Chapter 32

After nightfall, Zhu Youjian changed into everyday clothes and left the palace in a light carriage.

Luo Yangxing accompanied the carriage, with a dozen officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard following behind. Neither the Golden Guards nor the Imperial Guards had been ordered to accompany them.

Wang Cheng'en attended the emperor inside. Unlike the carriage used in His Majesty's ceremonial procession, this one had a cramped interior. Wang Cheng'en could neither stand nor sit properly, so he could only kneel before Zhu Youjian.

Zhu Youjian glanced at him and pointed to a cushion beside them. "Put that underneath you. Your knees will hurt!"

Although a felt rug covered the wooden floor of the carriage, it was still rather thin. After kneeling for so long, Wang Cheng'en was indeed sore from the hard surface. The emperor's words moved him to tears of gratitude.

His Majesty cared for me so deeply. I must serve him with all my heart and strength and ease his burdens. Only then can I repay his kindness!

Zhu Youjian had initially intended to tell Wang Cheng'en to sit, but on reflection, he knew Wang Cheng'en would never accept such an order. It would only frighten him.

Rather than leave him trembling with unease, he might as well let him kneel more comfortably.

This accursed feudal society...

Though I seemed to be enjoying it quite a bit myself!

Before long, the carriage stopped. Its curtain was lifted, and Wang Cheng'en climbed down first. He brought over a mounting stool and set it in place before reaching out to help the emperor down.

Zhu Youjian leaned out for a look, then briskly slapped Wang Cheng'en's hand aside. "I can get down myself!"

Wang Cheng'en withdrew his hand and answered, "Yes," yet felt an indescribable sense of hurt.

If His Majesty did not need me, what else could I do?

The Imperial Prison was brightly lit and looked especially solemn in honor of the emperor's personal visit. Incense had been lit, bloodstains washed away, and braziers set out for warmth. Even the prisoners who ordinarily cried out year-round had fallen silent.

It was as though this were not the Imperial Prison, whose very name struck terror into people's hearts, but a place of pleasure.

Of course, Zhu Youjian did not believe the Imperial Prison normally looked like this. He glanced around, but saw none of what ought to have been there.

"Where is he?" No longer curious about what the Imperial Prison truly looked like, Zhu Youjian asked the question and followed Luo Yangxing toward Lu Xiangsheng's cell.

As they passed Fan Fucui and Huang Daozhou, thunderous snores reached his ears. Zhu Youjian could not help pausing, then approached for a closer look.

Well, well. The two men lay sprawled on a small bed, fast asleep beneath a brocade quilt.

"Your Majesty instructed me to take good care of these gentlemen, so I provided a bed and brought a brocade quilt. They have been served fine food and drink, without the slightest disrespect!" Luo Yangxing hurriedly explained.

Zhu Youjian snorted. "They certainly ate well. Even all this commotion hasn't woken them. Let me sample your Imperial Prison's fare another day!"

A fine sheen of cold sweat appeared on Luo Yangxing's forehead. He was about to offer further explanations when he saw that the emperor had already turned and walked on.

Luo Yangxing glanced back at the two men sleeping in the cell and cursed inwardly. Who had come up with that rotten idea, saying that if they were awake, they might disturb His Majesty? If they then said something outrageously disrespectful and displeased the emperor, wouldn't he be dragged into it too?

Only then had he agreed to have something added to their food that evening. All that mattered was that they were asleep when His Majesty arrived.

Who could have known His Majesty would have the leisure to stop and look? Alas, His Majesty must have understood perfectly well. But since he had not openly exposed it, he probably had no intention of blaming him.

Zhu Youjian reached the entrance to Lu Xiangsheng's cell. "I have come!"

Lu Xiangsheng had already heard the faint sound of voices. Standing where he was, he bowed to the emperor.

Zhu Youjian nodded and turned back. "Open the door. I have questions to ask Lu Xiangsheng in private."

Luo Yangxing hastily ordered someone to unlock Lu Xiangsheng's cell, but hesitated at the request for privacy. "Your Majesty's safety is my responsibility. If..."

"I trust him." Having said that, Zhu Youjian waved Luo Yangxing away.

