Chapter Forty: On the Verge of Revelation

"For a little kid, was all that really necessary?"
The voice was unfamiliar.
"Why wouldn't it be? As long as we can perform a meritorious deed before the Prince, we can earn the appreciation of Chief Secretary Yuan. Don't you want to become a personal guard of the Princely Mansion and draw a generous stipend?"
The two discussed for a long time without reaching any conclusion.
Then came the sounds of splashing liquid, followed immediately by the pungent stench of urine. Zhu Hao was startled at first, then shook his head. These two fellows were actually relieving themselves while discussing matters right on the spot. Judging by their behavior, they must have consumed a fair bit of alcohol earlier; otherwise, they would not have blurted out such confidential matters so recklessly out in the open, only for him to happen to overhear.
Zhu Hao pondered whether they had purposely come here to scare him, but he immediately dismissed the thought... From the look of it, they were completely unaware that he was hiding nearby.
After the sharp-featured ruffian and his companion left, just as Zhu Hao was worrying about his life being threatened, he spotted yet another person stepping out from a narrow crevice between the walls on the opposite side.
There had actually been someone hiding behind the corridor wall ahead of time, eavesdropping on the conversation between the two?
This gave Zhu Hao quite a shock.
He had been hiding up above to keep watch, never expecting that someone else was concealed in the dark. Fortunately, he had not moved rashly just now and had not been discovered by this person. To give credit where it was due, the other party was extremely cautious, waiting a long time after the others left before emerging from the shadows, and even then, hugging the base of the wall as they moved. That level of alertness clearly belonged to someone professionally trained in intelligence work, and Zhu Hao felt utterly ashamed by comparison.
Zhu Hao congratulated himself on hiding in the shadowy rafters; had he made the slightest movement earlier, he would have lost the initiative.
The dark figure hugged the wall as they made their way out, avoiding the area illuminated by the wind-shielded tung-oil lamp. Other than roughly discerning that it was a burly figure, Zhu Hao could make out nothing else.
"Peril lurks on all sides."
Zhu Hao came to a sudden realization. He had stepped into a den of wolves, surrounded by beasts of prey.
It was already a certainty that the sharp-featured ruffian was his enemy, but he had no way of knowing whether the dark figure was friend, foe, or perhaps an agent of a third-party faction.
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Zhu Hao did not sleep a wink that entire night.
As dawn approached, he finally climbed down from the roof. Not a single other person had appeared in the interim.
Emerging smoothly from the east gate of the Princely Mansion, Zhu Hao felt as though he had been granted a second lease on life.
Although he had only been inside the mansion for a few days, his state of mind had matured during this time, and his conviction had only grown stronger: he must remain in the Princely Mansion and become friends and partners with Zhu Houcong as early as possible.
Upon returning home.
To his surprise, Steward Liu had already come into town early in the morning, waiting to take Zhu Hao back to the Zhu family estate.
"Third Madam, since Young Master Hao has returned, this humble servant will take him back first to pay respects to the Old Madam, and I will have him brought back to you before noon."
Unlike Zhu Wanjiang, Steward Liu was deeply calculating. Yet, being a servant after all, he still had to show the utmost respect to Mother Zhu.
Mother Zhu had wanted to show some concern for her son and ask about his living arrangements in the mansion, but the moment they met, he was whisked away by the Old Madam's people, leaving her utterly helpless.
"Xiao Hao, go early and return soon."
Mother Zhu's overflowing maternal concern was evident in every word.
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Steward Liu drove the carriage, bringing Zhu Hao out of the city and straight to the Zhu family estate.
Upon entering the estate, they headed directly for the rear hall, where they met the Old Madam, Lady Jia, alongside a man dressed in the official attire of the brocade-clad guards, who clearly held a position of some importance within the Brocade Guard.
"Centurion Lin, my grandson has been brought back. Can we discuss matters now?"
Upon seeing Zhu Hao, Lady Jia's expression lacked its usual coldness and disdain; instead, she wore a look of utter pride and self-satisfaction. Zhu Hao had abruptly become her most crucial bargaining chip in her negotiations with Centurion Lin.
