Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Zhu Han squatted down and looked at him: "But you have no land or property in the village?"

"Hey." Lu Xiaobao laughed as he carried the firewood. "You really know how to ask questions, sir. Even my dad wouldn't dare say something like that."

“But I dare,” he said in a low voice. “I’ve heard you’re from the capital. I’d like to ask you for a favor.”

"What's the matter?"

Lu Xiaobao suddenly turned around, his voice so low it was almost inaudible: "My mother... fell ill three years ago. The village doctor only said it was because the water was cold, but she coughed up blood day and night. Some people said the well was unclean, but no one in the village was willing to replace it."

"You mean—the main well?" Zhu Biao asked solemnly.

“Yes.” Lu Xiaobao nodded vigorously. “But the well was built with funds allocated by the county. The village headman said it can’t be touched, saying it was ordered by the imperial court.”

Zhu Han's face instantly turned cold: "It's that 'the imperial court said' again."

He looked up: "Let's go take a look."

The well is at the end of the village, surrounded by a collapsed stone circle that forms a small pool of water. The water is dark green and shimmers, and has a pungent smell.

Beside the well stands a broken stele: "The well was completed in the third year of Hongwu."

Lu Xiaobao, suppressing his cough, pointed to the well: "My mother started getting sick that year, and three other households in the village also developed coughs."

Zhu Biao squatted down to examine it, dipped his hand in the water, and after taking a sniff, his expression changed immediately: "This water has a muddy and fishy smell, and contains rotten moss. It is not drinkable."

Zhu Han casually tore off a strip of cloth and soaked it in water; the color quickly turned yellow.

"If this well is indeed the one reported by the county government, it will inevitably involve the supply of materials and the work."

Zhu Biao sighed, stood up and looked towards the village entrance: "But if we don't address this, even more people will get sick."

Lu Xiaobao asked in a low voice, "What...can you do?"

Zhu Biao glanced at him and slowly said, "All I can do is speak up for you. As for whether they listen or not, that depends on whether the higher-ups have ears."

Zhu Han walked to a stone slab for drying grain, sat down with his hands folded, and said: "Perhaps we need to invite some 'ears' to listen."

Zhu Han and Zhu Biao sat facing each other for a long time in a corner of the ancestral hall, the candlelight flickering.

Their gazes were calm in the night, yet each of them clearly harbored their own thoughts.

“Xiao Bao is right,” Zhu Han said slowly, his voice low. “This well has far-reaching implications. If we don’t seek justice for the village, I’m afraid that over the years, more and more people will fall ill and more and more people will complain.”

Zhu Biao nodded, a resolute glint in his eyes. "When I return to the palace tomorrow, I will definitely report this matter to the Empress Dowager and send someone to investigate the water quality of this well. However... whether I can get a response quickly is not necessarily in my control."

Zhu Han smiled slightly and patted his nephew on the shoulder, "Your Highness is thoughtful, but I have a faster plan. We will get up early the next day and go to see the village head so that he can introduce us to the county officials to test the water first."

Zhu Biao smiled, but also hesitated slightly. "If the village head is in cahoots with Zhao Guantou, he might not be willing to help us."

“Don’t worry about this,” Zhu Han said. “With me here, he will be wary. Besides, we are not empty-handed; we have the Crown Prince’s token as proof, so he will naturally be more cautious.”

The two smiled at each other and then fell asleep.

At dawn the next day, before the roosters had even crowed, Zhu Han was already standing in front of the village ancestral hall, wearing his robe. Zhu Biao also peeked out from inside the ancestral hall, his clear eyes like still water.

“So he’s here,” Zhu Biao said softly.

Outside the ancestral hall, the village head, carrying a broom and slightly hunched over, was astonished to see Zhu Han and his companion appear: "This... isn't this the Prince and the Crown Prince? When did you arrive in our village?"

Zhu Han bowed slightly: "The villagers have worked hard this morning. Your Highness and I wish to inquire about the well on behalf of the villagers, so we have come to see you. We hope the village head can lend us a word."

Muramasa hurriedly put down the broom, his hands and feet trembling slightly: "This junior is willing to do my best, but I don't know how to ask. Director Zhao is on good terms with the county officials, and if I act rashly, I may be implicated."

