Chapter 118 The Ninth Prince certainly knows how to find his way.
What a coincidence.
The monk who came from Huangjue Temple in Fengyang, the beggar who once carried a broken bowl and begged along the street, the cowherd who was repeatedly ridiculed for his poverty—Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, thought the same way.
With five million, wouldn't the Ming Dynasty be able to last for thousands of generations?
Zhu Yuanzhang was having a grand vision.
Zhu Di sat below. Songyang County was full of famous ministers and generals. It would be impossible to attack the city without his personal guards.
"Sanbao, do you have several thousand soldiers at your disposal?"
With soldiers, not only can they conquer cities, but they can also use this as a foundation to change dynasties, which is not a pipe dream.
Unfortunately, Zheng He didn't manage to seize even a single rebel soldier in Songyang County. Even the old, weak, sick, and disabled were completely devoured by them. Normally, there was camaraderie among them, but when faced with five million soldiers, no one cared about anyone else; everyone was thinking about securing more benefits for their respective dynasties.
After all, it all comes down to ability, and being modest is not a virtue in this situation.
"Your Highness, no."
His words carried a hint of unspoken ambiguity, making it quite awkward to talk about.
Zhu Shuang, who was standing to the side, jumped out again at an inopportune moment.
This prince, who never accepted his fate, never admitted defeat, and who could not be subdued by ordinary means but could be easily killed by poison, was now saying in a sarcastic tone: "It would have been better not to go at all, there isn't even a decent soldier."
These words stirred a wave of impatience in Zhu Di's heart, though he didn't show it, merely glancing up at the old man on the throne. Zhu Yuanzhang, who had been lost in his own reverie, was also interrupted by this sudden interruption.
When Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyes, his gaze swept across the hall, instantly freezing the air in the room. Even the candlelight seemed to be intimidated by this invisible pressure, flickering even weaker.
"Second son," Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was low and cold, "Why don't you go?"
Zhu Shuang's mind hadn't quite caught up yet, and he subconsciously said, "It's not impossible for me to go, anyway, it's definitely much better than being a eunuch."
"Is that so?" Zhu Yuanzhang's tone suddenly turned icy.
Zhu Shuang then realized something was wrong, but the words were already out, so he could only bite the bullet and say, "Yes..."
"You can't even manage Xi'an properly, you're clueless, and as stupid as a beast!"
As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, Zhu Shuang knelt down with a thud, his forehead pressed against the ground, cold sweat pouring down his face. He couldn't understand why his father had suddenly become so angry, and could only stammer, "Your subject... Your subject knows his crime..."
The hall was deathly silent; no one dared to speak.
Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath, suppressing the surging anger in his chest. His gaze swept over Zhu Shuang, who was kneeling on the ground, like a knife, and finally landed on Zhu Di. He said in a deep voice, "Fourth Prince, you go."
Zhu Di immediately stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and replied, "Your subject obeys."
After leaving the main hall, Zhu Di's respectful expression gradually faded, replaced by a thoughtful look. He walked with his hands behind his back, Zheng He following closely behind. Passing through numerous palace gates, and only after confirming that no one was around, Zhu Di asked in a low voice, "Sanbao, how has Wei Zhongxian been behaving lately?"
Zheng He hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, "Your Highness, this man appears respectful on the surface, but is actually cunning and treacherous. I did not see him regarding the siege."
They haven't been seen all day, and I don't know where they went.
However, Zhu Di was not fooled by appearances. He did not believe that the treacherous officials would suddenly change their ways. The word "scheming" was ingrained in their bones and could not be easily removed.
"Such a person, if used well, is a sharp blade; if used poorly... he is a poison that will harm oneself."
Emperor Chongzhen did not use it well.
"What time is it?" the young emperor suddenly asked, his voice sounding particularly cold in the empty hall.
The eunuch Wang Chengen, who was standing by the side, quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, it is three-quarters past 7 PM."
Emperor Chongzhen's slender fingers unconsciously caressed the edges of the memorial, the fine Xuan paper already crumpled into tiny wrinkles. He gazed at the deepening night outside the window, where several eunuchs were tiptoeing to light the last row of palace lanterns on the white marble platform in front of the Qianqing Palace.
"Wei Zhongxian hasn't returned yet?" Wang Chengen bowed even lower: "Your Majesty, Eunuch Wei has not yet returned to the palace. Just now, someone from the Eastern Depot came to report that there is an urgent matter in Songyang County."
