Those Who Guard, Those Who Seize (1)
Zhu Zhanji did not answer his cousin's jeering.
His pride had been cut to the quick.
Both he and Zhu Zhanhe were shooting with iron bows and iron arrows, but Zhu Zhanji had chosen the iron bow for one reason only: he refused to lose. Zhu Zhanhe, by contrast, had always favored the iron bow. He had inherited his father's massive frame and prodigious strength. Before Jin Myeong's regression, Zhu Zhanhe's father Zhu Gaoxu had once hoisted a copper cauldron weighing three hundred jin—nearly four hundred pounds.
Cultivating inner energy did not dramatically increase raw muscle. It was therefore only natural that Zhu Zhanji, whose strength was the lesser of the two, could not hope to beat Zhu Zhanhe with an iron bow. Worse still, the bows they held were far larger than ordinary ones—so large that a common man could not even draw the string. Zhu Zhanji had overreached.
I cannot lose.
He clenched his jaw. His fingers, forcing the string back, were already blistering, and both arms trembled. With Prince of Han Zhu Gaoxu watching hungrily for any chance at the imperial throne, he could not afford to lose even a single contest—least of all with the New Year's Day match to be held before the Yongle Emperor himself.
There were those watching this scene with anxious eyes.
"Attendant, His Highness the Imperial Grandson is bleeding from his hands. Are we just going to stand here and watch?"
"You know His Highness's temperament. He'd only scold us for it. Matching the Prince of Han's heir in raw strength is a fool's errand..."
The speakers were attendant eunuch Gang Su and palace maid So Hye. They fidgeted helplessly, able neither to step forward nor to look away. Watching Zhu Zhanji drink defeat after defeat was enough to blacken their insides with worry.
Zhu Zhanhe's attendants, meanwhile, were riding high. Servants, after all, take their cue from their master's fortunes.
"As expected, His Highness the Heir's archery is every bit as legendary as they say!"
The attendant eunuch pumping his fist was a familiar face—Chae Yong, who had been present that day Zhu Gaoxu had been thoroughly humiliated in front of Zhu Gaochi. Chae Yong did not particularly like Zhu Gaoxu's family, but they were still his masters. What could he do? Even a hated relative, once sent out to compete, you still want them to win.
"Attendant, that's enough. His Highness the Imperial Grandson is present."
Zhu Zhanhe's attendant maid Miha tried to restrain him. Chae Yong was needling the grim-faced Gang Su, and he could do so only because the two of them held the same rank.
"His Majesty isn't watching. This much is fine. Just because the Imperial Grandson is His Highness the Heir's superior, that fellow thinks he's my superior too, and looks down on me so much—!"
Just as Chae Yong was gloating at Gang Su's expense, a girl's clear, ringing voice carried from the training-ground entrance.
"Jin Myeong, you mean Elder Brother is here?"
"Yes, Your Highness. This morning, Attendant Gang Su reported that His Highness the Imperial Grandson would be practicing archery today."
Huk!
Chae Yong, still pumping his fist, locked eyes with Jin Myeong, who was entering with Princess Ju Jeong-won.
Heup!
Jin Myeong looked straight at him, as if he had known exactly that Chae Yong was standing there. The startled attendant hastily dropped his raised fist.
What's that fellow doing here?
Jin Myeong was the closest confidant of Zheng He, supreme leader of ten thousand imperial eunuchs, and a sixth-rank Jeonbu at the mere age of nineteen—the same young superior who had stood unflinching against the fearsome Prince of Han Zhu Gaoxu himself.
Wh-what? That robe?
The real reason Chae Yong was stunned was that Jin Myeong's entire presence had transformed since the last time he had seen him. A two-horned dragon-serpent embroidered in gold thread on black silk coiled around Jin Myeong's whole body.
Touhou...? What on earth happened in the meantime?
It was unmistakably a Touhou Robe. A Touhou that even second- and third-rank high officials could not obtain—on Jin Myeong? The Prince of Han's household lay a thousand li from Yingtianfu, so news traveled slowly. They did not know that Jin Myeong had been granted three thousand taels of silver, a fifth-rank post, and a Touhou Robe for saving Noble Consort Wang.
"Huh? Wow! How can he look like that...? Attendant, is that the Jeonbu you told me about? The one who made a fool of His Highness the Prince of Han? He's escorting Her Highness Princess Gaheung, so it must be him, right?"
Miha, following Chae Yong's whipping head, spotted Jin Myeong and let out a gasp of admiration. It was a face and presence no woman could help but look at. The only flaw being that he was a eunuch. A fatal flaw...
