Chapter 190: The Wise Crown Prince

Chapter 190: The Wise Crown Prince

Warm Pavilion.

Outside, the rain fell like a watery curtain.

Emperor Hongzhi stood with hands behind his back, waiting anxiously.

Had those two not arrived yet?

Emperor Hongzhi gritted his teeth in frustration.

But then he paused, unable to help feeling concerned. With such heavy rain and so much water on the ground, was summoning them to the palace too harsh? Could an accident have happened?

He sat down. Eunuchs had already been rushing back and forth with reports from the Eastern Palace.

Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao must have taken a carriage into the palace, but after reaching the Meridian Gate, they had to proceed on foot. The eunuchs scouting ahead, however, rode swiftly to the Forbidden City and then jogged into the palace.

So they were much faster.

A young eunuch, drenched and shivering from the cold, entered the pavilion and said, “Your Majesty, this servant has a report.”

Emperor Hongzhi frowned slightly.

If the Crown Prince and Fang Jifan were coming this way, wouldn’t they be soaked to the skin as well? Should he make an exception and allow them to ride their carriage into the palace?

After all… they were still just children, still growing.

But that thought vanished in an instant.

No! He must not spoil them.

Fang Jifan’s own disciple, who had passed the Second Rank Jinshi exam, had been beaten half to death. Did performing a rain prayer make them so special? Did they deserve such favor? In the past, it was because the Crown Prince had been overly pampered that he became arrogant and caused trouble all the time—it was all due to indulgence!

So he composed himself and glanced at Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Xie Qian, Xiao Jing, and Mou Bin, who were kneeling nearby.

The five remained silent, somewhat bewildered.

At their level, they clearly did not believe that the Great Ming truly had immortals assisting it. If there really were immortals who could command wind and rain, why had the previous emperor spent years refining elixirs only to pass away in the end? If someone could truly summon wind and rain, then what was the point of their own roles? Just invite someone to make it rain, and the nation would be peaceful and prosperous!

But the facts were right before their eyes.

Could such a coincidence really exist in the world?

So everyone turned their gaze to the reporting eunuch.

“Speak!”

Emperor Hongzhi urged urgently.

“The Taoist performing the rain prayer is named Li Chaowen, a disciple of Fang Jifan’s…”

Emperor Hongzhi already knew this, though he had long forgotten about this Taoist named Li Chaowen.

“By noon, even though Taoist Li performed the ritual, not a drop of rain fell. Suddenly, the Crown Prince began to weep bitterly…”

Emperor Hongzhi’s face tightened.

This was so typical of his son. He wondered what strange behavior he was up to now.

The young eunuch continued, “The Crown Prince was so grief-stricken he seemed ready to die. He said that heaven was unkind, the people were suffering, and as the Crown Prince, he felt as if sitting on needles, tormented beyond endurance. If heaven wished to punish the Great Ming, the Crown Prince was willing to die to appease heaven, begging only for rain to save the military and civilians. At that moment, the Crown Prince truly tried to end his life, but fortunately, the Newly Established Count desperately stopped him… After that, sweet rain began to fall. Everyone in the House of the Crown Prince was deeply moved, and they all wept. In no time, a downpour began…”

Slap!

Emperor Hongzhi abruptly stood up. This time, even he lost his composure.

He slammed the imperial desk, rose to his feet, and stared intently at the eunuch. “Is this true?”

“Absolutely true. The news… has already spread.”

Emperor Hongzhi looked up at the ceiling beams.

His eyes reddened, and his lips trembled.

Liu Jian and the others gasped in shock.

Xiao Jing and Mou Bin exchanged a glance, seeming to understand something, their faces breaking into ecstatic joy.

The Crown Prince was truly wise.

In these times, unlike previous dynasties, how could Xiao Jing, the leading eunuch of the palace, fail to see the Emperor’s thoughts?

Throughout history, being the Crown Prince was a difficult role. He had to be virtuous and capable, yet not overly so. Though there was familial affection between ruler and subject, father and son, there was also mutual wariness and caution.

But in the Hongzhi Reign, such concerns were entirely absent.

The current Emperor had only one son.

Not only did the current Emperor have only one son, but he placed all his hopes on the Crown Prince.

The current Emperor had only one wife in his lifetime, without a single concubine. Such paternal devotion was evident—his sense of responsibility toward his family far exceeded that of any other emperor.

Therefore, while emperors in other times might fear the Crown Prince gaining too much influence or the people adoring him too much,

in the present, the Emperor only regretted that the people did not love the Crown Prince enough and that the Crown Prince was not virtuous enough.

This bout of weeping, this act of seeking death, instantly shifted the credit for the rain prayer onto the Crown Prince, rather than a mere Taoist.

The Crown Prince sharing the Emperor’s worries—this was filial piety.

The Crown Prince unable to bear the people’s suffering from drought—this was wisdom.

Just an hour earlier, the people had been incited to express dissatisfaction with the imperial court. But now, once this event spread, not only would the Crown Prince’s image as a protector of the people be established, but the tale of the Son of Heaven receiving divine favor would spread throughout the world.

