Chapter Thirteen: A Battle of Wits with the Empress

Zhu Hao spoke as he lifted his leg and delivered a fierce kick directly to Xi Ning’s temple. He put all his strength into that kick. The old eunuch Xi Ning didn’t even have time to utter a sound; his neck twisted to the side and his soul departed this world. It was only because this old eunuch was already feeble with age; otherwise, with Zhu Hao’s body still that of a child, he would never have managed a single fatal blow.

Everything happened so quickly, in a flash. Empress Guo didn’t even have a chance to shout for him to stop. Seeing Zhu Hao kick Xi Ning to death, Empress Guo was utterly unable to accept it. The arrogance on her face was replaced by shock and a hint of fear. She staggered, and had it not been for the palace maid beside her, she might have collapsed to the floor—the impact of what had just occurred was simply too much for her.

Yet, in the next instant, all of Empress Guo’s emotions transformed into rage. Pointing at Zhu Hao, she declared, “You—what audacity you have! I truly underestimated you before. I swear that you will pay for what happened today! Not even His Majesty’s protection can save you!” She roared, “Guards! Seize this treacherous brat who dared murder an imperial eunuch!”

By rights, Zhu Hao was a prince. Even killing someone in the palace was not necessarily a grave crime. But the one he killed was Xi Ning, the chief steward and Empress Guo’s trusted confidant, and he had done so right before her eyes. As the mistress of the harem, Empress Guo held the power of life and death over all within it. Although she dared not openly kill a prince, Zhu Hao knew that if he fell into the hands of this old witch, his fate would be grim indeed—even if he survived, he would be skinned alive.

With this in mind, Zhu Hao could hardly just sit and wait for death. As the Imperial Guards, acting on the Empress’s command, moved to seize him, he shouted, “Wait!”

These Imperial Guards served as the royal garrison. They would not defy the orders of the mistress of the harem, but neither did they wish to offend the Emperor’s favored Fifth Prince. Who knew who would inherit the throne in the future? All of them were seasoned veterans of palace life, adept at reading the winds of power. At Zhu Hao’s cry, they halted, awaiting his next words.

In such a life-and-death moment, Zhu Hao had no patience for subtlety. He spoke directly: “Your Majesty wishes to seize your son—what crime have I committed? Is it merely because I followed your command in disciplining this wicked servant? If so, I cannot accept this! I doubt the Emperor would agree, nor would the court or the people of the realm!”

Knowing his life hung by a thread, Zhu Hao invoked the Emperor’s authority to intimidate the furious and irrational Empress. If she truly ignored all reason and ordered his immediate punishment, he would be doomed.

Yet, upon hearing Zhu Hao’s words, Empress Guo’s face showed neither the fear he had hoped for, nor the madness he most dreaded. Instead, her expression was full of mockery. “You are but a child; I hadn’t intended to stoop to your level. Yet you claim I instructed you to punish Steward Xi Ning? Such brazen lies! As the mistress of the harem, if I do not properly discipline such a rebellious son for His Majesty, then I have failed in my duty!”

Her words were meant to justify seizing Zhu Hao. Directly arresting him would make it seem she sought vengeance for Xi Ning, who was at fault to begin with, undermining her position. But Zhu Hao’s earlier slip gave her the perfect pretext, and she would not let such a chance pass. For the moment, she no longer rushed to have him seized.

Zhu Hao could not know her precise thoughts, but from her words, he gleaned her intentions. Though his argument had not frightened her off, at least she had not gone mad and ordered his immediate capture—a result he considered fortunate.

Zhu Hao mused, “Since you wish to reason, let me reason with you, old witch—until you’re left speechless! Let’s see if you’ll still have the nerve to lay a hand on me then!”

With that, Zhu Hao spoke: “Your Majesty, you say I am a liar, but I cannot agree. I indeed acted on your command in disciplining Xi Ning. You yourself just said you wished to see with your own eyes how I would punish this wicked servant, so I did so in your presence!”

Pausing, Zhu Hao continued, “Xi Ning, as chief eunuch of Kunning Palace, dared to block the heir apparent’s path—this is disloyalty. He obstructed the meeting between the Crown Prince and Your Majesty—this is unfilial. The Crown Prince humbled himself to ask passage, but Xi Ning ignored him—this is inhumanity. He used Your Majesty’s name to hinder our investigation, thereby implicating you in wrongdoing. Such utter disloyalty, lack of filial piety, inhumanity, and injustice—these are unpardonable crimes. By law, he should have been executed a thousand times over. My striking him dead was a mere accident—if anything, he was shown mercy. This was Your Majesty’s greatest kindness to him!”

