1371 AD, Outside Huangjue Temple
Zhu Yuanzhang irritably stared at the dark mountain forest. The imperial guards beside him had already been severely scolded by him – so many people couldn’t even keep watch over one monk.
“Search quickly! He can’t have escaped far!” Zhu Yuanzhang was furious. That monk was wounded, and moreover, in the dark night, candlelight was so obvious.
The guards extinguished their torches one after another, concentrating their search for that point of candlelight in the deep mountain forest.
Zhu Yuanzhang gazed at this silent mountain forest, listening to the rustling sounds of night wind blowing through tree branches, slowly furrowing his brow.
He would never forget what he had secretly witnessed in the Qielan Spirit Hall in his youth.
The curling smoke from a incense candle had gathered in the air to form a woman of graceful bearing and stunning beauty. It was overhearing the words she spoke that enabled him to achieve today’s glory and become master of the realm.
He was already the most noble man in this world – why would that woman still refuse to come see him?
It was all that little monk’s fault!
Zhu Yuanzhang was completely unaware that the little monk he spoke of, though much younger than him, was actually his senior brother in terms of monastery hierarchy.
Or perhaps he was aware but simply didn’t care.
Because he was now emperor, the supreme ruler, no longer a monk. Even his former master would never dare discuss hierarchy with him.
While his emotions surged, Zhu Yuanzhang glimpsed a flicker of candlelight passing in the distance and hurriedly wanted to direct his guards to pursue it. But just as the words left his mouth, he realized that his guards, perhaps wanting to make up for their failure, had all entered the mountain forest to search, leaving not a single person behind.
Just as Zhu Yuanzhang was about to fly into rage, he suddenly suppressed his anger. The matter of the candle was naturally better known by as few people as possible. And such a wounded little monk – surely he, who had experienced many battles, could handle him.
Thinking this, Zhu Yuanzhang gripped the willow-leaf saber in his hand and pursued that flicker of candlelight.
In the rugged mountain forest, that candlelight appeared and disappeared behind dense trees like a leaping spirit. The more Zhu Yuanzhang chased, the more alarmed he became. The candlelight always maintained a certain distance from him. His speed was not slow, yet how could a wounded monk near death have such speed?
Just as Zhu Yuanzhang was beginning to think this was ghostfire and was about to stop and summon his guards, that candlelight suddenly stopped without warning.
The warm, yellow candlelight burned silently in the pitch-black mountain forest. Thinking of that beautiful woman from his memory, Zhu Yuanzhang’s heart pounded wildly. As if bewitched, he pushed aside tree branches and slowly approached.
The closer he got, the more startled Zhu Yuanzhang became, because he could finally see clearly that beside the incense candle, a red dragon was actually suspended in mid-air.
In the black night, this incense candle was held in the red dragon’s mouth, its body constantly swaying in the darkness.
In that instant, Zhu Yuanzhang thought of countless miraculous legends. Could it be that he truly was the True Dragon Son of Heaven?
Suppressing the fear and excitement in his heart, Zhu Yuanzhang took a few more steps forward, only then discovering that the red dragon wasn’t real, but embroidered on a black sleeve cuff. Black background with red thread. Due to the exquisite embroidery work, at first glance it looked real.
That lifelike red dragon had its body coiled and spiraling around the person’s right arm, with the dragon’s tail embroidered precisely at the right shoulder and the dragon’s head embroidered at the right sleeve cuff, as if it could soar through clouds and mist at any moment. When the night wind continuously blew the person’s long sleeves, from afar it looked like the dragon’s body was constantly moving.
Zhu Yuanzhang was simultaneously disappointed and relieved. His complex emotions immediately transformed into rage, and he angrily rebuked the person without courtesy: “Who are you? How dare you privately wear dragon robes? Do you know this is a capital offense?”
Zhu Yuanzhang was very irritable. Compared to the red dragon on this person’s black robe, the dragon on his own dragon robe was like pigs and dogs on the ground, utterly incomparable.
Facing the emperor’s towering rage, the person in the darkness merely chuckled and asked in return: “And who are you? Who granted you the authority to wear that dragon robe?”
This sentence struck like muffled thunder on Zhu Yuanzhang’s head, making him suddenly freeze.
Since becoming emperor, hidden in the deepest part of his heart was an inextinguishable sense of inferiority.
He had once been a beggar, then a monk, but now he had become emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
Those ministers before him were obsequious, but who knew whether they were secretly mocking him to death in their hearts? Or scheming to replace him?
That’s why he needed that incense candle, needed to borrow extraordinary power to feel at ease.
Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath, only then noticing that this person who shouldn’t appear here had his entire face hidden in darkness. Logic dictated that with the incense candle in his hand, it should illuminate his face, yet it defied natural law and completely failed to light his features. Looking at the candlelight that burned extremely calmly even in the fierce night wind, Zhu Yuanzhang speculated that perhaps this person was the true owner of the incense candle, not that slow-witted little monk.
