Chapter 10: Eye Drops

Zhu Xu smoothed his clothes, waved a hand, and said, "All of you wait here. I'm going to chat with the Emperor."

The eunuchs quickly made way — His Highness Prince Hui was the Emperor's "fellow craftsman."

"Brother Emperor, what's the matter?" Zhu Xu entered the Imperial Study and saw Zhu Youxiao sitting on the dragon throne like a block of wood, muttering to himself as he stared at several wooden model carvings before him.

Hearing Zhu Xu's call, Zhu Youxiao's expression jolted, and he suddenly said in a loud voice: "Brother, come quickly and help me look — how is this diagram supposed to be done? Why can I never manage it?"

Zhu Xu hurried over, picked up the "Sage's Legacy" and studied it. To curry favor with this carpenter brother of his, Zhu Xu had done no small amount of research over the years, and after a moment he secretly laughed. Wei Zhongxian really had gone to great pains — to make Zhu Youxiao believe this was a sage's legacy, he had actually produced many "impossible works."

Zhu Xu put on a show of furrowing his brows, muttering: "How strange, these don't add up. There's no support whatsoever — are the palaces supposed to float in the sky? And the ancients had no kiln-fired bricks or mortar either. How were these made?"

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao also furrowed his brows, speaking entirely in the tone of two fellow craftsmen discussing work: "I find it strange too. This diagram shouldn't have appeared here at all."

Zhu Xu glanced at Zhu Youxiao, who was fully absorbed in work mode, then flipped through this "Sage's Book." Suddenly he let out a surprised sound and said, "Brother Emperor, this book is on Xuan paper. Are you sure it's a 'Sage's Legacy'?"

"Xuan paper?" Zhu Youxiao was startled at first, then took it and flipped through it, saying hesitantly: "It should have been copied by later generations..."

Zhu Xu shook his head and said: "Many of the methods in here only appeared after the Song dynasty. Brother Emperor, I think you've been deceived."

Zhu Youxiao's face changed instantly upon hearing this. His eyes went wide as he stared at Zhu Xu: "Brother, are you saying Wei Qing deceived me?"

Zhu Xu blinked, and said hesitantly: "Your brother isn't certain either, but from my experience, it's nine times out of ten a fake."

Zhu Youxiao considered himself an expert too. Hearing Zhu Xu's words, his face flushed slightly. He was stunned for a moment, then stiffened his neck and said rigidly: "What Brother says is right. I had already sensed something was off, which is why I discussed it with you. I'll find Wei Zhongxian shortly and question him thoroughly. You go to the Empress first and keep her company."

Zhu Xu knew Zhu Youxiao was embarrassed at having lost face, so he quickly caught on without letting it show: "Very well, Brother Emperor. Oh, by the way, Brother Emperor — I hear Eunuch Wei is about to be made Director of the Eastern Depot. You should mind your tone with him."

Zhu Youxiao still had his neck stiffened. He gave a cold snort and said: "Director! He doesn't know a single character — what qualifies him to be Director of the Eastern Depot!"

Zhu Xu's heart stirred. Perhaps Zhu Youxiao had already seen Zhou Jianzong's memorial and was merely pretending not to know.

"Then, your brother takes his leave." Zhu Xu took his leave, walked out of the Imperial Study, took a few steps, and stood by the railing, muttering thoughtfully to himself: "Perhaps we've all underestimated Brother Emperor."

But thinking of Zhou Jianzong's impeachment of Wei Zhongxian — "pointed at by a thousand fingers, not knowing a single character" — Wei Zhongxian was surely hopping mad by now. And that phrase, just as he had thought, would remain a famous saying even a thousand years later!

The eye drops had been applied. Zhu Xu's mood suddenly became excellent. Humming a little tune, he strolled leisurely toward Kunning Palace.

He idled about with Empress Zhang for a good while, and only when he saw that Empress Zhang was growing weary did he take his leave and walk out of Kunning Palace.

"Your Highness, there's news from the Imperial Study." Cao Huachun followed behind Zhu Xu and said in a low voice.

