Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 206: Closing the stall and going home
Shortly after shipowner Dinesh Joao completed his second portrait in the Ming capital, a light snow began to fall. A gentle breeze blew, bringing a soft chill to Zhu Youxiao's face. He set down his carving knife, and the clamor in his ears returned. Zhu Youxiao looked up, only to see the sun shining brightly and a crowd of people rushing by.

"What time is it?" Zhu Youxiao asked the eunuch beside him.

The eunuch who was asked breathed a sigh of relief. He came to Zhu Youxiao's side and reminded him quietly: "Master, it's almost 3 p.m., we should go back, otherwise we will miss dinner."

"Okay." Zhu Youxiao nodded and waved his hand, signaling the eunuchs to pack up. The guards at the teahouse opposite saw the stalls closing up and called for the servants to come over to settle the bill.

When the shopkeeper received the money, he felt a little unhappy because these uncles had occupied the best street-facing seats and sat there all day, not asking for anything except tea in the morning and a few dishes of meat at noon. But for the sake of his reputation, he still had to put on a chrysanthemum-like smile and said to them, "Goodbye, guests. Come back next time."

"My young friend, I have been using your charcoal fire for a whole day, but I still don't know your name." Seeing the young man was about to leave, the middle-aged scholar asked hurriedly.

"Zhu Boyou," Zhu Youxiao said, clasping his fists. "May I also ask your name, sir?"

Bo means eldest; youzu means tree.

"I don't have a surname, nor a famous name. It's Zhang Guoji." The middle-aged Confucian scholar replied with a bow.

"This is for you." Zhu Youxiao picked up the longevity lock made of tiger-patterned golden nanmu and handed it to Zhang Guoji.

"How can this be? It's hard to buy, it's hard to buy." Zhang Guoji had no idea this was the golden nanmu wood, the kind used only by the royal family. In his mind, golden nanmu should be a pure, bright yellow, like real gold. He couldn't make any connections with the alternating gold and gray grain, but he subconsciously felt it was expensive.

"Nothing is too heavy to be given lightly. We are destined to be together, so please accept it with confidence." Zhu Youxiao stuffed the longevity lock into Zhang Guoji's hand.

Zhang Guoji hesitated for a moment, then solemnly accepted the longevity lock and said, "Then please pick one at will. You can also ask me to paint it for you."

"The sun has started to set. I'll take the ready-made ones back." Zhu Youxiao pointed his finger at the setting sun in the sky and said.

"If you can't finish the painting, you can continue tomorrow." said Zhang Guoji.

"Selling for just one day is enough. I've already gotten what I wanted." The hair on Zhu Youxiao's face sparkled in the bright light.

"Not coming?" Zhang Guoji was stunned.

"Not coming anymore." Zhu Youxiao shook his head. "We'll meet again someday."

"Okay." Zhang Guoji felt a little regretful. He quite liked this boy.

"Can you give this to me?" Zhu Youxiao turned the unrolled scroll over and showed it to Zhang Guoji. "Compared to the mountains, rivers, plants, birds, beasts, fish and insects, I prefer the earthy atmosphere in this painting."

This is a portrait of an ordinary family. In the center of the painting is a woman sitting with her back to the wall, washing clothes in the yard. Although her facial features are not visible, it is clear that she is looking up at the courtyard gate. Outside the wide-open gate, a solemn-looking older sister is watching over a pair of younger siblings who are running and playing.

"Is it this painting?" Zhang Guoji was stunned when he saw it clearly. He subconsciously wanted to search his backpack, but his hand stopped in mid-air.

Looking at Zhang Guoji's expression, Zhu Youxiao suddenly remembered what he had said that morning, so he asked in astonishment, "Could this be your home?"

"Yes. Alas!" Zhang Guoji sighed with nostalgia. "I painted this in Beijing the year my wife passed away. I've kept it with me ever since, but I rarely look at it. Maybe it's because business was so good today." Zhang Guoji shook his head self-deprecatingly. "I accidentally pulled it out while searching for a blank scroll."