With no other choice, Luo Yangxing withdrew with Wang Cheng'en and the others, going far enough away to ensure they could not hear a single word.

Only then did Zhu Youjian step into the cell and take a clear look at the general before him.

In just a few short months, Lu Xiangsheng had grown considerably thinner. His prison clothes hung loosely on his frame, wounds marked the backs of his hands, and his face looked terribly haggard.

"I have failed Your Majesty!" Before the emperor could speak, Lu Xiangsheng dropped straight to his knees.

"Jiandou, get up, quickly!" Zhu Youjian hurried forward to help him, but once he took hold of Lu Xiangsheng's arm, he found that no matter how hard he pulled, he could not lift him.

He really was strong!

Zhu Youjian gave up. To think that he, a man in his prime, could not help an injured man in his fifties to his feet. How embarrassing.

Zhu Youjian coughed. "Jiandou, you fought valiantly for our Great Ming. What crime have you committed?"

"I intended to turn their scheme against them and inflict greater losses on Yoto's and Hao Ge's forces, paving the way for our subsequent plans. But I miscalculated. Wang Pu fled, the Heavenly Hero Army's reinforcements arrived late, and twenty thousand men nearly perished under my command. My conscience is burdened with guilt!"

When facing the Jurchen, Lu Xiangsheng had thought only of fighting, unafraid even to stake his life. Only now, after coming back to his senses, did he feel fear at what might have happened.

If Chen Guowei had not brought the Heavenly Hero Army back in time... if Wang Pu had not been the only one to flee... if the troops that arrived had been Dorgon's forces instead of reinforcements...

In any of those cases, all twenty thousand troops would surely have been lost, and he would have died for the cause as well. Never mind whether he might have earned a reputation for loyalty and valor-just the thought of having ruined His Majesty's grand plan filled Lu Xiangsheng with boundless regret.

Now, even if His Majesty wished to beat him, berate him, or punish him with the Imperial Prison's instruments of torture, it would all be deserved.

Looking down at Lu Xiangsheng kneeling at his feet, Zhu Youjian felt an even deeper ache in his heart.

A general who had braved death for Great Ming declared himself guilty, while those who occupied their posts and ate without doing their duty waved banners and shouted for the Jurchen. They demanded peace talks, demanded payments of silver and grain, demanded that the Jurchen be given everything they wanted, all in exchange for a brief and illusory peace.

Monsters and demons ran rampant beneath the clear sky and bright sun.

A loyal soul remained hidden in the dark night, walking alone.

Unable to lift Lu Xiangsheng, and unwilling to finish their conversation looming over him like this, Zhu Youjian simply gathered up his robe and squatted down. "Jiandou, if you believe yourself guilty, then redeem yourself through meritorious service. I still need you. Great Ming needs you. Work with me to drive the Jurchen... out!"

Zhu Youjian's words struck the ground with ringing force. They passed through Lu Xiangsheng's ears and flowed into his heart, stirring waves within him until his entire body trembled uncontrollably.

At last, his tears of emotion could no longer resist gravity and pattered onto the ground.

Lu Xiangsheng sobbed. He wanted to voice his gratitude, but could not get the words out.

What virtue or ability did I possess to deserve such trust from His Majesty? How could I repay him with this battered body?

"Thank you... thank you, Your Majesty! I... will not fail the trust you have placed in me!" Kneeling on the ground, Lu Xiangsheng finished speaking in a trembling voice.

Zhu Youjian reached out and patted Lu Xiangsheng's shoulder, smiling. "My legs are sore. How much longer do you intend to kneel? Time is short. We must move on to the next step!"

"Yes, yes..." Hearing this, Lu Xiangsheng promptly rose to his feet. But once upright, he realized the emperor was still squatting and hastily knelt again. "Forgive my impropriety."

These Confucian officials of old really did observe that whole business of a ruler acting as a ruler and a subject as a subject with absolute rigor. This was hardly anything serious. Standing up only took an instant.

Zhu Youjian shook his head helplessly. Only after he rose did Lu Xiangsheng stand up after him.

"Someone!" Zhu Youjian called outside. Wang Cheng'en immediately came running. "Bring a set of Embroidered Uniform Guard clothes in Lu Xiangsheng's size."