Chapter 149: The Sprouting of Ambition

The Great Ming was about to step into the fourth year of Tianqi, with rain and snow flying about, yet it did nothing to cool the fervor in the court. (Tianlai Novel)

The year's end was always the end of one year, and at the same time the beginning of another.

Wei Zhongxian's comeback was far more shrewd and composed than in history. Originally, Zhu Youxiao was going to bestow rewards upon a host of Wei Zhongxian's relatives, but Wei actually blocked it. In the end, only his nephew Fu Yingxing received a hereditary Embroidered Uniform Guard Chiliarch post.

But with Zhou Jianzong's "suicide out of fear of punishment," the pure-stream faction stirred up a mighty wave of impeachment.

The factional strife of the late Ming had already intensified to the point of irreconcilability. The most terrifying thing was that the outer officials were bent on destroying the inner officials, while the Emperor did not trust the outer officials and trusted none more than the inner eunuchs — and so, every action of the outer officials seemed to be aimed at the Emperor himself.

This in turn bred even greater suspicion in the Emperor. Monarch and ministers doubted each other, he shielded the inner eunuchs, and in this struggle, it was always the outer officials who came out the worse!

This time was no exception. Zhu Youxiao's response was to adjust Wei Zhongxian's post — transferring him from brush-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial to seal-holding eunuch, further expanding his power within the Directorate of Ceremonial. At the same time, more and more people in the outer court threw themselves under Wei Zhongxian's banner.

The newly appointed Minister of War Dong Hanru and Supervising Secretary Cheng Zhu submitted memorials of admonition, but Zhu Youxiao left them all unanswered.

Two days before the new year, Zhu Youxiao organized a family banquet. The so-called family banquet consisted of Zhu Youxiao, Empress Zhang, the little Princess, and Zhu Youjian and Zhu Xu.

Zhu Xu walked in leaning on a cane, limping along, and with a beaming smile waved his hand, saying, "No need to stand on ceremony today — let's have our New Year's Eve dinner a little early."

The group naturally still performed simple formalities, but Zhu Xu kept staring at Zhu Youxiao's legs, and his brow furrowed slightly.

Zhu Youxiao sat in the seat of honor, teased the little Princess for a moment, then looked at Zhu Xu and Zhu Youjian and said with a relieved sigh, "Well, this year is finally over. Today let's all relax a bit."

Empress Zhang also distributed the stack of plates, bowls, and chopsticks that Zhu Xu had sent over, and said softly with a smile, "No need to be formal today — make yourselves at ease."

Zhu Xu and Zhu Youjian, the two outsiders, nodded in agreement, yet remained awkwardly stiff to an extreme degree.

Zhu Xu was stiff because he always felt that Zhu Youxiao's gaze at him was very strange, and he instinctively wanted to dodge it. Zhu Youjian was simply always like this — the man appeared very rigid, every move cautious and proper.

Such family banquets had always been a two-man comedy act between Zhu Youxiao and Empress Zhang, with Zhu Youjian and Zhu Xu as rather unqualified audiences.

When the wine was half gone, Zhu Youxiao stretched out an arm and smiled at the two, saying, "Alright, tell me — what plans do you each have for next year? Sixth Brother, you go first."

Zhu Xu said with the utmost seriousness, "Study."

Zhu Youxiao naturally knew that Zhu Xu was to begin his schooling next year. He chuckled at this, then turned to Zhu Youjian and said, "Fifth Brother, and you?"

Zhu Youjian was already considered a grown man. Looking at the glassware on the table, he drew a quiet breath, bowed slightly with deference, and said, "To answer Your Majesty, I plan to move into the Ten Princes' Mansion."

The moment those words fell, both Zhu Youxiao and Empress Zhang paused. At the dinner table, apart from the little Princess in Empress Zhang's arms babbling away, there was not a sound.

This was not the first time Zhu Youjian had made such a request, and every time it had been tied together with Zhu Xu. This time, naturally, was no different.

Empress Zhang glanced at Zhu Xu, furrowed her brow slightly, then looked toward Zhu Youxiao.

Zhu Youxiao mused a moment, then smiled, "Fifth Brother, don't be hasty. You and Sixth Brother are still young, and both depend on the Empress's care. If you were to move to the Ten Princes' Mansion, the Empress and I would not rest easy."

