Chapter 203: His Majesty’s Heart Melted

Seeing that everyone had come out of the School, Xiao Jing looked left and right and couldn’t help but whisper to Emperor Hongzhi, “Your Majesty, it’s getting late…”

This was a place of sorrow for him, and he did not want to stay a moment longer. Here, he had been brutally slapped in the face by Fang Jifan, a resounding slap at that.

This made Xiao Jing very uncomfortable because he truly wished to leave this place quickly.

Emperor Hongzhi, however, frowned, his eyes fixed on the distance, lost in thought, completely ignoring Xiao Jing. After a moment, he turned around and beckoned to Fang Jifan.

“Fang Jifan, come here!”

Fang Jifan was already preparing to hurry over. Li Chaowen, that bootlicker, was truly annoying, getting in the way of this Young Lord’s own flattery.

So he jogged up to Emperor Hongzhi, grinning and about to speak when Emperor Hongzhi spoke first and asked, “How many Refugees has the Western Hills taken in?”

Fang Jifan wiped the smile from his face and answered Emperor Hongzhi truthfully.

“Over three thousand six hundred households.”

“That’s quite a number.” Emperor Hongzhi nodded. For just one mine area, over three thousand households was equivalent to the population of a Military Household guard unit.

“However, the total population is less than five thousand, Your Majesty. Refugees do bring their families, but… many are alone, so the number of people per household isn’t high.” Fang Jifan patiently explained.

Emperor Hongzhi nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed at the entire Western Hills, watching the Miners toiling in the distance. Under the sun, the Miners worked busily, seemingly unaffected by anything.

Seeing such a bustling scene, Emperor Hongzhi couldn’t help but sigh.

“Indeed, if they weren’t pushed to desperation, who would want to become Refugees? Just like that Wang San, if he hadn’t reached a dead end, why would he have become a beggar? Tell me, how should I deal with this Wang San?”

“Let him go without punishment!” Fang Jifan answered firmly.

Xiao Jing, standing behind Emperor Hongzhi, couldn’t help but admire Fang Jifan’s boldness. After all, Wang San had committed a crime deserving ten thousand deaths, and yet Fang Jifan said to release him just like that?

How young and reckless, speaking and acting without careful thought.

Yet Emperor Hongzhi showed no anger. Instead, he looked deeply at Fang Jifan and asked with great confusion, “Why?”

Fang Jifan thought carefully for a moment before slowly speaking.

“Your servant was thinking, if Your servant were in his situation—unable to eat enough, unable to wear warm clothes, oppressed by officials, and forced to join the Beggar Sect for shelter, and if the Beggar Sect leader was ambitious and plotted rebellion—then it would be unavoidable for Your servant to follow the Beggar Sect leader and commit treason. Just as Wang San said, it’s only natural for Your servant to be loyal because the Fang Family has received the imperial court’s grace for generations, just as Eunuch Xiao and Commander Mou are loyal to Your Majesty. But if any of us were in his situation, could we honestly say we would remain loyal to the imperial court and to Your Majesty?”

These words… were far too bold.

Mou Bin and Xiao Jing spoke in unison, “Your servant (Your Servant) pledges to serve Your Majesty unto death. No matter the circumstances, our devotion will never change.”

In their hearts, they wished they could drown Fang Jifan with their spit. Comparing yourself to the Rebel Faction was one thing, but dragging us into it too?

Emperor Hongzhi ignored Xiao Jing and Mou Bin’s words. Instead, he frowned, stared at Fang Jifan, and gave a bitter smile. “It seems that even you, in that situation, would consider me a foolish emperor.”

Fang Jifan hurriedly shook his head.

“No, if Your servant were Wang San, there would be no way to know whether Your Majesty was wise or foolish. Your servant would only know that the officials were sent by Your Majesty. If they loved the people, Your servant would think Your Majesty was a good emperor. But if they harmed the people, then for Wang San and those like him, Your Majesty would be a tyrant. That’s why Your servant had a few disciples come to teach them a good lesson. Your servant doesn’t want them to ruin Your Majesty’s reputation, or Your servant’s own reputation.”

Emperor Hongzhi smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. “That makes sense. As a teacher, one must teach disciples the principles of being human. As a ruler, governing The World, shouldn’t one also place restraints on officials? Otherwise, letting them harm the people is harming oneself. As for this Wang San…”

He paused here, then lifted his head and looked around again, pointing toward a place with rising smoke. “That village over there, is that where the Miners live? It looks quite filthy to me.”

Fang Jifan inwardly complained, the Emperor was being like “why not eat meat”? Did he think everywhere was like the Forbidden City or the Inner City of Beijing City?

Fang Jifan chuckled. “Your servant already told that old fellow Wang Jinyuan to pay attention to cleanliness. Your servant will go beat him to death tomorrow.”

Emperor Hongzhi sometimes found that Fang Jifan’s words were easy to absorb and digest, and often thought-provoking. But other times, they were harder to understand. Still, he didn’t press further. Instead, he continued gazing at the distant village. “How about taking me to see it? I want to see what kind of place this is that made Wang San willing to give up being a sect leader just to settle here.”

