Chapter 21: A Bad Premonition

A little over half an hour later, Fu Changzong saw Bi Maokang off, then returned to the main hall.

"It's all settled." Fu Changzong took a sip of tea, still somewhat breathless as he spoke. This matter was only possible because it was Zhu Xu; if it had been anyone else, he wouldn't have dared even with a blade at his throat.

Zhu Xu chuckled and said, "Uncle need not worry, these are all small matters."

Fu Changzong nearly choked on his breath, then sighed, "I don't know where you learned all this." His expression then turned solemn as he said to Zhu Xu, "When I was seeing Bi Maokang off just now, His Highness Prince Xin saw us. He gave us a few extra glances."

"Fifth Brother!" Zhu Xu's expression changed at once upon hearing this, and his face grew heavy with thought.

Prince Xin, Zhu Youjian, Zhu Xu's fifth brother — the future Chongzhen Emperor!

He was a very complex man — extraordinarily diligent, desperately yearning to revive the Great Ming, spending his entire life's effort on it. On the other hand, he was harsh and ungrateful, possessed of an extremely heavy suspicion, trusting no one.

It was said that within a decade-plus, he had changed over thirty Chief Grand Secretaries, and Ministers and the like even more, and basically none of them came to a good end.

Being watched by such a man — especially one who would one day sit in that supreme position — Zhu Xu couldn't help but shiver just thinking about it.

He had never overlooked this fifth brother, but history had little record of what he did before ascending the throne, and his plan had been to assess the situation after his enthronement — he never expected to run into him like this today.

Fu Changzong had only mentioned it to give Zhu Xu some mental preparation. In his view, Prince Xin was actually worse off than his nephew Prince Hui, because Zhu Xu was after all young and deeply trusted and favored by the Empress and the Emperor, while the Ming dynasty did not permit imperial clan princes to hold office — Prince Xin was merely a prince who ate and waited for death, with no real deterrent power.

But seeing Zhu Xu frowning so deeply, his face locked in bitter thought, his heart couldn't help but leap, and he stared at Zhu Xu, exclaiming in a startled voice: "Xu'er, this matter doesn't involve His Highness Prince Xin as well, does it?"

Zhu Xu was pulled back to his senses by Fu Changzong's words. Knowing what he was worried about, he smiled wryly and shook his head: "At present, only my uncle and I know the details of this matter. No need to worry about Fifth Brother's side, but don't let him see it in the future. He's too clever a man; I fear he might grow suspicious."

Fu Changzong breathed a slight sigh of relief. Though he too worried about this point, for now there was no need to do anything deliberately. He paused, then said, "Then return to the palace as soon as you can. These days the court is seething with undercurrents; who knows what new storm might break out. Don't get dragged into it."

Zhu Xu nodded, and after discussing the weapons factory — especially the firearms matters — with Fu Changzong at some length, he left the Fu residence.

Sitting in the carriage, Zhu Xu thought of his earlier worry and shook his head with a wry smile. Wei Zhongxian and his lot had basically all been driven out of the palace; Zhu Youxiao might well live a very long life, and with his imperial sister-in-law pregnant, and without Madam Ke's sabotage — perhaps there would be nothing for his fifth brother after all?

Zhu Xu's mood lifted greatly at this thought, and he said to the guard driving the carriage ahead: "Don't return to the palace yet. Go to the eastern part of the city."

"Yes, Your Highness." The guard driving turned the carriage and headed straight for the eastern city.

Before long, they arrived at a courtyard that was relatively remote and outwardly desolate in appearance.

"Your Highness, you've come."

Just as Zhu Xu stepped down from the carriage, the door opened, and a young, fair-skinned little eunuch came rushing over, his face full of eager attentiveness.

Zhu Xu nodded and strode inside.

"You're Young Cao's disciple?" Zhu Xu asked casually as he walked. What he hated most about this courtyard at such times was that you had to walk forever to get anywhere — it was too big!

The little eunuch immediately replied: "Yes, Your Highness. This one is Li Deyong, formerly of the Laundry Bureau. Later, Eunuch Cao took a liking to me and arranged for me to come here, to look after this courtyard for Your Highness."

