Chapter Seventy-Six: Gaining Leverage

With Zhu Hao’s subtle prompting, Fang Congzhe suddenly realized something, his eyes widened in surprise, and even the wrinkles on his face seemed to smooth out a little. He spoke with excitement, “Your Highness, do you mean…”

Zhu Hao nodded immediately, cutting off Fang Congzhe’s words. “That’s right! The order to seal the palace was issued by me!”

Fang Congzhe’s suspicions were confirmed by Zhu Hao’s words. He was so astonished that he could not speak for some time, pondering to himself, “This Fifth Prince, who usually keeps a low profile, can control the Imperial Guards at such a critical moment—everyone has underestimated him! This young man is truly extraordinary!”

Though Fang Congzhe was internally shaken, he quickly suppressed his shock. He knew well that this was a moment of life and death, with no time to waste. Drawing a deep breath, his face still showing a trace of excitement, he said, “Your Highness, please take me into the palace at once. I will follow your commands in all things. However, the matter of deposing the eldest and installing the youngest—I'm afraid the ministers…”

Since Zhu Hao could control the Imperial Guards and had done all this, Fang Congzhe naturally assumed Zhu Hao was vying for the throne, and voiced the difficulties he foresaw.

On hearing this, Zhu Hao thought to himself, “What is wrong with these people? Why do they all assume I want to be emperor? I’m not foolish—taking that position now is suicide. I truly don’t understand their thinking!”

It was hardly surprising that everyone misunderstood Zhu Hao. After all, a prince rushing about right after the emperor’s death, orchestrating so many events, would seem to be seeking the throne. Who could have guessed that Zhu Hao’s motivations were merely to save his own life, to survive?

Before Fang Congzhe could finish his sentence, Zhu Hao interrupted him, dissatisfied. “Chief Minister Fang! When have I ever said I would depose the eldest for the youngest? Such an outrageous notion—how can you, as the Chief Minister of the Cabinet, utter these words so lightly? If you truly did this, it would be a betrayal of our ancestors and the royal code! Where would that leave me? Where would it leave you?”

Fang Congzhe saw Zhu Hao’s passionate rebuke, which seemed genuine rather than mere performance, and responded, probing, “I must have misunderstood. Then, Your Highness, what do you intend?”

Zhu Hao took a deep breath to calm himself, then spoke slowly, “My intention is simple. The nation has a crown prince; with the emperor gone, the crown prince naturally ascends. Rest assured, Chief Minister Fang—when my elder brother becomes emperor, I will personally plead for your safety with him.”

Listening to Zhu Hao’s words, Fang Congzhe looked at him in disbelief. He could not comprehend why Zhu Hao had done all this merely so the rightful heir could inherit the throne. In that moment, his heart filled with admiration for Zhu Hao’s virtue. He bowed slightly and said, “Your Highness, your integrity is admirable. With such a prince, the late emperor was indeed fortunate, as is the empire and the realm.”

With that, Fang Congzhe urged anxiously, “Since that is the case, I understand Your Highness’s intentions. Let us hurry to the palace, lest we delay and jeopardize matters!”

Zhu Hao nodded, then shook his head, saying, “Not yet. I know you have close ties with Lady Dowager Zheng. If I bring you into the palace and you refuse to follow my instructions, I’ll have no means to control you.”

Fang Congzhe, seasoned as he was, instantly recognized that Zhu Hao wanted leverage to ensure his obedience in the palace. Naturally, Fang Congzhe was unwilling to leave any handle for Zhu Hao, so he feigned ignorance. “What do you mean, Your Highness? I don’t understand! Since I’ve agreed, I will surely act as you command. How could I think otherwise?”

Zhu Hao inwardly cursed, “This old fox is pretending to be clueless. Just a few words and he thinks he can trick me into trusting him—trust him? Never! This crafty old man is far too sly!” Thinking thus, Zhu Hao said, “Chief Minister Fang, mere words are hardly evidence. It’s difficult for me to trust you.”

He paused, looking at Fang Congzhe, refusing to pick up his line. “So you won’t take the bait, eh? Then I’ll say it myself—let’s see how you continue to play dead!” Zhu Hao continued, “Here’s what we’ll do. You will write a confession, stating that you and Lady Dowager Zheng conspired to poison the emperor. Hand it to me for safekeeping. If you defy me in the palace, I’ll have my guarantee.”

