Chapter 37: Rapping the Knuckles

Zhu Xu smoothed the note out on the table, studied it for a while, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.

These were records of Madam Ke's various habits and routines kept by people he had arranged, most of which had been provided by that young maidservant named Ai'er.

Zhu Xu silently read on, deducing the old witch's various patterns of daily life. She was now hidden away in the palace, unable to appear openly and above board; every time she went out, she had to lay careful cover, and if outsiders ever learned of it by accident, it would be a catastrophe of heaven-falling and earth-splitting proportions.

Likewise, if Zhu Youxiao wanted to "visit" her, he could not go to Xian'an Palace — that would truly expose everything. According to what the note said, Madam Ke was always smuggled under cover to the warm pavilion behind the Imperial Study, and would slip away at dawn the next day under the cover of darkness.

And for most of the rest of the time, she hid in Xian'an Palace, never setting foot outside even a single step.

"Your Highness, this servant has something to report."

After a knock sounded at the door, Cao Huachun's voice followed.

"Come in." Zhu Xu put the note into the drawer and said indistinctly while eating pastries.

Cao Huachun, unlike the other eunuchs with their mincing little steps, strode up to Zhu Xu in large strides and said directly, "Your Highness, just as you predicted, Gu Bingqian and Wei Guanghui have both entered the Grand Secretariat, and **xing has taken over as Minister of the Ministry of Personnel."

Zhu Xu had just swallowed the pastry in his mouth, but inwardly he let out a long sigh. His imperial elder brother really had learned the art of emperorship — the only question was whether he could keep the balance.

Whether within the original eunuch faction, or among the pure-stream officials, or within the Donglin Faction itself, they were all mutually undermining one another, their struggles for power and profit already nearly white-hot — this was not something simple balance could resolve.

Zhu Xu was helpless about all this as well. The Great Ming had reached such a point that many things were deeply entrenched, even rotten to the marrow; even wielding the knife and applying harsh medicine might not necessarily solve the problem.

"Alright, take these to eat, and keep watching." Zhu Xu only wanted to know the state of the court; given his position, he had no way to intervene at all. He handed the remaining pastries in the box to Cao Huachun as he spoke.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Cao Huachun was delighted — he had gradually been integrating himself in, and had lost much of his former stiffness.

Cao Huachun had barely left with the box when Cao Wenzhao walked in with an angry expression, looking at Zhu Xu and saying, "Your Highness, Ni Wenhuan and Zhou Yingqiu want to see you." As he spoke, he handed Zhu Xu Zhou Jianyu's note along with the translated version.

Zhu Xu was not particularly surprised. Ni Wenhuan was easy enough to control, but Zhou Yingqiu was an extremely treacherous and cunning man — expecting a single letter of fealty to turn him into an obedient little child would be nothing but wishful thinking.

After reading the note, Zhu Xu fell into thought. For Zhou Jianyu to send it this way, he probably also had a mind to meet his behind-the-scenes boss. It seemed hiding like this would no longer do.

"Old Cao," Zhu Xu looked up at Cao Wenzhao and said with a smile, "There's nothing to be angry about. Take the things I got from my imperial sister-in-law — the ones that can show status and value but aren't too precious — and give one to each of the three of them."

Cao Wenzhao was stunned, then his eyes flew wide open as he said, "Your Highness, you... want to impersonate Her Majesty the Empress?"

Zhu Xu chuckled darkly and said, "I'm just sending out a few things. How they interpret it is their own business."

Cao Wenzhao thought it over silently, then immediately said to Zhu Xu excitedly, "Your Highness, this move is brilliant!"

Impersonating someone else could still be verified, but impersonating the Empress was impossible to confirm. First, the Empress's identity was sensitive — even if they did see her, they would all understand tacitly and never ask questions. Second, there was no way to verify it — she was very hard to meet, let alone speak with privately. Most importantly, once they saw the items, no one would harbor any suspicion.

Without Her Majesty the Empress's permission, who would dare take her things? And casually give them away to others at that?

"Oh, right — have Cao Huachun's people deliver them directly to Zhou Jianyu's place," Zhu Xu added. "Give Zhou Jianyu a little lesson."

"Yes, Your Highness. I'll see to it right away."

Handling matters for Zhu Xu was what made Cao Wenzhao happiest — perhaps it was a quirk of human psychology, but secret, underhanded affairs always brought particular excitement.

