Volume One, Chapter 8: The Censorate Office
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Upon hearing the words of his eldest brother and father, Zhu Xuan involuntarily set down the porridge in his hands, falling into silence—perhaps lost in thought.
“Don’t mind them, Second Brother. If you don’t want to, Mother will make the decision for you,” Empress Ma comforted Zhu Xuan, having somewhat guessed his mood from his expression.
Yet, Old Zhu felt a pang of disappointment seeing Zhu Xuan like this.
“Forget it, if you don’t want to, then don’t. I was just speaking casually,” he said.
“If you don’t want to go, then forget it. Father and eldest brother are just concerned. Big Brother is the Crown Prince; he doesn’t need his younger brother’s help. It would be embarrassing to say otherwise, wouldn’t it?” Zhu Biao spoke without any concern; he had never expected Zhu Xuan to take any action.
After all, the only ones who truly understood Zhu Xuan in this family were their mother and himself.
It wasn’t that Zhu Xuan lacked ability, but rather that they knew what mattered most to him besides family: a carefree and unrestrained life.
As the eldest brother, it was his duty to protect his siblings, to create a space where one day they could live as they wished.
At worst, it meant putting in a little more effort.
Zhu Biao gazed gently at Zhu Xuan, pondering deeply.
Listening to his father, mother, and eldest brother, Zhu Xuan’s heart steadied, and he made up his mind.
After all,
Some matters, by virtue of being royal, by being a member of the Zhu family, cannot be escaped.
Even if one tries to evade them, the burden will simply fall upon others in the family: the father, the eldest brother, or even his younger siblings.
“Father, Mother, Big Brother, I am willing to step forward and help you, but I have one condition.”
Zhu Xuan’s eyes shone brightly as he looked at his father, whose hair had grown gray, streaked with white frost.
“Speak. We will not refuse,” Old Zhu smiled broadly at these words, the disappointment in his heart rekindling.
“I want to take care of the hidden dangers within the Ming Dynasty. After the realm is secure, I will no longer handle any affairs, including those of my fief. I want to travel freely with Tang Ying,” Zhu Xuan said resolutely. “That is my only condition.”
Zhu Yuanzhang considered for a moment and then replied, “I agree, but you must set aside your playful ways and work earnestly.”
“Of course,” Zhu Xuan nodded.
“Speak then, where do you want to go?”
“Being Inspector-General of the Censorate would be good. Later, I’ll take full control. It’s about time my mascot became an official.”
“Tomorrow’s court session will establish the Embroidered Uniform Guards. Using those corrupt ministers as an excuse, I will serve as commander. This way, openly in the public eye, it will intimidate officials and make them behave.”
Zhu Xuan answered without hesitation, though no one wished to hear it, even knowing this choice was the most beneficial.
Empress Ma and Zhu Biao could no longer restrain themselves; unwilling to listen further, they sternly rejected him.
“No!”
“Second Brother! How dare you!”
Zhu Biao lost his appetite, staring coldly at Zhu Xuan. “Zhu Xuan, I tell you, I do not agree! I have protected you all these years not to see you sent to your death!”
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“Big Brother, Mother, you both understand there are too many hidden dangers in the Ming. The Censorate is the best and quickest choice, and it can help Big Brother...” Zhu Xuan hastily tried to explain.
“Slap!”
Zhu Biao’s anger erupted as he struck him.
“Scoundrel! Kneel before me!”
Zhu Xuan dared not hesitate; he quickly knelt down.
A heavy guilt rose within him toward his eldest brother—after all, Big Brother had never struck him before.
This was the first time the brother who had always shielded him had lost his temper.
“Are my words so ineffective? Didn’t you hear me say I disagree?”
“If you dare say that again in front of me!” Zhu Biao’s eyes flashed with severity and a trace of pain, but it quickly vanished.
“Big Brother! Trust your younger brother...”
Before he could finish, Zhu Biao kicked him to the ground.
“Get out! Go kneel at the ancestral hall. You stay there until you change your mind!”
