Chapter 140: The Greenhouse

Zhu Xu returned to Jinghuan Palace, lay down on the reclining chair, and tapped his fingers against the armrest.

Sending thirty thousand men to Joseon was no simple matter—even if the silver and provisions were all borne by Joseon, it was still a colossal undertaking.

"Your Highness."

Cao Wenzhao stepped quietly up to Zhu Xu, looking at him with some curiosity.

Zhu Xu raised his head and said, "Are the things outside the city ready?"

Cao Wenzhao, brimming with confidence, said, "Everything is ready. All the drills have been run several times, and the cannons have been test-fired with dummy rounds. It should be enough to give that Lord Jin a real eye-opener."

Zhu Xu was not worried about that. Joseon's military was weak—they couldn't even manage basic defense, let alone 'advanced' firearms like cannons and matchlock muskets.

"Keep watch for me. The moment any word comes from Liaodong, tell me immediately." Zhu Xu said. Right now, the most critical thing was Sun Chengzong's attitude. As long as he had his support, Xiong Tingbi's going to Joseon was basically settled.

"Yes, Your Highness." Cao Wenzhao acknowledged, then added, "Your Highness, the three officials of the Court of State Ceremonial have all entered the palace. It seems they've gone to lodge a complaint against Your Highness."

Zhu Xu waved a hand dismissively and said, unconcerned, "It's fine. I've already spoken to His Majesty about it. No need to pay them any mind."

Zhu Xu's crude and direct seizure of the Court of State Ceremonial's reception authority naturally made the Court quite unhappy, but they were helpless—because they had to uphold the dignity of the Great Ming, the Celestial Dynasty, and could not afford to offend His Highness Prince Hui too deeply.

So the only thing they could do was complain to the Emperor and demand their authority back.

Things went exactly as Zhu Xu had predicted. The officials of the Court of State Ceremonial did not get what they wanted and slunk away in defeat.

Zhu Xu rested for a while, ate a meal, and then made another trip to Kunning Palace. Empress Zhang's due date was right around the corner. He was very worried about her and had to go check on her several times a day to feel at ease.

Empress Zhang naturally knew that he had completely disregarded the ceremonial procedures set by the Court of State Ceremonial for receiving the Joseon delegation, and she could not help but scold him for it.

With Zhu Xu's thick-skinned shamelessness before Empress Zhang, he naturally agreed to everything on the surface while scheming otherwise in his heart.

The weather was growing colder and colder. When Zhu Xu came out of Kunning Palace, he wrapped his thin cloak tightly around himself.

"Your Highness, a letter has arrived."

No sooner had Zhu Xu left the gates of Kunning Palace than Cao Huachun came trotting over and said in a low voice.

Zhu Xu's expression shifted, and he said, "Quick, bring it over for me to see."

Cao Huachun glanced around, handed the letter to Zhu Xu, and raised the lantern he was carrying to the side of Zhu Xu's face.

Zhu Xu opened the letter and scanned it rapidly. After reading it, his heart relaxed. This Lord Sun was indeed 'true to his word'—he had actually agreed to Zhu Xu's request. The letter said that his recommendation memorial and this letter had been sent out at the same time, and the memorial should reach the palace before the letter did.

"So then, His Majesty has already received his memorial."

Zhu Xu's eyes flickered. Everything he could do, he had done. What remained was to wait and see the push from the court officials and Zhu Youxiao's own intentions.

"Let's go."

Zhu Xu placed the letter into the lantern to burn it, then walked off with his hands clasped behind his back.

Early the next morning, Zhu Xu's carriage appeared in front of the guesthouse.

"Your Highness." Jin Zhongshan bowed respectfully.

Zhu Xu lifted the curtain and said with a smile, "Lord Jin, come—I'll take you out for a spring outing."

"A spring outing?" Jin Zhongshan was taken aback. Winter was almost here—what spring outing was there to be had?

But Zhu Xu offered no explanation. He let the carriage curtain fall, and the carriage rolled forward.

