Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Xie Chengze snatched his hand back and sprang upright in a kip-up.

A trace of regret flashed through Wuji’s eyes.

“Visit me in my illness?”

Only belatedly did Xie Chengze remember that he had indeed taken sick leave.

Thinking back to the original’s illnesses, he had welcomed anyone who came. Even if it meant dragging his sick body out of bed, he would receive the ministers and collect their valuable gifts for visiting an invalid…

Those gifts were no different from tokens used to knock open his door. The more a person gave, the more clearly he hinted that he wished to support the Second Prince’s claim to the throne.

This was how his private faction had gradually begun to form.

Xie Chengze was about to lie back down when he caught sight of Wuji’s plate of grapes being extended toward him again. He immediately got off the daybed, shoved his feet into his shoes, and hurried toward the sleeping chamber.

Walking quickly, he waved a hand. “I’m not seeing them! Drive them all away! Tell them this prince is gravely ill and cannot receive visitors! Make them take their things and get lost!”

His hastily retreating back looked distinctly as though he were fleeing in defeat.

The guard could only accept the order, salute, and withdraw.

Wuji licked the grape juice left on the blade and said to Wuhen beside him, “Did you notice?”

Wuhen nodded slightly.

“His Highness ate the lychee from the top.”

“He used to hate hearing anyone call him beautiful. The last time I said it, he gave me twenty strokes of the rod.”

Wuhen and Wuji spoke at the same time. A moment later, Wuji rolled his eyes. “Lychees. All you know is lychees!”

Still, Wuhen was right. In the past, His Highness would deliberately knock over the perfectly orderly tower of lychees Wuhen had stacked and then pick one at random. He would never obediently take the top lychee as he had just done.

No… Or perhaps he had not done so in a very long time…

“Do you think His Highness might be…?” Anticipation entered Wuji’s expression.

Wuhen raised his head and said coolly, “Could you use your own sword to peel grapes next time instead of taking my saber?”

Wuji giggled. “No. I don’t want to wash my sword.”

Wuhen: …

…

The guard returned to the entrance of Chenghuan Hall and addressed the ministers waiting there. “My lords, His Highness says it is not convenient to receive guests today. Please return to your residences.”

“Then what about these gifts…?” The ministers raised the gift boxes in their hands.

“His Highness said he will accept no gifts.”

The ministers exchanged startled glances.

Whenever His Highness the Second Prince fell ill in the past, he accepted every gift brought to him. Why was he refusing them today?

Could it truly be – that his end was near and he saw no use in accepting them?!

“What should we do?” One minister clutched his gift box and asked uneasily, “Can His Highness truly be this gravely ill?”

“Hard to say. Could he simply be in a poor mood?” another minister speculated.

“Oh? Censor Chen is here!” A sharp-eyed minister spotted Censor Chen approaching with a food box and called in greeting, “Censor Chen, what have you brought?”

Censor Chen never visited others with gifts or cultivated factions. Yet after receiving the Second Prince’s kindness yesterday, even he had fallen into the conventional habit of bringing a gift.

“Only a few side dishes specially prepared at home. Why are all of you gathered here?” Censor Chen asked in puzzlement.

Hearing that Censor Chen had brought nothing more than homemade side dishes, the other ministers promptly lost interest. Then they began gossiping again. “His Highness won’t see anyone or accept gifts. What game is he playing?”

Censor Chen did not understand. He was merely refusing gifts. What was so strange about that?

Since His Highness would not receive visitors, Censor Chen planned to return home and visit again after he recovered. Just as he lifted a foot, however, he saw a junior clerk from the Ministry of Revenue approaching.

“What are all you lords doing here?” The junior clerk looked at the crowd in confusion, a donation note in hand.

The ministers naturally had not carried much silver to court, so what they had written at the Ministry of Revenue yesterday were promises of donation. The ministry’s officials would then take those notes to the ministers’ residences and collect the money.

Some officials had donated small amounts and needed no time to gather the silver, so the clerk had already visited them yesterday. Today’s calls were to the homes of ministers who had pledged large sums. As for Chenghuan Hall…

In truth, the clerk had already come once yesterday, only to be told that the silver had not arrived and to return today.

But judging by the scene before him… were they planning to withhold the money again?

The junior clerk grew anxious. “We cannot enter? Then what should be done about the donation note? This humble official came yesterday and was told to collect the money today.”

