On this day, Zhu Ping'an had his first independent office in ancient times, excluding the one in the Hanlin Academy's library.
Zhu Ping'an's office is located slightly east of the Chang'an Palace and is a suite of more than 30 square meters.
The windows are bright and clean, the room faces the sun and is ventilated, and the layout is simple.
There is a wooden carved screen against the wall of the office, with an embroidered picture of mountains and flowing water on it. In front of the screen is a set of solid wooden desks and chairs, with the four treasures of the study, a pen wash, pen notes, pen holder and paperweight on the table. There is an armchair behind the table. There are museum shelves and bookshelves on both sides of the room. The museum shelves are filled with several porcelain and wood carvings, and the bookshelves are filled with Confucian classics such as the Four Books and Five Classics.
Behind the screen is a small door. Pushing open the door is the suite's lounge. The lounge is about ten square meters, about the same size as a university dormitory. There is a bed, a cupboard for storing clothes, and a set of tables and chairs by the window, leaving plenty of space.
The beds, quilts and other bedding were all brand new and of high quality. Zhu Ping'an could even smell a scent of sunshine coming from the quilts.
Prince Yu really put in a lot of effort...
"This room was hastily cleaned up yesterday after receiving the order from my father. It is not well prepared. Zihou, do you think anything is missing? I'll have someone deliver it to you." Prince Yu took Zhu Ping'an around the office and said to him.
"Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness. It's already complete." Zhu Ping'an smiled and shook his head, then bowed and thanked him.
"Zihou, please don't be polite." Prince Yu helped Zhu Ping'an up.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. Ping'an will definitely not be polite when it comes to speaking." Zhu Ping'an stood up and replied with a smile.
The ancients always paid attention to being subtle and tactful. Zhu Ping'an's humorous remark with a modern style made Prince Yu stunned at first, and then he found it very interesting and couldn't help laughing along with Zhu Ping'an.
The laughter brought the two closer together, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly became familiar.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Prince Yu was about to discuss some Confucian classics with Zhu Ping'an when he heard footsteps outside the door. Then a young eunuch with a pale face and no beard appeared at the door in a hurry. He looked anxious, as if the sky was falling and the earth was collapsing, and that the situation was extremely urgent.
"Your Highness..."
The eunuch bowed at the door and asked for an audience, looking anxious.
Prince Yu, whose discussion was interrupted, glanced at the eunuch at the door with dissatisfaction, and frowned slightly. He felt that this young eunuch was too ignorant and could not distinguish the primary from the secondary, the important and the urgent. Didn't he see that I was welcoming and receiving the new lecturer in the palace? There was nothing that could not be discussed after I finished my work.
The eunuch was glanced at with dissatisfaction by Prince Yu, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. His right hand, which was placed on his waist, quietly pointed to the west.
West Courtyard
When Prince Yu saw the eunuch's hint, his heart skipped a beat.
The steward nearby had worked under Prince Yu for many years and understood Prince Yu's thoughts better. After seeing Prince Yu's expression, he stretched out his hand behind his back and unnoticeably beckoned to the eunuch, motioning him to come in.
Upon seeing this, the eunuch hurried in and whispered in Prince Yu's ear.
After Prince Yu heard the eunuch's report, his face could no longer conceal his nervousness and anxiety. His brows were furrowed and he became restless. Although he was in the room, his mind was already flying to the west. He looked up at Zhu Ping'an and seemed to be hesitant to speak.
Prince Yu's expression was written all over his face, so Zhu Ping'an didn't even need to read his expression.
"Your Highness, Ping'an has nothing to do here. You should go and deal with the important matters first." Zhu Ping'an stood up and persuaded tactfully.
"Okay, Zihou, you should get familiar with the environment first. I will hold a banquet for you at noon and introduce you to the officials in the mansion. Manager Liu, you should serve well here and don't neglect Zihou."
Prince Yu nodded as soon as Zhu Ping'an finished speaking, said something to Zhu Ping'an, arranged for Steward Liu to meet Zhu Ping'an, and then hurriedly followed the eunuch to the west courtyard of the prince's mansion.
