Chapter 31: Skipping Class

In the Great Hall, Song Lian was lecturing on the "Shang Shu".

Zhu Yong sat upright, his eyes fixed on the characters in the book.

He could already recognize most of them, but those tongue‑twisting sentences still gave him a headache.

Beside him, Zhu Di listened attentively, occasionally jotting something on the paper.

Up front, Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang could no longer stay seated.

Zhu Shuang nudged Zhu Gang and whispered, "Lao Si, so boring, let's slip out!"

Zhu Gang glanced at Song Lian on the podium, then at the sky outside the window, swallowed and asked, "Where to go?"

"The Imperial Garden fish pond, catch fish and grill them!" Zhu Shuang's eyes lit up.

"What if we get caught?"

"No fear, the elder brother went to Wenhua Hall for council today; Second Prince is a simpleton, won't tattle," Zhu Shuang said with a sneer.

Zhu Gang thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Let's go!"

The two seized the moment while Song Lian turned to write, crouched low and slipped out of the Great Hall.

Zhu Yong saw it, but he kept silent.

Zhu Di also saw it and whispered, "Second Prince, the third and fourth princes skipped class."

"Mm," Zhu Yong replied, and continued reading his book.

He now possessed memories of a past life, knowing that Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang were historically ridiculous princes, but that was a later matter.

At present they were still children; skipping class to catch fish wasn't a grave offense.

Moreover, he recalled that in his previous life Zhu Yuanzhang disciplined his sons harshly, and being caught skipping class would surely bring no good fruit.

Sure enough, in less than half an hour, footsteps sounded from outside.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma arrived.

"Let's see how the children are studying," Zhu Yuanzhang's voice came from beyond the door.

Song Lian hurried to rise and bow, "His Majesty, Empress."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, entered the classroom, and swept his gaze around.

Zhu Biao was absent, having gone to Wenhua Hall.

Zhu Yong was there, Zhu Di was there, Zhu Su was there, and the two younger ones at the back were also present.

Zhu Shuang's and Zhu Gang's seats were empty.

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression instantly darkened.

"Lao San, Lao Si?" he asked.

Song Lian, sweating on his forehead, said, "Third Prince and Fourth Prince… were just there a moment ago…"

"Nonsense! They're gone now, yet you say they were just there—do you teachers just watch the students run away?" Zhu Yuanzhang raged.

Empress Ma hurriedly grabbed him and said, "Zhong Ba, don't be hasty; perhaps they went to the latrine."

"The latrine, the two went together, and took this long?" Zhu Yuanzhang glared.

"Men!"

Two eunuchs rushed in.

"Go, bring Lao San and Lao Si back to us; even if you have to dig three feet deep, you must find them!" Zhu Yuanzhang shouted.

The eunuchs scrambled and crawled away.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat down, fuming, while Empress Ma urged beside him, "The children are still young; being mischievous is common…"

"Little ones, thirteen, eleven years old are still young; Yong Er, at fourteen, can already go into battle!" Zhu Yuanzhang pointed at Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong, looking naive, raised his head and said, "Father, I didn't skip class."

"Good, you behaved! Fifth Prince, do you know where your third and fourth brothers went?" Zhu Yuanzhang's tone softened, then he glared at Zhu Di and said.

Zhu Di hesitated briefly, whispering, "Your servant… your servant does not know."

He actually knew, but did not wish to tattle.

Zhu Yuanzhang, ever shrewd, saw his expression and understood, "Speak!"

Zhu Di lowered his head and said, "Your servant truly does not know…"

"You won't tell, huh! Fine, when we find them, you'll be punished together!" Zhu Yuanzhang sneered.

Zhu Di's face turned pale.

At that moment, Zhu Yong spoke up, "Father, I know."

Everyone turned to look at him.

"You know?" Zhu Yuanzhang raised an eyebrow.

"Mm, they went to the fish pond to catch fish," Zhu Yong said honestly.

Zhu Yuanzhang was startled, "How did you know?"

"When they slipped out, I heard it; Lao San said they were going to grill fish to eat," Zhu Yong said.

Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table in anger, "Heaven itself is overturned! Skipping class, catching fish from the Imperial Garden, and grilling them— is this something a prince would do?!"

