Chapter Fifty-One: Home Visit (Second Update, Please Support!)
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Lu Song wore an expression of deep melancholy as he left the prince’s study; his entire demeanor seemed drained and unsettled. The final outcome had taken him by surprise.
If all of this had been carefully orchestrated by Zhu Hao from the start—if he had only offered to leave because he knew the prince’s residence would try to keep him—then how cunning must this boy be?
No, that couldn’t be right.
He was only seven years old; it was impossible for him to harbor such deep scheming!
But if one were to think further, could the whole fire have been part of his design? How could he have ensured he would emerge from the flames unharmed? Had he not anticipated the main gate being blocked by Jiang Maosun and the others? Yet the fire hadn’t spread to the entrance at that time; was he deliberately setting the fire around himself indoors...?
Unconsciously, Lu Song found himself near the Chunhui Gate in the inner courtyard. There, he saw Zhu Hao sitting quietly in a corner, while the debate in the yard was still ongoing.
A group of craftsmen were fiercely arguing over whether Li Shun and the others had prior knowledge, and who the accomplices of the Sharp-Tipped Pickaxe gang might be. Zhang Zuozheng of the Prince’s Residence was having the records taken.
Lu Song thought to himself, “What fools, so eager to factionalize and argue endlessly, only to have the residence record everything as ironclad evidence? When dogs bite each other, they end up tearing themselves apart. Must this escalate to mutual destruction?”
“Guard Lu, why are you only coming out now? Please see me out of the residence...” Zhu Hao approached directly, making the request.
Lu Song’s face hardened. “Chief Yuan has ordered that you must remain in the residence... I’ll arrange a new place for you shortly.”
“Ah!?” Zhu Hao’s momentary surprise soon gave way to a look of utter terror.
Lu Song frowned. “Didn’t you say you’d asked the prince for permission to leave, and both the prince and Chief Yuan had agreed?”
Zhu Hao didn’t answer but instead asked with fright, “Guard Lu, does your residence intend to leave no survivors?”
Lu Song was taken aback.
What did the boy mean?
Was he suggesting that the prince’s residence was about to ‘close its doors and beat the dog to death’?
“My question remains unanswered!” Lu Song said coldly. The situation was moving in the direction he feared most. Whether or not it was part of Zhu Hao’s plan, his vigilance skyrocketed.
Zhu Hao was nearly in tears.
“When I saved those people, I was scared I’d die in the fire. I don’t want rewards—I want to go home. But you’re going back on your word... I’m going to find Chief Yuan. He promised I could leave...”
With that, Zhu Hao tried to rush into the inner courtyard, seemingly intent on confronting Yuan Zonggao.
Lu Song grabbed him firmly, shouting harshly, “No matter what, you must stay in the residence now. Your bedding was burned—I'll arrange replacements right away. Come with me!”
...
Lu Song’s mind was full of questions, but he dared not disobey Yuan Zonggao’s orders.
Zhu Hao was to remain, and Lu Song was uneasy. He had to guard against any further moves from Zhu Hao, while also contemplating how to report today’s matters to Lin Baihu.
Was he really supposed to tell Lin Baihu that Zhu Housong had been trapped in the fire, that Zhu Hao had nothing to do but the secret royal guards’ spy had risked his life to rescue him?
The Prince’s Residence’s Guard Office was located on the west side. According to the old map of Xingfu, it was marked as the “Ceremonial Armory,” with the main building and east and west wings each containing three rooms. Records from the Wanli era and the eighth year of Hongzhi confirmed that the eastern side housed the “Imperial Stables,” though at this time it was simply called the stables.
“Use my bedding for now—it’s what I usually use when on duty... Don’t wander around here, I’ll arrange a proper room for you later.”
Lu Song’s face darkened as he led Zhu Hao to the guard office, letting him use the bedding he normally used while on shift or resting during the day, then went off to handle security and disaster aftermath tasks for the residence.
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The cause of the fire could not be definitively pinned on the Sharp-Tipped Pickaxe gang. Even if they were responsible, the residence had to guard against a larger conspiracy behind it. The prince’s residence heightened its defenses. As the ceremonial guard commander, Lu Song was busy and could not personally attend to something as minor as settling Zhu Hao.
After briefly instructing two subordinates, Lu Song went to the east courtyard.
More than an hour later, after finishing his tasks, Lu Song returned and wanted to check on Zhu Hao’s arrangements. But the guard office was empty. When he asked his men, one looked surprised: “Boss, didn’t he say he was going to find you? Didn’t you see him?”
Lu Song’s heart skipped a beat.
Could this boy be up to some trick again?
He had thought to scold his men for not keeping watch, but Zhu Hao was now the residence’s celebrated fire hero, and had always been by Lu Song’s side. Chief Yuan had even ordered Lu Song to arrange lodging for him. No one suspected him when he said he was going to find Lu Song.
“Go find him and bring him back!”
...
Lu Song was tense, fearing Zhu Hao would barge into the inner courtyard and disturb the residence’s womenfolk.
But when he asked the gate guards, he learned that Zhu Hao had slipped out while everyone was busy moving things, claiming he was going home to get new bedding.
He had run away?
Lu Song was genuinely shocked.
“Guard Lu, didn’t you tell him he could go out?” asked the guard at the west gate, curious.
Would Zhu Hao lie about such a thing?
