With a new toy, Zhu Zhanhe forgot his pain. People lying in bed appear longer – at this moment he was sprawled on the pillow watching the wooden ox walk, his eyes pure and innocent like a giant baby.
What an easily satisfied person.
The wooden ox was set to walk for one minute then stop, waiting for the next hour to arrive.
Zhu Zhanhe picked up the wooden ox for a closer look and asked A’Lei: “Could you modify it so the ox walks every half hour or quarter hour?”
At this moment Zhu Zhanhe’s playful nature was fully aroused. He had grown quickly from childhood, with a straightforward mind, open and honest, uninhibited, never overthinking anything. All his energy went to growing taller rather than developing cunning. Who would think this big fellow sprawled on a pillow was only thirteen this year, just five years past his last bedwetting incident?
An adult body with a child’s heart.
A’Lei shook her head: “This was cobbled together from clock parts. What I’ve achieved is already the limit.”
Zhu Zhanhe could only obediently wait for the next hour.
Seeing he was in good spirits, A’Lei stood to take her leave: “Play slowly. I need to go see the Imperial Grandson.”
Just as she finished speaking, voices came from the doorway: “What are you playing? Sounds so lively.”
Imperial Grandson Zhu Zhanji had arrived.
Hearing the voice, Zhu Zhanhe quickly stuffed the wooden ox into the pumpkin-shaped pillow beside him to hide it.
Zhu Zhanji’s small face was pale, his thin tall frame seemingly unable to support the heavy fur cloak on his shoulders. Eunuch Wang Zhen helped him remove the cloak and withdrew, leaving only the three of them in the room.
In private, these three friends who grew up together didn’t perform family ceremonies or court rituals – they were quite casual.
Seeing Zhu Zhanji could still move freely, just with a poor complexion, A’Lei felt greatly relieved: “I was planning to visit the Imperial Grandson’s Palace to see you. It’s perfect timing that you came here.”
Hearing this, Zhu Zhanji felt like a knife piercing his heart: “You entered the palace to see Second Cousin, and would visit me in passing?”
A’Lei said: “I came to see both of you. There are all sorts of rumors outside. I was worried sick at home. Seeing is believing, so I entered the palace.”
Zhu Zhanji’s jealousy flared, feeling his chest hurt more than the wound on his right arm: “You entered through the West An Gate. The Imperial Grandson’s Palace is closer than Qianqing Palace, yet you came to Qianqing Palace first. Clearly you’re very concerned about Cousin.”
A’Lei took the longer route to see Zhu Zhanhe because Hu Shanwei said his injuries were more severe.
Acting snide again – Little Chicken Brother’s old problem was recurring. A’Lei’s heart was clear as she said: “Aren’t you also worried about Zhu Zhanhe’s injuries? You’re wounded yourself yet endured pain to come see him. Clearly you’re very concerned about him too.”
Zhu Zhanji was left speechless by A’Lei’s response. He didn’t know why – clearly he was eloquent and skilled at communication – yet he always suffered defeats with A’Lei.
Zhu Zhanji could only change the subject: “Cousin shielded me with his body, protecting me underneath. He’s my lifesaver. As long as I draw breath, I must come see him.”
“I was wearing armor while Cousin was just flesh and blood. Of course I had to protect Cousin.” Zhu Zhanhe spoke lightly, as if it were just some trivial matter not worth mentioning.
Looking at his prone cousin, Zhu Zhanji’s guilt overcame his jealousy. Cousin was innocent, an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire: “Let me see your injuries.”
He moved to lift the thin blanket covering Zhu Zhanhe.
“Don’t!” Zhu Zhanhe quickly stopped him. “I… I’m not wearing clothes, just covered with several layers of cloth.”
A’Lei was still here after all.
A’Lei smiled awkwardly: “I’ll go outside for some fresh air.”
Zhu Zhanji lifted the thin blanket and several layers of gauze, seeing Zhu Zhanhe’s back, especially his spine and buttocks covered with translucent blisters of various sizes. He immediately sucked in a cold breath – it looked so painful.
“Fortunately only my back was injured. My handsome face remains preserved.” Zhu Zhanhe could still laugh. “Don’t tell Sister A’Lei – just say it’s only some peeled skin that will heal in ten days to two weeks. Big Cousin, as long as you’re fine. If something small happened to you, Prince Han’s mansion would face small trouble. If something big happened to you, Prince Han’s mansion would face big trouble.”