Perhaps that’s why he wore this red dragon robe so boldly.
Remembering how countless times he had tried to hold the incense candle in his hand, only to be inexplicably burned by the candle flame, Zhu Yuanzhang removed his hand from the willow-leaf saber hilt at his waist and clasped his fists sincerely: “Zhongba was improper and offended you, sir. But Zhongba has long yearned for this incense candle. Please part with it, sir.”
The candle flame flickered once, but definitely not due to the night wind.
“This incense candle has no affinity with you. Don’t force it.”
The person in the darkness said lightly. Only then did Zhu Yuanzhang realize the voice sounded very young, probably no more than twenty years old.
Zhu Yuanzhang would absolutely not let this excellent opportunity pass. He didn’t even dare call himself “zhen” (the imperial “I”), forcing words through gritted teeth: “If sir wishes to take this incense candle away, Zhongba naturally cannot force the matter, but that little monk…” He deliberately drew out his voice, satisfied to see the burning candlelight begin to tremble violently.
“What do you want then?” There was faint helplessness in the person’s tone.
“I leave it entirely to sir’s discretion.” Zhu Yuanzhang answered extremely readily. The unfinished implication in his words was somewhat roguish – meaning he was also a reasonable person, but everything must be fair! Taking the candle was fine, but something equivalent must be exchanged.
Zhu Yuanzhang spoke with righteous confidence, but his heart was actually beating drums. Unable to see the person’s expression in the darkness made him speculate wildly. That flickering, trembling candlelight was as restless as his own mood. Fortunately, the time that tormented him wasn’t long. Soon the person sighed deeply and took out a slender object from his bosom, extending it toward him.
By the candlelight, Zhu Yuanzhang saw this was a folding fan, with fan ribs of an unusual ivory white color. Instinctively accepting the folding fan, its weight in hand was much heavier than imagined. The fan ribs were delicate and cool, making one reluctant to put it down.
“This is…”
“The fan’s beginning was not as an object to draw wind for cooling, but made of reeds as a symbol of power, a ceremonial fan for superiors to display their status and privileges.” The person spoke slowly, his clear voice sounding so ethereal in the night wind. “The Wu Ming Fan was made by Shun. Upon receiving Shun’s abdication, he broadly opened his sight and hearing, seeking worthy men to assist himself, thus creating the Wu Ming Fan.”
“Ahem, sir, though Zhongba’s learning is limited, I do know that the Wu Ming Fan should be a type of large palm fan. This is just a folding fan!” Zhu Yuanzhang suppressed his inner dissatisfaction and casually opened the folding fan in his hand. The fan ribs were heavy, and the fan surface was gold-sprinkled silk, extremely luxurious. As the fan surface opened, a square and proper character “明” (Ming) appeared before Zhu Yuanzhang.
The entire large fan surface had only this one character. The back was blank. But Zhu Yuanzhang was extraordinarily pleased, because the dynasty he established was named Ming.
“Wu Ming – clarity in five directions. This Wu Ming Fan is naturally not the former one, only the fan ribs are made from the remaining ribs of that Wu Ming Fan. One who holds this Wu Ming Fan can discern the truth or falsehood of others’ words. I think this Wu Ming Fan will suit your heart better than the mermaid candle.” The person said calmly.
“So magical?” Zhu Yuanzhang’s heart leaped with excitement. They say human hearts are hard to fathom – what he needed most now was to know whether those around him were consistent in word and deed. His eyes turning, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately questioned the person: “Is this real or fake? Then I must test it. Sir, may I ask who you are?”
In the darkness, the person smiled helplessly: “I am merely an antique dealer.”
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned – this answer was not within his range of imagination. Moreover, the Wu Ming Fan in his hand showed no unusual reaction, no change at all. Frowning, Zhu Yuanzhang continued pressing: “Then what are you doing here?”
The person sighed again: “Just retrieving the mermaid candle…”
Zhu Yuanzhang had been watching the Wu Ming Fan in his hand closely, and was shocked to discover that the character “明” on the fan surface was slowly fading away on the gold-sprinkled silk!
So did this mean that when truth was spoken the fan showed no reaction, but when lies were told the “明” character would disappear?
Zhu Yuanzhang hurriedly looked up, but saw the person had already departed. In the distance, that candlelight looked like it was being slowly carried into the darkness by a red dragon.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! That little monk has been captured!” The imperial guards caught up, reporting while covered in sweat. They had carelessly discovered they had lost the emperor, which frightened them out of their wits. Fortunately, His Majesty hadn’t gone far.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked again, but saw that candlelight had completely disappeared into the dark mountain forest, no longer visible.
Waving the folding fan in his hand with high spirits, Zhu Yuanzhang was in quite good mood as he waved his hand: “Forget it, release him back to Huangjue Temple and treat him well!”