Chapter 26: A Mixture of Grace and Severity

Fa Xiang Ward.
The Imperial Mansion of the Duke of Cheng.

When the vanguard from the Palace of Clear Serenity arrived at the street before the mansion and revealed their identities, the noblemen and military officers of the capital, who had been crowding the gate in hopes of an audience with the Duke, instantly scattered like birds and beasts.

The news that the Crown Prince, acting on behalf of the Emperor, had left the palace to inspect the various camps of the Capital Garrison and was personally visiting the Duke of Cheng’s mansion, spread in an instant and was delivered deep into the residence.

A short while later, Zhu Xizhong—the current Duke of Cheng, holder of the titles of Specially Appointed Grand Master of Glorious Happiness and Grand Tutor, commander of the Tuan Camp and the Five-Military Battalion, and administrator of the Right Military Governor’s Office—had already led his son, Zhu Shitai, and his entire household to welcome the Prince at the gates.

"Your subject, Zhu Xizhong, pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Zhu Xizhong led the way, bowing deeply. Behind him, the entire Zhu family knelt in succession.

"We pay our respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Zaiji stepped down from his palanquin with a smile. He glanced left and right; though the streets and alleys appeared empty, he could not shake the feeling that eyes were watching from the shadows.

He paid it no mind and walked directly up to Zhu Xizhong.

"Duke, your age and seniority far exceed mine. You are a pillar of the state and trusted by the Emperor. Please, forgo these formalities. Everyone, please, rise."

He reached out to support Zhu Xizhong’s arms, presenting a scene of perfect harmony between sovereign and subject.

Zhu Xizhong was preoccupied, yet his smile remained constant. He turned to his son and began the introductions for Zhu Zaiji. "Your Highness, this is my son, Shitai."

Zhu Shitai hurried forward. "Your subject, Zhu Shitai, pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Zaiji’s expression was equally warm. "Brother Shitai is truly dashing; he will surely bring great glory to the Duke of Cheng’s mansion in the future."

These were merely polite pleasantries, yet they could never be omitted.

After the formalities were concluded, Zhu Zaiji, accompanied by Zhu Xizhong, finally entered the main hall of the mansion. Once tea was served, Zhu Xizhong dismissed the servants, leaving only his son to attend them.

He looked at Zhu Zaiji, who was seated in the place of honor beside him, his mind racing. With a smile and a bow of his hands, he said, "Your Highness has left the palace to honor my home today. May I venture to guess that this is in anticipation of His Majesty’s upcoming inspection of the military camps?"

Zhu Zaiji nodded. "The Duke is correct. My departure from the palace today is indeed for that very purpose."

Having said this, he silently swept his gaze across his host and around the hall. Although the room had been cleaned, the chairs were still slightly misaligned—a clear sign that many guests had visited the Duke’s mansion that day.

Zhu Xizhong pondered his words. "The Emperor’s inspection is intended to boost morale and root out long-standing abuses. As a descendant of the nobility and one trusted by the Emperor to command the Tuan Camp, I am naturally duty-bound in this matter."

Zhu Zaiji smiled. "I am young, barely of age, and only lead this mission thanks to the trust of my Imperial Father and the praise of the court officials. As for how to proceed, I must rely on the counsel of those like the Duke, who have long served in the military, to ensure that no disorder arises."

His tone was restrained and conventional, revealing nothing of his true intent.

Zhu Xizhong, however, felt a jolt. Although he had frequented the palace due to his noble status and often encountered the Crown Prince, who was already known for his virtue, the man before him now felt different.

He became even more cautious. "Your Highness is too kind. With your talent, any errors that have accumulated in the Capital Garrison over time will surely have nowhere to hide before you. I dare only offer this: whoever in the military is found guilty of corruption, exploitation of soldiers, or incompetence must be strictly punished, following the Imperial decree without exception!"

This was his stance. At the very least, he had to show that he stood with the Imperial family.

Zhu Zaiji merely smiled at this. He glanced at Feng Bao, who was attending him, and then at the teapot on the table.

