The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

Chapter 86 Mr.

He wouldn't be foolish enough to tell King Jing how much effort he put into making the dish, nor would he try to gain favor by doing so.

"I am relieved that Your Highness is satisfied with the meal. To be honest, I feel that this meal was not enough for Your Highness. I will have a few new dishes to serve you tomorrow."

Zhu Zaizhen smiled but didn't say anything. He wouldn't say anything about not wasting food or that he didn't need to cook so many dishes in the future.

The expenses in the palace cannot be reduced by his mere words. Moreover, the more elaborate the meals and the more abundant the supplies, the more it highlights the prince's noble status and stable position.

If one lives a simple life and makes do with whatever one needs, how can one have the air of a noble person? The palace servants and eunuchs below will look down on them.

As for waste, he has many servants around him, and with more than twenty dishes, it might not even be enough to divide them all up.

This also provides tangible benefits to those around you, ensuring they are well-fed and clothed, which will make them cherish the opportunity to serve you and be more inclined to demonstrate their loyalty.

Ma Dezhao looked at him and asked, "What is the appearance of Chief Supervisor Hong, and how does it resemble that of your esteemed Supervisor Hong—"

Hong Yuan smiled obsequiously at Ma Dezhao and said, "Replying to your question, Your Excellency, the seal holder is my own uncle."

Ma Dezhao nodded and didn't ask any more questions. They were both unfortunate people. If there were even the slightest chance of survival in this world, who would be willing to let the uncle and nephew be castrated one after another and enter the palace, severing their family line?

Zhu Zaizhen put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "Go back and thank Hong Ban for me."

Hong Yuan's eyes lit up and she immediately kowtowed: "This servant will certainly convey your message."

After Hong Yuan left, Zhu Zaizhen smiled and said, "The four hundred taels were well spent. The head of the Imperial Kitchen is a decisive person."

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Ma Dezhao added with a smile, "Hong Fu has spent most of his life in the Imperial Kitchen, and he has a long and distinguished career. He worked his way up to the position of head chef, and his skills are truly exceptional."

Judging from his deliberate efforts to cultivate his nephew, he probably already planned to hand over the seal of the Imperial Kitchen to his nephew in the future.

"It doesn't matter."

It doesn't matter who is in charge; the key is whether that person is sensible and listens to him.

Zhu Zaizhen didn't eat much; he stopped eating when he was about 80% full: "Your wife and wet nurse can eat. We'll give you a reward after you finish."

"promise."

Zhu Zaizhen walked into the courtyard, where the warm glow of the setting sun shone down. The sounds of insects and birds could be heard from all directions. He got into position and began to practice. He had already mastered the sitting posture, and now he was practicing standing posture and breathing techniques to stimulate his body fluids.

After the sun had completely set, the Grand Chamberlain led Zhang Xing to report: "His Majesty has issued an edict to the Hanlin Academy, reprimanding the lecturers for merely reciting from the textbook, failing to teach the princes critical thinking and reasoning, and only imparting empty platitudes, disregarding their duty to cultivate virtue and talent, and for their ineffective instruction and dereliction of duty—"

Zhu Zaizhen slowly finished his practice and calmed his breathing. It seemed that Prince Yu's answer was not very good. No wonder, he had also listened to those teachers' lectures, which were too hasty and unrealistic. And Prince Yu was not a genius, so naturally he did not learn as well as before.

However, the Emperor's punishment was not severe. He merely ordered the Hanlin Academy to immediately select new scholars of good character to enter the palace to teach, while the previous scholars were all fined three months' salary and barred from entering the palace to teach.

But given what has happened, Xu Jie should no longer be able to concurrently manage the Hanlin Academy.

And the new Minister of Rites should be selected by now, I wonder who will be chosen this time?

After two days of enjoying himself without his teacher, Zhu Zaizhen returned to the side hall of Wenhua Hall to continue his studies.