Empress Ma also frowned, "These two children are beyond reproach."

Soon, the eunuchs returned, followed by two soaking‑wet youths still clutching fish in their hands.

It was Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang.

The moment they saw Zhu Yuanzhang, they were so frightened that the fish slipped from their hands.

"Father… Father…" Zhu Shuang stammered.

"Kneel!" Zhu Yuanzhang roared.

The two fell to their knees.

"Speak! What are you doing!" Zhu Yuanzhang pointed at the fish on the ground.

Zhu Shuang trembled, "Your servant… your servant's stomach is a little hungry, I want to go to the fish pond to catch a fish to fill my stomach…"

"Hungry… you want to catch fish when you're hungry, and even roast it to eat, you think we're fools!" Zhu Yuanzhang sneered.

Zhu Gang hurriedly said, "Father, it was my idea, it has nothing to do with Third Prince's business…"

"Nonsense, you two are of the same stripe! Attendants! Bring the board! If I don't break your legs today, you won't know what rules are!"

Zhu Yuanzhang, angry, stood up.

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang were so frightened that their faces turned green.

Zhu Yuanzhang shouted angrily, "Look at you, and look at your Second Prince, about the same age—what are they doing! What are they doing!"

Zhu Yong scratched his head and said nothing.

At that moment, Zhu Biao's voice came from outside: "Father, Mother, what's wrong?"

Zhu Biao returned from Wenhua Hall; as soon as he entered, he saw the two kneeling younger brothers and the fish on the ground, and instantly understood.

"Big brother, save me!" Zhu Shuang shouted, as if he had grabbed a lifeline.

Zhu Biao ignored him, first paid his respects to Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma, then said gently, "Father, let this matter be handled by your child."

Zhu Yuanzhang glared, "You handle it? How will you handle it?"

"Father, rest assured, your servant will make Third Prince and Fourth Prince remember the lesson; you should calm down first, getting angry will ruin your health," Zhu Biao soothed.

Empress Ma also advised, "Zhong Ba, let Biao handle it! Children's matters should be managed by the children themselves."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao, then at the two disappointing sons on the ground, hummed, and said, "Fine, you handle it, but you must satisfy us!"

"Yes." Zhu Biao replied.

Zhu Yuanzhang, still fuming, dragged Empress Ma and left.

Before leaving, Empress Ma turned back and glanced at Zhu Biao, her eyes showing concern, but she said nothing.

After Father and Mother left, Zhu Biao finally turned and looked at the two younger brothers.

His expression was very calm, even carrying a smile.

But Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang shivered.

They knew this elder brother too well. The more he smiles, the angrier he actually is.

"Third Prince, Fourth Prince, get up!" Zhu Biao said gently.

The two dared not rise.

"Get up." Zhu Biao repeated, his tone still gentle.

Only then did the two tremble and stand up.

Zhu Biao walked to their front, looked at their drenched clothes, then at the fish on the ground.

"How many fish did you catch!" he asked.

Zhu Shuang whispered, "Two… two fish…"

"Did you roast them?"

"Not yet…"

"What a pity, today's weather is a bit hot; the fish left the water, and it'll stink in a while," Zhu Biao said with a smile.

Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang dared not reply.

Zhu Biao turned to Zhu Yong and said, "Second Prince, go close the door."

Zhu Yong obediently went to close the door.

Zhu Di and Zhu Su, the younger ones, curled up in their seats, not daring to breathe.

The door was shut, and the classroom was silent.

Zhu Biao pulled a chair over, sat down, and said to the two brothers, "Speak, why did you skip class?"

Zhu Shuang forced himself to speak, "Big brother, it's too hot, we couldn't stay seated…"

"Can't stay seated… how can Second Prince stay seated, how can Fifth Prince stay seated, how can Sixth Prince, Seventh Prince, and Eighth Prince stay seated," Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow.

"They…" Zhu Shuang was at a loss for words.

"You are older than them, yet you are no better than them," Zhu Biao's voice grew cold.

Zhu Gang hurriedly said, "Big brother, we know we were wrong, we won't dare do it again…"