Fang Jifan hesitated briefly, but only for a moment before smiling and saying, “Alright, let’s go.”

Fang Jifan led the way. Zhu Houzhao jogged to catch up, as if trying to claim credit.

“Imperial Father, Your Son and Servant also knows the way. Your Son and Servant comes here often too.”

Emperor Hongzhi only then noticed Zhu Houzhao. He kept a stern face and said nothing.

Mou Bin appeared tense, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, staying close behind Emperor Hongzhi without straying a step.

In his view, that place… was no different from a bandits’ den. He had to be extremely cautious; there could be no slip-ups.

The group moved forward and reached the village.

Most of the men had likely gone to work, leaving only some women cooking over fires. Surrounding the village was a well, where a group of women gathered to wash clothes. From afar, the scent of soap bean drifted over.

Emperor Hongzhi clasped his hands behind his back, his bright eyes scanning the surroundings, as if everything here piqued his curiosity.

Clearly, the environment wasn’t good. Perhaps because there was a latrine not far away, after walking a few more steps, a strange odor wafted over.

The paths here weren’t paved with stone. Because there were many coal Miners, coal dust mixed with mud, and black muddy water was everywhere.

The so-called dwellings were quite ordinary too—earthen houses built with rammed earth. Wooden boards were used for doors and windows, but these were mostly willow wood, nothing rare, and the craftsmanship was even less impressive, a far cry from carved beams and painted rafters.

One could say this place fell short in many aspects.

But…

Emperor Hongzhi’s frown deepened. A trace of bewilderment flickered in his eyes, and his face showed clear astonishment.

This… was the place Wang San called his ‘settling’ ground?

“Companion Xiao…”

Xiao Jing heard Emperor Hongzhi call him and hurried forward. “Your Servant is here.”

Emperor Hongzhi gazed intently at Xiao Jing and asked very seriously, “What do you think of this place?”

Xiao Jing thought for a moment. He really wanted to cover his nose, but since His Majesty hadn’t done so, how dare he? He forced a smile and said, “The lowest Eunuchs in the palace live in slightly better conditions than this.”

The analogy seemed fitting.

Emperor Hongzhi nodded. Usually, he only read in memorials about the hardships of the people’s livelihood, but now he gained a new understanding. Just how harsh were the conditions Wang San and the others had faced before, for them to consider this place a refuge?

He couldn’t imagine it, his brow furrowing even more.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Xiao Jing mentioned the lowest Eunuchs in the palace, Fang Jifan’s eyes lit up, and he couldn’t help but speak up. “That’s why so many people eagerly want to become Eunuchs.”

Those words sounded very sharp to the ears. Xiao Jing couldn’t help but glare at him, feeling that Fang Jifan was mocking him.

Emperor Hongzhi gave a slight smile, looking at the thatched roofs before turning to Fang Jifan. “Where does Wang San live?”

Fang Jifan stepped forward and asked around for Wang San’s residence. After a short while, the group arrived at Wang San’s doorstep.

Here… it was still an eyesore.

“Has Tiedan returned?”

It seemed someone inside heard the commotion. An old woman called out.

Tiedan was probably Wang San’s son—that young man who, according to legend, happily married a new bride.

How enviable… Fang Jifan thought to himself, I still don’t have a girlfriend yet.

When the old woman, happily tying her apron, came out and saw Fang Jifan, she froze.

Her face showed hesitation, and after a long while… she stammered out words.

“It’s the two… Benefactors…”

It seemed… she had seen Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao from a distance before.

Zhu Houzhao’s eyes immediately sparkled with energy, and he grew very excited. Finally… someone recognized him.

“That’s right, it’s… me!” Zhu Houzhao eagerly acknowledged.

The old woman had white hair and cloudy eyes. Logically, she was most likely Wang San’s wife, around forty years old, but from her appearance, Fang Jifan wouldn’t have doubted if someone said she was sixty.

The old woman’s body stiffened for a moment, as if confirming Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan’s identities. Instantly, tears uncontrollably fell, pattering down. Trembling, she knelt to the ground, sobbing as she said, “Greetings to the two Benefactors. May the two Benefactors live for ten thousand generations…”

This act of kneeling…

Emperor Hongzhi, who had been watching coldly from the side, felt his heart melt!

He stared wide-eyed at this scene, his face full of disbelief.

Before Fang Jifan could step forward to help the old woman up, Zhu Houzhao was quicker than him. Old Fang, you’ve had your moment in the spotlight. Now that someone finally recognizes This Palace as a Benefactor, you can just step aside.

Zhu Houzhao, excited with reddened eyes and a face like ‘peach blossoms,’ hurried forward, held the old woman’s arms, and said with a smile, “No need for such formalities. This… this young master’s small act of kindness is nothing, not worthy of such a grand gesture. Old lady, your memory is truly excellent.”

This was a sincere compliment. Those ungrateful wretches, their consciences eaten by dogs, only remembered Fang Jifan and not This Palace. Not one of them was worth even a finger of this old woman.