Hadn’t Lu Song previously instructed his trusted men to let Zhu Hao pass unimpeded if he left through the east gate, even suggesting he not return once outside? Now that Zhu Hao was at the west courtyard, shouldn’t those instructions still hold?
Lu Song suddenly realized that when Zhu Hao had asked for help going in and out of the residence, he had indeed informed a few trusted men. Now the boy had taken advantage of that and secretly slipped out!
Lu Song thought, “Thanks to this rescue, the boy finally has a foothold in the residence, even studying alongside the heir. This is a huge step forward in completing his mission. Why would he run away? No, he must come back!”
But after asking around, he learned that the moment Zhu Hao left the west courtyard, the boy had found an excuse to escape, clearly not intending to stay.
Helpless, Lu Song could only report to Yuan Zonggao.
...
Zhu Hao had indeed gone home.
To act, one must commit fully. The Prince’s Residence was full of cunning old foxes; if he didn’t cover his tracks thoroughly, would they believe the fire had nothing to do with him?
If they harbored the slightest suspicion, his future would be doomed.
So...
“Xiao Hao, why are you back? What happened to your clothes...?”
Zhu Hao’s mother, Zhu Niang, had been minding the shop alone, overwhelmed without her strong helper. Suddenly, seeing her son return on a day he was not off work, she was startled.
Zhu Hao said, “There was a fire at the residence. I almost... Never mind, mother. I won’t say more. I’ll change clothes now and won’t go back today!”
Zhu Hao had another reason for leaving the residence.
Though his outer clothes were blackened and riddled with holes from the fire, the garments underneath were untouched. However, the outer clothes still carried traces of phosphorus powder. If examined closely, the secret might be uncovered.
Staying at the residence without a change of clothes risked discovery if someone brought him replacements.
He had to return home and destroy the evidence.
Swiftly, he went to the backyard, changed out of the ruined clothes, and burned them in the firepit until only white ash remained, erasing all traces.
“Brother, what are you doing? Mother’s calling you.”
Zhu Ting’s voice came from outside the room.
Zhu Hao replied, “I’m changing clothes. Tell mother I’ll be out soon.”
...
After handling everything, Zhu Hao went to the front shop.
He didn’t bathe—it was too troublesome and inconvenient. But after washing his face and changing into fresh clothes, he looked vibrant again.
Both Aunt Li and Zhu Niang waited outside.
“Xiao Hao, you said there was a fire at the residence? What happened? Did you go to put it out?”
The fire at the prince’s residence was of no concern to the small shop, nor did anyone suspect Zhu Hao’s involvement. But out of worry, Zhu Niang asked anyway.
Zhu Hao sighed, “Maybe someone wanted me dead in the fire.”
Zhu Niang was shocked. “How could that be?”
At that moment, footsteps approached. Several sedan chair bearers carried a chair, accompanied by guards from the residence’s ceremonial guard unit, led by Lu Song.
When the sedan settled, a man descended. He had pale skin, a three-foot beard under his chin, gray hair tied in a topknot, and wore a blue Daoist robe. This was none other than Yuan Zonggao.
“What an impressive official sedan chair...”
Aunt Li admired aloud, curious why the group stopped outside the shop. When the dignified elder approached, followed by guards carrying swords, she quickly stepped inside.
Zhu Hao and his mother went to the door, and he quickly said, “Mr. Yuan, you... why are you here?”
Zhu Niang, recognizing Yuan Zonggao, hurried to speak respectfully: “You are from the prince’s residence? Sir, I hope my son hasn’t caused you any trouble... he...”
Yuan Zonggao smiled and looked up at the shop sign. “Truly worthy of being the descendant of a loyal and righteous general. Zhu Hao is brave and fearless, outstanding in the residence, and well spoken of... I came personally to see him and to bring a reward for his selfless rescue!”
With a wave, he gestured for Lu Song to present a bulging small package.
Zhu Niang was puzzled. Opening it, she was stunned.
Inside were five official silver ingots, each weighing five taels.
“Ah? This... this...”
Though she was used to doing business and dealing with people, suddenly conversing with such a high-ranking official left her at a loss for words.
More importantly, she had no idea what had truly happened.
Yuan Zonggao smiled and asked, “Won’t you invite this old man in for some tea?”
Only then did Zhu Niang recover, hastily motioning him inside. “Please, Mr. Yuan.”
Yuan Zonggao made himself at home. His visit was essentially a home call. Though he had heard some things about Zhu Hao, secondhand information was unreliable. It was better to see for himself whether the boy’s claims of being an orphan in conflict with his clan were true.
“Xiao Hao, is this Mr. Yuan your tutor at the residence? Is he a scholar, a juren-degree official?” Zhu Niang seized the chance to quietly ask her son.
To her, a juren was a figure of scholarly prestige, worthy of utmost respect.
Calmly, Zhu Hao replied, “He is the residence’s chief steward, a third-rank official without a post, a jinshi graduate. If given a proper appointment, he could serve as a prefect with a fourth-rank title.”
“A jinshi?” Zhu Niang was even more astonished.
By then, Yuan Zonggao had entered the shop and said with a smile, “For a virtuous widow running a business and raising a child, it is indeed difficult. Why not let Zhu Hao enter the residence? The residence will take care to tutor him well—thus honoring the loyal general’s spirit in heaven.”