Chapter 213: How Heavy is the Divine Artifact

Chapter 213: How Heavy is the Divine Artifact

Emperor Hongzhi sat calmly behind the Imperial Desk, watching the excited Zhu Houzhao.

Hmm…

Still… so unruly.

He couldn’t keep his composure at all.

Just like a child.

Other people’s children could be mischievous, but could you?

Emperor Hongzhi’s eyebrow twitched slightly. He reached out and pointed at Zhu Houzhao.

“What?” Zhu Houzhao looked at his Imperial Father joyfully, his face full of smiles.

Although his Imperial Father’s body was tired and weak, he seemed quite spirited sitting behind the Imperial Desk. Seeing his Imperial Father point at him, Zhu Houzhao was confused. What was wrong with Imperial Father?

Seeing Zhu Houzhao’s puzzled expression, Emperor Hongzhi then pointed again, this time toward a corner of the Warm Pavilion.

Zhu Houzhao’s smiling face froze. That corner again.

He felt frustrated and couldn’t help but ask, “Why…”

Emperor Hongzhi lowered his head and read his letters, completely ignoring him.

“…”

Zhu Houzhao turned to Fang Jifan with a bewildered look, silently asking with his eyes.

Can’t help you.

Fang Jifan thought with deep regret. He still remembered the last time he joined Zhu Houzhao in his foolish antics. It was better for the Crown Prince to kneel alone than for both of them to kneel together.

Zhu Houzhao drooped his head and obediently went to the corner, kneeling.

Empress Zhang and Zhu Xiurong arrived.

They first looked at the still-spirited Emperor Hongzhi, then at Zhu Houzhao kneeling in the corner.

Zhu Xiurong’s first reaction was one of relief.

Imperial Father… was indeed better.

Wasn’t this how things usually were when Imperial Father was normal?

Then she looked at Fang Jifan, who appeared as quiet as a cicada in cold weather. It seemed that having learned from past mistakes, he had suddenly become well-behaved. At this moment, he seemed to realize that being close to the Emperor was like being close to a tiger. He hurriedly averted his eyes to an empty space, as if nothing had just happened.

Zhu Xiurong gave Fang Jifan a serene smile. As she smiled, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and her bright, sparkling eyes shone with radiance.

Fang Jifan caught a glimpse of this smile from the corner of his eye and also grinned, feeling happy.

Empress Zhang was overjoyed to the point of tears and walked up to the desk.

Emperor Hongzhi wore a slight smile but set the letter down. He casually folded his hand, concealing the contents of the letter. Emperor Hongzhi smiled faintly at Empress Zhang and said, “My insignificant illness has caused concern.”

Empress Zhang naturally wanted to pour out her feelings, but with Fang Jifan present, she couldn’t say much. Instead, she glanced at Zhu Houzhao and, seeing him kneeling again, frowned and asked, “Your Majesty… what has the Crown Prince done now?”

Mentioning Zhu Houzhao made Emperor Hongzhi’s face turn stern, and he spoke very seriously.

“How heavy is the Divine Artifact. Even I, holding it, find it hard to sleep at night. Working tirelessly day and night, I fear I may falter at any moment. This State Altars concern the well-being of thousands. I, entrusted by heaven’s mandate, dare not slacken for a single day, afraid that the slightest negligence might cause the people to suffer and wander. Look at him—he doesn’t know how to sit or stand properly. If I don’t discipline him now, and one day he holds the Divine Artifact, who knows how many people will suffer? Let him kneel. His monkey-like temperament needs more kneeling. If I weren’t in poor health, I would hang him up.”

Zhu Houzhao in the corner shivered. He had originally intended to whimper a few times to appear pitiful but immediately dismissed the idea. His only thought now was to wish he were invisible and unnoticed by his Imperial Father. Whimpering and drawing attention would be asking for trouble.

Playing the victim card was clearly useless now. He had used it many times before, and his Imperial Father had grown numb to it, no longer feeling sorry for him. He’d better just kneel properly.

“Your Majesty…” Fang Jifan felt his scalp tingle and was somewhat frightened. He didn’t dare to exchange glances with Zhu Xiurong anymore. Seeing Zhu Xiurong giggling and smiling at him, he didn’t dare to smile back. He was genuinely scared.

It looked like killing the chicken to scare the monkey.

He hurriedly focused his gaze downward, assuming an air of detachment from worldly desires, and said,

“Your Majesty, I suddenly remembered that my duty is Military Farming. This Military Farming relates to Your Majesty’s major policy on agriculture. Thinking of all the common people who need food to fill their stomachs, I feel deeply worried. I think I should take my leave and go to the Western Hills to properly supervise the Military Farming affairs at the Baihu Station. After all, food is the paramount need of the people. I fear I don’t have three heads and six arms to complete all the Greenhouses before winter arrives.”

As he spoke, he wore a pained expression.

Emperor Hongzhi’s expression softened considerably. He gave Fang Jifan an appreciative look and nodded with satisfaction.

“Hmm, you may go. This time, you have worked hard. You have rendered service to the imperial court and still care for the people. I am very comforted. Go attend to your duties. Another day, I will bestow rewards. Also… take good care of Little Wang San.”

Fang Jifan said ’emotionally,’ “Thank you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty praises me too highly. Putting myself in others’ shoes, although I have never gone hungry, I know what it feels like to be hungry. Thinking that there are still many people in the world who go hungry, I feel ashamed. I only regret that I cannot do more within my power—above, to share Your Majesty’s worries, below, to seek well-being for the people. This… is my lifelong wish. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will fulfill my duties faithfully. I… take my leave.”

He slipped away.

Better not to provoke, better not to provoke.

