Besides, if this book is seen by someone with ulterior motives in the East Palace, they will definitely make a fuss about it. It is impossible to hide the matter. It is best for the prince to personally copy a copy and send it to the emperor. Whether the emperor likes it or not, it is a show of your filial piety."

After reading for a while, Zhang Yu finally remembered the interests involved and began to persuade her husband patiently.

Zhu Youtang nodded, as if he was obeying his wife's words.

He asked curiously, "Yu'er, are these what you thought of?"

"No."

Zhang Yu answered very straightforwardly, "Before I entered the palace, my second brother Yanling told me that he would write some scripts for me to kill time. I didn't think it was a big deal at the time, but after entering the palace, I found that life here is really boring, so I wanted to take a look at it. I didn't expect him to really send it to me."

Zhu Youtang asked with a smile: "So Yanling said a long time ago that after this book is sent to the palace, a copy should be sent to the emperor, right?"

"Ah."

Zhang Yu nodded.

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "You always say that Yanling is a little Zhuge Liang, but I still don't believe it. I didn't expect that he could think of what would happen to you and me half a month later before you entered the palace. It seems that he really has some ingenious plans. But...why didn't he just make an extra copy and send two copies directly to the palace? Wouldn't that be better?"

Zhang Yu rolled her eyes at her husband, tapped Zhu Youtang's forehead with her delicate hand, and said, "Are you too lazy to even copy it for your father? It's just right, we can still make a model..."

"What does it look like?"

Zhu Youtang asked curiously.

"You are just pretending that you are not studying hard so that people can take advantage of it... When others write to you, saying that you not only read idle books but also copy them by yourself, and use this to criticize you for not studying hard, you have already sent the copied books to your father. Your father is very pleased. In comparison, doesn't he think you are more filial?" Zhang Yu explained patiently.

Zhu Youtang said: "But...will the emperor say why I didn't just submit the original manuscript?"

Zhang Yu smiled and said, "Because the typesetting is not good, there are many typos, and the quality of the paper is not good, etc. There are too many excuses. Look at these small words... Father's eyesight is not good, can he see clearly? Do I need to teach you how to make such excuses?"

Zhu Youtang looked a little ashamed: "Yes, why didn't I think of it? Yu'er, you are really smart. I think you are almost like the living Kong Ming... It turns out that girls who can write lyrics are also extraordinary in their knowledge."

"Okay, stop complimenting me. Are you busy studying these days? Copy it when you have free time." Zhang Yu said.

Zhu Youtang said: "I looked at the back and it seems that it is not finished yet."

Zhang Yu smiled and said, "Isn't this just written? Yanling will make up for it later... He said that you should only write a part first to test the waters and see if the emperor likes it... If he likes it, the emperor will definitely urge you to submit some more."

"what is this?"

Zhu Youtang asked in confusion.

"He said that storytellers and playwrights out there are all like this. If they don't throw in a punchline, they can't attract people. Actually, I don't understand all this. Maybe he has gone out to watch plays with my father before, so he understands this," said Zhang Yu.

Zhu Youtang seemed to have learned the truth of life. He pondered it carefully for a while and said, "That makes sense. No one has taught me this before. Thank you, Yu'er. Let's rest tonight. I will transcribe it for my father tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)