Top Scholar

Chapter 420 All Roads Lead to Leopard House

"Ahhh! Empress Dowager, please be the judge! I really can't go on living..." Madam Jin stopped trying to kill herself and cried out, kicking her legs as she begged her daughter for help.

"Your Majesty, that's your maternal mother! You can't treat her like that!" Empress Dowager Zhang finally spoke, tears streaming down her face as she said to Emperor Zhengde, "Besides, what she said is what I also wanted to say!"

Zhu Houzhao hesitated to express his opinion, but she finally couldn't help but intervene herself.

The Empress Dowager was truly at a loss; she estimated she wouldn't see her son again until the New Year. Therefore, she had to seize this opportunity to force him to make a statement—this was a plan she and her son had devised.

"I have already said we will discuss this later!" Zhu Houzhao was not as henpecked as his father, especially after the confrontation with the cabinet ministers, he was even less likely to change his mind. "A ruler's word is law, Mother!"

Hearing Zhu Houzhao's firm refusal, Empress Dowager Zhang completely broke down, unable to suppress the fierceness in her blood and the arrogance spoiled by Zhu Youcheng any longer. She pointed at Zhu Houzhao and said sternly:

"How could I have given birth to such an unfilial child!"

Zhu Houzhao was already furious, and being publicly accused of being unfilial by his mother made him even more enraged!

He suddenly overturned the table, causing jade cups and porcelain plates to clatter across the floor, and vegetable juices and meat soups to stain the expensive Persian carpet.

"Ah!" A gasp rang out in the hall, and the noblewomen all stood up in fright.

"Very well! Since Mother Empress believes that not killing Zheng Wang would be unfilial, then so be it!" Zhu Houzhao shouted sternly.

"Issue the imperial decree—Zheng Wang has spread seditious rumors and confused the people; he shall be executed immediately! This 'birthday gift' should satisfy Mother Empress, right?!"

"..." Empress Dowager Zhang was almost fainting with anger. Leaning against Empress Xia, she said with a look of impending doom, "Good, good, good, he is truly my good son!"

"Since Your Majesty is satisfied, then I shall take my leave!" Zhu Houzhao clasped his hands in a fist salute, offering his final 'blessing'.

"May Mother Empress have many more joyous occasions like this one!"

He raised his hand and realized he was still clutching the little white fox he had given to Empress Zhang. In a moment of impulsiveness, he wanted to smash it to death!
Seeing the little creature's pitiful state, he couldn't bear to part with it. He slowed his movements and tossed it to a stranger beside him, saying:
"gave it to you."

"Huh?" The little princess caught the little white fox in a flustered manner.

"What do you mean 'ah'? Take good care of him! If he dies, I'll chop off your dog's head!" Zhu Houzhao said, then strode away without looking back, leaving behind a hall full of astonished noblewomen and Empress Dowager Zhang, who was truly furious.

"Mother Empress, Mother Empress, quickly summon the imperial physician!" Empress Xia cried out, desperately trying to support Empress Dowager Zhang.

~~
The Zhengde Emperor was also furious.

Leaving Renshou Palace, his anger still simmering, he glanced at the nearby Qianqing Palace and suddenly had no desire to return. He then shouted:
"Gu Dayong, I'm moving! Let the Zhang family live in the Forbidden City!"

"Huh? My goodness, if you don't want to stay in the Forbidden City, where are you moving to?" Gu Dayong brought over the imperial horse for Zhu Houzhao, and was dumbfounded upon hearing this.

"To the Leopard House!" Zhu Houzhao had already decided where to go, and shouted angrily, "I'm never coming back!"

During the Yuan Dynasty, Beijing had facilities such as Tiger City and Elephant House, specifically for the royal family to raise large animals.

Zhu Houzhao had a fervent love for wild animals, so when he ran away from home, he thought of going to the Leopard House. Moreover, the Leopard House was built on the southwest bank of Taiye Pond in the Western Garden, separated from the Forbidden City by only a wall; it was just a short walk away…

After saying that, he conveniently landed, mounted his horse, and spurred it towards Xihua Gate.