All rumors and slanders would instantly collapse without attack.

How could Emperor Hongzhi not be excited?

“His Highness is so benevolent and virtuous. If the officials and people learn of this, they will all rejoice and congratulate Your Majesty,” Xiao Jing bowed deeply. See, with this heavy rain, Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan had happily taken the entire bowl of credit, but Xiao Jing also wanted a sip of the soup.

Mou Bin did not dare hesitate either. “Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

Liu Jian and the others broke into joyful smiles. The Crown Prince was truly showing more and more signs of being a wise ruler.

Of course, the interpretations of the civil officials and the Eastern Depot and Imperial Guard were different.

Liu Jian, Xie Qian, and Li Dongyang paid more attention to the Crown Prince’s performance. Originally, this had been a private rain prayer—to be honest, the officials had all held their noses and avoided it.

But now, it seemed this was no longer just a simple rain prayer ritual.

This rain prayer was more like confessing faults to heaven.

In the Crown Prince’s name, he admitted his shortcomings to heaven, then declared that all faults lay with him alone, asking heaven to punish only him.

A very standard template for self-accusation, a textbook example.

For Liu Jian and the others, this offered a new perspective.

A girl who knows how to smile usually has good luck.

Ah, no—for civil officials, an emperor or heir apparent who knows how to admit mistakes and blame himself would not be too bad.

Liu Jian looked excitedly at Emperor Hongzhi.

Emperor Hongzhi raised his head, gazing at the ceiling beams. Perhaps because he had lost his composure, he did not wish to appear improper before his officials. His throat seemed choked, and he cleared it before saying, “Very good. I can rest a little easier with the Crown Prince handling affairs.”

Naturally… no one knows a son better than his father.

What kind of person the Crown Prince was, Emperor Hongzhi knew well.

Hadn’t the eunuch explained it clearly?

Fang Jifan reacted swiftly, grabbing the Crown Prince to prevent a disaster.

Emperor Hongzhi saw things clearly. He knew that now, with this timely rain, all the praise, all the credit, everything that shattered the Beggar Sect’s conspiracy—all of it was now attributed to Zhu Houzhao.

“Fang Jifan… is also good.” In his emotional state, Emperor Hongzhi did not use many words to praise him.

“Have they still not arrived?” Emperor Hongzhi looked at the pouring rain outside the Warm Pavilion, growing more anxious.

Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan reached the area outside the Meridian Gate, got out of their carriage, and proceeded on foot.

Although the attending eunuchs had prepared straw rain capes for them, Fang Jifan still shivered from the cold.

He had shot himself in the foot—he had prayed for rain, but ended up drenched like a soaked chicken.

Seeing Fang Jifan tremble, Zhu Houzhao, who had practiced equestrian archery since childhood and had a sturdy physique, said, “Old Fang, are you cold? This Palace will take off my clothes for you…”

“No.” Fang Jifan thought to himself, with your status, would I dare to wear them?

“Then come closer. This Palace will warm you.”

Fang Jifan faced the wind, stepping through the puddles, quickening his pace.

Zhu Houzhao hurried to catch up. “Look at this rain—did we really summon it? Heh… heh…”

Even now, he could not believe it. Though he was soaked to the skin and the straw rain cape felt heavy with water, he was delighted.

Fang Jifan ignored him. Finally, they reached the outside of the Warm Pavilion. While waiting for the eunuch to announce them, he took off his bamboo hat and straw rain cape, but his clothes were already drenched, and even the hair tied in a bun had come loose, hanging down his back.

He reluctantly straightened his attire, then heard from inside, “Requesting the Crown Prince and the Newly Established Count to swiftly present themselves.”

The two entered the Warm Pavilion and immediately became the center of attention.

Emperor Hongzhi saw that they were soaked like drowned rats. Fang Jifan covered his nose, almost sneezing. Emperor Hongzhi frowned. “Go change into dry clothes first. And light the underfloor heating system.”

In summer, Emperor Hongzhi was reluctant to use the underfloor heating. The reason the Warm Pavilion was called such was because it had special flues in its double walls and underground. In winter, they burned charcoal, and heat emerged from the floor and walls, making it as warm as spring even in the coldest weather.

But the fuel required was enormous. Usually, Emperor Hongzhi was unwilling to use it, let alone at this time.

He was a very frugal person.

But today, he was uncharacteristically generous.

So Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao were led to a side hall, changed into clean clothes, and then returned. Now, feeling comfortable, Fang Jifan, looking refreshed, bowed and said, “Your subject Fang Jifan pays respects to His Majesty. Long Live the Emperor.”

Beside him, Zhu Houzhao also paid his respects. But Emperor Hongzhi, who had just calmed down, had no time to acknowledge Zhu Houzhao. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Fang Jifan and said word by word, “Explain this rain in detail. Report everything clearly.”

Fang Jifan took a deep breath. He knew that the explanation given to outsiders was one thing, but here in the palace, standing before the most intelligent and discerning people in the world, using the same story would not hold up.

“Your subject… obeys the decree.”