The lecturers who used to spout Cheng-Zhu clichés are nowhere to be seen. Only the morning light shining on the blue bricks and the neatly arranged books on the desk remain in the hall. Zhu Zaizhen sits down casually, and Zhang Xing brings him warm water with a few jasmine flowers floating in it.

A moment later, footsteps approached, and after a brief pause, the eunuch's high-pitched yet steady voice announced: "The newly appointed lecturer for the princes, Zhang Juzheng, a compiler from the Hanlin Academy, will begin his lecture!"

Zhu Zaizhen's eyes lit up. This was something he hadn't expected, or rather, something he had thought about but felt was unlikely.

Zhang Juzheng walked in slowly, his posture upright and his steps steady, dressed in a blue Hanlin official robe.

Upon entering the hall, he looked calmly at Zhu Zaizhen, who was seated in the main seat, took a few steps forward, and performed the proper salute of a subject.

Zhu Zaizhen stood up with his teacup in hand and accepted the greeting without hesitation. When Zhang Juzheng stood up, he handed the teacup to him.

"gentlemen."

"Your Highness."

Zhang Juzheng bowed and accepted the teacup with both hands. He did not drink from it, but simply held it steadily in his hands, his expression respectful but not humble.

Zhu Zaizhen sat down again and gestured for Zhang Juzheng to sit down as well. Zhang Juzheng then sat down behind the lecture table to the side, gently placed the teacup on the corner of the table, opened the book box he had brought with him, and took out his lecture notes on "The Great Learning" and a stack of handwritten annotations, which he spread out on the table.

"Today, Your Highness, I will lecture on the chapter on 'manifesting virtue' from the Great Learning."

Zhu Zaizhen waved his hand and said, "There's no rush to give lectures. You haven't had my tea to show your respect to your teacher yet."

"I dare not be Your Highness's teacher; I am merely Your Highness's tutor."

The position of Imperial Tutor was an informal post, a special appointment. When the princes lectured in the side hall of the Wenhua Hall, the princes would pay homage to them as if they were teachers.

Zhu Zaizhen didn't speak, but simply pointed to the tea again. He realized that, given his status, it was better to give an order than to say anything.

Zhang Juzheng remained silent for a moment, then reached for the teacup, gently picked it up, and took a sip. It was cool and refreshing, with a hint of jasmine, and even tasted delicious.

"Hahaha~"

Upon seeing this, Zhu Zaizhen couldn't help but laugh, a rare and genuine joy from the inside out.

If someone were to come to this world and never thought of receiving Zhang Juzheng's assistance, that would be a joke.

When they last met, he was quite confident, but with his father's decisive action and Xu Jie becoming the Minister of Personnel, his confidence wasn't completely gone, but he felt that there was no chance to recruit Zhang Juzheng anytime soon.

To everyone's surprise, Zhang Juzheng delivered himself to their doorstep.

He wouldn't believe it if you said it wasn't voluntary.

With Zhang Shentong's clever mind, there are plenty of ways to avoid making him a lecturer. You can just report an illness, and who would dare force a patient to enter the palace to meet the prince?

Zhang Juzheng gently put down his teacup and said solemnly, "Your Highness should not have lost your composure like this."

Even so, the slight worry he had about his choice gradually dissipated amidst the hearty laughter.

He could sense the sincerity in that smile; it wasn't a pretentious display of power-playing, nor a show to win people's hearts.

No one wants to be disliked, especially when the person who values ​​him so much is someone he is meant to assist. A harmonious relationship between ruler and subject, like fish in water, is the kind of relationship he dreams of.

Zhu Zaizhen stopped laughing, leaned forward slightly, and the light from his laughter still lingered in his eyes.

"Does the gentleman think I'm getting carried away?"

His tone still carried a hint of lightness, but his expression had become serious. "But sir, you don't know how long I've been looking forward to this day."

Zhang Juzheng was quite surprised. He remembered that he had only met Prince Jing once, and his reputation in the capital was nothing special. He didn't understand why a prince would be so concerned about him.

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