Chapter 119 – Returning the Favor

When Xu Chun entered the palace, Su Hua was in the courtyard directing people to air out books. Seeing Xu Chun enter, he was startled. “Why has the Prince come again? The Emperor hasn’t finished his discussions yet. Since the Prince is about to take up his post, there must be many social engagements. Why not attend to those first before coming in?”

Xu Chun was right in the middle of a passionate affair with Xie Yi, how could he bear to part from his beloved brother? However, he was too embarrassed to reveal his inner thoughts in front of Su Hua. He deflected the question. “Minister He is busy with court cases, Marquis Wu Ying and Brother Zixing have both gone to Ji Province; they will be busy for quite some time. As for others who aren’t related, we’ve already had our farewell meals.”

Empress Snow leaped down from the tree and circled around his feet. Its white fur fluttered in the breeze. During its time in the palace, it had become plumper and its coat more lustrous. Xu Chun bent over to pick it up and stroked its fur. Empress Snow meowed in discontent.

Xu Chun chuckled and spoke to Su Hua as he played with its paws. “Eunuch Su, what are you doing airing out these books? Are these books for His Majesty to read?”

Su Hua laughed. “My young master, these are all books that His Majesty personally selected. They’re meant to be brought to Jin Harbor for you. There’s still a large pile of things in the northern wing room that you’ll need to take with you. These are all items that His Majesty ordered to be packed for you—medicines from the Imperial Medical Office, tea leaves, the Four Treasures of the Study, seasonal clothes—all packed up neatly. Don’t worry, when you reach Dinghai, someone will arrange for transportation. You won’t have to bother yourself with it, so don’t think it’s too much trouble.”

Xu Chun: “…My family can handle all the necessary provisions. Moreover, Jin Harbor is so close. Eunuch Su, just tell my brother what we need. There’s no need for you to go through so much trouble.”

Su Hua smiled. “How could it be the same? What the Duke of Jingguo gives can’t compare to what His Majesty bestows. All the personal items you’ll use, His Majesty has instructed people to prepare according to his own standards.”

He leaned down to carefully examine the books laid out on the bamboo mats. The Baodi Political Book, Encouragement of Agriculture, Water Conservancy Treatise, Four Instructions of Fanchuan, Discussion of Coastal Defense…His brother was afraid that he would slack off and wanted to assign him reading homework?

He was both amused and touched, casually flipping through the pages. Then, he noticed a box of memorials. “Eunuch Su, are those the memorials that my brother needs to review? Why aren’t they in the study?”

Su Hua replied, “Those are copies made for you to take away. They are useful memorials submitted by the previous commanders and magistrates of Jin Harbor over the years. Additionally, the yellow slips are the resumes of current officials in Jin Harbor. His Majesty also had them copied for you to take with you.”

Xu Chun: “My brother truly goes to great lengths for me, a mere minor official. Eunuch Su, you’ve been troubled.”

The sun was bright and clear. While Su Hua directed the young eunuchs to put the books away, he chattered on. “Young Master, you wouldn’t know, but every year during the annual review, His Majesty summons the governors and commanders of each province for questioning. The day before meeting with officials, His Majesty reviews their resumes, submitted memorials, poems, and essays. This way, when he meets the officials the next day, he can ask questions that hit the mark. These meticulous preparations are all done by the writing eunuchs of the Office of Ceremonial. They’re well-practiced at it. What’s the big deal?”

Xu Chun whispered, “I see that my brother governs and deliberates with ease. It turns out that it comes from such daily, yearly efforts.”

Su Hua laughed. “His Majesty is diligent. Which provincial governor doesn’t shed tears of gratitude after an audience with the emperor? They feel blessed to have encountered a wise ruler. Take Governor Lei Ming of Min Province, for example. After being scolded by His Majesty with both kindness and sternness…he cried his eyes out. Later, he told me that His Majesty remembered even his most trivial achievements, and he felt guilty for forgetting the emperor’s grace and acting selfishly and cruelly…”

Xu Chun was taken aback. “When did my brother scold Governor Lei?”

A hint of panic flashed across Su Hua’s face as he laughed. “How could I remember when it was? It was probably during one of the annual reports.”

However, Xu Chun recalled the naming controversy at the Naval Academy and Governor Lei’s inexplicable change from arrogance to deference. Cousin Changzhou said that Governor Lei was now very kind to him.

A governor who was competing for power with Supervisor Eunuch Xia Wan, had military authority, and was a genuine military officer, how could he easily agree to give them, a merchant family, benefits?

Naturally, someone had pointed out and rebuked him. If, as Eunuch Su said, it was my brother who personally rebuked him, and he knew Lei Ming’s achievements inside out, then it could only have been around the New Year…But at that time, the annual review period had passed, and Lei Ming didn’t come to the capital for his report.

