Chapter 85: The Foolish Ruler

“What do you mean ‘calculated’? What nonsense are you talking?” He pulled a long face and scolded Zhu Houzhao harshly.

Zhu Houzhao shrank back immediately. Realizing he had gotten carried away, he quickly put on a pitiful expression and said very carefully, “The year-end surplus of the National Treasury has all been calculated.”

“…”

The Warm Pavilion fell silent. Everyone was watching Zhu Houzhao’s performance.

In the eyes of Emperor Hongzhi, Liu Jian, and the others, the Crown Prince was… just a bit… too much.

Emperor Hongzhi said coldly, “The Ministry of Revenue is still doing the calculations. How could it be finished?”

Zhu Houzhao opened his eyes wide, his inner fear gradually fading a little. “Fang Jifan calculated it, Imperial Father. If you don’t believe me, you can look. Of course, Your Son and Servant also helped a little. Without my… assistance, he couldn’t have done it.”

This so-called assistance mostly involved pouring tea and fetching water. He almost massaged Fang Jifan’s legs, but that should also count as helping, right?

Emperor Hongzhi didn’t know whether to be angry or amused.

Liu Jian pretended not to see anything, his face expressionless.

Xie Qian, meanwhile, shook his head. The Crown Prince, ah… Just a few days ago, when he talked about how water can carry a boat but also overturn it, we thought highly of him. But today…

Li Dongyang was a Grand Secretary and also the Minister of Revenue. Regarding matters of the Ministry of Revenue, he was always shrewd and usually appeared very deep and reserved. But today, his old face tightened slightly, showing signs of losing his composure.

Seeing that no one in the Warm Pavilion believed him, Zhu Houzhao grew anxious. “It really has been calculated, Imperial Father! Yesterday, Old Fang… I mean, Fang Jifan worked on it for a whole day! I saw it with my own eyes, Imperial Father. Look, I wrote it all down. Please take a look…”

Afraid that Emperor Hongzhi would refuse, he quickly took out a copy of the ledger he had prepared earlier from his sleeve and presented it to the Emperor.

Emperor Hongzhi lowered his head and glanced briefly. On it were written things like: “By the end of this year, as of the 7th day of the 12th month in the 11th Year of the Hongzhi Era, the imperial court has collected 2,754,622 taels of silver from the Two Capitals and Thirteen Provinces, 790,000 jin of silk, 1,639,300 bolts of cloth…”

Emperor Hongzhi’s face darkened slightly. He coughed. “Hmm, I see…”

He said it very lightly.

To be honest, the numbers listed seemed plausible.

But… to calculate the National Treasury surplus in just a few days… This… Emperor Hongzhi felt this was an insult to his intelligence. Of course, it was possible that Fang Jifan had first insulted Zhu Houzhao’s intelligence, and then this foolish son came to insult his father.

Thinking further, although that fellow Fang Jifan occasionally had his brilliant moments, his unreliable behavior was too numerous to count. Most likely, Fang Jifan was just trying to amuse Zhu Houzhao.

When young people fool around and say random things, most people wouldn’t take it seriously. But you, my foolish son… you actually believed it.

If it could be calculated in just a few days, why would I need the Ministry of Revenue? Should I make you the Minister of Revenue and Fang Jifan the Vice Minister of Revenue?

Forget it… I need to stay calm. Isn’t the New Year almost here?

Emperor Hongzhi took a deep breath, trying hard to calm himself down. He forced a faint smile. “Alright, Houzhao, stop fooling around.”

Zhu Houzhao frowned, actually getting annoyed. I went through so much trouble to get these calculations. How is this fooling around?

He was a stubborn person. Usually, everyone treated him like a child, humoring him and flattering him on the surface, but in reality, they just considered his actions as mischief. But the person before him was his own father. Did Imperial Father really look down on him… and Old Fang so much?

Zhu Houzhao said seriously, “Your Son and Servant is not fooling around.”

