Su Yan’s legs turned to jelly when he heard this.
Twenty court strokes! The infamous court punishment of the Ming Dynasty!
This wasn’t like the light beating from a bamboo stick or belt by his old man in his previous life. It involved being stripped bare and beaten on the backside with thick wooden rods by a group of fierce guards. Each blow could tear the skin open, and with a serious beating, thirty to forty strokes could kill a person. Even twenty strokes could leave him half-dead!
His face turned pale as he quickly tried to think of a solution.
Option one: He could imitate a protagonist from some novel, throw himself at the Emperor’s feet, cry his heart out, and beg for sympathy.
Option two: He could act like another novel’s protagonist, make a dramatic display of noble suffering, and recite something poetic like, “Those who understand me know my sorrows; those who don’t, wonder what I seek,” hoping to win the Emperor’s admiration.
Which approach would be more likely to move the Emperor?
According to historical records, this Emperor Jinglong had a relatively good temper compared to the other emperors of this dynasty, and he was known to be somewhat lenient with his officials. But judging by the current situation, things didn’t quite match the historical records, making it hard to figure out what he favored.
As Su Yan was torn between the two options, and as the guards beside him were ready to drag him off with just one word from the Emperor, the Crown Prince Zhu Helin could no longer hold back. He jumped out and exclaimed, “Royal Father! You can’t punish him! He’s just a frail scholar—how could he withstand twenty strokes? He’ll probably faint on the spot! Where will I find another reading companion then?”
The Emperor, visibly annoyed, scolded, “How dare you! Are you trying to defy my orders by interrupting? Do you think you can disregard my authority so easily?”
Zhu Helin, although somewhat spoiled by favoritism, was not someone who failed to understand the situation. Seeing the unfavorable circumstances, he quickly changed his tone to one of coaxing and ingratiation: “I am only concerned that punishing the subject with twenty blows might tarnish Royal Father’s reputation for benevolence. How about this: spare the twenty blows for now, and if there is any future transgression, both offenses can be punished together. Does that sound acceptable?”
Emperor Jinglong pondered for a moment and then said to Su Yan with a meaningful look, “The Crown Prince has interceded for you, and thus I have spared you this time. However, remember this: you were to be punished with twenty blows. Keep this in mind and conduct yourself with caution in the future; if you act recklessly again, you will face combined penalties for both offenses.”
Hearing that he would be spared from the dreaded big stick, Su Yan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly expressed his gratitude.
At that moment, an inner servant hurriedly entered and reported, “Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine is weeping uncontrollably. The palace staff are concerned for the health of her unborn child and have gone to the Imperial Hospital to summon Imperial Physician Xu and Lin.”
Emperor Jinglong frowned slightly and, with a hint of helplessness, said to the Crown Prince, “I will visit Yongning Palace. You manage the remaining matters yourself.”
Zhu Helin respectfully saw off the Emperor and turned back to see Su Yan still kneeling there. He chuckled and said, “Why are you still kneeling? Get up, get up. It’s just twenty sticks; why are you so scared?”
Su Yan forced a smile, thinking that this young master clearly had never experienced the punitive blows himself or seen the state of those who had. The punishment wasn’t just about bruises and cuts; in some severe cases, it could cause muscle necrosis or even death after a few dozen blows.
He recalled historical records mentioning an official whose flesh had rotted off after being beaten. His wife even took one of the larger pieces home, salted it, and preserved it.
In his previous life, with a sturdy build of over six feet tall, he might have endured a few more blows. Now, with his current slender frame, he feared he might not withstand twenty blows before being sent off to the underworld.
Despite his internal complaints, Su Yan decided to be cautious around the Crown Prince and stood up, bowing respectfully.
Seeing Su Yan’s humble and submissive demeanor, Zhu Helin, who had previously appeared lively and spirited, felt a mix of satisfaction and, inexplicably, a hint of displeasure. He put on a stern face and said, “Tribute Student Su Yan, kneel and listen to the decree.”
Just as he had told him to stand, now he was ordering him to kneel again. Was this deliberate teasing? Su Yan was momentarily stunned but quickly realized that the prince was just playing with him.
Under the circumstances, he had no choice but to endure. He knelt down again, feeling his knees throb painfully against the stone floor. He couldn’t help but shoot a resentful glance at the smug young kid.
To Zhu Helin, it looked like Su Yan was merely raising his face, his eyes fierce and angry, like a cold, clear moon in an inky sky, giving off a striking, almost intimidating beauty.
The young crown prince, who was trying to maintain an air of superiority, was momentarily stunned by Su Yan’s gaze. He felt an unexpected sense of guilt and awkwardness, cleared his throat twice, and signaled the nearby servant to begin reading the imperial decree.
Su Yan perked up his ears. Besides the familiar opening phrase, “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees,” the rest was in classical Chinese, full of dense and obscure language. He struggled to understand most of it, but the key points were clear: “Scholar Su Yan of Fujian, distinguished for your talent and integrity, is hereby granted the position of Secretary of the Bureau of Classics and also serves as a reading companion to the Crown Prince. You are to diligently perform your duties and not fail to meet the Emperor’s expectations.”
