Chapter Eight: The Great Palace Fire

Zhu Hao and Zhu Youxiao followed the elderly eunuch who had summoned them and soon arrived at the Imperial Study. Along the way, Zhu Hao tried to lighten the mood, cracking a few jokes with Zhu Youxiao. However, Zhu Youxiao seemed quite anxious about meeting his father, and merely responded half-heartedly to Zhu Hao’s stories, leaving Zhu Hao feeling a bit awkward. Fortunately, the walk from Zhu Hao’s quarters to the Imperial Study was short, and they arrived quickly, bringing an end to the uneasy atmosphere.

Upon entering, Zhu Hao saw his father, Zhu Changluo, greeting him with a warm and gentle smile. If he were alone, Zhu Hao would certainly have thrown himself into his father’s arms, begging for a hug. But with Zhu Youxiao present, Zhu Hao restrained himself, mindful of his brother’s feelings; he didn’t want the brotherly bond they had just begun to forge to be undermined by their father’s overt favoritism.

Thus, Zhu Hao stood dutifully to the side upon entering, refraining from any overly familiar gestures. Alas, his father was not about to let him off so easily. Smiling, Zhu Changluo crouched down and called, “Come, come! Youjian, let your father give you a hug!”

Zhu Hao glanced at his father, whose eyes were full of expectation. He longed to draw close, but when he turned to Zhu Youxiao, he saw a look of envy on his brother’s face, his hands nervously twisting at the hem of his robe. Zhu Hao gritted his teeth and decided to forgo this opportunity for affection, shaking his head resolutely and replying, “Father, there is an order to things. My brother and I are both your sons; if you are to give a hug, it should be to him first.”

Zhu Changluo was taken aback by this unexpected statement, feeling a bit awkward. He forced a laugh and said, “Your brother is already grown; I can hardly lift him now. But since you place such importance on propriety, I shall refrain from hugging you today.”

No sooner had Zhu Changluo finished speaking than his kindly fatherly expression vanished, replaced by an imposing seriousness; in that instant, he seemed every inch the awe-inspiring ruler. He fixed his gaze on Zhu Youxiao and said in a stern tone, “Crown Prince! I ask you: what was the cause of yesterday’s great fire?”

At the sound of his father’s voice, Zhu Youxiao shuddered involuntarily, then immediately dropped to his knees, trembling as he stammered, “F-Father, I… I do not know!”

Zhu Changluo snorted coldly, making no effort to hide his displeasure. His tone grew even more frigid as he said, “You are the heir to the throne, the Crown Prince, yet when such a major incident occurs you claim to know nothing! How do you expect to inherit the legacy of our forebears? Tell me, where were you when the fire broke out?”

Though Zhu Changluo’s words were not directed at him, Zhu Hao still felt a chill of fear and shivered slightly. If Zhu Hao, not even the subject of the reprimand, felt such dread, one could only imagine the pressure Zhu Youxiao was under. In that moment, Zhu Hao understood why his brother would one day immerse himself in mechanical arts rather than concern himself with state affairs; it must have stemmed from being cowed by their father, leaving him with a deep-seated fear of the throne. Thus the eunuch Wei Zhongxian would later seize real power, becoming the de facto ruler, styling himself “Elder of Nine Thousand Years”—a king in all but name.

Zhu Hao sighed inwardly, resolving that, in this lifetime, he would never let such a thing happen again. With this thought, he quietly clenched his fists.

Now glancing at his brother, Zhu Hao saw Zhu Youxiao kneeling on the floor, his head bowed so low it nearly touched the ground, sweat trickling from his brow, his whole body trembling, his face deathly pale—so frightened he could no longer speak.

Realizing that he must intervene before his brother was traumatized for life, Zhu Hao spoke up: “Father, may I speak?”

His words caught Zhu Changluo’s attention and, in an instant, his stern demeanor melted away, replaced once more by a kindly smile. Zhu Hao couldn’t help but grumble inwardly at his father’s lightning-fast change of expression—the man would have made a master of Sichuan opera with his skill at changing faces.

