Volume One, Chapter Two: Climbing the Wall to Find a Bride
Empress Ma and Zhu Biao spoke simultaneously—one with a roar, the other with gentle persuasion.
“Biao’er, this is medicine for external wounds. Go tend to your second brother’s injury. Your mother will have a word with your father.”
Empress Ma said as she approached Zhu Yuanzhang.
“All right, Mother. I’ll take my second brother with me first.”
Zhu Biao turned and pulled along his foolish younger brother, who was still provocatively pestering their father. Thoughtfully, he also brought along the eunuchs and palace maids.
Somehow, the wind picked up that day, slamming the palace gates shut.
Old Zhu was stunned. He hadn’t expected his beloved eldest son to leave him behind and shut the gates, leaving his heart feeling desolate and cold.
Watching his elder brother act this way, Zhu Zhu’s eyes lit up with a mischievous gleam.
“Come on, let’s go back to the Eastern Palace. Big brother will apply some medicine for you, and Mother will help vent your anger. Don’t worry about Father.”
With that, Zhu Biao was about to leave, but Zhu Zhu grabbed his brother’s arm and, with a sly grin, leaned against the palace door, trying to eavesdrop on Father’s impending scolding.
“Hold on, brother. Let’s listen together. It’s not that I want to eavesdrop; it’s to protect our parents. There’s no one around to serve them, and that won’t do if—”
Zhu Biao was instantly speechless, struck dumb by his brother’s nonsense.
“Ahh!” Zhu Biao gave Zhu Zhu a playful smack on the head. “You really never learn, do you?”
Then, with some effort, he pulled Zhu Zhu away.
“Brother, big brother, my dear big brother, just let me listen a little longer, just a moment—”
“Want Father to beat you again? Come on, come with me and get your medicine!” Zhu Biao said, shooting a stern glance.
“Okay.”
Zhu Zhu immediately shrank back, no longer daring to be cheeky, and reluctantly cast a regretful glance at the tightly closed palace doors.
~
Eastern Palace
“Ouch! Big brother, go easy.”
“You deserve it for always acting up in front of Father.”
“Hehe, it’s just that Father always has a stern face, always worrying about state affairs, which rubs off on Mother and fills her with worries too. A little relaxation wouldn’t hurt.”
“That old man just doesn’t understand good intentions!” Zhu Zhu retorted, displeased.
“Is this what you call relaxing?” Zhu Biao was sometimes truly helpless with this brother.
“All right, the medicine’s on. Father is still angry these days, so don’t act up in front of him, or if you get beaten, I won’t care anymore.”
“Heh, big brother, how many times have you said that? Which time have you not cared about me?” Zhu Zhu grinned cheekily at Zhu Biao.
~
“Brother, no more talking. I’m off to the martial arts training ground! I’m leaving.”
Watching his brother’s retreating figure, Zhu Biao smiled and shook his head before returning to his official duties.
~
Several days later, on the wall of the side courtyard at the Duke of Xinguo’s residence—
“I know, I know, Your Highness! I’ll leave the mansion right away to accompany you. And Zhu Zhu, you better get down from the wall, or I won’t go with you!”
A young woman coquettishly scolded Zhu Zhu, who was perched atop the courtyard wall.
This woman was Tang Ying, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Xinguo.
She was also the betrothed princess of Prince Qin, Zhu Zhu, though they had not yet married.
Since Zhu Zhu first saw Tang Ying at a court banquet when he was eight, he had been utterly captivated, persistently demanding to marry her.
Thus, when Zhu Zhu was titled Prince Qin, Tang Ying was designated as his princess.
Tang Ying’s father, Tang He, was honored as the Duke of Xinguo and was firmly kept in Yingtian Prefecture by Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Zhu.
But all of this came at a price:
First, when Zhu Zhu was made Prince Qin, he was secretly tasked with overseeing the Jianyiwei—the precursor to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
There was no other way. The dynasty was still young, and Zhu Yuanzhang trusted few people.