From behind, came a roar: “Look at Fang Jifan, and then look at you, you little beast! You’re still smiling? How can you even smile!”

Zhu Houzhao’s voice wailed in misery: “Your Son and Servant just thought Fang Jifan acted so genuinely… Your Son and Servant deserves death!”

…

Grand Secretariat.

Liu Daxia, Director of the Bureau of Operations in the Ministry of War, arrived at the Grand Secretariat.

The three Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat were still deeply worried, unaware of the situation in the Warm Pavilion.

However, the more unpredictable the Emperor’s health was, the more they needed to hold their ground here, to steady people’s hearts, and to steady the military’s morale.

Liu Daxia was well-versed in Horse Administration. Ma Wensheng, Minister of War, had repeatedly recommended him. Several memorials he submitted also demonstrated his solid knowledge.

What made Liu Daxia most famous, however, was a major controversy.

A few years earlier, when Xiang Zhong was still the Minister of War, a debate erupted in the imperial court regarding the Voyages to the Western Oceans.

Ministers led by Xiang Zhong believed that with rampant pirates at sea, the court should continue Emperor Wen’s policy by establishing a Fleet, reopening the seas, and embarking on Voyages to the Western Oceans. This would not only clear out sea bandits but also increase exchanges with various countries, facilitating mutual trade.

However, a group of officials led by Liu Daxia strongly opposed this. They believed the Voyages to the Western Oceans were a major flawed policy, harmful rather than beneficial. As a result, officials advocating for the voyages gained the support of Emperor Hongzhi, and plans were progressing. But at this point, Liu Daxia dared to be so audacious as to collect and destroy the nautical charts and materials from Zheng He’s voyages. When Minister of War Xiang Zhong ordered clerks to search the archives, they found nothing. Thus, the matter of the Voyages to the Western Oceans was abandoned.

After this incident, Liu Daxia’s fame soared. Many in the Qingliu Faction believed Liu Daxia was bold in speaking out, unafraid of suppression by Minister of War Xiang Zhong.

Xiang Zhong, however, was furious. He submitted a memorial to the Imperial Palace, demanding that Liu Daxia be arrested and punished. But ultimately, amid the voices of countless Qingliu Faction members, Emperor Hongzhi chose to remain silent.

Thereafter, the debate within the Ministry of War over the Voyages to the Western Oceans concluded with the dignified retirement of Minister of War Xiang Zhong.

Liu Daxia became famous throughout The World and was called a Noble Person by people of that time, who believed he dared to speak frankly.

Even the three Grand Secretaries viewed this Director Liu with newfound respect.

After meeting the three Grand Secretaries, Liu Daxia bowed in respect.

Liu Jian held a Tea Cup, glanced at him, and calmly said,

“Weren’t you ordered to prepare the Regulations first before coming to the Grand Secretariat?”

“The Regulations were prepared long ago,” Liu Daxia replied solemnly. “In recent years, whenever I had free time, I worked on the Regulations for the Horse Administration in the Nine Garrisons. I have a well-thought-out plan and don’t need to make a last-minute effort.”

Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and the third Grand Secretary exchanged glances.

It had to be said, Liu Daxia was very much to the liking of the Chief Ministers of the Hongzhi Reign.

Liu Jian set the Tea Cup down on a nearby table and couldn’t help but sigh deeply: “Good. A minister should be like this. Come, bring the Regulations for me to see.”

Liu Daxia bowed and took out the already prepared Regulations. He suddenly said, “Lord Liu, this humble official has a question. I don’t know if I should ask.”

Liu Jian frowned, looking at Liu Daxia: “Speak, it’s fine.”

Liu Daxia said gravely, “There are many rumors outside the palace. Many say His Majesty’s health is unstable. Initially, I didn’t pay much heed to this, thinking it was just idle talk by petty people. But today, Lord Liu suddenly inquired about the Nine Garrisons. This made me worried and afraid. Could it be… that there truly is unrest within the Imperial Palace?”

Liu Jian’s face immediately darkened.

Who among those who served in the court was a fool? Although they tried hard to keep the news under wraps, word had already spread through the grapevine.

As long as the Imperial Palace and the Grand Secretariat didn’t acknowledge it, it shouldn’t be a problem, as rumors were common occurrences. Outside the palace, there were rumors every day.

But Liu Daxia, based on the Grand Secretariat’s sudden attention to the Nine Garrisons, guessed the real possibility of unrest within the Imperial Palace. It seemed… the news could no longer be contained.

“Hmm…” Liu Jian was noncommittal: “These matters are not for you to inquire about.”

“Yes.” Liu Daxia nodded and presented the Regulations. But he still couldn’t resist adding, “This humble official was presumptuous. However, if there is a change within the Imperial Palace, I must ask Lord Liu to make early preparations.”

Liu Jian frowned, showing displeasure.

Did he not understand the principle of preparing for rain before it comes?

At any time, if the Emperor faced problems, as ministers, especially Chief Ministers, they needed to prepare early. This was indeed a minister’s duty.

But the problem was that Liu Jian and the others had a different relationship with the current Emperor. This was not just a matter of loyalty between ruler and subject. Liu Jian truly couldn’t bear to secretly make arrangements for the Emperor’s demise at this time. His face was tense, his eyes slightly red: “I know!”

His voice was somewhat stern.

Liu Daxia had thought his words would gain Lord Liu’s agreement, even that Lord Liu would consider him foresighted and prudent. Hearing Lord Liu’s heavy tone, his face flushed slightly, and he said, “This humble official deserves death.”

At that moment, someone outside said: “Lord Liu… Lord Liu… His Majesty summons and asks the several Grand Secretaries to enter the palace quickly. His Majesty has matters to discuss.”