Chapter 3: Intercepting Wei Zhongxian

Zhu Xu left the Imperial Study and strolled leisurely toward Kunning Palace.

In the Forbidden City, Zhu Xu was a rather special person. Apart from the Emperor Zhu Youxiao, only he could wander about freely anywhere—because he was only seven years old! His fifth brother, also enfeoffed as Prince Xin, Zhu Youjian, was already fourteen, an adult by the standards of this era. Though he too lived in the Forbidden City, he could not freely enter and leave the inner palace.

"Greetings, His Highness Prince Hui."

Eunuchs and palace maids along the way bowed in salute one after another. Throughout the entire palace, everyone knew that His Highness Prince Hui was a little devil, most vindictive of all—offending him carried quite 'severe' consequences!

Zhu Xu walked to the gate of Kunning Palace and saw a palace maid coming out carrying a tray. His mind stirred, and with the lecherous look of a rogue, he asked with a grin: "Little beauty, when will the Old Ancestress return?"

The Old Ancestress—everyone in the palace knew this referred to the Emperor Zhu Youxiao's wet nurse, Madam Ke, the Lady Who Serves the Sage. Within the palace it was fine, but outside the palace she was known as 'Old Ancestress of a Thousand Years'!

That maid's pretty face flushed red, her eyes brimming with charm as she feigned annoyance, pursing her lips and saying: "To answer Your Highness, the Old Ancestress has only gone halfway through her home visit; another half month before she returns."

Zhu Xu waved his hand grandly, with considerable bearing saying: "Good, come warm my bed in my chambers tonight!"

This maid's pretty face flushed crimson with shame, quite alluring and captivating indeed—pity Zhu Xu was only seven.

"Your Highness, hurry inside—Her Ladyship is getting angry." At this moment a head maid came out from within and hurriedly said to Zhu Xu, then snorted coldly at that maid: "Get back to your duties."

That maid's whole body trembled and she hastily said: "Yes." Biting her lips, still shy and timid, she ran out.

Zhu Xu watched her retreating figure, raised an eyebrow, and thought to himself, 'Young lady, your news travels fast.'

Then he turned to the head maid and said: "Send someone to my palace to fetch the bird's nest porridge I stewed for my sister-in-law the Empress, to nourish her."

"Enough, keep it for yourself to eat." At this moment, a woman dressed in plain palace attire, appearing to be in her early twenties, walked out with dignified bearing. She waved off the maid, then said to Zhu Xu: "You—can't you let me and the Emperor worry a little less?"

Zhu Xu giggled, walked into Kunning Palace, and began wandering about everywhere.

"Stop wandering—Huan'er hid all the good things away last night." Empress Zhang watched Zhu Xu looking around everywhere and said with a smile: "Spending the Emperor's silver again, are you?"

Zhu Xu rolled his eyes and said: "Ten thousand taels! Sister Huan'er is good in every way, just too stingy."

Empress Zhang picked up a pastry and gave it to Zhu Xu, saying: "Eat it—Huan'er made it."

Zhu Xu's face lit up with joy; he took it and stuffed it into his mouth.

Huan'er was Empress Zhang's personal maid, raised in the palace since childhood, clever and deft-handed, having 'duelled wits' with Zhu Xu who knew how many times.

Empress Zhang watched Zhu Xu wolfing down his food, sitting upright with a smile. If one looked closely, one could see a trace of tenderness in her eyes.

Empress Zhang was just over twenty this year; had she borne a child earlier, he would indeed have been about Zhu Xu's age.

"Sister-in-law, have you felt any nausea lately?" Zhu Xu said with his mouth full, while inwardly calculating—according to history, Empress Zhang indeed conceived around this time.

Empress Zhang was startled and said: "Nausea?"

Zhu Xu took a sip of tea, wiped his mouth, his eyes darting about, then suddenly smiled and said: "Good that there isn't. Sister-in-law, you see, I'm short one maid over at my place—could you give Huan'er to me?"

Empress Zhang furrowed her brow, glared at Zhu Xu and said crossly: "See anything you like, just carry it off yourself."

"Right away, thank you, sister-in-law." Zhu Xu jumped up and ran toward the early-Song underglaze blue vase he had just spotted, scooped it up, and ran out with it.

