Chapter 137: Turning the Tables in Their Scheme

Zhu Houzhao immediately perked up when he saw Fang Jifan’s sneaky expression.

He hurried over, but the moment he got close to Fang Jifan, he found the man’s feet incredibly smelly and immediately frowned!

Fang Jifan himself was fighting the urge to gag, sure that Zhu Houzhao’s feet were even smellier!

The two of them grimaced at each other but still put on an air of reluctant closeness.

Then Fang Jifan lowered his voice: “Your Highness, Prince Ning sent me two Jade Discs yesterday.”

Zhu Houzhao widened his eyes. “That explains it! They say one doesn’t give something for nothing; he’s up to something…”

Fang Jifan shook his head. “Your Highness, think about it. Prince Ning is a noble Imperial Prince, a direct royal descendant. Why would he send Jade Discs to me?”

Yeah…

Zhu Houzhao looked puzzled. Then, understanding dawned, and he flashed a toothy grin. “Actually… he wants to curry favor with This Palace?”

“Perhaps not just favor.” Fang Jifan gave a faint smile. “He might have other goals. While it’s natural for a Prince to be close to the Eastern Palace, this level of effort is unusual. I believe he’s after something else.”

“Rebellion?” Zhu Houzhao spat out the word, his body suddenly jolting. His eyes instantly sparkled, and he licked his lips, actually excited.

Fang Jifan wouldn’t dare falsely accuse a noble Imperial Prince of rebellion unless he had a death wish!

So he hastily shook his head. “What he really intends, we’ll find out later. We can’t talk nonsense now. If anyone overhears, His Majesty would surely be furious. Even if His Majesty stays silent, the Imperial Relatives would be in an uproar.”

Zhu Houzhao thought this reasonable. Though he sometimes liked to cause trouble, he wasn’t stupid.

The Great Ming dynasty had the lesson from Zhu Yunwen’s time: reducing feudal estates under suspicion that Imperial Clan Princes and Commandery Princes were plotting rebellion ended with several Princes dead. This made the entire Imperial Clan live in fear, ultimately leading to Prince of Yan, Zhu Di’s Jingnan Campaign and nationwide chaos.

False accusations of rebellion against a Prince were terrifying. It would make the hundreds of Feudatory Princes scattered across the Two Capitals and Thirteen Provinces think it was the start of another Reduction of Feudatories. If Prince Ning was targeted today, who knew who would be next?

“But your humble servant has a method. Let’s turn the tables in their scheme,” Fang Jifan lowered his voice, a meaningful smile curling on his lips.

Zhu Houzhao, who thrived on excitement and hated boredom, immediately perked up. “How do we turn the tables?”

“Since Prince Ning wants to buy me,” Fang Jifan said, “won’t he have spies near Your Highness? If there are spies near you, then from now on, in front of Your Highness, I’ll praise this Prince Ning often. Eventually, Prince Ning will hear about it. Then, believing I’ve taken his bribes and am diligently working for him, what will he do?”

Zhu Houzhao shook his head honestly. “I don’t know.”

Fang Jifan rolled his eyes. “Naturally, he’ll send more treasures. Maybe… he’ll put even more effort into winning me over.”

“Understood…” Zhu Houzhao nodded after finally catching on. “You mean… we get rich?”

“Money is secondary,” Fang Jifan said sternly. “Let’s not talk about money. It’s vulgar. We’re discussing affairs of state.”

Zhu Houzhao got impatient. “But clearly, he will send gifts! And when they arrive, won’t it be shiny Baiyin? Old Fang, shouldn’t anyone who sees it get a share?”

“Your Highness…” Fang Jifan looked at Zhu Houzhao with pain. “Talking like this hurts the bond. What your servant wants to say…”

“Alright, settled then. Split evenly, fifty-fifty. This Palace… is poor.” When he said ‘poor’, Zhu Houzhao looked as if his heart was pierced – utterly sincere.

He truly was scared of poverty.

He hadn’t felt it before.

To him, silver seemed useless. Extravagance? Didn’t exist. But after meeting Fang Jifan, seeing his daily windfall, living such a cushy life, Zhu Houzhao thought: this is life.

Fang Jifan could only nod resignedly. “Oh.”

“So… should we get back to state affairs?” Zhu Houzhao asked eagerly. “What next?”

“I don’t want to talk anymore,” Fang Jifan spread his hands. “Just say nice things about Prince Ning from now on!”

After saying this, a look of seriousness settled on Fang Jifan’s face. He cautioned gravely, “Moreover, this matter is between you and me. Don’t tell even those you trust most around you.”

Zhu Houzhao nodded, firm. “This Palace only trusts Old Fang.”

…

By evening, Fang Jifan went home quite satisfied. He’d barely dismounted when he saw his disciple, Xu Jing, craning his neck out from the gate of the Nanhe Bo Mansion.

Seeing this disciple warmed Fang Jifan’s heart much more than those other losers who only knew painting, poetry, or useless book-learning.

Seeing Fang Jifan dismount before the gate, Xu Jing didn’t say a word. He just bowed respectfully. Fang Jifan nodded in return.

Together, they walked silently to the hall in perfect sync. Only after checking no one else was around did Xu Jing speak: “About an hour ago, that Cao Jian came again.”

