Chapter 8: Newcomers in the Eastern Palace

Meanwhile, Yan Song, having left the Western Garden after his investigation, returned alone to the Grand Secretariat.

He was immediately confronted by two newly appointed colleagues who had been waiting for some time.

“Grand Tutor, what exactly happened today at the Qing Palace?”

The first to inquire was Zhang Zhi, who had originally been reassigned as Minister of Personnel in Nanjing but before departing was instead appointed Minister of Rites and Grand Academician of the Wen Yuan Pavilion, responsible for Secretariat affairs.

Following him was Lü Ben, recently promoted from Dean of the National Academy to Junior Preceptor of the Censorate and Academician of the Hanlin Academy, summoned to the Secretariat: “Yes, Grand Tutor, rumors circulate within the palace about the Crown Prince’s sudden disappearance and reappearance. Is there any truth to this?”

Yan Song furrowed his brow.

Even now, he still found the situation perplexing.

He had initially heard news from Qingning Palace of the Crown Prince’s sudden death, yet moments later he had seen the living Crown Prince himself in Wanshou Palace.

More importantly,

the Crown Prince had appeared in Wanshou Palace!

Zhang Zhi and Lü Ben, seeing the Grand Tutor silent, grew anxious.

Both had only just entered the Secretariat last month, and during court discussions, they were appointed as chief instructors for the Crown Prince’s studies outside the palace—a position of no small significance.

Zhang Zhi, from Chaling County in Huguang, pressed again: “Grand Tutor, you must tell us what exactly is going on!”

Yan Song looked at them, hesitated, then finally explained: “The Crown Prince is unharmed. Just now before His Majesty, I presented a memorial by Zhang Binghu concerning border defenses and inquired about the Crown Prince's studies outside the palace. The Crown Prince was standing right there in attendance.”

The Crown Prince was alive!

At last, they heard the truth.

Zhang Zhi and Lü Ben both visibly relaxed and exchanged glances.

Lü Ben then cautiously asked, “Then regarding the Crown Prince’s recent coming-of-age ceremony and the matter of his studies outside the palace...”

Yan Song shot a sidelong glance but did not immediately reply; instead, he walked straight into the office.

Only after settling down did a clerk from the Secretariat bring tea.

Yan Song then addressed the two anxious men: “I have followed the court’s decision and submitted the previously selected lecturers’ names to His Majesty. Now that the decree has been received, the Secretariat will present memorials as chosen, and His Majesty will grant official approval.”

The elder statesman spoke slowly, scrutinizing their faces.

Seeing their anxiety finally vanish, he smiled inwardly.

He added, “As for the Qing Palace incident, it is strictly forbidden to speculate or speak lightly within the palace walls. Since the Crown Prince is safe, and will soon formally begin his studies outside the palace, I hope you both will diligently instruct the heir apparent.”

He cleverly emphasized the term “heir apparent” at the end.

Zhang Zhi quickly nodded in agreement: “Certainly, certainly.”

Lü Ben also smiled: “Quite right, quite right.”

Seeing their demeanor, Yan Song did not press further.

He turned to another matter: “Now, Governor Weng Wanda of Xuan and Shanxi has repeatedly submitted memorials regarding the border situation. This time, Xuanfu’s failure to resist the enemy has alarmed the entire frontier. His Majesty is deeply displeased. Now that you two have joined the Secretariat, you must coordinate with the various ministries to draft several proposals to prepare for His Majesty’s inquiries.”

Currently, the most pressing matter in court was the border crisis in Xuan and Shanxi.

It had become the subject of heated discussion among officials.

If the frontier defenses were not soon strengthened, and if the Oirat forces could reach beyond Juyong Pass this time, would they be at Beijing’s gates by next year?

Zhang Zhi and Lü Ben understood the gravity of the situation and ceased any further mention of the Crown Prince’s studies.

……

At Qingning Palace.

Originally escorted out of Wanshou Palace by Huang Jin, Zhu Zaichuan noticed the absence of the Crown Prince’s usual attendants; only a squad of embroidered uniform guards and Eastern Depot soldiers guarded the place, which did not seem unusual at first.

Upon entering the Eastern Palace, however, he noticed something strange.

All the eunuchs and palace maids there were unfamiliar faces!

He immediately understood what was going on.

Turning back to the guards who had escorted him, he saw they did not leave but remained, evidently ordered to guard Qingning Palace henceforth.

Looking around carefully,

Zhu Zaichuan asked the burly man leading the guards: “Who are you?”

His gaze fixed on the broad-shouldered figure, who seemed to be their commander.

“Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince, I am Zhu Qi, a captain of the Northern Garrison’s Embroidered Uniform Guard, ordered to escort the Eastern Palace.”

Zhu Qi?