Originally, if Zhu Houzhao had just pretended to be wronged and stayed quiet, the matter would have passed. The Emperor could just chalk it up to his son acting foolishly, nothing major, especially with the New Year approaching. Besides, several mentors were present.

But Zhu Houzhao kept insisting. Emperor Hongzhi’s face fell instantly. He scolded, “You believe that it can be calculated in just a few days? You… you are truly confused.”

Seeing signs of his Imperial Father’s rising anger, Zhu Houzhao panicked a little, feeling at a loss. But then he grew somewhat angry. He said subconsciously, “Your Son and Servant… believes it.”

“…” Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian were all dumbfounded.

Emperor Hongzhi’s heart sank. Why does the future seem to hint at a foolish ruler? You believe whatever others say. Are you stupid?

Zhu Houzhao declared righteously, “Your Son and Servant may not believe others, but I believe Fang Jifan. He is my brother… He wouldn’t lie to me…”

He spoke forcefully, his voice resonating through the room.

Truthfully, Zhu Houzhao himself didn’t know why. From the first time he met Fang Jifan, when Fang casually took out Great Ming Treasure Notes worth hundreds of thousands just to make a friend, Zhu Houzhao felt an indescribable affinity for him. In his mind, only a true brother would treat money like dirt and women like clothing. Later, following Fang Jifan, although the guy was occasionally rude, he always managed to turn the impossible into reality. Of course… the most important thing was that Zhu Houzhao was lonely. This loneliness was hard to describe. Everyone saw him as the Crown Prince, the future Emperor. But everyone treated him like a child, humoring and flattering him. Only Fang Jifan would sometimes show off and boast in front of him. This feeling… hmm… felt like a real friend.

Speaking up to this point, Zhu Houzhao actually looked extremely wronged. His eyes welled up with mist, shimmering with tears under the candlelight, appearing especially aggrieved. He was like a stubborn, stinky stone in a manure pit, unyielding to the end.

Emperor Hongzhi’s face grew darker, showing faint signs that he might resort to physical action. This son was truly an embarrassment. You are the Crown Prince. Of course, you can rely on your ministers, that’s understandable. An Emperor showing trust in his ministers is not a bad thing. But… such playful words, and you believe whatever someone says?

Seeing that His Majesty showed signs of anger.

Liu Jian coughed and hurriedly said, “Your Majesty has only one son. The Crown Prince grew up without brothers for company, always lonely. Now he finally has Fang Jifan accompanying him. It’s only natural for the Crown Prince to rely on him a bit more. These were just childish words. His Highness is straightforward and honest, which is not necessarily a bad thing.”

Emperor Hongzhi sighed and glared at Zhu Houzhao. “You are dismissed. Do not fool around like this in the future.”

Zhu Houzhao couldn’t swallow this injustice. How was this fooling around? There was no justice! He wanted to argue his case firmly. Stiffening his neck, he said, “Imperial Father is blocking criticism and advice. You are a foolish ruler…”

“…” Emperor Hongzhi almost choked on his breath.

Zhu Houzhao said with grief and indignation, “Your Son and Servant did nothing wrong. I also want what’s best for the Great Ming. But in Imperial Father’s heart, you always see me as a child. But I have eyes and ears; I can naturally tell right from wrong. Instead, it’s Imperial Father who… looks down on everyone… fails to recognize talent…”

Emperor Hongzhi was so angry he felt half-dead. Good, now your courage has grown fat. In front of your mentors, you dare to talk back like this? You even dare to scold… me…

His chest heaved, his breathing like wind. He hadn’t even prepared to teach this brat a lesson yet.

Without another word, Zhu Houzhao turned and ran. Whoosh—he was gone…

Just like that… he slipped away…

Liu Jian and the other two stared, dumbstruck, not knowing what to say.

Looking back at Emperor Hongzhi, they saw his face was frighteningly severe. Even Xie Qian hurriedly tried to placate him. “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is still young, after all…”

“Ah…” Emperor Hongzhi let out a long sigh. “I… have been too indulgent with him…”

He shook his head, feeling a pain in his chest.