“Crown Prince’s reading companion” was easy to understand. Su Yan glanced at the youthful kid before him—though of noble rank, he was just a teenager, no older than a middle school student in modern times. Su Yan, with a degree from a prestigious university, felt demoted to a mere reading companion and scribe, feeling quite disgruntled.
The other title, “Secretary of the Bureau of Classics*,” was less clear. It sounded like… a stableman?
* translating directly sounds like horse washer
Seeing Su Yan’s confusion, Zhu Helin snatched the decree from his hand and thrust it at him, saying fiercely, “Why are you still standing there? Accept the decree and thank me! What’s with that expression? Is being my reading companion such a hardship? Hmph, even if you were among the top three in the imperial exams, you’d only become a seventh-rank editor at the Hanlin Academy. Now, you’re promoted to a fifth-rank official and still have the audacity to scowl!”
Su Yan reluctantly accepted the decree, rising unsteadily and rubbing his aching knees. He muttered, “Fifth rank or not, it’s still just a stableman’s position.”
The young crown prince’s ears were sharp. Though he didn’t fully understand what “stableman” meant, he got the gist and raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about? I’m not sending you to the Ministry of Justice to manage horses. The Bureau of Classics is under the Department of State Affairs, and the Secretary is responsible for managing the palace’s library and records. From now on, all the East Palace’s books will be under your care. Make sure to regularly submit reports on my studies to the Emperor. That pile of Confucian texts gives me a headache, yet every tutor treats them like holy writ, as if even eating and using the toilet should be done according to the sages.”
It seemed that even the Crown Prince was no different from those disinterested middle schoolers. At this age, how many boys truly enjoyed studying diligently?
Recalling his own middle school days, when he was equally playful and often got punished, Su Yan couldn’t help but smile. “Your Highness, even though you are of high status, being confined in the strict palace must be quite stifling. It’s important to find some entertainment and diversion.”
Zhu Helin’s eyes lit up. Grabbing Su Yan’s hand, he said passionately, “You understand me so well! With Grand Tutor Li in prison, I thought I’d enjoy some freedom, but Royal Father has just assigned that boring Director of Board of Rites, Yanxing, to take over. His lectures are even more tedious than the previous one; I’m in for a rough time.”
He suddenly leaned in close to Su Yan’s ear and whispered, “Today, I’m going to have you check the books. I’ll send that old Yan away. There are some new and interesting Western things that just arrived in the East Palace. Let’s go and have a look.”
The warm breath on his ear made Su Yan shiver. He tried to pull away, but Zhu Helin held on tightly and decisively dragged him toward the Duanben Palace.
Duanben Palace, the residence of the Crown Prince, was located on the east side of the Forbidden City, hence also known as the East Palace.
Zhu Helin, thrilled with his new plaything, didn’t use a carriage but dragged Su Yan along, heading briskly toward the East Palace.
He had a lifelong passion for horseback riding and archery and had learned some martial arts from skilled bodyguards. This short journey was nothing to him.
Poor Su Yan, who had been athletic in his past life, now found himself struggling with his slender, weak body. By the time they reached the East Palace, he was panting heavily, sweating profusely, and looked flushed. It took him a while to catch his breath.
Zhu Helin, full of excitement, called for the servants to bring over a half-human-high object and proudly placed it on a low table for Su Yan to see.
“This is a rare Western contraption called an chiming clock. The hands turn according to the time and chime precisely. It’s much more accurate than a water clock.”
Su Yan was initially unimpressed, thinking it was just a large clock, which was once a rarity in China when it was first introduced, regarded as a Western novelty.
However, upon closer inspection, he realized his initial impression was too simplistic. This wasn’t just a clock; it was a remarkably intricate miniature castle, complete with houses, streets, fountains, gardens, and even tiny figures that were vividly detailed and lifelike.
At that moment, the clock struck the hour. A gilded figure at the top of the castle suddenly moved and struck a bronze bell, causing the entire silent castle to come alive. Fountains began to flow in the square, flowers and trees swayed, minstrels lifted their flutes, ladies in lace dresses walked down the street holding parasols, and even a constable with a dog strolled leisurely.
Su Yan marveled at this large, complex mechanical device operated by countless gears and couldn’t help but admire the precision engineering of Europeans from centuries past.
Seeing Su Yan’s astonishment, Zhu Helin felt a sense of pride and pointed to a stationary figure, a young woman. “Originally, this figure was supposed to dance when the bell rang, but it seems something is broken.”
Su Yan, intrigued, rolled up his wide sleeves and extended his slender, pale fingers to examine the figure’s dress. “Perhaps the axle is not lubricated properly and is stuck. Let me take a look.”
Since the Crown Prince was casual in his manner and not addressing him as “subject” anymore, Su Yan felt more comfortable using “I” instead.
Zhu Helin noticed that under the puffy skirt of the foreign doll, the white legs were clearly visible, with delicate pink undergarments showing through. His cheeks flushed slightly, and he awkwardly turned his face away.
Though the customs of the court were open-minded, the education of young princes was very strict, and anything considered inappropriate for their eyes was avoided.
