Chapter Twenty-Four: Perplexity and Doubt

Zhu Changluo listened to Zhu Hao's words and immediately asked with concern, "Youjian, if you're feeling tired, there's no need for you to follow Gongsun Ce around anymore! I can simply give Gongsun Ce a gold token to move about the palace. Since your injuries haven't healed yet, you should stay in the palace and focus on your recovery! Don't make your father and your mother worry about you!"

Zhu Hao was deeply moved by his father's words, but he couldn't just watch as Gongsun Ce, whom he had summoned with great effort, went off without him. No matter what, he wanted to do his part in this matter. With this in mind, Zhu Hao replied, "Father, please don't worry about me. I wish to help ease your burdens!"

After speaking, he looked up at the sky and said nothing for a long time, resuming the demeanor of a withdrawn youth. Seeing this, Zhu Changluo's heart ached even more for his son. Lowering his head, he looked at Zhu Hao with deep anxiety and only now noticed that Zhu Hao had been carried in on a stretcher. Suddenly, his anger flared. "Which worthless servant dared carry the Fifth Prince in on a stretcher? This is simply unforgivable! Guards, drag these two wretches out and behead them!"

Based on the fact that Zhu Hao had been carried over and recalling Zhu Hao's earlier excuse of exhaustion, Zhu Changluo concluded that the unlucky stretcher had caused Zhu Hao's reaction and grew even more furious.

Seeing this, Zhu Hao knew he couldn't let his father mistakenly kill the two eunuchs. He quickly spoke up, "Father, it was because I had difficulty walking that the two attendants carried me here. They are not to blame. Please, Father, spare them!"

After he finished, Zhu Hao once again resumed his blank, sky-gazing expression. Zhu Changluo's love for his son outweighed all else; ignoring matters of etiquette, he immediately ordered, "Give my palanquin to the Fifth Prince, Youjian, and have the Bureau of Artisans make another for me!"

With that command issued, he turned to Gongsun Ce. "What business brings you and the Fifth Prince to see me? Have you found any leads?"

Gongsun Ce bowed in apology, explaining that no leads had been discovered yet, and then relayed his desire to audit the palace treasury's kerosene inventory. Zhu Changluo nodded without hesitation. "Very well! You may go and check the treasury's kerosene accounts and stores." Glancing affectionately at Zhu Hao, now seated in the imperial palanquin, he added, "The Fifth Prince is still not fully recovered. He will need to travel back and forth while assisting you in this investigation. You must take good care of him for me. If he suffers any harm, I will hold you personally responsible!"

Gongsun Ce quickly accepted the order. The group then proceeded in full force to the treasury. Upon entering, the treasury official saw Gongsun Ce return and a mocking smile spread across his face, clearly aware of Gongsun Ce's recent humiliation at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

Before Gongsun Ce could speak, the official sneered, "Well, if it isn't Scholar Gongsun! Still haven't had enough of poking around the Palace of Earthly Tranquility's kerosene stores? Now you're here to check up on the treasury's as well?"

Zhu Hao had always despised such sycophants. With a cold snort, he declared, "The imperial palanquin is here—why aren't you kneeling? Are you plotting treason?"

The treasury official had only noticed Gongsun Ce and not Zhu Hao, who was seated in the imperial palanquin. The palanquin, akin to the emperor's private carriage, might be empty or carrying the emperor. It was large enough to seat three adults side by side. With the child Zhu Hao aboard, it was easy to overlook him and assume the palanquin was empty, awaiting the emperor.

The moment Zhu Hao spoke, the official saw the young prince for the first time. Though he couldn't fathom why Zhu Hao was in the imperial palanquin, it was not his place to question. Hearing Zhu Hao's earlier words, he immediately dropped to his knees, trembling, and repeatedly begged for forgiveness.

The reason this treasury official called himself a servant, despite his title, was because most palace staff were eunuchs—servants of the royal family by definition.

