Chapter 22: Unprovoked

Zhu Xu suppressed the turmoil in his heart in an instant and, as usual, trotted up to Zhu Youxiao, grinning as he asked, "What has Your Majesty accomplished now?"

Even as he spoke, his peripheral vision kept sizing up Zhu Youxiao.

At this moment, Zhu Youxiao's face was flushed, his eyes bright and spirited, as if he had received the most wonderful news. He was brimming with energy, with not the slightest trace of anger or dejection.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhu Xu and laughed with particular delight, saying, "Sixth Brother, what do you think of my work? It took me over twelve hours."

Zhu Youxiao was very satisfied with his creation, examining it continuously, his chest heaving as if swelling with a tremendous sense of accomplishment.

"Your Majesty, this piece is truly exquisite. If it were actually built, it would surely be unprecedented." Zhu Xu flattered absent-mindedly, his gaze sweeping over the imperial desk, where a stack of memorials lay neatly arranged. On top was Xu Yuqing's memorial, clearly already bearing the red endorsement.

He could not help but turn his head toward Liu Shimin, the newly appointed brush-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial who was attending below. Liu Shimin glanced at him, then slowly lowered his head again, an inscrutable look in his eyes.

Zhu Xu's suspicions grew heavier. Zhu Youxiao had first been pressured into driving away a group of his trusted inner attendants and his ambiguously close wet nurse, then had been impeached by others. He ought to have been furious. Yet now, not only had his earlier anger vanished, but the current impeachment had drawn no reaction whatsoever.

It was strange to the extreme!

Zhu Xu quickly swept his gaze across the Imperial Study once more, then finally settled it back on Zhu Youxiao.

At this moment, he was excited for no apparent reason, studying the wooden carving before him and occasionally asking Zhu Xu a question or two, which Zhu Xu dealt with absent-mindedly.

"Sixth Brother, tell me—if I were to go on an inspection tour of Jiangnan, do you think it would be feasible?"

Suddenly, Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Zhu Xu, his gaze burning as he spoke.

Zhu Xu's heart gave a violent leap. In an instant, he thought of Qianlong's six tours of Jiangnan—even in that era, which boasted the flourishing Kang-Qian golden age, the expenditure had been enormous. How much more so now, in the precarious third year of Tianqi?

Who had put this idea into His Majesty's head?

Zhu Xu's mind raced, and then he nodded repeatedly, saying, "Wonderful! I'd like to go see Jiangnan too. I hear it's a riot of splendor there—more fun than the capital."

Zhu Youxiao was delighted by his sixth brother's support, his expression full of excitement and longing, and said, "I've already had Minister Gu make preparations. We can set out in ten days."

'Minister Gu? That would be Gu Bingqian, wouldn't it? Was the idea his?'

Gu Bingqian had succeeded Zhang Wenda as Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. It was said he was originally also to hold the post of Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, but the pure-stream faction had blocked it.

Zhu Xu's thoughts turned over quickly, and he soon shook his head inwardly. If Gu Bingqian truly had the ability to sway the Emperor like this, he wouldn't be currying favor with Wei Zhongxian in such a sycophantic manner.

"Who on earth is it?" Zhu Xu murmured to himself, wariness in his eyes.

Someone who could sway the Emperor without leaving a trace was an enormous threat to him. He had to find a way to uncover this person!

"Sixth Brother, what did you say?" Zhu Youxiao noticed Zhu Xu muttering to himself and turned to ask.

Zhu Xu was startled, then quickly raised his fair, youthful face and said with an innocent, harmless grin, "I was thinking about who to bring along."

Zhu Youxiao laughed as well, then waved his hand magnanimously and said, "You don't have many people over there anyway. Bring whoever you like—I permit it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhu Xu made a deep bow and called out in a drawn-out voice.

Zhu Youxiao grew even more pleased. He picked up his woodworking knife and resumed studying the carving before him.

Zhu Xu watched him without changing his expression, still deep in thought. Now that Wei Zhongxian and his lot had been almost entirely driven out of the palace, and Madam Ke had not yet returned, who was so formidable as to have Zhu Youxiao this delighted?

