Chapter Forty-Six: Consort Liu's Tearful Lament

This was the first time since Zhu Hao had acquired the Summoning System that a summoned figure displayed loyalty toward others. Countless questions swirled in his heart, but, alas, there was no one to answer them. The frustration weighed heavily upon him, making him think again of Xiao Ling, who was now deep in slumber. If only she were awake, she would surely have been able to explain everything to him. With a silent sigh, Zhu Hao lay back on the cold, hard bed of the Imperial Prison and, before he knew it, drifted off into a deep sleep.

He had no idea how long he had been asleep when he seemed to hear someone calling by his side: “Youjian, Youjian! Your father has come to see you!” Zhu Hao struggled to open his eyes, his body still curled on the icy bed. He saw the kindly face of Zhu Changluo and murmured, “Father, am I dreaming? Perhaps it’s because I miss you so much, long to see you smile at me like this. Father, please don’t let me stay here any longer; I’m so afraid! I know I was wrong!”

Indeed, Zhu Hao had just been dreaming, but outside his cell stood the Emperor of Great Ming, Zhu Changluo—his own father—accompanied by the same warden who had previously frightened Zhu Hao. The warden now hung his head in terror, not daring to meet the Emperor’s furious gaze. Zhu Hao’s sleep-talking had been uttered aloud, and Zhu Changluo’s heart ached at the sound. He snorted coldly and said to the warden, “I told you to take good care of Youjian—is this how you do it? If anything happens to him, you and your whole family will pay with your lives!”

No sooner had the Emperor finished speaking than the warden fell to his knees. “Your Majesty, I am falsely accused! I followed your instructions: meals delivered on time, no harm done to the Fifth Prince! I am innocent, Your Majesty!”

Zhu Changluo snorted again. “Enough! I’m not interested in your excuses. I’ll deal with you later. For now—open the door!”

Trembling, the warden fumbled with his keys and unlocked the cell. Zhu Changluo hurried inside, scooping Zhu Hao into his arms and calling, “Youjian, Youjian! Father is here!”

Zhu Hao’s brows twitched, but his eyes remained closed. Whether caught in a nightmare or not, his body trembled. Zhu Changluo placed a hand on his son’s forehead and nearly cried out at how hot it was. Forcing himself to remain calm, he barked, “Prepare the carriage! We return to the palace at once!”

With that, he carried Zhu Hao out of the cell, pausing only to glare coldly at the warden. “Detain him for now. I’ll see to his punishment myself,” he commanded, ignoring the warden’s pleas of innocence as he left the Imperial Prison of the Embroidered Guards with his son.

Zhu Hao had no recollection of leaving the prison. When he next opened his eyes, he found himself in his mother’s chambers. There sat Lady Liu, her eyes swollen and red from weeping, gazing at him with deep concern.

The moment she saw him awake, Lady Liu wrapped him in her arms, her voice trembling with worry, “Youjian, don’t be afraid. Mother is here.” Her words broke off as her sobs returned.

Zhu Hao could not bear to see his mother so distraught. The grievances and indignities of the prison faded from his mind. He quickly tried to comfort her, “Mother, I’m fine, please don’t be sad. See, I’ve come back—where is Father? Where is he?”

He asked because he knew he had brought great trouble upon his father, and wondered if his father had found a way to resolve the crisis. He wanted to see his father, hoping to help him in some way, since the disaster was of his own making.

What he hadn’t expected was that his question would stir up a hornet’s nest. Lady Liu’s jealousy flared. She snorted sharply, pushed Zhu Hao away, and scolded, “You ungrateful child! You’ve only just woken up, and already you’re thinking about that heartless man. Are you trying to drive me to my grave? Do you know, he threw you into the Imperial Prison, and I pleaded bitterly for your release, but he refused! Only when I threatened my own life did he relent. Now you wake up and ask after him first—truly ungrateful!”