Zhu Biao stepped forward and said loudly, "Your Highness is personally leading the expedition today. You only ask whether this well is drinkable, and you do not concern yourself with others. If this water is poisonous and the people are suffering, then someone should uphold justice."

Upon hearing this, Muramasa's expression calmed down slightly, and he cupped his hands and said, "Since it is the Crown Prince's order, this humble general will naturally obey. Please come with me to the well to test the water."

The three of them walked hand in hand through the dimly lit path to the well.

The scene from last night is still vivid in my mind; the well water is dark green and completely still.

Zhu Han bent down to fetch water, gently rubbing it with a plain cloth, his eyes focused.

"Although this water is moist, it is foul and sour. Even after boiling it, it still tastes bitter."

Zhu Han twisted the cloth and showed it to Zhu Biao, who smelled it carefully and his expression became serious.

"Although this well was built during the Hongwu period, it has cracked again after only three years, and the upper layer of mud and moss has decayed, so it is probably not from recent years."

Zhu Han raised his eyes, "If the county magistrate sees this, he will surely open a case to excavate and replace the well. As long as this is done, the people will be convinced."

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment: "Your Highness is incredibly insightful. Since Your Highness has spoken, the water conservancy official will surely come to investigate soon. If everyone in the village, regardless of status, can drink the water without worry, then the complaints will be quelled."

Upon hearing this, the village head was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly: "Thank you both for your kindness! I will immediately discuss it with Steward Zhao and submit the accounts to the county so that the imperial envoy can verify them. Our entire village will forever remember the great kindness of the Prince and the Crown Prince!"

Zhu Biao helped him up: "Don't rush, this matter must be handled carefully. You should first contact Steward Zhao, but don't let him know that His Highness is personally investigating the water. Just say 'the government has given an order,' so as not to arouse his suspicion."

Muramasa accepted the order and turned to run off. Zhu Han patted Zhu Biao's shoulder, "Leave this matter to him. We need to go back to the inn to rest for a while and then plan our next move."

As the night dew gradually evaporated, the morning light filtered through the windows of the ancestral hall, casting strands of gold.

The two walked side by side, their footsteps silent, yet both were preoccupied with their own thoughts.

Back at the guesthouse, Zhu Han and Zhu Biao enjoyed tea in the courtyard.

Zhu Biao asked in a low voice, "Does Your Highness have other intentions?"

Zhu Han took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Although I am not in charge, I am well aware of the dangers in the court and the countryside. This trip, conducted incognito, is not only to observe the people's suffering but also to understand the thoughts of people from all sides. Today's well incident is just the beginning."

Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow: "Introduction? What does Your Highness intend to do?"

Zhu Han looked directly at his nephew, "Your Highness's actions have solidified the foundation for recommending virtuous officials. If the county magistrate comes to investigate in the future, he should not only examine the water inspection case, but also check the project accounts for this well, the waterworkers' and craftsmen's material lists... to find out where the official funds are flowing behind the scenes. If corruption can be uncovered, it will deter local forces and help the Crown Prince gain prestige."

Zhu Biao was slightly taken aback, but then praised, "Brilliant plan. I'm just afraid that the officials in the Northern Prefecture are too cunning and meticulous, making this difficult to carry out."

Zhu Han smiled without speaking, then said in a deep voice, "Therefore, those who invite me to accompany you need several people familiar with Yin-Yang and water conservancy to provide assistance on the spot. I will have the village headman ask you to record the old history of your village and list the names of the people who built the well back then. If we are lucky enough to find their descendants, we will surely have clues."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao's eyes flashed. "Your Highness the Crown Prince is indeed a man of exceptional wisdom. I never knew that I had always been so meticulous in my planning."

Zhu Han smiled and said, "Your Highness has been preoccupied with state affairs in recent years and has not paid close attention to such trivial matters. I have only realized this today. In the future, if there are such minor matters, Your Highness should let go and let me distract you."

Zhu Biao waved his hand gently, "Your Highness and I are of one mind, how can there be any talk of being distracted?" That night, the two packed their belongings, took the plain cloth used to fetch water the night before and a piece of broken stone from the well with the words "Hongwu Year 3" engraved on it, and quietly left the village, walking along the mountain path.

