Chapter 207: Peace and Prosperity

After hearing Fang Jifan’s words, everyone looked at Empress Zhang and immediately got excited. The time had come to show their loyalty.

So everyone became excited for a while.

“A few days ago, my estate hunted a bear. The bear’s paw was taken, so why not ask a chef to cook it and offer it to the Imperial Palace…”

“I have a food from my hometown, your servant thinks…”

People chattered away, all guessing what might tempt His Majesty’s appetite.

Midway through, someone suddenly said, “Eh, where are Shouning Hou and Earl of Jianchang…”

Silence fell.

Everyone cautiously watched Empress Zhang.

No one expected that feeling a bit silly would happen during this ‘national crisis’.

…

In a corner, Zhang Yanling hurried to catch up with his elder brother. His eyes were red, he sniffled, and spoke with some guilt.

“Bro, I think we’re too stingy. His Majesty was so good to us brothers. Last time when someone accused us, he just called us to the Imperial Palace. He stayed up all night talking reason with us. Bro, let’s offer His Majesty a bowl of porridge.”

Zhang Heling had his hands behind his back. His thin shoulders hunched a bit as if he was sad too. He looked up at the bright moon, his face thin and pale.

That round moon was like a steamed cake. If it really was a cake, it must… taste so good.

At that thought, he couldn’t help but swallow. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, and he sniffled, choking with emotion.

“Do you think I wanted to sneak away? Blame these legs! These awful legs don’t listen to me. The moment they heard those words, the heart couldn’t control the legs… Ah… poor His Majesty… This hurts so much.”

After hearing that, Zhang Yanling bent down and pounded his legs, agreeing quickly with his brother.

“You’re right, it’s these awful legs’ fault! They’re worthless, worse than pigs or dogs. I almost want to saw them off.”

Zhang Yanling slowly stepped forward. At the white marble railing, he stood side by side with Zhang Heling. Both raised their heads to gaze at the moon, their eyes showing a bit of shame.

“Bro.”

“Hmm?” Zhang Heling glanced sideways at Zhang Yanling.

“You’re really clever.”

“…”

“Bro…”

“Hmm?”

“I’m hungry. Are you hungry?”

“…”

Zhang Heling stayed quiet.

“Bro, why aren’t you talking?”

“…”

“Bro, do you believe in ghosts?”

“…”

“They say many palace maids died wrongly in the Imperial Palace. They turn into vengeful ghosts.”

“…” Zhang Heling shivered.

“Bro…”

“Shut up!”

“Oh.”

…

Empress Zhang listened to everyone and grew worried.

If it weren’t necessary, she wouldn’t have summoned so many officials at night.

Now, His Majesty had no appetite and was listless. An imperial physician had already warned that His Majesty must eat something.

Otherwise…

Empress Zhang sighed. Her phoenix-like eyes flickered as she looked at the ministers all wanting to offer local specialties. She pursed her lips and said thoughtfully, “Normally, His Majesty loves my cured porridge the most. But now… he has no taste for that at all.”

Suddenly, all voices stopped.

If His Majesty had no appetite even for his favorite, and Empress Zhang herself confirmed it, then… who dared say their food was better than the Empress’s?

Liu Jian felt urgent and couldn’t hold back, saying, “Then, we ministers might try entering the Grand Secretariat to speak our minds. We ask His Majesty to act for the imperial realm.”

At this point, it looked like they had to force things.

He had to eat whether he wanted to or not.

Empress Zhang shook her head helplessly. She sighed deeply before speaking.

“It seems there’s no other way now. Actually, when the Grand Empress Dowager and This Palace called you here late, it was for this.”

In the darkness, the quiet Fang Jifan suddenly said, “This is a mental illness!”

Everyone’s attention turned to Fang Jifan.

But… wasn’t that obvious?

What else could it be?

“Maybe, your servant could go have a look first.”

“It’s no use.” Empress Zhang smiled bitterly and shook her head, frowning deeply. “All who should have seen him have seen him. His Majesty doesn’t say a word.”

“I’ll do my best to try.” Fang Jifan still wanted that chance.

Deep down, he wanted to blame everything on Zhang Xin’s foot-binding cloth. Yet… he also knew that the whole thing seemed to tie back to him.

Fang Jifan insisted, so Empress Zhang didn’t refuse. She just frowned and stayed quiet without speaking.

Fang Jifan took it as a yes.

So he stepped forward. Zhu Houzhao caught up to him saying, “This Palace will go with you.”

“It’s best if the Crown Prince waits here.”

Fang Jifan thought that more people would just get in the way. People with mental problems need calm to open up. Fewer visitors were better.

