Chapter 76: Luo

"This Prince Hui isn't some glutton, is he?"

"He really knows how to eat. Truly worthy of a prince—even breakfast gets this many variations."

"First the chicken, then the soup. Who knows what other tricks are coming. At this rate, I wonder if one day will even be enough."

After another long while, Zhu Xu finished his soup, stretched lazily, and looked at the crowd below. "You all get on with your work. This prince is off to take a post-meal nap." With that, Zhu Xu rose and walked toward the side door as if no one else were there.

And so, under the dumbfounded gaze of the crowd, Zhu Xu strolled leisurely into the rear hall of the Ministry of Justice.

After quite some time, a yamen runner holding a discipline staff finally stammered, "His Highness… went to sleep…"

"Seems like it…" The runner beside him replied, also looking dazed.

The Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Justice and the Recorder of the Court of Judicial Review exchanged a glance, both with a trace of amusement in their eyes. At this rate, the focus of this case would fall on this unreliable Prince Hui, and the longer this dragged on, the more favorable it was for them.

Naturally, Zhu Xu's antics also brought knowing smiles to many who had been fraught with worry. The many moves they had prepared were all halted, and they quietly settled in to watch the show.

Zhang Guoji continued to feign sleep. His task was to make sure Zhu Xu didn't run wild and blow things out of proportion. As long as things didn't escalate, however Zhu Xu chose to act was fine.

In the side chamber behind the main hall, Zhu Xu sat down on a chair. With food and wine in his belly, he truly was feeling drowsy.

Cao Wenzhao and Feng Zhu had been keeping close at his side. Feng Zhu looked around, then stepped close and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, Eunuch Cao has received word—Luo Yangxing has returned."

Zhu Xu's brow rose at once, a look of interest appearing on his face.

Luo Yangxing had originally been pushed by him into the position of Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, precisely to stop Wei Zhongxian from getting his hands on it. Later, the moment this Lord Luo took office, he had gone off to GX on official business. He shouldn't have been able to return for a year or more, yet here he was back in the capital after barely a month.

Soon, Zhu Xu's thoughts turned to that old fox Luo Sigong. Without his permission, Luo Yangxing could never have returned.

"Seems we'll have to go meet the two Lord Luos," Zhu Xu murmured to himself.

Cao Wenzhao asked, "Then, Your Highness, what about here?"

Zhu Xu smiled faintly. "No rush. I have my own plans. Find yourselves a place to sit and rest. Wake me before lunch."

"Yes, Your Highness." The two answered in unison.

His Highness Prince Hui had truly gone off for his post-meal nap. Duke Zhang in the main hall was also feigning sleep, while the officials of the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review each lowered their heads and drooped their eyes, letting the time trickle past.

Since word hadn't spread yet, no one had come to watch. The bigwigs weren't handling matters, so those below naturally grew lax, swaying about and murmuring in low voices.

"Is this case going to be tried or not?"

"Exactly. I've been at the Ministry of Justice this long, and this is the first time I've seen a trial conducted like this."

"I think at this rate, someone's definitely going to be in trouble."

"Right. That young prince won't have any problems—it's the rest of us who'll suffer."

The Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Justice and the Recorder of the Court of Judicial Review, who had been keeping still and indifferent all along, suddenly frowned at the murmurs around them. They raised their heads and exchanged a look—both felt that letting this continue was becoming improper.

The Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Justice hesitated briefly, then walked before Zhang Guoji, bowed, and said with a smile, "Your Grace, the main hall can't just sit empty like this. Would you perhaps have a word with His Highness about beginning the trial?"

Zhang Guoji looked up at him with sleepy eyes, as if he hadn't fully woken. After a dazed moment, he said, "Oh, all right. I'll go take a look."

With that, he stood up and walked toward the side door.

The Vice Bureau Director breathed a slight sigh of relief, exchanged a glance with the Recorder of the Court of Judicial Review, and retreated with a relaxed heart.

Zhang Guoji entered the side chamber. Cao Wenzhao and Feng Zhu quickly rose and stepped over, asking in low voices, "Your Grace, is something the matter?"

