Chapter 42: A New Lease on Life

Emperor Hongzhi’s expression showed no change.

Yang Tinghe stood to one side, his face also stern. In truth, he bore no psychological burden. The Crown Prince had already taken four or five sick leaves. If I, Yang Tinghe, indulge you, I would be a sinner for millennia. As the Crown Prince’s tutor, he truly had no way to deal with the Crown Prince. He could not hit him, could not scold him, and even when putting on a stern face, he had to mind the extent. Since he could not control the situation, he decided to call for backup.

A moment later, Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan cautiously entered.

Emperor Hongzhi lifted his gaze and saw Zhu Houzhao looking utterly innocent.

This fellow did everything without considering the consequences, but when it was time to settle accounts, he immediately put on a pitiful face, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

In the past, this trick had always worked. Even when it did not, Empress Zhang, upon seeing her son like this, would nine times out of ten shield Zhu Houzhao, leaving Emperor Hongzhi helpless.

But this time, the moment Emperor Hongzhi saw Zhu Houzhao’s pitiful appearance, instead of softening, his anger only grew.

Besides, wasn’t Empress Zhang not here?

His eyes shifted to look at Fang Jifan.

Fang Jifan appeared even more innocent than Zhu Houzhao. His handsome face had clear eyes, bright like gemstones. Those who didn’t know better would think this guy had suffered some undeserved calamity.

Fang Jifan’s eyes blinked hard. In truth, he wished he could squeeze out a few sparkling tears. Damn it, Zhu Houzhao’s acting skills were too good; he needed to appear even more wronged and innocent than him.

But Fang Jifan sadly realized that his skills were lacking. The tears just wouldn’t come out. Usually, he overacted as the arrogant spendthrift, and now he had to play pitiful. It was really hard to manage smoothly.

Emperor Hongzhi remained silent, just coldly watching the two of them.

That murderous gaze made one’s heart tremble with fear.

Fang Jifan was very pragmatic. Without another word, he said, “Your servant… deserves ten thousand deaths.”

Better to surrender. Resistance was hopeless.

When Zhu Houzhao saw Fang Jifan surrendering, he thought to himself, Why didn’t I think of that!

His tears then fell like a tide, pattering down, as if he had suffered a grave injustice: “Your Son and Servant deserves ten thousand deaths.”

In Emperor Hongzhi’s eyes, only a cold glint flashed. He sneered at the two of them, looking very much like he had come specifically to watch their performance.

The Minglun Hall was terrifyingly quiet.

Yang Tinghe and the Hanlin Academicians from the House of Crown Prince, who had heard the news and come, all wore indifferent expressions.

To them, the Crown Prince was already absurd, and this Fang Jifan was even more scum among scum.

These two were simply no good at all.

Of course, usually, no one could say anything.

But today, it was their turn to be unlucky.

Emperor Hongzhi finally spoke. What was truly frightening was that he did not fly into a rage but said in a calm tone, “Have you two finished playing your game? Should I join you for a round?”

Those lightly spoken words carried endless chill.

Zhu Houzhao felt he couldn’t bluff his way through. Tears just kept falling. This was a sincere attempt to play dead.

Fang Jifan couldn’t cry. In his heart, he cursed Zhu Houzhao: you troublemaker, you court disaster and then only know how to act pitiful. He had no choice but to adopt a trembling manner and say, “Your Majesty is wise and mighty. If we were to play a game, even a hundred of your servants would not be Your Majesty’s match. I dare not play, and I could not win!”

Emperor Hongzhi was taken aback.

How shameless must one be to flatter so smoothly at a time like this.

He fell silent again, taking a fresh look at the two. He noticed they had changed clothes and were both wearing bulky outfits.

Emperor Hongzhi’s face was as cold as frost. He said icily, “The autumn weather is quite pleasant. Why are you wearing so many clothes? Are you cold?”

Zhu Houzhao hurriedly said, “Your Son and Servant… is sick… Wind-Cold Disorder…”

Emperor Hongzhi slapped the Imperial Desk. “Guards, strip these two rascals and see what they are wearing.”

Several eunuchs stepped forward and hesitantly began to undress Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan. When Fang Jifan’s outer robe was untied, a thick padded jacket was revealed.

