Chapter 6: Zhang Wenda

An imperial edict already issued could certainly not be recalled or amended. Wei Zhongxian's long-plotted scheme had been interrupted out of nowhere, and he was so frustrated he wanted to spit blood.

Further inquiry revealed that Luo Sigong had personally stepped forward, with two Grand Secretaries vouching as guarantors — this made him gnash his teeth in hatred. But right now he was weak and isolated, utterly without recourse, and could only swallow that mouthful of old blood back down his throat.

"I couldn't get the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but the Eastern Depot will definitely be mine!" Wei Zhongxian swore inwardly. Having been impeached by the Donglin Faction for days on end, he had reached the limit of his endurance.

Zhu Xu knew nothing of Eunuch Wei's fury, but that did not stop him from waking up fresh and clear-headed early in the morning, then cheerfully going to pay his respects to his imperial brother.

"Royal brother, royal brother, come quick, come quick."

Zhu Xu walked into the Imperial Study with practiced ease. The moment he entered, the Tianqi Emperor called out to him loudly, his expression quite excited.

It had to be said that the Tianqi Emperor was also a very diligent emperor — it was just that his work was not handling state affairs, but carpentry.

Zhu Xu had already mastered the role of a child to perfection. He immediately walked over with a grinning face, full of curiosity: "Has imperial brother found some treasure?"

Zhu Xu walked up close and looked. This imperial brother of his didn't seem to have risen early — rather, he looked as if he hadn't slept all night. His eyes were bloodshot, his face weary, yet his expression was quite excited. He pulled Zhu Xu over and said, "Royal brother, come look. This is the lost *Heavenly Works Atlas* by the ancient sages that Minister Wei found for me. Truly exquisite beyond compare — a marvel to behold."

There were sages of carpentry too?

Zhu Xu grumbled inwardly, but still widened his eyes to look, then reached out to touch it, turning it over and over, pinching it this way and that.

Zhu Youxiao thought Zhu Xu was just like him, excited to see a 'relic of the sages,' and was waiting for this 'kindred spirit' younger brother to give him some praise.

Zhu Xu sneered inwardly. Had 'the sages' already used this fine grade of Xuan paper? Didn't they all use bamboo slips?

It could only fool you.

But this was not the time to expose it. His eyes darted around, and he said urgently, "Imperial brother, at a time like this you still haven't rested? Sister-in-law sent me first thing this morning to call you to rest. Even the 'books of the sages' can't be read through the night like this."

Perhaps because Zhu Xu's pivot was too abrupt, Zhu Youxiao was stunned for quite a while before slowly raising his head to look at the sky outside, saying, "I thought it was still yesterday. I didn't expect a whole day had already passed. Worthy indeed of a 'relic of the sages.'"

Zhu Xu nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood. If you, old man, could put even half your mind on state affairs, the Great Ming wouldn't fall so fast!

"Alright, I'll go rest at the Empress's place now." Zhu Youxiao carefully tidied up the 'relic of the sages' in his hands, then said to Zhu Xu, "Royal brother, look around on your own for now. We'll discuss it tonight." With that, he yawned and, surrounded by a crowd of eunuchs, went off to find the Empress and sleep.

Zhu Xu watched the Tianqi Emperor leave, then stood idly by the imperial desk, flipping through memorials from all over — here a great drought, here a great flood, here a popular uprising, here a successful bandit suppression...

Finally, he picked up one memorial, weighed it in his hand, the corners of his mouth curling slightly, a glint of light flickering in his eyes. In the end, he put it back.

The memorial of Zhang Wenda, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, requesting retirement to return to his hometown.

He flipped through many more for quite a while, then reached a conclusion, saying in a tone of sighing admiration: "The emperor's job truly is not work for human beings."

Zhu Xu noted down a few names, then left the Imperial Study and wandered around the palace, and in the end still went to Kunning Palace.

"You can't go in!" At the entrance to Kunning Palace, Huan'er spread her arms wide, her pretty face frosty, blocking Zhu Xu's way.

Zhu Xu was taken aback — this was the first time he'd been barred at the door of Kunning Palace. Then he grinned and said, "Sister Huan'er, did you just see something you shouldn't have?"