"drive!"

"Your Majesty, wait for me! Hurry, hurry, catch up!" Gu Dayong hurriedly called for the guards to chase after the emperor, and he himself clumsily mounted his horse and followed.

~~
Outside the Xihua Gate, the imperial guards watched as two eunuchs argued.

Zhang Yong, dressed in a dark blue robe embroidered with gold python patterns, was spitting at the gatekeeper eunuch: "You dog servant! You dare to stop your own father? I'm going to the palace to say goodbye to the Emperor, get out of my way!"

The gatekeeper eunuch bowed deeply, his face contorted with misery, and begged for mercy repeatedly: "Godfather, your son is unfilial. There are strict orders from above. If I let you in, my head will be in grave danger!"

"Don't call me father! You are my father!" Zhang Yong was so angry that veins bulged on his forehead, and he raised his hand to slap the eunuch's face. "I'll beat you to death, you unfilial wretch!"

"Go ahead and beat your son to death!" The gatekeeper eunuch closed his eyes and leaned forward. "But I really dare not let you through this palace gate!"

Just as the two were struggling, they suddenly heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats coming from the doorway behind them.

The two turned their heads at the same time and saw Zhu Houzhao riding a fine horse out of Xihua Gate.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please wait!" Zhang Yong hurriedly pushed aside the gatekeeper eunuch and shouted as he chased after him.

But Zhu Houzhao was furious at the moment. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, cursing incessantly as he rode his horse.

"You damned old hag, one day I'll dig up your Zhang family's ancestral graves!"

How could he hear Zhang Yong's shouts?
In the blink of an eye, the emperor rushed through the gate of the Leopard House across the street...

Zhang Yong wanted to chase after him, but was stopped by the eunuch guarding the leopard room.

"I'm sorry, Eunuch Zhang, you still cannot enter."

"I'll fuck your grandma's leg..."

Zhang Yong could only rage in vain, when he saw Gu Dayong leading his men to catch up.

"Third brother, you stop right there!" His anger turned into a roar that stopped Gu Dayong in his tracks.

"Hey, Second Brother, what are you doing here?" Gu Dayong seemed to have just noticed him and reined in his horse.

"Stop playing dumb with me, get off!" Zhang Yong dragged Gu Dayong off his horse, pulled him to the roadside, and glared at him, growling, "You just stood by and watched Liu Jin bully me like this?!"

"Damn, he's the boss, bro." Gu Dayong said helplessly, "If I dare to say anything, I'll have to go to Nanjing with you to find Lao Wu."

"You think Liu Jin will let you off the hook if you stay silent? You'll be next, Third Brother!" Zhang Yong spat fiercely.

"My biggest regret now is that I didn't stop him from messing with Lao Wu! Now it's my turn, and there's no one to speak up for me..."

He sighed sadly and placed his hand on Gu Dayong's shoulder, saying:

"To be honest, Third Brother, keeping vigil for the founding emperor is a good job. I didn't want to compete with him for the top position, so there's nothing wrong with me going to Nanjing."

"Ah..." Gu Dayong nodded, thinking to himself, "Then why don't you go?"

“But I’m worried about you all, Third Brother.” Then Zhang Yong’s tone shifted abruptly. “You, the dignified Director of the Western Depot, don’t you know what the common people call Liu Jin?”

"..." Gu Dayong certainly knew, but he didn't dare to respond.

"After Wang Zhen, is there another eunuch as arrogant as him? With his arrogance, even while I'm alive, there are still people who can stop him. But after I'm gone, won't he completely turn the world upside down? Sooner or later, he'll get us all killed!" Zhang Yong said, emphasizing his words.
"Don't be fooled by his arrogance; we may not benefit from it. But when the reckoning comes, none of the eight of us will escape!"

