Chapter 21: Wanting to Win Them Over

Pan Yun touched her share of silver, thinking it still too little.

She needed to send money to her father; Datong was poor, and they had left in haste with little in hand.

Though her second uncle later sent some things, it was surely insufficient.

With their status, to live well, money was essential.

So more money was always better.

Second, her cultivation required silver.

To grow stronger, cultivation was currently the most direct and controllable path for her.

As long as she became strong enough, she would surely rescue her father and brother.

So she still needed money.

Pan Yun glanced at the divine artifact she had been rewarded and longed to step forward and lecture Prince Zhou on feudal superstition.

But chasing after others wasn’t business; there was no suitable opening now.

When Princess Zhou saw Zhao Yuansong leave, she exhaled in relief and said to those still crowded in the room: “The Prince is tired. Zijin, have your wife take the child away—he’s been terrified these past days; send for a physician to examine him soon.”

“You attend to the three Daoists; once the Prince has rested, formally thank them.”

Zhu Zijin and Gu Shi hurriedly agreed; one stepped forward to take the child, the other invited Tao Ji and the others to leave.

Zhu Youjue also had no reason to linger and said to the Princess: “Brother’s care is left to you, sister-in-law.”

Saying this, he led his two sons away in silence.

Zhu Zijin stepped aside respectfully, letting his fourth uncle go first.

Zhu Youjue paused before him, cast him a sidelong glance, then turned and left.

This was the first time Zhu Zihou and Zhu Zidan clearly felt their father’s displeasure toward their cousin; both were deeply shaken.

Zhu Zidan was fine—though pale, he held his composure; Zhu Zihou’s eyes reddened, his chest heaving.

The two brothers quickly bowed to Zhu Zijin, then hurried after Zhu Youjue.

Zhu Youjue did not usually reside in the Zhou Prince’s mansion; his fief was in Xiangfu County, and his Commandery Prince’s mansion was also in Xiangfu County.

But as the Zhou Prince’s condition worsened and rumors spread he had only days left, Zhu Youjue came to Kaifeng Prefecture.

He was now staying in a courtyard at the western corner of the Zhou Prince’s mansion.

Before arriving, he had been napping in the pavilion by the water; a spy from the main courtyard quietly reported, so he immediately rose, changed clothes, and rushed over—only to find he was still too late.

Zhu Youjue returned to the pavilion with a grim face, unable to suppress his rage; he swept his sleeve and sent the fruit platter and tea cups crashing to the ground, the clatter startling the servants, who all bowed and retreated.

Zhu Zihou’s chest heaved, shook off Zhu Zidan’s hand, and stepped forward to demand: “Why is Father angry? Isn’t it good that Elder Brother named Cousin as Zhou Prince Heir?”

Zhu Youjue whirled on him, face dark: “Zhu Youlai disregarded human ethics, framed your grandfather, your elder brother, and me, committed countless crimes—and yet his son still became Zhou Prince. Is this heaven’s justice? What good is that?”

Zhu Zihou insisted: “Cousin is Elder Brother’s adopted son; Second Uncle never raised him a single day. Cousin recognizes only Elder Brother as his father.”

Zhu Youjue sneered: “Your elder brother is the Zhou Prince. Zhu Youlai is now a commoner—he naturally recognizes only your elder brother as father.”

Zhu Zihou disagreed: “Father, Cousin is not like that.”

Zhu Zidan also said: “Father, Cousin may be weak-willed, but he is kind and filial. He is not one who abandons righteousness for gain.”

He paused, then added: “Regardless of the title, Cousin was raised by Elder Brother and Elder Sister-in-Law since infancy. When Second Uncle took him away, he was already twelve. Between them, there was no affection. Even when Second Uncle was still Commandery Prince, he treated him poorly, often beating and scolding him. After being stripped of his rank and reduced to commoner status, Cousin’s life grew even harder—he was treated worse than cattle or horses in their home.”

“Isn’t it because Elder Brother nurtured and loved him that Cousin reveres him?”

Zhu Zidan said: “If you suspect Cousin’s filial piety is motivated by the Zhou Prince title, then what motivates you and Elder Brother to honor Elder Brother?”

Zhu Youjue flew into a rage and struck him: “Insolent!”

“Crack!” Zhu Zidan bowed his head but kept his back rigid.

Zhu Zihou stepped forward to shield Zhu Zidan, staring defiantly at his father.

Zhu Youjue’s anger surged, then he suddenly snapped back to himself: over the years, to comfort his elder brother, and because he himself had certain thoughts, he had often sent his children to the Zhou Prince’s mansion—only for them to grow closer to his elder brother and grow disobedient to him as father.

Especially Zhu Zihou and Zhu Zidan—they had lived in the Zhou Prince’s mansion since age two, returning to the Commandery Prince’s mansion only once or twice a year.

The Zhou Prince’s mansion had become their home; the Commandery Prince’s mansion had turned into a relative’s house.

This was a complete loss—losing both wife and soldiers. Zhu Youjue’s chest ached with rage; he turned, searching for something to beat the boys with.

Zhu Zidan thought a moment, then shoved his brother: “Run.”

Zhu Zihou hesitated, unwilling to flee.

Zhu Zidan grabbed him and ran: “Minor punishment, endure it; major punishment, flee. Father clearly wants to kill us. To spare him regret later, we run now—otherwise, if he regrets it, won’t we be unfilial?”

Zhu Zihou thought it made sense and followed him.