Disgusted by the official's obsequiousness, Zhu Hao had no desire to waste words. He snapped, "Didn't you just ask if Gongsun Ce was here to check the treasury's kerosene? You were right! I come with my father's orders to inspect it. Open the kerosene storeroom immediately!"

The official's expression flickered for just a moment, a detail Zhu Hao caught at once but did not pursue. He simply waited for the storeroom to be opened.

Yet the official, still kneeling, did nothing for a long while. Just as Zhu Hao was about to rebuke him, the official mustered his courage and said, "Your Highness claims to have the emperor's orders—may I see the edict? Without it, no one may inspect the treasury. Please show us the imperial decree!"

Zhu Hao, seeing the official first mock and now deliberately obstruct him, became certain something was amiss. But without opening the storeroom, there would be no evidence. He retorted coldly, "My father conveyed his order by word of mouth—there is no edict. Do you not believe me, even when I arrive in the imperial palanquin? Or do you think I am forging my father's will?"

The official hurriedly kowtowed, "I would never dare! Never, Your Highness! It’s just that—"

Anyone working in the treasury would be a sly old fox and knew Zhu Hao was the emperor's favorite son. Even if Zhu Hao truly forged an order, the emperor would likely shield him and claim it was his own command.

Zhu Hao knew the official wouldn't dare challenge him directly, but seeing the man still unmoving and searching for excuses, he cut him off sharply. "Enough nonsense—I have no time for this. Open the kerosene store at once! Any further delay will be treated as treason!"

The official knew resistance was futile and hurried to the storeroom, but after trying several keys, he failed to open the door, sweat beading on his brow. Zhu Hao recognized this as another stalling tactic and said, "What’s the matter? Have you forgotten where the key is?"

With a mournful face, the official replied, "Your Highness, I just remembered—I've left the key in my quarters. Please wait a moment while I go fetch it!"

Zhu Hao inwardly cursed the palace full of actors putting on a show for him. He was particularly sensitive to the term "Luban," thanks to the confounded system he’d been saddled with.

He didn't want to give the official any more time to stall or possibly escape—after all, if there were any secrets in the storeroom, this man was a key witness. Waving his hand, Zhu Hao declared, "No need for that!" Then, to his attendants: "Break open the door!"

The official fell to his knees, wailing, "No, Your Highness, you mustn't! Destroying the storeroom door is a grave offense!"

Zhu Hao realized this was just another attempt to make him back down. A sly smile played at his lips as he thought, "If you want to act, I’ll pull the rug out from under you and see how you manage!"

Feigning reassurance, Zhu Hao said, "There’s no need to panic, Treasurer. I am merely investigating a case and will report everything to my father. He will not blame you."

Then, with finality, he added, "Break down the door!"

The official tried to protest but was dragged aside by Zhu Hao’s attendants, given no chance to speak.

Though the storeroom door was sturdy, it couldn’t withstand so many men battering it. Soon, with a crash, it gave way. Zhu Hao ordered, "Audit the treasury's kerosene! Count everything carefully—leave no room for error!"

He then closed his eyes to rest in the palanquin, awaiting the results. The treasury official collapsed on the ground, ashen and resigned to his fate. Zhu Hao merely ordered someone to keep watch over him, deciding to wait until the investigation was complete before saying more.

After about half an hour, the officials comparing records and counting the kerosene finally finished. One stepped forward to report, "Your Highness, we have found something!"

Delighted, Zhu Hao thought, "At last, evidence! Let's see how that old witch can deny this. I'll take the proof straight to Father and make sure he punishes her thoroughly—hopefully, so she never stirs up trouble again!"

But as he was savoring this prospect, the official hesitated and continued, "Your Highness, the kerosene is indeed short—but only by one barrel..."

"What?" Zhu Hao's hopes of seeing Empress Guo punished vanished in an instant, replaced by deep confusion and frustration.

Empress Guo’s palace had requisitioned three barrels of kerosene on two occasions, but the treasury was missing only one. So, where on earth had the other two barrels come from?