Zhang Guoji glanced at Zhu Xu, who was already fast asleep, and yawned. "Sitting up to sleep is too tiring. I'll nap in the side chamber for a while too."

Zhang Guoji was the birth father of Her Majesty the Empress—how could the two dare to be negligent? They hastily made way and even prepared a place for him to sleep.

Zhang Guoji lay down on the small cot across from Zhu Xu and slept in his clothes, making no extra demands whatsoever.

The Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Justice and the Recorder of the Court of Judicial Review both stared quietly at the side door, waiting for His Highness Prince Hui to appear.

But wait they did—all the way until midday.

Zhu Xu walked out yawning, looked at the crowd in the main hall, and waved his hand. "All right, everyone disperse. Go eat your meals. We'll reopen the court this afternoon."

With that, he led Cao Wenzhao and Feng Zhu out of the Ministry of Justice's main hall with great swagger.

The Vice Bureau Director of the Ministry of Justice and the Recorder of the Court of Judicial Review looked at each other in bewilderment. Half the day had passed just like that—gone in His Highness Prince Hui's post-meal nap?

But there was nothing they could do. They couldn't very well open court at a time like this, so they had no choice but to dismiss the crowd and each return to think of solutions and report upward.

Leaving the Ministry of Justice, Zhu Xu walked through the streets with Cao Wenzhao, Feng Zhu, and a group of imperial guards.

"Your Highness, shall we head straight for the Luo residence?" Cao Wenzhao asked.

Zhu Xu thought for a moment, then shook his head.

Outside the palace, he was operating under the name of his imperial sister-in-law, Empress Zhang. He didn't know how much Luo Sigong could uncover, but if he went straight to the Luo residence, facing an old fox like Luo Sigong, he didn't have enough confidence to fool him.

After pondering for a while, he said, "Better to have Luo Yangxing called out. Right—have Zhou Jianyu handle it."

Cao Wenzhao nodded. "Yes, Your Highness. I'll make the arrangements at once."

"Good. Let's go! Let's find a nice place to eat. Once we're done, we'll deal with those people this afternoon!" Zhu Xu swung his arms and, forgoing the sedan chair entirely, strolled casually through the streets with his men.

The Luo residence.

Luo Yangxing stood before Luo Sigong, his face bearing the weary traces of travel.

Luo Sigong sat in his chair, his fierce brows and hawk-like gaze fixed on Luo Yangxing. For a long while, he said not a word.

Luo Yangxing couldn't hold his patience and looked at Luo Sigong with confusion. "Father."

Only then did Luo Sigong turn his gaze to Luo Yangxing. He smiled faintly, with an air of mystery and self-mockery. "You want to ask why I called you back midway?"

"Yes," Luo Yangxing said. Back then, Luo Sigong had sent him out of the capital to avoid the factional strife at court. Now that the strife at court was growing ever fiercer, he was puzzled as to why his father had called him back.

Luo Sigong spoke with a tone of lament, looking outside. "Because I underestimated our Empress."

Luo Yangxing had a rough understanding of what had happened in the capital, but not the details, so he could only say, "I beg your guidance, Father."

Luo Sigong's eyes flickered with a strange light. "In simple terms—the Empress first cut off Wei Zhongxian's claws and fangs, then used the Donglin Faction to drive him out of the capital. After that, she schemed to poison Lady Fengsheng to death, and finally threw the fleeing Wei Zhongxian into the imperial prison. Her methods are unfathomable, yet simple and deadly."

Though Luo Sigong's words were few, Luo Yangxing's heart pounded with alarm as he listened.

Wei Zhongxian and Lady Fengsheng, Madam Ke—these two had once forced the Chief Grand Secretary of the court to lay down his office and return to farming, and had compelled numerous Ministers and Vice Ministers to resign. Clearly they were no ordinary formidable figures. Yet in less than a single month, one was dead and the other imprisoned—the eunuch faction, which had been at the height of its power, had collapsed utterly.

This Empress's methods were truly terrifying!

"Then, Father, what is your purpose in calling me back?" Luo Yangxing asked, still full of doubt.