Chapter 78

Chapter 79: Porridge

In just ten minutes, the crowd had gathered, and the guards on the city walls had lit torches, with even more people surging to the top of the wall, drawing their bows and arrows as if facing a great enemy. At this moment, Zhao Cheng was also a bit nervous. With actions happening on both sides, he was now like a turtle in a jar, with no place to run.

"Second Master, something doesn't seem right?" Pan Long turned to Zhao Cheng, who was standing in the center.

"Oh?!" Zhao Cheng pushed through the crowd to look outside. Indeed, something was off. Although they were wearing Song Dynasty military uniforms, they were holding buckets, water bladders, water bags, sprinklers, hemp ropes, axes, saws, ladders, fire forks, large ropes, and iron anchors. They looked more like a modern demolition company than a group of people coming to arrest someone.

"Hey, what are you guys doing here?" Zhao Cheng shouted at the newcomers.

"Hmph, why did you start a fire in the middle of the night?" A rider emerged from the crowd, pointing at Zhao Cheng, looking like a leader.

"Are you blind? We're burning paper money. What's it to you?" Xue Bao stepped forward to shield Zhao Cheng and replied.

"Of course it's our business. We are from the Imperial Street Fire Brigade, responsible for patrolling and extinguishing fires. Did you report your midnight burning of paper money to us?" the man said with a cold smile.

"Oh, so you're the fire department. I burned some paper money and attracted you. What a relief!" Zhao Cheng relaxed. These people had come for the fire, not to clear the area. He nudged Jianxi, who was still wearing the eunuch's uniform, indicating that he should handle the situation since he was still an official.

"May I ask which brother is in charge? Could we speak privately?" Jianxi bowed and smiled.

"That would be me, Inspector Li Wei of the Kaifeng Prefecture. May I ask what you are doing and why you are burning paper money in front of the imperial city?" the rider replied.

"Oh, Inspector Li, I am a high-ranking eunuch from the Prince of Yuncheng's palace. The Prince of Yuncheng is here to mourn the Empress. The fire was a bit too big and disturbed you all. I apologize!" Jianxi said.

"Is it true that the Prince of Yuncheng is here to mourn the Empress?" Inspector Li asked, sounding a bit skeptical.

"Inspector Li, please leave quickly. The Prince of Yuncheng is indeed here. Your commotion has made us busy too!" The guards on the city walls shouted, clearly unhappy about being disturbed.

"Inspector Li Wei of the Kaifeng Prefecture pays respects to the Prince of Yuncheng. I apologize for any offense. Please do not hold it against us!" Li Wei dismounted and bowed to apologize.

"Alright, alright. We will be here for a few more days, so you don't need to come every day. Consider this our report!" Zhao Cheng said, somewhat helplessly. The fire had been too big. He had learned from a young eunuch that the capital was densely populated with many wooden structures, making it prone to fires. Therefore, from the beginning of the dynasty, fire prevention and firefighting had been a priority. A specialized fire brigade was formed from the elite of the imperial army, with strict penalties and watchtowers on major streets to detect and extinguish fires promptly.

The morning bell rang on time. Although it was a period of mourning for the Empress, it had little impact on the common people, who still rose early to work for their daily bread. When they opened their shops, they saw the group still gathered in front of the palace, with incense still burning. Each person was covered in white frost, looking exhausted. They could only sigh and show sympathy, but what else could they do?

"Jianxi, go buy some food and distribute it to everyone. This isn't a sustainable way to go on. Also, buy a fur coat for each person, regardless of cost. It must be the best, or we'll all freeze to death!" Zhao Cheng washed his face with hot water from a nearby shop and instructed.

"Second Master, what about you?" Jianxi nodded and asked.

"I have to follow the rules. I can't make any mistakes at this time. Do you understand?" Zhao Cheng looked at the rising sun, stretched, and said with a bitter smile.

"Yes, but can the Prince's body endure this? We still have several more days!" Jianxi was almost in tears, knowing that persuasion was futile but couldn't help saying it.

"Prince, don't worry about us. If you don't eat, we won't eat. It's not right for the master to go hungry while the servants eat. I, Pan Long, may be a rough man, but I know this principle!" Pan Long walked over and said in a deep voice.

"Brother Pan, you need to protect me. Without food, where will you get the strength? This will exhaust us all."

"Prince, don't try to persuade us. Your fasting and vigil are for your mother. We are also being loyal to you. We don't want to be seen as disloyal and unrighteous!" Xue Bao clasped his hands and said solemnly.

"Ah, how can I repay your deep loyalty?" Zhao Cheng looked at these determined men, his voice choking with emotion, and tears streaming down his face.

