Chapter 9

Zhu Chilang soon realized his loss of composure. The longer he lived in this enormous prison, the more he felt he was losing control.

The pressure was immense!

Recalling the early years of Chongzhen's reign, the emperor was full of energy, able to spend eight hours on state affairs and still find time to embrace the crown prince. However, as the situation deteriorated day by day, ministers repeatedly deceived him, and decisions were made in error... Finally, a once sunny and intelligent young emperor was driven mad.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have cut off his beloved daughter's arm at the last moment.

Chongzhen's affection for Princess Kunxing was no less than for the crown prince.

"I asked you to clean the palace," Zhu Chilang controlled his emotions, softening his tone, "so we can move in sooner. There's no need for repairs; just make sure there are no spider webs in the bedroom, no visible dust, and a new curtain. Do you understand?"

Tian Cunshan frowned and said, "Your Highness, this isn't something you can save on. It concerns the dignity of the royal family. What if the emperor finds out? If a villain trips me up, I won't be able to serve you anymore!" Tian Cunshan burst into tears, large tears rolling down his cheeks with a thud.

Zhu Chilang had to take a deep breath, suppressing his displeasure: "Are you saying I can't protect you?"

Tian Cunshan was immediately startled, bowing to the ground, "I dare not! I absolutely don't mean that!" He knew very well that the crown prince usually addressed him as "you," but when he called himself "I," it meant he was very unhappy.

"Never mind," Zhu Chilang sighed, "After dawn, I'll go to pay respects, then leave the palace. The manuscripts in the Eastern Palace will be moved in batches, including all the gifts over the years. Don't leave anything behind."

Tian Cunshan was shocked: Was the crown prince not planning to return?

He knew the crown prince was eager to leave the palace, but he thought it was just youthful curiosity, a desire to see the world outside the palace. He never imagined the crown prince would actually plan to live outside the palace, even taking everything from the Eastern Palace!

—Well, I'll just listen to the crown prince. If it doesn't work out, we can always move back. The outside world can't be as comfortable as the palace. He won't last long.

Tian Cunshan thought to himself.

"Tomorrow," Zhu Chilang raised a finger, "if the palace in the princely mansion is cleaned, we'll stay there tonight. If not, we'll stay at your house by the Back Lake."

Tian Cunshan's back turned cold, and he stammered for a long time before saying, "Your servant obeys."

Zhu Chilang understood the urgency of the situation. He ordered Tian Cunshan to get up and listed all the tasks for the next day, assigning responsibilities. Each task had a completion standard and a time limit.

This precise process management fully mobilized everyone around the crown prince. However, due to technical limitations, real-time communication was impossible, and many connections would inevitably have issues, even affecting the overall plan. But if these eunuchs couldn't do it, no one in the entire Ming Dynasty, or even the world, could do better.

These physically disabled servants were educated from the day they entered the palace on how to be loyal to the king, how to be cautious, and how to meet their master's needs to the greatest extent. If they couldn't learn, they wouldn't be in Zhu Chilang's sight. Even the position of chopping wood and boiling water in the palace had many people waiting for it.

...

In the Renshou Hall, Empress Zhang Yian sat at the table, where breakfast was already set.

"Why hasn't the crown prince come to pay respects today?" Empress Dowager Zhang asked.

In the palace, the current emperor's consorts were called "Empress," and the previous emperor's consorts were called "Empress Dowager." Empress Zhang, who was not yet forty, had been promoted to "Empress Dowager." Because the current emperor succeeded his brother, the previous empress could not be called "Empress Dowager" and was only given the title "Empress Yian."

However, Chongzhen truly regarded this empress as his mother.

"The crown prince came to pay respects before dawn," a female official replied, "When the empress was still asleep, he bowed outside the palace and left."

Empress Dowager Zhang felt a lump in her chest, which took a while to dissipate. She then said coldly, "Prepare the carriage for the Kunning Palace."

What could she do by going to the Kunning Palace?

Zhu Chilang was determined to leave. He bowed to his parents outside the palace, waited at the Qianqing Palace gate for the morning bell, and left as soon as it rang. The guards, eunuchs, and maids of the Eastern Palace, as well as the washbasins, water pots, and chamber pots, were all abandoned. The crown prince only took fifteen eunuchs from the Duanben Palace and left.

