Chapter Eighty-Six: Taking Refuge from the Heat

After receiving detailed intelligence from within Mongolia, Zhu Yu understood that he could no longer stir up trouble there for the time being. He could only wait for another opportunity in the future.

So Zhu Yu stopped overthinking it. Each day, apart from dealing with a few trivial matters of state, he spent his time wandering through the imperial harem in lingering delight.

Before long, several months had passed. The biting cold of winter had quietly receded, replaced by the blazing sun hanging high overhead.

At that time, in Zhu Yu’s summer palace, more than a dozen ice buckets of all sizes had been placed about the room, filling the chamber with a chill entirely out of season.

Zhu Yu sat upon a couch, while attendants on either side held great folding fans and fanned him incessantly.

As the fans stirred the room’s coolness, they brought Zhu Yu a different kind of comfort.

By then, Zhu Yu had also confirmed that he feared heat even more than cold.

In truth, by all reason, with Zhu Yu’s present martial cultivation, he should no longer have to fear what ordinary people called heat and cold.

But only after experiencing it himself did he realize how ambiguous that saying could be.

For a martial artist not to fear cold and heat meant not being afraid of them, not that one could no longer feel heat when the temperature rose above forty degrees.

What it truly meant was that, as a martial artist’s cultivation deepened, resistance to cold and heat gradually increased. It did not mean that once one’s martial arts reached a high level, one could no longer feel cold or heat at all.

If, no matter how the world changed, one’s own body temperature remained forever constant, then in Zhu Yu’s view that no longer counted as a human being.

Though even if the weather now were like falling fire from the heavens, Zhu Yu could endure it, he was the emperor. Since he had the means to enjoy comfort, why should he live like an ascetic? And to whom would he be proving it?

So Zhu Yu not only enjoyed himself, but intended to enjoy himself even better.

“This damned weather. Go ask how preparations at the summer retreat are going, and when we can set out.”

While eating some homemade shaved ice, Zhu Yu instructed the young eunuch standing at the doorway, already drenched in sweat, to make inquiries.

Upon hearing the emperor’s command, the eunuch did not move. Instead, he bowed and said, “Your Majesty, this servant already went to ask yesterday by your order. If we count from the time needed to finish preparing the retreat, it will still take five days.

“But in truth, Your Majesty can already begin preparations to depart. By the road, it takes thirteen days to travel from the capital to the summer retreat. By the time Your Majesty arrives, everything there should already be in order.”

At the eunuch’s reply, Zhu Yu frowned and asked, “If that is so, why has no one told me? Every time I ask, I am told the place is still not ready?”

“Your Majesty, according to custom, the capital is only allowed to begin preparing the departure from the palace after the summer retreat has finished its own preparations.

“But this year’s heat is truly unbearable. This servant feared that Your Majesty might suffer even the slightest harm from it, and so I took the liberty of telling Your Majesty of this time-saving method.”

Zhu Yu had already spent several years in the imperial palace and long ago formed the habit of ignoring the flattery of those under him.

“Well done. Issue the order: we leave tomorrow.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. This servant obeys.” At Zhu Yu’s words, the eunuch was overjoyed. One had to know that arranging imperial travel was not something a eunuch of his rank would ordinarily ever have the chance to do.

In other words, with a casual sentence from Zhu Yu, the eunuch had risen in status. That brief remark alone had saved him at least three years of effort.

Though the little eunuch was ecstatic, not a trace showed on his face. Having served at Zhu Yu’s side, he had long since memorized the palace’s various rules and etiquette.

Gathering his thoughts, the eunuch asked, “Your Majesty, if you depart for the summer retreat tomorrow, there is still one matter that requires your decision.”

“What matter?”

“Which concubine should accompany Your Majesty on this trip to the summer retreat?”

At the question, Zhu Yu’s mind did not quite catch up at first.

Only a few consorts could be brought along? Then what about the rest? Would they not be scorched to death? After all, not many of them knew martial arts.

“I will bring no one. Send word to the harem: if anyone cannot endure the heat in the palace, she may go to the summer retreat on her own.”

“This... Your Majesty, the summer retreat is not the same as the imperial palace. If all the concubines within the inner palace were to go, the retreat may not have enough room.”

“Then calculate how many can be accommodated, and hand the number of places to the harem so they may choose for themselves.”

Zhu Yu came up with another idea. In any case, he would not be the one choosing; he was already in the advanced stage of choice paralysis, a condition he had suffered from in his previous life as well.

Seeing that the emperor did not intend to bring any consorts along, the eunuch said no more. After bowing, he withdrew to attend to his duties.

.......................................

Five days later, Zhu Yu and the convoy accompanying him were on the road to the summer retreat, and at that very moment, a small incident occurred within the palace.

Had Zhu Yu still been in the capital, that small incident would have become a matter of the utmost importance.

At that moment, beyond the palace walls, two men stood under the blazing sun, talking over one another without end.

“Old Li, what on earth possessed you? Why must you go to the palace and become a eunuch? You’ve had such a good life—meat and wine every day, and when you feel like it, you can even go to the gambling house and play a few rounds.

“Don’t tell me you got carried away at the gambling house, lost your money, and someone forced you into this?”

“Damn it, I’ve dominated the gambling houses for more than ten years. When have I ever lost?” Old Li snapped, nearly jumping in agitation.

“Hm?”

“What do you mean by that? I only lose a few rounds now and then, and never by much.”

“Then why are you doing this? The palace is no good place. Since we’ve been gambling buddies for so many years, listen to me and go back. If you’re short on money, I’ll lend you some for old times’ sake.”

“Brother, I appreciate your kindness, but you asked me why I made up my mind, and I’ll tell you: it was you who set me on it.”

“Me? Old Li, you’re joking, right?”

“Of course not. Back when you were doing even worse than I was, just because you were taken away to be castrated, look at what you’ve become now.

“You didn’t end up as a eunuch, but you’re practically about to become one of the Four Secret Agents of the Dragon Guard Manor. You’re living carefree, with plenty to eat and drink, and a fistful of money in your hand.

“A while ago, that young nobleman you brought to the gambling house—you thought you hid it pretty well, but I’d already tricked out her background. I truly never expected that not only would you become one of the Western Secret Agents, you’d also be a husband-in-law to the princess.”

The moment Old Li finished speaking, Cheng Shifei at his side was stunned.

“You found out? No, that’s not right. Could it be you want to become a eunuch because of this? Old Li, have you lost your mind? Besides, things are not what you think—”

Hearing Old Li’s words, Cheng Shifei felt it all rather unbelievable.

“What do you mean, not what I think? I refuse to believe I can do worse than you.”