Bastard's Counterattack [Rebirth]

Rong Youtang was so embarrassed that he hesitated to speak, but saying such things clearly would seem to cover up.He staggered his hands, scrubbed them hurriedly a few times, and said softly: "It's done." Then he walked quickly to the table, as if nothing had happened, and scooped up soup to serve with rice.

Zhao Zeyong was very natural and casual, urging: "Sit down and eat."

"Oh."

The meals were prepared by asking the neighbors to help. Although the housewife tried her best, compared with the daily ostentation of the royal relatives, it was still very simple and simple: only a pot of rice, a dish of fried pork with cabbage, a dish of fried kidney and a bowl of fish. Soup only.

But King Qing and Guo Da both used it very well: those who came out of the military camp would have significantly lower food requirements.

But today Zhao Zeyong asked with concern in a low voice: "Are you used to eating?"

"It's okay, this fried waist is delicious enough, the heat—" Guo Da replied casually, thinking something was wrong, he suddenly raised his head, and sure enough, he saw his cousin looking sideways at the third person on the table!

"...The heat is well controlled. Brother Rong, isn't it?" Guo Daqiang struggled to finish his opinion, then picked up five or six pieces of waist with his chopsticks viciously, stuffed it all into his mouth, lowered his head silently, and chewed vigorously.

"Well, the waist cut is well-proportioned, bright in color, and looks like it's teeth." Rong Youtang agreed without raising his head. He didn't notice anything, and was drinking soup, and said with satisfaction: "This soup is not bad, there is no speck It smells fishy! It is estimated that it was caught deep in a small river or stream, which is rare."

Zhao Zeyong said gently: "There are fish every day, and the family fished in the river bend."

"Really?" Rong Youtang immediately said: "Tomorrow I will ask them to help catch a few more and bring them home. My father likes fish the most."

"Just say hello later." Zhao Zeyong said.

Rong Youtang asked during the meal break: "Your Highness, are you going back to the city tonight?"

"Back."

"That's great, let's go together. My bookcase is still in the palace. Today my master has assigned homework and composed an essay in the way of 'university'." Rong Youtang was solemn and respectful, but he couldn't help but feel a little impatient, fearing that he would not be able to hand in it tomorrow morning. If you don't do your homework and get punished by your master, you will be so ashamed.

Guo Da finally found a chance to speak, and he quickly interjected: "'The way of university'? I know this: the way of university lies in Ming Mingde!"

"Be close to the people, and stop at the ultimate good." Zhao Zeyong continued, and said slowly: "The first homework that most academies give new students is 'The Way of the University'. You must have done it before. But the Imperial College It is different from ordinary academies: in addition to being the highest institution of teaching scriptures, it also has the responsibility of being in charge of the education of the country, and the supervisors are eligible to become officials when they are born—so, when you write, you should focus on "educating and close to the people" ', and even 'educate and rejuvenate the country'."

Rong Youtang held the chopsticks in his hand, remained motionless, and listened attentively. Finally, he sighed submissively, and said with shame, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your enlightenment! Listening to what you have said is like enlightenment, and I know how to solve the problem."

This guidance is at the level of the pattern and vision. After jumping out, people's views will be very different.

Zhao Zeyong smiled: "It's nothing, practice makes perfect. The descendants of the royal family are enlightened at the latest at the age of five, and the master is taught by the Imperial College. I have studied under him for so many years, so I probably know it well."

"Your advice just now really awakened the dreamer with one word." Rong Youtang was very emotional: "I also know that the Imperial College is different from other academies, but I couldn't make a clear and accurate distinction, so I understand now. I will definitely change it in the future. Just listen to the class with a certain mood, so as not to be a nerd when you come out.”

Zhao Zeyong raised his eyebrows, smiled and shook his head: "You are not a nerd at all."

"Then what am I?" Rong Youtang approached unknowingly, his eyes sparkling with inquiry.

Zhao Zeyong picked up the food, changed the subject, and said solemnly: "Hurry up, haven't you finished your homework?"

"Oh." Rong Youtang could only press curiosity and continue eating.At this moment, his reverence for King Qing increased several levels in his heart: My God!His Highness is truly capable of both civil and military skills. He knows everything. People can only admire and envy him from the bottom of his heart, and he is even ashamed to be jealous!

