Chapter 74: Merit for the State

As soon as Zhu Houzhao saw Emperor Hongzhi’s face darken, he was terrified and immediately stammered, “N-No… it’s because I went to the Western Hills Coal Mine and saw those miners in ragged clothes with my own eyes. Only then did I realize how bitterly hard the common people’s lives are. For them, all they seek is a full stomach. I was thinking, the books say water can carry a boat but also overturn it. It isn’t just words. If the people cannot survive, they can overturn the boat. But if we let them avoid hunger and cold, they can carry the boat. For many, just being able to live is heaven’s blessing. If we can fulfill this small desire, they will feel deep gratitude toward the imperial court and toward you, Imperial Father. These past few days I have been pondering this. What the common folk seek is actually so simple. Yet even such a simple thing, emperors throughout the ages were unwilling to do, so refugees rose everywhere, wars never ceased, and they eventually lost their empires. My heart… my heart…”

Emperor Hongzhi was completely shaken.

Liu Jian’s face flushed red all the way to his ears.

Xie Qian stared wide-eyed at Zhu Houzhao as if looking at a monster.

Even the usually unreadable Li Dongyang suddenly changed expression.

Fang Jifan said nothing, feeling like he had been set up. The trip to Western Hills Coal Mine was done sneakily, and now it was all spilled.

But… for the Crown Prince to grasp this truth, it must have been because those grateful miners planted a seed in his heart during the visit. Zhu Houzhao, always raised in the deep palace without want, finally felt moved after experiencing the hardships of the common people.

Zhu Houzhao cautiously glanced up at Emperor Hongzhi. He felt guilty and didn’t know if he said the right thing or if he would get punished.

But before he could pause too long, Emperor Hongzhi’s chest heaved, and he sharply urged, “Continue.”

Zhu Houzhao’s legs went weak from fear, and he hurriedly stammered on, “Your son and servant truly despises those monarchs who lost their kingdoms. They shut their doors, indulged in wine and luxury, but completely failed to see how many frozen bodies lay by the roadsides, how terribly the common people suffered. I used to hear my tutors lecture about how cruel the tyrants of past dynasties were. Only now do I understand—they lost the world by their own fault…”

Emperor Hongzhi’s chest rose and fell, but he didn’t exhale. He stared at Zhu Houzhao in disbelief, his mind buzzing.

Zhu Houzhao didn’t dare look up at his Imperial Father. Actually, these were all thoughts he came up with himself after visiting the Western Hills Coal Mine. Of course, the rote education from before, though most went in one ear and out the other, had left some phrases in his heart. These dull concepts started to connect with what he saw and heard.

Zhu Houzhao said seriously, “So I firmly believe, as long as the imperial court diligently carries out Fang Jifan’s plan for the Bureaucratization of Native Chieftains, and makes the native people believe that without the chieftains, their lives can be better—if they believe this, and the court can truly deliver—then the Bureaucratization of Native Chieftains will surely succeed. I dare to guarantee it.”

Emperor Hongzhi instinctively stepped back, only to bump into a palace lantern stand.

The carved, hollow lantern stand toppled with a crack, smashing the lampshade on top to pieces.

A young eunuch nearby hurriedly bent down to clean it up.

Emperor Hongzhi suddenly said, “Don’t move!”

His expression was indescribably strange.

But his heart felt an unrestrained surge; he wanted to laugh out loud but tried hard to hold it in. As for Qian Yue’s murder, Mi Lu’s rebellion—what did such small matters matter? The Great Ming Dynasty wouldn’t perish because of one chieftain’s revolt. All of the Great Ming’s hopes rested on the Emperor, and on the future Emperor.

The world’s authority lay in one person; the lives, deaths, glory, and shame of countless subjects depended on one man.

His greatest worry and concern was the Crown Prince.

Rebellions could be suppressed; disasters could be relieved; mistakes in governance could be corrected. But if the Crown Prince was unfit to rule, that was the truly alarming matter.

