Chapter 1516: A Son of the Zheng Family

Taking advantage of the moment when everyone else had gone to collect the prey, the Crown Prince edged a little closer to Zheng Sen.

"Zheng Sen, are you not enjoying yourself?"

Zheng Sen, who had been somewhat dazed, did not react immediately upon hearing the Crown Prince's question. Only after a moment did he lower his head with a trace of fluster.

"In answer to Your Highness, your servant is enjoying himself thoroughly. It is just that my marksmanship is poor, so I hardly dare make a fool of myself..."

His reply was extremely respectful, but he was still a child after all, so he was not very good at hiding his expression. That sense of loss and dejection was written all over his face.

"Your marksmanship is excellent; I have seen it myself. During our hunt in the autumn park last year, I watched you shoot with my own eyes." The Crown Prince exposed Zheng Sen's lie. "You are so listless because they won't play with you, and that has made you feel left out, hasn't it?"

"Your servant... your servant..." Zheng Sen lowered his head, not knowing what to say.

"Ah... I actually know all about your quarrels and fights, and I have spoken up a few times, which has finally made everyone restrain themselves a little..." The Crown Prince frowned slightly. "This time, when I called you over alone, they didn't take the chance to bully you, did they?"

"They didn't bully me. They wouldn't dare!" Zheng Sen suddenly raised his head, his eyes full of pride. "If they dared to bully me, I would fight them. Don't think that just because I'm alone this time I'm afraid—I'll take on as many as come! They're afraid of me!"

Looking at this indignant child, the Crown Prince couldn't help but laugh. "And you said you were enjoying yourself. Aren't you just full of pent-up anger?"

He felt that Zheng Sen's temperament was very similar to that of his own younger brother, Prince of Qi, Zhao Hu—both had a fiery nature and both possessed courage and strength. However, compared to Brother Hu, he knew how to be a bit more restrained. This was probably the difference between the imperial clan and the families of ministers.

With this thought, he reached out and took the ten-year-old boy by the hand, leading him off to one side.

"They won't play with you, but I am still here. Come, take a walk with me. I have some things I want to say to you."

"Your Highness?" This sudden gesture from the Crown Prince left Zheng Sen baffled, but because it was the Crown Prince, he dared not resist and could only let himself be dragged along.

The others were just hurrying back this way and were surprised to see the Crown Prince gesturing to them, signaling them not to approach yet. So they could only stand where they were, utterly confused, waiting for the Crown Prince to summon them again.

After they had walked a short distance, the Crown Prince let go of his hand and then strolled forward, gazing at the magnificent mountain and river scenery around him as he walked. Looking out, the mountain ridges stretched on and on, overlapping in high and low folds. The lush, shadowy trees covering the mountains, the deep blue and boundless sky, and the few ethereal wisps of cloud above all seemed to form a faint ink-wash landscape painting. Between heaven and earth, there seemed to exist some kind of spirit, making one feel completely at ease.

It really is better to come out and walk more often...

"Your Highness...?" With a nervous and uneasy heart, Zheng Sen followed behind the Crown Prince in small steps, his eyes full of curiosity, not understanding what the Crown Prince was suddenly thinking about.

"Zheng Sen, bringing you here alone this time was a special arrangement." The Crown Prince stopped his musings and then looked seriously at the boy, who was half a head shorter than him. "It was not to make you suffer grievances, so you needn't feel unhappy in your heart."

"Your Highness...?" Zheng Sen still did not understand and looked up at the Crown Prince.

"You have stayed by my side for two years now..." The Crown Prince drew a little closer to Zheng Sen. "Do you miss home?"

"I do. How could I not?" Zheng Sen answered without a moment's hesitation, with no pretense. "I have dreamed of my parents and my hometown many times. In these two years, I have only seen my parents twice, both times when Father came to the capital for an imperial audience. How could I not miss them..."

Thinking that it was now the New Year festival and this Zheng Sen still could not see his parents, the Crown Prince could not help but feel a twinge of pity for the boy.

However, the Emperor's gathering of these children of meritorious nobles together was originally a consideration of national policy, and the education of the noble scions was also a top priority for the new dynasty. So no matter how pitiable the other party was, the Crown Prince could only keep it suppressed in his heart.

But now, the situation was no longer the one of a hundred things waiting to be done at the founding of the Great Han. The Great Han's national power was now flourishing, and there was no longer any need to worry about powerful local clans causing trouble. Moreover, over the past few years, the original maritime military forces of Zheng Zhilong's family had largely been absorbed by the Great Han navy. Therefore, it would not be out of the question to relax some policies and allow Zheng Sen and the children of other nobles who had surrendered later more time to visit their parents.

"Your home is in Fujian, and the journey from the capital is truly long and far, making travel back and forth difficult. So it is indeed hard to meet, and there is really nothing to be done about it. However... if you can do me a favor, I can have the tutors give you a leave of absence, so you can return home to visit your parents and stay there properly for a month or two." The Crown Prince laid out his plan.

"Do the Crown Prince a favor?" Zheng Sen was still utterly bewildered. He did not understand why the Crown Prince was speaking to him like this. In his eyes, the Crown Prince was the future emperor, who could very well lay down the law and command people like them at will; there was no need to use this kind of consultative tone.

