Chapter 21: Intentions to Recruit

Pan Yun weighed the silver in her hand, feeling it was still a bit meager. She needed to send money to her father; Datong was a desolate place, and they had left in such a rush that they hadn't taken much with them. Although her second uncle had sent some things over later, it certainly wasn't enough. Given their status, money was essential if they wanted to live well. Therefore, the more money, the better. Furthermore, her cultivation also required silver. She needed to become strong, and at present, cultivation was the most direct and reliable path she could grasp. As long as she was powerful enough, she would eventually be able to rescue her father and brother. Thus, money was still a necessity.

Pan Yun glanced at Xuan Miao, who had received a reward, and felt a strong urge to step forward and lecture the Prince of Zhou on feudal superstition. But one shouldn't be too eager in business, and the moment wasn't quite right.

Seeing that Zhao Yuansong had left, the Princess of Zhou breathed a sigh of relief and said to the others still crowding the room, "The Prince is tired. Zijin, have your wife take the child away; he has been terrified these past few days. Have a doctor see him in a while. You must look after the three Daoists well; we will thank them properly once the Prince has rested."

Zhu Zijin and his wife, Lady Gu, quickly agreed. One went forward to carry the child, while the other invited Tao Ji and his two companions to leave. Zhu Youjue, finding it inconvenient to stay longer, said to the Princess, "I leave Big Brother in your care, sister-in-law." With that, he turned and left, his two sons following silently behind.

Zhu Zijin stepped aside, respectfully letting his fourth uncle pass first. Zhu Youjue paused before him, glanced at him sideways, and then turned away. This was the first time Zhu Zihao and Zhu Zitan had felt their father's displeasure toward their cousin so clearly, and both were quite shaken. Zhu Zitan managed to remain composed despite his pale face, but Zhu Zihao’s eyes were rimmed with red, and his chest heaved with agitation. The two brothers bowed hurriedly to Zhu Zijin before chasing after Zhu Youjue.

Zhu Youjue did not usually reside in the Prince of Zhou’s mansion; his fief was in Xiangfu County, where his own Prince’s mansion was located. He had only come to Kaifeng Prefecture because the Prince of Zhou’s illness had worsened, and rumors spread that he had only a few days left. He was currently staying in a courtyard in the western corner of the Prince’s mansion. Before coming here, he had been resting in the water pavilion. When a spy from the main courtyard secretly informed him, he had immediately changed and rushed over, only to find he was too late.

Returning to the water pavilion with a dark expression, Zhu Youjue could no longer suppress his anger. With a sweep of his sleeve, he knocked the fruit platter and tea set off the stone table, sending them crashing to the ground. The servants nearby turned pale and retreated, bowing.

Zhu Zihao’s chest heaved. Shaking off Zhu Zitan’s hand, he stepped forward to challenge him, "Father, why are you so angry? Isn't it a good thing that Uncle named our cousin as his heir?"

Zhu Youjue spun around, his face grim. "Zhu Youji disregarded ethics and morality, framing your grandfather, your uncle, and me, committing so many unlawful acts. Yet, in the end, it is his son who becomes the heir to the Prince of Zhou. This is heaven being unjust; how can you call it a good thing?"

Zhu Zihao insisted, "Cousin is Uncle’s adopted son. Second Uncle never raised him for a single day, and Cousin only recognizes Uncle as his father."

Zhu Youjue sneered, "Your uncle is the Prince of Zhou, and Zhu Youji has been reduced to a commoner. Of course he only recognizes your uncle as his father."

Zhu Zihao disagreed, "Father, Cousin is not that kind of person."

Zhu Zitan added, "Father, although Cousin is a bit weak in character, he is kind and filial. He is not someone who forgets righteousness for profit." He paused before continuing, "Ignoring the title, Cousin was raised by Uncle and Aunt since infancy. He was already twelve when Second Uncle took him away. There is no bond between him and his biological father. Second Uncle treated him poorly even when he was the Prince of Runan, often beating and scolding him. I heard that after he was reduced to a commoner, Cousin’s life became even harder; in their household, he was treated worse than livestock. Could it be that his respect for Uncle is not because of the upbringing and love Uncle showed him?"

Zhu Zitan asked, "If you suspect Cousin respects Uncle because of the Prince’s title, then why do my brother and I respect Uncle?"

Zhu Youjue was enraged and slapped him. "Insolent!"

With a sharp crack, Zhu Zitan lowered his head, though his back remained stubbornly straight. Zhu Zihao stepped forward to shield his brother, looking at his father with equal stubbornness. Zhu Youjue’s anger surged, and he suddenly realized that over the years, partly to comfort his eldest brother and partly because he had his own ideas, he had often sent his children to the Prince’s mansion. As a result, they had grown closer to their uncle and were now defying his own authority. Especially Zhu Zihao and Zhu Zitan, who had lived in the Prince’s mansion since they were two, returning to their own home only once or twice a year. The Prince’s mansion had become their home, while their own was like a place for relatives.

It was a case of losing everything. Zhu Youjue felt a pain in his chest and looked around for something to hit them with. Zhu Zitan thought for a moment, then pushed his brother, saying, "Run!"

Zhu Zihao hesitated, unwilling to flee. Zhu Zitan grabbed him and dragged him away. "Obey when he is angry, run when he is about to strike. It’s clear Father intends to beat us to death. To keep him from regretting it later, we should run. Otherwise, if he feels sorry for us, wouldn't that make us unfilial?"