The villagers slept soundly in the distance, and the embers of the torches still shone, illuminating the silhouettes of the two figures.

"Where are we going?" Zhu Biao asked in a low voice.

Zhu Han pulled down his hood, revealing moonlight reflected in his eyes: "Your Majesty, I wish to visit an old residence called 'Ding Xiang's House.' I have heard that the well-building project was undertaken by this prominent Ding family."
Unfortunately, the family fortunes declined thirty years later, and their home is now abandoned and deserted. If we can find Ding Xiang's descendants, they will surely have some of the account books from that time; otherwise, we can at least learn the details from them.

Zhu Biao nodded. "Was it found successfully?"

Zhu Han smiled and said, "This matter requires a bit of luck, but if we don't try, we won't know. Let's wait and see."

The mountain path wound its way through the night, carpeted with chestnut leaves. The two walked silently, their steps carried by the night wind.

Zhu Biao suddenly asked, "Your Highness, if officials come to inspect the area the next day, will everything proceed smoothly?"

Zhu Han slowly said, "The clues we left behind are enough to prompt the county magistrate to allocate funds for reconstruction, and the village head and Zhao Guantou will naturally be filled with apprehension."

At that time, Your Highness can also take the opportunity to appease Zhao Guantou, demonstrating both kindness and severity.

He paused, then softened his tone again, "In this way, local forces will both benefit and be forced to submit, and Your Highness's prestige will increase significantly."

The moonlight, like water, illuminated the dilapidated brick walls and broken tiles along the roadside. That was once the magnificent Ding family compound, but time has been merciless, eroding its luxurious mansion into desolation.

"Is this the Ding residence?" Zhu Biao stopped and looked up at the mottled patterns on the courtyard wall.

Zhu Han nodded, raised his sleeve to wipe away the dust in the corner of the wall, revealing the three characters "Ding Family Ancestral Hall" in clerical script. "Ding Xiang was famous for a time. When he was repairing the well, he was in charge of the accounting books. Later, due to a lawsuit with the court, he was forced to move to another place, and the Ding family declined from then on."

His voice was steady, yet tinged with emotion: "If you want to find the remaining fragments of the account book, you must first find the descendants of Ding Xiang."

"But this abandoned house is uninhabited, and its descendants have probably moved away long ago."

Zhu Biao frowned. "Has Your Highness inquired about where Lady Ding has gone?"

Zhu Han sighed softly: "I once saw an official document in the capital stating that the Ding family moved to the Xunzhou area, and there may still be a family with the surname Ding remaining nearby. The moon is bright tonight, so let's first go into the old house and look for some clues, and then go out at dawn tomorrow to inquire in the nearby villages."

Zhu Biao rolled up his sleeves and said in a deep voice, "Alright, I will follow Your Highness's arrangements."

Zhu Han nodded, signaling him to follow. The two climbed over the crumbling wall and entered the Ding residence through the gate.

The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, stone pillars leaned precariously, and a broken stone path led to the rear hall.

Zhu Han lightly touched the ground with his toes and entered the hall. He saw that the central offering table was still covered in ashes, and the ancestral tablet had long since fallen, with broken porcelain pieces scattered all over the ground.

“Look at the base of this altar, there seems to be an engraving. Let’s get closer.”

Zhu Han bent down, pointed to a bluestone paving stone, and said calmly, "Back then, the Ding family was wealthy, and bluestone was laid in front of the palace, engraved with their family crest. If you can identify the pattern of the family crest, you may be able to send a letter to the officials in the capital to retrieve the Ding family's household registration records in Xunzhou."

Zhu Biao stepped forward and took out a folding fan. "Let me see."

He turned to the side, and the moonlight shone into the fan-shaped area, reflecting the faint relief on the bluestone: a pair of phoenixes with outstretched wings, their feathers adorned with auspicious cloud patterns.

"This pattern is indeed the emblem of the Ding Xiang family."

Zhu Han looked pleased. "This confirms their identity. This trip was worthwhile. Tomorrow we can go to Xunzhou to inquire and perhaps find the descendants of the Ding family."