Zhu Xu raised an eyebrow and said: "Speak quickly."

Cao Huachun glanced around, then leaned in and said: "Eunuch Wei went into the Imperial Study and immediately began weeping and complaining, saying a great deal. The Emperor listened the whole time, and in the end couldn't bear it — he gave him a thorough scolding and told him to study his books properly."

"Study his books properly..." Zhu Xu let out a snicker. Wei Zhongxian hated nothing more than others mocking him for being illiterate — he would surely hate Zhou Jianzong to the bone. But going by history, Zhou Jianzong wouldn't let things rest either. The struggle between the pure-stream officials, or rather the Donglin Faction, and the not-yet-fully-formed eunuch faction would continue — and only grow fiercer.

Perhaps Wei Zhongxian was already scheming about how to deal with Zhou Jianzong.

Returning to Jinghuan Palace and looking at the empty, desolate great hall, Zhu Xu smacked his lips and muttered to himself: "I still need to find a way to pry Huan'er over here, otherwise it's too lonely."

He waved a hand to let Cao Huachun attend to his own affairs, picked up a book, and lay back in a chair to read. In the past he had always enjoyed reading ancient books, especially all sorts of Ming dynasty anecdotes and unofficial tales — now this just happened to suit his taste.

He read until the sun was slanting westward, when he was interrupted by Cao Wenzhao, who hurried back.

"Your Highness, I've investigated those three people thoroughly." Cao Wenzhao returned with an excited expression.

Zhu Xu put down his book, startled, and said: "What three people?"

Cao Wenzhao said: "The father and daughters who perform acrobatics — the three of them."

Zhu Xu's eyes lit up. He immediately set down his book and said: "Tell me in detail."

Cao Wenzhao said: "The three of them are all from Wancheng County on the outskirts of the capital. Because they injured the spoiled son of a local wealthy gentry, they were forced to flee and come to the capital to make a living performing."

Zhu Xu narrowed his eyes and nodded with satisfaction: "Send someone to Wancheng County to make sure they keep their mouths shut. Also, find the three of them, bring them into the palace, and train them for a while. Then I want to meet them."

Cao Wenzhao looked puzzled and said: "Your Highness, what do you want these three for?"

Zhu Xu sighed and said helplessly: "To guard against that old witch."

"Old witch" was Zhu Xu's "nickname" for Madam Ke, the Lady Who Serves the Sage. Madam Ke was a very special person — Zhu Youxiao's feelings toward her were unusual, and she couldn't be dealt with by ordinary means. For now, the only approach was to be on guard.

No one in the palace knew Madam Ke's various misdeeds better than those within it. Hearing Zhu Xu's words, Cao Wenzhao immediately said: "I'll go at once."

History had ultimately taken a subtle turn. Perhaps because he had just been reprimanded by the Emperor, Wei Zhongxian had no way to provoke the Emperor's anger. At the court deliberation, the pure-stream officials were overwhelmingly dominant, all supporting Zhou Jianzong's memorial. Wei Zhongxian's few people also seemed struck by the Emperor's angry words and didn't fight back much. There was not even talk of flogging at court — not even a fine of salary.

In the end, Zhu Youxiao announced that Wei Zhongxian would temporarily go to the Palace Eunuch Directorate to study, with half a year's salary forfeited, putting an end to the chaos in court.

Unlike the pure-stream officials' jubilation over their great victory, Zhu Xu merely shook his head slightly upon receiving the news. The pure-stream officials were celebrating too early. Perhaps without Madam Ke for the moment, Wei Zhongxian would seem isolated and out of his depth — but once Madam Ke returned, the situation would change drastically.

Most importantly, the power the pure-stream officials had displayed this time would likely make Emperor Zhu Youxiao even more wary!

"Indeed, Wei Zhongxian's rise to power was no accident — it was almost inevitable." Zhu Xu muttered to himself, standing at the palace gate.

Then he received an even worse piece of news, and Zhu Xu's whole demeanor soured.

Madam Ke, the Lady Who Serves the Sage, was returning to the capital ahead of schedule.