In a tone of doting indulgence, Zhu Changluo said, “Oh? Youjian wishes to speak? Go ahead—your father is all ears.”

Emboldened by his father’s gentle tone, Zhu Hao replied, “Father, regardless of the cause of the fire in the Empress’s palace, I can say with certainty that my brother had no part in it! Who in this world would set fire to his own home? My brother was a victim. Yet here you are, questioning him as if he were a criminal—this is unfair to him, and it tarnishes your own virtue! I implore you to reconsider, and cease chastising him.”

Zhu Changluo’s expression shifted several times—first astonishment, then anger, then a glimmer of pride, and finally calm. With a deep sigh, he murmured, “Youjian has truly grown up.”

While Zhu Changluo’s face underwent a succession of emotions, Zhu Youxiao’s remained fixed; he turned to look at Zhu Hao, gratitude shining in his eyes, tinged with admiration and something else unspoken. Zhu Hao took note of this and thought to himself that today he had laid a solid foundation in his brother’s heart; barring any mishaps, Zhu Youxiao would come to trust him more than anyone else, certainly more than the treacherous eunuch Wei Zhongxian.

Zhu Changluo did not pursue his questioning of Zhu Youxiao, nor did he speak further to Zhu Hao. Instead, he paced the room in silence for a while, before stopping and fixing his gaze on Zhu Hao: “Youjian, you say your brother is innocent. Tell me, then—who do you think is responsible for the fire in the palace? If your reasoning holds, I shall reward you handsomely!”

Zhu Hao nearly blurted out the answer—who else but that old witch, the Empress herself?—but held his tongue. First, he couldn’t afford to offend the Empress; second, even with his father’s support, he had no evidence to link her to the fire. To accuse her without proof would only make himself a target.

After a moment’s thought, Zhu Hao deflected the question: “Father’s insight is keen; I am sure you already know the truth. Your son is slow-witted and cannot fathom who could harbor such malice as to plot against my brother.”

Although he could not openly accuse the Empress, Zhu Hao still managed to get a subtle jab in, calling the culprit “that malicious person.” Zhu Changluo laughed and pointed at him: “You little rascal! So young, yet already trying to outwit your father.”

Zhu Hao replied with a look of grave sincerity, kneeling to kowtow. “I would not dare!”

His earnest demeanor amused Zhu Changluo, who laughed heartily once again. After a while, Zhu Changluo’s laughter faded, replaced by a look of deep sorrow. He sighed: “Though I rule all under heaven, not a single soul can uncover the truth behind this palace fire. How pitiful!”

Though he had not intended it as such, these words struck a chord with Zhu Hao. Quickly, Zhu Hao spoke: “Father, do not be troubled. My brother and I will share your burdens!” As he spoke, he took Zhu Youxiao’s hand and looked earnestly at their father.

Zhu Changluo was genuinely impressed by his son today, and smiled. “Youjian, do you know how to investigate a case? Tell me, where would you begin?”

Realizing this was a test, Zhu Hao considered bluffing with stories from the detective dramas he’d watched in his previous life. But, mindful of his age and unwilling to seem precocious, he replied, “Father, I do not know how to solve cases, but I know someone who is an expert at it!”

Zhu Changluo’s interest was piqued. He raised an eyebrow. “Who is this person? Can you bring him to see me now? If he is truly talented, I will employ him well.”

Zhu Hao stepped forward and tugged at his father’s sleeve. “Father, please be patient. Gold or dross, all must be tested in the sun. Why not entrust the investigation to me, and I will give the matter to this person? If he succeeds in uncovering the truth, that will prove his worth, and I can then present him to you. That way, you won’t have any false hopes.”

Of course, Zhu Hao knew no such investigator; he was relying on his summoning system, but he could hardly explain that to his father. If he claimed to possess such a miraculous power, his father would either be frightened to death or take him for a madman.

It must be said that Zhu Changluo was exceedingly fond of his son Youjian. Despite his doubts about the existence of this “expert,” he could not bear to disappoint Zhu Hao, and broke into laughter: “Very well! I hereby appoint you Imperial Commissioner, with full authority to investigate the palace fire. If you can solve the case, a great reward shall be yours!”