Chapter 117: Arrival in Zhejiang (Additional Chapter with Recommendation Votes)

Zhu Hao had no way of knowing how Lady Ke slandered him to Zhu Youxiao, for he was already on his way to Zhejiang. With his imperial envoy’s procession clearing the path, they encountered no further obstruction from those lacking the sense to stay out of his way. After a tedious half-month journey, the party finally arrived at Hangzhou, the seat of the Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commission.

When Zhu Hao had first set out, the officials of Zhejiang had already received official correspondence from the imperial court. They were aware of the purpose of his visit and his estimated time of arrival. Consequently, as soon as Zhu Hao’s party reached the city gates of Hangzhou, a throng of high and low-ranking officials from across the province was there to greet him.

Seeing the welcoming committee ahead, the vanguard of the procession did not dare to act rashly and promptly turned back to inform Zhu Hao, who was seated in his sedan chair. Upon hearing the report, Zhu Hao immediately ordered the chair to be lowered and stepped out.

Seeing him emerge, the members of his procession tactfully split into two lines, clearing a path in the center. Zhu Hao walked slowly until he stood before the officials of Zhejiang. He saw that the two men at the head of the group were both dressed in red robes; one appeared to be in his forties, while the other was much older, with greying temples.

Zhu Hao thought to himself, "These two must be the Left and Right Administration Commissioners, the heads of the Zhejiang officialdom."

As these thoughts crossed his mind, the officials knelt in unison. The two men in front spoke up: "Your humble servant, Xiao Jingao, Left Administration Commissioner of Zhejiang," and "Your humble servant, Li Shoujun, Right Administration Commissioner of Zhejiang."

Following Li Shoujun’s introduction, they both declared in a loud, synchronized voice, "We lead the officials of Hangzhou in respectfully welcoming the Imperial Envoy, Prince Xin, and we inquire after the Emperor’s health!"

Zhu Hao replied in a clear, resonant voice, "His Majesty is well!"

This exchange was merely a formal ritual, essentially a customary inquiry into the Emperor’s well-being. Once he had spoken, Zhu Hao smiled, raised his hands with palms upward in a gesture of gentle support, and said, "Please rise, gentlemen. I have come here on the Emperor’s business and shall be troubling you all for some time to come." This, too, was nothing more than a polite formality.

Through the introductions, Zhu Hao now knew that the younger of the two men was the Right Administration Commissioner, Li Shoujun, and the elder was the Left Administration Commissioner, Xiao Jingao.

After exchanging further pleasantries, the officials escorted Zhu Hao into Hangzhou. As the saying goes, "There is heaven above, and Suzhou and Hangzhou below." As he entered the city, Zhu Hao saw bustling streets lined with shops, a scene of prosperity. He wondered silently, "I cannot tell if the officials have deliberately staged this display, or if Hangzhou is truly this prosperous. If it is the latter, its wealth rivals that of the capital. Yet, such a flourishing city is a breeding ground for corruption."

While lost in thought, he noticed that after passing through several streets, the route became increasingly quiet and secluded, which aroused his suspicion. Although he had never been to Hangzhou, he knew that the seat of the highest provincial authority would not be located in such a desolate area.

With this doubt in mind, he turned to Li Shoujun and asked tentatively, "Lord Li, where are we going? How much further is the Administration Commission office?"

Li Shoujun replied quickly, "Reporting to your Highness, the Administration Commission is not in this direction. I will take you there later."

Zhu Hao’s suspicion deepened. "If not the Commission, then where are you taking me? Is it to my official residence?" He asked this because, while some envoys might first settle into their lodgings, the standard procedure was to visit the local government offices first to gather information.

Li Shoujun shook his head with a smile. "Your Highness, your residence is near the Commission. I am not taking you there now. I admire your dedication to duty, but one must eat to keep up one's strength. You have traveled a long way, and it is now lunchtime. To show our sincerity, we have prepared a banquet at the Chunjiang Pavilion. Firstly, to welcome you, and secondly, to ensure you do not work on an empty stomach. We also hope you will sample some authentic Jiangnan delicacies. After the meal, I shall escort you to your residence, and then we shall proceed to the Commission. Does that suit your Highness?"

Zhu Hao did not react like the rigid, incorruptible officials often portrayed in dramas who would flatly refuse such hospitality. Instead, he replied cheerfully, "That sounds excellent. However, I am putting you to great expense. I thank you all, and I shall not refuse your kind offer."

Zhu Hao disdained the caricatures of "upright officials" in fiction. He knew that if he refused an invitation immediately upon arrival, he would only make the local officials wary and lose an opportunity to observe them, which would make his subsequent investigation a protracted struggle. With a system mission to complete, he could not afford such delays.

By accepting the invitation, he intended to lower their guard, familiarize himself with the local officials, and facilitate his future investigations. Having made this decision, he set aside his airs and began to chat freely with Xiao Jingao and Li Shoujun, who were clearly delighted by his approachable demeanor.

The tense atmosphere that had prevailed when they first entered the city dissolved into lighthearted conversation. In this harmonious mood, the party soon arrived at the Chunjiang Pavilion.

The pavilion was a three-story, ancient-looking structure. Upon their arrival, the proprietor and his staff were waiting at the entrance. The entire building was devoid of other patrons during the lunch hour, which suggested that the owner had cleared the place out in anticipation of the Prince’s arrival.

Zhu Hao felt a surge of interest in the proprietor—a middle-aged man in his thirties, stout, with a "sycee-shaped" mouth and a thin mustache, looking every bit the shrewd merchant.

Xiao Jingao noticed Zhu Hao observing the man and promptly introduced him: "Your Highness, this is Cheng Baiwan, the owner of Chunjiang Pavilion. He is a prominent merchant in Zhejiang with many business interests and is a major taxpayer in our province."

Zhu Hao was startled. He immediately recalled what Qin Hui had told him: "Cheng Baiwan? Is he the father of Cheng Sanjin, the corrupt top scholar?"

Maintaining a smile, Zhu Hao probed, "Master Cheng, I have heard much of you! I hear your son is this year’s top scholar in the provincial examinations. You have raised him well; congratulations are in order!"

Cheng Baiwan’s chubby face wrinkled with delight. "It is all thanks to the patronage of these esteemed lords. It is an honor to have your Highness here. Please, let the expenses for today be covered by my humble self!"

Zhu Hao thought to himself, "So, the officials of Zhejiang are not as kind as they seem. They’ve laid a trap for me the moment I arrived! Cheng Baiwan is the father of Cheng Sanjin, the very man I am here to investigate. They bring me here to dine on his father's dime? If I eat this meal, I’ll be indebted to them. Even if I possess the iron-willed integrity of Judge Bao, I have no desire to be known as an official who eats a man’s food while suppressing his son. These scoundrels are truly going too far!"

Zhu Hao did not reveal his annoyance. Instead, he smiled and said, "Master Cheng, that will not do! I am a member of the imperial family and an envoy of the Emperor; how could I dine without paying? I shall cover all expenses today. It is settled. Gentlemen, let us go in. I have been looking forward to the delicacies of Jiangnan!"