Zhu Youjue was still searching for a suitable weapon when he turned—both boys had fled hand in hand. He chased after them, furious: “You brats, come back! Oh—!” His foot slipped, and half his leg plunged into the water.

Zhu Zihou and Zhu Zidan ran faster, vanishing in a flash.

Meanwhile, Gu Shi, carrying the child back inside, had ordered hot water for his bath and was asking him what had happened these past months.

In half a year, Zhu Tongqie remembered only his father and mother; other memories were hazy.

He didn’t know how he got lost, only recalled: “Many children, bad men led us through tunnels, then many people came with knives and torches—I was terrified and ran everywhere—Third Grandfather took me away.”

“Third Grandfather was a kind man. When he begged for food, he gave me some, so I wasn’t hungry.” Here Zhu Tongqie reached out to Gu Shi, reciting his beggar’s chant: “Give me a bun, a bowl of soup—may you live long and healthy~”

Zhu Tongqie beamed, looking up at his mother with a pleading smile.

Gu Shi’s heart shattered; she gasped and pulled him tightly into her arms, weeping uncontrollably.

Zhu Zijin, having settled Tao Ji and the others in the guest quarters, entered the courtyard and heard his wife’s sobs—he snatched up his robe and dashed inside: “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

Zhu Tongqie looked terrified, pulling his small hand back, utterly confused why his mother was crying.

!.read

Seeing his father, he burst into tears.

Gu Shi rushed into Zhu Zijin’s arms, clutching the child as she wept: “Husband, let’s leave. Qie has suffered too much. I’m afraid—I’m terrified…”

Zhu Zijin embraced mother and child, eyes red, shaking his head: “No. Father is gravely ill; leaving now would be betrayal. And Mother…”

He held Gu Shi tightly: “Don’t worry. I will protect you both. This will never happen again.”

Gu Shi shook her head, not believing him.

It wasn’t that she doubted his ability—rather, over ten years had passed since they left their village and Beijing; they were poor, with no allies. Even if Zhu Zijin wished to protect them, he could not ensure their safety.

Zhu Zijin said: “I’ll beg Mother. Don’t fear, and don’t speak of leaving. Father has already submitted the petition to name the heir—what would leaving now mean?”

After crying, Gu Shi’s grief eased somewhat; reason returned. She knew leaving now was impossible.

Or rather, from the moment they left their village, left Beijing, they had no path back.

Gu Shi wiped her tears, voice choked: “I understand. After I bathe him, I’ll take him to see Mother.”

In this household, besides the Prince, only the Princess could protect them.

The Prince is now gravely ill, with no spare energy—but the Princess can.

If we win her pity, she will surely care for us more.

The couple quietly discussed it; after bathing Zhu Tongqie and feeding him something, Gu Shi carried the child to see the Princess, while Zhu Zijin went to persuade the three Daoists.

The three Daoists sat facing each other at a table—oh, Pan Yun was not yet a Daoist.

Xuanmiao believed they should leave: “The child has been delivered. Why linger?”

Pan Yun: “I’m uneasy about the child. I must ensure he lives safely in this mansion.”

Pan Yun looked up, half-smiling: “Daoist Xuanmiao, so powerful—you must have seen his short-life sign long ago?”

Xuanmiao: “From the moment he returned to the Zhou Prince’s mansion, his death calamity was resolved.”

“Is that so?” Pan Yun looked skeptical. “I think it’s not resolved—or rather, one death calamity was lifted, but a new one has appeared.”

Xuanmiao: “…Everyone dies. Can you wait here until he dies of old age?”

Pan Yun: “Didn’t you see the half-room of dying people? So many about to die violently surround him—isn’t that dangerous?”

Xuanmiao frowned at her: “That’s due to burial rites. When the Zhou Prince dies, by law, childless consorts must be buried with him, as well as their personal maids and nurses. But the Zhou Prince has already submitted his petition to name the heir—once the imperial decree arrives, half these people will be saved.”

“That calamity is past. The rest cannot be saved.”

Follow-up game: after updating, screenshot your follow-up ranking. Each chapter’s end randomly selects ten lucky numbers to earn Mo Yan’s ten points of love.

The lucky numbers for this chapter are those ending in 9. Screenshot as proof; deadline is when the next chapter updates. Winners may join the group “The Odd Sword of Ming” to claim their prize.

Xuanmiao: “From the moment he returned to the Zhou Prince’s mansion, his death tribulation was resolved.”

"Is that so?" Pan Yun frowned skeptically. "I feel it hasn’t been resolved—or rather, that one death tribulation was overcome, but a new one has appeared."

Xuan Miao: "...Everyone must die. Can you really wait here until he grows old?"

Pan Yun: "Didn’t the Daoist see the half-room of dying people? So many who are about to die violently surround him—how can that not be dangerous?"

Xuan Miao frowned at her. "That’s because of burial by Xunzang . When the Prince of Zhou dies, according to protocol, all childless concubines must be buried with him, as well as their personal attendants—the maids and nursemaids. But the Prince of Zhou has already submitted his petition to designate an heir as the heir apparent; once the imperial edict arrives, half of them will be saved."

This tribulation has passed. Those left to face it cannot be saved."

Follow-up game: After each update, screenshot your follow-up ranking. At the end of every chapter, ten random lucky numbers are drawn to earn Mo Yan’s ten points of affection."

The lucky numbers for this chapter are those ending in 9. Screenshot as proof. The screenshot deadline is when the next chapter updates. Readers who win may join the group 'Jian Zou Pian Feng De Da Ming' to claim their prize."

(End of chapter)