“What? You came yesterday, and His Highness did not give you the silver?”

“That’s right.” The junior clerk looked ready to weep. “It is only forty taels. This humble official cannot understand why His Highness insisted on delaying until today.”

Now that he thought about it, forty taels of silver was a drop in the bucket to Chenghuan Hall. Why would they need time to raise it?

His Highness the Second Prince clearly did not intend to part with even forty taels!

“Surely not? He won’t even give forty taels? Then…” One minister could not help looking at Censor Chen with a complicated expression. “He truly gained a fine reputation without losing a coin…”

Censor Chen’s expression darkened at those words.

He stepped forward and demanded of the guard at Chenghuan Hall, “What is the meaning of this? If His Highness was unwilling to give the silver, there was no need for all those twists and turns. This humble minister may hold a low rank and carry little influence, but I am not someone to be toyed with and used at will!”

“My lord must have misunderstood…” The gate guard knew nothing of the affair. In particular, His Highness had seemed to be in a very poor mood moments ago, so the guard dared not go back inside and invite misfortune. “Perhaps everyone should return tomorrow…”

“But the silver will be escorted to Yizhou tonight…” The junior clerk’s face filled with misery. “If the total falls short, then we can only… we can only…”

Only the junior clerks who performed the work could make up the difference.

But their monthly salaries were even lower than Censor Chen’s. Forty taels – how could they make that up? With their lives?

“His Highness is truly behaving dishonorably. It is only forty taels.”

“Exactly. His Majesty has bestowed so many treasures upon him, yet when the time comes, he still takes everything and gives nothing…”

“He spoke such lofty words in the great hall yesterday, yet he cannot bear to part with even this bit of silver himself. Tsk, tsk. And here I thought His Highness had finally grown up…”

The ministers began whispering among themselves. The more Censor Chen heard, the angrier he became. Stepping forward, he snapped, “Forget it! I will provide these forty taels! Let it be the price of a lesson – now I have seen His Highness the Second Prince clearly!”

“Tomorrow, this official will certainly submit a memorial against His Highness. He has broken his word and is unworthy of a prince’s responsibilities!”
“Come with me!” Censor Chen picked up his food box and pulled the junior clerk from the Ministry of Revenue away. They had taken only two steps when someone ahead called, “Oh my, why are there so many people? My lords, please make way. We are in a hurry!”

The ministers turned. A dozen or so palace attendants in eunuch uniforms hurried toward them, every pair carrying a redwood chest. The chests appeared extremely heavy, and the attendants struggled beneath their weight.

“Which palace are they from?” one minister asked, craning his neck.

“It looks like Yufu Palace.”

“Then they belong to Consort Rou. Why have they come here, and what are they carrying?”

“Oh, we finally made it in time!” Once the six chests reached the entrance to Chenghuan Hall, a eunuch from Yufu Palace urged the gate guard, “Quickly report to His Highness the Second Prince. This eunuch has brought the silver. Please send the Cloud-Woven Brocade and Azure Sea Pearl to Yufu Palace as soon as possible!”

At this, the guard hurried inside. Before long, the guard returned with the storeroom keeper. The keeper opened a redwood chest, and the ministers were astonished to discover that it was filled entirely with gleaming white silver!

Good heavens. What was going on?

“Someone, count it.” The storeroom keeper looked steady and composed. At the order, two young eunuchs behind the keeper stepped forward. After counting the contents, they reported, “Steward, the amount is correct. Three thousand taels of silver in all.”

Three thousand taels?! So much!

Why had Consort Rou suddenly sent His Highness the Second Prince this much money?

“Oh my, why are there so many people? Make way – we are in a hurry!” The familiar words rang out again. The ministers turned to see another procession approaching at a rush with chests in hand. “Move aside! If you delay Her Highness Consort Xi’s business, you will suffer for it later!”

“Quickly report to His Highness the Second Prince. This eunuch has brought sufficient silver. Her Highness Consort Xi also wants two bolts of Cloud-Woven Brocade, and she is willing to pay a higher price than Her Highness Consort Rou!”

“What?” The people from Consort Rou’s palace immediately took offense. Cloud-Woven Brocade was exceptionally rare and precious; years might pass without a single bolt being produced. It was truly priceless because none was available for sale. The only three bolts in the entire imperial palace were all kept in Chenghuan Hall.

They had agreed that all three bolts would be sold to Consort Rou.