The two looked around and suddenly heard a soft sound outside, like footsteps.

Zhu Biao frowned slightly: "Someone's here? Why would someone enter this place so late at night?"

Zhu Han composed himself and walked out of the back hall side by side with Zhu Biao. They saw a middle-aged man, covered in dust and grime, sitting in a corner not far away. His hair was disheveled, his clothes were tattered, and he was leaning on a cane, looking at them.

"Who are you?" the man asked in a hoarse voice, tinged with wariness.

Zhu Han said loudly, "I am Zhu Han, the Crown Prince's uncle. I have come here incognito with His Highness the Crown Prince to inquire about the Ding family's past. May I ask if any descendants of Ding Xiang have ever lived here?"

Upon hearing the words "Crown Prince," the man's expression changed, but he hesitated for a long time before asking, "You...you are really the Crown Prince?"

Zhu Biao bowed and said, "I am Zhu Biao, a humble citizen. Please rest assured, brother, today is just a field trip and investigation. I have no other intentions."

The man looked up, still puzzled, but then noticed a faint tassel peeking out from Zhu Han's cuffs, revealing his extraordinary bearing. He nodded slightly.

“My surname is Chen. Due to family debts, I left Xunzhou and stayed here temporarily. Although the Ding family moved away many years ago, people still occasionally come to this courtyard to offer sacrifices. I came here last night to search through old things, hoping to find some money to make ends meet, but I didn’t expect to run into His Highness the Crown Prince.”

A hint of relief flashed in Zhu Han's eyes. "Brother Chen is absolutely right. Although the former master of the Ding family is long gone, the fragments of the scrolls passed down by the old man may still be in a nearby dilapidated temple. I wonder if I could invite you to go and explore with me?"

After hesitating for a moment, the man surnamed Chen finally nodded. "That's right. There's a chest hidden by the former steward of the Ding family in that abandoned temple on the back mountain. It's said that it contains some family letters. Unfortunately, the place is abandoned and prone to collapse. It would be too dangerous for one person to go there."

Zhu Biao immediately stepped forward, "Since you are familiar with this route, please lead the way. Your humble servant and the Imperial Uncle will certainly travel together."

Chen Han nodded, propped himself up with his cane, and walked slowly forward. Zhu Han and Zhu Biao followed, and the three of them stepped onto an exceptionally secluded mountain path under the moonlight.

Along the way, withered vines clung to the walls, and broken trees lay across the ground. Occasionally, night birds would be startled and fly away, their chirping echoing through the mountains like weeping.

Before long, they arrived at a dilapidated temple.

The temple gate was half-closed, the eaves were broken, and the walls were mottled.

Chen Han stopped in front of the door and said in a low voice, "Behind this temple is an ancient locust tree. Back then, the Ding family steward often lit a lamp here to read at night, so he hid the family's book box at the base of the locust tree. I once came here to get food when I was hungry and saw the location of the box."

Zhu Han nodded, flicked his sleeve to reveal a small lantern he carried with him, its dim light reflecting his calm expression. "Thank you for your guidance, Brother Chen. If we can see the Ding family's letter on this trip, we will know the ins and outs of the account books, and it will also help Your Highness to enhance your prestige in the court."

The three followed the sound into the temple, where there was no longer a statue of a deity in the center of the hall, and the ground was covered in dust.

Zhu Biao crouched down to examine the engravings on the floor tiles and discovered a hidden groove at the base of the pillar.

Zhu Han tapped the temple pillar lightly with his fingers, listening to the echo, which sounded like hollow metal. He then gestured for Chen Han to step back, and reached out to pull the pillar ring. Immediately, a section of brick wall on the side of the temple slid open, revealing a narrow passage.

"This passage leads to the depths of the outer mountains. In the past, the steward of the Ding family built this secret room in order to protect the secret manual."

Chen Han's expression was solemn. "Many people have mistakenly entered, and some have even lost their lives there to this day."

Zhu Biao frowned. "If there are hidden traps, Your Highness should be careful."

Zhu Han smiled and said, "I am familiar with the mechanisms here. Brother Chen, please lead the way while Your Highness provides cover from the outside."

He bowed respectfully and said, "Please." (End of Chapter)