Huan'er wore a cyan, knee-length slanted-stripe dress. At his words her pretty face flushed red instantly, the blush spreading to her earlobes, delicate and alluring.

"Ah, Huan'er's heart is springing..."

As if he'd discovered a new continent, Zhu Xu shouted loudly, turned around, and ran.

Huan'er was greatly alarmed and hurriedly peered inside, only relaxing with a secret sigh of relief once she confirmed the two inside hadn't heard. Then, looking at the back of a certain someone already disappearing, she ground her silver teeth and, shy yet furious, glared at the maidservants all around, saying, "From now on, whenever Prince Hui comes, he is not allowed in!"

"Ah..."

"Don't, Sister Huan'er..."

"Sister Huan'er, His Highness is still young. Don't hold it against him..."

At the news that Prince Hui could no longer come, the maidservants who had been snickering all around burst into lamentations, softly pleading and chattering at Huan'er.

Huan'er grew even angrier at heart. Looking at each one pleading for him, she held her ground like a mountain, snorted, turned around, and went inside, leaving the group to continue their lamentations.

"Still young? He's more cunning than a hundred of you put together! Don't think I don't know — you just like it when he rewards you little tramps..."

Huan'er, who had gone inside, suddenly came back, glaring at the maidservants and lecturing them again. Her final verdict was: I said no entry, so no entry — unless Her Majesty the Empress herself says otherwise!

Would Her Majesty keep His Highness from entering? If he didn't come for three days, Her Majesty would probably go to Jinghuan Palace herself!

The maidservants immediately beamed with joy, yet quickly stiffened their faces, putting on looks of obeying Sister Huan'er's orders.

One of the maidservants, once Huan'er had gone inside, found an excuse and quietly slipped away with the other sisters.

Having dragged things out until roughly lunchtime, Zhu Xu and Cao Wenzhao strolled leisurely to the back gate of the Minister of Rites' residence.

Glancing around, Zhu Xu cautiously looked front and back, then said to Cao Wenzhao with full confidence, "Old Cao, call the door."

"Open up, open up — a guest has come to call." Cao Wenzhao went up and pounded on the door as if he meant to shake it apart, calling out in a deep voice.

"Begging the guest's pardon," a household retainer inside soon responded loudly, "my master declines to receive guests. If it is necessary, please go around to the front gate."

Cao Wenzhao was taken aback. He turned to glance at Zhu Xu, then pulled a banknote from his bosom and slipped it through the crack in the door, saying, "My young master comes from within the palace. Please make an exception."

Soon the banknote was pushed back out, accompanied by the retainer's voice: "Please, guest, do not make things difficult for me."

This time Cao Wenzhao truly had no tricks left. He turned to look at Zhu Xu, who was at that moment also stroking his chin, gazing up at the sky at a forty-five degree angle.

Cao Wenzhao looked at the sky — it was overcast today, nothing to see. He was about to open his mouth to ask when suddenly inspiration struck. He pulled a memorial from his bosom and slipped it through, saying, "Please present this memorial to Minister Zhang."

This was a Censor's memorial impeaching Zhang Wenda.

There was silence inside for a while, then the voice came again: "Guest, please wait a moment. I'll go and return shortly."

Zhu Xu looked at Cao Wenzhao, a flash of surprise in his eyes — this rough fellow had learned to use his head too.

Cao Wenzhao immediately grinned and said to Zhu Xu, "I only thought of this because of how we dealt with Luo Yangxing yesterday."

Zhu Xu nodded in approval, feeling a considerable sense of accomplishment. This was a man he had trained himself, after all.

Before long, the retainer came running back and slipped the memorial back out from under the door, saying, "Begging the guest's pardon, my master is unwell today and not convenient for receiving guests."

"It seems he is determined to resign from office." Zhu Xu muttered to himself, cleared his throat, stepped forward, and said to the tightly shut door: "By oral decree of Her Majesty the Empress, Zhang Wenda, receive the edict."

Both inside and outside the door fell instantly silent. Cao Wenzhao opened his mouth, then nodded in stunned agreement — this method was indeed the most effective, and there was no fear of being exposed.

Before long, the teeth-grating sound of the door opening rang out, and a handsome household retainer said to Zhu Xu, "My master invites His Highness Prince Hui to enter."