At the same time, Guo Da, who had been "eating without speaking" for a long time, put down his bowl and chopsticks, and said dryly, "I've finished eating, you take it easy." After finishing speaking, he got up, walked to the door, and lifted the curtain.

"Xiao Er, where are you going?" Zhao Zeyong asked with concern.

Did you finally remember that there was a cousin eating at the same table? !

"Take a walk to digest food, and take a look at the place where the wood is piled up tomorrow." Guo Da added in his heart: You can also talk to your brothers, I don't want to hear you talk about "the way of university" anymore, it's purely bullying generals!

Zhao Zeyong nodded and instructed: "Although it is a temporary pile, the bottom must be properly raised to avoid erosion by snow and water. You set a standard and ask the Zhuo family to refer to it tomorrow."

"Yes." Guo Da opened the curtain and left impatiently.

Rong Youtang frowned and asked, "From the Zhuo family?"

Zhao Zeyong calmly said: "That's right, it's the one that Lao Qi provoked. After his father Zhuo Zhiyang punished the eldest son, he tried his best to push the second son away, begging his father to send Zhuo Kai into the northern camp. Now he is assisting Ziyan, follow suit."

Rong Youtang was speechless, and after a while, he apologized:

"Your Highness, did I come up with a bad idea? Some people seem to send their children and grandchildren to experience and entrust you to discipline them, but you are not a master."

"It doesn't matter. There are gains and losses, there is no perfection in the world." Zhao Zeyong said majesticly: "As long as they dare to send their children and grandchildren, this king doesn't mind to discipline them for them!"

-

A few days later, at the end of the hour, the Imperial College dismissed school, and it was time for the teachers and students to have lunch.

Guirang hall is the most lively, because it is full of freshmen, most of them tidy up their desks randomly, and go to the dining hall in twos and threes to queue up for dinner.

"Leizi, let's go." Rong Youtang put away his pen, ink, paper and inkstone neatly, and greeted the neighboring table.

Hong Lei lay on the table, his eyes glazed over, his whole body was limp and weak, and he said in distress for the countless times: "To be honest, I really don't like reading. Why don't they listen to me? It's difficult for strong people, not for a man." for."

Rong Youtang couldn't help laughing: "They are not real men! But you are a man. Why do you always play against sister Ling Tang Ling? Hey, let them, don't you want to see your family members cry all day long?"

Hong Lei had no choice but to slam the book down. The voice of the young man in the voice-changing period was hoarse and rough, and the tone of his voice was particularly prominent. He had a headache and said, "Don't mention it! Now whenever you mention 'Joining the Army' or 'Northwest', my mother starts to cry, my sister I can't persuade you, so I cry, and then the two of them can cry at me for half a day! I can't show the slightest irritability, otherwise all uncles and uncles will come and scold me for being unfilial!"

Rong Youtang kindly explained: "You are the only child in the family, and they cry because they are afraid that you will sneak away to join the army. The female relatives are always timid. Let me tell you the unlucky truth. If you have an accident in the army, they will cry." You will become orphans and widowed mothers. No matter how close uncle and uncle are, everyone has their own family, can they take care of them for a lifetime?" Rong Youtang put the bookcase in the corner of the desk, and said: "Our two families are similar. Normally, whenever I have a headache, brain fever, oily skin and bleeding, my father will get angry. Alas, poor parents in the world."

Hong Lei was depressed: "I just didn't trust them, so I had no choice but to enter the Imperial College. Otherwise, how could they trap me?"

Rong Youtang looked around, and quickly reminded in a low voice: "Don't say that! The Imperial Academy has a very high threshold, so many people dream of it but hope for it, so be careful!"

"Don't worry, there is no one, just us." Hong Lei said lazily, "Are you afraid that Gong Sheng will hear you?"

"It's not that I'm afraid, I just want to concentrate on studying with peace of mind." Rong Youtang said calmly, got up and took the nameplate, and said, "Let's go, go to the canteen, the food will be cold after dinner."

Hong Lei was listless, picked up the nameplate casually, followed with his shoulders slumped, and said enviously, "Yuko, you are the material for reading, and the master specially picked out your articles to praise. I can't, I didn't like reading since I was a child, and I lack the aura of understanding. .”

"I'm ashamed, I'm just lucky to have someone give me some pointers." Rong Youtang hurriedly said humbly, when he mentioned King Qing, his eyes subconsciously looked eager and admiring.Immediately after, they discussed in a friendly voice, "Hey, can you stop calling me Yuko?"

