Chapter 26: Clues

Jingyang Palace, the Imperial Study.

Zhu Xu hugged a paint bucket, tilted his little face up, head cocked to one side, looking thoroughly miserable.

The Emperor Zhu Youxiao held a brush, painting stroke after stroke over the freshly carved woodwork, his expression excited and elated.

"Brother Emperor, where did this paint come from? It smells so foul!"

Zhu Xu, nearly suffocated by the fumes, pouted and complained miserably.

Zhu Youxiao patiently painted on and on, beaming as he said, "This is what Minister Wei found for me. This paint dries fast, has a bright sheen, and applies beautifully. You'll see in a moment."

Zhu Xu's heart stirred slightly. He tilted his head even farther away and said with difficulty, "Brother Emperor, that Wei Zhongxian was actually not bad. If only he were still here — I'd like him to handle some matters for me too."

"No rush," Zhu Youxiao said, smiling even more broadly as he examined the woodwork before him, red and green slowly soaking in. "Wait until I get through this busy stretch."

Zhu Xu gritted his teeth inwardly. The smell really was atrocious, but from Zhu Youxiao's words, he vaguely sensed that Wei Zhongxian might indeed have been summoned back by his brother Emperor and hidden here in Jingyang Palace.

A eunuch turned and stepped in through the doorway, stopping not far from the imperial desk, and reported respectfully, "Your Majesty, Lord Ye and Lord Han request an audience."

"Summon them!" Zhu Youxiao jerked his head up and called out loudly.

Zhu Xu was startled. He looked at Zhu Youxiao's excited profile and furrowed his brow slightly. Lord Ye, Lord Han — that would be Ye Xianggao and Han Kuang, wouldn't it?

One of these two was the Chief Grand Secretary and the other the Second Grand Secretary. What did his brother Emperor want with them?

Zhu Youxiao set down his brush, turned to Zhu Xu, and said, "Little brother, go play on your own for now. Oh, and go to the Imperial Kitchen — have them make a bowl of bird's nest soup, and deliver it to the Empress."

Zhu Xu looked at Zhu Youxiao and clearly saw an inexpressible excitement on his face, as if he were brewing something.

Zhu Xu's mind raced, but his face broke into a grin as he said, "Sure thing! Oh, Brother Emperor, will you be going to see Sister-in-Law Empress tonight?"

Zhu Youxiao was taken aback. Since learning that Empress Zhang was pregnant, he had gone only once and hadn't stayed the night. He felt somewhat guilty at the thought, and after a moment's consideration said, "Tell the Empress I'll come by later."

"Good, I'll go deliver the decree right away!" Zhu Xu set down the paint bucket, turned, and headed out of the Imperial Study.

As he left, he saw two men approaching from afar. One was a portly, kindly-faced old man; the other, around fifty, had a stern expression, a sallow, gaunt face, and piercing eyes.

Zhu Xu glanced at the two men, then turned and walked toward the Imperial Kitchen.

Zhu Xu pondered all the way. Zhu Youxiao had made no moves recently — eerily quiet. He couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen.

Arriving at the Imperial Kitchen, Zhu Xu clasped his hands behind his back and strode inside.

A large fat man immediately hurried over, clasped his fists, bowed, and smiled obsequiously. "Your Highness, what brings you here?"

Zhu Xu acted as if he hadn't seen him, walked in with his hands behind his back, and wandered around looking at everything. This wasn't his first time at the Imperial Kitchen, but he had never actually toured it. At a glance there were several dozen people; counting everyone, it was probably one to two hundred.

"Tsk tsk, truly extravagant..." Zhu Xu shook his head as he looked around.

This fat man was the Imperial Kitchen steward. He followed behind Zhu Xu with a fawning smile. "Your Highness, whatever you need, I'll make it myself. This kitchen is such a mess — please be careful not to dirty your clothes in here."

Zhu Xu picked up this and fiddled with that, the whole room going bang-bang-bang-bang, and said listlessly, "Make me a bowl of bird's nest soup — it's from the Emperor for Her Majesty the Empress."

