Chapter 142: His Majesty Is Mighty

Yu Daochun continued reading with great seriousness.

Gradually, he entered a state of self-forgetfulness, completely absorbed and intoxicated, even unconsciously exclaiming several times, “This line is the best, the absolute best, it couldn’t be better.”

“Collected Commentaries on the True Scripture of the Dao and Its Virtue” was originally written by a Taoist master. It was a comprehensive work built upon the foundations of predecessors. Ordinary people might not grasp its subtleties, but Yu Daochun was no ordinary person. The more he read, the more profound and mysterious it seemed. The more he read, the more brilliant he found it.

He was seen nodding in self-forgetfulness at times, and lost in thought at others, seeming to gain insights from the “Collected Commentaries on the True Scripture of the Dao and Its Virtue”.

After finishing the “Collected Commentaries on the True Scripture of the Dao and Its Virtue”, Yu Daochun suddenly lifted his head, feeling as if an age had passed.

The disciples all watched the Perfected Master quietly. After a long while, Yu Daochun took a deep breath and said with a bitter smile, “I wonder which master wrote this scripture. It is truly… frightening…”

He actually used the word “frightening” to describe it.

The “Collected Commentaries on the True Scripture of the Dao and Its Virtue” was completed in the early Ming Dynasty, complementing the Taoist classics of the time. The author, Perfected Master Wei Dayou, was the most renowned Perfected Master decades ago. So it was not surprising that his book received such praise from someone like Yu Daochun.

At this moment, Yu Daochun’s face turned stern and solemn. He said, “Copy it immediately. From today onward, study it carefully. This scripture is simple and unadorned, yet profoundly mysterious. Once you comprehend this annotated scripture, reading the ‘Daodejing’ again will bring new insights.”

The disciples nodded in agreement, “We will obey the Perfected Master’s command.”

One disciple, however, reminded him, “But… what about the Grand Empress Dowager…”

Yu Daochun maintained a serious expression, “Tomorrow, I will go to the Taoist Registry Department and request permission to have an audience with the Grand Empress Dowager.”

As he spoke, he lowered his head to glance at the “Collected Commentaries on the True Scripture of the Dao and Its Virtue” and couldn’t help but sigh with emotion!

He was already over seventy years old. Never did he expect that at such an advanced age, he would encounter such a scripture. He felt his life was complete.

…

At this time, Zhu Houzhao was very worried about Fang Jifan. He couldn’t leave the palace and had no way to send a message to Fang Jifan.

The Grand Empress Dowager was furious. When Emperor Hongzhi found out, he hurried to Renshou Palace. To his surprise, the Grand Empress Dowager was angry because there was a ‘heretic’ beside the Crown Prince.

What shocked Emperor Hongzhi even more was that he had asked him to copy the scripture to show filial piety to the Grand Empress Dowager. Who would have thought this unworthy creature would have someone else do it for him.

Zhu Houzhao was practically dragged out of Renshou Palace by Emperor Hongzhi and made to kneel obediently outside the Warm Pavilion.

This time, Emperor Hongzhi did not resort to physical punishment, but… he clearly had a more unique method in mind.

He held the Draft Comments sent by the Grand Secretariat, reading them quietly. Occasionally, he looked up. The windows of the Warm Pavilion were opened one by one, and Zhu Houzhao knelt outside within Emperor Hongzhi’s line of sight.

Liu Jin obediently knelt in a corner of the Warm Pavilion. After Emperor Hongzhi calmly inquired about the situation, he couldn’t help but frown.

He felt that the mastermind behind this incident was Zhu Houzhao. It definitely had nothing to do with Fang Jifan. Fang Jifan was unjustly pulled into copying the scripture by the Crown Prince; could he refuse?

These two fellows, he originally thought Fang Jifan was the most troublesome. Now it seemed his own son was the biggest problem. How embarrassing.

But that Fang Jifan was also unreasonable. If you were asked to copy, just copy. Why did you have to write your own commentary?

Since the time of Emperor Taizu, the imperial court had always been wary of certain folk societies and Taoist sects that claimed to follow demonic paths. These so-called Taoist sects were neither Zhengyi Taoism nor Quanzhen Taoism. They distorted the Daoist Scriptures themselves, swindling everywhere, and some even rebelled directly.

Therefore, any act of misinterpreting the Daoist Scriptures was considered extremely serious by the imperial court.

You, Fang Jifan, aren’t even a Taoist priest. Why are you meddling?

Emperor Hongzhi wanted to see that commentary. He was eager to know what tricks Fang Jifan had played with the Daodejing.

But unfortunately, the commentary had already been sent to Longquan Taoist Temple. Emperor Hongzhi felt somewhat troubled. How should he explain this matter to the Grand Empress Dowager?

Ah, since he hadn’t seen the commentary yet, he could only wait until tomorrow to look at it.

But this Crown Prince was truly infuriating. Had his conscience been eaten by a dog? His Great Grandmother treated him so well, yet he even played tricks on copying the scripture. He was worse than a pig or a dog!

Emperor Hongzhi cursed Zhu Houzhao hundreds of times in his heart. He lifted his eyes from the memorials with Draft Comments and glanced out the window.

It was the height of summer, and the weather was very hot. Seeing Zhu Houzhao kneeling in the shade of the palace, he coughed and said, “Go, tell that unfilial son to kneel farther away, not in the shade.”

The eunuch was so frightened he hardly dared to breathe, but he braced himself and hurried out.

When Zhu Houzhao saw someone come out, he perked up. He had been listless, feeling his knees no longer belonged to him, but now he became alert. He just knew his Imperial Father couldn’t bear to see him suffer.