Hong Lei was quite unconvinced: "Why can you call me 'Leizi', but I can't call you 'Yukiko'?"

"I'm Leizi, I'm called by your family, but my father doesn't call me 'Youzi'!" Rong Youtang couldn't laugh or cry.

Hong Lei's mood improved a lot, and he said happily, "I heard Uncle Rong call you 'Tang'er' a few times that day, did I also—"

"Of course not!" Rong Youtang elbowed unceremoniously, pretending to be angry and said: "We are of the same generation, you are too embarrassed!"

"Okay, you dare to hit me!" Hong Lei was playing around, also elbowed him, pinched his cheek by accident, and said bluntly: "It's smooth and tender, so it feels like eating tofu—"

Rong Youtang was really angry immediately: "Nonsense! Find a fight!"

Wearing the same scholar's robes, the two young men who were quite close to each other ran down the spacious and majestic corridor of the Imperial College, full of vigor, and fell into the eyes of the two people overlooking the tall building in the distance: "It's the white one on the left, how about it?" Guo Yuan asked leisurely, he stole half a day off from Fusheng today, and came to find his best friend to reminisce about the old days.Regarding Rong Youtang, after thinking hard for a long time, he finally decided not to intervene and just wait and see what happened - although he was older than Zhao Zeyong, he never treated him as a cousin, and always called him "His Royal Highness".

Zhao Zeyong was named a prince with illustrious military exploits. Although he was often impeached by the courtiers because of his strong iron fist, or even jointly impeached, he was able to retreat unscathed.

In a word: Guo Yuan chooses to believe in Zhao Zeyong's ability to handle private affairs.

Guozijian Jijiu Lu Nan narrowed his eyes, observed for a moment, and said calmly: "It seems a bit jumpy and undetermined. But the article is well done, transparent and spiritual, sharp and sharp, and has insight beyond his age. Coach Liu Fu from Guozixue specially circled it and submitted it." After Lu Nan judged it, he concluded: "It's not bad, it's not an insult to your family's recommendation. In the past, all the ones sent were monkeys like Ziyan."

Guo Yuan seldom laughed out loud, and recalled: "Xiao Er only studied in the Imperial College for a few months, so he refused to continue anyway. After the Lantern Festival that year, he left home quietly after leaving his book, and chased His Highness on horseback. , I couldn’t get rid of them, but I followed them all the way to the northwest and joined the army. It’s already ten years ago.”

Lu Nan said openly: "Everyone has their own ambitions, and they can't be forced. Ziyan's reading is only average, but he is considered first-rate in leading troops and fighting. He is full of the blood of the old Dingbeihou."

"In fact, no one forced him, but my ancestors tricked him. What you strive for is more precious than what you accept." Guo Yuan said.

"The old lady is wise, and Lu is very impressed." Lu Nan respectfully said, looked around, and then asked, "How is His Royal Highness Prince Qing? These days, I have heard rumors all over the court. Unfortunately, I am a civil servant among civil servants. You can't even ask."

Guo Yuan sighed: "How difficult is it to build the North Camp? There are many obstacles, and I don't know how many people's interests have been touched. Only His Highness can bear it. If it is someone else, I will probably die of worry."

"Looking at it now, Your Majesty—" Lu Nan started, thought for a while, and then changed the topic as if nothing had happened: "The capital city is no better than the northwest, and building a barracks is not like fighting a war. Ziyu, what do you think?"

For many years of tacit understanding, Guo Yuan also pretended not to hear, and said calmly: "I have reminded His Highness from the side, you need to take it slowly, and don't be too fussy, so as not to arouse the anger of the officials and the people."

"It makes sense."

The two talked and laughed, turned back to the house to make tea and wine, and talked about some poems, books, music and paintings, and a collection of classics and history.

-

This afternoon, after school ended at Shen Shi, Rong Youtang carried the bookcase and ran out in a hurry, his heart had already flown to the northern suburbs.

Suddenly a call came from behind:

"Yuko! Yuko! Wait for me!"

Rong Youtang stopped, turned around, and saw Hong Lei chasing up with the bookcase under his arm, he was very surprised, and blurted out, "Didn't your master ask you to... have a heart-to-heart talk?"