As expected, Fang Congzhe’s expression changed repeatedly, then he cried out, “Impossible! This absolutely cannot be done!”

Zhu Hao, hearing Fang Congzhe’s refusal, thought, “Old fox, you’re now like meat on the butcher’s block—let’s see how you escape my blade!” With these thoughts, Zhu Hao turned and strode toward the palace, saying as he went, “Since Chief Minister Fang won’t agree to my terms, I won’t trouble you. The crown prince is the rightful heir—even without an imperial edict, he should ascend. I have nothing to worry about. As for you, Chief Minister Fang, stay in your residence and await questioning by the guards, impeachment by the ministers, and judgment by the new emperor. I am returning to the palace—I bid you farewell!”

Had Zhu Hao immediately demanded a confession before offering to help, Fang Congzhe would surely have refused outright and never regretted it. But Zhu Hao first revealed he was there to save Fang Congzhe’s life, then let him know he controlled the Imperial Guards and had sealed the palace, finally painting him a picture of escape from the crisis—a series of steps that led Fang Congzhe into the pit Zhu Hao had dug, leaving him little room to resist.

Zhu Hao was expertly exploiting human nature. If a person knows they are doomed, nothing can move them. But if a doomed person is given hope—even if it’s only a moment’s reprieve—they will fight for survival. Such is the instinct to live.

Fang Congzhe’s feelings were precisely that. Even a powerful Chief Minister could not escape the dictates of human nature. Seeing Zhu Hao already some distance away, Fang Congzhe cried out in despair, “Your Highness, wait—I’ll agree!” With that, he sat heavily on the ground, as if that single sentence had drained all his strength.

Zhu Hao was secretly delighted. He turned back, went over to help Fang Congzhe up, dusted the dirt from his clothes, and said, “That’s more like it. Chief Minister Fang, you’ve made the right choice! Rest assured, as long as you do as I ask, that confession will never see the light of day.”

Though Zhu Hao spoke warmly, his thoughts were quite different: “Hmph! That old fox and Lady Dowager Zheng, that venomous woman—let’s see where you run this time. If I don’t finish you both off, I might as well take your surnames!”

Fang Congzhe, looking aggrieved and reluctant, resembled a young maiden bullied by villains. Unwillingly, he wrote the confession as Zhu Hao instructed, then carefully handed it over. “Your Highness, this concerns my life—please keep it safe. Don’t let it be lost.”

Zhu Hao took the confession and examined it, then patted Fang Congzhe’s shoulder reassuringly. “Chief Minister Fang, you truly deserve your post—the confession is so eloquently written. I am genuinely impressed! Rest assured, I will cherish this document as dearly as my own life—it will not be lost.”

Fang Congzhe, still being patted, replied awkwardly, “That’s good, that’s good. Your Highness, may we enter the palace now?”

Zhu Hao nodded, “To the palace!” With that, the group left the Fang residence and returned to the palace. Once inside, Zhu Hao led Fang Congzhe straight toward the Hall of Heavenly Purity.

At that moment, Lady Dowager Zheng’s watchdog, Eunuch Cui Wensheng, the chief pen-holder of the Directorate of Ceremonies, had already been detained by Zhu Hao in the Imperial Guard barracks. The entrance to the Hall of Heavenly Purity was unguarded, and Zhu Hao and Fang Congzhe entered without hindrance.

Lady Dowager Zheng, seeing Fang Congzhe enter with Zhu Hao, was surprised and puzzled, though she quickly masked her expression. She spoke coldly to Zhu Hao, “Fifth Prince, this is the Hall of Heavenly Purity. Without an edict, you may not enter! This is not your playground. In consideration of your youth, I won’t hold it against you. Leave at once!”

Zhu Hao thought to himself, “Venomous old woman, playing the benevolent here? You think I don’t know—it was you who killed my father. You may not hold it against me, but today I’ll certainly hold it against you! I’ll tear aside your mask and let everyone see your true, poisonous nature—let’s see how you keep pretending!”

With that in mind, Zhu Hao had no intention of leaving the Hall of Heavenly Purity because of her words. He replied coldly, “Father has passed away—how could he issue an edict? I have no edict? Do you, then? You, a former imperial concubine, can remain in this hall, but I, his son, cannot? Besides, filial piety dictates that sons guard their father’s spirit; even commoners do so, much less the royal family. I am here to keep vigil for my father! What is wrong with that?”