Chapter 8

Zhu Chilang lay in bed, turning over again.

He had only received the emperor's clear decree in the evening, allowing him to leave the palace to comfort the troops. Although it was called "comforting the troops," he was not actually allowed to touch the sensitive military affairs. It was just a conventional term for the crown prince, who would "guard the state from within and comfort the troops from without."

However, the crown prince's departure from the palace was no simple matter. This was not just a move from the inner palace to the outer palace, but a true departure from the Forbidden City to reside in the princely residence. Recalling the trouble he had gone through when he moved from the Zhongcui Palace to the Wenhua Hall for lectures, he felt as if he had shed a layer of skin. This time, it was almost like living independently.

Although he had received the emperor's approval and the empress had finally shed tears and let him go, the necessary preparations for the guards, ceremonial troops, and palace attendants were still underway. The Prince of Xian's residence had been empty for sixteen or seventeen years and needed to be renovated. This would naturally cost a considerable amount of money, but compared to the hundreds of thousands or even millions of military salaries, it was like a drizzle.

—I can't wait any longer! There are too many spies in the palace, and the Empress Dowager must have already known. She will probably confront my mother tomorrow. If my parents change their minds, I might not be able to leave.

Zhu Chilang sat up, taking a deep breath.

The eunuch on night duty immediately became alert, tiptoeing closer to the curtain, listening to the sounds inside. If the crown prince turned over and continued to sleep, he could still doze off for a while. If the crown prince was having a nightmare, it would probably be a bit of a hassle.

Zhu Chilang got out of bed, stepped into the specially made green bamboo slippers, and coughed lightly.

"Your Highness, would you like some water?" The night-duty eunuch gently lifted the curtain and asked Zhu Chilang in the softest voice, afraid of startling the crown prince.

Zhu Chilang nodded. He had felt wide awake in bed, but now that he was sitting up, he felt a bit dizzy and dazed.

The young eunuch quickly brought a cup of water and handed it to the crown prince.

Zhu Chilang drank it in one gulp and said, "Light the lamp, and go to the study." He then took a light silk robe and casually draped it over his shoulders.

The temperature difference between day and night in early June in the capital was significant, and it was even a bit chilly outside. Calculating the date, it was probably around July in the Gregorian calendar. If it were four hundred years later, it would be the time for city-wide barbecues in Beijing, but the current abnormal low temperature was undoubtedly due to the peak of the Little Ice Age, which could rank second in the past ten thousand years.

This maddening climate would ease in the coming years, but by then, the Ming Dynasty would have already collapsed. Hence, some people in later generations lamented, "Heaven's will is to destroy the Ming," which was not an exaggeration.

The young eunuch hurriedly helped the crown prince put on his shoes and socks, tied the sash of the robe, and went out to call the other on-duty attendants. The Duanben Palace soon became brightly lit, and figures moved silently along the corridors in the early morning.

Zhu Chilang washed his hands and face, had some tea and snacks, and soon sat behind the desk in the side hall. He checked the list he had compiled the day before, ensuring nothing was missing, and then leaned heavily back in his chair. For sixteen years, he had been a prisoner walking step by step to the execution ground, and now he finally saw the light of hope for an escape.

"What time is it?" Zhu Chilang suddenly asked.

The young eunuch, not daring to raise his head, quickly replied, "Your Highness, it's almost the third watch of the hour of the Ox."

Zhu Chilang nodded. It was still early, but he was completely awake. He got up and walked around the desk, asking, "Is Tian Cunsan in the palace?"

According to the rules of the founding emperor, eunuchs were not allowed to have external residences. However, now eunuchs not only had external residences but also married and had concubines, accumulating vast wealth. The so-called eunuchs had become more and more like officials. Zhu Chilang remembered that Emperor Chongzhen once shared his experience of being an emperor, saying, "Civil officials are unreliable, military generals are untrustworthy, and only eunuchs are household servants, but they cannot be used."

Eunuchs appeared to be the emperor's servants, dependent on the imperial family for survival, but in reality, they had become an independent state, no different from civil officials and military generals. When Emperor Chongzhen exterminated the Wei Zhongxian faction, was it really to avenge the Donglin Party? It was because Wei Zhongxian had trained a force of twenty thousand eunuch soldiers and even kept a pregnant woman in the palace, planning to carry out a "cat for a prince" scheme!

Zhu Chilang had a high regard for Emperor Chongzhen. As an emperor with limited experience, young age, and poor education, he had relied on his talent and a group of capable people to reach this point, which was no easy feat. As for his character flaws... who doesn't have them?

"Your Highness," the young eunuch said, bowing his head, "Tian Cunsan had a bad stomach yesterday and was not on duty, so he went to bed early."

Zhu Chilang heard: Tian Gonggong didn't return to the palace last night.

"Go and call him," Zhu Chilang said.

"Your slave will go immediately," the young eunuch said, hurrying out.

There were both overt and covert factions among the palace eunuchs. The overt factions were the young eunuchs recorded under the names of the chief eunuchs, with clear lineages like father and son. The covert factions were the dry relatives eunuchs privately recognized, some calling each other father and son, some grandfather and grandson, and some sworn brothers.

From the young eunuch's act of covering for Tian Cunsan, it was clear that he was part of Tian Cunsan's covert faction. Otherwise, he could have simply said, "Your slave couldn't find Tian Cunsan," and the Office of Ceremonial would have considered replacing the crown prince's chief eunuch the next day.