“Big Brother,” Zhu Xuan said, seeing no willingness to listen, “I understand.”
“Get out!” Zhu Biao shouted in fury.
Helpless, Zhu Xuan slunk away to serve his punishment; he dared not defy his brother’s orders.
Meanwhile, within the Kunning Palace,
Silence reigned. After a long pause, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke:
“Eldest, agree to it. You know Second Brother’s nature—stubborn to the bone. He will not change his mind.”
“I am but a woman, but Second Brother is my son, your son Zhu Zhongba, and Zhu Biao’s younger brother. No matter what he chooses, you must protect him fully,” Empress Ma said with complexity in her eyes, then rose and left.
“I am tired. You decide, but don’t forget my words.”
...
“Father, I don’t want him to walk that path. Since ancient times, none who took that road ended well,” Zhu Biao said, filled with melancholy.
“Even if he is a prince, the rats in the gutter won’t spare him.”
“He used to listen to me. How could he suddenly change so much?”
“Eldest, as you said, he’s grown up. He knows you aspire to be a sage ruler and wants to help you,” Old Zhu said, gazing toward the palace exterior, filled with emotion.
“Father, I want to try to make him change his mind. I can’t bear to see him walk down this road of no return,” Zhu Biao said, harboring a flicker of hope, then turned to leave.
“Father, I need some quiet,” he added.
“Hmm. If he insists, then so be it.”
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“Very well.”
A gentle breeze drifted into Kunning Palace,
Yet it could not soothe the complexity within the chamber,
Nor cool the warmth of the white porridge on the table.
~
The sky quickly shifted from dawn to dusk. The moon shone bright and sparse stars twinkled. Pure white moonlight streamed from the horizon, circling the imposing palace walls, passing through the shadowed halls, illuminating the pale face of the young man within the ancestral hall, and the yellow-robed figure standing outside for a long time.
“Still no remorse, Second Brother?” Zhu Biao asked hoarsely, facing the stubborn youth.
“Big Brother, I have never held grand ambitions. I only wish to live freely and unrestrained. But Father and you have protected me for so many years. I want to help you as much as I can,” Zhu Xuan replied.
“Finish your work quickly. Little Twelve, even Fourth Brother can live freely; Third Brother is another matter,” Zhu Xuan said, aware of the presence behind him and unstartled by the sudden voice.
“I ask you, will you not repent?”
Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Xuan intently, ignoring the earlier words.
“Big Brother, the Censorate—I will not change my mind,” Zhu Xuan turned, smiling at Zhu Biao.
“I am a member of the Zhu family, your younger brother, and their second brother.”
“Good... Tomorrow at court, I will have Father issue an edict.”
“Go back now. I have informed your residence to prepare a meal—you haven’t eaten all day. Go,” Zhu Biao said emotionlessly, as if it were a trivial matter.
“Yes, Big Brother.”
Zhu Xuan bowed deeply to the ancestral spirits, then staggered to his feet and left.
After a few steps, he looked back at his eldest brother’s lonely figure, reluctant to speak:
“Big Brother, I...”
“Go back,” Zhu Biao waved him off, ignoring him.
Zhu Xuan limped away into the darkness.
In an unseen corner, Zhu Yuanzhang slowly emerged, watching Zhu Xuan’s departing figure, then seeing Zhu Biao kneeling before the ancestral tablet, praying silently.
Zhu Yuanzhang stepped forward and gently patted Zhu Biao’s shoulder.
“Biao’er, trust your Second Brother. The two of us are still here; we will protect him.”
“Father, I know. This is the fate of the Zhu family.”
“But I am unwilling. My son has been striving to be a good Crown Prince, yet he cannot live as himself.”
“Sigh, my foolish Biao’er, rise now. Go back—you’ve been standing all day.”
With that, Zhu Yuanzhang helped Zhu Biao to his feet, and the two, bathed in moonlight, slowly walked away in the direction Zhu Xuan had gone.