Three more days passed, and Zhao Cheng continued to perform the ancient rituals of morning and evening offerings and meals. Although it was the day of mourning, no one had brought them a bowl of porridge. Now, he looked even worse than before, with sunken eyes, prominent cheekbones, a blueish complexion, and chapped lips. He was a shadow of his former self, looking as if a gust of wind could blow him away. The others were no better, especially Pan Long, who used to eat two pounds of meat in one meal, now had sunken cheeks. But everyone was enduring with the Prince.

"Mother, please say something. My brother hasn't eaten for days. Can you just watch him starve to death at the palace gates?" Zhao Yudan, tears streaming down her cheeks, knelt before Zheng Hongmei and sobbed.

"Yudan, get up. You're not acting like a princess by crying!" Zheng Hongmei scolded sternly.

"Mother, if you don't let my brother into the palace, I won't get up!" Zhao Yudan clung to Zheng Hongmei's sleeve.

"This is his fault for disobeying the imperial decree. I cannot break the law. Get away!" Zheng Hongmei shook off her sleeve and turned to leave, leaving Zhao Yudan sobbing on the floor.

Zheng Hongmei entered her study, dismissed her attendants, and pulled out a note from her sleeve. It read, "Unmoving as a mountain." "Unmoving as a mountain, Cheng means I shouldn't worry about him!" Zheng Hongmei, being very intelligent, immediately understood the meaning of the note.

"Cheng, you are the flesh of my flesh, how can I remain unmoved?" Zheng Hongmei said to herself. Her son was in dire straits, but his words showed no resentment, only understanding of her inaction. Guilt and worry pierced her heart like a knife, causing her immense pain.

On the twelfth of October, Zhao Cheng and his group had been fasting for five days. The clock tower had just rung, signaling noon. They sat facing south, enjoying the warmest part of the day, unwilling to move even a finger.

"Brother Xue, I bet the young lady's food box contains almond honey jujube porridge!" Hong Ba sniffed and said.

"Damn, I won't bet with you. How can your nose be more sensitive than a dog's after days of hunger? All my money is in your pocket!" Xue Bao shook his head, refusing, having lost too many times.

"Ah, good porridge goes to the dogs!" Pan Long lay sprawled on the ground.

"Brother Pan, if this porridge is for us, aren't we all dogs?" Zhang Hao teased.

"Pfft, if it's for us, I'll bark three times and apologize to everyone!" Pan Long said dismissively.

"Brother Pan, the young lady is really coming this way!" Zhang Hao suddenly sat up and nudged Pan Long.

"Don't fool me. I won't fall for it!" Pan Long said irritably. Many people had passed by with food, but none had stopped. He didn't believe it.

"Gentlemen, my young lady has sent porridge for the filial son. Please accept it!" The young lady bowed slightly and said.

"This..." Everyone was a bit skeptical, looking at each other. Pan Long pinched his thigh, suspecting it was a dream.

"Thank you, young lady. May I ask which family you are from? We will repay you another day!" Jianxi, quick to react, immediately got up and said.

"My young lady is moved by the filial son's devotion. There's no need to know more!" the young lady smiled and said.

"Then please accept our gratitude on behalf of the Prince!" Jianxi took the food box and thanked her. At that moment, a clerk, looking as if he were drunk, stumbled over and almost knocked Jianxi over, nearly spilling the porridge.

"Sorry, but at least the porridge didn't spill!" The clerk steadied Jianxi, peeked into the food box, and said apologetically.

"Watch where you're going! This is life-saving!" Jianxi shouted, grabbing the food box back. The clerk mumbled an apology and left.

"Second Master, someone has brought porridge, and it's still hot. Please eat quickly!" Jianxi, ignoring the clerk, carefully brought the porridge to Zhao Cheng and said.

"Oh!" Zhao Cheng, who had been practicing "Turtle Breath" to conserve energy, lifted the large fur coat, sat up, rubbed his eyes, and looked at the porridge. The porridge was indeed good, with walnuts, almonds, honey jujubes, raisins, and white sesame seeds, but there was only one bowl, enough to fill him to about eighty percent.

"Second Master, eat quickly. Don't just look at it, or it will get cold!" Xue Bao also urged, his Adam's apple moving noticeably.

"Eat, eat," the guards gathered around, happy that the Prince had made it this far and hoping he would drink the porridge soon.

"Yes, it smells good. I'll take a sip first!" Zhao Cheng sniffed the bowl and smiled, then lifted the bowl and slurped a large mouthful, licked his lips, and passed it to Pan Long, "Brother Pan, it's your turn. Don't drink it all, leave some for everyone!"

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