"Farewell, Your Highness."
Zhu Ping'an bowed and watched Prince Yu leave.
History is not a lie...
Zhu Ping'an looked at Prince Yu's back, and couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips slightly, and said four words silently.
History records that Prince Yu was lustful, and seeing him today, it was indeed true.
Although the eunuch just whispered in Prince Yu's ear, no one else could hear it, but Zhu Ping'an knew lip reading. Zhu Ping'an read the eunuch's whispered report.
There was a fire in Prince Yu’s harem.
What the eunuch just reported was that the princess discovered that His Highness had hidden the cook, Xiao Zhang, and she used the theft as an excuse to beat the cook, Xiao Zhang, with thirty strokes of the cane and also wanted to sell her out of the palace.
Kitchen Beauty
hehe
In ancient times, Emperor Wu of Han kept his mistress in a golden house, but Prince Yu hides his mistress in the kitchen. Prince Yu is really unique.
Although the eunuch did not say much, seeing Prince Yu's anxious look just now, Zhu Ping'an knew that there must be a bloody drama between Prince Yu and the cook Xiao Zhang. He just didn't know why Prince Yu wanted to hide a mistress in the kitchen. Wouldn't it be better to take her directly into the palace
In ancient times, having three wives and four concubines was very normal, not to mention a prince like Prince Yu.
Branch out
Continuing the Royal Bloodline
What a legitimate reason this is. Under this righteous cause, I believe that even if Princess Yu is jealous and wants to make things difficult for herself, she would not dare to beat her and drive her out of the house like she did today.
Therefore, there must be some bloody drama in the middle.
Zhu Ping'an guessed correctly. There was indeed a bloody drama between Prince Yu and the cook, Xiao Zhang, which was unknown to outsiders.
That was half a year ago. Prince Yu was suffering from a lack of funds, and was considering opening a pastry shop outside the palace with Princess Ning'an, hoping to make some money to subsidize the expenses of the palace.
Once when he was inspecting a pastry shop in Qihuamen, he met Xiao Zhang, who sold herself to bury her father.
When Prince Yu saw the scene in the novel for the first time, he couldn't help but come forward to watch out of curiosity. It didn't matter that he just watched, he was immediately attracted by the delicate and charming appearance of little Zhang, who was tearful, charming and pitiful.
Then, little Zhang cried with tears in her eyes and told a miserable story: a 16-year-old girl got married with the reluctance and blessing of her old father. After marriage, she served her parents-in-law, served tea and water, did housework diligently, and took care of her seriously ill husband day and night. However, less than a month after her marriage, her husband passed away. Her husband's family said that she was unlucky and called her a vixen. Not only did she suffer from contempt, but her uncles and aunts also took over her husband's family's real estate and land for themselves and drove her out of the house. After returning to her parents' home, her old father passed away again...
It is so sad to hear it and makes people cry when they see it.
Prince Yu's strong masculine desire to protect was instantly aroused by Xiao Zhang's miserable life experience.
Protect her
I want to protect her
Prince Yu drove away the hooligans who were watching and teasing Xiao Zhang, and paid a large sum of money to help Xiao Zhang bury her old father.
At night, Xiao Zhang, who was dressed in mourning clothes and looked even prettier, was so moved that she promised herself to Prince Yu... ... In order to repay her kindness, Xiao Zhang used all her skills in bed to make Prince Yu feel ecstatic... ...
The next day, Prince Yu wanted to take Xiao Zhang back to the palace as a concubine, but the eunuchs around him persuaded him not to do so. They reminded Prince Yu that Xiao Zhang was a widow, and how could a prince take a widow into the harem? If people knew about it, the censors and corrupt scholars would spit at him, which would disappoint the emperor and please Prince Jing...
After hearing this, Prince Yu hesitated for a long time, but finally brought Xiao Zhang back to the palace. However, he did not take her as a concubine. Instead, he arranged her to work in the kitchen, temporarily using the guise of a cook as a cover, while preparing to take action slowly.
However, truth will eventually come to light. Prince Yu went to the kitchen to meet with Xiao Zhang so many times that he was finally discovered by the princess.