Even with such clarity, what could he do? In his previous life, Zhu Chilang was known in the industry as a "miracle worker," but facing the Ming Dynasty, a company riddled with problems and heavily in debt, he still felt powerless.

Compared to the glorious myth of his previous life, the challenges of this life were even greater. Back then, he had been given absolute trust by his boss, but now, he was just a "child" in his parents' eyes.

Yes, still a child.

Zhu Chilang touched his shiny, long hair. He had started growing his hair two years ago, and now his black, long hair was tied back, sometimes even braided. Although it didn't meet his aesthetic standards, compared to the "zongjiao" hairstyle he had to shave his scalp for, it was a huge improvement.

Tian Cunsan's external residence was near Houhai, not far from the palace. Even in this era, the property prices in Houhai were beyond his means. The reason he had such a house was due to the contributions of many speculators who were trying to curry favor. Once the crown prince ascended the throne, Tian Cunsan would be a loyal follower, and the money for the house would be returned hundreds of times over.

"Tian Gonggong, the crown prince urgently summons you!"

Hearing the word "urgent," Tian Cunsan jumped out of bed, his feet touching the ground before he opened his eyes. He dared not show any disrespect to the crown prince, urging his concubine, who was still rubbing her eyes in bed, to dress him while asking, "Where is the messenger? Have him report."

Soon, the young eunuch stood outside the door and said, "Gonggong, the crown prince woke up suddenly and is waiting for you in the study."

"Is there any idea what it's about?" Tian Cunsan sat in a chair, allowing his concubine to comb his hair.

"The crown prince woke up and looked at the list on the table," the young eunuch added, fearing he might not explain clearly, "The list of items to be taken out of the palace that was compiled yesterday."

Tian Cunsan frowned: Could it be that he suddenly remembered something was missing? No! He immediately dismissed the thought. Careful inspection was the crown prince's habit, but he had never actually forgotten anything. Perhaps he wanted to verify the preparations? Tian Cunsan thought of another possibility and felt a chill down his spine.

—The list was compiled just before dinner last night, and I immediately arranged for it to be carried out. But how could I verify everything in such a short time? It would have to wait until morning!

Tian Cunsan did not dare to complain about the crown prince's sudden demands and could only use his brain to prepare for every possibility. If there was one thing he had learned from following the crown prince for the past five years, it was thoroughness, which was enough to qualify him for a position in the Office of Ceremonial.

"Tian An!" Tian Cunsan called.

"Your old servant is here," a hoarse voice replied from outside the door.

"How is the preparation at the prince's residence?" Tian Cunsan asked.

"This... Your old servant will go and check," Tian An, breaking out in a cold sweat, quickly responded.

"I will enter the palace first, and you send someone to report back," Tian Cunsan said irritably.

Because of this minor inconvenience, Tian Cunsan felt a surge of anger. Suddenly, his scalp was pulled, and he realized his concubine, still half-asleep, had used too much force. Tian Cunsan jumped up and slapped her, shouting, "Can't even comb hair! What good are you! Get out! I'll settle accounts with you when I return!"

Hearing the master's anger, the servants outside knew he was in a bad mood and quickly checked their work, silently praying they wouldn't run into trouble at this moment.

Tian Cunsan, after tidying up, hurried out the door, urging the sedan bearers to rush into the palace. Because of the late-night opening of the palace gates, he had to bribe many people, otherwise, who would risk breaking the imperial rules and face the death penalty?

Despite this, when Tian Cunsan arrived at the crown prince's door, he was already out of breath and looked exhausted.

This was three parts real and seven parts feigned, a skill eunuchs had to learn from a young age. If someone was too stupid to learn, they would end up burning hot water in the bathhouse for the rest of their life.

"Is the prince's residence ready?" Zhu Chilang asked Tian Cunsan as soon as he saw him.

Tian Cunsan felt relieved, grateful that his family had finally caught up, and quickly replied, "Your Highness, the prince's residence is ready, including the Duanli Gate..."

"What about the sleeping quarters?" Zhu Chilang frowned and asked directly.

Tian Cunsan was not unaware of the importance of this question, but the sleeping quarters were not yet renovated! How could he mention them first? Of course, he had to report the progress first and then the difficulties. Seeing the crown prince's face darken, he quickly knelt down, "Your Highness, please forgive me! I received your order yesterday and personally supervised the work, but it was dark, and we couldn't light a fire with the raw lacquer..."

"Which word of my order to clean the sleeping quarters first did you not understand?" Zhu Chilang's eyelids drooped.

Tian Cunsan felt bitter: Cleaning the sleeping quarters was easy, but did it mean no renovation? The sleeping quarters were overgrown with weeds, and it would take daylight to find people to remove them. The roof tiles needed to be replaced, and the beams and pillars needed to be painted... Your Highness, it's easy for you to say, but we have to run ourselves ragged!

"Your Highness, the Duanli Gate is the face of the prince's residence. If it looks shabby..."

Bang!

Zhu Chilang grabbed the armrest and slammed it on the table.

The sound of the rosewood armrest hitting the sandalwood desk was clear and resonant, with a metallic ring.

Tian Cunsan immediately fell silent, prostrating himself to await punishment.

The crown prince hated explanations the most.

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