Zhu Zihao thought this made sense, so he ran with him. Zhu Youjue was still looking for a tool when he turned around to see the brothers running away hand in hand. He chased after them in a rage, "You rascals, come back here! Ouch—" Zhu Youjue slipped, and half his leg fell into the water. Zhu Zihao and Zhu Zitan ran even faster, vanishing in a flash.

Meanwhile, Lady Gu, who had returned to her room with the child, was having hot water prepared for his bath while asking about what had happened during his absence. In the six months he was gone, little Zhu Tongqi only remembered his parents; everything else was a blur. He didn't even know how he had gotten lost, only recalling, "Lots of children. Bad people made us crawl through holes, and then many people came with knives and torches. I was scared, so I crawled around everywhere, and then Third Grandfather took me away."

"Third Grandfather was a very kind man. Whenever he begged for food, he would share some with me so my tummy wouldn't be hungry." At this point, Zhu Tongqi reached out to his mother, reciting the lines he had used while begging, "Give a bun, give a bowl of soup, may you live long and healthy~" He lifted a smiling face, looking at his mother with a pleading expression.

Upon hearing this, Lady Gu’s heart ached so much she couldn't bear it. She let out a cry and pulled the child into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Zhu Zijin, who had just finished arranging lodging for Tao Ji and his companions, entered the courtyard and heard his wife’s wailing. Terrified, he gathered his robes and ran inside, "What happened? What’s wrong?"

Zhu Tongqi looked frightened and pulled his little hand back, not understanding why his mother was crying. Seeing his father, he burst into tears as well. Lady Gu buried her face in Zhu Zijin’s chest, sobbing, "Husband, let’s leave. Qi'er has suffered too much. I’m scared, I’m so scared..."

Zhu Zijin held his wife and child, his eyes red as he shook his head, "I cannot. Father is critically ill; to leave now would be an act of betrayal. And Mother..." He held Lady Gu tightly, "Don't worry, I—I will protect you both. Such a thing will never happen again."

Lady Gu shook her head, not believing him. It wasn't that she didn't trust his ability, but over ten years had passed since they had been separated from the Prince’s household, and they were impoverished with no one to rely on. Even if Zhu Zijin had the heart, it would be difficult to keep them safe.

Zhu Zijin said, "I will beg Mother. Don't be afraid, and don't talk about leaving. Father has already submitted the petition to appoint the heir; what would it look like if we left now?"

After a good cry, the sorrow in Lady Gu’s heart eased, and her reason returned. She knew that mentioning leaving now was impossible. Or perhaps, from the moment they left the village and the capital, there was no turning back. Lady Gu wiped her tears and choked out, "I understand. Once I’ve bathed him, I will take him to see Mother." In this household, besides the Prince who would protect them, there was the Princess. Though the Prince was now too ill to have any extra energy, the Princess could. As long as they gained her sympathy, she would surely look after them more.

Zhu Zijin helped her bathe Zhu Tongqi while asking about the three Daoists. Zhu Tongqi, still shaken, cowered slightly and whispered, "The big sister is a good person, very powerful..." He recounted a few things about how amazing Pan Yun was. He didn't remember much, but he recalled that as soon as Xuan Miao saw him, she called him "an imperial descendant" and said she would take him home, and indeed, she had brought him all the way back.

Zhu Zijin was thoughtful. "There are always extraordinary people in the world. Although there are many charlatans, there are also those with true skill. It seems our Qi'er is lucky to have encountered those with real ability." Zhu Zijin was moved. He looked at his young son, then at his wife, and finally took a step forward, gritting his teeth. "These three are capable people. I will ask them to stay; perhaps they can be of help."

Zhu Zijin had no one else to rely on, and though Tao Ji and his companions were Daoists, he was unwilling to let the opportunity slip. Moreover, outsiders were often more trustworthy, especially since they had this fated connection with his son.

The couple discussed it quietly. After bathing Zhu Tongqi and feeding him, Lady Gu took the child to see the Princess, while Zhu Zijin went to win over the three Daoists.

The three Daoists were sitting at a table in a standoff—well, Pan Yun wasn't actually a Daoist yet. Xuan Miao insisted they should leave, "The person has been delivered, why stay?"

Pan Yun replied, "I’m worried about the child. I need to ensure he can live safely in this mansion."

Pan Yun looked up at her with a half-smile, "Daoist Xuan Miao, you are so capable, you must have seen that he had the face of an early death, right?"

Xuan Miao replied, "From the moment he returned to the Prince’s mansion, his life-or-death crisis was resolved."

"Is that so?" Pan Yun looked skeptical. "I don't think it's resolved. Or rather, that crisis has passed, but a new one has emerged."

Xuan Miao said, "...Everyone must die eventually. Can you wait here until he grows old?"

Pan Yun countered, "Didn't you see the half-room full of people on the verge of death? With so many people about to suffer violent deaths surrounding him, how can this not be dangerous?"

Xuan Miao frowned, "That is because of the funerary sacrifices. Once the Prince of Zhou dies, according to custom, concubines without children must be buried with him. The personal servants and the maids and nannies around the concubines must also follow. But the Prince has already submitted the petition to appoint his heir, and once the imperial decree arrives, half of them will be saved. This crisis has passed; those who remain to face their fate are beyond saving."