"That's him. That's the one I told you about."
"Heavens...? But that's a Touhou. Wow... he really was someone extraordinary!"
"Shh. Keep your voice down. That man is a master. What on earth happened in the meantime?"
"That's a problem for later. Hurry up and pay your respects!"
"Ah. Right."
Princess Ju Jeong-won may have been a young girl, but she was the legitimate daughter of the Crown Prince. They had to bow their heads.
"Your Highness the Princess, this humble one is Attendant Eunuch Chae Yong of the Prince of Han's household. Have you arrived?"
"Your Highness the Princess, this humble one is Attendant Maid Miha of the Prince of Han's household. Have you arrived?"
A moment later.
"Your Highness the Imperial Grandson! His Highness the Prince of Han's Heir is here as well?"
"Princess Gaheung. It has been some time."
Princess Ju Jeong-won, conscious of Zhu Zhanhe and the Prince of Han's household, used Zhu Zhanji's official title. Her snow-white, plump little face peeking out from a thick fur coat, she was utterly adorable.
"Princess, you've come."
Zhu Zhanji answered with a forced brightness, hastily hiding his blistered, blood-beaded right hand behind his waist—partly from worry that his little sister would see and fret, and partly from wounded pride.
Tsk. Even the great Zhu Zhanji was still a boy at this age.
Jin Myeong did not miss it. The iron bow in Zhu Zhanji's left hand. The iron arrows filling the quiver. He did not need to ask. Zhu Zhanji had clearly taken up the iron bow and iron arrows out of a refusal to lose to Zhu Zhanhe, the Prince of Han's heir.
How can he be this stubborn?
Matching strength against Zhu Zhanhe, who had been born with superhuman power. Archery was not a martial art whose entirety was destructive force. Softness overcomes hardness; yielding conquers the unyielding. How could he have overlooked the principle that gentleness defeats strength? Zhu Zhanji was a skilled enough martial artist to know that much. The strict instructions Jin Myeong had given Gang Su had apparently come to nothing.
Even the brilliant Xuande Emperor couldn't help his youthful pride, it seems.
Jin Myeong sighed inwardly. This was not just anyone. He was losing to the cousin who would one day turn a blade on him. It was stubborn. It was pitiable.
Do I teach him? Or not?
He glanced, expanding his vision to check the targets. The results were truly wretched. The contrast was so stark it was almost suspicious. One target was packed dense with arrows. The other was empty.
Prince of Han Zhu Gaoxu was watching hungrily for any chance to push aside his elder brother Zhu Gaochi and seize the throne. Compared to the Prince of Han's family, the greatest weakness of Zhu Gaochi's line was martial prowess. He could not allow Zhu Zhanji to lose.
What did the Yongle Emperor—hero of the realm, a martial man to his bones—regret most about his eldest son Zhu Gaochi? Was it not his physical frailty and lack of martial accomplishment? There had even been a time when the Ming court had discussed deposing him over that very issue. The reason that deposition debate—which Zhu Gaoxu had counted the days waiting for—had fallen through was this: the merit of holding the Yan princely estate against Li Jinglong's great army when the Yongle Emperor had marched against the Jianwen Emperor; Zhu Gaochi's outstanding scholarly cultivation and political acumen; and, most decisively, the fact that he had fathered Zhu Zhanji, the most outstanding of all the grandsons. And so he had kept the position of Crown Prince. The implication being that even if something happened to Zhu Gaochi, the throne could be entrusted to Zhu Zhanji.
Therefore, Zhu Zhanji had to maintain his preeminence among his brothers.
The siblings finished exchanging greetings.
"Why did Elder Brother leave without a word to this little sister? I searched for you for so long."
"You came all this way to see your brother on such a cold day? Ganseung has worked hard."
"This humble one is overwhelmed, Your Highness. Your Highness the Princess, His Highness is in the midst of practice. Let us watch from the rear."
"Very well. Your Highness the Imperial Grandson, this little sister shall cheer for you."
"...Yes. If you get cold, go back early."
"Princess Gaheung, it would be best if you returned. The day is cold, and His Highness the Imperial Grandson is struggling with his practice. I doubt he wishes his sister to see it."
Zhu Zhanhe, who had read his cousin's feelings perfectly, jeered with genteel mockery. Princess Ju Jeong-won's large eyes trembled as she looked back at her elder brother.
"Elder Brother...?"