Zhu Xu went around the garden, passed through the pavilion courtyards, and finally arrived at the large courtyard in the back.

But by now it had all been knocked down, only the outer walls remaining to mislead outsiders.

Li Deyong was most attentive, constantly introducing things at Zhu Xu's side: "Your Highness, according to your requirements, five courtyards have been divided, none connected to the others. Also, the people you asked me to find have all been found; in a few more days they can all move in."

Zhu Xu walked in and gave all five courtyards a look, nodding inwardly. This Li Deyong, though seemingly young, was quite reliable in handling affairs.

After finishing his inspection, Zhu Xu looked at Li Deyong with satisfaction and said, "Little Li, hmm, well done. Do this job well and there'll be no shortage of silver. When the time comes, whether it's the Directorate of Ceremonial or the Directorate of Palace Eunuchs, you can take your pick."

Li Deyong's face lit up with joy, and he hastily said, "Being able to serve Your Highness is this one's honor — how would I dare presume to ask for your reward."

Zhu Xu patted him on the shoulder and walked out with a beaming smile.

Sitting in the carriage, Zhu Xu silently calculated. The Great Ming had by now reached a point where it could be said to have rotted to the extreme — without heavy medicine, it was basically beyond saving. At this time, the Ming needed a prescription, and even more it needed silver.

Only, the Ming's economy had in fact already developed to a stage of half-capitalist, half-feudal. Continuing to pile taxes onto the peasants would not only fail to increase tax revenue, but would instead stir up even greater popular resentment. If one wanted to make money, one had to set one's sights on the strata of great landlords, great merchants, and lesser landlords.

This group now lived in the utmost extravagance and dissipation; with his methods, he could quickly peel a layer of skin off them.

Zhu Xu calculated as he soon arrived at the imperial palace. Returning to Jinghuan Palace, Cao Wenzhao was already waiting.

"How did it go?" Zhu Xu asked Cao Wenzhao as he removed his outer robe.

Cao Wenzhao looked puzzled and said to Zhu Xu, "Your Highness, it's very strange. His Majesty has kept that memorial shelved without reply."

Keeping a memorial shelved without reply meant the Emperor considered the matter not worth responding to, or temporarily unable to respond, so he kept it and did not return it to the Grand Secretariat for public handling.

Zhu Xu stroked his chin, also looking baffled, and muttered to himself: "This isn't like my imperial brother's temperament."

Though Zhu Youxiao had suffered a total rout in the face of this attack from the pure-stream faction, he was still the Emperor after all, and Zhu Youxiao was not of such a weak-willed character that he would have no temper at all.

Zhu Xu pondered for a long while, then suddenly said, "Where is my imperial brother right now?"

"Your Highness, he is in the Imperial Study." Cao Wenzhao said.

"I'll go test the waters." Zhu Xu put back on the clothes he had just taken off and went straight out the door, heading toward Jingyang Palace.

Just as Zhu Xu approached the Imperial Study — normally someone would have come running over by now — he was nearly there, and two eunuchs and two guards all stood ramrod straight before the door, motionless, as if carved statues.

Zhu Xu grew suspicious. With his hands clasped behind his back, he strolled over, his gaze sweeping repeatedly over the four faces.

Even as he neared the doorway, the four remained completely motionless.

Suddenly, Zhu Xu's steps halted. The eunuch on the left kept blinking at him, with a meaning of warning.

The corners of Zhu Xu's mouth twitched. He gave a slight nod, then walked into the Imperial Study with a grinning face.

Before he could even call out, Zhu Youxiao was already shouting, his tone brimming with excitement, beckoning to Zhu Xu.

"Sixth Brother, come quick, come quick — look at what I've made. How does it compare to the Temple of Heaven?"

Zhu Xu's heart gave a sudden start. Zhu Youxiao usually called him imperial brother; only when he was extremely pleased did he call him Sixth Brother.

'Just what has happened that I don't know about?' A bad premonition suddenly rose in Zhu Xu's heart.