Unexpectedly this foolish cousin had such insight. Zhu Zhanji said: “You are you, the mansion is the mansion. Whatever happens, our brotherly bond won’t be affected.”
Zhu Zhanhe rarely wore a serious expression: “With Sister A’Lei gone, I’ll speak honestly with you. Father pressed the Crown Prince too hard. Recently many Eastern Palace officials died in the imperial prison, especially Xie Jin freezing to death in the snow. A generation’s talent gone just like that – I’m also regretful.”
“But… he’s my father. He won’t listen to what I say, and of course I never listen to what he says either. If I could choose, I wouldn’t want to be some wretched Prince Han’s heir. My ideal is to be a wandering knight-errant dispensing justice, drinking heartily, eating great chunks of meat. But I have no choice. Once born into the imperial family, fate is beyond one’s control.”
Zhu Zhanji was greatly shocked. He hadn’t expected this foolish brother to have such awareness. The phrase “beyond one’s control” touched his heartstrings. Rarely speaking from the heart, he sighed: “You’re better off than me. At least you know what kind of life you truly want. I was born the Imperial Eldest Grandson. From childhood everyone taught me to do what an Imperial Eldest Grandson should do. Over time, I don’t even know what I really want.”
“I’m like a donkey pulling a mill, a clock – my trajectory was arranged by others long ago. I can only keep walking in circles. Once I stop, I’ll be killed when the mill is unloaded, discarded as a useless thing.”
“Life? What is life?” Zhu Zhanji gently covered his cousin with gauze and blanket, smiling bitterly. “I’ve been focused on how to survive with no time to consider such luxuries as living. Sometimes I quite envy you. No matter how you act up or throw tantrums, Second Imperial Uncle forgives you, still treats you as his son, always cultivating you as heir. Second Imperial Uncle has patience with you, willing to wait for you to slowly mature.”
“I never dare be willful. Besides being a perfect Imperial Grandson, I have no other choice.”
Zhu Zhanji had always been “other people’s child,” yet no matter how excellent someone is, everyone has their own troubles. Zhu Zhanhe sprawled on the pillow, dejected:
“These are the older generation’s affairs. When we were small we could ignore them and still play together. But we’ve grown up. Some things we can’t deliberately overlook or avoid, pretending nothing happened. Like this cannon explosion – though I don’t know what’s happening outside, since I was carried to the palace for treatment, Imperial Grandfather must suspect Father. Father is going to fall from favor.”
Zhu Zhanji felt guilty but maintained surface calm: “When I returned injured to the palace, Imperial Grandfather came to see me. I told him this matter absolutely has nothing to do with Second Imperial Uncle – it’s either an accidental cannon explosion or someone framing Second Imperial Uncle to sow discord among our imperial family. Don’t worry, Imperial Grandfather won’t do anything to Second Imperial Uncle.”
Zhu Zhanji’s mind was like a beach in a storm, countless eye sockets. He would never accuse Prince Han before Emperor Yongle. The more he defended Prince Han, the more Emperor Yongle would suspect Prince Han of inside betrayal!
Moreover, the crippled Crown Prince stayed with Zhu Zhanji, personally watching the imperial physician stitch his wound with eight stitches. The Crown Prince said nothing, only cried until he fainted.
In the Crown Prince’s tears, Emperor Yongle’s suspicion gradually gave way to heartache. The Crown Prince was wronged – his officials died innocently in prison while he was daily accused of weakness and callousness, not daring to speak.
Now his son was nearly blown up, yet the Crown Prince, considering the family’s bonds, didn’t dare say anything.
Watching the Crown Prince cry himself unconscious – weak (?), pitiful and helpless – Emperor Yongle felt the Crown Prince wasn’t as strong as he imagined. This Crown Prince had governing talent, but he was also controllable.
Now Emperor Yongle still feared the Crown Prince but had obviously relaxed his stranglehold – he ordered Ji Gang to release most Eastern Palace officials like Yang Rong and Yang Shiqi from prison, restoring their positions.
Truly the wheel of fortune turns. Yang Shiqi and others leaving prison coincided with Prince Han’s mansion officials being invited by Ji Gang to the imperial prison for tea.
Seeing each other, the two groups’ eyes turned especially red. Hey hey, you have your day too!
