Chapter Fifteen: Zhu Hao Feigns Madness

The moment Zhu Hao finished speaking, Wei Xiaobao’s face flushed with excitement, his joy practically overflowing, and his body trembled slightly as he stammered, “Your… Your Highness, is your illness… cured?”

Zhu Hao could see that Wei Xiaobao was genuinely happy for him. Since he had already allowed Gongsun Ce to summon Wei Xiaobao in, he had no intention of keeping anything from him. Smiling, Zhu Hao said, “Xiaobao, I was never truly ill in the first place. It was all a ruse, something I had to do out of necessity. Remember this well—my illness was all an act. Not a word must leak out, or I will hold you responsible.”

Though Wei Xiaobao did not understand why Zhu Hao had to feign illness, he nodded at the order. “Understood, Your Highness! Please rest assured—even if they beat me to death, I wouldn’t tell a soul!”

After making his pledge, Wei Xiaobao recalled Zhu Hao’s earlier question and continued, “Is there anything you need me to do, Your Highness? Please just give the order, and I will do my utmost to accomplish it!”

Hearing such a loyal declaration, Zhu Hao decided not to keep him in suspense. He said, “I want you to keep a close watch on every movement in the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. Report to me immediately if anything unusual happens. Can you do this?”

Wei Xiaobao dropped to his knees, kowtowed, and vowed, “Rest assured, Your Highness! I’ll get right on it. Even if a fly passes through that palace, Your Highness will know about it!”

Wei Xiaobao’s exaggerated promise made Zhu Hao smile, though a hint of worry lingered in his heart. He feared Wei Xiaobao might not be up to the task, but at the moment there was no one else he could rely on. He thought to himself that he would need to summon more talent soon; otherwise, with only Gongsun Ce and Wei Xiaobao, he would be sorely shorthanded if something significant happened.

Having received his orders, Wei Xiaobao left to keep watch over the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, leaving only Gongsun Ce and Zhu Hao in the room. Zhu Hao said to Gongsun Ce, “It’s getting late—you should rest. Tomorrow we’ll need to inspect the scene of the fire, but after all this commotion, I fear there might not be much evidence left.” As he spoke, a trace of worry appeared on his face.

Gongsun Ce saw the concern on his prince’s face and offered comfort. “Do not worry, Your Highness. I believe that Heaven’s net is vast and nothing escapes it. Even if the scene has been tampered with, I am sure some clues remain.”

With that, Gongsun Ce bowed once more. “It’s late, Your Highness. I won’t disturb your rest any longer. I take my leave.”

Zhu Hao nodded, and Gongsun Ce withdrew, leaving Zhu Hao alone. Instead of going straight to sleep, Zhu Hao sat for a long while, gazing at the ceiling. At last he muttered to himself, “Just fourteen more days. Then I’ll summon a five-star genius who will terrify that old witch out of her wits. For now, I’ll put up with her!” Zhu Hao said this because he had accumulated 1,430 summon points. Each day, he received five more from the system, so in fourteen days he would gain seventy more, bringing him to an even 1,500—just enough to summon a five-star talent.

With a grim satisfaction, Zhu Hao sighed, lay down on his bed, and soon drifted off, exhausted from the day’s events and perhaps also feeling the aftereffects of Gongsun Ce’s little pill. He slept soundly through the night.

At dawn, Gongsun Ce arrived early at Zhu Hao’s room. After a brief, secret discussion, Gongsun Ce went out and announced that Zhu Hao had awakened. The news quickly reached Zhu Hao’s father, Zhu Changluo, who came at once with Consort Liu and the imperial physician. The previous day, the physician had examined Zhu Hao and, after he had taken Gongsun Ce’s pill, found his meridians in utter disarray. Not daring to deceive the emperor, the physician had reported that Zhu Hao’s chances of waking again were slim, leaving Zhu Changluo and Consort Liu sleepless with worry all night. That morning, as Zhu Changluo was presiding over court, his personal eunuch brought him the news that Zhu Hao was awake. Overjoyed, he canceled the session at once and hurried with Consort Liu and the physician to see his son.

