Chapter 381: Moderation
Marquis of Taining, Chen Gui, was ordered to construct Beijing and the inner palace complex. Aside from the three main halls, the Qianqing Palace, Jiaotai Hall, and Kunning Palace were the three key inner palaces. Now, Jiaotai Hall and Kunning Palace had no occupants—only Zhu Di had moved into Qianqing Palace, where he conducted all his daily activities. A new batch of maids and eunuchs served him there. Since the death of Concubine Wang, he had not summoned any concubines for nearly two months, and his temper grew increasingly irritable. Under such circumstances, senior eunuchs like Huang Yan, Zhang Qian, Hai Shou, and Lu Feng naturally envied Zheng He, who was set off for Nanjing to prepare for another voyage to the West. These usually hostile individuals, after long discussions, had no choice but to seek Zhu Ning’s help at Zizhu Garden.
Thus, Princess Chen Liu, Zhu Ning, reluctantly moved into the Western Warm Pavilion of Qianqing Palace, taking charge of all of Zhu Di’s daily needs. Although she could not persuade the emperor to calm down like Concubine Wang could, she racked her brains for other solutions—using medicinal diets, herbal soups, and baths. She even tackled the most dreaded task among maids and eunuchs: convincing them to take medicine. As a result, the maids and eunuchs suffered less punishment and praised her highly. Even so, she still instructed others to be cautious. Whenever foreign officials came, she would avoid them early on; if there were urgent matters, she would simply leave Qianqing Palace.
That day, as usual, she brought snacks to Zhu Di in the morning and afternoon. After chatting for a while, a young eunuch reported that Yuan Fang, the commander of the Jinyiwei, had come to see him. Almost instantly, she thought of her father’s rebellion and the secret accusation against him. Though she was eager to know what Yuan Fang had to say, she suppressed her curiosity and quickly left.
She had taken the corridor connecting the main hall and the Western Warm Pavilion, so she was unlikely to encounter Yuan Fang. But after sitting in the Western Warm Pavilion and reading for a quarter of an hour, the pages remained on the first page—she couldn’t focus at all, her mind filled with thoughts of spying. To prevent herself from doing something foolish, she put on a silver fox fur cloak for warmth, added mink gloves and boots, and left the Western Warm Pavilion through a side door with two maids, intending to explore other parts of the palace.
Yet as soon as Zhu Ning stepped out of Qianqing Palace, loud noises came from behind. Turning around, she saw a young eunuch chasing after her, out of breath—much to her surprise.
The young eunuch, barely able to stand steadily, gasped and said, “Princess, you must go back quickly! The Emperor is angry again! Just now, Lord Zhang arrived, and the Emperor summoned him in. Before he could say anything, he was scolded harshly. Lord Yuan was even hit with an inkstone by the Emperor. Who knows what else the Emperor will use to vent his anger now!”
Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Ning was terrified and rushed inside without waiting to ask further. She knew well about Zhu Di’s temper—though fierce, he usually targeted his anger at specific people. Zhang Yue had visited a couple of times these days. Although Zhu Di was rarely smiling, he hadn’t taken his anger out on anyone. Unless he was truly furious or faced a serious issue, he would never act like this.
“I ask you, how did your aunt die? Why did Zhang Fu arrange her marriage during her mourning period? Tell me! I thought the Zhang family was loyal, filial, and virtuous—what loyalty! What filial piety! They say the elder brother is like a father and the elder sister like a mother, yet Zhang Fu raised such a scoundrel of a brother. Didn’t your grandmother do anything about it? With both state and family loyalty at stake, he really has an impatient temper!”
Yet, halfway up the white marble stairs, Zhu Di’s signature roar reached her ears. Understanding its meaning, she immediately realized it was revenge. At that moment, though worried that Zhu Di might use this as an excuse to harm Zhang Yue, she suddenly stopped in her tracks after further thought. If it were just Zhang Yue, she could plead for him on the grounds of her past relationship with Du Wan. But with Yuan Fang, the commander of the Jinyiwei, present, she absolutely couldn’t act rashly.
The Emperor had thrown an inkstone at his trusted Jinyiwei commander in a fit of rage—there were reasons she shouldn’t know about. If she went in, even if she risked her own safety, it wouldn’t help Zhang Yue; it might even cost her father, the Prince of Zhou! Zhang Yue wasn’t a novice who would be terrified on his first appearance before the Emperor—he could handle himself!
With that thought, Zhu Ning turned and went back down. The young eunuch, who had been following behind out of breath, was stunned for a moment before eagerly saying, “Princess, if you don’t go in now, chaos will break out in the main hall…”
“Nonsense! When the Emperor summons foreign officials, when have I ever rushed in carelessly?” Zhu Ning, who was usually humble and unpretentious, now showed a fierceangry expression and snapped, “Even when Princess Wang was present back then, there was no reason for her to intervene at such a time. How could I be someone who doesn’t know proper boundaries? Remember from now on: unless the Emperor is angry alone, or Uncle Wang and the princesses have angered him for some reason, don’t come to me for no reason!”
Seeing Zhu Ning storm off down the steps with two maids, the young eunuch was stunned. In frustration, he stamped his feet, regretting not knowing how to speak properly. In just the blink of an eye, the reward money promised by Eunuch Huang was gone—like a cooked duck flown away!