Had he been well enough to stand, Zhu Hao thought, Lady Liu would have given him a sound beating and a stern lesson in filial piety.

He quickly apologized, “Mother, it’s not that I only care for Father. It’s just, I brought disaster on him, and he didn’t really intend to punish me. If he had, I wouldn’t have left the Embroidered Guard’s prison unharmed!”

But Lady Liu refused to listen, snorting, “Unharmed? You were burning up like hot iron when you came out—how is that unharmed? Your heart is only with your father, never with me!”

Zhu Hao sighed inwardly, lamenting, “Ah, women! No matter their age or station, if their hearts are wounded, no amount of reasoning can persuade them. Truly, my mother proves this today.”

So he decided to abandon all explanations and resorted to his ultimate weapon—he clutched his stomach pitifully and whined, “Mother, is there anything to eat? I’m hungry…”

This childish, wheedling plea melted Lady Liu’s icy expression, and her maternal affection surged forth. The anger vanished; only concern remained. “Hungry, are you? Don’t worry, Mother will have some pastries brought right away.”

Moments later, a palace maid arrived with refreshments, placing them carefully before Zhu Hao. He nibbled at the pastries, all the while wondering why his father had not come to see him. He dared not ask Lady Liu again, for fear of another outburst breaking the fragile calm between them.

Just as Zhu Hao was longing for his father, as if father and son were linked by the heart, a shrill voice sounded from outside: “His Majesty arrives! Lady Liu, receive the Emperor!”

Lady Liu, who had just been watching her son with tender eyes, snorted at the announcement. Her face turned cold as ice. Rising, she went to the door and knelt, proclaiming, “Your humble consort welcomes His Majesty!”

Zhu Changluo entered, his mood evidently cheerful. “Rise, my beloved. I heard Youjian has awakened, so I’ve come to see him!”

Lady Liu stood but replied coldly, “He has awakened, but he is still weak. He does not wish to see Your Majesty. Please, return.”

Her words caused Zhu Changluo’s smile to vanish, his face darkening instantly. He snorted, “Must I have your permission to see my own son?”

He made to enter, but Lady Liu blocked his path. “How dare you, Lady Liu!” he thundered. “You would bar my way?”

Unafraid, Lady Liu answered, “I would not dare, Your Majesty. But may I ask, in what capacity do you come? If as the Son of Heaven, to see a prince who has erred, then your benevolence has already been shown—there is no need for further audience, lest it diminish your majesty. If you come as a father to see your son, then I must say, Youjian does not need the concern of a father who threw him into prison. Please, Your Majesty, take your leave.”

Hearing his mother’s words from within, Zhu Hao marveled, “My mother is truly remarkable! With these words, she’s blocked every path for my father. The message is clear: you cannot see me! Harsh as it sounds, her reasoning is unassailable; it’s a judgment on my father’s conscience, forcing him to confront the guilt of his own actions.”

Just as Zhu Hao expected, the once-imposing Zhu Changluo seemed to deflate, all bluster gone. Instead, he spoke almost pleadingly, “My beloved, I admit I handled this matter poorly. I wronged both you and Youjian. Please, do not be angry. Allow me to see him—I am worried for him, too.”

Lady Liu’s nature was gentle; her earlier words had been an outpouring of pent-up grievance. Having vented her sorrow, her anger subsided, especially as Zhu Changluo had softened. Her tone turned melancholy, “When I first entered the palace with you, Your Majesty promised me the life of an ordinary family. Yet the palace is a world apart from the common folk. Still, you treated me and Youjian without the severity of an emperor. But this time, I was truly afraid—afraid you would disregard all else and punish Youjian harshly to appease the ministers. I must ask, have you forgotten your promise to me? If so, please grant me permission to leave the palace with Youjian, to live in obscurity and never return. All I desire is the simple happiness of a loving father and filial son. Your Majesty…” At this, Lady Liu sank to her knees, her voice choked with sobs.