The Shangshu Room is on the left side of Qianqing Gate, with five couplets in total, facing north, close to where the emperor listens to government affairs. Hanging on the wall are the couplets inscribed by Yinzhen himself, "Being based on sincerity, reading with name and theory first". To inspire the prince.
Haha beads are nearby, and all the pens, inks, paper and inkstones have been laid out and prepared.
There are three long tables in a row on the east side, and there are bookcases on the west side. The tops are piled high with scrolls, and some even have yellow silk ribbons hanging down. Sitting in this room, I feel like I am filled with the aroma of books.
In the Qing Dynasty, the princes had to study very hard, which was very different from the past - they had to get up at three or four o'clock every night, study until almost evening, and then practice horseback riding and archery. When it was really over, it was dark again.
When Emperor Kangxi was young, he was so tired from studying that he coughed up blood. You can imagine how hard it was.
Hongxin sat down, put his hands on his knees, and tapped them gently.
There was obviously no one in the study, but sitting in front of the couplets written by Huang Ama, it was as if there were a pair of eyes watching from behind, and none of the children dared to speak loudly.
Hongxin didn't have to wait long for the master to arrive. It was much earlier than the "Mao hour" he expected.
The upper study room is led by a "chief master", and the lower Chinese masters select those who are Hanlin official writers and have excellent conduct; the Manchu masters select those who are among the Eight Banners military attachés and are proficient in Manchu; the Mongolian masters select those who are from Mongolian Jinshi and are proficient in Mongolian.
Among the three types of masters, the Chinese master has the highest status - if he is selected into the Hanlin Academy, he will naturally not be selected unless he is a famous official or scholar.
The chief master of the study and the master of Chinese language is Zhang Tingyu, a bachelor of Baohe Palace, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Minister of Military Aircraft.
Hongxin got excited, stood up, and performed the bowing ceremony.
The old rules of the Kangxi Dynasty stipulated that when a prince meets his master for the first time, they both bow to each other.
The Yongzheng Dynasty required the prince's master to kneel down and bow to the master. As a result, the master did not dare to accept it and instead bowed to the prince. The master stood and received the ceremony. His two elder brothers Hongli and Hongzhou were like this when they were in the study room.
Hongxin bowed down, a pair of hands had already held him up, and a gentle and steady voice in front of him said: "Sixth Brother."
The voice was not as harsh as expected. Hongxin felt relieved. He raised his head and shouted respectfully: "Master."
Zhang Tingyu asked him to sit down.
…
In the Chengqian Palace, Ji Ling felt that the day had never passed so slowly. She finally finished her lunch and was walking around in the courtyard when Zhang Guiren came to see her.
The two of them were familiar and informal. Ji Ling pointed to the small table next to him and said from afar as he walked: "The snacks, candies and fruits are all freshly cut!"
Zhang Guiren sat down and Maidong helped her peel the fruit. Zhang Guiren saw Ji Ling still walking around in the yard and said with a smile: "Sister Ji, are you waiting for Brother Six to finish school?"
Ji Ling didn't answer, turned around a few times and sat down. While panting, he took a piece of sweet-scented osmanthus cake and put it into his mouth. He chewed it for a few times and swallowed it before shaking his head slightly and saying, "Hongxin used to be in my Chengqian Palace." He's used to it, and the rules in the Chancery's study are so strict that I'm afraid he won't be able to change his mind for a while."
Zhang Guiren comforted her and said: "Sixth brother is still young. After ten days and a half, he will naturally get used to it. Besides, the prince in the palace has always been accompanied by a bunch of reading companions when he studies. It may not be so lively. Brother Six is not happy! Sister doesn’t need to..."
As she was talking, she heard a cheer from outside: "Mother! I'm back!"
As if being electrocuted, Ji Ling threw half of the sweet-scented osmanthus cake into the plate and stood up.
Just a few steps outside, I saw Brother Six rushing in like a whirlwind and running towards Ji Ling.
Ji Ling smiled with her eyes completely bent.
She opened her arms and bent down. When her son ran to her, she immediately picked him up and spun him around.
Hongxin immediately turned into a little baby in front of E Niang - hugging E Niang's neck and smiling happily.
Ji Ling finally put him down, and when he saw him running, a thin layer of sweat broke out on his face, his face was flushed, and the collar of his robe was a little crooked.
Ji Ling raised her hand and straightened it for him. Only then did Hongxin see Zhang Guiren standing next to him and looking at him and E Niang with a smile.
He stretched out his hand and scratched his head sheepishly.
The people from the elder brother's office sent the sixth elder brother back and knelt down and kowtowed to Ji Ling to say hello.
In the main hall, the third princess heard the noise and immediately put down the rouge and gouache in her hands and ran out. Seeing that her younger brother was back, she stepped forward and grabbed the sixth elder brother's ear and said: "Hongxin, E Niang and I miss you so much!"
"
The sixth brother screamed, covering his ears with his hands, turning his head and twisting his body. Ji Ling laughed and scolded the third princess, spanking her butt and saying: "Your brother just came back, don't make trouble with him, let's go into the palace."
go!"
As she spoke, she reached out and grabbed Zhang Guiren's sleeve.
Zhang Guiren followed him into the inner hall.
After a while, the servants were helping the sixth elder brother wash his face, wash his hands, and change his clothes. When the sixth elder brother was cleaned up, he sat down, and Xiao Yoko was beside him, squeezing his legs.
The sixth elder brother raised his head and drank a cup of green tea, then put it down, wiped his mouth and said: "Mother, you don't know - the rules in the study room are so strict that it's suffocating!"
While he was talking, a plate of beef shortbreads had been brought up from the dining room. The shortbreads were salty and slightly spicy. The outside of the dough was white and thick, and was sprinkled with a thick layer of white sesame seeds.
The sixth brother grabbed a piece of cake and put it into his mouth. His mouth was stuffed full and he said: "I didn't know it in the morning, but in the afternoon I didn't even dare to drink tea because I was afraid that Xiaogong would give out too much!"
Ji Ling was drinking tea and almost burst into tears when she heard this.
She coughed a few times, wiped the corners of her mouth, and then said: "Let's not talk about this for now. I would like to ask you, how is the master?"
The sixth elder brother was eating beef patties, which were so spicy that a layer of sweat formed on his forehead. As he took the sweat towel sent by Xiao Yoko, he smiled broadly and said loudly: "Although the rules are strict, you are a good gentleman!"
"What's so good about it?" Yinzhen said as he strode in.
Now he often comes over without announcing it. As time goes by, Ji Ling is no longer as surprised as he used to be.
She stood up calmly, dusted off the pastry crumbs from her body, and came forward to salute Yinzhen.
Yinzhen took her hand and helped her up.
He kept holding her hand in this position, put her hand in the palm of his own, patted it, then looked at Brother Six, and said approvingly: "Hongxin, I have gone to the study room to have a look -
Although today is the first day of class reading, you listened very carefully."
The sixth elder brother was originally going to salute Huang Ama, but he was halfway through the ceremony. Hearing these words, he was surprised and raised his head and said: "Huang Ama has come to see me? How come I don't know at all?"
Yinzhen touched his little head: "You were so absorbed in listening to Mr.'s lecture that you naturally didn't notice it."