Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Cold sweat streamed down County Magistrate Zhu’s face as he protested inwardly that the two situations were nothing alike!
When the Second Prince traveled to Yizhou, officials would naturally hold banquets to receive him. He would not suffer the slightest hardship. But his son was merely the son of an insignificant County Magistrate. At best, he was the nephew of the Prefect’s wife – and not even by blood. Outside Jizhou, he was nothing at all. Who would indulge him?
Besides, the Second Prince might claim he wanted Zhu Xiaobiao to serve him, but everyone knew why last year’s third-ranked scholar had died. He clearly intended to torment Zhu Xiaobiao on the road to vent his anger, then sentence him to death!
Naturally, County Magistrate Zhu did not dare say any of that aloud. Helplessly, he looked toward the Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue seated beside the magistrate’s bench, but the official merely lowered their gaze, intent on staying out of the matter.
Had they encountered any other prince, the incident might still have been reduced from a major affair to a minor one, then from a minor one to nothing. Unfortunately, they had encountered the temperamental Second Prince. County Magistrate Zhu could only curse his own luck.
His face bitter, County Magistrate Zhu had no idea what to do.
Zhu Xiaobiao was his only son, after all. Granted, not a single woman in his son’s rear courtyard had managed to lay an egg, but at least the boy still represented hope… certainly more than County Magistrate Zhu did, now past his prime and still without a sign of a child after ten years with his second wife!
As he pondered, a servant suddenly rushed inside and loudly announced the joyous news. “My lord! My lord! Madam is with child! Madam is with child! The physician says it is very likely a boy!”
County Magistrate Zhu whipped his head around. The unexpected joy made him forget how to react – and forget to worry that the Second Prince might take offense at the interruption.
Only the servant’s words remained in his mind.
The old Zhu family finally had an heir?
Behind the magistrate’s bench, Xie Chengze laughed softly and said meaningfully, “This prince certainly arrived at an opportune moment. He only just stepped through the door, and already joyous news has come to the Zhu family.”
With a sweep of his sleeve, he rose and looked down at the pair. “It would appear he no longer counts as your only son, does it not?”
Prostrate on the floor, Zhu Xiaobiao curled his fists slightly beneath his sleeves and cast an imploring gaze at his father.
“This…” County Magistrate Zhu timidly withdrew his gaze and stammered against the floor, “This lower official… this lower official…”
“Very well. This prince will not make things difficult for you. As the saying goes, a son’s poor upbringing is his father’s fault. You are the official charged with caring for the people of Zhuolu County, yet you indulged your son as he knowingly broke the law. This prince ought to punish you for sheltering and enabling him. Why not resign from office and accept his punishment in his place? Then this prince will release him. What do you say?”
“Your Highness!” Sweat sprang out on County Magistrate Zhu’s forehead. “This lower official is already old and feeble. How could I possibly serve Your Highness well…”
“This won’t do, that won’t do! County Magistrate Zhu is certainly difficult to please!”
Xie Chengze suddenly gave a cold laugh, plucked a green command slip from the holder, and sent it flying heavily toward them. “Zhu Xiaobiao! Will you accept this punishment or not?!”
Zhu Xiaobiao looked at County Magistrate Zhu. Seeing his father frozen and unresponsive, disappointment flashed through his eyes.
After kowtowing hard to County Magistrate Zhu, he pressed himself to the floor and shouted to Xie Chengze, “This lowly one is willing to go to Yizhou and serve His Highness the Second Prince!”
Although they had spent a mere three hours together, he felt the Second Prince was not as terrifying as the rumors claimed.
After abducting the Second Prince and bringing him home, Zhu Xiaobiao had moved nearly every piece of gold, silver, and jewelry in the household before His Highness. He had even summoned all his beautiful concubines and boasted that if the prince agreed to stay, they could all serve him, ensuring he never needed to lift a finger.
Instead of becoming angry, the Second Prince had been amused. He stroked the jewels while smiling more beautifully than a flower.
That was why Zhu Xiaobiao, bewitched beyond reason, had said he wanted His Highness to become his principal husband. He had even thought the prince was truly gentle.
And besides…
Zhu Xiaobiao kept kowtowing until blood flowed from his forehead, a bitter smile passing through his heart. He would rather die away from home than die in the Zhu residence.
Xie Chengze descended from the dais one step at a time, sweeping an indifferent gaze over the pair below. “Since the Zhu family has joyous news, County Magistrate Zhu should return home and tend to his wife. This prince and the Vice Director still have important matters to discuss, so we will trouble you no further.”