But the eunuch said with a mournful face, “Your Highness, His Majesty has an oral decree. Please move your position.”

“Move… move my position?” Zhu Houzhao was baffled and didn’t understand.

“Move over there, where the sun is strong, and the palace shade doesn’t reach…” The eunuch sounded very timid, afraid of angering the Crown Prince.

Zhu Houzhao flew into a rage, “I’ll get sunstroke! This Palace is still young!”

Somehow, he had started imitating Fang Jifan. That fellow Fang Jifan used his Brain Illness and young age as excuses to swindle everywhere.

The eunuch said with a bitter face, “Perhaps… Your Servant should go to His Majesty…”

“No need.” Though unwilling, Zhu Houzhao was practical. He obediently moved to a spot under the sun and knelt down again.

This time he knelt with extra alertness. After all, he wasn’t stupid and knew this was a sensitive time. Trying to bargain now would be seeking death.

Although he sometimes knew how to argue and contradict, it depended on the situation. This time, it involved his Great Grandmother, so his Imperial Father definitely wouldn’t let him off easily.

But… should he ‘faint’ and collapse? Would that earn him sympathy?

He began an internal struggle. What was worse was that under the sun, plus his legs were already sore from kneeling earlier, and he hadn’t eaten since noon, he quickly felt weak.

But today, Emperor Hongzhi seemed determined to outlast him. He remained seated in the Warm Pavilion without any intention of leaving.

The sky gradually darkened. Zhu Houzhao felt hungry and exhausted, almost passing out. Yet he was also very anxious. If he couldn’t get out, how could he send a warning to Fang Jifan?

This time he had truly wronged Fang Jifan. His Great Grandmother was so furious that Fang Jifan was likely in deep trouble.

But… he himself was in dire straits and could hardly ensure his own safety.

After barely enduring until midnight, the full moon in the sky was like a silver plate, its light shining down. Snoring could be heard from the Warm Pavilion.

Zhu Houzhao suddenly understood. His Imperial Father actually planned to stay the night in the Warm Pavilion? It seemed he had anticipated that if he wasn’t around, his son would probably slack off somewhere.

Zhu Houzhao didn’t dare to sneak away. He was so hungry his stomach felt glued to his back!

Just then, under the moonlight, a slender and graceful figure appeared quietly.

The figure blocked the moonlight behind her. Zhu Houzhao weakly lifted his head. Dizzy and confused, his eyes suddenly lit up, “Little Sister…”

This person was none other than Taikang Princess Zhu Xiurong, who had come sneaking in.

Seeing his little sister, Zhu Houzhao immediately burst into tears, feeling as if he had been rescued from a desperate situation.

He clearly saw that in his sister’s hand, hidden under her long sleeves, was a black-lacquered food box with a phoenix carved in cinnabar!

Zhu Houzhao smelled the aroma of chicken legs. He swallowed his saliva, then cautiously glanced at the Warm Pavilion, afraid the snoring might stop. He whispered, “Little Sister, you treat me the best. I was waiting for our Empress Mother to save me, but who would have thought it’s you who remembered me.”

Zhu Xiurong moved stealthily, seeming very nervous. She softly whispered, “Empress Mother knew it involved our Great Grandmother, so how could she intervene? Everyone else is afraid of Imperial Father’s punishment and don’t dare to come. I thought to myself, Elder Brother must be hungry, otherwise how could your body endure? Brother, are you alright?”

“How could I be alright? I’m dying… I’m hungry…” Zhu Houzhao’s eyes welled up with hot tears, staring fixedly at the food box.

Zhu Xiurong blushed shyly. It seemed it was her first time sneaking out of her Bedchamber at night, making her inevitably apprehensive.

She said softly, “I brought you something to eat. I was afraid you’d be hungry. Hmm… why does our Imperial Grandmother suddenly hate… hate Fang Jifan so much?”

Zhu Houzhao licked his lips and said, “That guy is asking for trouble!” Zhu Houzhao was both angry and speechless. “I asked him to copy the scripture, but he refused. He insisted on writing his own. Now he’s caused trouble, right? Imperial Grandmother is furious, saying he’s spreading heresy and deviating from the orthodox path. She threw a huge tantrum. Little Sister, is there a chicken leg inside? I smell chicken legs.”

Hearing “spreading heresy” and “deviating from the orthodox path”, Zhu Xiurong couldn’t help shuddering. Her delicate, pink cheeks looked somewhat pale under the moonlight.

Fang Jifan was her savior.

He had always been so kind to her.

Although he was sometimes strange, compared to her even stranger elder brother, he was much better.

He even stood up for her. Although she felt it was somewhat inappropriate for him to hit Nanny Liu like that, he still did it for her sake.

But now, Great Grandmother was angry. This was really bad.

Everyone in the palace knew that Great Grandmother led a quiet and inactive life and rarely lost her temper. But once she got angry, even Imperial Father didn’t dare to go against her wishes.

Zhu Xiurong suddenly fell into an inexplicable state of panic. Her eyes, which could rival the stars in the sky, looked especially captivating, with a faint mist forming in them.

At this moment, she softly said, “Brother, you have to think of a solution. Otherwise, it will be terrible. He… how could he know Imperial Grandmother’s temper? He didn’t know that writing a scripture could bring such a great disaster. Brother, you must find a way. Maybe… go beg Empress Mother… I can’t go. I’m a woman, how can I speak up? Brother, you have thick skin. If you beg shamelessly, Empress Mother will surely soften.”