Though Zhu Zhu was playful and careless, the Zhu family’s capabilities remained strong, and he was especially close to the Crown Prince, Zhu Biao.
And also—
“Ying’er, I have no choice! I’d rather come through the main gate to see you, but Uncle Tang never likes me. Every time he sees me, he wants to beat me up.”
“Besides, I’m the legitimate imperial son and the foremost prince of Ming. Why bother climbing over your courtyard wall?” Zhu Zhu looked at Tang Ying with mock grievance.
“Ha ha ha, I know His Highness is suffering under Father’s sternness. That’s why Ying’er came to keep you company!”
“Hehe, Ying’er knows best. Let’s go quickly. I’m getting down from the wall now, or Uncle will come out and beat me again.”
Tang Ying, accompanied by her maid Xiao Lan, quickly slipped out of the Duke’s residence.
“Look how beautiful she is, Your Highness.”
Tang Ying wore a dress of emerald smoke-green and misty water pleats, her shoulders slender, waist delicate, skin like creamy jade, and bearing the subtle fragrance of orchids. Her graceful steps and fair wrists revealed by sheer silk, her eyes shimmering with spring’s gentle waters, all gazing tenderly upon the one before her—truly worthy of being called a celestial beauty.
“My Ying’er is naturally beautiful, unrivaled by anyone. And the gift I have prepared for her today is a perfect match!”
Zhu Zhu looked at his beloved gently, stroking her dark hair with one hand while offering the gift with the other: a finely crafted jade pendant carved with two wild geese spreading their wings in flight.
“Truly worthy of my future husband, your eye for gifts is excellent. But I wonder—would Your Highness be willing to place it on me yourself?”
Tang Ying smiled radiantly, her smile brighter than the midday sun.
“As you command, my future Princess of Qin,” Zhu Zhu teased.
~
“Eh? Your Highness, Miss, Xiao Lan shouldn’t have come out with you today.”
Seeing the two so affectionate, the maid Xiao Lan joked.
“What did you say? Xiao Lan, be careful or I’ll spank you when we get back!”
“Miss would never punish her maid. Besides, you’re blushing already.”
“Xiao Lan!!”
Tang Ying, cheeks flushed pink, feigned anger and raised her fist to strike.
“Miss, your maid will never joke about your affection with His Highness again.”
“Say no more!”
“Ying’er, I’ll teach you a trick. When we dine at the tavern later, make her watch but not eat.”
Zhu Zhu grinned mischievously.
“Good idea. Let’s go, Zhu Zhu.” Tang Ying’s eyes gleamed with playful mischief as she gave Xiao Lan a sidelong glance and snorted.
“Ah?”
Xiao Lan was stunned and hurried after them, calling out:
“Your Highness! Miss!”
“Xiao Lan, I won’t do it again!”
“Could I have just a tiny bite, please, Miss?”
At this moment, in the main hall of the Duke of Xinguo’s residence, a middle-aged man sat high on his throne. A faint aura of deadly chill surrounded him, as if he had risen from a pile of corpses, sending a shiver through the room.
“Master, the eldest miss has left the residence with His Highness, Prince Qin. Also, the prince climbed over the wall to find her,” reported a steward, barely suppressing a smile as he entered.
“Noted.”
The middle-aged man responded coldly, his voice laced with barely restrained rage.
“That brat is truly the spitting image of his father in youth.”
…
Meanwhile, in the grand hall of the palace—
“To govern benevolently as a king is to be unconquerable. This is the way of a sovereign. Yet the current emperor’s cruelty and harshness are known to every household. Know that this is neither the path of a sage nor a policy for a peaceful nation. I hope all the princes here will take this as a warning and not follow his example.”
“Also, I ask all the princes, when one day you govern your own fiefs, to uphold these principles. Be obedient, so that my teachings are not in vain.”
Master Bai Xintao spoke patiently to the assembled imperial heirs at the academy.
“Silence! Your father has shown you kindness by appointing you as our tutor, yet you dare to slander him and mock his grace. Who gave you such gall?”