If not abolished

Chapter 319 The first day at work

In fact, the Forbidden City had been completed long ago, and the three people came here to check the safety and some omissions.

First and foremost, the imperial city is so huge with a large number of people that it is easy for fires to break out at night. So if such a problem occurs, how can one escape and put out the fire as quickly as possible? The main source of water for firefighting comes from the Jinshui River in the imperial city. In addition to this, there is also a method based on the Five Elements. There are large water tanks in every corner of the imperial palace. When necessary, the water in these water tanks is also used to put out fires. But in fact, when the fire is really too big, these water tanks are just a drop in the bucket. It's just that the Five Elements are mutually reinforcing and restraining, for the sake of good luck, water brings wealth, and water restrains fire.

The biggest use of these water tanks is cleaning, which is quite convenient.

"With so many water tanks, we have to ensure they are full at all times." Zhu Zhanqi said as he looked at the tanks.

Zhu Zhanji walked over to take a look, and then asked a question: "Water freezes in winter in Shuntian. What if the water in this tank freezes in the middle of winter?"

"This... you asked a good question." Zhu Zhanqi turned around and asked the people accompanying him, "Did you consider the question asked by the young prince at that time?"

"Your Highness, this has already been taken into consideration. If it freezes, put charcoal fire at the bottom of the tank." The person on the side explained.

"Well, this is indeed a good idea. However, the time it takes to transport the firewood and melt it will be too long, and we must ensure that the water does not freeze. After all, water overcomes fire, and I have never heard of ice overcoming fire." Zhu Zhanqi was still not very satisfied with this idea.

"Yes, your highness is right."

Zhu Zhanqi naturally never took Zhu Zhanji, a little kid, seriously in the past, but based on what happened today, he did look at the kid twice more. Could it be that he really had some outstanding qualities? After all, the Emperor would not allow a kid who knew nothing to come here.

"Does Zhanqi have any other ideas?" Zhu Zhanqi asked with interest.

Zhu Zhanji was suddenly called, and he looked up and thought for a moment, "If the charcoal fire is placed directly under the vat, can't it keep the water in a constant state?"

"You're right. We need to have someone build something at the bottom of the tank to hold the charcoal fire. It's also best to cover the tank so that it can maintain its temperature in the winter." Zhu Zhanqi nodded.

In this way, this matter was put on the agenda, and the workers arranged bases, lids, and even quilts for more than 300 water tanks in the palace overnight.

The three continued to check other places. Zhu Zhanqi and the other two brothers inspected separately. When they arrived at Zhongcui Palace, Zhu Zhanqi looked around and asked, "Is this place connected to the road that the workers used to enter the palace?"

"Your Highness is right. This place is connected to the outer city."

Although there are more than 9,000 rooms in this palace, there are at least 1,000 palace servants and eunuchs, so the palace may not be able to accommodate them all. So every night, except for the palace servants and eunuchs on night duty, the rest of the people can go to the outer city next to the imperial palace to rest and come back before dawn. Zhongcui Palace is the place connected to the palace servants in the outer city, so it should be noisy at that time.

"There will be a lot of people moving around here, so we must check carefully to make sure no problems arise," Zhu Zhanqi reminded.

"I understand. King Zhao has reminded me of this many times before."

"That's good. The palace I lived in before has been in disrepair for a long time. I wonder if it has been repaired now?" Zhu Zhanqi suddenly remembered this and asked.

"Your Highness, after you left last time, King Zhao took us to renovate it. Would you like to go and take a look?"

"Okay, it's a good opportunity to go and take a look." Zhu Zhanqi thought about revisiting the old place.

"Then I will take His Highness there."

"No need, I know the way, I can go there by myself, you guys go wait for me in front." Zhu Zhanqi refused.

"Yes."

Zhu Zhanqi didn't let anyone follow him and pushed open the palace door alone.

Withered yellow leaves were scattered all over the ground, and the branches of the trees looked a little lonely.

Zhu Zhanqi walked in step by step. The closer he got, the more obvious the sadness in his heart emerged. He still remembered that he came here with his elder brother last time. Now his elder brother is gone, and he is left alone. He has to fight against that person alone in this world. Brother, don't worry, I will definitely avenge you and mother. Doesn't that person want to sit in that position? Then I will let him lose his hope and miss the opportunity.