Who could have expected Consort Xi to jump in suddenly, offer a higher price, and demand two bolts at once?

“Hmph! We always knew you people from Chonghua Palace were shameless. Clap, clap!” The eunuch from Yufu Palace clapped his hands. Several more people emerged from behind the shrubbery carrying chests of silver and shouted, “Her Highness ordered us to bring extra silver long ago, precisely to guard against petty villains like you obstructing the way!”

“You are the petty villains! The daughter of a lowly merchant dares monopolize the Cloud-Woven Brocade? If you know what’s good for you, then immediately…” The people from Chonghua Palace flushed with anger. Just as the two groups were about to quarrel beyond control, a third procession appeared from nowhere. “Make way! You dare block Noble Lady Da’s path – ?”

The ministers: ?

Another one?

Not merely another. More and still more followed. Among the dozen or so beauties of the rear palace, nearly every residence sent someone. Those with money brought it, while those without came to watch the excitement so they could report it to their own mistress afterward.

The storeroom keeper stood at the front, looking as though he had long ago become indifferent to life and death. Neither favor nor disgrace disturbed him as he said, “There is no need for anyone to continue fighting. The prices previously agreed upon and what each sum may purchase are fixed and will not change. If Her Highness Consort Xi truly wants the Cloud-Woven Brocade, she may go to Yufu Palace and request it from Her Highness Consort Rou.”

The keeper’s calm gaze swept over the palace attendants from the rear palace. “If you cause trouble outside Chenghuan Hall and disturb His Highness’s sick body, he may take back every treasure in a fit of anger. Then your loss would outweigh your gain.”

The instant they heard this, everyone fell silent, no longer daring to make a sound.

Who did not know that the master of Chenghuan Hall was moody and unpredictable? If they truly disturbed him, they might never have another chance to obtain these rare treasures.

As members of the rear palace, they understood Emperor Jian’s favor toward the master of Chenghuan Hall better than anyone. Anything connected to Chenghuan Hall – an Azure Sea Pearl, for instance – could prompt His Majesty to visit a consort’s palace and talk at length about it. Once the conversation lasted deep into the night, there was no need to explain where he would sleep.

Thus, they had to obtain these objects.

Once everyone quieted, the storeroom keeper looked out over the crowd. “Which one of you is an official from the Ministry of Revenue?”

Suddenly addressed, the junior clerk froze before hurrying forward. “That would be this humble official.”

The storeroom keeper looked the clerk over, then said mildly, “Return to the Ministry of Revenue at once and send people to carry away this silver.”

The junior clerk stared blankly. “What?”

“His Highness is donating this silver to the disaster victims of Yizhou.” The storeroom keeper smiled faintly, wearing a profoundly meaningful look. “His Highness said the Minister of Revenue will know where this silver should go.”

The junior clerk froze, then immediately grasped the deeper meaning. He hurriedly saluted. “This humble official understands! His Highness the Second Prince is benevolent and kindhearted. He pities the suffering people of Yizhou and raises silver for them even while dragging himself through illness. He is truly a model for every civil and military official. We misunderstood him terribly before. We are deeply ashamed!”

The other ministers understood as well. Astonishment covered their faces as they echoed him one after another. “We are ashamed! We never imagined His Highness the Second Prince possessed such a profound sense of righteousness!”

At the side, Censor Chen stared woodenly at everything. When he finally recovered, his aged face abruptly turned crimson.

He had misunderstood His Highness the Second Prince?

He deserved to die!

The storeroom keeper waved again. A man behind him stepped forward carrying a silver tray. Upon it lay exactly thirty-nine taels, nine mace, and ninety-nine copper cash. The keeper said mildly, “This is the silver His Highness previously pledged to donate.”

The junior clerk hurriedly accepted it. The storeroom keeper took the donation note from the clerk’s hand, and the gates of Chenghuan Hall closed once more, refusing every visitor.

The ministers watched in a daze. At last, the junior clerk finished counting the chests and said in a trembling voice, “Exactly ten thousand taels of silver!”

Who could have imagined that His Highness the Second Prince, notorious for his stinginess and for taking without ever giving, would donate ten thousand taels of silver to Yizhou’s disaster victims – plus another thirty-nine taels, nine mace, and ninety-nine copper cash!

In the past, it would have been an impossible fantasy!

Your Highness, could it truly be –

That your end was near?!

Rumors sprang up anew throughout the palace, sweeping through it like a gale.