In this desperate juncture, Zhu Hao seemed possessed by the spirit of Zhuge Liang, his eloquence and presence reminiscent of the strategist debating scholars in the Eastern Wu or berating Wang Lang before battle. All those present stared in awe; someone started applauding, and soon the entire group—guards, Zhu Hao’s companions, even several of Empress Guo’s own maids and eunuchs—joined in.

Empress Guo glared fiercely at the applauding servants behind her, then gave Zhu Hao a long, penetrating look. With a cold snort, she swept her sleeves and declared, “Return to the palace!”

To speak truthfully, Empress Guo did not wish to withdraw. However, Zhu Hao’s dazzling rhetoric had twisted her words, and he had heaped all manner of grave sins upon Xi Ning’s head. To punish Zhu Hao now was impossible; rather than risk further humiliation, she chose to retreat and bide her time, waiting for another chance to take her revenge.

Empress Guo’s departure left Zhu Hao’s group elated. Zhu Youxiao now gazed at Zhu Hao with stars in his eyes, his tone full of admiration: “You’re amazing, brother! In my memory, Mother is famously domineering—even Father cannot make her back down. Yet today, you made her yield! Can you tell me how you managed it?”

Yet Zhu Hao felt no joy at this praise. He knew he had acted too astoundingly for a boy of eleven or twelve. No child of such age could have spoken so. Moreover, after today, Empress Guo would certainly harbor deep resentment against him. If he wished to keep playing the fool, that would be far more difficult now, and at present, he had no real strength to oppose her.

Just as Zhu Hao pondered how to deal with future trouble, Zhu Youxiao tugged at his sleeve, again asking how he had managed to make the Empress retreat. In that moment, Zhu Hao hit upon a plan. He closed his eyes and collapsed into Zhu Youxiao’s arms, murmuring, “Who am I? Where am I?”

Zhu Hao’s sudden action frightened Zhu Youxiao out of his wits. All curiosity vanished; panic overwhelmed him as he shook Zhu Hao, crying, “Brother, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me, please! Brother…”

At this point, Gongsun Ce, who had remained silent, spoke up: “Your Highness, the Fifth Prince appears to be suffering from hysteria. We should get him back to his quarters at once and summon the imperial physician.”

Gongsun Ce’s words were a beacon in the darkness for the distraught Zhu Youxiao, who instantly regained his composure. He nodded. “You are right, sir! Let us return my brother to his chambers at once!” With that, he scooped Zhu Hao into his arms and hurried off.

But as Zhu Youxiao was about to carry Zhu Hao away, Gongsun Ce stopped him. “It would be best if I accompany the Fifth Prince back to his rooms, while Your Highness goes to inform the imperial physicians and His Majesty. We must not let the Emperor worry.”

Normally timid, Zhu Youxiao had no opinions in such a crisis. He nodded at once. “You are right, sir. I’ll leave my brother in your care and go summon the physicians and Father!” He handed Zhu Hao to Gongsun Ce, who supported Zhu Hao in his arms and quietly took his pulse. After a moment, he withdrew his hand, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

The moment Gongsun Ce touched his wrist, Zhu Hao thought, “Damn! I forgot this man comes from a family of physicians and is skilled in medicine. Now I’ve been found out!”

Zhu Hao, out of options, had decided to fall back on his old trick—pretending madness in hopes of escaping Empress Guo’s retribution. If he acted the fool, who would bother with a mad prince? Besides, killing a prince was always risky, and for little gain. Even if the old witch lacked reason, she would hardly take such a loss.

And so, the earlier scene had played out—though it was a pity that Zhu Youxiao had really believed Zhu Hao was ill, and in his panic, forgot all princely decorum as he raced through the palace.

Once they reached Zhu Hao’s quarters, Gongsun Ce closed the doors and ordered everyone outside to await the Emperor’s arrival. Then he addressed Zhu Hao: “Your Highness, your pulse is steady and clear—there is no sign of hysteria. I fear it will not be easy to fool the imperial physicians.”