The imperial decree arrived as dusk was closing in. To receive a decree at that hour left the entire Zhu household — save for Zhu Bowen himself — thoroughly bewildered.

When the envoy finished reading the decree aloud, the whole family stood in a daze. That their Zhi’er was capable, they all knew — but for the Elder Statesman himself, the august Minister of Finance, to be directed to cooperate with Zhi’er’s affairs? No — wait — the decree had specified the entire Ministry of Finance.

Lai Fu, who had come in person to read the decree, handed the imperial document to Zhu Bowen, and as he passed it over, he caught the man’s eye with a meaningful glance.

Zhu Bowen understood at once. He raised his voice pleasantly. “It is already this hour, honored Envoy — have you had your meal?”

“How could one spare thought for such things? Carrying out His Majesty’s business naturally takes precedence.”

“Carrying out His Majesty’s business is paramount, yet filling one’s stomach is also important. As it happens, we are at just the right hour for supper — why not stay for a bite before returning?”

“That would be too much trouble. Though it is late, there will at least be cold tea and cold rice waiting back at the palace.”

“It will not take long at all. Steward, make haste and set a table.”

Lai Fu glanced back at the attendants who had accompanied him. “Well then… shall we have a bite here?”

The four imperial guards and two palace attendants had no objections. When delivering decrees to various households — provided it was not the sort involving raids and exile — there was always something to be gained. The Zhu family had never been a stingy sort of household. Had today’s decree not been so unclear — impossible to say whether it was fortune or misfortune — the task would not have fallen to them. Still, a decent meal was nothing to complain about.

“Then this servant shall presume to impose.” Lai Fu smiled pleasantly and gave a slight nod, letting his gaze sweep casually over the assembled household.

Zhu Bowen raised the imperial decree and tilted it slightly upward. “This old minister must first pay a visit to the Mingjing Hall…”

“This servant has long heard of the Zhu family’s Mingjing Hall, where imperially bestowed items are kept in reverence. Might this servant have the honor of a viewing?”

“The Zhu household has nothing it need conceal from anyone. Please, Eunuch Lai Fu, lead the way.”

The two departed the front courtyard one behind the other. The rest of the household, though still unsure of what had transpired, had by now read the room well enough. Zhu Haocheng swiftly took command of the situation — all the women and maidservants were sent to the inner courtyard, and the meal was laid out in the side hall.

Once everyone had been seen off, he made his way to his younger brother’s side and, keeping his temper in check, asked in a low voice, “What has Zhi’er done to provoke the Emperor?”

Zhu Haodong’s brow furrowed deeply. He had never liked his elder brother’s tone in these moments — as though Zhi’er were the one bringing trouble to the Zhu family. “If she had provoked the Emperor, would the Emperor direct Father to cooperate with her?”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed — the Emperor’s manner was off!”

“And so? Even if his manner is off, does that make Zhi’er any less our niece?” Zhu Haodong immediately shot back in a low voice. When it suited him to covet Zhi’er’s family enterprise, every other word out of his mouth was ‘niece this’ and ‘niece that.’ Now, without even knowing what had happened, he was already letting his imagination run wild. If anything truly went wrong, he would not be the first to distance himself from Zhi’er.

Their father was right. His elder brother was not a bad person, but he was a thorough creature of officialdom — in the face of trouble, his first thought was always self-preservation, always how to extricate himself cleanly from the matter. Seeing it laid bare like this was not something he could bring himself to like.

Too weary to argue further, Zhu Haodong went to their mother’s side. It was plain enough that she had been given a fright and was still worrying over Zhi’er.

Meanwhile, the two men had not gone to the Mingjing Hall at all — they had gone to the study.

Zhu Bowen instructed a servant to stand guard outside the door, then shut it and unrolled the imperial decree to read it through carefully. What his son could see, he naturally saw as well — he simply could not fathom the source of the Emperor’s apparent disdain for Zhi’er.

“I will be brief, Minister Zhu. This servant must ask — have you already met with the one who stays at the side of the Hua family’s eldest young mistress?” Lai Fu’s inquiry was cautious; the Shizi wore too many faces, and he was not sure which one had been presented to Minister Zhu.