"Your Highness, please watch from the rear. Archery has its own etiquette. This is where the archer with bow in hand stands, and an archer must maintain composure during practice."
"...Understood. Let's go."
Jin Myeong, shooting Zhu Zhanhe a brief sidelong glance, led the murmuring Princess Ju Jeong-won toward the spectators' seats at the rear. He had no pretext to help outright, and it was a bother besides, so he withdrew for now.
Meanwhile.
What's with that fellow?
A peculiar light rose in Zhu Zhanhe's face as he took in Jin Myeong's attitude—the way he had unhesitatingly instructed them right in front of the Imperial Grandson and himself. It was not just the insolent manner. His appearance and dress were extraordinary.
A mere eunuch in a Touhou?
It was a sight he had never encountered. He had seen Zheng He and a handful of the highest-ranking grand directors in python robes, Flying Fish Robes, or Touhou Robes, but a young eunuch in a Touhou Robe was a first.
"Your Highness, that inner attendant is a face I haven't seen before. Quite a rare youthful appearance. Is he a grand director?"
Zhu Zhanhe asked casually, watching Jin Myeong's retreating back.
"Nineteen. A Ganseung. Attendant eunuch to Her Highness the Crown Princess and Princess Gaheung."
"Nineteen! A Ganseung wearing a Touhou?"
"He saved Her Highness the Noble Consort when she collapsed suddenly."
"Oho? A lucky fellow, then."
"...Is it only luck?"
Zhu Zhanji murmured the question in an unreadable tone. The look in his eyes as he gazed at the targets seemed bitter—a look in which lament and resentment were mixed.
"Pardon?"
"It's nothing. Let us continue practicing. Do you intend to keep talking?"
"Haha! I briefly forgot the etiquette of archery. Very well. But can you continue? What if you injure your precious person?"
"Spare me the chatter and shoot!"
"Hahaha! As you wish."
Zhu Zhanji, his temper frayed, snapped at him, and Zhu Zhanhe only laughed more heartily as he jeered. At the sound, Princess Ju Jeong-won started slightly, then her expression clouded. She had never seen her elder brother lose his temper.
Princess Ju Jeong-won was of an age to think for herself, and though still young, a girl's mind often matured earlier.
Elder Brother Zhanji is in trouble.
She grasped the situation, however dimly. No wonder Gang Su and So Hye had looked so grim. That must have been why.
"Jin Myeong, is there a problem with His Highness? You are the finest inner attendant under heaven, so you must know. Tell me the truth."
"Your Highness, His Highness is currently struggling with his practice. This humble one has checked the targets. The Prince of Han's heir's target is packed with arrows that struck true, while His Highness's target is empty."
"Empty? That cannot be. Elder Brother Zhanji is outstanding in martial arts as well. Is that truly so?"
Princess Ju Jeong-won shook her head in disbelief as she asked again.
"How could this humble one speak falsely? It is not that His Highness's martial skill is lacking, but that His Highness has taken up an iron bow and iron arrows. Directorate of Ceremonial Attendant Gang Su."
Jin Myeong turned to look at Gang Su.
"Y-yes! G-Gonggong!"
Gang Su squeezed his eyes shut, thinking the moment he had been dreading had finally arrived. That morning, when he had informed Jin Myeong that Zhu Zhanji would be practicing archery in the afternoon, hadn't Jin Myeong given him a Joseon composite bow and told him to make sure Zhu Zhanji used it? He was clearly about to bring that up.
"This Gonggong put a bow in your hands and sent you. What happened?"
"Th-that is... this humble one did report it, but His Highness... Forgive me, Gonggong!"
Gang Su had brought up Jin Myeong's words and offered the composite bow, but Zhu Zhanji had glanced at Zhu Zhanhe discussing draw weight and flatly refused.
"Enough. How could you obstruct His Highness's sincere will? Henceforth, attend him with greater wisdom."
"Yes! Gonggong!"
Meanwhile, two arrows left the strings.
Thuk.
Tuk.
The first arrow struck true—Zhu Zhanhe's. The second missed—Zhu Zhanji's.
"Nngh..."
Blood ran from Zhu Zhanji's fingers, torn from forcing the iron bow.
"Your Highness, perhaps that is enough for today. Your precious person already appears injured. I fear you may not be able to compete at the New Year's Day contest."
"Continue."
"Heavens...!"
Zhu Zhanhe, inwardly savoring his cousin's hardship while pretending to be considerate as he needled him, and Zhu Zhanji, stubbornly insisting on continuing. Princess Ju Jeong-won watched the scene with a pained heart.
