Chapter 2: The Revival of the Azure Palace

Shortly after Zhu Zairui arrived before the Longevity Palace, the atmosphere inside the main hall grew heavy and solemn due to the shocking news at dawn that the Crown Prince had suddenly died.

In a secluded chamber within the inner palace, atop an octagonal Taoist platform, sat a man dressed in a Taoist robe, his hair bound and covered by a Taoist crown, two streaks of white at his temples, a long beard framing his face. His brows furrowed slightly, lips pressed lightly together. This was none other than Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Houcong.

Emperor Jiajing bore a trace of sorrow on his face and had remained silent for a long time. Only now did he glance at the elderly Taoist seated before him—an old master well into his seventies, also clad in Taoist robes.

“Master Tao,” the emperor addressed him.

Tao Zhongwen looked up and responded with a gentle tone, “Your Majesty, please accept my condolences.”

Jiajing’s expression was somber as he shook his head. “Master Tao, you once advised me that I am the true dragon, and the Crown Prince the hidden dragon. The hidden dragon cannot rival the true dragon; when two dragons meet, the hidden dragon must perish. Could it be that this time... I have inadvertently caused the Crown Prince’s demise?”

Tao Zhongwen observed the emperor’s troubled countenance, calculating silently before speaking softly, “Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven; there is no fault in you. The Crown Prince has lived these fourteen years precisely because you have upheld the principle that the two dragons must not meet, thus preserving his life until now.”

Jiajing’s brows tightened, confusion evident in his voice. “Then why has the Crown Prince departed before me? Why must I, a man with silver hair, send off one so young?”

The emperor’s face was heavy with grief as he recalled the Crown Prince’s pure and gentle nature—never once raising his hand in anger, always attributing matters to the will of Heaven above. Such innocence and filial devotion deeply moved Jiajing’s heart.

Tao Zhongwen’s mind was tense. After some consideration, he spoke cautiously, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince’s passing is precisely the consequence of the two dragons meeting. This recent decree to bestow upon him the crown and hasten his coming of age in the Eastern Palace has caused...”

Before Tao Zhongwen could continue expounding on the doctrine of the two dragons not meeting to deepen the emperor’s reliance on him, a sudden shout from outside the hall interrupted their dialogue, cutting off Tao’s unfinished words.

Footsteps echoed away from the palace gates.

Jiajing instinctively stretched his neck toward the entrance, eyes filled with anticipation.

Outside the palace gates, the sound of footsteps quickened—rapid and approaching.

A man in a red robe, clean-shaven, emerged from within the palace. Upon seeing Zhu Zairui kneeling on the ground, his expression froze in astonishment. Noticing the bloodstains on Zhu’s inner garments beneath his outer robe and the pool of crimson on the ground, his face paled in shock, and he hurried forward—stopping three paces short.

“Your Highness?”

“Could it truly be Your Highness?”

“How... how is this possible?”

Zhu Zairui raised a hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, forcing a smile as he looked at the fearful yet deeply concerned Chief Eunuch Huang Jin, who held the seals of the Directorate of Ceremonies and oversaw the Eastern Depot.

“It’s me, Huang Dadan! I am Zairui!” he said with a nod.

Huang Jin’s face relaxed instantly upon hearing Zhu’s voice; his earlier fear vanished. He strode forward swiftly, grasping Zhu’s arms tightly, eyes reddened with tears of joy.

“Truly Your Highness!”

“You have returned from the grave!”

“Heaven blesses us! Our ancestors bless us!”

“Your Highness, you are safe now!”

Overcome with emotion, the old servant wept uncontrollably.

Drawing from memory, Zhu affectionately patted Huang Jin’s arm. “Huang Dadan, is the Emperor—Father—well?”

Huang Jin nodded emphatically, “Well! Our Lord is—”

He glanced at the blood staining the Crown Prince’s chest and hurried to help him stand. “Your Highness, this is no place for words. Allow me to escort you inside.”

Zhu Zairui, though weakened, allowed himself to be supported but murmured repeatedly, “As long as Father is unharmed… it’s a blessing…”

Intent on his words, and equally attentive to them, Huang Jin’s eyes flickered sharply at the blood on the Crown Prince’s robes, his brows knitting with a gleam of resolve.

In moments, the two had entered the main hall, moving toward the inner chamber.

Inside, Emperor Jiajing was already restless and disturbed. Just as he was about to lose his composure, Huang Jin’s voice echoed through the door before the eunuch himself appeared.

“Great joy!”

“Great joy!”

“The Eastern Palace Crown Prince has returned from the dead!”

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince is unharmed!”

“Lord, the Crown Prince has come to pay respects in person!”