Zhu Bowen nodded. “I have.”

“Good.” Lai Fu stepped closer and lowered his voice. “This servant asks that you convey a few words to him. Hao Yue entered the palace against her will and may seek an opportunity to ask him for help. His Majesty still harbors suspicion over his motives in detaining Hao Yue. Additionally, His Majesty is waiting for him to come and admit his fault — and it has colored his view of the eldest young mistress as well.”

Lai Fu paused, his voice dropping further. “When Minister Zhu sees him, it might be worth a gentle word — it is only a matter of yielding a little. Stubbornness serves no one well.”

“This old minister will be sure to convey it.”

Lai Fu exhaled softly. “Minister Zhu need not worry too much. His Majesty did not issue this decree purely out of temper — the eldest young mistress is to earn silver for the Emperor, and the Ministry of Finance is naturally indispensable in that endeavor. Moreover, with you there to assist her, the young mistress will have an easier time of it.”

“This old minister understands.” Though Zhu Bowen’s heart had been unsettled by what he had heard of palace affairs, knowing that the Chief Eunuch was on their side gave him some measure of reassurance — who could understand the Emperor better than Lai Fu?

“The young mistress Shao Yao must return to the palace as soon as possible. This servant has observed that His Majesty’s temper has been running unusually hot of late — this is not a good sign. If His Majesty were truly to suffer some misfortune, Shao Yao would be the first to face the consequences.” Lai Fu paused, then added: “And there is one more important matter.” He dipped a finger in tea and traced four characters on the surface of the low table. “This person has been making frequent visits to the palace these past few days. His Majesty has received him each time — and yesterday even kept him for the evening meal.”

At the thought of the crown prince’s seat — long vacant, never bestowed — Zhu Bowen’s gaze turned somber. Could it be that the Emperor had already made up his mind? No — no, it was too early to draw such conclusions. The eldest imperial prince had once been treated with great favor, and even so, he had waited more than a decade without ever receiving the title. One must not leap to assumptions.

“This servant observes that His Majesty intends to set the Fourth Prince as a counterweight against the Sixth Prince. One must be on guard.”

Zhu Bowen was puzzled. “The Sixth Prince? How does he come into this?”

“You were unaware?” Without waiting for an answer, Lai Fu continued, “The Sixth Prince has been living at the Hua household for more than half a year. At present he is traveling and broadening his horizons alongside the Hua family’s young cousin and Sixth Young Master. A few days ago the eldest young mistress put forward a condition to the Emperor — she wishes to have the Sixth Prince remain in her company.”

To name such a condition was tantamount to openly declaring that the Hua family had thrown their lot in with the Sixth Prince — and the Zhu family, long close to the Hua family by ties of marriage and friendship, was thus nailed squarely into the Sixth Prince’s camp as well. Zhu Bowen bore the Sixth Prince no ill will. The Zhu, Hua, and Sun families had been friends across generations. Only…

Thinking of the current state of affairs between the Sun family and the Hua family, Zhu Bowen felt a headache coming on. Had he known, in his younger days, that he would spend his later years fretting over these two families, he would have beaten some sense into those two men when he had the chance.

“This servant cannot be away too long — questions might arise.” Lai Fu tucked his hands into his sleeves. Perhaps from years of bowing and stooping, he carried a slight hunch about his shoulders.

Zhu Bowen took a quick step forward and opened the door. “This old minister offers his thanks to the Eunuch on behalf of my troublesome granddaughter.”

“The eldest young mistress has not been causing trouble — she is simply too capable.” Lai Fu stepped over the threshold. “Too capable by half, and so she has been noticed.”

Zhu Bowen let out a silent sigh. Had she not been so capable, the Hua family would have long since crumbled. Truly — the very thing that saved her was the very thing that endangered her.

Out in the covered corridor, Zhi’er’s maidservant was waiting. When the two men emerged, she stepped forward and curtseyed to Lai Fu, presenting several embroidered pouches with both hands — and it was plain to see that one was noticeably heavier than the others.

Lai Fu accepted them with perfect grace and without ceremony. With these in hand, he had a ready explanation for why he had followed Zhu Bowen to the Mingjing Hall. Who, after all, ever complained about too much silver?