"An important matter?" Chongzhen suddenly chuckled, a hint of mockery in his voice. He reached out and flicked the paperweight on the table. "More important than my summons?"
The warm pavilion fell eerily quiet. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Wang Chengen's forehead as he stared intently at the cloud pattern embroidered on the toes of his shoes, too afraid to speak. A gust of wind swept past the window, carrying a few withered ginkgo leaves that rustled against the windowpane.
Emperor Chongzhen suddenly stood up, his bright yellow dragon robe shimmering softly in the candlelight. He walked to the window, gazing at the dark night sky in the direction of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. He remembered the day he ascended the throne; it was also an autumn night like this. When he stood on the steps receiving the congratulations of the officials, Wei Zhongxian stood in the very front row, his fair face plastered with a fawning smile. At that time, he naively believed that this powerful eunuch would be as loyal to him as he had been to his elder brother.
"Your Majesty, would you like to have a meal first..." Wang Chengen suggested cautiously.
"We'll talk about it when Wei Qing returns," Chongzhen's voice was eerily calm. He turned and took a scroll from the curio cabinet, but couldn't concentrate on reading it. The ink on the pages seemed to dance, transforming into Wei Zhongxian's effeminate face.
The water clock dripped steadily, passing through the hours of Xu (7-9 PM), Hai (9-11 PM)... When the midnight bell rang from the Fengxian Hall, footsteps finally echoed on the stone path outside the Qianqing Palace. The footsteps were unhurried, even carrying a hint of leisure.
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Wei has arrived," a young eunuch rushed in to report.
Emperor Chongzhen straightened his clothes, suppressing the surging anger in his chest. When Wei Zhongxian appeared at the palace gate, the young emperor already wore a gentle smile.
"Eunuch Wei, how is Songyang County today? Have you had a meal?"
Wei Zhongxian slowly bowed, his python robe gleaming with a faint blue luster in the candlelight. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. This old servant was busy in Songyang County and accidentally missed the appointed time." As he spoke, he looked up at the water clock in the corner of the hall and feigned surprise, "Oh dear, it's already this late, why hasn't Your Majesty had your meal yet?"
Chongzhen's hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched painfully, his nails digging deep into his palms. Looking at Wei Zhongxian's face plastered with a fake smile, he suddenly recalled the old minister's words when he secretly summoned Han Kuang last month: "Does Your Majesty know the idiom 'honeyed words conceal a dagger'?" At this moment, wasn't Wei Zhongxian's smile a blade dipped in honey?
"I'm not hungry," Chongzhen forced a smile. "But Minister Wei must be tired after a long day. Wang Chengen, go to the imperial kitchen and bring some snacks."
Wei Zhongxian flicked the cuffs of his python robe, a respectful yet distant smile plastered on his face: "No need for trouble. This old servant is getting on in years, and I'm afraid of indigestion if I eat at this hour." As he spoke, his eyes glanced at the mountain of memorials piled up on the imperial desk, and the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
Inside the palace, the gilded water clock ticked softly as Wei Zhongxian slowly recounted the situation in Songyang County. When he mentioned three million, Chongzhen abruptly stood up from his dragon throne, his bright yellow robe and sash overturning the pen holder on the table.
"Three million? Really?" The young emperor's voice trembled, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist. The candlelight cast his thin figure onto the dragon pillar, the shadow growing longer and shorter with his hurried pace.
With three million, the Ming Dynasty could become even more prosperous, and... He envisioned the magnificent scene of all nations paying tribute during the Yongle era.
Wei Zhongxian lowered his eyelids, his fair face appearing bluish-gray under the palace lanterns: "Your Majesty, Songyang County still has generals like Bai Qi and Huo Qubing stationed there. This old servant... is truly powerless to help."
These words were like a bucket of ice water, chilling Chongzhen to the bone. He stopped in his tracks, gazing at the pitch-black night outside the palace.
"Yes..." Chongzhen murmured to himself, his fingertips digging deeply into his palms. Three million taels of silver was nothing more than a carrot dangling in front of a donkey. What difference was there between him, the emperor, and the donkey pulling the millstone? Both were circling around this golden palace, yet could never escape the circle drawn by Wei Zhongxian.
The warm chamber was eerily quiet, save for the occasional crackling of the candle wick in the bronze palace lamp. Wei Zhongxian covered his mouth with his sleeve and let out a long yawn: "If Your Majesty has no urgent business, this old servant will take his leave. Today's investigation in Songyang County has been truly exhausting..."