Zhu Zhanhe believed Zhu Zhanji’s words completely: “I know you’re not one to kick someone when they’re down. It’s just that Imperial Grandfather won’t change his mind because of your explanation. You nearly had an accident – Imperial Grandfather can’t have no reaction at all. You are one of the heirs after all. Now Father’s loss of favor is certain, but this is actually good. I’ve advised Father a hundred times to go to his fief early, but he always refused. Now he must go whether he wants to or not, heh heh.”
Zhu Zhanji’s heart stirred: “Will Second Imperial Uncle request to go to his fief?”
“That’s just my thinking.” Zhu Zhanhe shook his head. “If I were Father, I’d immediately request to go to my fief. That’s the best and fastest way to clear suspicion. Father is smarter than me – if I can think of it, he certainly can.”
Zhu Zhanji looked at his cousin’s innocent harmless eyes, thinking that if Prince Han retreated wisely to his fief, all problems could be easily resolved.
Zhu Zhanhe patted his cousin’s hand, speaking carelessly: “If Father goes to his fief, you must ask Imperial Grandfather to keep me in the capital. I don’t want to follow Father. At the fief he’s the biggest, I’d have to obey him in everything – it would be like prison. Choosing the lesser of two evils, I’m somewhat freer in the capital.”
“Good, I promise you.” Zhu Zhanji thought: Actually I don’t need to ask – Imperial Grandfather will keep you in the capital under the pretext of cultivating grandsons. You’ll probably stay until Father ascends the throne, then during the reduction of fiefs when your father’s troops are completely stripped, staying until your father dies before being allowed to return home to inherit the Prince Han title.
Zhu Zhanji had seen through everything. His thinking differed from others, considering all angles, automatically adopting imperial mindset.
Zhu Zhanji looked at his cousin sympathetically, thinking: As long as I’m Imperial Grandson, I’ll certainly protect you. No matter what happens to your father, I won’t let you be harmed. You’ll have endless wealth and honor in the capital.
Zhu Zhanhe had no idea his remaining life had been contracted by his cousin.
Zhu Zhanji felt sorry for his cousin. Seeing him lying prone constantly, he said: “Isn’t this position tiring? Let me help you turn over. If you don’t strain yourself it won’t hurt.”
Zhu Zhanhe nodded, relaxing on the pillow and letting Zhu Zhanji gently push him up, changing from prone to side-lying without touching his back wounds.
To help Zhu Zhanhe maintain the side position, Zhu Zhanji casually picked up the pumpkin pillow to place in his cousin’s arms. The wooden ox hidden underneath was revealed.
“What’s this?” Zhu Zhanji asked.
Zhu Zhanhe: “Oh, just a little toy for entertainment.”
Zhu Zhanji had a vague premonition: “How old are you, still playing with wooden toys?”
Zhu Zhanhe raised an eyebrow: “I’m still two years younger than you anyway.” Who can’t be a baby, hmph!
Zhu Zhanji grabbed the wooden ox. It felt quite heavy, obviously not an ordinary wooden ox. Could it be… Zhu Zhanji’s jealousy surged as he adopted an elder brother’s authority: “Playthings sap the will – I’m confiscating it.”
Zhu Zhanhe quickly tried to stop him: “Hey, that’s unreasonable! If I hold it it saps the will, but if you hold it it doesn’t?”
Because he suddenly exerted force reaching to grab Zhu Zhanji’s waist, it pulled his burns, making him cry out involuntarily.
Outside, A’Lei heard the commotion and quickly pushed the door open, only to see Little Chicken Brother had snatched Shuikeng Little Brother’s wooden ox. Shuikeng Little Brother was desperately hugging his cousin’s waist, even shedding tears (tears of pain), looking pitiful.
“What are you doing? Quickly give it back to him. This is what I gave him.” A’Lei immediately stood up for Shuikeng Little Brother.
Why did you come see him first? Why did you give him something while I got nothing?
Jealousy came too fast like a tornado. Zhu Zhanji was so angry his hand holding the wooden ox trembled. However, seeing A’Lei’s equally angry expression, he suddenly realized that at this moment, he should begin his performance.
Zhu Zhanji collapsed onto the bed like overcooked noodles, shamelessly playing victim against his cousin: “Ah, my right hand hurts so much! I just got eight stitches – did they come undone!”