Chapter 32: Artisan Households

Outside the alleys where the artisan households of the capital's northern city lived, a line of horse-drawn carriages suddenly arrived, laden with grain, cloth, and other daily necessities, escorted by a group of Embroidered Uniform Guard officers, some mounted and some on foot.

The convoy stopped in the open area before the alleys. Several sword-bearing guards fanned out, watching their surroundings warily. The curtain of the foremost carriage was lifted, and Wang Cheng'en stepped down, setting out an embroidered stool. The Chongzhen Emperor, dressed in plain robes, jumped straight down from the carriage.

Several children playing at the mouth of the alley suddenly caught sight of so many carriages and soldiers with long sabers at their waists. Startled, they fled into the narrow alley in a flash, but curiosity got the better of them, and they kept peeking out from time to time at the newcomers.

Chongzhen smiled warmly at the children. He beckoned to a five-or-six-year-old girl with bare feet, tattered clothes, and a finger in her mouth, who was hiding in the alley and peeking out timidly. "Little one, come to Uncle," he called. "Uncle has something to ask you, and I'll give you candy too!" He reached out a hand toward Wang Cheng'en, who hurried to the carriage and brought back an exquisite lacquered box. Zhu Zhenqing opened it, took out a glistening piece of candied fruit, and waved it at the girl a dozen paces away.

The girl turned to look at her playmates nearby, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately could not resist the temptation of a food she had never seen before and that looked so delicious. Slowly, she walked up to Chongzhen.

Chongzhen bent down and placed the candied fruit in her hand. The girl took it timidly, her bright eyes fixed on Chongzhen, but she did not eat it right away. Chongzhen smiled gently. "Why aren't you eating? This is called candied fruit—it's delicious. Go on, eat it. Uncle has more!"

Relaxing under Zhu Zhenqing's smile, the girl grinned and said, "Er Ya won't eat it. I'll take it home for my little brother! He's sick. Mama's holding him and crying, so Er Ya came here to wait for Papa to come home!"

Chongzhen's heart sank. He handed the lacquered box to Wang Cheng'en and scooped the girl up in his arms. "Where is your home? Take Uncle there—Uncle knows how to treat illnesses!"

The girl squirmed in Chongzhen's arms for a moment, but when she heard he could treat the sick, she quickly said, "Are you a doctor? Aren't all doctors grandpas with white beards? My home is the second door!" She pointed at the alley before them.

Carrying her, Chongzhen strode into the alley, issuing a low command as he walked: "Go to the Imperial Academy of Medicine and summon an imperial physician. Be quick!"

Wang Cheng'en behind him acknowledged at once, then turned to order one of the officers. That officer immediately vaulted onto his horse and galloped away.

Chongzhen had not walked far with the girl when they came to a dilapidated courtyard. The low gate stood open. Bending his head, Chongzhen carried the girl inside, with Wang Cheng'en and several officers following.

Though the courtyard was small, it was kept very clean. Facing the gate stood three main rooms, with a latrine off to one side. In the middle of the yard grew a locust tree, whose leaves were already beginning to fall.

The girl squirmed out of his arms, and clutching the candied fruit, ran toward the main rooms built of rammed earth, shouting as she ran, "Mama! Uncle the doctor is here, and he gave me something tasty!"

At her cries, a plain-featured young woman in her twenties emerged from the room. She wore a patched jacket-and-skirt, and her eyes were still red and swollen. Seeing strangers suddenly in her yard, she started in alarm. She pulled the girl close to her side at once, eyeing Chongzhen and the others warily. "Who are you people?" she demanded. "My husband is still at work and hasn't returned. I'm just a woman of the house—it's not proper for me to speak with you. If you have business, you'll have to wait until my husband comes back!"

Annoyed by the woman's harsh manner, Wang Cheng'en stepped forward to rebuke her.

Chongzhen raised a hand to stop him, signaling him to step back. "Sister," he said to her, "I heard from Er Ya that her little brother is very ill. As it happens, I have some knowledge of medicine. Let me first look at the child's condition. We can discuss everything else afterward!"

Without waiting for the woman to object, he stepped into the house. The woman moved to block him, but then thought of how destitute her family was—even if these men were thieves, there was nothing worth taking. Besides, her child was gravely ill and she had no money for a doctor. Watching her child convulse, she had already been in despair. Now that Chongzhen claimed to know medicine, it was like a drowning person grasping at a lifeline. She followed Zhu Zhenqing inside.

The room was somewhat dim. Chongzhen saw a broken table and two benches in the main room—clearly where they ate. As he looked around, the woman who had followed him in pointed to the left. Following her gesture, Chongzhen entered the room on that side. On an earthen bed-ledge spread with a tattered straw mat lay a young boy of a few years old, wrapped tightly in a worn cotton quilt with only his head showing.