"Master Liu is my uncle's friend. Hey, he didn't scold me. He just asked me to do two homework tonight." I stuffed it in, and begged: "Good brother, help me take the book box back, and bring it back tomorrow morning. I told my family to go to your house to review the book. Don't reveal your secrets. Remember! Remember! I have something to do, let's go first It's over." After finishing speaking, he turned around and ran, quickly disappearing into the crowd of school leavers.

"Leizi! Leizi!" Rong Youtang carried two bookcases, shouting endlessly, but the other party didn't look back. In desperation, he had to take them all to Prince Qing's Mansion to deposit them, and ran to the backyard to lead the horse.

But when he was about to lead his horse out of the side door and prepare to go to the northern suburbs, he heard a familiar voice: "Brat, stop!"

Rong Youtang stopped and looked at the sky: why did she ask me?It must be all right.

"Are you going to the northern suburbs?" Zhao Yilin asked straight to the point.She resumed her usual attire of fiery red palace dress, pink face and red lips, looking forward and flying, arrogant and domineering.

"What are the princess' orders?" Rong Youtang was straightforward and concise, without even a word of nonsense.

"Take this." Zhao Yilin pouted, and the maid immediately handed the big food box to Rong Youtang, who took it blankly: weigh it, it's heavy, just about to shake it——

"Don't shake it, take it!" Zhao Yilin reprimanded immediately, she cleared her throat, she was a little coy and shy, and said with a straight face: "I heard that the northern suburbs are poor, and the board and lodging are difficult, so I am deeply worried about my brother..." Zhao Yilin saw The fair-faced handsome boy on the opposite side had a look of "make it up, you can make it up", and couldn't continue, she simply went all out and said arrogantly: "What kind of expression do you have? I dug out your eyeballs! This cake should be given to you!" Who, I think you understand."

Yo, send pastries?The eldest princess should not be inspired by Zhou Xiaotong, right?

Although I know, I have to pretend not to know!Lest you always ask me to do something private.

So Rong Youtang put on a proper look of bewilderment, and asked doubtfully, "Who is it for?"

Zhao Yilin took a step forward, leaned slightly, and yelled angrily in a low voice: "Presumptuous! How dare you pretend to be stupid? Are you going to send it or not? Be careful that the princess will burn the bookcase on fire. Let's see how you go to the Imperial College tomorrow!"

The barbarian shrew is simply unreasonable!From now on, it will be safe to leave the bookcase in His Royal Highness's yard.

"Understood." Seeing that, Rong Youtang couldn't avoid it, so he could only hold back his anger, gritted his teeth with a blank expression, "I'll give it to you!"

"Hmph, you're smart." Zhao Yilin pouted again, and her nanny immediately trotted to Rong Youtang, tiptoed, and babbled a lot of words like this, almost driving Rong Youtang who was in a hurry.

Carrying a big three-layer food box, Rong Youtang changed his left hand for his right hand, and his right hand for his left hand. Along the way, he wanted to throw away the things countless times, but because he had promised to bring them back, he didn't want to trample on his reputation.

He rode his horse hard and ran to the temporary main tent in the northern suburbs. Someone asked along the way, and Rong Youtang had to explain a few words. After finally putting the food box in the corner of the empty tent, he turned around and left, walking quickly to Fang The family village handles the stacking affairs.

"...When is the monthly salary paid? Where do we live?"

"Three meals a day? What time is it?"

"I heard that the people who came to demolish the house will arrive the day after tomorrow. Did they bring their own bowls and chopsticks?"

……

In the open space in front of the ancestral hall of Fangjia Village, Rong Youtang stood on a high stone pier, like a general lecturing, but in fact he was just the head of the cook, with the cook and cook under him.He was overwhelmed by a bunch of questions, waved his hand boldly, and shouted: "Quiet!"

Dozens of young and middle-aged men and women gradually became quiet, but there were still chattering voices, looking eagerly at the handsome little brother Rong standing on the high ground.

"Everyone, listen to me first." With piercing eyes, Rong Youtang lightly pressed his palms down, and said in a clear voice: "First of all, we must understand that we are all doing things for His Royal Highness, that is, for the court. , This is the first time I'm dealing with you. I'm not very familiar with you guys. I only choose recruits based on my eyesight. I hope you will do your best and perform your duties in the future. This is the Northern Suburb Barracks. I don’t want anyone to be turned over to military law in the future!”

This time, there was not even a chattering sound below.