Just as Zhu Xu's figure disappeared, the curtain over the small door was lifted, and a young maid in blue in her late teens walked out. Smiling with pursed lips, she approached Empress Zhang and said: "Your Ladyship, I told you—His Highness was sure to come snatch things again."

Empress Zhang also stood up smiling, then suddenly swayed.

"Your Ladyship, what's wrong?" This maid happened to be Huan'er. Seeing Empress Zhang unsteady, she hurried over to support her.

Empress Zhang touched her smooth forehead, waved her hand and said: "I'm fine, perhaps I caught a chill. In a while, brew some hot soup and send it to the Emperor, remind him to keep warm."

Huan'er still looked at Empress Zhang with worry, and only after confirming that Empress Zhang was truly all right did she answer prettily: "Yes, Your Ladyship."

On the road back to Jinghuan Palace, Cao Wenzhao walked behind Zhu Xu carrying the blue-and-white porcelain vase, and said in a low voice: "Your Highness, everything has been arranged—Luo Yangxing is already waiting."

Zhu Xu nodded slightly, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at the sky.

To stop Wei Zhongxian from destroying the Great Ming, one must first intercept his rise to power and seizure of authority.

"Let's start with the Embroidered Uniform Guard then."

Zhu Xu muttered softly, then said in a loud voice: "Let's go, out of the palace—oh, and bring this blue-and-white vase along too."

Cao Wenzhao was taken aback and said: "Your Highness, what's that for?"

"A gift for someone." Zhu Xu said with a smile.

"His Highness Prince Hui." The two had not walked far when a eunuch came out to block their path.

Zhu Xu looked at his attire—he should be a junior director-eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial—and said: "What business does the eunuch have?"

The eunuch bowed and said: "This servant is Liu Shimin, Left Junior Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial. His Majesty bids Your Highness come to the Imperial Study early tomorrow."

Zhu Xu was startled and said: "Has something happened?"

"This servant does not know." Liu Shimin said.

Zhu Xu nodded thoughtfully and said: "Good, I understand."

Liu Shimin bowed and said: "This servant takes his leave."

Once Liu Shimin had walked far away, Cao Wenzhao immediately said: "Your Highness, shall I have someone make inquiries?"

"No need," Zhu Xu watched Liu Shimin's retreating figure and said with interest: "Is this the Liu Shimin of the red endorsement?"

"Yes, Your Highness. It is said this man has extraordinary literary talent, but he is not given much importance in the Directorate of Ceremonial." Cao Wenzhao said.

Zhu Xu nodded. Because Wei Zhongxian and his lot were illiterate, and the Directorate of Ceremonial was responsible for the red endorsement for the Emperor, the task ultimately fell upon this Liu Shimin.

The two left through the palace gate, skirted Vermilion Sparrow Avenue, and appeared in the eastern part of the city.

In a private room of a teahouse, a fat middle-aged man in his early forties came tottering toward Zhu Xu, his face wreathed in fawning smiles as he said: "This humble one, Zhou Jianyu, greets the young master."

Zhu Xu clasped his hands behind his back, gave him a once-over, and said flatly: "I hear you're from the same clan as Censor Zhou Jianzong, Lord Zhou?"

Hearing this, Zhou Jianyu hastily said: "To be frank with the young master, he's of the eldest branch, I'm of the third—we grew up together."

Zhu Xu nodded and said: "Lord Fu has told you everything?" The 'Lord Fu' Zhu Xu referred to was his maternal uncle, Fu Changzong, currently serving as Bureau Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue.

"He told me, he told me—this humble one knows what to do." Zhou Jianyu immediately said with bobbing nods and bows. His heart was bursting with excitement—to forge a connection with a Bureau Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue was already a matter of utmost importance, let alone that this youth appeared even more extraordinary, radiating an air of nobility.

Zhu Xu said: "Good, go then."

"Yes, young master, wait a moment—I'll have someone invite Lord Luo over right away." Zhou Jianyu, his expression excited, turned and hurried out of the private room.

Watching the closed door of the private room, Cao Wenzhao hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice: "Your Highness, will the elder Lord Luo agree?"

Zhu Xu smiled faintly and said: "That will depend on this young Lord Luo."