Chapter Fifty-Six: Searching for Guo Mengdie

After interrupting Wei Xiaobao, Zhu Hao spoke up, “Xiaobao, you can report these matters to me later. Right now, I have something important for you to do.”

Wei Xiaobao immediately composed himself and bowed respectfully. “What are your orders, Your Highness? I will see to it at once!”

Hearing such a crisp response, Zhu Hao found himself at a loss for words. After all, Wei Xiaobao was in the middle of recruiting new agents for the Central Intelligence Bureau, and yet he was being told to stop and go find a woman for Zhu Hao. This made Zhu Hao feel, if only for a moment, like a foolish and self-indulgent ruler.

Wei Xiaobao continued kneeling, and since his master remained silent for a long while, he sneaked a glance upward, his eyes full of suspicion. Still, he dared not speak and could only wait patiently on the floor for Zhu Hao to give his commands.

At length, Zhu Hao forced himself to speak, albeit with some awkwardness. “Well, Xiaobao, the reason I summoned you today is… um, well, I need you to find someone for me.”

Wei Xiaobao’s curiosity only deepened. His usually decisive master was now stammering over something as simple as finding a person? Though puzzled, he asked no questions, but instead replied with utmost seriousness, “Please rest assured, Your Highness. If the person is within the palace, I will dig three feet into the earth if need be to find them for you! Whom is Your Highness seeking? Or what distinguishing features should I look for?”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Hao’s usually thick-skinned composure nearly faltered. He flushed slightly and, embarrassed, rubbed his nose. “Well, um, actually, I don’t know her name. I only know she’s a young woman, very beautiful, dressed in a white dress, about eleven or twelve years old. She should be somewhere in the palace right now. Go and find her for me!” When Zhu Hao finally finished, he exhaled as though relieved of a great burden.

Still kneeling, Wei Xiaobao covered his mouth to stifle a laugh, thinking to himself, “My master must be lovesick—pining after a girl! No wonder he’s so embarrassed.”

Though Zhu Hao had no idea what was running through Wei Xiaobao’s mind, he caught a fleeting, lewd glint in the young man’s eyes and could guess his thoughts were anything but proper. Furious and embarrassed, Zhu Hao slammed the table and barked, “You impudent wretch! How dare you laugh at your prince—do you think I won’t punish you? Outrageous!”

Seeing his master truly angered, Wei Xiaobao quickly wiped the smile off his face and said solemnly, “Please rest assured, Your Highness. It’s just one woman—if there’s anything the harem has in abundance, it’s women. I’ll find you two beautiful ladies right away and have them dress in white to serve you!”

At that, Zhu Hao instantly realized this scoundrel had misunderstood. He leapt up and kicked Wei Xiaobao to the floor, scolding him, “You dog! What kind of man do you take your prince for? I want you to find this woman because I have important matters to discuss with her. Stow away your filthy thoughts! If it happens again, I’ll send you to the imperial kitchens to feed the pigs!”

Seeing his master was truly angry, Wei Xiaobao immediately sobered, kowtowing repeatedly in apology. “Your servant knows his mistake—never again! I’ll go right now and find the person Your Highness seeks. Please, Your Highness, don’t send me to feed the pigs!”

Zhu Hao snorted, “Then why are you still here? Get going! If you handle this well, fine. If not, pack your things and report to the imperial kitchens!”

Wei Xiaobao kowtowed again and hurriedly excused himself. “Your servant will see to it at once! I’ll take my leave!” And with that, he shot out of the room, so swift that Zhu Hao almost thought he’d been possessed by Shi Qian himself.

Unable to calm his mind to devise solutions, Zhu Hao simply waited in his room for news. As time passed, minute by minute, his anxiety and impatience grew. Fortunately, Wei Xiaobao did not keep him waiting long. After about half an hour, Wei Xiaobao returned with a sycophantic smile. “Your servant Wei Xiaobao greets Your Highness!”

