Chapter 18: Zhu Youxiao in Despair

East of the city, the Fu residence.

"Why have you come at this hour?"

Fu Changzong had just returned from the Ministry of Revenue. Frowning slightly as he entered, he said: "The Donglin Faction and the eunuch faction are locked in a life-and-death struggle right now. Whoever sticks their head out at this moment risks being dragged in!"

Zhu Xu was in the middle of eating. He didn't rise when Fu Changzong came in, and said vaguely: "Uncle is back."

Fu Changzong was the elder brother of Zhu Xu's birth mother. He left no mark in history; it was Zhu Xu who had forcefully arranged for him to be placed in the position of Bureau Secretary at the Ministry of Revenue. Over these years he had worked diligently and steadily, growing ever more composed, with something of the bearing of one whose belly can hold a boat — a man of great forbearance.

Zhu Xu finished eating, wiped his mouth, and then explained the purpose of his visit.

Fu Changzong's face changed drastically. He shot to his feet, staring at Zhu Xu in utter astonishment: "You want to establish an arsenal?"

Zhu Xu's expression was perfectly calm. Smiling, he said: "Not exactly an arsenal. I merely want some craftsmen to test a few things. But though the sparrow may be small, it must have all five organs."

Only then did Fu Changzong's expression ease somewhat. Since Zhu Di's successful rebellion in the Ming dynasty, every successive emperor had kept extremely tight control over the feudal princes. Although His Highness Prince Hui was still young, if word got out, the outcome could well be house arrest for life.

Fu Changzong calmed down, and only now realized that in that brief instant his back had become soaked with sweat. After thinking it over, he looked at Zhu Xu and said: "If Your Highness wishes to tinker with some small amusements, that is not impossible — but it would be best if outsiders did not know too much." Fu Changzong's use of "Your Highness" was meant to remind Zhu Xu of the gravity of the matter — one misstep and all would be lost. At the same time, he framed the matter as the young prince merely wanting to play with some interesting toys.

Zhu Xu nodded with a smile, but inwardly he thought: Uncle, oh Uncle, dragging you into the water this time is a matter of necessity. Gunpowder, ironware, coal — without the Ministry of Revenue acting as the front, no one could transport and trade these things without attracting notice.

The two then discussed the details. Zhu Xu did not dare reveal too much. This uncle of his, though seemingly able to keep his composure, was in fact extremely cautious — or rather, timid.

It was nearly dark by the time Zhu Xu left the Fu residence, sitting in his carriage on the way back to the palace.

In his carriage there was also a "young lady" of around thirty, looking at Zhu Xu with a fearful yet hopeful expression, lips pressed together, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Zhu Xu took a look at her. She was indeed a gentle beauty, at the very prime of her years.

Zhu Xu found it amusing to think: several hundred years from now, "young lady" would become "miss," and a thoroughly low-class one at that — not to mention the arts of qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting; even basic grace would be gone.

"Your Highness." Yao Qingqing looked at Zhu Xu somewhat nervously, bowing slightly. She really could not bear his gaze; she found it very strange, and it made her uneasy.

Zhu Xu chuckled, withdrawing his thoughts, and looked at her: "No need to be afraid. This prince is still young — by the time I could do anything to you, you'd already be old." In truth, in this era, thirty was already considered old.

Yao Qingqing pressed her lips together slightly, unsure whether she wanted to laugh, but she soon calmed down.

'She's a suitable one.' Zhu Xu nodded inwardly. This Yao Qingqing had a mature temperament and controlled her emotions well. Having her attend to his daily needs and handle trivial matters in his palace would be very fitting — it would save him from having to look at those two eunuchs, Cao and Liu, and being annoyed by them all the time.

"What this prince has promised you will absolutely be fulfilled. Rest assured." Zhu Xu said. Cao Huachun had promised to help bring Yao Qingqing together with that Lord Bi, so naturally he had to follow through.

Yao Qingqing bowed slightly once more and said: "This humble woman has but this one wish. If Your Highness can bring it about, I would not refuse even death."

'A truly devoted woman.' Zhu Xu nodded slightly, and then his thoughts turned to the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai — nearly all of them were brilliant and talented, alluring and romantic, yet sadly none of them came to a good end.