However, since the Crown Prince was willing to speak this way, it was naturally wonderful.

"Your servant is willing to do the Crown Prince's bidding. Your Highness, please just say the word. Tell me who to beat up, and I'll beat them up!" He puffed out his chest and said with full confidence.

Seeing the child act so adorably, the Crown Prince, who was not very old himself, could not help but let out a chuckle. This laugh immediately relaxed much of the solemn atmosphere between the two of them.

"I am not telling you to beat anyone up. I want you to do me a favor and also render meritorious service to the nation." Only after laughing for a moment did the Crown Prince reply.

"Render meritorious service to the nation?" Zheng Sen was puzzled again. "At my age... what merit could I possibly render for the nation..."

"You are young, but as long as you have the will, you can certainly render merit." The Crown Prince deliberately put on a stern face. "Let me tell you a major matter. Do not tell anyone else."

"What matter!?" Being a youth after all, Zheng Sen immediately pricked up his ears to listen.

"Before long, I will be going on a diplomatic mission to Liaodong and Goryeo, to comfort the people and the tributary state on behalf of my father the Emperor." Although there was no one around, the Crown Prince still lowered his voice. "When I get there, I will also receive a Japanese envoy. You speak Japanese, don't you?"

The Crown Prince had not expected that upon hearing these words, Zheng Sen's originally very excited expression would suddenly darken considerably, and his lips quivered slightly.

He did indeed speak Japanese, and that was because his mother was Japanese.

In the third year of the Tianqi era, when Zheng Zhilong went to Japan to trade, he married a local woman of the Tagawa clan. In the fourth year of Tianqi, Zheng Sen was born in the Hirado Domain in Kyushu, and he was not brought back to China by his father until he was six. At the age of eight, he was sent by his father to the capital.

When he was little and ignorant, he did not understand the specifics of the situation, but only after growing up did he realize that he was born to his father and a foreign woman. After arriving in the capital, because he was surrounded by the Great Han's emperor and meritorious nobles, this identity became all the more sensitive. In order not to bring suspicion upon his father, and also to prevent others from looking at him differently, he never spoke to anyone about his mother's background or his childhood experiences. He never imagined that today the Crown Prince would bring it up directly to his face.

Only after a moment did he nod his head. "Yes, your servant speaks Japanese." He offered not a single word about the specific reasons; in any case, the Crown Prince surely knew.

"Don't be upset. I meant nothing else by it." Seeing that he was unhappy again, the Crown Prince consoled him. "Since your mother has married the Marquis of Kuaiji and is usually dignified and virtuous, she is a person of the Great Han, and you are also a person of the Great Han. No one will look at you differently—at least, I will not."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Zheng Sen lowered his head to express his thanks, and his original dejection was largely dispelled.

"Now that we've spoken of this, you probably understand. I am going on a trip to Liaodong and Goryeo, and I will also receive a Japanese envoy, so I need someone who understands Japanese by my side." The Crown Prince quickly changed the subject. "The court's Foreign Affairs Department has people who understand Japanese, but they are court officials with their own duties, and it would not be convenient for me to trouble them all the time. So I thought, if I could pick someone from among the attendants to go with me, that would be ideal... Of course, if you are unwilling to go, I will absolutely not force you. Goryeo is not a particularly fun place, and there won't be anyone you know there. You might find it even more stifling."

The court's plan to launch a military campaign against Japan was top secret and could not be leaked to the outside. However, if the Crown Prince went to Goryeo, the commotion would be too great and could certainly not be hidden from the court and the public. Therefore, an alternative title had to be arranged: "Touring Liaodong and Goryeo on behalf of the Son of Heaven, to comfort the people of Liao and the hearts of the tributary state." They did not expect to fool many people, but at least there would be a plausible excuse to give.

The reason for choosing Zheng Sen, apart from the fact that he understood Japanese and could provide help, was also the consideration that when the Crown Prince went to garrison Goryeo, he wanted to have trustworthy and courageous attendants by his side. Besides, with the mountains and passes cutting them off from home, it would at least be good to have a friend to talk to and relieve the boredom from time to time.

Just as the Crown Prince had anticipated, hesitation appeared on Zheng Sen's face. Out of a youth's natural curiosity, he wanted to go, but he truly felt that leaving the capital for Goryeo would be too stifling, so he was somewhat torn.

"Is Your Highness saying... that if I handle this assignment well, when we return, you can have the tutors grant me leave to go home and visit my parents?" After hesitating for a moment, Zheng Sen asked in a low voice.

"Yes, I will not deceive you." The Crown Prince nodded.

Although he could forcibly order the other party to follow him, and presumably he would not dare disobey, the Crown Prince had always disliked forcing people when it was unnecessary. It would be best if Zheng Sen was willing to go with him; if not, it would not matter.

"Very well then, I'll go!" Zheng Sen no longer hesitated this time and shouted out loud. "Your Highness, please allow me to accompany you to Goryeo! Let me render meritorious service to the nation!"

"You must think it through carefully. Once we really set out, there will be no room for regret." The Crown Prince shook his head. "Don't agree so quickly. Think it over some more."