Chapter 105: Ruthless and Cruel
Chapter 105: Ruthless and Cruel
Growing…
Emperor Hongzhi’s brows furrowed even deeper. Anything unusual surely meant trouble. He couldn’t help but ask, “What are you growing?”
Zhu Houzhao said, “Growing melons.”
“Oh.” Emperor Hongzhi couldn’t help but smile, feeling quite pleased.
Growing melons was actually a form of farming too.
The state was founded on agriculture. Among merchants, farmers, artisans, and scholars, farming was a grand matter. Especially during the spring plowing season, the imperial court had to issue decrees urging local officials to encourage farming. Not only that, every year, the emperor had to go to the Temple of Heaven to perform rituals. The Temple of Heaven was divided into two altars: the Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Circular Mound Altar. The rituals at the Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests symbolized the emperor and his officials’ emphasis on farming. During the ceremony, the emperor even had to take up a hoe and symbolically till the soil at the altar, setting an example for the masses as a ruler.
“Hmm, since when did you become so thoughtful?” He looked up, watching the snowflakes drift outside the canopy. Though spring was approaching, the weather in recent years had been strange. So, farming at this time…
Well… at least he had the right intention.
Emperor Hongzhi’s troubled mind eased a little. He smiled and said, “Come, take me to see it.”
Hearing that his father wanted to see his little melon seedlings, Zhu Houzhao beamed with joy and eagerly replied, “Your Son and Servant obeys the decree.”
Walking with Zhu Houzhao to the Rear Garden, Emperor Hongzhi felt a great sense of relief. No matter what, although the Imperial Examination scandal had troubled him slightly, his son’s growth brought him comfort.
At such a young age, he already understood that agriculture was the foundation. The Crown Prince, as the Heir Apparent, should set an example for all under heaven.
Although… the timing was a bit inappropriate… but…
As the word “but” crossed his mind, his feet had already passed numerous pavilions and towers. Suddenly, in what should have been a magnificent royal garden, an oddly mismatched and peculiar shack appeared, instantly interrupting his thoughts.
“Imperial Father, look, inside is…”
“Wait!” Emperor Hongzhi squinted and said, “Where is the flowerbed?”
This was the Rear Garden. Back when Emperor Hongzhi was still the Crown Prince, shortly after coming of age, he had lived here for a few years. He remembered every plant and tree in this place.
Clearly, Zhu Houzhao hadn’t noticed Emperor Hongzhi’s expression at all. He answered bluntly, “I uprooted them. What’s the point of keeping them? Your Son and Servant needed to build a shack. Without a shack… how could I grow melons…”
“…” Emperor Hongzhi felt a twinge of pain in his heart.
The construction of the Rear Garden of the House of the Crown Prince had consumed immense manpower and resources back in the day. The flowerbeds and some of the rockeries were all rare treasures tributed from across the land. Not to mention, the annual maintenance costs for the House of the Crown Prince in the royal budget were substantial, with a significant portion dedicated to the Rear Garden.
And now… they were uprooted… just to… grow melons…
Suddenly, Emperor Hongzhi noticed that although this strange shack was covered with a thin layer of snow, he could still make out some edges of colored glaze.
Colored glaze?
Colored glaze was expensive, typically only used by the royal family and Imperial Relatives. And now…
It dawned on Emperor Hongzhi that along the path he had just taken, many pavilions and towers seemed to have their windows covered with black cloth. At the time, he hadn’t paid much attention, thinking it was the eunuchs cleaning. But now…
“Is that colored glaze up there?”
Zhu Houzhao remained in high spirits, smiling cheerfully. “Yes, it’s all high-quality colored glaze with excellent light transmission. Imperial Father, let me explain. With the heavy snow falling now, we’re lucky to get even two hours of sunlight a day. Light is extremely important for the melons I’m growing. Besides that, I had flues dug underground…”
“Wait, you did all this to grow melons?”
“Yes…” Zhu Houzhao said excitedly, “The melon seedlings are already planted. In about two months, we’ll have melons to eat.”
However… Emperor Hongzhi’s first reaction was that Zhu Houzhao was insulting his intelligence.
Growing melons in this weather?
His second reaction was, this wasteful rascal! Not only did he destroy so many rockeries and flowers, but he even dismantled the colored glaze…
Whoosh… He took a deep breath, struggling to contain himself!
This son of his was sometimes foolish, ignorant, and ended up doing more harm than good with his good intentions.
Although such waste pained the frugal Emperor Hongzhi…
He took another deep breath. It’s fine. At least the Crown Prince understood the hardships of the common people and knew that agriculture was the foundation. He must not discourage his enthusiasm now.
Emperor Hongzhi managed a strained smile and looked at Zhu Houzhao affectionately. “My son, why are you growing melons?”
Zhu Houzhao tilted his head, thinking for a moment before replying, “To make money. If I grow melons, won’t I get rich?”
Zhu Houzhao waved his arms and jumped around, overjoyed, as if countless silver coins were within his reach!
This Palace is going to accomplish something great and make everyone look at me in a new light.
But little did he know, Emperor Hongzhi’s face had already darkened imperceptibly. The once-affectionate gaze now flickered with flames of anger. His hands, hidden in his sleeves, trembled slightly, his fingers curling into fists, itching uncontrollably yet desperately restrained.
Zhu Houzhao, still beaming, chuckled and said, “Imperial Father, wait until Your Son and Servant grows these melons… You’ll see…”
But… before Zhu Houzhao could finish his sentence, he was cut off by an outburst of rage that could no longer be contained…
“Guards! Hang him up!”
…
Meanwhile, Fang Jifan, braving the bitter cold, had not yet reached the House of the Crown Prince. Just as he turned the street corner, he noticed many Brocade Guard commandants and groups of eunuchs gathered nearby.
Just from the look of it, Fang Jifan knew that His Majesty had arrived.
The thought of Emperor Hongzhi being there sent a chill down Fang Jifan’s spine, and he instinctively wanted to hide.
Unexpectedly, outside the House of the Crown Prince, a eunuch peeked around, scanning the area. When he spotted Fang Jifan, his face lit up with relief before quickly turning distressed. He rushed up to Fang Jifan and said, “Chief Fang, Chief Fang, it’s terrible, it’s terrible! His Majesty is furious. He says he’s going to whip the Crown Prince to death. Quick… hurry inside.”
This was a father disciplining his son, but… what does it have to do with me?
Fang Jifan found it puzzling, but after a moment’s thought, he decided he should still be loyal. So he dismounted and hurried into the House of the Crown Prince with the young eunuch.
When they reached the Rear Garden, before even getting close, he heard a piercing scream.
The scream was earth-shattering, but Fang Jifan remained calm and composed!
The Crown Prince—despite his hysterical, heart-wrenching cries—always acted pitiful around Emperor Hongzhi. So these screams were surely exaggerated. It was probably just Emperor Hongzhi giving him a light lesson. No big deal, no big deal.
He continued strolling casually, but as soon as he rounded a decorative rock, he froze in shock.
There was Zhu Houzhao, hanged by the neck from a tree, with Emperor Hongzhi standing below, holding a long whip.
That whip… looked familiar…
It seemed several lashes had already landed. Zhu Houzhao wore only a thin layer of clothing, and the whip marks on his body stood out starkly against the white surroundings.
The eunuchs were already terrified out of their wits, all kneeling on the ground, filled with fear and unease.
This time… things had gone too far.
The punishment was truly ruthless.