Chapter 27: Unrestrained Laughter!
“This is just as well—it saves us a great deal of trouble.” The emperors all nodded in agreement with this suggestion.
Gurgle!
Zhu the Fat rubbed his stomach in embarrassment. He had been here the whole day, from morning till now, without so much as a drop to drink; hunger had long since left him anxious and faint.
Zhu Youjian smiled and said, “After a day of deliberation, everyone must be famished—why not eat something before we leave?”
With a wave of his hand, the round table was instantly covered with delicacies from across the ages and the world, a feast of every imaginable flavor!
The sight stirred everyone’s appetite.
“My dear grandson, you never forget your Great Ancestor when there's good fortune!” Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily, reaching for a handful of sizzling, oily lamb skewers. “I won’t be shy! Biao’er, eat up, everything here has the air of immortality!”
Old Zhu Di and Zhu Si followed suit, their eyes set on the bright-red lobsters, and began feasting with gusto.
Zhu Gaoxu’s eyes shone, and after licking his lips, he picked up a piece of crisp, fragrant meat pie, mumbling with his mouth full of oil, “Brother Sanbao, don’t stand on ceremony—eat! Grandfather said these are immortal foods; perhaps after eating, they’ll even grow back!”
“You’re too kind, Your Highness!” Zheng He maintained a modest façade, but his hands moved swiftly, and before long, the plates of carved tiger whip, steamed mandarin fish, and braised bear paw were all demolished.
Truly a man of the world—he chose only the finest dishes!
Zhu Youjian began to eat as well. These foods, once consumed, would be quickly digested once they returned to the outside world, offering no real nourishment.
For they did not truly exist!
They merely satisfied the craving of the palate.
Perhaps in the future, when the nation’s fortune rose and the small domain upgraded again, it might be possible to manifest real objects.
…
Yongle Era.
Within the palace, Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui remained kneeling, only realizing they had returned when the distant shouts and curses of officials reached their ears.
“Third Brother, the two of us really scraped by with our lives!” Zhu Gaoxu collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily with relief.
“Nonsense! Didn’t you hear what Grandfather and Father said? Next, we’re to fight Japan—you and I are to lead the charge. Who knows if we’ll make it back alive!” Zhu Gaosui shook his head, sprawling out on the ground.
“Haha, what’s there to fear? Remember what Second Brother used to tell you when he took you to the battlefield as a child?”
Zhu Gaoxu laughed so hard he nearly couldn’t breathe, his spirit soaring. “Don’t worry, Third Brother. Just close your eyes and charge ahead. If there are swords and blades, I’ll shield you!”
“Second Uncle, Third Uncle.” Zhu Zhanji ran over, helplessly saying, “Could you send your two hundred cavalrymen back? Each one’s as stubborn as a mule—Lord Saihachi is about ready to kill them.”
“My dear nephew!”
Zhu Gaoxu, overjoyed to have escaped death, gave him a strong hug, laughing, “Come, help Second Uncle clean up the mess!”
Zhu Zhanji was utterly bewildered.
Wait—after years of open and covert struggles, how did uncles suddenly start acting like loving elders?
“Come on, nephew. Visit often in the future. Second Uncle won’t fight your father for the crown anymore!” Zhu Gaosui patted his shoulder, sighing.
Zhu Zhanji instinctively replied, “If Second Uncle won’t fight, does that mean Third Uncle will?”
“Hey, you little rascal, why are you voicing my innermost thoughts?”
“Hahahahaha!”
The two linked arms, laughing unrestrainedly.
…
Inside and outside the palace walls, firelight flickered.
Zhu Gaoxu ordered the two hundred cavalrymen back to camp, then stood atop the palace wall and shouted,
“All is well—officials, do not be alarmed!”
The civil and military officials were skeptical. Seeing Zhu Gaoxu appear, most felt a chill; they nearly believed this troublemaker was about to declare himself emperor!
“Where is His Majesty? This old servant has waited in the side hall for half a day and has not seen His Majesty—please, Your Majesty, appear and reassure us!”
