Chapter 232: Congratulations Your Majesty

At first, the young scholars handled their horses awkwardly. Fear showed plainly on many faces. They clung tightly to the saddle, some even cried, snot and tears flowing freely.

There was one like the big-sized Xu Jie, who let out wild laughter. But he had the worst time. Perhaps because of all the laughing, his little pony got startled and threw him straight off. Luckily, this was a sweet potato field, and the soil was soft. After getting a mouthful of dirt, he scrambled back onto the horse.

Zhu Houzhao was panting hard but found it hilarious. Only when facing this group of young scholars did he feel a bit like a real man. He leisurely rode around a few times before finally reining in his horse. He gathered the young scholars and explained the nature of horses and the skills of riding to them.

After dismissing the young scholars, Zhu Houzhao spotted Fang Jifan watching from afar some distance off.

He raced over joyfully, grinning brightly, “Old Fang! How was that? Satisfied with this Palace as the Academy Head?”

Fang Jifan, naturally, didn’t hold back on compliments: “Your Highness is wise.”

Zhu Houzhao clasped his hands behind his back and let his smile fade. A rare trace of seriousness showed on his face. “Hearing you call me wise actually feels… strange. Awkward. Never mind. This Palace believes these young scholars shouldn’t bury their noses solely in books. They need to build their bodies up! In our Great Ming, scholars are more plentiful than stray dogs. Going through something like this… don’t you think it’s essential?”

Fang Jifan deeply agreed; scholars were indeed too numerous, to the point of overcrowding.

Still, he said, “But not studying isn’t acceptable either. Without study, reason remains obscure.”

Zhu Houzhao’s smile returned, “What this Palace wants are talents like the Champion Marquis! See? Didn’t Emperor Wu cultivate the Champion Marquis into the Champion Marquis? From now on, this Palace will prod them to ride horses every single day.”

Fang Jifan gave Zhu Houzhao a meaningful look, “Your Highness, aren’t you afraid this might reach His Majesty’s ears and earn you his disapproval?”

Zhu Houzhao threw back his head with a loud laugh, hands on his hips. He then grabbed the young scholar Xu Jie. Xu Jie was only about nine years old, yet quite tall and sturdy. Zhu Houzhao yelled at him, “Loudly tell this Palace! Do you want to ride horses? Do you want to shoot arrows?”

“YES!” Xu Jie roared back, bursting with excitement.

Zhu Houzhao gave his bottom a light kick. “Get lost.”

The kick loosened Xu Jie’s riding trousers; half of his bottom showed, bright white and unmistakable. He hastily hitched up his trousers and scurried off, beaming.

“See? These young scholars all love riding horses!” Zhu Houzhao planted his hands back on his hips and raised his voice. “What is there to fear from Imperial Father? This Academy is this Palace’s domain! This Palace’s words rule here!”

Fang Jifan could only raise a thumb in admiration, “Your Highness is wise.”

…

In the Warm Pavilion.

Emperor Hongzhi held several letters. His face was flushed a deep crimson. He’d still been basking in the joy of the sweet potatoes. For three days straight, the palace meals had featured sweet potato rice. With the Emperor setting the example, the entire court also happily revelled in eating this dish.

Now, however, after reading the letters…

Emperor Hongzhi cast his eyes around, “Xiao Jing…”

Xiao Jing bowed deeply. “Your Servant is here.”

“Has the Crown Prince been staying at the Western Hills lately?”

“Huh…?” Xiao Jing instinctively glanced at the documents in the Emperor’s hand. He was… confused. How had His Majesty… learned of this?

Xiao Jing answered honestly, “Yes.”

Suddenly, Emperor Hongzhi slammed his hand violently on the imperial desk! His face furious. “This unfilial son! Ruining himself is one thing, but he’s dragging others down!”

“Ah…” Xiao Jing still didn’t really grasp why the Emperor suddenly exploded.

Emperor Hongzhi glared coldly. “Did I order you to find out about the Western Hills Academy? Did you?”

“This servant inquired. It’s His Highness the Crown Prince and Fang Jifan…”

Xiao Jing didn’t finish. Emperor Hongzhi stared at him coldly, cutting him off. “The Crown Prince is the Crown Prince! Why drag Fang Jifan into it? Besides this little scoundrel, who else could cause all this trouble? Fang Jifan has been pouring all his efforts into that sweet potato project these past days. Everyone under the heavens knows it! I refuse to believe Fang Jifan, already straining himself with the sweet potatoes, could spare effort to start anything like an academy! Isn’t this unfilial son always eager for mischief? Why would Fang Jifan humor him? Hmph!”

Emperor Hongzhi was genuinely furious.

Look at those children out in the Military Agricultural Colonies. Aren’t they young? Fang Jifan aside, that Zhang Xin, that Yang Da – weren’t they striving with their lives for the imperial court, risking their lives for the State Altars? Each unknown, diligently tending the empire’s fields! The Crown Prince is the future sovereign! And this is what he does?!

The more he thought this way, the worse the Crown Prince seemed.

To put it bluntly, even the young scholars – take this one, for example – see what he wrote? “Headmaster Zhu taught us riding! But we feel Headmaster Zhu riding around, trampling farmland, is wrong!”

Even an eight-year-old child knew this… was wrong.

And another one: “Headmaster Zhu said the mountains are high and the emperor is far away…”

Emperor Hongzhi’s expression darkened. He wanted to rage, desperately trying to hold himself back.

Just then, a eunuch shuffled in quietly. “Your Majesty, Minister of War, Ma Wensheng, requests an audience.”

“…”

A wave of anger slowly subsided slightly.

