Recently, the focus of Gao Village had shifted heavily toward the sea, as fleets moved, cannons roared, and influence expanded across waves that once belonged to foreign powers, leaving the mainland momentarily quieter but no less tense beneath the surface.
On land, however, the atmosphere was anything but calm.
Inside the imperial court, Zhu Youjian was in a state that could only be described as barely contained fury, pacing like a man who had lost control of a board game where every piece suddenly started moving on its own.
"Where is Cao Wenzhao?" he demanded, his voice sharp enough to cut through the air. "I ordered him to deal with Zheng Zhilong's fleet, so why has there been no report for so long? Did he vanish into the sea along with his ships?"
Beside him, Cao Huachun bowed slightly, his tone cautious yet steady, clearly experienced in navigating the emperor's temper.
"Your Majesty, the sea is vast and unpredictable, unlike land warfare where movements are easier to track. Once a naval force sets out, it is not unusual for months to pass without news."
Zhu Youjian clicked his tongue in frustration, clearly dissatisfied but lacking a better target for the moment, so his anger simply shifted direction like a storm changing course.
"Zheng Zhilong truly cannot change his bandit nature," he snapped, slamming his palm against the table. "Not only did he refuse to submit properly, he actually dared to support Zhu Yujian and openly rebel. Back then, we should never have accepted his surrender. Who was the one who vouched for him?"
Cao Huachun hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering.
"The Governor-General of Liangguang, Xiong Wencan."
"Strip him of his position immediately," Zhu Youjian ordered without hesitation, as if cutting off a diseased limb.
Cao Huachun quickly raised his head, this time speaking more firmly.
"Your Majesty, that would not be wise. Zheng Zhilong still has strongholds along the Fujian coast, and the Fujian administration alone cannot suppress him. We need coordination from Liangguang to gather sufficient military strength. Removing Xiong Wencan now may disrupt the entire campaign."
Zhu Youjian narrowed his eyes, suspicion flickering.
"And what if he is already colluding with Zheng Zhilong?"
Cao Huachun forced a small, awkward smile.
"A Governor-General of his standing would not go that far… most likely."
Before the conversation could settle, hurried footsteps echoed from outside, followed by the sudden appearance of Wang Cheng'en, the emperor's personal attendant, his face pale with urgency.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"
Zhu Youjian's heart sank slightly, though his expression remained tense.
"What now?"
Wang Cheng'en swallowed before speaking.
"The son of Prince Fu, Zhu Youzhong… has rebelled. He is using the same slogan as Zhu Yujian, accusing Your Majesty of ruining the country and even claiming that he could rule better himself."
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Then Zhu Youjian inhaled sharply, almost choking on his own breath.
"Prince Fu? That three-hundred-jin glutton?" he blurted out in disbelief. "He is terrified of death, yet his son dares to rebel? How does that even make sense?"
Wang Cheng'en looked just as helpless.
"Your servant… does not know either."
Zhu Youjian forced himself to think, though his thoughts were beginning to scatter.
"What about the Henan Governor, Fan Shangjing? Prince Fu only has five hundred guards. This should be crushed immediately."
Wang Cheng'en lowered his head further.
"Fan Shangjing… has declared his support for Zhu Youzhong."
That single sentence hit harder than any battlefield defeat.
Zhu Youjian staggered backward several steps, as if the ground beneath him had shifted.
Even Cao Huachun fell silent, because just moments ago he had confidently claimed that high officials would not betray the court, only for reality to slap that statement into irrelevance.
"Has he gone mad?" Zhu Youjian muttered, his voice trembling between anger and disbelief. "Calling me an incompetent ruler? If that fat pig's son sits on the throne, he will be even worse."
Cao Huachun carefully corrected him.
"Prince Fu may be… like that, but Zhu Youzhong is not the same."
"Mobilize the army," Zhu Youjian suddenly roared, his composure snapping. "Send troops immediately. What forces are available in Henan? Who opposes Fan Shangjing?"
Cao Huachun answered quickly.