"Then I'll give it back to you and let me choose another one." Zhu Youxiao put the scroll back on the table.

Zhang Guoji smiled and picked up the painting, then handed it to Zhu Youxiao. "Since it's meant to be with you, take it."

Zhu Youxiao took the painting and unfolded it to examine it carefully. "There seem to be only four people in the painting. Where are you?" Zhu Youxiao asked.

Zhang Guoji stroked his mustache and whispered, "I'm painting."

Zhu Youxiao solemnly put away the painting, as if he was holding someone else's memories in his own hands.

------

The water cart from the Central City Military Command arrived on schedule. After inspecting everything, the Imperial Censor Pang Zongguang resumed his stroll through the Lantern Festival streets. Soon, he arrived at the spot where Zhu Youxiao had set up his stall, but the carpenter's stall was no longer there.

He shook his head in disappointment. Just as he was about to leave, someone called him from the side.

"Master Censor!" Zhang Guoji shouted. Pang Zongguang didn't hear until Zhang Guoji shouted a second time. Then he realized, "Who are you?"

Zhang Guoji approached Pang Zongguang and presented him with a red sandalwood sculpture of the Maitreya Buddha. "Your Excellency, this is for you."

"What are you doing?" Pang Zongguang immediately recognized that this was the wood carving he had set his eyes on this morning, but his face was sullen and he showed no intention of reaching out to take it.

"Your Excellency has misunderstood." Zhang Guoji smiled awkwardly and explained, "This was given to you by the young carpenter."

"Why?" Pang Zongguang still didn't answer.

"That young carpenter said you're destined to be together too." Zhang Guoji glanced back at his stall, past the passing crowd. He was a little worried, as the Lantern Festival was always full of thieves. Many thieves from other places would even travel to Beijing specifically during the festival to "join in the fun."

Pang Zongguang, the "fated one," noticed Zhang Guoji's gaze and, hands behind his back, walked over to Zhang Guoji's stall. "I don't know what kind of fate this is."

Pang Zongguang's meticulousness immediately won Zhang Guoji's favor. He bowed slightly and said, "Sir, the carpenter's father once said that it should either be sold for ten taels of silver or given to someone with a predestined relationship." Zhang Guoji still remembered what Zhu Youxiao had said to Ding Baiying.

The six imperial censors who patrolled the city could be said to be the “most insolent and stubborn” group in the Censorate.

This is a tradition. In the past, Emperor Taizu wanted to allow female musicians from outside the palace to teach music, but was stopped by the Imperial Censor Zhou Guanzheng. The eunuchs who had been stopped went to the palace to request an imperial decree for Zhou Guanzheng's return, but Zhou Guanzheng refused. Finally, Emperor Taizu personally left the palace to announce the decree, ultimately appeasing Zhou Guanzheng.

Although the imperial censors had become more restrained over the past two hundred and fifty years, they were still stubborn and stubborn. It could be said that they didn't listen to anyone except the law and the emperor. For example, the person who arrested Fang Shihong in the act not long ago was Xue Zhen, the imperial censor in charge of inspecting Huanghuafang and the East City. And in the case of the assassination five years ago, the first person to jump out and interrogate Zhang Cha was Liu Tingyuan, the imperial censor. "Who's his father?" Pang Zongguang thought this was another person who wanted to curry his favor so that he could get in through the back door after something happened. He couldn't help but feel disgust and contempt.

"I don't know." Pang Zongguang's expression was well controlled, and Zhang Guoji didn't hear anything unusual. He just thought the censor wanted to reciprocate. "I spent a day with him and learned that this young carpenter's name was Zhu Boyou. His father was a juren who had a house in Beijing. As for where the house was, I don't know either."

"It's as if you didn't say anything." Pang Zongguang finally took the wooden Maitreya from Zhang Guoji's hands, but he didn't plan to give it to his mother. "I want to see what kind of fate this scholar wants to have with me."

