Chapter 143: You’re Always Picking On Me
Chapter 143: You’re Always Picking On Me
Zhu Xiurong had originally intended to go herself to beg the Grand Empress Dowager or Empress Zhang. Although she had a gentle nature, she was also clever. So it dawned on her immediately that, given her status, she couldn’t go. If she went herself, it might stir up even more trouble!
That left only one candidate for this task: Zhu Houzhao.
She now spoke to Zhu Houzhao again, patiently pleading. “Brother, go beg Empress Mother to think of a solution. At Father Emperor’s place… it won’t work… only the person who tied the bell around the tiger’s neck could untie it. Seeking forgiveness from Grandmother Empress is still the safest way. Brother, you must seek out Great Grandmother. Show that you’re remorseful…”
Zhu Houzhao, however, was weak and listless. “But I… right now… me!”
Only then did Zhu Xiurong fully realize his state. Yet, deep in her eyes, worry still lingered despite herself.
She’d known before that this matter involved Fang Jifan, but she hadn’t realized it had grown so serious, reaching the severity of spreading demonic lies and heresy. Feeling dazed, her pretty face looked even paler under the moonlight, and her slightly upturned nose tingled.
Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Brother, stop thinking about eating! You have to save him! This whole thing started because of you, you can’t let him be ruined… How… how about you pretend to faint. Let the imperial physician treat you. Don’t get up. Find a way to summon Fang Jifan into the palace again, so he can redeem himself through meritorious service…”
Zhu Houzhao was genuinely starving. He had no mental energy left to heed Zhu Xiurong’s words and directly reached to snatch the food box.
However, weakened by a day without food, he felt utterly drained. His hand barely lifted as he mumbled, “Why are you in such a hurry? We can find a way later. It almost seems like you have some improper connection with him.”
As he spoke, the food box was nearly within his grasp.
Zhu Houzhao’s words suddenly stung Zhu Xiurong. Bean-sized tears instantly streamed down her face as she gazed at her brother with eyes full of resentment and hurt.
Him saying something like that! How utterly mortifying! Especially for a Princess like her, strictly raised in the Imperial Palace and daily instructed in the virtues of obedience and fidelity!
Shame and anger flared in Zhu Xiurong. Biting her red lip, she shot Zhu Houzhao a look of hatred and said mournfully, “You’re just always picking on me…”
With that, she swirled her skirts away, taking the food box she held far beyond Zhu Houzhao’s reach. Sobbing, she simply ran off.
“Hungry…” Zhu Houzhao lacked the strength to chase her. Feeling utterly weak, his hand met only air as he watched, dumbfounded, his sister disappear into the darkness, overcome with shame and anger. Even the moonlight couldn’t find her figure now.
Zhu Houzhao was stunned. What… what had he said wrong?
His mind went blank, overwhelmed by a feeling that he had screwed up terribly.
If his sister hadn’t brought that food box, hadn’t carried the scent of chicken legs, he might have endured the hunger. But now, having seen it and smelled it yet unable to eat, the gnawing pain in his belly suddenly felt like fire, intensifying his suffering.
He barely endured the long night until dawn. In the Warm Pavilion, Emperor Hongzhi finally stirred. Consciousness returned, and he immediately rubbed his temples.
His head ached. He wondered how the Grand Empress Dowager was faring.
As for his rebellious son, Zhu Houzhao… Angling his eyes towards the window, he saw Zhu Houzhao still kneeling weakly outside. His heart inevitably softened somewhat. “Prepare a bowl of rice congee,” he instructed. “Give it to him to eat. Then bring him in.”
Zhu Houzhao was, after all, young and resilient. This toughness was precisely why he dared to court trouble repeatedly.
Zhu Houzhao’s constitution was actually fairly robust. After consuming the congee, the exhaustion of the night was swept away. He had, after all, managed to sneak a nap for an hour or two towards dawn. So although his knees throbbed terribly now, and his legs felt like they weren’t his own, supported by eunuchs, he quickly regained some energy. However…
In this situation, he was experienced. He had to pretend to be utterly spent. He began to moan softly, “Aiyo… aiyo…,” all the while acting terrified of Emperor Hongzhi. He controlled the moans carefully – not overly exaggerated, just enough to let his father understand his misery.
When it came to selling suffering and feigning pity, probably everyone in the entire Capital combined couldn’t match half of Zhu Houzhao’s little finger.
“Sit down,” Emperor Hongzhi glared at him, his voice frigid.
“Aiyo… aiyo…” Zhu Houzhao kept groaning, limping exaggeratedly, and settling onto the seat only halfway, as if sitting properly hurt too much.
“Do you understand your mistake?” Emperor Hongzhi asked expressionlessly, though inside, his resolve softened considerably. He’s still just a boy after all, he couldn’t help but blame himself slightly.
Zhu Houzhao replied obediently, “I understand.”
“That’s good. As a son and a grandson, one must possess filial piety. ‘Not pleasing one’s parents, one cannot be considered a true person; not obeying one’s parents, one cannot be considered a true son.’ This principle is understood even among commoners. How could you, as Crown Prince, not comprehend it? The Grand Empress Dowager raised me to adulthood. You… you are also of her flesh and blood. She has always held you so dear. How could you deceive her in such a profound way? Is this the act befitting her great-grandson?”
“Yes, yes… Your Son and Servant regrets his actions bitterly.” Zhu Houzhao nodded hurriedly.
Emperor Hongzhi’s mood improved somewhat, but then he thought of Fang Jifan’s matter and was troubled once again.