"General Gao Jie of Henan has long been at odds with him."
"Where is Gao Jie now?"
"At Dalinghe, awaiting Your Majesty's command to attack Shenyang."
At that moment, something subtle shifted in the air.
Because everyone knew why Gao Jie had been waiting for so long.
The emperor himself had delayed the order.
No one said it out loud, yet Zhu Youjian felt as if the entire room was whispering it.
He glanced around.
Cao Huachun seemed to be saying it.
Wang Cheng'en seemed to be saying it.
Even the pillars, the walls, the roof, every tile above his head seemed to echo the same silent accusation.
"Incompetent ruler."
The words grew louder in his mind until they drowned everything else.
"Enough!"
Zhu Youjian shouted, his voice cracking.
"Get out. All of you, leave me. I need silence."
Cao Huachun immediately lowered his head and pulled Wang Cheng'en out with him, both retreating as quickly as possible.
The moment they stepped outside, the sound of something shattering echoed from within the room.
---
Meanwhile, in Luoyang, inside Prince Fu's residence, the atmosphere could not have been more different.
Zhu Changxun, the famously overweight prince, was happily eating without a single trace of concern, fully immersed in the simple joy of food.
Today's dish had an unusual name.
"Shrimp Balls."
The packaging even claimed it was a specialty from Chengdu, though the advisors from Chengdu present in the residence all insisted they had never heard of such a thing.
Zhu Changxun did not care in the slightest.
If it came from Dao Xuan Tianzun, then it must be heavenly food, and if it claimed to be from Chengdu, then it was surely from some celestial version of Chengdu far beyond mortal knowledge.
As he ate with great enthusiasm, Fan Shangjing walked in, smiling casually.
"Your Highness, still eating as always. Have you gained more weight recently?"
Zhu Changxun sighed dramatically, though his hands never stopped moving.
"Another twenty jin, unfortunately. I truly wish to lose weight, but these heavenly foods are simply too good. There is no end to them. Would you like to try one?"
Fan Shangjing shook his head.
"I am here to discuss something important."
Zhu Changxun paused slightly, finally looking up.
"Important? I have already sold all my land to the village committee at a low price, and now I only have this residence left. I was even considering investing in a private railway with Zhu Cunji. What more is there to discuss?"
Fan Shangjing smiled faintly.
"This is not a discussion. It is a notification."
Zhu Changxun blinked.
"A notification?"
Fan Shangjing spoke calmly.
"You are now a rebel."
Zhu Changxun froze.
Then he nearly choked.
"What do you mean I am a rebel?" he exclaimed, his voice rising sharply. "I have done nothing wrong. I have been obedient to Dao Xuan Tianzun, I have not harmed anyone, how could I suddenly become a rebel? Are you trying to frame me?"
Fan Shangjing waved his hand dismissively.
"Not against Dao Xuan Tianzun. Against the court."
A slow question mark seemed to appear above Zhu Changxun's head.
Fan Shangjing continued.
"Your son, Zhu Youzhong, has rebelled. You did not know?"
Zhu Changxun immediately spat out a piece of food in shock, forcing Fan Shangjing to step aside.
"Watch it," he said with a frown. "That is unpleasant."
Seeing Zhu Changxun's genuine confusion, Fan Shangjing chuckled.
"I suspected you had no idea, which is why I came personally. Your son studied at Gu Yanwu's school and became quite the radical reformer. A few days ago, he gathered a group of students and openly denounced the emperor, even declaring that he would govern better."
Fan Shangjing folded his hands behind his back, looking quite satisfied.
"Frankly, I found his argument rather convincing, so I decided to support him."
Zhu Changxun blinked several times, processing this information in his own unique way.
Then he suddenly relaxed.
"Oh, so he is rebelling against the court, not against Dao Xuan Tianzun," he said, patting his chest in relief. "You nearly scared me to death. If it is just the court, then let him rebel as he pleases. What does that have to do with me?"
He immediately pushed the plate forward again.
"Come, try one. This Shrimp Ball is excellent."