The Prince of De

Stipendiary scholars, licentiates-none of these posed a problem in Zhu Youjian's eyes. Even if they held no scholarly rank at all, could he not grant them an official qualification as emperor?

Besides, the civil service was one path into office, but it was not the only one!

Still, he truly did not know how to place them just yet. He would have to look further into what these members of the Sun Family were good at.

Zhu Youjian said no more. Just then, someone outside announced that Zhu Youshu, the Prince of De, sought an audience. Zhu Youjian offered Sun Chengzong a few more words of reassurance, told him and his family to rest in the capital for a few days, and promised to compensate him for the property lost at the Sun Residence in Gaoyang once the fighting was over.

Overwhelmed by the honor, Sun Chengzong repeatedly protested that he could not possibly accept, then took his leave of Wuying Hall.

Zhu Youshu, the Prince of De, had lived like an immortal in Jinan, carefree and comfortable, with wives and concubines in droves and so many sons that he might not even recognize them when they met.

This time, Zhu Youshu had brought his family to stay in the palace. Although the emperor had set aside a separate palace building for him, it was far smaller than Prince De's Residence in Jinan.

Once, he had flicked his tail freely through rivers, lakes, and seas. Now he was like a koi in a palace courtyard pond, packed in so tightly that he could not turn around.

Besides, he had left plenty of things in his residence in Jinan. They were well hidden, but if the Jurchens discovered them, how was he supposed to live afterward?

Unhappy with his lodgings and worried day and night, Zhu Youshu had grown considerably haggard. Even his consort said he had grown so thin that his belly was gone.

His belly could disappear for all he cared, so long as his silver did not!

Zhu Youshu waited beneath the covered walkway. When he saw Sun Chengzong emerge from the hall, he hurriedly straightened his robes and headwear, preparing for the emperor's summons.

He gazed eagerly at the doors, but no sound came from within.

Has His Majesty forgotten? Zhu Youshu wondered, then said to the young eunuch beside him, "Go announce me. Tell His Majesty that I seek an audience!"

As the young eunuch bowed, he thought that this prince really had been away from palace life for too long. It was not that His Majesty did not know he was waiting outside. He was plainly letting him cool his heels!

"Your Highness, I'll go at once!" the young eunuch replied respectfully. He slipped through the hall doors and gestured to Wang Cheng'en.

Wang Cheng'en tipped his chin toward His Majesty, who was bent over his desk reviewing memorials, then waved the young eunuch away. Understanding, the young eunuch turned and left the hall.

"Your Highness, His Majesty is busy. Perhaps you could wait a little longer?"

The young eunuch delivered his reply with a smile, but Zhu Youshu was deeply displeased. He had clearly heard no question asked inside. This servant had not announced him at all, yet dared to fob him off.

Anger showed on Zhu Youshu's face. He had already been irritable these past few days, and now even a servant dared to trample on him. The smile on the young eunuch's face seemed like mockery, and he immediately lashed out with a kick.

"You blind little wretch! Just because I've been away from the capital, you've forgotten who I am? I'll give you something to remember today!" Zhu Youshu vented his anger on the young eunuch with fists and feet, beating him until he cried out again and again.

"What's going on here?" Hearing the commotion outside, Wang Cheng'en hurried out. When he saw the young eunuch rolling on the ground, he knew the boy had been made a whipping post. He bowed and stepped forward to intervene. "Oh dear, Your Highness, why lower yourself to quarrel with this little beast?"

"Chief Eunuch Wang." Before Wang Cheng'en, Zhu Youshu dared not put on airs. A man who accompanied the emperor every day could wield enormous influence with a word or two. "I sought an audience with His Majesty, but this little creature deceived those above and below him. Doesn't he deserve a beating?"

"Deceived those above and below him? How so? His Majesty really is busy. There's fighting at the front, and you saw it yourself along the way-the refugees have poured into the capital. His Majesty is worried sick!" Wang Cheng'en sighed with a rueful smile and glanced into the hall. "I'm afraid His Majesty won't have time to see you today. Perhaps you should head back first? His Majesty has instructed that if you lack any food or supplies, you need only tell me, and I'll arrange everything!"

No time to see anyone today?

Hadn't he just received Sun Chengzong?

How could a prince like me be less important than that old man Sun?