"Explanation in advance: wages are settled at the end of the month, special circumstances will be notified separately; seven kitchens, I have appointed seven stove chiefs, who will cook, who will wash vegetables, who will cut vegetables, who will boil water, where will live, and three meals a day I have informed the stove chief of the time and standard in detail, and you can just listen to the stove chief's arrangement; the folk husbands and folks recruited will arrive the day after tomorrow. "Rong Youtang told as straightforwardly and slowly as possible. After a pause, he pulled the youngest son of Lizheng's family to Gaoshidun, and introduced: "This is Brother Fang Tong. Everyone in your village must know each other. Now he He is my deputy now, in charge of supervision and inspections, and when I am not around, I can find him if I need something."

Fang Tong was generous, without any stage fright, and after finishing his courteous greetings with Rong Youtang, he said in a loud and clear voice: "Folks, brother Meng Xiaorong thinks highly of him, and gave us a good job to make a living. How respectable the imperial court is, we must do it well! Hands and feet should be clean and quick, isn’t it just boiling water and cooking, the family has been doing it for decades, it’s just a change of place..."

At the side alley in the distance, Zhao Zeyong led a group of people, who happened to listen for a while, nodded in satisfaction, and did not bother, took another alley to continue surveying and measuring.

It wasn't until they were far away that Guo Da said with admiration and amused, "Your Highness, you appointed a chief cook, and Brother Rong actually made seven stoves grow out! It's very good, and it's done impressively."

Zhuo Kai followed him respectfully and respectfully, and agreed: "I really admire the lowly position. Judging by the manner of speaking, that little brother is probably the young master of a rich family, but he can get along well with the villagers and manage him submissively."

Guo Da laughed and said: "That kid is smart and can endure hardships. He even went with him to suppress bandits in Shun County."

Zhuo Kai is thin and handsome, with sword-brows and high nose, big and round eyes, black and white, black and white. When he was surprised, he showed a bit of childishness. He praised: "It's amazing!"

When Zhao Zeyong heard this, his eyes were filled with joyful smiles.Behind him was a group of descendants of powerful ministers and honorable officials, running around all day, each holding a survey map in their hands, their faces were black and dusty from exhaustion, but they did not dare to show dissatisfaction at all, because Zhao Zeyong had already passed away. Lei Ting was furious and kicked out a careless and sloppy one.

"Third brother, drink some water." The eighth prince Zhao Zening handed over the water bag with concern.

"Hmm." Zhao Zeyong immediately announced: "Take a break in place and finish surveying the southern area before dark."

All the nobles dared not speak out, they sat down on the spot, drank water and beat their legs.

"Eighth brother," Zhao Zeyong seized the opportunity to make a point: "When doing big things, it's like cooking small dishes. Although the kitchen is small, there are many miscellaneous things, and it is difficult to manage them well. You need to be careful and pay attention for a long time."

——King Qing didn't want the eighth brother to be trapped in the deep palace for the rest of his life, and he had accidentally bumped into him killing animals before, and was always worried that his mind would be twisted eventually, so he brought him out to encourage him to actively make contributions and broaden his mind.

Zhao Zening didn't see anything unusual before, and he said gratefully, "Thank you for your teaching! I have grown up so much, and I have never done errands alone, and I have no experience. Now, my third brother doesn't dislike him, and I always worry about delaying things. Third brother, why don't I manage the kitchen too? Learn how to deal with people."

"Take your time, don't worry." Zhao Zeyong encouraged: "It's very good to learn how to behave. Starting tomorrow, you and Zhuo Kai will help Ziyan. There are many things to do, just don't be afraid of suffering." .”

"Yes! Third brother, I will definitely not be shy of the easy!" Zhao Zening was very excited, and said earnestly to Guo Da: "I hope General Guo will raise more points in the future."

Guo Da hurriedly waved his hands: "The Eighth Highness is really a shame! Don't be like this, Guo is just a reckless man."

Zhao Zening is extremely humble, he asks for advice with an open mind, and wins a lot of goodwill.

So, when Rong Youtang returned to the camp after finishing his work and lifted the curtain to go in, he habitually said, "Your Highness, I—"

Taking a closer look, that person is the long-lost Eighth Prince.

Zhao Zening sat upright, his face full of amusement, the corners of his mouth curled up mockingly, but his eyes were indifferent and cold, the big food box fell on the table, and the pastries rolled all over the floor.