Xia Yuanji approached the three Yangs of the cabinet, his aged voice echoing over the palace walls.
“I am here.”
Old Zhu Di emerged from the palace gates, facing the officials with calm assurance.
“Your servants greet Your Majesty and wish you good health!”
The civil and military officials’ hearts settled, and they bowed in unison.
“I am well.”
“Proclamation: the spring campaign next year will delay the northern expedition…”
“Your Majesty is wise!” Xia Yuanji was overjoyed and loudly praised.
“We will campaign against Japan instead!”
Old Zhu Di paused, thinking to himself how quick Xia Yuanji was to respond—such haste made things awkward for them both.
“Your Majesty, this must not be done! Japan is one of the countries designated by the Great Ancestor as ‘not to be conquered.’ This is written in the ancestral precepts and must not be violated!” Yang Shiqi stepped forward to advise.
Yang Pu offered a respectful salute: “The Great Ancestor, High Emperor, declared in the Imperial Ming Ancestral Instructions that Korea, Japan, and other overseas minor states are not to be invaded. He exhorted descendants not to wage war recklessly. Please, Your Majesty, rescind this order!”
As soon as the Great Ancestor was invoked, Zhu Di would obey without question. They believed he simply forgot that Japan was among the “not to be conquered” nations in the ancestral instructions.
Old Zhu Di waved his hand. “Everyone withdraw—cabinet ministers and Xia Yuanji remain.”
“By your command!”
Seeing Zhu Di, the civil and military officials felt at ease and withdrew upon receiving the order.
The three Yangs of the cabinet and Xia Yuanji entered the palace.
In the Hall of Heavenly Purity.
Zhu Yuanzhang, clad in a fiery red dragon robe, sat upright on the throne.
Xia Yuanji kept rubbing his eyes, incredulous. “Th-this… the Great Ancestor Emperor?!”
“Your servant pays homage to the manifestation of the Great Ancestor’s spirit!”
With his kneeling, the three Yangs of the cabinet were dumbfounded, exchanged glances, and followed suit.
Zhu Yuanzhang didn’t know any of these old men, but was compelled to assume the role, offering a few words of admonition.
“Yes, yes, we shall strictly adhere to the Great Ancestor’s instructions!” Xia Yuanji replied repeatedly.
He had been personally promoted by old Zhu at the end of the Hongwu era, appointed as Minister of Revenue in the first year of Jianwen, overseeing the empire’s finances and taxes for twenty-three years, and had been instrumental in achieving the prosperous reigns of Ren and Xuan!
The Zhu Yuanzhang of the fifteenth year of Hongwu had never met him, but Xia Yuanji’s recognition was enough.
Zhu Yuanzhang made a brief appearance, then vanished before all eyes, returning to his small domain to continue feasting.
“Farewell to the Great Ancestor’s spirit!”
The three Yangs of the cabinet were stunned, shouting excitedly!
The Great Ancestor High Emperor personally descending surely signified his endorsement of Zhu Di’s legitimacy!
No wonder old Zhu Di was secretly amused, suggesting that the matter of the Japan campaign be widely publicized and recorded in the histories.
As for old Zhu Yuanzhang’s attitude toward his fourth son, born of rebellion, he could only let it be. After all, a son with a guilty conscience prefers such validation—what can you do?
“Biao’er, hurry and eat! I feel as though, after a stroll, much of the immortal energy in my belly has leaked out.” Zhu Yuanzhang gnawed on a suckling pig, muttering.
With oily fingers, he poked Zhu Biao, reminding him, “Your sleeves can hold plenty—your mother loves goose, don’t forget to pack that roast goose.”
“Yes, yes, I know, father.”
Zhu Biao was sweating from all the busywork.
Zhu Youjian could only be resigned. His family’s Great Ancestor was simply like this—nothing to be done but indulge him.
He could only strive to make Zhu Biao’s array of dishes last at least half an hour, hoping Empress Ma might taste them as well.
…