Zhu Youshu grumbled inwardly, but with Wang Cheng'en having put it that way, it would be improper to insist.

"Thank you, Chief Eunuch Wang. If His Majesty has a moment to spare, please send someone to let me know." Zhu Youshu drew a small silver ingot from his sleeve and slipped it discreetly into Wang Cheng'en's hand. Then he shot a hateful glare at the young eunuch on the ground and turned to leave.

Watching Zhu Youshu walk away, Wang Cheng'en's smile vanished in an instant. He spat softly. "Were you hurt? Do you still have the ointment I gave you last time? Go back and put some on."

"Thank you, Master. I'm all right!" Jiadong climbed to his feet, his lips puckered as he rubbed his arm.

"Here, buy yourself something nice to eat. Don't be so foolish next time, rushing forward whenever you see someone of high station!" With that, Wang Cheng'en tossed the silver ingot to the young eunuch and waved him away, then turned and stepped back into the hall.

Zhu Youjian knew perfectly well what had happened outside. Seeing Wang Cheng'en return, he raised his eyelids slightly and asked, "Has he gone back?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, he has!" Wang Cheng'en approached Zhu Youjian and saw that the ink on the desk was nearly dry. He hurriedly rolled up his sleeves and began grinding more.

"What did you take from him?" Zhu Youjian asked.

"Oh, a small silver ingot," Wang Cheng'en said. "I took the liberty of giving it to Wang Jiadong. He took a beating for no reason, and I couldn't bear to see it."

"A small silver ingot?" Zhu Youjian gave a snort. "A prince, and he wasn't ashamed to offer that? You've served at my side for years, after all. Who does he think he's looking down on?"

Wang Cheng'en's smile deepened. "I hear the Prince of De didn't pack much when he returned to the capital. Perhaps he's short of money."

"Hmph, short of money? He's afraid I'll see how much he has and set my sights on it. He's pretending to be poor!"

Zhu Youjian set down his brush and rubbed his neck. Seeing this, Wang Cheng'en quickly put down the ink stick, moved behind him, and began massaging his neck.

"The Prince of De couldn't see Your Majesty today, but he'll request another audience. When do you intend to receive him?"

"He only wants to know when he can return to Jinan. He's afraid the Jurchens will carry off all the fine things in his residence!"

Zhu Youjian waved Wang Cheng'en away and picked up another memorial. He had just taken up his brush when he looked up again. "Tell Luo Yangxing to assign two men from the Embroidered Uniform Guard to watch him secretly. Have them record everything the Prince of De says and does over the next few days!"

Prince of De Zhu Youshu returned to the palace building Zhu Youjian had assigned him as temporary lodgings. The distant sight of its gates drew an involuntary sigh from him. Once he entered and saw his sons and daughters gathered in the courtyard playing, irritation filled his heart again.

More than a dozen cries of "Father!" rang in his ears. Seeking the peace of neither seeing nor hearing them, Zhu Youshu passed them by and entered the hall. His consort and several concubines were sitting together talking. Seeing him return, they hurriedly rose and came forward to greet him.

"You're back, Your Highness? What did His Majesty say? When can we go home?" his consort asked gently.

"Go home? What home?" Zhu Youshu walked into the cramped room and felt even his breathing grow stifled.

Seeing Zhu Youshu lose his temper, his consort waved the secondary consorts and concubines away. Only after they had left did she ask again, "Don't be angry. Whatever the problem is, we'll find a way together. Did His Majesty reprimand you?"

Zhu Youshu sighed, took Consort Wang's hand, and patted it. Shaking his head, he said, "His Majesty wouldn't even see me."

"Why wouldn't he?"

"I don't know." Zhu Youshu knitted his brows in thought. "I've stayed in Jinan and behaved myself all along. I don't know how I've offended His Majesty."

What rotten luck. Why did my fief have to be in Jinan? If it were deep in the Central Plains, somewhere like Luoyang, none of this damned trouble would have happened. Just look at how carefree Uncle Prince Fu's life is!

"Consort Wang, since I can't see His Majesty, think of a way to spend more time with the Empress and the Noble Consort, and sound them out!" Zhu Youshu thought that if he could not meet the emperor, surely he could at least reach the Empress. Surely there was nothing wrong with sisters-in-law exchanging a few words!