In fact, close family wasn’t fit for this moment because… Fang Jifan knew that Emperor Hongzhi was a strong man, or at least he pretended to be. He’d never show weakness in front of his wife or son.

So, Fang Jifan walked proudly without announcement, boldly entering the Warm Pavilion.

Inside, a young eunuch knelt carefully in a corner, attending. Fang Jifan waved at him.

“You go out. Remember, close the door.”

The eunuch hesitated but rose obediently.

Emperor Hongzhi half-reclined by the imperial desk, head resting on his hand. He looked tired. Yet… he held a memorial. Under the oil lamp’s glow, though only in his thirties, white streaks showed at his temples. He appeared a bit aged.

Now he frowned without speaking and seemed not to care about the outside world.

He just focused on the memorial.

Fang Jifan bowed and said, “Your servant, Fang Jifan, greets His Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

Emperor Hongzhi gave a lazy response and kept reading the memorial.

Fang Jifan smiled slightly and asked, “Your Majesty, it’s so late at night. Are you still reading memorials?”

Emperor Hongzhi paid him no mind.

The memorials on the imperial desk piled high and messy. But Emperor Hongzhi’s face looked more downcast.

Fang Jifan approached Emperor Hongzhi and spoke, “Your Majesty handles endless work daily, truly a role model for your servant.”

Still no reply.

Was he in a trance?

He was the emperor. If he wanted to space out, no one could do much.

If it were Fang Jifan’s dad acting this way, it would be simpler. Find a few strong men to pin him down, force his mouth open… no, wrong idea. Pin him down and make him eat whether he liked it or not.

Fang Jifan thought that treating an emperor roughly wasn’t possible. This needed skill.

“Then, Your Majesty… your servant takes his leave.”

There was no reaction from behind the desk.

It was as if he were a stranger. Emperor Hongzhi didn’t bother with him.

Fang Jifan sighed inwardly. Empress Zhang must have cried before His Majesty with such closeness. Yet Emperor Hongzhi remained like this. That showed Fang Jifan’s little tricks wouldn’t spark the emperor’s interest.

After thinking, Fang J ifan decided it wouldn’t work this way and needed a new plan. A flash of inspiration came to him.

“Your Majesty, you must feel hopeless now,” he said bravely.

Seeing no reaction, Fang Jifan let go and knelt on the floor, eyes bright.

“When Your Majesty inherited the throne, you must have felt proud and determined. You surely thought you wouldn’t be like the former emperor. You wanted to be a wise son of heaven, to change the world, so everyone tasted your kindness. Your Majesty aimed to build a golden age of peace and prosperity!”

“In truth, you thought it and did it. For thirteen years, not a day passed without your utmost effort. Outside the palace, I heard Your Majesty dealt with military and state affairs for seven to eight hours daily. You slept only two to three hours. Your Majesty disliked beauty, didn’t covet fine jade, ignored fancy robes, and never had fun. Among past lords, only Emperor Taizu could compare.”

That was true. Emperor Hongzhi worked relentlessly. While others held court thrice weekly, he chose twice daily. From opening his eyes, he reviewed memorials and discussed matters with officials, refusing to stop late into the night.

He hated beauty, so he had no concubines. He valued frugality and set an example in the Imperial Palace, making the Empress weave cloth herself. He cut palace staff and sent palace maids away.

Fang Jifan figured such a person was a real tough guy. History had emperors like him, but one so strict with himself would be strict with others too.

Oddly, Emperor Hongzhi was hard on himself but lenient with those around him.

That… didn’t quite add up.

Fang Jifan touched his heart and thought: “If I were emperor and worked like this old dog, I’d want to whip everyone lazy. ‘I’m exhausted, and you take it easy?'”

Seeing no response, Fang Jifan sighed and went on.

“The one pride in Your Majesty’s life was ending many bad laws. Also, though the world suffered disasters, it stayed mostly calm. You must have thought your effort was worth it. Like a candle flame, Your Majesty burned yourself but finally gave peace to many poor souls.”

“Yet, that trip to the Western Hills showed you countless Wang Sans. Only then did Your Majesty see… the great realm wasn’t as you dreamed. However hard you worked, people still starved. There were many like Wang San, content with a little hut. A bite of food made them praise your grace. Your Majesty realized then that all your work… meant little. You labored your whole life and sweated half of it. In return, you didn’t achieve peace and prosperity. This so-called golden age was laughable.”

As he spoke, the emperor lying by the desk still stared at the memorial, motionless. Only a single tear escaped his eye and rolled down.

His face stayed stern and still.