“Yes, yes. Then this lower official will take his leave.” County Magistrate Zhu hurriedly climbed to his feet. He glanced at Zhu Xiaobiao and, in the end, could not quite harden his heart. “Xiaobiao, serve His Highness the Second Prince well!”
With that, he departed in haste.
Zhu Xiaobiao remained prostrate on the floor. Xie Chengze ignored him and turned a beaming smile on the Vice Director, who was cowering silently off to the side. “This prince has given the Vice Director quite a spectacle.”
The Vice Director hastened to rise and bow. “Your Highness is too kind. In this lower official’s opinion, His Highness the Second Prince is truly merciful to have spared Zhu Xiaobiao’s life.”
“This prince dislikes the sight of blood and dislikes fighting and killing even more.” Xie Chengze smiled with perfect innocence.
The Vice Director thought of the torrents of blood spilled by beheadings after the Qionglin Banquet, then of the red princely robes the Second Prince wore every day. “…”
The two fell into a delicate silence. Then the Vice Director took the initiative to raise the purpose of their private meeting. “Your Highness, regarding the instructions you entrusted your steward to deliver: the ten thousand taels of silver will go precisely where they ought to go. This lower official has arranged everything.”
“Then lead the way.” Xie Chengze set off at once.
The Vice Director hurried ahead. As they passed the kneeling Zhu Xiaobiao, Xie Chengze stopped, his voice rising at the end. “Why aren’t you following? Are you waiting for this prince to invite you?”
Zhu Xiaobiao froze, then nimbly scrambled to his feet and followed Xie Chengze.
The county yamen’s silver vault was a room used to store government funds. When the Vice Director pushed open its doors, nearly twenty chests came into view, arranged in neat rows. Every lid stood wide open, revealing dazzling white silver within.
Pointing to several additional chests, the Vice Director smiled ingratiatingly. “These are a certain lord’s token of devotion to Your Highness.”
No name was given, making it clear this was a test.
Xie Chengze laughed in satisfaction and began waving his gold-threaded fan. “Well done! This prince knew the Ministry of Revenue would never misunderstand his intentions!”
At that, the Vice Director visibly relaxed and hurriedly smiled. “Naturally. The Ministry of Revenue will, of course, follow Your Highness’s instructions to the letter.”
Off to the side, Zhu Xiaobiao stole a glance and shuddered inwardly.
Had he just witnessed a prince accepting a bribe?
Why would the Second Prince let him remain nearby to serve and make no attempt to hide such a private affair? Could His Highness have no intention of letting him return alive?
Zhu Xiaobiao squeezed his eyes shut, every fold of fat on his body trembling slightly.
Good fucking heavens. Maybe he should escape halfway there. He could get away, couldn’t he?
After seeing the Vice Director off, Xie Chengze glanced at the trembling Zhu Xiaobiao and abruptly slapped the gold-threaded fan against his shoulder.
“Ah!” Zhu Xiaobiao’s knees instantly buckled. Dropping to the floor, he quavered, “This lowly one didn’t see anything!”
Xie Chengze: “…”
Noisy and cowardly.
But kind by nature, capable of swallowing humiliation and concealing his strengths. He could be useful.
Xie Chengze bent down and tapped Zhu Xiaobiao’s round head with the gold-threaded fan, first here, then there. He muttered softly, “Xiaobiao, this prince is saving you from the Zhu residence. Don’t disappoint him. When we leave later, remember to check the doors and windows and lock them properly.”
Zhu Xiaobiao opened his eyes wide.
Your Highness?
“Enough. Get up.” Xie Chengze closed his fan and said mildly, “The carriages bound for Yizhou should arrive soon. This prince does not need to teach you how to load this silver onto them under a perfectly legitimate pretext, does he?”
Zhu Xiaobiao froze.
Xie Chengze slanted him a glance, yet his next words became increasingly baffling. “County Magistrate Zhu’s second wife went ten years without conceiving, and now she becomes pregnant the moment this prince arrives. Tsk, tsk. This prince must truly be the Child-Giving Guanyin reincarnated! Hahahahaha – ”
Xie Chengze threw his head back and strode out laughing, leaving Zhu Xiaobiao rooted blankly in place. By the time he recovered, his habitually arrogant, domineering face had gradually turned cold.
Indeed.
This pregnancy had come at far too “opportune” a time.