Centurion Lin nodded. Accompanied by Lady Jia and Zhu Hao, he entered the main parlor, closed the door securely, and prepared to speak with Zhu Hao in private.
"Grandson, after you entered the Princely Mansion, did you see the young princes?" Lady Jia launched straight into her questioning.
Zhu Hao could hardly admit that he hadn't even set foot in the inner courtyard after entering the mansion; wouldn't that make him appear entirely devoid of utility?
Zhu Hao recited the explanation he had prepared long in advance: "I have seen them. There are two young masters of similar age, though I cannot study alongside them just yet."
When lying, one must mix half-truths with half-falseholds to prevent being exposed.
True enough, Centurion Lin let out a cold, mocking laugh. "How is it that I heard you were assigned to chop firewood the moment you entered the mansion, and haven't even crossed the threshold of the inner residential quarters? How could you possibly have seen the young princes?"
There was a problem.
Zhu Hao immediately realized that this Centurion Lin had an insider planted inside the Prince of Xing's Mansion, capable of ferreting out intelligence from within.
"Centurion Lin, are you implying that you don't believe what my grandson says?"
It was rare for Lady Jia to stand on Zhu Hao's side.
A playful, sarcastic smile tugged at the corner of Centurion Lin's mouth, leaving his meaning unspoken: *I simply do not believe this brat's tall tales.*
Zhu Hao replied, "After entering the mansion, I went inside to pay my respects to the two young princes. Both are around seven or eight years old. There is also another young boy, only four or five years old, who seems to be the son of an official from the Princely Mansion's Guard Command, surnamed Lu. He is also a companion in study. Additionally, there is the son of the Jing magistrate, though I have not yet laid eyes on him."
"The mansion's tutor is surnamed Sui, and he is a local licentiate. He once administered an examination to us. We only had a brief meeting this time, but barring any surprises, I will be studying under him in the future..."
Zhu Hao possessed a deep understanding of the Prince of Xing's Mansion; it was still well within his ability to fool the two people before him.
Hearing Zhu Hao's words, the muscles in Centurion Lin's face twitched slightly, evidently stunned by the intelligence Zhu Hao had managed to gather in just a few days.
Seizing the opportunity, Lady Jia asked, "Are you saying there are two princes of similar age?"
"Yes."
Zhu Hao continued, "Though it's not certain both are princes; perhaps only one of them is. Normally they live together, inseparable, almost as if they were born of the same mother..."
Centurion Lin did not dwell on this question, instead asking, "You mentioned that aside from yourself and the Jing magistrate's son, there is also a child surnamed Lu, hailing from the Princely Mansion's Guard Command, acting as a study companion?"
This attitude immediately aroused deep suspicion in Zhu Hao's mind.
My selection as a study companion alongside the young master of Jing should not have been a secret, yet you are unaware that Lu Bing is serving as a study companion? Jiang Lun had spoken of it casually at the time, showing that the Princely Mansion had made no effort to conceal Lu Bing's selection.
As a Centurion of the Brocade Guard, most likely dispatched by the imperial court specifically to investigate the Prince of Xing's Mansion, you have my movements tracked down to the exact detail, yet you failed to grasp the most superficial piece of intelligence?
"He is currently inside the mansion, a bit young... Of course, it's also possible he merely entered the mansion to play; it's hard to say for sure." Zhu Hao used this explanation to observe Centurion Lin's reaction.
Seeing Centurion Lin react so strongly to the "study companion surnamed Lu," Lady Jia could not help but smile triumphantly. "Centurion Lin, it seems the intelligence you gathered has its blind spots as well. Can we now discuss precisely which insider you have planted within the Prince of Xing's Mansion to trade with the Zhu family?"
They were actually beginning to negotiate a terms-of-exchange regarding intelligence sharing.
For Lady Jia to casually reveal right in front of Zhu Hao that Centurion Lin had planted a secret agent within the Prince of Xing's Mansion left Zhu Hao somewhat astounded. Could Lady Jia possibly be expecting him, a mere child, to make contact with Centurion Lin's secret agent?