So how did my brother face-to-face scold Lei Ming? It must have been a private scene, so no one knew about it.

On the night of the Lantern Festival in Min Province, he really saw my brother and Fang Zixing…If my brother came to Min Province, why didn’t he come to see me?

Not only did he not see me, he traveled thousands of miles to Min Province to see me once, and then returned. After that, he stopped receiving my letters.

Xu Chun pondered this as he walked to the side of the courtyard, looking down at the koi fish under the lotus leaves in the fish pond. Suddenly, he thought of something. “Eunuch Su, last night on the pleasure boat, there were so many lanterns hanging, but why didn’t I see the fish lanterns from the Lantern Festival?”

Su Hua explained, “A month has passed since then, and those fish have already been released back into the pond and have grown larger. If we were to do it again, we’d have to raise new fish, which would be troublesome. It was simply for Your Highness to see something new.”

Xu Chun asked curiously, “Is it the Ministry of Ritual that raises fish in the palace?”

Su Hua shook his head and laughed. “The Ministry of Ritual raises fish to eat. Those fish lanterns are created by the Artisans Workshop of the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau. They specifically raise particularly small fish with good coloration.”

Xu Chun asked, “How do they keep the fish alive in the cold winter months?”

Su Hua replied, “They raise them in hot springs, with charcoal fires to keep them warm. His Majesty only asks for this task to be done once every few years, so it cannot be botched, can it?”

Xu Chun smiled. “Eunuch Su, you must have been very busy overseeing this during the festival. Thank you for your hard work.”

Su Hua replied, “It’s not hard work. Any task His Majesty entrusts is what this old slave should do.”

Xu Chun took out the jade cicada from his waist and showed it to Su Hua. “This should also have been carved by the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau, right? Why did His Majesty say this morning that it was sent by the Palace Affairs Bureau?”

Su Hua chuckled. “His Majesty only uses it, how would he know where it was made? This is the jade pendant His Majesty wants to wear. Naturally, the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau has jade carvers who create it first, then send it to the Palace Affairs Bureau, which is responsible for His Majesty’s clothing. They need to attach the tassels and ribbons before it can be worn properly.”

“But this was made for the Prince. A few months ago, His Majesty instructed that clothes be made for the Prince. Didn’t this old slave also have someone measure you? Yesterday, the jade pendant, hairpin, belt, etc. were delivered for His Majesty to choose from. This cicada isn’t usually used in the patterns given to His Majesty. For some reason, he used one yesterday. His Majesty found it fresh and asked about it. The person in charge said it was called ‘startling the world with one cry’. His Majesty said that if it doesn’t fly, it will soar high when it does, and one startling cry will make the world know. The omen is good, so he took the cicada in his hand. Perhaps he hopes that the Prince will startle the world when he takes up his post.”

Xu Chun felt a mix of emotions, aching, softness, and sweetness. He rubbed the jade cicada in his palm and stammered, “Eunuch Su, what does His Majesty like? Should I leave a gift for His Majesty?”

Su Hua replied, “That’s a tough question. What His Majesty likes isn’t something us lowly servants know. In my opinion, perhaps only the Prince would know. The rain stick the Prince gave before is still hanging.”

Xu Chun paced around, noticing that it was still early. His brother’s discussions could go on indefinitely. So, he told Su Hua, “Eunuch Su, I’ll return to Bamboo Branch Workshop first. I’ll come back later. If His Majesty needs me, just send someone to call me from Bamboo Branch Workshop.” With that, he quickly left the palace.

After Xie Yi finished court, he heard from Su Hua that the Prince had come to the palace but, unable to wait for the Emperor and probably bored, had gone back to Bamboo Branch Workshop. Xie Yi wondered if he should inform him. But Xie Yi laughed. “Since there’s nothing in the afternoon, why make him run back and forth? Bamboo Branch Workshop is close, I’ll go and see him.”

Xie Yi changed his clothes, mounted his horse, and, as he used to, went around to Bamboo Branch Workshop. Familiar with the place, he entered the door and saw Chunxi, Dinghai, Xia Chao, and others downstairs eating melons. He asked, “Where’s your young master?”

Xia Chao replied, “He said he wanted to paint and didn’t allow us to disturb him. He’s alone upstairs. I’ll go and inform him.”

Xie Yi said, “No need, I’ll go see him myself.”

He went upstairs himself and saw that Xu Chun wasn’t in the study. Walking further, he found Xu Chun sprawled on the floor of the hall filled with ship models. On the wide table lay a sheet of xuan paper, and Xu Chun was holding a brush, frowning intently as he painted.

Sunlight shone through the long windows onto his body, making him look golden and handsome.