Chapter 27: The Will

She beat her two sons on the shoulders, caught between heartache and fury. "I raised you both, yet you only remember the debt of birth and have forgotten the debt of my upbringing. Your eldest brother is still lying inside, and he is already pressuring me, asking if your eldest brother is dead and if I am unwilling to be buried alive with him..."

Zhu Ziho and Zhu Zihao were even more heartbroken, tears and snot streaming down their faces. They turned and knelt before Zhu Youji, begging him to stop making a scene.

Zhu Youji truly felt that the two sons he had sired were less useful than a piece of barbecued pork; at least you could eat the pork. What good were these two things?

Just as the commotion was at its peak, the steward came running in, eyes bright, shouting, "Your Highness, Your Highness, the Chief Steward has returned! The Chief Steward has returned—"

A hush fell over everyone.

Princess Zhou raised her tear-stained face and asked urgently, "Did the Chief Steward return alone?"

The steward gasped for breath and said hurriedly, "No, there are officials from the Ministry of Rites and eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial with him."

Princess Zhou could not help but clutch her chest and chant, "Boundless Heavenly Venerate—"

Was it going to happen?

She hurriedly said to Zhu Zijin, "Quick, go and receive them."

Zhu Zijin agreed and ran outside.

Princess Zhou wiped the tears from her face, grabbed Zhu Ziho and Zhu Zihao, one in each hand, and pulled them up. "Go and help your brother."

Zhu Ziho and Zhu Zihao wiped their faces and scrambled to follow.

Zhu Zijin had been confined to the countryside for years and lacked a proper education; he likely wouldn't know how to handle officials from the Ministry of Rites and eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Zhu Youji’s chest rose and fell as he suppressed the myriad thoughts in his mind. After casting a deep look at Princess Zhou, he followed them out.

Princess Zhou stood guard in front of the main bedroom door, clutching Mother Qin’s hand tightly, waiting for news from the front courtyard.

Xuan Miao swept her gaze across the manor and remarked, "The Prince of Zhou’s time is almost up."

Neither Tao Ji nor Pan Yun spoke. Even though they had been prepared, they couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow. This Prince of Zhou was a rare and generous man. Most of the assets Pan Yun currently possessed had come from him.

Soon, a servant came to report, "Your Highness, the eldest young master has received the imperial decree in the front courtyard. His Majesty has named him the Heir Apparent. The Chief Steward whispered to me that the name on the Jade Genealogy has been corrected; the eldest young master is now officially registered under the names of the Prince and Princess."

Princess Zhou let out a long sigh of relief and couldn't help but recite a Taoist blessing once more.

Shortly after, a servant was formally sent from the front to report, "The imperial envoys who delivered the decree wish to come and pay their respects to the Prince."

Upon hearing this, the Princess looked toward Tao Ji.

Tao Ji pulled out his personal needle pouch, indicating that there was no problem.

The officials from the Ministry of Rites and the eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial were not merely there to announce the decree; they represented the imperial court and the Emperor to check on the Prince of Zhou, and they would have to report back in detail.

Zhu Youji followed them into the main room and finally saw Zhu Youdun.

Zhu Youdun lay there, and aside from his slightly pale complexion, he looked much the same as the last time they met.

But in the eyes of the Ministry of Rites official and the eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial, this Prince of Zhou looked excessively thin and pale, like a man whose days were numbered.

The two men confirmed the Chief Steward hadn't lied—the Prince of Zhou was indeed critically ill. They sighed inwardly, but also felt a sense of relief; what they feared and hated most were vassal kings causing trouble or spinning lies.

The official and the eunuch immediately adjusted their expressions, looking at the Prince with practiced solemnity, and asked if they could speak with him to convey the Emperor's will in person.

The Prince of Zhou had chosen to remain in a stupor specifically for this day, so Princess Zhou did not hesitate to ask Tao Ji to step forward and insert the needles.

Tao Ji first felt the Prince’s pulse, had people prepare the medicine and the various foods the Prince loved, and then began the acupuncture.

Once these needles were inserted, the moment the Prince woke would be his final period of lucidity. When he fell asleep again, it would be an eternal slumber.

The Princess knew this, so she had the entire household notified; all the concubines and the stewards who might be needed were waiting outside.

As Tao Ji inserted the final needle and gave it a gentle twist, the Prince’s eyelids trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes.

The eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial looked at Tao Ji in surprise, not expecting there to be such a skilled physician among the common people who could truly manage a death-defying state of stupor.

The Prince of Zhou kept his eyes open for a long moment before coming to his senses. The Princess looked at him with concern and whispered, "My Lord, His Majesty has sent people to see you."

The Prince’s spirit lifted. Did the court finally have a decision?

He opened his mouth to speak, but only a faint sound emerged.

Tao Ji slowly pulled out the needles one by one and said, "Feed the Prince some water." He then stepped aside.

Zhu Zijin immediately brought over a bowl of water, gently lifted the Prince into a sitting position, and fed him two sips.

The official from the Ministry of Rites saw how carefully he fed his father and nodded inwardly; he now knew how he would write the report when he later recommended him to be the next Prince of Zhou.

After drinking the water, the Prince’s voice became audible: "Is His Majesty well?"

The eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial quickly replied, "His Majesty is well. Your Highness, please take care of your health. Before we left, His Majesty was saying that when he has time in the future, he invites you to the capital for a gathering."

The Prince took this as mere pleasantry. He was awake, which meant he would only live until the end of this day.

It was his final day, and he did not want to waste a moment. Every second was precious; for every superfluous word he spoke, he lost that much more time. He asked directly, "Has His Majesty granted my request?"

Facing a dying man, anyone would feel a touch of mercy. The official and the eunuch did not quibble and showed the decree to the Prince.