Chongzhen hurried to the bedside and pressed a hand to the boy's forehead. It scalded his palm. From the basic knowledge of his previous life, he knew this was a high fever—around forty degrees. Ignoring how filthy the quilt was, he hastily unwrapped it from the boy. A wave of heat rushed out at him. The child was already unconscious from the fever.

He was about to undo the boy's clothes as well when the woman behind him lunged forward, clawing at Chongzhen, screaming, "What are you doing?!" The guards who had followed in were horrified. One guard sprang forward, seized the arm the woman was using to tear at Chongzhen, and twisted it lightly. With faint cracking sounds, both of the woman's arms popped out of joint and hung limp. The guard raised his palm to strike her vital point, but Zhu Zhenqing said softly, "Don't hurt her!" The guard's wrist turned in an instant, chopping at the woman's neck. Her body went limp and toppled sideways. The guard caught her, lifted her, and carried her out of the room.

Though it takes long to tell, the whole thing lasted only a few seconds. Chongzhen cast an approving glance at the back of the guard who had acted.

The woman's outburst had frightened Wang Cheng'en half to death—if His Majesty had been harmed, he himself would deserve ten thousand deaths. Fortunately, the guard had reacted with extraordinary speed. In the blink of an eye, the woman was knocked unconscious. Only then did Wang Cheng'en let out a great sigh of relief, inwardly reproaching himself.

Seeing that Chongzhen meant to continue undressing the boy, he hurried forward to take over. Zhu Zhenqing ordered the window opened. A current of cool, fresh air flowed through the room, thinning the foul, stagnant atmosphere.

Chongzhen sent a guard to the kitchen to boil a pot of hot water. The guard acknowledged and left.

In the yard, Er Ya saw a fierce-looking man carry her mother out, her head hanging limp. She thought the man had beaten her mother to death. She burst into loud sobs, threw the candied fruit to the ground, and ran at the guard, pounding him with her little fists as she wept. The man, deeply embarrassed, could only dodge aside.

Hearing the crying, Chongzhen came out. He signaled the guard to leave, then crouched down and gathered Er Ya into his arms, saying gently, "Your mother was just tired and fell asleep. She'll wake up in a little while. Er Ya is a good girl. Er Ya, don't cry. If you keep crying, Uncle won't treat your little brother!"

Er Ya's sobbing stopped abruptly. Tears still streaked her face, and she gave a few small sniffles. Looking into Chongzhen's eyes, she felt safe. "Er Ya will be good," she said. "Er Ya won't cry. Uncle is a good man. Uncle will cure my little brother. Bad people have fierce eyes. Uncle's eyes are just like Papa's!"

Chongzhen's nose stung and his eyes reddened; tears threatened to fall. He took a deep breath, hugged Er Ya, and stood up, looking around him.

A family with nothing, in a filthy, chaotic environment—a girl like Er Ya growing up in such conditions was heartbreaking. Since he had come to this world, it was heaven's arrangement for him to change all of this. He would make sure that every innocent, lovely child like Er Ya grew up in an environment of plenty, health, safety, and joy. That was his mission.

A guard arrived carrying the boiled hot water. Chongzhen set Er Ya down, told the guard to watch her carefully, then went back inside. He had the guard soak a cloth in the hot water, wring it out, and repeatedly wipe the boy's neck, behind his ears, armpits, and the soles of his feet.

Er Ya's family's cloth was too worn to be of any use, like a rag. Wang Cheng'en pulled a clean white handkerchief from his bosom and handed it to the guard. After a busy stretch of work, Wang Cheng'en reached out and felt the boy's forehead, exclaiming in delight, "Your Majesty, it's working! It's much cooler than before!"

Chongzhen shook his head. "That's only temporary. If we don't bring the fever down in time, it will damage his brain! To cure him completely, we'll need medicine. Why hasn't the imperial physician arrived yet?"

Even as he spoke, the sound of hoofbeats came—then stopped at the mouth of the alley, followed by the clatter of hurried footsteps approaching.

Chongzhen stepped out of the house. Two tall, sturdy guards were half-carrying an old man of about sixty in a green official robe, hurrying into the yard. Seeing Zhu Zhenqing, the guards released the old man, saluted, and withdrew to one side. A guard behind them handed a medicine case to the old man, who was still panting heavily. Zhu Zhenqing recognized him at once—this was Hu Fangwen, an imperial physician of the Imperial Academy of Medicine, highly skilled in his art. Several of the Crown Prince Zhu Cilang's illnesses had been treated by him.