Chongzhen stared at the python pattern embroidered in gold thread on the hem of his robe, his gaze gradually distorting. Pythons, like dragons, are menacing and aggressive. If a dragon didn't have its sharp claws, it would probably be no better than a python, after all, a python can devour everything.
"Minister Wei..." the emperor's voice was as soft as a falling leaf, "What do you say about this Ming Dynasty..."
Wei Zhongxian had already turned and was walking out of the hall when he heard this, but he only paused slightly: "Your Majesty, rest assured, this old servant is here." These words were spoken lightly, but they were like a blunt knife.
"In that case, Minister Wei, you should rest early." The emperor's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.
After Wei Zhongxian's figure disappeared outside the palace gates, Chongzhen suddenly grabbed a teacup from the table and smashed it to the ground. The fine white porcelain shattered instantly, and tea leaves and water splashed onto the pillars.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" Wang Chengen knelt down with a thud, trembling all over.
Emperor Chongzhen was breathing heavily, and his vision blurred. He staggered and steadied himself on the imperial desk, suddenly recalling a story his tutor had told him when he was a child at the Prince Xin's residence, during a lecture on Han history: Emperor Xian of Han, in Xuchang, must have also suffered from sleepless nights like this?
"Go and fetch my sword," the emperor suddenly said.
Wang Chengen looked up in alarm: "Your Majesty?"
"I say, bring me the sword!"
When the Longquan sword, forged during the Yongle era, was presented to him, Chongzhen slowly drew it from its sheath. The four seal characters "Yongle Imperial Inscription" were clearly visible on the cold, gleaming blade in the candlelight. His fingers gently traced the icy edge, and he suddenly recalled the similar sword he had seen in the portrait of Emperor Chengzu during the ancestral worship ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple last year.
Why is it that he has the same sword, yet he cannot wield it?
"Emperor Taizu Gao...Emperor Chengzu Wen..." Chongzhen murmured to himself, as if Zhu Yuanzhang's heroic figure leading his troops on the northern expedition and Zhu Di's heroic spirit in his five expeditions to the northern deserts appeared before his eyes.
Which of those ancestors didn't have absolute authority? Which of them needed to be subservient to their servants?
The sword tip suddenly struck the gold-brick floor with a clang. Emperor Chongzhen, gazing at his distorted reflection on the sword, suddenly understood the meaning of being utterly alone. In this Forbidden City now, how many people truly considered him emperor?
"Your Majesty..." Wang Chengen choked back tears as he kowtowed, "Please take care of your health..."
Emperor Chongzhen slowly sheathed his sword, his expression gradually returning to calm. He walked to the window, gazing at the lights shining from the direction of the Directorate of Ceremonial in the northeast corner, and suddenly said softly, "Tell me, what is Wei Zhongxian doing right now?"
Wang Chengen dared not answer.
“I guess…” the young emperor gave a bleak smile, “he must be sleeping soundly.”
Wei Zhongxian didn't sleep at all. He worked in Songyang County during the day and had to handle affairs when he returned to the Ming Dynasty at night. He wasn't as fortunate as Emperor Chongzhen, who had someone to rely on.
There was no one behind him.
Wei Zhongxian sat alone in his room reviewing secret memorials, a dim lamp flickering in the night.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the corner of the wall.
Wei Zhongxian frowned slightly and looked up. He saw a plump rat slowly crawling down a beam. Its gray-black fur was shiny and smooth, clearly indicating that it lived a very comfortable life in the deep palace. The rat was not afraid of people. Its beady eyes gleamed cunningly in the candlelight. It swaggered over to the table and placed its front paws on the edge, as if sizing up the powerful official.
Wei Zhongxian stared at it, then suddenly laughed.
"You've certainly got guts," he said softly, his voice gentle and slightly mocking.
The rat seemed to sense something, its ears twitching slightly, but it didn't retreat. Instead, it twitched its whiskers, as if assessing whether the person before it was dangerous. Seeing this, Wei Zhongxian's smile deepened. He reached out and picked up a piece of the imperial rose pastry from the table, gently placing it on the ground.
"Here, this is a reward for you."
The mouse hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't resist the aroma. It scurried off the table, grabbed the pastry, and darted into the corner. Wei Zhongxian watched it nimbly disappear into an inconspicuous hole in the wall and chuckled softly, "It certainly knows how to find its way around."
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Author's Note: [Let me see][Let me see][Let me see] I'm late!
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