Zhu Zhanqi sat here for a long time before leaving, as if he was talking to someone, or as if he was reminiscing about the past.

By the time he had calmed down, he had returned to his silent look.

The three of them were busy all day and went back when it was almost dark. Zhu Zhanqi returned to Prince Zhao, and the two brothers Zhu Zhanjun returned to the princess's mansion. Prince Zhao originally wanted them to come back and live there, but they refused, saying that they didn't want to move around. Fortunately, the princess's mansion was not far away, and the prince consort had to come here every day, so they were on the same route and it was not too troublesome.

King Zhao didn't care much about this and let them decide for themselves.

Zhu Zhanjun had felt that he was very idle in the mansion before, but now that he had started to work, he realized how tiring it was. He was exhausted on the first day today. Those who usually had to talk non-stop while sitting in the carriage were now silent with tired faces.

"Second brother, are you okay?" Zhu Zhanji asked.

"Well...it's okay..." He said this weakly.

Zhu Zhanjun felt that this was similar to a day of lessons from Master Wu in the palace.

"We've been walking all day today. When you get back, let's soak our feet. Otherwise, we'll feel uncomfortable tomorrow. If Third Uncle sees us being so squeamish, he'll probably think we're no longer capable."

"You're right. I must hold on. It doesn't matter whether I do a good job or not, but I can't embarrass my father." Zhu Zhanjun immediately sat up straight as if he had been injected with chicken blood.

But after a while, he bent down again, and his feet were already hurting.

He was so tired. He missed his elder brother. If his elder brother was in charge of this matter, it would never be his turn. He was clearly not cut out for this kind of job.

"Second brother will be here soon, so have a good rest today." Zhu Zhanji saw that he was really tired.

"We obviously did similar work today, so why do you look like nothing happened?" Zhu Zhanjun asked Zhu Zhanqi, who looked no different from usual.

"When I was in the palace, my eldest brother asked me to get up before dawn to train. By the time of morning class, I had already trained for an hour." Zhu Zhanji said calmly.

"Ah, why didn't I know? God, it's a good thing that brother didn't let me practice." Zhu Zhanjun felt tired just thinking about it.

"Second brother, you just haven't practiced enough. You'll be used to it after a few days. How about I teach you boxing starting tomorrow?" Zhu Zhanji suggested.

"No, no, no... I'd better give up." Zhu Zhanjun quickly refused, shaking his head like a rattle.

"Okay, just wait until you get used to it." Zhu Zhanji saw that he was so strongly rejecting that he naturally didn't want to force him.

As the two were talking, they suddenly felt the carriage stop. Sure enough, the driver's voice came from outside the carriage: "Your Highnesses, we have arrived at the Princess's Mansion."

Two people got off the carriage one after the other. As soon as they got off, a little person threw himself into their arms. They staggered and their upper bodies fell back a little.

"Brother, Ningning thought you were not coming back." It turned out to be Yuan Ningning.

Princess Yong'an didn't hold her daughter back for a moment, but walked up to them with a smile, "This child, I haven't seen you all day, I thought you left, I cried for a while, I was afraid you wouldn't come back, I waited at the door for a long time, I didn't eat dinner, I just wanted to wait for you to come back. Well, the brothers are tired all day, why don't you let go, take the brothers in to eat, now you see you, you are relieved."

Yuan Ningning then let them go and looked up and asked, "Why haven't you come back for a day?"

"Brothers have something to say. Please tell Ningning next time, okay?" Zhu Zhanjun said, touching her head.

"So what will the brothers do in the future?" Yuan Ningning asked.

"This..." The two brothers looked at each other, speechless for a moment, not knowing how to answer.

"Okay, Ningning, stop acting unreasonably. Your brothers came to Shuntian for important matters, not to play with you. Your brothers are tired after a day's work, and it's time to eat." Princess Yong'an scolded her daughter.

Yuan Ningning was not a child who did not understand what was said, so she said, "I understand."