At fourteen, Zhu Helin had not yet encountered women in any intimate way. He was following the principle of “do not look at what is inappropriate” and turned his head, inadvertently finding himself staring at Su Yan’s focused profile.
This sight made him unable to tear his gaze away. Su Yan’s profile was exquisitely detailed, with slightly thin lips and a habitually upturned mouth that seemed to hold a subtle, almost imperceptible smile, exuding a quiet charm even without speaking.
Zhu Helin found himself mesmerized by Su Yan’s thick, gently falling eyelashes and the few strands of black hair that had fallen from his cap, now damp with sweat and sticking to the back of his neck, making the contrast even more striking. He suddenly thought that, compared to Royal Father’s numerous, beautiful concubines, Su Yan seemed like a rare gem.
“It’s indeed stuck. The chain is a bit deformed. I’ll clean the grime and add some oil…” Su Yan turned his head and saw the young crown prince staring at him with a strange expression, which startled him. He quickly wiped his face and checked his attire.
Zhu Helin came back to his senses, feeling a mix of embarrassment and anger, and said gruffly, “Can you fix it? Then you do it. If you can’t, you’ll answer for it!”
Su Yan glanced at the prince and replied, “What if I do fix it? Are you willing to make a bet with me?”
Zhu Helin, provoked, lifted his chin and said, “Fine, let’s make a bet! If you fix it, I’ll reward you with this clock!”
Su Yan smiled inwardly, thinking that Zhu Helin was sure to lose. After all, he had dismantled several computers in the past; an old-fashioned clock was nothing. He quickly gathered clean brushes, fine iron hooks, and needle-nose pliers, using tea oil as a substitute for machine oil, and got to work with swift movements.
After a short while, finding his regular sleeves cumbersome and constantly falling, he simply tied them up at his shoulder, revealing his well-defined arms.
Zhu Helin squatted beside him, watching the repair, and was dazzled by the sight of Su Yan’s white, smooth arms. He couldn’t help but grumble to himself: “A grown man being so pale. With such thin arms and legs, he probably couldn’t even lift a knife. What a disappointment.”
“Done! It’s a small matter!” Su Yan put down his tools, dusted off his hands, and then realized he had spoken out of turn. He quickly added, “That’s a local dialect from my hometown, meaning ‘completed.’”
Zhu Helin, still skeptical, adjusted the hands to the correct time. The gilded figure at the top of the clock began to strike the bell again, and the entire castle came to life. The girl standing by the fountain slowly bent down and started dancing.
Su Yan explained, “The oil I just applied makes the movements a bit stiff; it will be smoother after a while.”
“Hey, it’s really fixed!”
Seeing Zhu Helin happily adjusting the clock, Su Yan couldn’t help but laugh. The young kid was just too naive. Su Yan decided to tease him: “Since I’ve fixed the clock, Your Highness hasn’t forgotten our bet, have you?”
Zhu Helin then remembered the bet and, looking at the exquisitely crafted item with reluctance, turned to Su Yan’s earnest expression. After a moment’s hesitation, he gritted his teeth and said, “This was a gift from Royal Father…. A promise is a promise. I’ll reward you with it.”
Though Zhu Helin was willing to give it, Su Yan was hesitant to accept. Not only was it a gift from the emperor, which was recorded in the palace and could be a serious crime if damaged, but he also didn’t want to take a risk carrying such a precious item home. What would he do with it? Display it as an offering?
He smiled and said, “Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness. However, my humble abode is too small to accommodate such a treasure. It would be safer to leave it in the East Palace. I request Your Highness’s permission.”
Rejecting a gift from the prince outright would be disrespectful. To preserve the prince’s face, Su Yan had provided a polite escape.
Zhu Helin was momentarily taken aback but then broke into a broad smile and warmly embraced Su Yan, saying, “Fine, fine. Qinghe, from now on, follow me closely. I will make sure you are well taken care of.”
As Su Yan thanked him, he thought to himself: Serving the emperor is like walking a tightrope. It’s easy to say nice things now, but without written assurances, if things turn sour later, who would he complain to? The court is treacherous, and the political scene is deceptive. Since I’ve stumbled into this quagmire, I must think more about how to protect myself…
Seeing Su Yan lost in thought, Zhu Helin raised an eyebrow and said, “Worried about what happened in the palace earlier? Don’t worry. If Royal Father didn’t punish you today, he won’t bring it up again in the future. As long as you don’t make any major mistakes, I’ll take responsibility for you.”
Su Yan thought for a moment, frowning slightly. “It seems that Marquis Fengan has some misunderstanding about me. It might be awkward when we meet again in the future.”
He spoke lightly, but Zhu Helin, who was well-acquainted with palace matters, understood the underlying concern. He sneered and said, “He’s just a palace consort’s relative. Always acting so high and mighty. I don’t like him at all. Anyone who dares to harm my people will have to face me!”
With the Crown Prince backing him, Su Yan’s confidence grew considerably. He thought to himself that he needed to hold on tightly to this somewhat inadequate but still significant support until he established himself.