Hearing this, the steward quickly said, "Your Highness, please wait a moment. I'll make it for you myself right away."

Zhu Xu looked at the fat man and suddenly had an idea. "Not you. Have someone else make it."

The fat man was taken aback, then said, "Yes, Your Highness." He called over a person, gave the order, then stood beside Zhu Xu with a smile.

Zhu Xu glanced around casually and asked offhandedly, "By the way, what have you been making for my brother Emperor lately? How's his appetite?"

The fat steward immediately beamed. "Reporting to Your Highness, His Majesty's appetite has been excellent lately — several full meals every day. And his tastes have changed too, which shows His Majesty has been in a particularly good mood, with a hearty appetite."

Zhu Xu's brow twitched slightly. "Has horse kidney been boiled?"

Horse kidney — this was something Madam Ke often cooked for Zhu Youxiao. If Madam Ke were also in the palace, this dish would hardly be absent.

The fat steward was taken aback at the question. "That... no, it hasn't."

"No?" Zhu Xu looked seriously into the fat man's eyes.

"No." The fat steward answered very earnestly.

Zhu Xu nodded. The fat man wasn't lying, but this still couldn't determine whether Madam Ke was hidden in the Imperial Study by Zhu Youxiao.

Before long, the bird's nest soup was ready. The fat steward took it and handed it to Zhu Xu. "Your Highness, your bird's nest soup is ready."

Zhu Xu reached out and took the box, then waved a hand. "That's fine. Make another portion and send it to the Imperial Study."

"Yes, Your Highness." The fat steward agreed cheerfully and saw Zhu Xu out.

Zhu Xu could roughly understand how the fat man felt about being inspected by a superior, but right now he had no time for small fry. Carrying the bird's nest soup, he headed straight for Kunning Palace.

At present, all signs indicated that Madam Ke might have already returned to the palace, but this needed confirmation. Fortunately, because of the earlier upheaval, neither Madam Ke nor Wei Zhongxian dared to show their faces.

"Sister-in-Law Empress, Sister-in-Law Empress—"

The moment Zhu Xu entered Kunning Palace he began shouting, carrying the box as if it weighed a thousand pounds, huffing and puffing as he crossed the threshold.

Empress Zhang happened to be heading out and met him head-on. Seeing Zhu Xu's appearance, she smiled, then said to Huan'er beside her, "Huan'er, quickly take it — don't tire out His Highness Prince Hui."

"Yes, Your Ladyship." Huan'er also stifled a laugh, walked over, and took the box from Zhu Xu's hands.

Zhu Xu grinned. "The box isn't heavy, but the sentiment is. Brother Emperor had me bring this to you, Sister-in-Law. He also said he'd come by later."

Empress Zhang was startled. She had been about to go to the Imperial Study. Hearing this, she couldn't help turning to look at Huan'er.

Huan'er hadn't expected the Emperor to come either. Looking at Empress Zhang, she suggested, "Your Ladyship, perhaps we should just wait here in the palace for His Majesty to arrive?"

Empress Zhang thought for a moment, then nodded. She smiled teasingly at Zhu Xu. "Fine, you little clever one. Come in. Huan'er, go to the back and pick out something nice for Prince Hui."

"Thank you for your reward, Your Ladyship!" Zhu Xu dragged out the words as he followed behind Empress Zhang.

The two sat down. Empress Zhang seemed pleased that Zhu Youxiao would be coming, and looked at Zhu Xu. "I hear you haven't left the palace lately. At least you've been well-behaved. In a while, I'll have the Emperor find you a good tutor. Read more books, and you won't be so wild."

Several recent emperors of the Great Ming had rather inglorious origins. Zhu Youxiao was the same — born to a maidservant, never valued from childhood, and never properly educated.

Zhu Xu nodded obediently with an "mm-hmm," his eyes darting around as he glanced about. Suddenly he leaned close to Empress Zhang and whispered, "Sister-in-Law, you need to be careful lately. I hear Brother Emperor has been boiling horse kidney every day — you can't let someone else steal his favor at a time like this..."

As Zhu Xu spoke, his eyes stayed fixed on Empress Zhang's expression, not missing a single detail.