His son… had grown up.

Emperor Hongzhi’s eyes grew slightly moist.

At this moment, he seemed less an emperor and more a living father, an immensely gratified father.

He took a deep breath. Though wildly excited, he dared not show it, afraid that his joy would make the Crown Prince arrogant.

Strict discipline raises good sons.

So he had to try hard to appear stern.

“Did I say something wrong?” Seeing the look, Zhu Houzhao’s eyes darted about nervously. He quickly said, “Your son and servant… your son and servant…” He wanted to say “deserves death ten thousand times.”

But Emperor Hongzhi interrupted him in as calm a voice as he could manage, though it trembled slightly, “You also went to the Western Hills Coal Mine?”

Zhu Houzhao’s face changed dramatically. He suddenly wanted to slap himself. I’m such an idiot, he thought, hanging his head. “Yes… yes…”

Emperor Hongzhi said lightly, “Who went with you?” As he spoke, Emperor Hongzhi looked at Fang Jifan, his gaze meaningful.

Zhu Houzhao immediately said, “I went alone, no one else… uh… actually there were others… I brought Companion Liu Jin, and… Zhang Yong, Gu Dayong, Ma Yongcheng, Qiu Ju, Luo Xiang, Wei Bin, Gao Feng, and others…”

Luckily Liu Jin and the others weren’t present, or they’d probably faint from fright. That pretty much caught everyone from the House of the Crown Prince.

But… Zhu Houzhao was fairly loyal, not giving away Fang Jifan.

It showed Fang Jifan that this friend… was worth having.

Emperor Hongzhi narrowed his eyes, his deep gaze even more meaningful. He exchanged a look with Liu Jian and the others, then said slowly, “Only these people?”

Zhu Houzhao said without hesitation, “I am an honest person, how could I lie with my eyes open?”

“…” Fang Jifan couldn’t help but want to rub his forehead. The Crown Prince seemed quite loyal, but… ah…

Fang Jifan coughed once. “Uh… actually, I was there too.”

Better confess. The Emperor wasn’t a fool, and Liu Jian, Xie Qian, Li Dongyang—those Grand Secretaries, each was sharper than the next. Honestly, Fang Jifan didn’t even dare meet their eyes, afraid they’d see right through him.

Zhu Houzhao suddenly looked awkward and confused.

A trace of a smile flickered in Emperor Hongzhi’s eyes. Then he looked at Zhu Houzhao. “No next time.”

Huh?

The punishment was raised high, but Zhu Houzhao was surprised it came down so lightly. “No next time” clearly meant there would be chances to sneak out to the House of the Crown Prince again.

Emperor Hongzhi then looked at Fang Jifan and said, “Fang Jifan.”

Emperor Hongzhi’s expression was gentle, like a spring breeze.

Fang Jifan said, “Your servant is here.”

No one could guess Emperor Hongzhi’s thoughts at that moment. He paused briefly. “You gave early warning, which is a merit for the State Altars. About Qian Yue, I regret not listening to your advice. From today, you shall accompany the Crown Prince in his studies at the House of the Crown Prince.”

Liu Jian and the other two stiffened, immediately grasping Emperor Hongzhi’s intent.

Fang Jifan… truly had talent. This kind of talent was different from ordinary Eight-Legged Essay scholarship—like the Bureaucratization of Native Chieftains, like his analysis and advice regarding Qian Yue. Thinking back now, Fang Jifan indeed had an extraordinary ability.

Of course, that wasn’t the most important point.

Liu Jian stroked his beard, a faint smile on his face, because he understood clearly: the Emperor’s decision wasn’t just because of Qian Yue and the Bureaucratization matter, but because of the Crown Prince’s speech today. Since Fang Jifan entered the House of the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince truly seemed revitalized compared to before. The Crown Prince was the foundation of the state, crucial.

By ordering Fang Jifan to accompany the Crown Prince in his studies, His Majesty’s intent was naturally clear.