Jin Zhongshan's expression tightened slightly. After last night, he had already investigated this Prince Hui thoroughly—though of course, only what was publicly known.

He was startled by this Prince Hui's 'audacity that defied heaven,' and at the same time understood even more clearly how deeply favored Prince Hui was by the Great Ming Emperor and Empress. Thus, he placed a bit more trust in the promises made yesterday.

He summoned his carriage and said with a composed expression, "Follow His Highness Prince Hui."

Zhu Xu's carriage was accompanied by fifty imperial guards, and Jin Zhongshan's by thirty of his own—a grand procession leaving the city.

The Court of State Ceremonial had been keeping watch on the guesthouse, so they naturally got word at once. But aside from stamping their feet in frustration and secretly sending men to follow, there was nothing else they could do.

Zhu Xu's carriage pressed on, showing no sign of stopping even after nearly half an hour.

The guards beside Jin Zhongshan's carriage had walked until their legs ached. One looked up at the carriage and said, "My lord, where is His Highness Prince Hui taking us?"

Jin Zhongshan lifted the curtain for a look and said without changing expression, "Don't be anxious. His Highness has his own arrangements."

Though he said this, he was still hung up on the words 'spring outing.' In winter, when all things withered, what spring outing could there be?

After another good while, Zhu Xu's carriage finally stopped.

Zhu Xu jumped down from the carriage and beckoned Jin Zhongshan over.

"Lord Jin, take a look." Zhu Xu clasped his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance with a beaming smile.

Jin Zhongshan looked up and saw long, half-circular strips lying on the ground like great worms, each one wrapped in thick cotton cloth. At a glance, there were dozens of them.

Jin Zhongshan looked utterly puzzled and turned to Zhu Xu, saying, "Your Highness, what is this?"

"Come, I'll show you." Zhu Xu waved with a smile and led the way forward.

Cao Wenzhao made a gesture to the guards behind him, then extended a hand and said, "Lord Jin, please."

Jin Zhongshan was curious as well. He followed behind Zhu Xu, and the three of them walked toward the half-circular long tubes in the distance.

Soon, a small old man in his fifties came hurrying out from one of the long tubes. His face was full of shrewdness. He rushed over hastily and bowed deeply, saying, "This humble one pays respects to His Highness Prince Hui."

Zhu Xu nodded with an imposing air and said, "This is Lord Jin of the Joseon delegation. I am accompanying him today for a look around."

The old man was the chief manager of this place. Hearing this, he quickly said, "Yes. Your Highness, please. Lord Jin, please."

Jin Zhongshan looked at Zhu Xu with curiosity, and Zhu Xu said with a smile, "Lord Jin, you'll understand once you see it."

The three followed behind the old man. He hurried ahead, lifted the curtain, and said, "Your Highness, Lord Jin, Commander Cao, please."

As soon as the curtain was lifted, a wave of warmth rushed out. Jin Zhongshan's expression grew even more puzzled.

The three walked inside. Zhu Xu swept his gaze across and nodded in satisfaction.

But Jin Zhongshan's eyes flew wide open, and he hurried forward a few steps in shock.

Inside this long tube, it was warm as spring. Apart from a path wide enough for two people to walk side by side, both sides were filled with lush green plants, growing thick and vigorous, full of life.

Jin Zhongshan reached out, plucked a leaf, and examined it before his eyes. Then he turned to Zhu Xu in shock and said, "Your Highness, what is this?"

Zhu Xu, beaming, said, "This was just successfully tested by one of our court's government offices. It's called a warm greenhouse. It can maintain the temperature so that crops can grow normally even in winter."

The old man soon brought over a tray and said to Zhu Xu with fawning eagerness, "Your Highness, please try some of our just-ripened watermelon. It's sweet and delicious."

Zhu Xu took a slice and handed it to Jin Zhongshan, saying, "Minister Jin, have a taste. There's more here than just watermelon—as long as it's handled properly, anything can be grown."