Chapter Seventy: Thwarted Once More

After receiving Zhu Youxiao’s affirmative reply, Zhu Hao once again grabbed his brother’s hand and dashed toward the Palace of Heavenly Purity. As they ran, he said breathlessly, “Time is short, little brother doesn’t have time to explain everything. Just do exactly as I say!”

He took a few deep breaths and continued, “Soon, a man named Li Kezhuo will come with Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe to present an elixir to Father. No matter what, you must stop Father from taking that so-called elixir!”

Listening to Zhu Hao’s words, Zhu Youxiao was puzzled—why did Zhu Hao want to stop their father from taking the elixir? But he didn’t ask; instead, he spoke of the difficulty of the task. Gasping, Zhu Youxiao said, “Little brother… why don’t you… talk to Father yourself? You know I’ve always been the slowest and most timid, and I fear I won’t be able to dissuade him!”

Zhu Hao explained, “I wanted to go myself, but they won’t let me into the Palace of Heavenly Purity! You’re the Crown Prince, the heir; they don’t dare stop you. So I can only ask you to do this.”

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao fell silent, and the two brothers hurried on. Soon, they arrived at the palace, only to be blocked by the sycophant of Consort Zheng, the chief eunuch Cui Wensheng. Cui, though courteous, said, “Your Highness, Crown Prince, Fifth Prince, His Majesty is resting. Please come back later. If you wish to pay your respects, return after midday.”

Zhu Youxiao, stopped in his tracks, was ready to turn back. Zhu Hao, seeing this, refused to yield. He sneered, “Eunuch Cui, when my mother and I came to visit Father the other day, you blocked us at every turn. My mother is merciful and did not hold it against you. Today, the Crown Prince himself comes, and you still bar the path. Do you know the consequences of obstructing the heir? I ask you, do you think your head is more valuable than others, or do you believe I’m too young to kill?”

His words carried an unmistakable threat. After the royal hunting incident, everyone in the Ming dynasty knew the Fifth Prince was not to be trifled with—he’d ordered the execution of Minister Cui Shi without hesitation. To think he wouldn’t dare to kill was a joke.

Cui Wensheng’s heart sank; he stepped back nervously, saying, “Your Highness, please calm yourself! I am only following orders. Please don’t make things difficult for me. If I let you in and disturb His Majesty’s rest, I’ll be punished all the same. Moreover, it would ruin your reputation, making others say you are unfilial. Please return now! Come back after midday, and I will not stop you then.”

Normally, Cui’s words would have sufficed—Zhu Hao knew well enough to show mercy when possible. But this was about his father’s life; he couldn’t retreat for a few polite words. Zhu Hao sneered, his gaze cold. “Eunuch Cui, what if I insist on entering today? Will you dare block my way?”

Seeing the tension escalate, Zhu Youxiao tugged at Zhu Hao’s sleeve and whispered, “Little brother, perhaps we should return for now and come back after midday. Don’t make things difficult for Eunuch Cui; he is, after all, Father’s trusted servant.”

Zhu Hao looked at his timid brother and thought bitterly, “Brother, you don’t realize how serious this is!” But there was no time to explain. He gripped his brother’s hand tightly and said resolutely, “No! I must see Father today!”

Hearing Zhu Hao’s determination, Zhu Youxiao could only lower his head and remain silent. Zhu Hao stared coldly at Cui Wensheng and stepped forward, forcing Cui to retreat with each step, the two locked in a tug-of-war before the palace doors.

Just as Cui Wensheng reached the palace threshold with nowhere left to retreat, a eunuch’s voice rang out behind Zhu Hao: “Grand Secretary Fang, Assistant Director Li of the Court of Ceremonies, summoned to audience!”

Cui Wensheng seized on this as though finding a savior. “Your Highness, please don’t press me further. His Majesty is about to meet these gentlemen. If you and the Crown Prince enter now, it would be improper. His Majesty’s wrath might harm you both!”

Zhu Hao hadn’t expected Fang Yizhe and Li Kezhuo to arrive so quickly. He cursed Wei Xiaobao for not delaying them longer. Now that they were here, with so many witnesses, forcing his way in would surely provoke gossip. But his father’s life was at stake; Zhu Hao couldn’t worry about appearances. He sneered, “Eunuch Cui, don’t try to scare me with Father! I don’t fall for that. I must go in today! If Father blames me, I’ll confess to him myself!”

With that, Zhu Hao rushed toward the palace. Just as he reached to push past Cui Wensheng, a stern voice echoed from within: “Who dares make a scene before the Palace of Heavenly Purity at this hour? Do you wish to die? Are you all blind? Why haven’t you seized the troublemakers?”

A middle-aged noblewoman strode out—the one Zhu Hao despised most: Empress Guo.

Empress Guo glared first at Zhu Hao and Cui Wensheng, then at Zhu Youxiao, and snapped, “Zhu Youjian, how dare you cause a disturbance at the Palace of Heavenly Purity!”

Zhu Hao cursed inwardly: “Damn old witch, you exaggerate! Which eye saw me making a scene? At most, I was trying to force my way in. Did your PE teacher teach you language? If you can’t use words properly, let me teach you!”

Despite his inner complaints, Zhu Hao maintained outward decorum, bowing respectfully. “Your son greets Your Majesty. I was not making a scene, merely wishing to visit Father to fulfill my filial duty.” He pointed indignantly at Cui Wensheng. “But this dog servant barred me from entering. I had no choice but to try and force my way in.”

Empress Guo seized on his words, sneering, “Force your way in? Such audacity! Since the palace’s founding, no prince has dared break its rules. Didn’t your mother teach you anything? Your actions border on rebellion. This time, I’ll let it pass for your youth and filial intent, but if you linger, don’t blame the law for being merciless!”

She then turned to Zhu Youxiao, harshly, “He’s young and uneducated, but you are the heir and elder brother. Why didn’t you stop him? Have you forgotten all I’ve taught you? From today, do not leave the Eastern Palace; reflect deeply on your conduct!”

Her words implied Zhu Hao had a mother who bore him but not one who raised him—an insult that enraged Zhu Hao, for she not only mocked him but his mother as well. Yet, he knew he was at fault, and with Fang Congzhe and Li Kezhuo now at the palace gate, so many eyes were watching. If he contradicted her, he’d be branded unfilial.

Even if Zhu Hao cared little for reputation, berating Empress Guo would not solve the present crisis—it might even ruin him. Such a losing gamble he would not make.

So he could only curse her shamelessness in his heart, lament his own weakness, and worry for his father’s fate.

Resigned, Zhu Hao turned to his brother, his last hope. But seeing his brother standing dejectedly like a bullied child, not daring to utter a word, Zhu Hao’s heart sank. “Brother, you’re too timid. No wonder you’ve spent your life under others’ control. Alas!”

With a sigh, Zhu Hao abandoned hope of entering the palace, standing quietly aside and praying that his father would see reason and not take the red pill.

Fang Congzhe and Li Kezhuo, who had waited behind Zhu Hao, now stepped forward. “Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe, Assistant Director Li Kezhuo, pay respects to Your Majesty, Crown Prince, and Fifth Prince.”

Empress Guo’s expression softened a little, and she nodded. “Rise. His Majesty awaits you. Follow me inside.”

The two thanked her and rose. Only then did Zhu Hao take the opportunity to observe Li Kezhuo. He saw that Li wore not official robes, but Daoist garb, with three long strands of beard beneath his chin, bearing an air of mystical refinement.