Feng Bao understood the signal and brought the teapot before the Prince, right in front of Zhu Xizhong and his son. Zhu Zaiji then drew from his sleeve the evidence of corruption within the Capital Garrison, which Lu Bing had delivered via Zhu Qi the previous night.

Holding the incriminating documents, he looked up at the puzzled Zhu Xizhong and smiled. "Since the Duke has spoken such words, it seems these items given to me by my Imperial Father are no longer needed."

As he spoke, he plunged the evidence into the teapot.

Recalling Zhu Zaiji’s words, Zhu Xizhong suddenly trembled. "Your Highness!"

Zhu Zaiji had already submerged the documents entirely, stirring them twice with his hand, watching as the paper soaked and disintegrated before letting go. After taking a cloth from Feng Bao to wipe his hands, he looked at Zhu Xizhong with a smile. "Duke, there is no need for alarm."

Having realized that the pot likely contained items the Emperor had entrusted to the Prince to intimidate him, Zhu Xizhong felt a wave of panic. The Prince had dissolved them in water, but heaven only knew if the Emperor kept copies. And, knowing the Emperor as he did, he was certain that copies existed!

Zhu Xizhong stood up and walked, hunched over, toward Zhu Zaiji.

Zhu Zaiji remained smiling. "Duke, truly, there is no need for alarm. Today, I..."

Zhu Xizhong’s expression was grave, tinged with nervousness. "Your Highness is the heir to the throne, a person of immense importance. I dare not presume upon our seniority."

He had anticipated the various issues that might arise from an Imperial inspection, and he had considered the possible confrontations that might occur during the Prince’s visit. But he had never imagined the Prince would dissolve the evidence right before his eyes.

Yet, that was exactly what had happened. Zhu Xizhong felt as though he had been instantly checkmated by this fourteen-year-old Crown Prince.

Sensing the change in his host, Zhu Zaiji sat up slightly. "Duke, as I said, there is no need for concern. Regarding the Capital Garrison, as I mentioned, I still look forward to your advice and suggestions."

Zhu Xizhong grew even more respectful, bowing his head. "I would not dare! But since Your Highness has commanded, and having served in the camps for many years, I have indeed heard rumors of lawlessness. Now that the Emperor is to inspect the camps, I shall submit a memorial to impeach those who have broken the law. By the time of the Imperial inspection, the Capital Garrison will be clear and upright, with nothing to hide from the light of day!"

Some people would have to be sacrificed; some would have to be abandoned. Zhu Xizhong knew this well. Firstly, the Crown Prince was clearly not someone to be trifled with, and secondly, there was the one hidden behind the Prince—the man in the West Garden!

Zhu Zaiji understood these underlying calculations, and he knew that it was impossible to overhaul the entire Capital Garrison at once, just as Zhang Zhi had recently cautioned him.

With a thought, he stood up with a smile and once again assisted Zhu Xizhong to rise. "With those words from the Duke, I am at ease. If the Duke permits, I would like to report to my Imperial Father upon returning to the palace that Brother Shitai should be appointed as a general in the Capital Garrison to lead a battalion and train them properly."

If the true "dragon and tiger" he sought were not currently far away, he would not have to rely on these nobles.

Zhu Shitai, the heir to the Duke of Cheng, was visibly delighted. Zhu Xizhong, however, hesitated. "Your Highness, my son is a spoiled youth, unlearned and unskilled. How could he..."

Zhu Zaiji ignored this. Whether it was his own concerns about the Gengxu incident next year or Zhang Zhi’s recent reminders, he needed a force of loyal troops. He could not spend his days in the barracks living and eating with the soldiers, so he had no choice but to work through the Duke of Cheng’s household to achieve his goals.

He did not let Zhu Xizhong continue, but instead insisted that he sit back down.

As Zhu Xizhong looked on in confusion, Zhu Zaiji smiled and shifted the topic. "The affairs of the Capital Garrison are minor matters. My visit today was under Imperial decree, but in truth, I have a major deal I wish to discuss with the Duke."