By this time, Zhu Hao’s impatience had reached a peak. He yanked the kneeling Wei Xiaobao to his feet. “Cut the nonsense! How did it go?” It was the first time Zhu Hao had ever sworn in front of Wei Xiaobao, a measure of his agitation.

Wei Xiaobao, shocked to hear his usually refined master curse, dared not beat around the bush. “Your Highness, your servant did not fail—you wanted a certain young lady found, and I’ve found her!”

Zhu Hao’s face lit up with joy. “Where is she? Take me to her at once!”

Wei Xiaobao hesitated, his expression troubled. “Um, I’m afraid it’s not convenient for Your Highness to see her right now…”

Zhu Hao’s irritation flared. “Where is she? Why is it inconvenient? Explain yourself—or I’ll send you to feed the pigs right now!”

At the threat of pig-feeding, Wei Xiaobao shuddered and quickly replied, “The young lady… it really isn’t convenient, because she’s currently… in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility!”

As soon as the words left Wei Xiaobao’s mouth, Zhu Hao’s eyes widened in shock and he collapsed into a chair like a defeated rooster, murmuring, “How could this be? Why is she in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility? Who is she, really?”

Seeing his master’s distress, Wei Xiaobao felt uneasy himself and quickly offered, “Your Highness, I’ll keep watch outside the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. As soon as she leaves, I’ll come inform you, and then you can see her!”

Zhu Hao waved his hand absentmindedly, dismissing Wei Xiaobao, his mind whirling with one thought: “Who is she? Why is she there? Who is she, really?”

No one knows how long Zhu Hao pondered before a sudden thought struck him. “Could the earlier commotion at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility be related to this girl? Is she friend or foe? Either way, for her to enter the sealed palace and even meet that old witch, she must have formidable backing.” Zhu Hao found himself growing ever more curious about Guo Mengdie’s identity.

Ever since Wei Xiaobao had left, Zhu Hao had waited alone in his chambers, hoping for Guo Mengdie to leave the Palace of Earthly Tranquility so he might question her. Little did he know that, at that very moment, Guo Mengdie was nestled beside the person he most despised—the Empress Guo—whispering softly.

Had Zhu Hao witnessed this scene, who knows what he would have felt—perhaps he would have collapsed on the spot.

In the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, Guo Mengdie leaned sweetly against Empress Guo, pleading, “Auntie, you love me best! I don’t want to be empress, nor do I want to marry into the palace. Please, go and talk to Grandfather and Uncle for me—please, Auntie, will you?”

Empress Guo gazed at her lovingly. “Mengdie, do you not realize? Marrying into the palace is every woman’s dream, and to become the empress of the Ming dynasty is a fortune countless women would give anything for. If you were not your grandfather’s beloved granddaughter, not my cherished niece, you would never have had such a chance. This is the dream of all women—yet you refuse it. Tell me, why?”

If Zhu Hao could see Guo Mengdie’s coquettishness and the Empress’s doting gaze, he might well spit blood in astonishment.

Guo Mengdie, seeing her doting aunt did not agree at once, pouted in dissatisfaction. “I simply don’t want to, that’s all! Why should there be so many reasons? Will you help me or not?” She continued to shake Empress Guo’s arm in a childish plea.

Empress Guo sighed and tapped the girl’s delicate nose, her voice full of indulgence. “All right, all right. Since you don’t wish it, I’ll help you. After all, you are my favorite. But I heard from your uncle that you’d agreed to marry the crown prince—why are you suddenly here to back out? I’ll help you, but you must tell me the truth, or I won’t help at all.”

At these words, Guo Mengdie’s face turned alternately pale and flushed as she recalled her various encounters with Zhu Hao—their quarrels, the embarrassing mistake of mistaking him for the crown prince. But now, the only person who could change her fate was her doting aunt. If her aunt did not help, she truly would have no choice but to marry the crown prince she had never even met.