Chapter 12: Does the Emperor Have a Shoe-Horn Face?

“Perhaps the position of Celestial Master that I lost—this child can help Mount Dragon and Tiger reclaim it?” Zhang Zhengchang keenly sensed that the emperor’s attitude toward Zhang Yi was different from his attitude toward himself. Toward him, Zhu Yuanzhang appeared warm but was actually guarded; yet toward Zhang Yi, he occasionally showed genuine delight.

Zhang Zhengchang couldn’t help but entertain a fleeting, unrealistic hope. He looked at Zhang Yi—whose expression remained resolute—and remembered the days when his son, still swaddled in infancy, would meet his gaze. His son was precocious; as a father, he had noticed this long ago. Equally clear to him was Zhang Yi’s stubbornness.

“Enough, enough. Since you have no desire to stay at Mount Dragon and Tiger, why should I force you? Our Zhang family has a Taoist temple here in the capital as well. I’ll choose one for you—take care of yourself!” Zhang Zhengchang knew that Zhang Yi could not be kept, nor could he persuade him to stay. He could only agree, defeated, to his request. Yet he added, “After all, you’re still young. I’ll leave an elder from Mount Dragon and Tiger to look after you. When you turn sixteen, the sky and sea will be yours—you’ll have your freedom then!”

Zhang Yi heard the melancholy in his father’s words and felt a pang in his heart. The world believed he hated his father, but truly, he felt otherwise. Zhang Zhengchang, shaped by his era, had his limitations. When his father treated him poorly, he pushed back—nothing more. But this man was, after all, his father in this life, and the less-than-pleasant years at Mount Dragon and Tiger were still part of his childhood.

Zhang Yi chose to leave the mountain because he could no longer bear its rules, nor the future he could already glimpse. Since he had crossed over to Great Ming, he wanted to seize the chance to wander, to see and feel a different life—perhaps even witness the rise and fall of familiar figures and events. If so, his journey in this world would be worthwhile.

“Thank you, Father, for granting my wish!” Zhang Yi knelt and bowed three times to his father.

“Enough, enough! I had hoped to guide you at Mount Dragon and Tiger, but little did I know that while you lingered at the foot of the mountain, you had already decided to part ways!” Zhang Zhengchang waved his hand for Zhang Yi to rise, his spirits flagging. “There are outsiders here, don’t go making your old man look bad!”

His use of the word “old man” brought a subtle smile to Zhang Yi’s lips, which he quickly suppressed. Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao exchanged glances, each deep in thought.

“All right, old Zhang. I’ll look after the child, Zhang Yi, so don’t worry! Since he has no interest in the Celestial Master’s position, let him manage things well here in the capital.” With the emperor’s reassurance, Zhang Zhengchang felt a measure of comfort.

“Brother Huang, forgive me for the spectacle. It’s getting late—why not stay for a meal?” Zhang Zhengchang offered casually. The emperor pondered for a moment before agreeing. Hosting the Son of Heaven for a meal was no small matter; Zhang Zhengchang hurried to make arrangements. Soon, a sumptuous meal—inspected by palace guards—was set upon the table.

The Zhu family and the Zhang family sat down to eat and drink. Old Zhu actually stayed because he wanted to ask Zhang Yi about the old immortal’s opinion of him. During the meal, pressed by Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhang Yi revealed some details. The emperor, having heard what he wanted, quietly tested his own suspicions, and his trust in the Zhang family’s ancestor grew. Because of this ancestor, Zhu Yuanzhang’s gaze toward Zhang Zhengchang softened.

“Old Zhang, don’t look so worried. Zhang Yi won’t suffer here in the capital!” Zhang Zhengchang forced a smile; the emperor was right. Although losing the title of Celestial Master was a significant regret and humiliation for the Zhang family, to emerge unscathed under the rule of such a harsh monarch was largely thanks to Zhang Yi.

He had already decided to be as low-key as possible upon returning to Mount Dragon and Tiger—living honestly, cultivating quietly, not disappointing the ancestor’s teachings.

“It’s not that I worry about this brat—with Brother Huang’s care, he won’t suffer. It’s just that whenever I recall the emperor’s grace to my Zhang family, my heart surges with gratitude!” Zhang Zhengchang flattered shamelessly; even he was not immune to such customs. With Zhang Yi’s earlier complaints about the emperor, he needed to make up for it on behalf of Mount Dragon and Tiger. Yet, the moment he steered the conversation back to the emperor, he regretted it.

Zhang Yi, who had been whispering with Zhu Biao, perked up when he heard the conversation turn to the emperor.

“Father, what does His Majesty the Emperor look like?” Zhang Yi was curious about Zhu Yuanzhang’s appearance. Old Zhang was about to praise him, but Zhu Yuanzhang laughed:

“What do you think an emperor should look like—three heads, six arms?” He meant only to tease Zhang Yi, but Zhang Yi’s next words soured his mood for the remainder of the day.

“I’ve heard the emperor has a face like a shoehorn. Is that true?”

The room fell silent; a pin could be heard dropping. Zhang Zhengchang gulped down a mouthful of wine, choked, and clutched his stomach, coughing violently. Anger flared—he stood abruptly.

“You little rascal, spreading slander! Today I’ll beat you to death and cleanse our family’s name!” Damn it, over a thousand lives at Mount Dragon and Tiger had been dragged back from the gates of hell, and now this brat was kicking them right back to the King of Hell.

Zhang Zhengchang was both furious and terrified; keeping this troublemaker close was like harboring a powder keg ready to explode. He started searching for his peachwood sword, determined to punish the boy.

“Father, I was wrong!” Zhang Yi apologized quickly when he saw his father losing his temper. Yet his expression betrayed a lack of sincerity.

“I understand—one must protect the dignity of the ruler!” Zhang Yi muttered to Zhu Biao, causing the Zhu family to laugh and cry at once. Especially Zhu Yuanzhang, who felt a black pot drop from the sky. Though not handsome, he was dignified enough. Shoe horn face—who on earth had started that rumor?

“Where did you hear such rebellious nonsense?” Zhang Zhengchang pointed at Zhang Yi, relentless.

“All right, old Zhang. Children speak without malice, and besides, he’s never seen the emperor himself—he must have heard it from others. Second son of the Zhang family, tell us, where did you hear about the emperor’s appearance?”

Uh...

Zhang Yi realized his offhand words had provoked such a reaction from his father, so he decisively sold out his friend.

“When I was at Mount Dragon and Tiger, I overheard a pilgrim chatting about it. I think his name was Zhang Han.”

“All nonsense! His Majesty the Emperor is clearly dignified, like a god reborn. You’ll kneel in the ancestral hall and copy your apology a hundred times!”

“Let it go, Brother Zhang. He’s just a child—don’t take it too seriously. It’s getting late; I have matters to attend to. Let us meet again on another day!”

“Then allow me to see you off.”

Since the emperor didn’t pursue the matter, Zhang Zhengchang could only thank heaven. He hurried to see the emperor out. As he departed, the deeply immersed monarch patted Zhang Zhengchang’s shoulder:

“Brother Zhang, when I next see that child, everything will be as before, yes?”

Zhang Zhengchang trembled inwardly and quickly bowed.

“As before, Your Majesty.”

Zhu Yuanzhang climbed into his carriage. As he settled in, the genial demeanor of Brother Huang vanished, replaced by the stern, unsmiling Emperor Zhu.