The grand eunuchs of the Imperial Secretariat knew about this much earlier than the emperor, but no one dared to provoke the crown prince at this critical moment. Because the news of Zhang Xianzhong capturing Wuchang in mid-May would soon reach the emperor's desk.

At this unfortunate time, it was better to do less than to do more.

...

Since the Yongle Emperor established the capital in Beijing, the ancient city had become increasingly prosperous. Despite wars and natural disasters, the population of Shuntian Prefecture still numbered over a million.

As a city with a population of a million, Beijing's urban appearance had always intrigued Zhu Chilang. He knew that the underground drainage system built during the Ming Dynasty was still in use during the Republic era and was considered by Soviet experts to be in no need of repair. He also knew that each neighborhood had its own garbage disposal area, and manure carts collected waste daily.

However, he was very eager to see how the people of the Ming Dynasty lived.

This time, Zhu Chilang escaped the palace wrapped in a tiger skin, and the princely mansion wasn't even ready to receive the officials. Accepting the officials' audience was the primary prerequisite for the crown prince's administration. Without the officials' homage, even if he issued orders, no one would follow them.

"Since that's the case," Zhu Chilang said to his attendants, "We'll go incognito first."

Zhou Jing shuddered at these words and looked at Tian Cunshan.

He was dragged out of bed by Zhu Chilang. Of course, it wasn't the crown prince himself who pulled the covers. However, the room was inexplicably crowded, and he was still bare-chested, which was a terrifying situation.

Zhu Chilang changed into the clothes of a nobleman at Zhou Jing's house and sent for the Eastern Palace guards to serve as temporary protection. He didn't believe anyone would harm the crown prince, as there was no succession dispute. Even the spies of the Jurchens and Li Zicheng in the capital wouldn't take such a risk, as it would expose their identities.

However, Zhou Jing didn't think so.

By blood, he was the crown prince's uncle, but by ethics, he was a subject. Even if someone assassinated the crown prince, which was an extreme act of violence, he would be guilty of a capital offense. Moreover, although the news of the crown prince's military command was circulating in the palace, it was still uncertain. The crown prince might have left the palace without permission... Thinking of this, Zhou Jing was almost paralyzed.

—What's the point of looking at me? Do you think the crown prince will listen to me?

Tian Cunshan felt a chill under Zhou Jing's gaze and slowly lowered his head, saying nothing.

"Your Highness," Zhou Jing steeled himself, "When you left the palace, did the emperor give any instructions to me?" Zhou Jing, though the head of the Eastern Palace guards, was essentially a noble, not a military officer.

"Ha, you're so timid, Zhou Jing?" Zhu Chilang avoided the key issue, smiling, "In the palace, you called me by my nickname, but now you call me 'crown prince' in your own home."

—Back then, you were harmless in the palace! Now that you're out, you're the biggest authority besides the emperor. Who would dare to be disrespectful!

Zhou Jing grumbled inwardly but didn't dare to say a word. When the tiger was in the cage, anyone could roar at it. Once it was out, who would dare to act rashly?

Even a professional smile wasn't something everyone could afford. Zhu Chilang's smile faded, and he said expressionlessly, "I don't believe the nobles in the capital never go out. Are there bandits every day? If so, the Shuntian Prefecture officials should commit suicide in apology!"

"Your Highness," Zhou Jing steeled himself, "While there are ruffians in the capital, there are few bandits. But with the epidemic raging, I'm truly afraid something might happen to you."

"It's fine, I have a secret treasure," Zhu Chilang gestured to Tian Cunshan.

Tian Cunshan immediately took a mask from a wooden box held by a eunuch. Unlike the triangular scarves outside, this mask was rectangular, made of cotton, with strings to hang over the ears, covering the entire mouth and nose. Due to the heat, Zhu Chilang didn't put it on immediately but showed it to Zhou Jing.

"It has charcoal and fragrant pieces inside. Even going to the crematorium is no problem," Zhu Chilang said.

Zhou Jing knew that the triangular scarves, though used to cover odors, would blow open with breathing, making them almost useless. The crown prince's mask, with a slight modification, was a significant improvement, truly a sign of extraordinary talent.

...