Chapter 44: Prince

The New Year was a time for feasting, drinking, and entertainment. This year, the Zhao family had spent a large sum of money, and even the small merchants and vendors in the state city knew that several estates had advanced their workers' wages, allowing those who carried carts and loads to make a small fortune. The Zhao family was even more generous, hiring opera troupes and acrobatic troupes, one for inside the estate and one for outside, with two stages performing simultaneously, making the New Year festivities lively and vibrant.

Today was already the fifth day of the New Year. After several days of feasting, even 'Xiaohei' and 'Xiaobai' (the family pets) wanted something light. Zhao Cheng was hiding in the back courtyard today, not going out. He was not a person who enjoyed the hustle and bustle, and there were several managers handling the affairs. However, as the head of the family, there were some matters he had to deal with personally.

Today, Zhao Cheng closed his doors to visitors and stayed alone in his small study. He took out his set of tools and carefully inserted a roll of brown paper into a percussion cap. These percussion caps were the impromptu creations of Zhang Liujin. He securely connected the two. Then he took out a piece of fuse paper, carefully cut it, and placed it into a thin copper cap, which he then attached to the percussion cap.

"Phew," Zhao Cheng exhaled, wiping the sweat from his hands on his clothes. He carefully took out some of the gunpowder he had prepared, weighed it on a small scale used for measuring medicine, and then poured it into the paper tube. He casually took a piece of candy from the table and stuffed it into the tube, then used a ramrod to tamp it down, sealing the opening. A "blank cartridge" was now complete.

"Damn, let's see if this will work this time," Zhao Cheng secured the bullet and then struck the percussion cap with a small hammer. There was a sharp "bang," and the paper tube was shattered. "Spit, did I put in too much gunpowder, or did I seal it too tightly?" He checked and muttered, spitting out the powder residue that had gotten into his mouth.

"Second Master, what's wrong?" Guigui, who was outside the door, pushed it open and asked.

"Nothing, a firecracker fell into the brazier. You can go back to your work!" Zhao Cheng said with a forced smile.

"Second Master, don't play with these things inside. If there's a fire, it will be bad!" Guigui looked at the scattered paper scraps on the ground and frowned.

"Alright, I understand. I won't do it anymore!" Zhao Cheng said obediently. Guigui gave him a skeptical look and left. Once she was gone, Zhao Cheng resumed his work. The sound in the study continued for the entire afternoon, but it was quickly drowned out by the continuous sound of firecrackers outside, and no one paid attention.

"Shunzi, have you received any news today?" Huang Jingchen, who was getting older, disliked the hustle and bustle even more. He stayed in his room, drinking tea and reading books, avoiding the noise outside.

"No, Master!" A voice came from the corner. If he hadn't spoken, no one would have noticed that someone was standing there.

"Hmm!" Huang Jingchen nodded, put the book on the table, and stood up. He felt somewhat restless, though he couldn't explain why.

On the first day of the New Year, the Prince came to pay his respects, even performing the ritual of a nephew. This greatly surprised and moved Huang Jingchen. As a eunuch, he knew he would never have children. He had once considered adopting a relative's child, but he found that these people were either after his money or his influence, which cooled his heart and made him abandon the idea. Why did the Prince do this? Neither money nor influence could compare to what the Prince had. The only reasonable explanation was that the Prince considered him a trusted confidant and an elder!

"What's wrong with Master? Is he still unwilling to give up his position in the palace? Does he want to return to the court?" Shunzi watched him from the corner. Since the beginning of the New Year, Huang Jingchen had been uneasy, asking about news from the capital every day.

In fact, Shunzi misunderstood him. Huang Jingchen was thinking about the story the Prince had told him, about how he would be enfeoffed as a Prince this New Year. Perhaps Zhao Cheng had forgotten about it, but the old man hadn't. He was always worried, because according to the Song Dynasty's ancestral rules, princes must be enfeoffed as kings, but not directly. This rule had been revised several times. The most recent revision was during Emperor Renzong's reign, when the Imperial Clan Office revised the practice of granting names and titles to the imperial clan. Previously, names and titles were granted at the age of seven, but this was changed to the first grand ceremony after the birth of the eldest son, and the youngest son at the age of five. The titles granted were usually Duke or Marquis, and they would gradually be promoted until they reached the age of fifteen, when they would be enfeoffed as kings. Kings were divided into Princes of the State and Princes of the Blood. Now, Zhao Cheng had already been enfeoffed as a Prince of the State, bypassing the old rules. Would the Emperor break the rules again?

"Co-co-co," suddenly, the sound of pigeons came from outside the window. Shunzi quickly jumped up, opened a small window, and grabbed a white pigeon, examining it. He untied a thin bamboo tube from its leg, smiled, stroked the pigeon's white feathers, and took out some beans from his pocket, scattering them outside the window. The pigeon flew away, happily pecking at the food.

"Master, news from the capital has arrived!" Shunzi took out a roll of paper from the bamboo tube and handed it to Huang Jingchen with both hands.

"Oh, read it!" Huang Jingchen sat in his chair, picked up his teacup, and Shunzi noticed his hand was trembling slightly.