“Sigh, the eldest brother is really too crazy…” These words finally struck a chord with Gu Dayong. He nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll help you with this. But not today. You saw it yourself, the Emperor is furious.”

After saying that, he pried Zhang Yong's hand away and said, "Let's go, let's go. I'm not talking to you anymore. The Emperor needs someone to serve him."

"I'll let you know when I get news," Gu Dayong said, then hurriedly went into the leopard house.

Zhang Yong stood outside the leopard room for a long time before finally returning dejectedly...

~~
On the other side, outside the Meridian Gate.

The young princess, carrying the little white fox, left the palace in a palanquin.

Eunuch Song quickly led the princess's carriage to greet her. While helping the princess into the carriage, he asked in a low voice, "Has she been sent out?"

"No." The young princess shook her head, dejected. "There was a family war, and that avenue is closed."

"What should we do now?" she exclaimed anxiously, stamping her feet. "I'm so worried!"

"Your Highness, please don't be in a hurry." Eunuch Song slowly closed the carriage door and said, "The uncle and nephew are still waiting for news. This old servant will go and inform them, and we can discuss it further."

“Go.” The little princess nodded and handed the scroll to Eunuch Song, saying, “Tell Uncle Su that if you can find a way to get the ‘Difficult to Easily Become a Beauty’ to the Emperor, it will be a sure thing.”

"Yes, this old servant has remembered." Eunuch Song smoothly tucked the scroll into his sleeve, closed the carriage door tightly, and said, "Let's go!"

The princess's entourage then slowly drove towards Duanmen Gate...

~~
As the princess's carriage drove out of the palace and back onto Shiwangfu Street, Eunuch Song stopped beside the tutor's sedan chair, quickly slipped her a kingfisher feather hairpin, and whispered:
"Sister, we're going back to Chengdu in a couple of days. Your brother needs to buy some gifts for the princess to take back with her."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Please also bring some for my sister, to properly thank her for taking care of me during this time."

The old woman in the sedan chair was silent for a moment before whispering, "Go quickly and come back quickly, don't wear this."

"Don't worry, I won't cause any trouble for you, sister," Eunuch Song said with a smile.

It turns out that as long as the money is right, all rules are just for show...

Eunuch Song then returned to his carriage, changed into civilian clothes, dressed as a merchant, and got off at the bustling West Chang'an Street.

~~
After getting off the carriage, Eunuch Song went straight to Dashilan, west of Qianmen.

This is the most bustling downtown area in Beijing, where you can find all kinds of things.

Eunuch Song first ordered two local specialties and asked the shopkeeper to deliver them to his residence. Then he turned into a leather goods shop in the Fourth Alley.

Inside the store, two handsome businessmen were casually flipping through fur coats in front of the counter.

These two have been here since noon. If they hadn't already paid for the two mink pelts, the shopkeeper would have kicked them out long ago…

"Please come in, sir, and feel free to look around," the shopkeeper said warmly as he saw another customer arrive.

The two merchants turned around at the sound and found it was Su Youcai and his nephew Su Man.

Upon seeing the two of them, Eunuch Song walked over and tossed out a tael of silver, signaling the shopkeeper to wait aside.

Then I quickly informed the two of today's results.

"Sigh..." Su Youcai and Su Man couldn't help but sigh. They had thought that the little princess's intervention would surely be successful.

"I'm sorry, gentlemen, I couldn't be of any help," Eunuch Song said apologetically.

"Brother Song, what are you saying? We are already deeply grateful for your kindness in coming all the way from Chengdu to Beijing." Su Youcai quickly shook his head and said softly:
"If this road is blocked, we have another way to solve the problem just as well. Moreover, Master Yangming has sent us a powerful ally!"

"Really? That's wonderful!" Eunuch Song solemnly handed the "The Difficulty of Lust" to Su Youcai, saying, "We're waiting for your good news!"

P.S. This is a post I'll edit later. Please vote with my monthly tickets!!!

(End of this chapter)