Emperor Hongzhi subtly tucked the letters back into his sleeve. His face expressionless, he said, “Summon him in.”

Ma Wensheng rushed briskly into the Warm Pavilion. Seeing the Emperor, he knelt immediately. “Your Majesty! Great joy! Tremendous news!”

“What joy?” Emperor Hongzhi frowned slightly.

Ma Wensheng reported promptly, “There is news from the Imperial Prison! Liu Daxia has confessed! The so-called burning of Zheng He’s archival documents back then? It was fake! Though a storeroom burned, the actual documents inside had been cleared out beforehand! He simply wished to crush Lord Xiang’s urge to set sail. He kept those documents… as a precaution! They’re stored at Liu Daxia’s ancestral home! Ah, Your Majesty! Heaven protects the Great Ming! Your servant has already sent men to Liu Daxia’s old residence. Once these materials are retrieved, matters at the Ministry of War will be greatly simplified! The grain and silver saved? Truly beyond count!”

Emperor Hongzhi immediately perked up upon hearing this. “Excellent! You speak true. Heaven indeed protects the Great Ming.” Then, he gave a cold smirk. “That Liu Daxia… truly… the very depths of despicability.”

That was his only remark, lightly delivered. He didn’t continue.

He also did not issue any further instructions regarding Liu Daxia’s treatment.

Ma Wensheng sighed inwardly. The confession was obtained… but so what? The Emperor pronounced him “the very depths of despicability.” Walls within the palace have ears; the Northern Administrative Bureau knew instinctively what must be done next. Liu Daxia’s remaining days would likely be spent in the terrifying Imperial Prison, an existence worse than death.

“One more thing,” Emperor Hongzhi suddenly asked. “Minister Ma, why is it you, the Minister of War, bringing news from the Imperial Prison? Shouldn’t that fall to Mou Bin?”

It was indeed puzzling. News concerning the Imperial Prison held no direct relation to the Minister of War. Reporting such matters normally lay within the Brocade Guard’s duties. How would the Ministry of War receive it ahead of time?

Ma Wensheng answered awkwardly, “A few days prior, your servant happened to converse with Fang Jifan. Fang Jifan said it was highly probable these documents might still exist. He also mentioned that the alleged ‘burning’ was only Liu Daxia’s method, certainly not his ultimate purpose. Liu Daxia would undoubtedly have kept a backup.”

Emperor Hongzhi was genuinely startled upon hearing this.

Only a means, not his purpose.

The Emperor hadn’t even considered this at the time. He never imagined that Fang Jifan would have.

Now, Ma Wensheng continued, “The Ministry of War’s urgent business now is to draft regulations for the Voyages to the Western Oceans. Having these documents, or not having them, carries immense weight! This servant dared to hope… therefore… I essentially waited vigilantly at the Imperial Prison myself. Once the news broke, I rushed to report!”

Emperor Hongzhi couldn’t help but express admiration, “Ah… what a mind Fang Jifan possesses. If the Crown Prince had but half his intellect, I might feel assured.”

“Indeed,” Ma Wensheng agreed sincerely. “This servant oftem heard him maligned—a worthless son, a spendthrift wastrel, absurd… worse than animals. Interacting with him briefly these past few days… though he seemed…”

Ma Wensheng struggled for the term; “… though he seemed somewhat unapproachable… he bore little resemblance to those vicious rumors. Your servant believes the talk circulating outside surely distorts reality far beyond the truth. Seeing is believing! People today—gossip-mongers, swallowing all manner of lies… it is truly beyond words.” He shook his head, a look of genuine commiseration for Fang Jifan on his face.

Emperor Hongzhi nodded deeply, sharing this sentiment. “That is indeed the truth.”

Yet, his anger flared again uncontrollably. Without comparison, there was no injury. And so…

The Crown Prince, this wretch, was utterly irredeemable! Zhu Houzhao wishing to cause trouble and ruin himself was one thing. Why must he always drag Fang Jifan down? Letting the whole world believe Fang Jifan drove His Highness the Crown Prince to mischief? The reality? Fang Jifan was the victim! And once again, Fang Jifan’s reputation suffered direct damage. While the Crown Prince, the true originator—who dared criticize him with full force?

The more Emperor Hongzhi considered this, the heavier his sigh became. Just how much blame for the Crown Prince’s deeds had Fang Jifan shouldered over these months?

But… Emperor Hongzhi would certainly not mention any of this to Ma Wensheng.

Such matters were best reserved for a closed-door session. A chance to punish the Crown Prince thoroughly, until he finally admitted fault.

So Emperor Hongzhi stated instead, “It’s settled then. Once the documents arrive, select personnel immediately at the Ministry of War for careful study. Afterwards, submit regulations. This matter of the Voyages to the Western Oceans presses us acutely. This represents more than merely my imperial expectation. It is the world’s collective anticipation!”

Ma Wensheng bowed his head assent. “This servant obeys the decree.”

After Ma Wensheng withdrew, Emperor Hongzhi knelt rigidly behind his imperial desk, face cold and unmoving.

Xiao Jing watched His Majesty with close attention, patiently awaiting the Emperor’s contemplation of matters of state.

Suddenly, Emperor Hongzhi mused aloud, “Why does the Crown Prince’s temperament bear absolutely no likeness to mine?”

Xiao Jing remained silent awhile, then cautiously offered, “This servant ventures to say… your own temperament bore little likeness to the late Emperor’s?”

“…”

Emperor Hongzhi gave a self-deprecating laugh and slowly shook his head. “I simply hope this young brat won’t ruin others. Otherwise… I fear my conscience may never rest easy.”