"Yes!" Shunzi unfolded the paper and read it by the lamp: "The Emperor has issued an edict pardoning the Yuanyou Party members. Those listed in the party register, except for those who have committed treason or slandered the court, will be removed from the register in batches based on the severity of their offenses. The various tribes in Fuzhou, Anhua, and Yuzhou have all submitted to our dynasty, with nearly 300,000 people and several thousand miles of territory. Cai Jing led the officials in congratulating the Emperor, who promoted Zhang Zhuang, the governor of Guizhou, to the position of Pacification Commissioner of Qian South, and established Liao Prefecture from the land submitted by Zhao Tai of Yuzhou and Zhen Prefecture from the land of the Fuyi tribe."

"Is that all?" Huang Jingchen frowned and asked.

"Oh, there's one more thing!" Shunzi flipped the paper and said.

"Read it quickly!"

"The Emperor issued an edict on New Year's Day, renaming the Crown Prince Xuan to Heng and enfeoffing him as the Prince of Ding; the Second Prince Cheng to Shen and enfeoffing him as the Prince of Yanzhou; the Third Prince Kai to Yun and enfeoffing him as the Prince of Yuncheng; the Fourth Prince Ji to Jing and enfeoffing him as the Prince of Jing; the Fifth Prince Shu to Su and enfeoffing him as the Prince of Su; the Sixth Prince Qi, Seventh Prince Xu, Eighth Prince Yu, and Ninth Prince Gou to be enfeoffed as State Dukes. Master, are you alright?" Shunzi suddenly noticed that Huang Jingchen was sitting in his chair, his face flushed, and the tea in his hand had spilled all over his chest without him noticing. He quickly went to support Huang Jingchen.

"Really, it's true, what he said is really true," Huang Jingchen muttered, seemingly unaware.

"Master, what are you saying?" Shunzi was frightened and shook Huang Jingchen, shouting loudly.

"Ha ha!" Huang Jingchen suddenly slammed his teacup on the table and laughed wildly, patting Shunzi's hand. "Shunzi, we have met a wise ruler!"

"Is Master crazy? Did you go mad because the Prince was enfeoffed as a Prince of the Blood?" Shunzi had never seen the usually composed Huang Jingchen act so out of character. "Someone, quickly call Doctor Wang!" he shouted to the young eunuch outside the door.

"What for?" Huang Jingchen slapped the table and shouted, "Go and call all the managers to the front hall for a meeting. We received news today that the imperial envoy will arrive tomorrow to announce the edict. I need to inform the Prince!"

"Yes, Master!" Shunzi wiped his sweat, relieved that the old man wasn't crazy, and disappeared like a wisp of smoke.

"Prince, Prince!" Zhao Cheng was concentrating on making his fifth bullet when the door was suddenly slammed open. He looked up to see the old man, Huang, wearing casual clothes, grinning and shouting as he rushed in. His hand trembled, and this time the bullet really fell into the brazier, causing a loud "bang" and scattering sparks everywhere.

"Uncle Huang, did you see a ghost?" Zhao Cheng, busy putting out the fire and spilling tea, complained.

"Forgive me, forgive me, I startled the Prince. I was just too happy and lost my composure!" Huang Jingchen stomped out the scattered sparks and laughed.

"What good news could make Uncle Huang so happy?" Zhao Cheng shook the ashes off his clothes, and his fine silk robe now had several more holes.

"Prince, news from the capital has arrived. The Emperor has issued an edict enfeoffing you as the Prince of Yanzhou!" The old man bowed as he spoke.

"Uncle Huang, didn't I tell you this before? It seems you still had some doubts about me!" Zhao Cheng said with a pained expression. The old man's face was flushed, and he hoped he wouldn't have a stroke or a heart attack. There were no quick-acting heart pills available, and it would be a pity if he died.

"I believe you now, I truly believe you. The Prince, guided by a sage, must be an extraordinary person. One day, you will ascend the throne, and I, who was blind before, hope the Prince will forgive me!" Huang Jingchen bowed deeply, his face full of regret.

"Uncle Huang, I was abandoned by my father and forced to leave the palace and the capital. I was alone and destitute, but you stayed by my side in this remote place. I have long considered you my family!" Zhao Cheng quickly stepped forward to support Huang Jingchen.

"Prince, I am unworthy of being called your uncle!" Huang Jingchen said, tears streaming down his face.

"Uncle Huang, the sage warned us that the Song Dynasty will face a great calamity within twenty years. As a prince, how can I sit idly by and watch our land be occupied by foreign tribes and our people be slaughtered? Let us work together to prepare for the impending disaster!"

"Prince, this old servant will follow you, riding and fighting to clear the barbarians and protect the peace of the Song Dynasty, even if it means sacrificing my life!" Huang Jingchen held Zhao Cheng's hand firmly, and no one knew that this handshake between the old and the young would mark the beginning of a historical change.

"Good, let us work together to ensure the prosperity of the Song Dynasty and the peace of our people, and face this great calamity together!" Zhao Cheng knew that Huang Jingchen was now fully loyal, and he had gained a powerful ally.

"Prince, if you want to achieve great things, you should first stockpile food and train troops, and gather wealth. But now, you are spending money recklessly. Isn't this counterproductive?" The two sat down again, and Zhao Cheng poured him a cup of hot tea as Huang Jingchen asked.

"Uncle Huang is right. This is a huge task, and the two of us alone cannot stop the million-strong cavalry of the barbarians!" Zhao Cheng smiled and said, "We are too weak now. If we start stockpiling food and training troops, even my father might have us beheaded. At that time, even the Empress cannot protect us. We can only proceed slowly."

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**End of Chapter 44**