Fang Jifan inwardly sighed. So it was Liu Jin.

Clearly, Liu Jin had taken many benefits from Prince Ning. This was understandable – whether in the palace or the House of the Crown Prince, eunuchs in attendance were all targets for the Imperial Relatives to ingratiate themselves with.

But clearly, Liu Jin was in deep. Prince Ning must have stuffed him full long ago.

Just that morning, Fang Jifan had praised Prince Ning before the Crown Prince. By afternoon, Prince Ning’s man in the Capital had delivered the gift.

“What did he send?” Fang Jifan looked at Xu Jing.

Immediately, Xu Jing pulled a gift list from his sleeve. “Mentor, please see.”

Fang Jifan took it. The list contained a dazzling array: jade scepters, coral, pearls, ancient paintings, and such.

Fang Jifan yawned, somewhat unimpressed. “Boring. Just this? Next time he comes, tell him to give cash instead. Fang Jifan is a practical man. Don’t like messy stuff like this. Real silver and gold are better.”

“…” Xu Jing felt choked. After a long pause, he couldn’t help but say, “Mentor, isn’t this improper? Your disciple has been terrified these past few days, his heart pounding with anxiety. Prince Ning’s gifts are not easy to accept! If people find out… besides, Prince Ning keeps sending gifts… he… surely has other intentions. Your disciple… feels uneasy in his conscience.”

Fang Jifan glared at him. “What’s a conscience worth? Just feel free to accept them. Also, tell that Cao Jian that your mentor recently lacks a proper means of travel. The horses at home are weak. Ask him to send a few fine steeds.”

Xu Jing immediately felt his eyelids twitching.

This… this had developed into outright demanding bribes! Demand bribes from a Feudatory Prince? Heavens…

Seeing Xu Jing dumbfounded, Fang Jifan chuckled. “Lighten up. Don’t feel burdened. You’ll get used to it.”

…

Nanchang Prefecture.

Built right beside the vast Gan River shallows was the most famous pavilion in Nanchang Prefecture: the Pavilion Welcoming Favors.

The Pavilion Welcoming Favors stood on the original site of the Pavilion of Prince Teng, built in the Tang Dynasty. After several restorations, during the Jingtai reign, the Provincial Governor rebuilt it, renaming it the Pavilion Welcoming Favors.

Within a few years, Prince Ning’s estate seized this prime location, transforming it into a villa belonging to the Prince Ning household.

Standing here, one could gaze upon the Gan River shallows. The rushing currents flowed past the pavilion.

Right now, Zhu Chenhao, barely thirty, stood on the terrace, looking out at the Gan River, his emotions surging like the waves.

Zhu Chenhao, Prince Ning, was the fifth-generation descendant of Emperor Taizu, and the illegitimate son of the previous Prince Ningkang. He was first enfeoffed as the Prince of Shanggao. Because Prince Ningkang had no legitimate heir, he became Prince Ning last year.

Behind him, a Scholar approached steadily, saying, “Your Highness, Cao Jian has sent word.”

“Read.” Zhu Chenhao uttered only one word softly.

Standing on the height, the strong wind blew through his wide sleeves. His eyes remained fixed in the distance, seemingly trying to see the scenery across the Gan River with his limited vision. But mist rising from the water obscured his view; he could only see the surging river.

The rolling white waves, churning with mud and sand, swept downstream, majestic and stirring, infecting one with the immensity of the scene.

The Scholar continued: “Fang Jifan, the heir to Nanhe Bozi, is exceedingly greedy, colluding with the Crown Prince, conspiring together. Fang Jifan has now accepted two generous gifts, and will praise you in front of the Crown Prince…”

Zhu Chenhao’s eyebrow twitched, then a look of disgust spread across his face. His voice was scornful. “This Fang Jifan, This Prince has heard of him. Lately, the Fang Family enjoys considerable fame. His father has been touring the coastal defenses at Tianjin Garrison, right? The Fang Family is supposed to be loyal for generations. Who could have dreamed they’d produce this sort of degenerate!”

The Scholar pursed his lips in a smile. “As they say, when a nation is about to fall, it spawns monsters. His current Majesty is reckless and lacking virtue, and the Crown Prince is downright infamous. The World has long suffered under this father and son. Back then, Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, usurped the World. If not for that Prince of Yan’s cunning deceit, how could the World have fallen into the hands of such a devious man?”

Zhu Chenhao found this greatly satisfying. He nodded, finally turning his gaze away from the Gan River to look at the Scholar.

This man, Wang Lun, was Zhu Chenhao’s confidant and most important strategist. Zhu Chenhao’s ancestor, Zhu Quan, had been coerced by Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, during the Jingnan Campaign to join the rebel army. Back then, it was promised that if they succeeded, they would split the World in half. Yet once Zhu Di stormed into Nanjing City, he instantly betrayed them. Giving Zhu Quan a share of the World? Not a chance. A single Imperial Decree ordered Zhu Quan to “get lost” to Nanchang Prefecture.

For Zhu Chenhao, this was nothing short of a profound disgrace.

He deeply believed Zhu Di’s descendants were all reckless and lacking virtue, and that the Great Ming dynasty, under these foolish emperors and the court’s deceitful ministers, was teetering on the edge of collapse.