Before long, three young eunuchs entered Zhou Jianyu's silk shop through the back door.

Zhou Jianyu looked at the three men, his heart pounding with fear. Although he knew his "master" was someone from the palace, he didn't know which one. Judging by the bearing of these three eunuch lords before him, it must truly be someone of extraordinary eminence.

The one in the lead was Cao Huachun's disciple, Feng Zhu. He looked down from on high with an arrogant, contemptuous expression at Zhou Jianyu, and said in a sharp, cold voice, "Mister Zhou, the noble one is very dissatisfied with what you did this time."

Zhou Jianyu broke out in cold sweat all over. He knew very well that his "master" could easily have the Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard replaced — so a petty merchant like himself could be crushed as easily as an ant.

His expression was full of terror, cold sweat beading on his forehead, as he clasped his hands and said, "Honored eunuch, please allow me to explain — it was those three who forced me, I couldn't stop them." In his heart he was now beginning to regret it. If he angered his "master" this time and was abandoned, that would be utter catastrophe.

Feng Zhu gave a cold laugh and said, "Whatever scheme you're plotting, the noble one knows it perfectly well. But this is the first time. If you dare do it again, you'd better prepare your own coffin first!"

Zhou Jianyu felt as if pardoned from a death sentence, and hastily bowed, saying, "Thank you, honored eunuch, thank you, honored eunuch. I beg the honored eunuch to put in a good word before the noble one. This lowly one will never have any other thoughts from now on — I will serve the noble one with single-minded devotion, absolutely no second intentions." As he spoke, he pulled three bank drafts totaling five thousand taels from his bosom and handed them to Feng Zhu.

Feng Zhu glanced at them, gave a derisive snort, and said, "Manager Zhou, keep this paltry silver for your retirement. Men!"

The two young eunuchs behind him immediately carried the boxes in their hands to a table at the side, then opened them and set the contents out one by one on the table.

They were respectively an emerald-green walking staff, a glass-colored jade ruyi scepter, and a tiger-striped patterned vase.

Feng Zhu didn't even look at Zhou Jianyu. He walked over, looked at the three items laid out on the table, and said flatly, "These three items were all tributes from Annan. The noble one has ordered me to bestow them upon you three. Remember — just keep them as family heirlooms, no need to show them to anyone. Also, the noble one has learned of Wei Liangqing's matter. Wei Zhongxian won't die anytime soon. If you want to save him, wait until His Majesty's anger has cooled before speaking of it."

Zhou Jianzong nodded repeatedly in assent, not daring to breathe heavily.

Before coming, Feng Zhu had been instructed not to stay long, so after speaking he said, "Alright, conduct yourself well. If I have to leave the palace again, it will probably be to collect your corpse."

Zhou Jianzong's body trembled, and he said hastily, "Rest assured, honored eunuch. This lowly one will certainly do his utmost, with absolutely no second intentions. I beg the honored eunuch to be sure to put in a good word before the noble one." As he spoke, he pulled a stack of bank drafts from his bosom — of unknown amount, estimated at over thirty thousand taels.

Feng Zhu's perpetually cold face finally showed a trace of a smile. He quietly tucked the bank drafts into his bosom and, rare for him, spoke kindly to Zhou Jianzong: "Manager Zhou, although the noble one is quite angry, there's no intention of dealing with you. After all, it was Zhou Yingqiu who was disobedient. Deliver the things to him, put on a full show of authority, and don't be sparing with the lessons. If they don't behave, send word to me, and I'll ask the noble one to back you up and deal with them."

Zhou Jianyu was overjoyed to hear this and said, "Thank you, honored eunuch. Should there be any instruction, please don't hesitate — this lowly one will certainly do his utmost to accomplish it for you."

Feng Zhu looked around, then leaned in close and said in a low voice, "Zhou Yingqiu was taught a very harsh lesson by the noble one before."

Zhou Jianyu's spirits lifted. He had always been unable to speak a single loud word to them because of his base status, but with this Eunuch Feng's words, he was suddenly full of confidence. Equally quick-witted, he said in a low voice, "Rest assured, honored eunuch. From now on, there will be dividends for you every month — feel free to send someone at any time."

This time Feng Zhu was truly satisfied. He waved at the two men behind him and said, "Alright, the business is done. We return to the palace."

"I see the honored eunuch off." Zhou Jianyu hurriedly accompanied them, seeing the three out through the back door.