At last, Huang Jin helped the living Crown Prince into the inner chamber.

In an instant, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

Master Tao, who had moments ago been speaking of the two dragons not meeting, tensed up completely, as if on edge, cold sweat pouring down his back.

He quickly looked toward the emperor, who had risen upon hearing the news. Jiajing stepped down from his platform, approaching Zhu Zairui not with the caution of Huang Jin but by firmly supporting his son, now alive before him.

Emotion swelled in the emperor’s face. “Crown Prince... my son! My son lives!”

Overcome with joy at seeing his son alive, Jiajing momentarily forgot Tao’s words.

Zhu Zairui, following his plan, prepared to bow and spoke, “Your Majesty, your son Zairui asks after your health...?”

But Jiajing ignored him completely, holding his son firmly and, with Huang Jin’s help, settled him upon a soft couch inside the hall.

“My son lives, and so I am at peace! There is no need for further words.”

Having cultivated Taoist practices for many years, Jiajing abruptly grasped Zhu’s wrist, feeling his pulse.

After a moment, he exhaled deeply. “My son is unharmed! Truly unharmed!”

Though the blood flow was somewhat chaotic and the breath uneven, the pulse was unmistakably alive.

Jiajing immediately asked, “How is this possible? Son, why did you... why did you...”

Why was he alive now when he had clearly died?

Seeing his son alive, the emperor’s heavy heart finally settled.

Suddenly, Jiajing’s gaze shifted toward Tao Zhongwen, who was approaching. His brows furrowed slightly.

Master Tao had always spoken of the two dragons not meeting and had mentioned it again just now.

Yet the Eastern Palace had clearly reported the Crown Prince’s death, only for him to return alive.

The situation no longer made sense.

Sensing the emperor’s scrutiny, Tao Zhongwen felt a chill. Confirming the Crown Prince’s revival only increased his anxiety.

Seated on the couch, Zhu Zairui was close to Jiajing—this emperor who had ruled the realm for forty-five years, skillfully balancing power among ministers and generals.

His gaze flicked to Tao’s uneasy expression, a quiet smile playing in his heart as he contemplated the scheme he had just devised.

He spoke at once, “Father, please be clear. I do not know precisely what happened. I only recall falling asleep last night and, until dawn, I felt as if I was in a fog.”

Jiajing’s brows tightened. “In that fog, what transpired?”

Zhu Zairui replied quietly, as he had already resolved in his mind, “In that haze, I felt a piercing coldness in my ears, as if falling into a deep abyss, yet burning fiercely inside. I could not see, but the terror around me was overwhelming, as if... as if...”

Hesitating, his face showed fear.

Jiajing quickly urged gently, “As if what?”

Zhu looked up at his father, reading the concern and doubt in his eyes. “As if some bone-piercing evil was tormenting me endlessly.”

At once, Jiajing’s brows knitted sharply, a cold glint flashing through his eyes.

Dark thoughts crossed his mind.

But seeing the Crown Prince safe, he forced a faint smile and asked, “And then? How did you escape this torment in your dream?”

Though suspicious, he cautiously used the phrase “escape in a dream” before confirming anything.

Zhu Zairui smiled. “Then I heard voices nearby, though only fragments. Suddenly, I felt my body grow light, rising through clouds until I saw a lofty mountain covered in ancient pines, where a flock of cranes circled.”

As he spoke, Jiajing’s expression changed subtly, and those in the bedchamber looked on in astonishment and curiosity.

Zhu continued, “I do not know how, but faintly I heard an old man with white hair and beard, exuding a pure, immortal aura. He gently patted my head and said, ‘I share a bond with your father. Knowing you were in danger, I came to aid you.’ Then... I woke.”

Such a strange tale plunged Jiajing into deep thought.

Zhu’s gaze turned quietly to Tao Zhongwen, who had unknowingly approached near, and he gave him a subtle glance—somewhat deliberate.

Tao’s heart skipped a beat upon catching the look.

Why would the Crown Prince, returned from death, send him such a signal?

In a flash, Tao’s eyes deepened with understanding; he began to suspect the prince’s true intent.

Just then, Zhu Zairui, curious and smiling, addressed Tao, “Unexpectedly, Master Tao, you have come because of me.”

The words struck both Tao and Jiajing.

Jiajing turned sharply to Tao. “Master Tao.”

The tone carried a hint of coldness unseen before.

Tao’s shoulders trembled as he hurried forward. “Your Majesty.”

Jiajing regarded him carefully and asked, “Master Tao, based on the Crown Prince’s words, how do you interpret this?”

With his mind full of suspicion, Tao answered without hesitation: “The immortal touched his head! It is the immortal’s blessing!”