Zhu Zaichuan muttered under his breath, then raised his eyebrows, his eyes brightening.

Looking at this captain named Zhu Qi, his gaze changed somewhat.

Just as he was about to inquire about Zhu Qi’s martial skills,

footsteps approached from behind.

Turning around,

Zhu Zaichuan saw a eunuch dressed in a crimson official robe adorned with embroidered plaques, a jade tablet at his waist, bowed respectfully before him.

This eunuch would henceforth manage Qingning Palace affairs.

Zhu Zaichuan pondered and said, “Did Huang Dadiang send you to serve Qingning Palace?”

Feng Bao looked up with a smile and replied deferentially, “Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince, I am Feng Bao of the Directorate of Ceremonial, appointed by Huang Dadiang to serve in the Eastern Palace.”

The explanation startled Zhu Zaichuan.

He glanced twice at Feng Bao.

It was him!

For a moment, Zhu Zaichuan could not help but chuckle.

His modest Qingning Palace had been thoroughly cleared out by that old Taoist priest, replaced with new faces—first Zhu Qi, now Feng Bao.

Following this plot, would they next arrange a Lady Li capable of giving birth to the Wanli Emperor?

Thinking this, Zhu Zaichuan quickly shook his head.

He certainly did not want to become a sentimental little honeybee.

A honeybee who died after six years!

Casting aside these distracting thoughts, Zhu Zaichuan looked at Feng Bao again: “Since Huang Dadiang arranged this, I have little to do here. Soon I must study outside the palace. You shall follow all regulations as usual.”

Feng Bao, formerly just a eunuch in the Directorate of Ceremonial, now suddenly assigned to the Eastern Palace as steward, responded with utmost respect: “I obey the order.”

Zhu Zaichuan prepared to rest and began previewing the material for his upcoming studies.

Unexpectedly, as he entered the study, Zhu Qi and his guards stationed outside were followed in by Feng Bao.

Feng Bao first poured tea for the Crown Prince,

then began grinding ink nearby.

“Your Highness,”

Zhu Zaichuan, who had just selected The Great Learning and Zhu Xi’s Commentary on The Great Learning in accordance with the current Confucian curriculum, looked up at Feng Bao.

“What is it, Great Steward Feng?”

Feng Bao glanced at the two books and said, “Today a matter in Qingning Palace was reported to the rear palace. Besides the Imperial Noble Consort, Noble Consorts Shen, Wen, Kang, Jing, Su, Yi, Yong, Zhen, and De all sent envoys, their words full of concern and worry.”

Upon hearing this,

Zhu Zaichuan’s brow furrowed deeply.

Seeing this, Feng Bao quietly asked, “Does Your Highness feel anything amiss?”

Zhu Zaichuan shook his head and looked out the window at the sky before asking, “Which of the Empress Dowagers or consorts sent envoys first?”

Feng Bao, ignoring the questioner’s intent, answered, “The Imperial Noble Consort’s Yongning Palace sent envoys first, followed swiftly by those from Noble Consort Kang’s palace. The other consorts arrived in a scattered but roughly simultaneous manner.”

These words only deepened Zhu Zaichuan’s suspicion and speculation.

Since the twenty-sixth year of the Jiajing reign, when the Taoist priest’s third Empress, Lady Fang, passed away, the Ming had effectively been without an Empress.

By tradition, a son’s mother’s status was paramount.

His own birth mother, Lady Wang, had been named Imperial Noble Consort in the nineteenth year of Jiajing. By virtue of the Crown Prince’s status, she was effectively the head of the harem, residing in Yongning Palace, the foremost of the Eastern Six Palaces.

If something happened to the son in Qingning Palace, naturally envoys would be sent to inquire.

Consorts of the rear palace would also follow protocol to check on the Eastern Palace.

Yet…

Noble Consort Kang seemed rather eager.

Who was Noble Consort Kang?

She was the sentimental little honeybee—the mother of the Emperor’s third son, Zhu Zaiji, now titled Prince Yu.

By logical deduction,

if Zhu Zaichuan were truly dead, Prince Yu would be the biggest beneficiary.

In fact, that was precisely the case.

At this thought,

Zhu Zaichuan’s brow tightened. When he had gone to Wanshou Palace to play his part before the old Taoist priest and build his image, his attention had been fixed solely on the priest and court affairs, neglecting the rear palace entirely.

Feng Bao, unaware of the Crown Prince’s thoughts, silently stood by.

Zhu Zaichuan smiled faintly: “Where are Prince Yu and Prince Jing now?”

He inquired about his only two surviving younger brothers.

Feng Bao hastened to reply, “Prince Yu and Prince Jing are said to be in Yongning Palace.”

Interesting!

Zhu Zaichuan immediately rose: “Let us proceed to Yongning Palace.”