Once Hu Fangwen had caught his breath, he suddenly saw Chongzhen in plain robes and started in great alarm. He was about to kneel in full ceremonial obeisance when Chongzhen raised a hand to stop him. "I am in plain clothes," Chongzhen said. "No need for formal ceremony. See to the patient first—that's what matters!"

Hu Fangwen went inside, led by a guard. Er Ya looked up at Chongzhen with her big, blinking eyes. "Uncle," she said, "the grandpa seems very afraid of you! Er Ya knows he's a doctor. Er Ya knows that box—doctors all use that box!"

Hu Fangwen's arrival put Chongzhen at ease. He bent down and picked up Er Ya, smiling. "Uncle is in charge of the doctors," he said. "Now that this grandpa is here, your little brother will be fine!"

A quarter of an hour later, Hu Fangwen came out carrying his medicine case. Setting it down, he clasped his hands and bowed to Chongzhen, then said, "Your Majesty, the child has wind-cold fever symptoms. It is not a serious illness—it only reached this state because it was not treated in time. I have administered a powder to dispel the exterior and reduce the fever. His condition has stabilized. I have left enough medicine; after several doses he will fully recover. Thanks to Your Majesty's measures, the illness was slowed—had it not been for that, the child's condition would have been difficult to treat!"

Chongzhen smiled. "It is still Physician Hu's skill that is superior. My efforts were not worth mentioning. When I return to the palace, you will have your reward!"

Hu Fangwen naturally hastened to decline the praise. Zhu Zhenqing ordered that he be escorted back to the palace. Hu Fangwen bowed and took his leave.

By then, Er Ya's mother had also slowly come to. Opening her eyes and seeing Chongzhen playing with Er Ya in his arms, she was seized by fury and distress and began shouting wildly. The neighbors, hearing the commotion, came out of their own courtyards to see what was happening. Catching sight of the guards standing at attention with drawn swords outside the gate, they hastily retreated back inside and shut their doors tight.

Chongzhen understood Er Ya's mother's feelings. He signaled a guard to take her inside to see the child, and Wang Cheng'en followed. Once inside, the guard who had subdued her quickly popped her arms back into joint. Ignoring the pain, Er Ya's mother rushed to the boy lying on the bed-ledge, crying urgently, "Little Bao! Little Bao! Are you all right?"

The boy lying there was about three or four years old. He had woken up by now, and seeing his mother rush over, he said weakly, "Mama... hungry..."

Seeing her son awake, Er Ya's mother was overjoyed. She threw herself forward and hugged him tight. His body was still warm, but no longer burning. Big teardrops streamed down her face as she sobbed with joy, unable to speak.

Once she had calmed down a little, Wang Cheng'en cleared his throat and said, "You woman, you are most unreasonable! Do you know how exalted a personage my master is? He personally treated your child, and yet you tried to tear at him with your hands! Do you know what a grave crime that is? It is only because my master is magnanimous—had it been anyone else, your whole family would not have lived!"

At these words, the woman stopped crying. She rose and knelt before Wang Cheng'en, knocking her head heavily against the ground. "I wronged my benefactor," she said. "I am guilty. I deserve to die!"

Wang Cheng'en stepped aside from her bow. "Enough, enough," he said. "My master is the greatest benefactor under heaven. He will not hold this against you. If you wish to give thanks, go out and thank my master. I cannot accept such a grand bow from you!"

At this, the woman rose. Turning back to look at her son on the bed-ledge, whose color had already greatly improved, she wiped the tears from her face and hurried out of the room. Reaching Chongzhen, she knelt and knocked her head three times, then looked up at Zhu Zhenqing. "I had eyes but could not see," she said. "I did not know my benefactor had come to save my child. If my benefactor wishes to strike me or punish me, I will bear it without complaint!"

Chongzhen set Er Ya down and signaled a guard to help the woman to her feet. Smiling, he said, "You were only acting out of love for your child. I will not blame you. The physician just said your child is out of danger—a few more doses of medicine and he will fully recover. Now then, I still have other matters to attend to. Shortly, someone will deliver rice, flour, and pork, along with five taels of silver. This is what the court is giving to all you artisan households. Your husband will also receive regular wages from now on. All the artisan households, yours included, will have better days ahead. You must raise Er Ya and her little brother well at home. In the future, the court also plans to establish schools, so that children like Er Ya can learn to read and write. Sister, the days ahead will get better. I'll be going now, but I will send people to check on Er Ya from time to time!"

Er Ya's mother was stunned speechless. Er Ya, hearing that Zhu Zhenqing was leaving, hugged his leg and looked up at him, her eyes full of reluctance to part.

