"Greetings, Your Excellency the Grand Tutor." Zheng Zhi greeted him in an unceremonious manner.
Hua Zhi pretended not to see it and said, "Mr. Zheng once said that he has been to many places."
"You remember it." Zheng Zhi stopped laughing and asked, "What do you want to say?"
"Now the four countries are attacking Daqing, do you know, Mr. Zheng?"
"I heard about it."
Hua Zhi looked at this talented person who was willing to stay in the small clan school of the Hua family, "Today's Daqing is like a tiger with its claws sharpened. But it is still guarding a piece of fat meat that everyone is eyeing, which attracts everyone to pounce on it and take a bite. I don't know whether the tiger will keep the piece of meat or it will be divided up by those who are eyeing it. Are you willing to protect it?"
Zheng Zhi turned his back and walked into the courtyard. "What Daqing lacks now is military commanders, and I don't have the ability to do that."
"If you are interested, how about joining the army? The prince is a man who values talent. If you are willing to serve, he will not be stingy with the official position."
"I am just a commoner, so how can I be so picky?"
Hua Zhi followed closely, "It is most suitable for a commoner to join the army, there is no need to be picky."
Zheng Zhi turned around and looked at her. "You've worked so hard, but they're still greedy. They're just sitting there doing nothing and making no progress. Are you willing to accept this?"
"This year's lock hall exam has the most students from aristocratic families in history. Isn't this a kind of awakening?" Hua Zhi pointed at two classrooms. "They are young and have nothing to worry about except their studies. The sisters in the inner courtyard are embroidering their wedding dresses and waiting to get married. I hope they can be free from worries like this for many years to come. I am doing this for them. How can I be unwilling?"
Feeling something, Hua Zhi looked towards the other end of the corridor. Zeng Han, who had just run away, came over with small steps holding a teacup in both hands. Occasionally, some water spilled out and dripped onto the ground, so he slowed down even more.
Hua Zhi thought Zeng Han wanted to pour her a glass of water, so she took a few steps forward to receive it, but she saw the child kneeling down neatly and holding the teacup high in his hand, "I want to be your student."
Is this... becoming a disciple
Hua Zhi was having a headache. She was already worried about having a student who was a prince, and now there was also the extremely talented Zeng Han...
Zeng Han and the prince are different. They are walking on completely different paths. She can use the experience of two lifetimes and the knowledge far beyond this era to guide the prince and try her best to create a bigger world for him so that he can have a bigger picture that surpasses others. But these cannot be used on Zeng Han.
Zeng Han is suitable to be a disciple of a great scholar with profound knowledge, learn steadily and become a new generation of great scholar in the future. If his grandfather were still alive, he would suggest his grandfather to accept this student instead of taking himself as his teacher. Compared with those truly knowledgeable people, she is not worth mentioning.
She squatted down and tried to pull him up. "Xiao Han, you are still young. Normally, you are just starting to learn at this age. There is no need to rush to become his disciple. Wait until I am done with my work and find a good master for you."
Zeng Han shook his head stubbornly and repeated, "I want to be my sister's student."
"When Grandfather comes back, will you take him as your master?"
"I am only my sister's student."
Hua Zhi felt both distressed and embarrassed. She was really afraid of ruining such a good seedling. Xiaohan was the most talented child she had ever seen.
"Take it." Zheng Zhi stepped forward, "Even if you find him a good master, he may not be willing to accept it with his temper."
Seeing the child clearly expecting something but with his lips tightly pursed and his face tense, Hua Zhi sighed and said, "Never mind, why think so much? Just teach him well. Besides, the Hua family has no shortage of scholars, so I can ask for their advice when the time comes."
Hua Zhi was not a shy person. After she figured it out, she took the tea and drank it all.
Zeng Han was precocious and could no longer hide his emotions. He clutched the corner of his clothes with joy and looked at his master again and again with a red face. He now had a master! From now on, he and his sister were no longer unrelated people! From now on, he could follow his master wherever he went with a clear conscience!
"Sister... Master has been busy recently. He needs to wait until these things are settled before he can teach you. You should still learn from Mr. Mu as before. Don't think too much, okay?"
"Yes, Master."
After taking a look at the sky, Hua Zhi touched his head and said, "Go in. I need to go to the palace."
"Yes." Zeng Han trotted away, and his happiness could be seen from his small back.
"I accept."
Hua Zhi looked back and said, "Today's happy events are one after another. Mr. Zheng is so righteous."
"You're right. Why should we think about those things that we don't like? It's enough to protect what we want to protect." Zheng Zhi's eyes brightened. "I also want to test what I have learned over the years, but I don't know where the eldest lady wants me to go?"
"In the south, Shaoyao will replace Zheng Yangcheng as the commander of Xinyu Pass. I hope you can assist her."
Zheng Zhi laughed. The eldest daughter of the Hua family was really not a selfless person. Even if she wanted to dig someone out of the mansion, she would use him/her for the person she cared about. But such a person was much more genuine than those who talked about benevolence and righteousness. Even saints could have biased people. Who could be truly selfless? It's just that few people were as frank as the eldest daughter.
"How is the family school?"
"It is no longer as difficult to hire a few gentlemen now." Hua Zhi said calmly, "Does Mr. Zheng have anyone to recommend?"
Zheng Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll recommend two to you. It's up to you to decide whether to use them or not."
"Thank you." Hua Zhi straightened her sleeves and said, "I'll go to the palace first. I need to report this matter to His Highness. I hope Mr. Zheng can leave as soon as possible."
"Leave in two days."
Hua Zhi stepped back halfway, crossed her arms and bent down deeply, "Thank you, Mr. Zheng."
How could Zheng Zhi accept her gift? It was a shame for him to be a man but not be able to see through things as well as a woman.
Upon hearing this, the prince nodded slightly, "I have been taught by Mr. Zheng for some time. He is a man of extraordinary talent and character, but he is a little aloof. I didn't expect that the Grand Tutor could persuade him. If he can assist Sister Shaoyao, I will feel much more at ease."
"Shaoyao may not listen to other people's words, but she knows Zheng Zhi. They have even practiced together on the sand table several times in their spare time. With this kind of friendship, she is more or less half a family member. She will listen to his words."
"Thank you for your concern, Master."
"I agreed to let her go. We must find ways to protect as many as possible." Hua Zhi looked at the map hanging on the wall. "What does Your Highness think now?"
The prince walked to the front of the map, his eyes swept across the four directions, finally landing on the guard pass in the east, "I wonder if the Chaoli tribe will attack from the east openly."
Hua Zhi came over and also looked at Shouai Pass. There, her man was there. "Among the four border passes, only Shouai Pass has any chance of fighting."
Yes, there is only one pass guarding against the Chaoli tribe day and night, and the training has never stopped. The prince thought, if his grandfather was still alive, and there was a regent sitting in the Seven Stars, there would be nothing to fear even if the four countries attacked together.
PS: I tried to advance the update time, but I couldn’t save the draft.