The eunuch removed Fang Jifan’s padded jacket, only to find another padded jacket underneath.

Fang Jifan was like a half-shelled egg, filled with indignation and wishing for death. When the eunuch continued to remove Fang Jifan’s padded jacket, a third one came into view. Only after the fourth was removed did a thin undergarment appear.

Yang Tinghe and the others stared wide-eyed. Zhu Houzhao was no better. When they removed his fourth padded jacket, there was a clang, and a thin steel plate fell to the ground.

The Crown Prince had actually padded the innermost layer with a steel plate.

Zhu Houzhao’s face was thick enough to seem unfazed.

Fang Jifan, however, rolled his eyes hard. In his heart, he cursed: Crown Prince, I, Fang Jifan, treat you like a brother, and you secretly padded with steel? He then glared at Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao finally hung his head in shame. When they were putting on the padded jackets in the Eastern Palace, he had indeed secretly stuffed in the steel plate without telling Fang Jifan.

So disloyal!

Zhu Houzhao hesitated and said, “Imperial Father, please listen to your son’s explanation. Your son… your son… this steel plate must have been… perhaps the eunuchs serving… by accident…”

“Silence!” With a slap, the Imperial Desk resounded loudly under Emperor Hongzhi’s hand.

He was truly angry now.

Emperor Hongzhi stood up abruptly, completely erupting: “Sneaky and slippery, fooling around all day, ignorant and incompetent! Do you want to anger me to death? Tell me, do you want to anger me to death?”

“Have I ever mistreated you in any way? When you were sick, I stayed up all night, not daring to sleep. When you wanted to study, I carefully selected so many Great Scholars for you. But you, what have you done? Where has your learning gone? All these years, I have placed all my hopes on you. I don’t ask you to become outstanding, but only to be a capable successor. Look at you now. And you, Fang Jifan, when have I ever neglected you? You fool around, and that’s one thing, but you even hang out with the Crown Prince. I’ve long seen through both of you; neither of you is any good. Guards!”

The eunuchs knelt trembling, awaiting His Majesty’s decree.

Those Hanlin Academicians from the House of the Crown Prince stared at the removed padded jackets, seemingly still in shock. Especially that piece of steel wrapped in cotton cloth—this… was really beyond description.

Zhu Houzhao was terrified.

Fang Jifan was scolded so badly he didn’t dare lift his head.

But upon hearing the word “guards,” Fang Jifan understood that a calamity was coming. His Majesty was in a rage; being beaten half to death would be light. So he quickly said, “Wait!”

The word “wait” directly interrupted Emperor Hongzhi.

Emperor Hongzhi’s face turned red with anger. Wait… wait… you dare say wait?

Then everyone looked at Fang Jifan with pity. This guy still wants to argue at a time like this? He simply doesn’t know how to write the word “death.”

Emperor Hongzhi said angrily, “Wait for what?”

Fang Jifan tried hard to remain calm and then said composedly, “Your Majesty, actually… I believe that the Crown Prince is not ignorant and incompetent! Your servant and the Crown Prince have been wronged!”

Wronged…

So it meant Yang Tinghe had wronged them?

What kind of people are you? Doesn’t everyone know?

Emperor Hongzhi laughed angrily. “Wronged, what a fine ‘wronged.’ Do you think I would believe you? Hang them up.”

Fang Jifan panicked. He had thought that by saying “wait” and crying “wronged,” His Majesty would ask what wrongs they had suffered.

It seemed the operas were all lies!

Fortunately, Fang Jifan’s mind worked quickly. He immediately shouted, “Crown Prince, what have you learned recently?”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao suddenly remembered something and quickly shouted, “Mencius said: ‘Bo Yi avoided Zhou, dwelt on the shore of the Northern Sea. Hearing of the rise of King Wen, he exclaimed…'”

Then came Zhu Houzhao’s fluent recitation: “‘In the world, if there is one who is good at providing for the aged, then benevolent men consider him their destination. With five mu of land, plant mulberry trees along the walls. With women raising silkworms, then the aged will have enough silk for clothes…'”

Emperor Hongzhi was stunned.