In the main hall, Zhang Yue found himself in a difficult situation. This was indeed scapegoating, an unjust affliction, but he also knew that Zhu Di had never been someone who reasoned. Seeing the ink stains on Yuan Fang’s arms and legs—unknown when they appeared—yet his usual calm expression, an indescribable anger surged in Zhang Yue’s heart. He then lowered his eyelids, trying hard not to meet the Emperor’s piercing gaze. Although he disliked his uncle Zhang Fu, now that Zhu Di had implicated the entire Zhang family, he naturally couldn’t add more fuel to the fire.
“Your Majesty, it’s true that an elder brother is like a father, but after all, he’s not one. Moreover, the three brothers of the eldest uncle have all started their own families after separating. The eldest uncle has only been back from Xuanfu for five days; he certainly can’t rely on being the elder brother to interfere in other families’ weddings and funerals. My cousin’s marriage has already been arranged through the marriage registry. When the second uncle pleaded with my aunt, saying it was her last wish, my aunt couldn’t simply stop him. Now that the second aunt has suddenly passed away, the second uncle is filled with remorse, staying by the funeral altar night and day for days without eating.”
“He can’t handle weddings and funerals… Fine, fine. If he can’t handle it, does that mean I have to take care of it for him?”
Zhu Di angrily swept his sleeve and turned away. Only after returning to his throne and picking up the red brush did he calm down. He recalled Zhang Fu and ordered him to rest at home, without assigning him any official position, out of consideration for Zhang Fu’s experience and reputation. As for his own sons, he naturally knew their temperaments. To get that position, one had to rely on military power. Although military authority seemed to be in the hands of the Ministry of War, whose reputation did those civil officials have except that of the meritorious nobles from the Five Army Commanders’ Offices?
If Zhang Fu could be persuaded to respond, anyone would have a 50% higher chance of success. Just like back then, in addition to his own Yanshan Left, Middle, and Right Guards, he also enlisted the three guards of Danning, which gave him enough strength. Zhang Fu himself was impartial, but his two brothers were scoundrels! That’s why he used Zhang You to serve in the Left Army Commandery—this was both a symbol of the Zhang family and prevented others from harboring ulterior motives. After all, Zhang You had little experience, and his two sons and one daughter were all married, so there was no need to worry about anyone scheming against him.
Glancing at the silent maids and eunuchs in the main hall, he couldn’t help but feel something stir in his heart. With so many silent maids and eunuchs in the hall today, someone would surely pass the word on to Zhang Fu. By then, that good-for-nothing scoundrel would probably dare not marry off his daughter at such a time. Even if the words reached certain people’s ears, they should calm down for a while.
“I heard Zhang Fu returned from Xuanfu and gave you a box of calligraphy models?” he asked casually. Seeing Zhang Yue look up at him in surprise before glancing at Yuan Fang beside him, Zhu Di couldn’t help but laugh silently. He thought that young people were just young people—unable to keep everything to themselves. So he said sternly, “Why are you looking at Yuan Fang? My Jinyiwei doesn’t have that much free time! Give the items to Shen Minze. Shen Minze mentioned it when he came in yesterday to draft an edict, saying you were thoughtful and respectful toward him as a mentor. For such authentic works by famous masters, it’s one thing for Zhang Fu to give away a whole box, but for you, a scholar, to give away an entire box too! If people didn’t know better, they might think you’re a rough man who lacks taste!”
Zhang Yue had intended to have Shen Du remember the favor as coming from Zhang Fu by giving him the calligraphy models along with the box. He didn’t expect Shen Du to speak to Zhu Di in that way. But since he managed to steer the emperor’s attention away from that dangerous direction, he felt relieved and said sheepishly, “Your servant merely remembered that Mr. Minze enjoys collecting these, so he gave them to him. Besides, after giving them away, if I want to practice calligraphy in the future, I can borrow them from Mr. Minze again and get his feedback, which is better than figuring it out on my own.”
With this deflection, Zhu Di seemed to forget his outburst earlier. He commented a few more words on the official matter Zhang Yue had initially reported, then waved his hand and said, “Alright, you may retire… Yuan Fang, you too, go down and think carefully about the meaning of the word ‘measure’!”
Having just been struck hard in the waist by the inkstone that was thrown at him, Yuan Fang staggered as he tried to stand up. Just as he thought he would fall disgracefully in front of the emperor, a hand reached out from beside him and firmly supported him. At that moment, he couldn’t help but resent Zhang Yue for acting so recklessly without considering consequences. Sure enough, the emperor’s voice came from above moments later.
“You’re quite kind-hearted.”
Seeing that Yuan Fang had stabilized himself, Zhang Yue turned around and bowed deeply, saying confidently, “Your Majesty, my teacher once told me that failing to help those in need is unhuman, and failing to assist when one can is also unhuman. Even if the person in trouble is an enemy or a criminal, one should still save them first before dealing with matters of grudges or laws—this is the way of heaven!”
“You’re already my father-in-law, yet you still can’t change your ways!” Zhu Di’s anger came and went quickly; it had already dissipated entirely. He couldn’t help but laugh and scold, “Enough, enough! I’ll ask you just one thing—spouting such grand principles out of thin air? Truly, you’re the son-in-law of that cold-hearted man! Someone, bring me a bottle of the Secret Living Blood Stasis Relief Pill from the Imperial Medical Academy!”
Seeing Yuan Fang standing there in shock, he said sternly, “Yuan Fang, it’s good that you put effort into everything, but don’t overdo it! Go back and apply the medicine. I don’t want to see you absent from work!”