Centurion Lin's attitude remained cold: "As for the specifics of our cooperation, let's wait until your grandson officially begins studying with the young princes... I have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."
Without continuing to probe what other information Zhu Hao had uncovered, he turned and walked away, indicating that he had already obtained the intelligence he desired.
Lu Bing serving as a study companion—could that be the exact piece of information he was after?
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Once Centurion Lin departed, Lady Jia went to see him off. Upon returning, her expression reverted to its habitual coldness.
"While in the mansion, aside from the two individuals who might be young princes, whom else did you see?" Lady Jia cared only for the acquisition of intelligence.
She treated her grandson entirely as a tool.
Zhu Hao countered, "Grandmother, this grandson wishes to ask: that Centurion Lin must have been dispatched by the imperial court to supervise the Prince of Xing's Mansion, correct? He has planted an insider within the mansion, but do you know what identity that person holds?"
"That is none of your concern."
Lady Jia held Zhu Hao in contempt and had no desire to answer her grandson's questions, let alone provide a detailed explanation.
Zhu Hao said, "However... Grandmother, during the few days this grandson spent inside the mansion, I roughly gathered that someone within the Princely Mansion's Guard Command behaves with furtive and suspicious movements, frequently entering and leaving the mansion in the middle of the night... Although I do not know who it is, might it perhaps be Centurion Lin's insider?"
The look of utter contempt vanished entirely from Lady Jia's face, replaced by a cautious gaze as she appraised Zhu Hao.
"What else do you know?"
Lady Jia's attitude grew serious.
"This grandson needs time to investigate, but right now I wish to know more intelligence concerning Centurion Lin's insider. Is this person of Brocade Guard background, and did they come to Anlu accompanied by their father? Or perhaps something happened halfway, making Centurion Lin's relationship with this person... rather distant, maintaining a polite and cautious detachment?"
Zhu Hao had already roughly guessed the direction.
Since they were a secret agent lurking within the mansion, they undoubtedly hailed from the Brocade Guard.
Why would a piece of intelligence as superficial as Lu Bing serving as a study companion be kept hidden? Unless Centurion Lin's insider wished to prevent the young Lu Bing from being dragged into danger...
When viewed this way, Centurion Lin's insider practically named themselves.
Was it not Lu Bing's father, Lu Song?
Lu Song's father, Lu Chi, had served as a Brocade Guard Banner Officer back in the day and had come to Anlu when the Prince of Xing established his fiefdom. Having such a background and working for the Brocade Guard made perfect sense.
Lady Jia wore a solemn expression. "Centurion Lin... did he seek you out alone?"
Zhu Hao shook his head.
Lady Jia knitted her brows tightly, muttering softly to herself, "I suppose he wouldn't... But how do you know so much? No, wait—who was that Master Lu who recommended you into the mansion in the first place?"
Perhaps the things Zhu Hao had spoken of had exceeded Lady Jia's comprehension, causing the old matriarch to start wondering how Zhu Hao had suddenly become so sharp and enlightened.
"Grandmother, this grandson was merely guessing... It was because you mentioned to Centurion Lin just now that he had an insider in the mansion, and this grandson deduced it step-by-step, suspecting it might be related to those guards in the Princely Mansion's Guard Command. No one told me anything." Zhu Hao replied.
Lady Jia pondered this.
Only that explanation made any sense.
Her tone softened slightly. "I never expected that at such a tender age, you would possess such an acute ability to observe minute details. No wonder you were selected as a study companion for the Prince of Xing's Mansion among so many children without ever having received formal schooling."
"Grandmother flatters me."
Zhu Hao hastily put on the modest demeanor expected of a child.
"You are right. Centurion Lin once mentioned that this person has lurked within the mansion for many years, inheriting the position from their father. Perhaps when his father passed away, he failed to pass on the court's duties to his son, causing the court to be unable to detect his existence for these past few years, only making contact quite recently..."
"However, Centurion Lin did not mention precisely who it is. If you are able to find out who this person is... that would be a monumental achievement, and Grandmother will certainly reward you handsomely."