Chongzhen stroked her tousled hair lovingly and said gently, "Uncle still has much to do. Er Ya is a good girl. Stay home, listen to your parents, look after your little brother, and help your mother with the chores. Uncle will send people to see you, and when there's a chance, I'll take you to Uncle's house to play. Uncle is going now!"

Er Ya's big eyes brimmed with tears, but she held them back, only nodding obediently with all her might. Chongzhen patted her little cheek, turned, and walked out of the yard. Wang Cheng'en and the others followed close behind. The whole crowd of people withdrew in a rush, leaving only the obedient Er Ya and her mother, who had not yet come back to her senses.

Back at the spot where the convoy was parked outside the alley, Chongzhen ordered his attendants to distribute the supplies and silver door to door. They were to say that His Majesty, sympathizing with the hard lot of the artisan households, had spent his own money especially to reward them—nothing more needed to be said. The craftsmen would explain the rest to their families when they came off duty.

More than a hundred people in all—guards and eunuchs together—followed along. Apart from a dozen or so left to stand watch, the rest set to work with the supplies.

Chongzhen paced back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back a few times, then suddenly caught sight of the guard who had knocked Er Ya's mother unconscious standing on watch not far away. He beckoned the man over.

This guard was around thirty years of age, of medium build and ordinary features, with a steady, powerful stride. He carried no blade, though something bulged at his waist—an unseen weapon of some sort.

Stopping a few paces before Zhu Zhenqing, the guard knelt and saluted. Zhu Zhenqing waved for him to rise, then looked him up and down. The man, unnerved by Chongzhen's scrutiny, began to fidget awkwardly.

Seeing this, Chongzhen could not help but laugh. "What is your name?" he asked. "Where are you from? How many in your family?"

The man hastily bowed with clasped hands and reported, "Your servant is Cheng Qianli, hereditary Centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a native of the capital. My household consists of a wife and two sons—the eldest thirteen, the youngest ten!"

Chongzhen then asked, "Cheng Qianli, I see you have impressive martial skills. Who is your master? Do you know internal energy techniques? Can you leap over roofs and scale walls?"

Cheng Qianli reported, "Your servant's martial arts come from Mount Wudang. My master is Daoist Zhang Yunyi, a close friend of my father's generation. When I was six, my father sent me to Mount Wudang to study under my master. I stayed there for ten years before returning to the capital. Five years ago, I inherited my father's post and became a guard to His Majesty. As for the internal energy Your Majesty mentioned, I do not fully understand it. I cannot leap over roofs and scale walls either, but climbing walls and crossing heights with the aid of tools is not difficult for me!"

Chongzhen continued to ask, "With your skills, how many men could you take on bare-handed?"

Cheng Qianli pondered for a moment and replied, "Against ordinary men, without weapons, I could probably handle several dozen. Against those trained in martial arts, no more than ten!"

Chongzhen asked again, "What weapon do you use? I see something at your waist — is that your weapon?"

Cheng Qianli replied, "I use a soft sword, and I am also skilled with throwing darts. I can wound a man from about ten paces away!"

Chongzhen said, "How many men around me have skills like yours? Do you usually spar with one another in private?"

Cheng Qianli glanced at the guards on alert around them before answering, "These brothers and I are all hereditary embroidered uniform guards from generation to generation. Our skills are all decent, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. There are over a dozen men with skills comparable to mine. After our shifts, when we gather for drinks, we sometimes spar as well, for we are all from families with longstanding ties, as close as brothers!"

Chongzhen nodded and said, "My guards must not only be highly skilled — more importantly, they must be loyal. This you must all keep firmly in mind. My safety rests upon you. Apart from the imperial house, you need not curry favor with anyone. If you encounter any difficult problems you cannot resolve, tell me, and I will see justice done for you! Today you guards have rendered meritorious service. Wang Cheng'en, reward Cheng Qianli with ten taels of silver, and five taels for each of the other guards!"

Cheng Qianli knelt to the ground, kowtowed, then raised his head to look at Chongzhen with a solemn expression and said, "Your servant's hereditary post has passed through several generations. From childhood, I have known only the two words 'loyalty and righteousness'! I swear that whether in the past or in the future, I will never harbor any disloyalty toward Your Majesty. If I violate this oath, may my entire family be reborn as pigs and dogs in the next life!"

Chongzhen reached out a hand to bid him rise, and said, "I trust you all. As long as you are loyal to the imperial house, I will never treat you unfairly."

As they spoke, the men distributing supplies gradually returned. With over a hundred people visiting more than three hundred households, it did not take long. Chongzhen boarded his carriage and returned to the palace.