"Jin Myeong, I must go stop Elder Brother Zhanji. They say his precious person is injured. If he continues, he will lose the contest, his body will suffer, and his spirit will be wounded as well."
"As you command. Please do so, Your Highness."
"Yes, let us go at once."
Jin Myeong put Princess Ju Jeong-won in front and walked toward the shooting line.
This family really does take a lot of looking after.
A moment later.
"Your Highness, if you truly intend to continue, please use this."
What Jin Myeong held out to Zhu Zhanji, who was still being stubborn despite Princess Ju Jeong-won's plea, was a black horn bow—a water buffalo horn composite bow, made from the horn of a water buffalo.
"Ganseung, withdraw. Archery must be backed by strength. What kind of man takes up a mere horn bow or wooden bow?"
"Your Highness! Strength is but one small part of archery, a single facet. What use is power in an arrow if it does not strike true? Why speak only of strength?"
Jin Myeong delivered a sharp rebuke to Zhu Zhanji, who was being stubborn yet again. A rebuke in name, but it was no different from scolding both Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Zhanhe.
At that, Zhu Zhanhe, who did not know Jin Myeong's true nature, exploded in fury and stepped forward.
"Have you ever seen such an insolent eunuch bastard! Your Highness! Has palace discipline gone to ruin of late? How dare a lowly inner attendant presume to lecture princes!"
Zhu Zhanhe, over six chi tall and half a span larger than Jin Myeong, glared with blazing eyes. In the Prince of Han's household, such a thing was unimaginable. A lowly eunuch who had lucked into merit and obtained a rank and a Touhou Robe—fine, he had obtained them. But to try to instruct a prince unless he had gone mad!
No matter what Zhu Zhanhe said, Jin Myeong paid him no mind.
Would you shut up already!
It was annoying. Annoying, but since he had already drawn the blade, he might as well cut something.
"If His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince had heard that, they would have lamented. It is no different from a prince taking the way of the hegemon as the foundation of governance."
"This bastard still! Do you truly need to be torn limb from limb before you come to your senses? A lowly eunuch bastard talking of the way of the hegemon and politics!"
Since Jin Myeong belonged to the Crown Princess, Zhu Zhanhe could not simply beat him to death, and so he snorted and fumed. Had this been the Prince of Han's household, he would have struck him dead on the spot.
"This humble one received orders to properly attend His Highness the Imperial Grandson and Her Highness the Princess, and is merely carrying out those orders. I was told not to spare remonstrance when the occasion calls for it."
"Who would dare give such an order to a lowly eunuch! They must be out of their—wait. You don't mean...?"
Zhu Zhanhe, who had been about to rant whatever came to his tongue in his rage, suddenly froze. If he had carelessly finished that sentence, he would have committed the crime of lèse-majesté. Not to spare counsel to the Imperial Grandson and the Princess. There were only two people who could give such an order. One was the sovereign of the realm, the Yongle Emperor. The other was...
"His Highness the Crown Prince."
"That...?"
The flustered Zhu Zhanhe looked back and forth between Zhu Zhanji and Princess Ju Jeong-won as if to confirm the truth. The siblings nodded, answering his unspoken question.
"To call this humble one a lowly eunuch is an insult to His Highness the Imperial Grandson, Her Highness the Princess, and furthermore to His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Ahem!"
Zhu Zhanhe smacked his lips, having met an unexpected reversal. In effect, he had insulted the teacher of the Imperial Grandson and the Princess by calling him a lowly eunuch—which was indeed lèse-majesté.
"And a moment ago, did you ask whether this humble one knows archery?"
Jin Myeong's face went cold as he looked at Zhu Zhanhe and asked.
A wretch like you dares speak the word eunuch? With three eunuchs standing here, eyes wide open?
The look a eunuch turned on a prince carried a frost so sharp it was hard to believe.
That son of a bitch who ought to have his crotch ripped out!
The bastard who didn't even contribute a single copper when we were castrated!
For this moment at least, Gang Su and Chae Yong, watching from behind, were of one heart. At the sudden change in the two eunuchs' atmosphere, So Hye and Miha standing beside them trembled.
The immature Zhu Zhanhe had crossed a line. "Eunuch" was a word even his father, Prince of Han Zhu Gaoxu, would not dare utter carelessly. The moment he lost the eunuchs' support, ascending the throne would become all the more distant.
And then Jin Myeong's words, briefly broken off, resumed.