Chapter 117: A Tiger's Head, a Snake's Tail

Zhu Xu had never expected Luo Sigong to ask such a question. He was taken aback for a moment, gazing at him, pondering the meaning behind those words.

Luo Sigong had read countless men in his life. His piercing gaze swept over Zhu Xu's eyes and expression, missing not a single detail.

After a long while, he breathed a quiet sigh of relief inwardly. He could be certain that this remarkably astute Prince Hui harbored no such ambition — at least not at present.

Luo Sigong looked at Zhu Xu, who was still hesitating in deliberation, and smiled slightly. "Your Highness, do you know that the Eastern Depot has already taken Li Jinyan and is about to take over the investigation into the grain transport?"

Zhu Xu quickly came to his senses. No matter what scheme this old fox was plotting, how could he truly see through all of his thoughts and know all of his moves!

As long as there was no leverage to be had, no matter how glib one's tongue, no one could touch him now!

Zhu Xu smiled, looking at Luo Sigong. "This prince naturally knows."

The Eastern Depot's sudden intervention had happened last night. Clearly, the pure-stream faction and Liu Shimin — the brush-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, known as the 'inner Grand Secretary' — had reached some kind of consensus.

Luo Sigong looked at Zhu Xu and said, "Then, does Your Highness still have the confidence to continue with your plan?"

Zhu Xu shook his head. "This prince has never devised any plan."

Luo Sigong studied Zhu Xu, his brow twitching slightly. "Your Highness, no intention at all?"

"I do." Zhu Xu smiled. If it were any other matter, he would not hold the upper hand, but when it came to this matter, no one in this era could possibly guess his true purpose.

Luo Sigong's expression finally shifted. After pondering carefully for a moment, he said, "Your Highness isn't thinking of getting a foothold in the grain transport to facilitate your business expansion into Jiangnan?"

"One of them." Zhu Xu was terse. Facing such an old fox, the more one spoke, the more one erred.

Luo Sigong looked at Zhu Xu, a strange light gleaming in his eyes. "Does Your Highness have confidence in snatching food from the Eastern Depot's mouth?"

"No." The smile on Zhu Xu's face only grew wider.

Luo Sigong studied Zhu Xu, then suddenly laughed as well. "Since Your Highness was willing to come see me, I imagine there is something you wish for me to do?"

"Having your son do it would be the same." Zhu Xu's face remained smiling throughout, revealing not a single crack.

This time it was Luo Sigong's turn to shake his head. "Your Highness may not yet understand — the Embroidered Uniform Guard is loyal to His Majesty. Though we have the authority to act on our own judgment, we cannot overstep that premise."

Zhu Xu's eyes narrowed slightly, then he smiled in turn. "Since you wished to see this prince, sir, I imagine there is something you wish to ask of me as well?"

The two had circled each other for half a day — now the dagger was finally revealed at the bottom of the map.

Luo Sigong looked at Zhu Xu, his old face relaxing into a rather radiant smile. "Hearing of a man a hundred times is not as good as seeing him once. Your Highness is indeed no ordinary man."

Zhu Xu smiled faintly, smiling without speaking.

Luo Sigong also perceived Zhu Xu's wariness. After a brief pause, he said, "To be frank with Your Highness, this old man's days are numbered. This visit is to entrust my orphan to you."

Zhu Xu looked at Luo Sigong's complexion and could indeed tell he was gravely ill, yet he did not relax his guard. "Sir jests. The Luo family has enjoyed imperial favor for generations. Unless it were a crime of treason, who would dare touch the Luo family?"

Luo Sigong did not play riddles with Zhu Xu. He looked straight at him and said, "Any Grand Secretary in the court, any Minister, any Vice Minister — even a governor of the realm — if Your Highness can name him, within half a month I can send him into the Provost's prison."

The corner of Zhu Xu's eye twitched. He had already held Luo Sigong in the highest regard, yet he had not expected such devastating power from his very first words. Looking at Luo Sigong, Zhu Xu still could not discern his purpose. One misstep, and he might be seized by the throat with leverage — or have the matter delivered straight to Zhu Youxiao's imperial desk.

