Chapter 5: All Are Deadly Questions

“Yes, Father!”
In truth, Zhu Biao was deeply curious about that rebellious son of the Zhang family. Since childhood, he had followed Zhu Yuanzhang, learning how to be a good emperor.
Sometimes, Zhu Biao tried to guess his father’s thoughts, but often felt frustrated by his inability to keep pace with the emperor’s ever-changing mind.
When the inspector handed Zhu Yuanzhang the secret report about Dragon and Tiger Mountain, Zhu Biao rarely saw his father so solemn, and he even praised the child’s talent.
Whether he was a celestial being or simply exceptionally clever, at least the emperor had remembered this person.
“Father, do you think that child was truly visited in a dream by Zhang Daoling? You treat the Zhang family this way...”
Still young at heart, Zhu Biao couldn’t help but ask the emperor a question he shouldn’t. Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled:
“What are you afraid of? Back then, Zhou Dian was also a legendary figure, and didn’t I throw him into the river to feed the fish?”
“Son, kings are sons of heaven. We may respect spirits and deities, but we cannot fear them as if they were tigers! What of immortals? Your father is still the emperor. Even if the Zhang family possesses some supernatural powers, shouldn’t they come humbly from Dragon and Tiger Mountain to seek recognition from me?”
“Biao, remember: never lose yourself in the so-called ways of the supernatural, and forget the duties of a king!”
“I understand, Father!”
“Enough. Come with me to change clothes.”
The emperor led the crown prince toward a chamber in a side hall.
...
Within the side hall, Zhang Zhengchang slowly awoke, his heart desolate.
The emperor was nowhere to be seen; only an old eunuch remained to attend him.
He didn’t know what the emperor intended, nor dared to guess. Yet his thoughts were consumed by his youngest son at home.
“My boy was precocious!”
When Zhang Yi was born, he showed signs unlike other children. Upon his birth, he didn’t cry at first, not until Zhang Zhengchang entered and took him in his arms.
The child gazed at him for a while, as if remembering he ought to cry, then let out a few symbolic sobs.
Zhang Zhengchang felt something odd. Looking up, he saw a hundred miles of dark clouds in the sky.
He cast a divination for the child, only to find his fate most unfavorable, especially clashing with his own.
Believing deeply in the skills passed down from his ancestors, Zhang Yi left a shadow in Zhang Zhengchang’s heart. In the days that followed, he rarely interacted with Zhang Yi, and when he did, his manner was cold.
With the child’s intelligence, he naturally sensed his father’s alienation.
This was the root of their strained relationship. Yet now, the boy had predicted the emperor’s visit and the ordeal to come, and Zhang Zhengchang’s heart was in turmoil.
Had he been wrong? Was this child not a harbinger of misfortune, but rather the favored heir of his forebears?
Regret gnawed at him. The ancestral master had warned him through Zhang Yi’s lips to beware of risks to the Zhang family, yet he had ignored it.

If not for the old eunuch seated nearby, Zhang Zhengchang would have wanted to slap himself hard.
“Eunuch, where has the emperor gone?”
After waiting a long while with no sign of the emperor, Zhang Zhengchang could not help but ask.
The old eunuch lowered his head and replied,
“His Majesty has gone to change clothes. Please wait, Master.”
“To change clothes?”
Zhang Zhengchang felt a sense of foreboding. He was about to ask more when he saw Zhu Yuanzhang approaching with a young man toward the side hall.
At the sight of Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhang Zhengchang’s body trembled—the emperor was dressed as a commoner. What was he planning?
“Zhang, what do you think of these clothes?”
“Your Majesty, whatever you wear, your noble aura cannot be hidden!”
Seeing the emperor address him, Zhang Zhengchang hurriedly flattered him. The emperor’s gaze was meaningful:
“If that’s true, should I change again? Otherwise, your child might recognize me, which wouldn’t do.”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhengchang’s face flushed then quickly drained of color.
Had he not just drunk a bowl of sugared water, he would surely have fainted again.
The emperor intended to meet his rebellious son, in disguise, and hinted that Zhang Zhengchang must not reveal his identity to Zhang Yi?
He knew Zhang Yi’s character all too well—the boy often spoke astonishing words at home; what would happen with strangers?
If he said anything wrong, the Zhang family risked annihilation.
Now, Zhang Zhengchang could only pray to his ancestors, begging Zhang Yi not to cause trouble.
“Zhang, let’s go!”
At the emperor’s command, the disguised guards led them and Zhang Zhengchang out of the palace, heading toward the Daoist temple where the Zhang family was staying.
Soon, they arrived. Before entering the temple, Zhang Zhengchang heard Deng Zhongxiu’s agitated voice.
“Young master, Master told you not to wander. Why did you run off? If you want to play, wait until the master returns from the palace.”
“Once my father returns, I doubt he’ll be in the mood for fun...”
The exchange between Deng Zhongxiu and Zhang Yi made Zhang Zhengchang want to die on the spot.
Seeing the emperor and crown prince turn back and look at him with meaningful eyes, Zhang Zhengchang’s face reddened. Ashamed and angry, he bellowed,
“Zhang Yi!”
Deng Zhongxiu and Zhang Yi both heard him. Deng Zhongxiu cried out in joy, “Master is back!”

He abandoned Zhang Yi to greet Zhang Zhengchang. Zhang Yi, however, reacted the opposite—he turned and ran toward the inner courtyard.
“Come back here!”
Fearing the boy would disappear—and half hoping he would—Zhang Zhengchang watched as Zhang Yi obediently returned and came to stand before them.
The emperor looked upon the child: fair, delicate, and charming, yet his eyes darted constantly, clearly not one to sit quietly.
Finding Zhang Yi adorable, the emperor couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
“Zhang, this is your second son? He doesn’t look a bit like you—must resemble your wife!”
“My wife?” Zhang Zhengchang took a while to realize he meant his own spouse.
The emperor acted as if among old friends, leaving Zhang Zhengchang stunned. He soon understood: the emperor wanted him to play along.
Under the emperor’s intense gaze, Zhang Zhengchang forced a smile.
“Brother Huang, you’re quite right!”
“Master, who is this gentleman...?”
Zhang Zhengchang’s disciple, Deng Zhongxiu, looked at the group in confusion, but respectfully greeted the emperor.
The emperor was pleased with the child, nodded, and noticed Zhang Yi curiously observing him, but kept his composure.
“My name is Huang He, and this is my son, Huang Mu. Your father and I have been friends for years. Today, we met by chance in the capital, so I came home with him to catch up.”
Zhu Yuanzhang called Zhang Zhengchang “brother” with every sentence, nearly driving Zhang Zhengchang to tears. Having stabbed him twice, now he called him a brother?
Zhang Zhengchang would never dare address the emperor as a brother.
He had already witnessed the emperor’s ruthlessness in the palace, and recalling his imperial cunning gave Zhang Zhengchang chills.
“So it’s Master Huang!”
Deng Zhongxiu bowed again, then eagerly asked,
“Master, now that you’ve returned from the palace, the emperor must have given you many rewards?”
Zhang Zhengchang’s mouth twitched, wishing he could sew Deng Zhongxiu’s lips shut. This was a deadly question—how could he answer?
He squeezed out a smile and said loudly,
“His Majesty’s grace toward our Dragon and Tiger Mountain is boundless!”
Deng Zhongxiu was overjoyed, but Zhang Yi couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.