Zhu Youjian's expression stiffened. He swept a glance at Zhu Xu, then said, "Your Majesty, Uncle Prince Ping is about to take up his fief, and his princely mansion will be vacated. Your younger brother believes that next year is the most suitable time for me and Sixth Brother to move out of the Forbidden City."

Prince Ping was the sixth son of the Wanli Emperor, originally enfeoffed as Prince Hui with his fief at Jingzhou. In the early Tianqi years, implicated in the "case of defiance," he was re-enfeoffed as Prince Ping and placed under house arrest in the capital. Now the princes in the capital were one by one leaving for their fiefs, and Prince Ping was among them.

Listening to Zhu Youjian's words, Zhu Xu's expression did not move, but in his heart he thought of this uncle, Prince Ping, and could not help muttering inwardly, 'Uncle Prince Ping, oh Uncle Prince Ping — the time has come for you to take the blame for this successor of yours.'

Hearing Zhu Youjian's words, Empress Zhang smiled and said, "Prince Xin, let's set this matter aside for now. After the new year, Prince Hui is to begin his schooling, and it would not be suitable outside the palace."

Hearing the veiled warning in Empress Zhang's words, Zhu Youjian's brow knit tight, then he bowed slightly and said, "Yes, Your Highness."

Zhu Youxiao pressed down with his hand and said to the three of them, "Alright, let's chat about family matters — no more of this."

Though it was said to be chatting about family matters, in truth it was still Zhu Youxiao and Empress Zhang talking in fits and starts, with Zhu Youjian and Zhu Xu playing along.

It was not until three groups of people came from the Directorate of Ceremonial that Zhu Youxiao had no choice but to leave. The moment he left, Zhu Youjian also had no choice but to take his leave along with him. At the table in Kunning Palace, only Empress Zhang and Zhu Xu remained, along with the energetic little Princess in her rocking cradle.

Empress Zhang gently rocked the cradle, looking at Zhu Xu with a puzzled expression, and said, "Little monkey, you seem to have always been afraid of Prince Xin? What exactly are you afraid of? Has he got some hold over you?"

Zhu Xu rolled his eyes. How could he not be afraid? That man was the future Chongzhen Emperor, a petty-minded killing maniac... Before he had even finished muttering to himself, Zhu Xu's heart suddenly gave a jolt.

Zhu Youjian was neither the legitimate eldest son. That he could succeed to the throne was entirely Zhu Youxiao's decision.

Looking at it from this angle, there was no difference whatsoever between him and Zhu Youjian — it was only that Zhu Youjian was a few years older!

Zhu Xu narrowed his eyes, his heart pounding thump-thump-thump, and something began to sprout and grow in the depths of his heart.

Empress Zhang looked at Zhu Xu and said knowingly, "If there really is some hold he has on you, tell me at once — don't let it get reported to the Emperor."

Zhu Xu hurriedly shook his head, wrenching himself free from his thoughts, and gave Empress Zhang a brilliant smile, saying, "Sister-in-law need not worry. The things I've done are not things I fear His Majesty knowing, and I certainly don't fear Fifth Brother going to tattle."

Empress Zhang still did not believe him, but she knew she would get nothing more out of Zhu Xu. She waved her hand and said, "Then you go on too — don't stay here bothering me."

Zhu Xu smacked his lips, pulled a stack of silver notes from his bosom, tucked them into the little Princess's padded coat, and gently patted her, saying, "This is your uncle's New Year's money for you. Hide it well, be careful, and don't let your mother trick you out of it — other people's mothers all trick their children out of their New Year's money like that..."

Empress Zhang picked up her embroidery frame and made to hurl it at Zhu Xu. Zhu Xu dodged swiftly and was gone in a puff of smoke.

Zhu Xu walked out of Kunning Palace, hands clasped behind his back, expression cold and stern, walking slowly.

Cao Huachun followed behind him. He did not know why, but looking at His Highness Prince Hui's back, he always felt a creeping dread.

Zhu Xu's heart was still churning with the thought from that instant, his heart thumping violently, boom-boom-boom, without cease.

Before that moment, he had never once harbored such a thought. But Empress Zhang's words had struck like a thunderbolt — no less than a clap of thunder.

Step by step he walked, and the thought seemed to take root in the depths of his heart, growing wildly, winding like vines that stretched to the heavens, impossible to cut away.

"Tell me — what is it that this prince lacks compared to Prince Xin?" Suddenly, Zhu Xu whirled around, his gaze blazing, burning as he fixed his eyes on Cao Huachun.