Zhu Xu was silent only briefly, then smiled. "Sir flatters me. The gentlemen of the court are all erudite scholars of profound virtue. How could this prince harbor any thought of harming others?"

Luo Sigong smiled again, then said, "In the next few days, I intend to throw Yang Zhe into prison. Does Your Highness have any counsel on the matter?"

Zhu Xu raised an eyebrow. "Are you not afraid of clashing with the Eastern Depot?" Liu Shimin was now the director of the Eastern Depot, and he had already taken Shen Aodong, Li Jinyan, and others into the Ministry of Justice's prison. One step further, and he would naturally come to investigate Yang Zhe for 'dereliction of duty.'

Luo Sigong had made all the probes he needed and now had a measure of confidence. Changing the subject, he said, "Your Highness, let me introduce someone to you. Zhu Zonghan — he has been with me for seven years."

The young man behind him, whose complexion was unnaturally pale, stepped forward and gave a slight bow to Zhu Xu.

Zhu Xu studied this Zhu Zonghan. He had felt something strange about the man even before entering the door. Following Luo Sigong's lead, he said, "You wish me to take him in — is there some purpose behind it?"

"Your Highness may arrange things as you see fit." Luo Sigong said.

Zhu Xu nodded. "Does sir have any other matters?"

Luo Sigong stood up. "This official takes his leave."

Luo Sigong bowed at the waist, rose, and left directly. Zhu Zonghan also bowed slightly and followed him out.

Cao Wenzhao watched the two leave, his expression most peculiar. He walked over and said, "Your Highness, what exactly did Lord Luo mean by this?"

Zhu Xu shook his head, yet smiled. "Still, it probably wasn't on behalf of my imperial brother — and he truly is ill."

Cao Wenzhao's expression turned strange at these words. He could not fathom what Luo Sigong's purpose in this visit had been.

Zhu Xu sat there a while longer, then stood up. "Come, let's go to my maternal uncle's residence."

Luo Sigong exited the small teahouse and sat in his sedan chair, pressing a handkerchief to his mouth, coughing violently.

"Sir, we will be back at the residence soon. Hold on just a little longer." Zhu Zonghan said in a low voice from outside the sedan.

Luo Sigong coughed several harsh times before speaking slowly. "Mm, that medicine probably isn't doing much good anymore. No rush — let's go slowly."

Zhu Zonghan's face was expressionless, his brow furrowing slightly. He was just about to speak when Luo Sigong continued, "Yang Zhe is a pity. Had he not curried favor with that one, I would have given him a dignified end. Go do it — make the charges stick, and don't give outsiders a chance to interfere."

Zhu Zonghan bowed slightly. "Yes, sir."

Luo Sigong coughed a few more times. "Aren't you going to ask why my meeting with Prince Hui today started with a tiger's head but ended with a snake's tail?"

Zhu Zonghan's expression did not change. "This subordinate is not curious."

"Even if you're not curious, I'll tell you anyway." Luo Sigong wiped his mouth again. "Because I could see it — Prince Hui is a man without ambition, yet with the ability to do great things. His Majesty is in the prime of his life, and though the court is in turmoil, it is still upright and resolute. He has no opportunity there — no need to worry overmuch."

"His Majesty's intentions, I can guess five or six parts of them as well. If you truly want revenge, following him is the right choice."

"By my estimation, he will have you do some things in the shadows. Do them well."

"Yangxing, in the future I fear you will need to look after him."

Zhu Zonghan listened to Luo Sigong's fragmented words, then pondered for a long while. "Sir, should I confess my identity?"

"Don't hide anything," Luo Sigong let out a long breath. "His Highness is far more astute than you imagine. His methods sometimes surprise even me."

Zhu Zonghan's expression grew heavy as he voiced his concern. "Sir, I am a Jurchen. Can His Highness truly feel at ease with me?"

In the sedan, Luo Sigong's pale face was tinged with a flush of red. He laughed. "Heh heh, you underestimate him. If he can tolerate even Wei Zhongxian, why would he not tolerate you?"