Just then, a eunuch entered. It was Wang Yan from Renshou Palace. Wang Yan reported, “Your Majesty, the Grand Empress Dowager requests Your Majesty and Crown Prince to proceed to Renshou Palace.”
“Oh?” Emperor Hongzhi’s face remained stern. “What is it about?”
“It concerns Fang Jifan.”
Indeed… it had come…
Emperor Hongzhi felt helpless inside, but knew the inevitable had arrived. He nodded slightly. “Prepare the carriage.”
Father and son arrived together at Renshou Palace. Before entering the hall, they saw many eunuchs and palace maids gathered outside the main hall. Many came from Kunning Palace; presumably Empress Zhang had already arrived first to pay her respects.
Emperor Hongzhi and Zhu Houzhao went inside. Emperor Hongzhi entered first. Zhu Houzhao, his body recovered and his limbs significantly more agile – he had even been looking bright-eyed moments before – but the instant he crossed the threshold, he resumed his exaggerated limp and began groaning loudly again!
“Aiyo… aiyo…!”
This time, the cries were far more brazen than before, his groans noticeably louder, as if afraid someone might not hear.
Emperor Hongzhi hadn’t anticipated Zhu Houzhao pulling this trick. He whipped around and shot him a fierce glare.
Zhu Houzhao put on a pitiful face, as if intimidated by Emperor Hongzhi’s warning, and slightly curbed his moaning. He still dragged his leg, feigning crippling agony.
“Your Grandson Subject pays his respects to Grandmother Empress,” Emperor Hongzhi bowed in salute.
They saw the Grand Empress Dowager sitting stiffly and sternly on high. Empress Zhang sat slightly bowed beside her. Standing behind Empress Zhang was Taikang Princess, who seemed listless, dark circles visible under her eyes from a sleepless night.
The Grand Empress Dowager paid no mind to Emperor Hongzhi. Her eyes fixed piercingly on Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Houzhao looked like he might collapse at any moment, straining to offer the proper salutation. The Grand Empress Dowager spoke first, “Who has done this to you? Come here. Don’t bother with formalities. Come to me.”
“Oh,” Zhu Houzhao nodded, then hobbled pitifully to stand before the Grand Empress Dowager. “Your great-grandson was unable to perform the full rites of respect. I beg Great Grandmother’s forgiveness.”
The Grand Empress Dowager looked at him with aching fondness, anger practically blazing from her eyes.
Emperor Hongzhi inwardly burned with rage, yet there was nothing he could do right then.
Fortunately, the Grand Empress Dowager had other matters weighing on her mind. For now, she set aside settling scores with him. Instead, she declared, “Emperor, the Crown Prince is the nation’s Heir Apparent. If there are heretics or people spreading demonic falsehoods around him, bewitching him, this bodes ill for the country. I truly bear Fang Jifan no particular ill will. But the fact that he wrote such demonic words… keeping him at Crown Prince’s side is profoundly unsettling.”
Emperor Hongzhi hastened to reply, “Fang Jifan has erred, Your Grandson Subject intends to chastise him thoroughly. He is, after all, young. With consistent discipline, naturally, he will learn right from wrong.”
He seemed intent on downplaying the severity and hoping the matter would simply fade.
“Yet…” The Grand Empress Dowager sighed heavily. “All that said, I received such a fright yesterday that I was unable to sleep at all last night.”
At these words, the expressions of everyone in the hall changed.
No matter how much Emperor Hongzhi shielded Fang Jifan, no matter how much even the Crown Prince pleaded, what use was it now? Fang Jifan was responsible for the Grand Empress Dowager losing her peace and rest. Should one Fang Jifan be allowed to ruin Her Highness’s health?
Empress Zhang silently let out a sigh. She had still harbored some hope that the situation could be salvaged, but now it seemed the outcome was inevitable.
Fang Jifan… would definitely face harsh punishment. Even Heavenly Sovereign Laozi himself could do nothing to save him now.
Beside her, Zhu Xiurong lowered her head slightly. Thump. Her heart skipped a beat with intense worry.
Emperor Hongzhi dared say nothing more in reply. He fell to his knees with a thud, his eyes slightly red-rimmed. “Your Grandson Subject deserves death ten-thousand times over for causing Grandmother such distress.”
“No, no. This is not your fault, nor is it Fang Jifan’s fault,” the Grand Empress Dowager shook her head. “I’m not someone who demands punishment or execution. You are right, he is just a boy. He has merely strayed onto a deviant and heretical path. In the future… he may still prove moldable. He is the son of Nanhe Bozi. His ancestors did serve with merit. I simply cannot, in good conscience, keep him at the Crown Prince’s side. Other arrangements are possible. Send him to Nanjing, perhaps. Grant him some position like Qianhu Officer. But under no circumstances should he remain in the Capital, mixing with the Crown Prince. Crown Prince’s temperament, you know it well, Emperor. This concerns the ancestral foundation. What do you say?”
Emperor Hongzhi hesitated. “But Xiurong’s illness…”
The Grand Empress Dowager understood immediately. Zhu Xiurong still relied on Fang Jifan for treatment. She retorted, “Is he truly the only person in the whole world who knows how to treat ‘brain trauma’? I refuse to believe that. Summon into the palace the physician who treated Fang Jifan before.”
Put this way, she had truly blocked off every possible path of appeal.
Right at that moment, Wang Yan entered again. He approached cautiously and whispered, “Your Highness, Puji Zhenren requests an audience.”
“Oh?” The Grand Empress Dowager felt quite surprised.
She had thought Puji Zhenren would submit his critical essay within a couple of days. Unexpectedly, he came so quickly, and personally at that.
Perhaps… upon reading that twisted, heretical nonsense, he had simply flared up entirely.