Yao Qingqing, for her part, was not thinking so far ahead. Her fate had been full of hardship. She had been sold by her parents at a very young age, resold again and again. She no longer even knew who her parents were; even her name had been given to her by a "senior" who had taken her in. She had spent ten years in the pleasure quarters, seen all the splendor of the world, and in the end had set her heart upon Bi Maokang.

Bi Maokang had not betrayed her, but his parents had died of illness one after another, and three years of mourning twice over made six years. Add to that his successive postings as Governor and Censor — the years flew by, and in the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.

She was now aging and losing her beauty. Her only hope was Bi Maokang. If Zhu Xu could help her fulfill her long-cherished wish, she would not merely serve Prince Hui in the palace for one year — even ten years, she would willingly give!

While Zhu Xu was slowly making his way into the palace, in the Imperial Study, the Tianqi Emperor sat with knitted brows, staring motionless at the sculpture before him, as if competing with the wooden carving to see who would move first.

Zhu Youxiao did not move, and the eunuchs attending at a distance dared not stir either. The vast Imperial Study was so quiet that the drop of a needle could be heard.

"What day is this?"

No one knew how long had passed when Zhu Youxiao suddenly raised his head and looked ahead, asking woodenly.

A eunuch in front hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty — three days."

"Three days?" Zhu Youxiao stared blankly for a moment, then gave a start, looking at him: "Who are you?"

"This servant is Liu Shimin." Liu Shimin said respectfully. It was not that Zhu Youxiao did not know him — rather, his mind had been numb for too long and he had not reacted in time.

Zhu Youxiao seemed to be recovering his memory. After a while he nodded stiffly and said: "I know now."

Because of the unprecedented struggle between the eunuch faction and the pure-stream officials, all the civil and military officials were now impeaching the eunuch faction, with the force of crashing waves and the momentum of sweeping away all before them. This frightened even him, the Emperor, and he did not know how to handle it. Those who usually stayed by his side and could remind him of Wei Zhongxian had all been driven away by him. Moreover, for these three days he had not held court nor received any official. He had not even seen the Empress or Zhu Xu, hiding all the while in the Imperial Study.

Zhu Youxiao sat there in a daze. Suddenly a glimmer of light appeared in his eyes, and he looked at Liu Shimin: "Minister Liu, when will Mother Ke return?"

Mother Ke was Zhu Youxiao's name for Madam Ke; Madam Ke was his wet nurse.

Liu Shimin was a very special person. Though he was a eunuch in the Directorate of Ceremonial, he did not belong to the eunuch faction. To protect himself or to make his stance clear, he later changed his name to Liu Ruoyu. Naturally, he also disliked Madam Ke, who was in league with Wei Zhongxian. At these words he hesitated slightly, then said: "Your Majesty, there is currently great flooding in Henan, and rebels are rising in all directions. The date of the lady's return to the capital cannot be confirmed."

Though it seemed an honest answer, it cut off Zhu Youxiao's last thread of hope.

Disappointment showed on Zhu Youxiao's face as he sat there woodenly.

As if having sat too long and wanting to talk, he looked at Liu Shimin again: "Are there any rumors outside?"

Liu Shimin said: "Your Majesty, the court is anxious and fearful, and the mood of the people is surging. There are rumors that Censor Zhou was subjected to interrogation and beaten beyond recognition; others say he admitted to forming a faction and plotting rebellion, deserving of death; and still others say they are all accusing one another, until all the civil and military officials have become rebel traitors."

The corners of Zhu Youxiao's mouth twitched, half-smiling, half-not, a mocking look in his eyes.

If it were charges of forming cliques, falsely accusing palace eunuchs, or defying the sovereign — those he could believe, and those would be easy to handle. But now this business of a minister plotting rebellion? Not only did he not believe it — you could drag out any random person in the whole of the Great Ming and they wouldn't believe it either!

Zhu Youxiao sighed. He glanced at the pile of memorials stacked like a mountain on the table nearby — all of them impeaching Wei Zhongxian and Madam Ke. It was not only the civil and military officials: officials from all regions, the retired, imperial relatives, and even common folk of great prestige who were qualified to submit memorials — nearly everyone had been drawn in!

Zhu Youxiao dared not hold court. He could imagine that scene, and he felt afraid.

He did not know how to handle it.