The Prince was both happy and regretful. "His Majesty is truly gracious, allowing me to be reunited with my son before I die, and ensuring the continuation of my line."

The Prince had Zhu Zijin face north and kowtow in gratitude to the Emperor.

Zhu Zijin obeyed, slamming his forehead against the floor three times in the direction of the north.

The Prince then asked, "Is this the only decree? I petitioned to have the funeral殉葬 (human sacrifice) in the manor abolished..."

The official and the eunuch exchanged glances. Although the Emperor had loosened his stance before they departed and had intended to draft such a decree, such things were not settled until they were written down and stamped with the Jade Seal.

Neither could give the Prince a promise, saying only that the Emperor was concerned for him and very much wanted to honor his final wishes.

The Prince understood immediately: the Emperor had agreed, but someone in the court had not, which was why the decree could not be issued.

The Prince gritted his teeth, suspecting someone within the imperial clan.

He had no complaints, only a bitter smile. His gaze, however, drifted uncontrollably around the room in search of Pan Yun.

Pan Yun stood behind the screen, watching everything silently.

She was young, and her clothes were a common, muted grey, so she did not draw attention. Most people wouldn't notice her, and if they did, they would just assume she was a maid holding a cat.

Seeing the Prince’s eyes scanning the crowd, she shifted quietly, stepping half her body out from behind the screen so the Prince could see her.

She nodded slightly to him, signaling that he should not be anxious and that there was still room for maneuver.

The Prince put the matter aside for the moment and began to worry about his funeral arrangements.

Seeing Zhu Youji, he greeted him, "Fourth Brother, you are here too."

Zhu Youji lowered his head, sad. "Eldest Brother..."

The Prince sighed. "Do not be sad. Everyone has their day. Of all our brothers, you and I were the closest. After I am gone, please look after Zijin."

Zhu Youji choked back a sob and agreed.

The Prince looked at Zhu Ziho and Zhu Zihao and beckoned them over.

The two brothers immediately followed Zhu Zijin’s example and knelt before the bed.

The Prince felt his spirit growing stronger, finding the strength to take the three children’s hands and pat them together. "After I am gone, you three brothers must support one another. Zijin, you are the eldest; take care of them in the future."

Zhu Zijin agreed.

"Your eldest brother has suffered much. If he does anything wrong or falls short in the future, remind him, but do not let it create a rift between you."

Zhu Ziho and Zhu Zihao nodded repeatedly, tears streaming down their faces.

The Prince laughed. "Why cry? I have lived to this day; I am satisfied. Ziho, you love making friends; you are generous and bold. That is a good thing, but you are also too soft-hearted. In the future, do not trust people too easily, and drink less alcohol. Alcohol harms the body~"

Zhu Ziho cried as he agreed.

"Zihao, since you love medicine, continue to live in the Zhou Prince’s manor and study. The classics and manuscripts left by your grandfather rely on you to carry them forward. Your father, your uncles, and I—we are all useless; none of us could inherit your grandfather’s mantle."

The Prince looked at Zhu Zijin.

Zhu Zijin promised that his brother would stay here, that everything would remain as it was, and that he would find a way to provide whatever he needed for his studies.

The Prince was satisfied, holding their hands. "Good, good. I hope you three brothers will always be harmonious and respectful, unlike us old ones."

The Prince felt a deep sense of melancholy.

After giving these instructions, he looked at the Princess.

The Princess wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and stepped forward to sit on the edge of the bed, taking his outstretched hand.

The two had not spoken for a long time, just looking at each other quietly.

After a while, the Prince sighed. "Princess, I have failed you. I have let you suffer grievances all my life."

Consort Gong shook her head, tears falling. "The Prince has treated me very well. I have no regrets."

The Prince squeezed her hand. "From now on, the manor is in your hands. Concubine Shi and the others..."

Consort Gong tightened her grip on his hand, replying, "Rest assured, My Lord. Whatever the outcome, I will take good care of them."

If they could not escape the funeral sacrifice, she would see them off properly. If they were lucky enough to escape, she would treat them well.

The husband and wife looked at each other and both sighed.

Life was too bitter; they had both witnessed the funeral sacrifices with their own eyes.

Their thirteenth brother, Zhu Youxing, had died of illness at the age of only twenty. At that time, it was Zhu Youdun and Princess Gong who handled the funeral arrangements.

His wife, Lady Zhang, was forced to commit suicide to be buried with him, and her concubines and servants were executed to accompany them. Every time Zhu Youdun thought of it, he felt a chill in his bones.

How could people be treated like livestock, their lives decided at will?

Even livestock were only slaughtered on the premise of utility—that was making the best use of everything without failing the natural laws of life.

But what was the meaning of such a sacrifice?

Zhu Youdun admitted his own cowardice; he only dared to beg for his own family to be spared from this, not daring to propose the abolition of the ancestral system.

Consort Gong, as the one who shared his pillow, naturally knew this. Thus, she would do her best regarding his greatest worry, though she could not guarantee the result.

The Ministry of Rites and the Directorate of Ceremonial witnessed Zhu Youdun’s final instructions; these would all be reported and possibly recorded in the annals of the Imperial Clan Court.

The Prince’s spirit continued to improve. He not only got up to eat his favorite foods but even walked a circle in the courtyard, basking in the sun for quite a while.

Taking advantage of this moment, the Prince called Pan Yun to speak. "I have entrusted the matter of ending the funeral sacrifice to you. You must keep your word."

"Rest assured. If I don't try my best, you can come and find me later."

The Prince couldn't help but laugh. "Can I really come back after I’m dead?"

"The dead have spirits. As long as you want to come back, you certainly will."

The Prince: "Good, then I will keep an eye on you."