'Eh?'

Suddenly, Zhu Xu noticed that although Zhu Youxiao's complexion appeared ruddy, a closer look revealed a hint of pallor beneath, and his legs were trembling.

Zhu Xu's brow furrowed even deeper, and he muttered to himself, 'Could it be that His Majesty has favored some new consort again?'

Zhu Xu made his calculations inwardly, then continued tinkering with the wood carving alongside Zhu Youxiao for nearly an hour. By then, Zhu Youxiao was drowsy, his body swaying. Finally, he yawned and said to Zhu Xu, "Sixth Brother, I'm sleepy and going to bed first. Amuse yourself for a while."

In Zhu Youxiao's view, although Zhu Xu had some ideas and skill, he was ultimately inferior—still stuck at the stage of 'playing.'

Zhu Xu hastily saw the Emperor off. The moment he rose, his gaze landed on Liu Shimin, who was walking out.

The moment Liu Shimin saw Zhu Youxiao, he hurriedly lowered his head and rushed out without daring to breathe too loudly.

Zhu Xu frowned. That ominous premonition in his heart grew stronger and stronger.

"Have someone find out where His Majesty went last night."

As soon as Zhu Xu returned to Jinghuan Palace, he said to Cao Huachun with a cold face.

Cao Huachun immediately understood the gravity of the matter and hastily replied, "Yes, Your Highness. This servant will go at once."

"Your Highness, have some tea." Yao Qingqing carried a cup of tea over and set it before Zhu Xu, speaking in a gentle voice.

Zhu Xu let out a quiet breath, suppressing the tension in his heart. At her words, he took the tea and took a light sip, only then feeling somewhat more at ease.

Then he sat down in his reclining chair and studied Yao Qingqing, thinking to himself, 'A household really does need a woman in it.'

Before long, Cao Wenzhao also came running in. Looking at Zhu Xu, he said urgently, "Your Highness, I hear the Eastern Depot is looking for a location to build a prison."

Zhu Xu was not surprised—this counted as one of Zhu Youxiao's counterattacks against the pure-stream faction. Still, at least Liu Shimin was not Wei Zhongxian, so he probably wouldn't do anything too out of line.

"Have someone keep a close watch on the Eastern Depot."

Zhu Xu's brow was heavy. Zhu Youxiao's transformation had filled Zhu Xu with an urgent, pressing anxiety. His clear-sighted grasp of the Great Ming's situation had hit an unexpected snag, and he had to find a way to uncover the cause.

"Yes, Your Highness," said Cao Wenzhao.

Seeing that Zhu Xu had finished his official business, Yao Qingqing brought him a plate of pastries and said softly, "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress just summoned me."

"My sister-in-law?" Zhu Xu was taken aback, but then paid it no mind. Taking a pastry, he asked, "What did she say?"

Yao Qingqing smiled slightly and said, "Her Majesty is a kind and generous person. She didn't say much—just told me to serve Your Highness well."

Zhu Xu nodded. Very little in the palace could be hidden from Empress Zhang. The only exception was that old witch.

Suddenly, a thought stirred in Zhu Xu's heart. He stood up and made to walk out, but quickly stopped himself and sat back down in his chair, deep in thought.

Cao Wenzhao was startled. Looking at Zhu Xu, he asked, "Your Highness, is something amiss?"

Zhu Xu shook his head and said, "When Cao Huachun returns, have him come see me immediately."

Zhu Xu dismissed the two of them and casually picked up a book to read, but he could not focus on it at all. His mind was entirely occupied by Zhu Youxiao's excited expression. This feeling of things slipping beyond his control made Zhu Xu deeply uncomfortable.

"Your Highness, I've found out," Cao Huachun said, knowing how anxiously Zhu Xu had been waiting. He reported at once: "Your Highness, I've discovered that His Majesty has been in the Imperial Study these past few days and hasn't left it."

Zhu Xu's brow furrowed even more tightly. After a moment's thought, he said, "I'll go see my sister-in-law right away."