When Zhu Hao saw the anxious love in his parents’ eyes, he felt a pang of guilt. But survival demanded he keep up the act. Leaping from his bed, he pointed at Zhu Changluo and shouted, “Who are you? I am Nezha, the Third Prince of Heaven! Why do you not kneel before a true god?”

Both Zhu Changluo and Consort Liu had approached, faces alight with anticipation, but Zhu Hao’s sudden outburst startled them into stepping back, their expressions turning to worry. Zhu Changluo glared at the physician who had examined Zhu Hao the day before. “What is the meaning of this? I want a full explanation!”

The physician fell to his knees in terror. “Your Majesty, I… I have never seen such a condition before. I must take his pulse to determine the cause!”

Zhu Changluo, growing impatient, strode forward and kicked the kneeling physician, nearly knocking him flat. “Then what are you waiting for? Go examine the Fifth Prince’s pulse now! Do you expect me to invite you?”

The frightened physician scrambled up, apologizing profusely as he approached Zhu Hao. But Zhu Hao, unwilling to let him near, stood on the bed and bellowed, “What demon are you, that you dare approach my golden body? Stand back, fiend, or be vanquished by this immortal!”

Waving his arms wildly, Zhu Hao lunged at the physician’s face. The physician, though unafraid of a child’s hands, dared not retaliate with force in front of the Emperor and Consort Liu, leaving him at a loss.

Zhu Changluo, ever the decisive ruler, barked, “Guards, restrain the Fifth Prince and let the physician take his pulse!”

Zhu Hao’s heart skipped a beat. If they really did that, his deceit would be exposed. To prevent it, he steeled himself and yanked his own hair, howling in real pain, “What devils are you? Don’t touch my golden body!”

Consort Liu, who had been weeping since entering the room, could bear it no longer. Sobbing, she knelt before Zhu Changluo. “Your Majesty, please… he is already like this, don’t let anyone hurt him anymore!” With that, she collapsed, wailing uncontrollably.

Zhu Hao nearly broke character to comfort her, but in the end, he held firm, pulling even harder at his hair. His heart ached with warmth for the mother he had found in this new life, and his nose stung with emotion as he watched her.

Seeing his wife’s grief, Zhu Changluo’s own eyes reddened. He looked up and cried, “Heavens! What have I done to deserve this? If I am at fault, punish me, not my innocent son!”

All the physicians in attendance fell to their knees. “Your Majesty, we are to blame!”

At that moment, the physician who had tried to examine Zhu Hao spoke up. “Your Majesty, I recall a case recorded in a medical text that closely resembles the Fifth Prince’s condition! May I explain?”

Zhu Changluo, hearing the implication that a diagnosis could be made without a pulse reading, urged him on. “Speak quickly!”

The physician, still kneeling and not daring to lift his head, said cautiously, “This appears to be a case of madness brought on by hysteria, as described in the medical texts.”

Zhu Hao felt a measure of relief; evidently, the physician would not insist on examining him today, and his pretense of illness remained secure.

But Zhu Changluo was anything but reassured. He roared, “What? Are you saying my son has gone mad?”

At these words, Consort Liu, still sprawled on the floor, screamed, “My son!” and fainted dead away.

Zhu Hao could bear it no longer. He cried out, “Mother!” and was about to leap from his bed when he noticed everyone in the room was staring at him. He realized he’d nearly broken character. Since things had come this far, he was determined not to waste all his efforts. Suppressing his grief, he curled up on the bed, repeating over and over, “Mother, where are you? Where am I? Who am I?”

The onlookers sighed, and the physicians turned their attention to reviving Consort Liu, leaving Zhu Hao ignored.

After some effort, Consort Liu was finally revived and sent back to her own chambers. Zhu Changluo, looking dejected, also left, instructing Gongsun Ce to take good care of Zhu Hao and report any changes immediately.

Once everyone had departed and only Gongsun Ce remained with Zhu Hao, Gongsun Ce asked, “Your Highness, how long do you intend to keep up this act?”