------

When Zhu Youxiao arrived at the gate of Donghua, a long-lost layer of snow had already accumulated on the roof tiles. The setting sun used the snow as a mirror, adorning the palace and the pavilions with the last glimmer of brightness before dusk.

Zhu Youxiao originally wanted to go to the Qianqing Palace to "report" to his father, but as soon as he entered the Forbidden City, he was stopped. "Your Highness!"

"Han Yuma? Why are you here?" Zhu Youxiao asked in surprise.

"Because the Emperor is here." Han Ben clenched his right fist, extended his thumb, and pointed upwards.

"Father is on the top floor of Donghua Gate?" Zhu Youxiao's surprise turned into astonishment.

"Yes. His Majesty walked around the Forbidden City, saying he wanted to take in the panoramic view of Beijing. He happened to see the Grand Prince when he got here." Han Benyong didn't know what expression to put on. In his opinion, during the New Year holidays, the emperor would spend the entire day in the palace watching operas with snacks. In the evening, he would gather a few concubines for drinks, then have sex, spending the day enjoying the music. He didn't really think he'd come up to the city wall to enjoy the breeze.

"Your Majesty, you're interested in climbing up high and looking into the distance!" Zhu Youxiao actually thought this was a good sideshow. "Let's go. Take me to see your Majesty."

"Okay." Han Benyong smiled reluctantly.

In just a moment, Zhu Youxiao climbed up the city wall and came in front of Zhu Changluo. Just as he was about to lift his robe, kneel and kowtow, Zhu Changluo stopped him and said, "No need to be polite."

"Your son greets His Majesty." Zhu Youxiao stopped moving but still bowed deeply.

"You're back so early. What time is it now?" Zhu Changluo looked at Wang An.

Zhu Changluo did not specify when Zhu Youxiao would return to the palace. He thought Zhu Youxiao would return after the evening performance at the Lantern Festival, and he also wanted to go out of the palace to take a look.

"One quarter after noon." Wang An pulled out a pocket watch from his bosom, a tribute presented to the emperor by a Western envoy. The dragon robe had no inner pockets, so Wang An had always kept this device, which allowed him to check the time at any time.

"It's getting late." Zhu Youxiao said, "If you don't come back soon, you will be locked up outside."

Unless the emperor ordered it to remain open, the palace gates would be closed promptly at 3:30 PM. This meant that even the cabinet ministers were not allowed to work overtime in the duty room.

Zhu Changluo suddenly recalled that the last time he went to Xu Guangqi's place for dinner, he had sent someone to greet the guards at Donghua Gate and Dong'an Gate in advance, so that he could return to the Forbidden City without any obstructions. He scratched his forehead awkwardly and changed the subject, "Did you have fun?"

"Of course I'm happy." Zhu Youxiao nodded.

That being said, Zhu Youxiao didn't run around at all. When his father asked him to set up his stall, he sat behind it for the entire day, only moving around to use the toilet in the teahouse across the street. Zhu Youxiao was a man who could sit still for a long time; if he was given a piece of wood and a carving knife, he would sit from the time he woke up to the time he went to bed.

"Are you still going?" Zhu Changluo said, "I heard there will be some special performances at the Lantern Festival in the evening. Like iron flower making, stilt walking, shadow puppetry, etc."

"I think it's better to forget it." Zhu Youxiao shook his head. "In just a short time during the day, I've already been recognized."

"Who is it?" Zhu Changluo thought it was a cabinet minister or a master from the Ministry of Household Affairs.

"I don't know his name, but I know he's the Chief of Spring in the Imperial Observatory." Zhu Youxiao paused and added, "He's a foreigner. He even asked me to pay my respects to the Emperor."

"Ah! It's Johann Adam Schall von Bell." Zhu Changluo remembered it all of a sudden.

"I would like to ask the Emperor, Father, why do you choose a foreigner as the Imperial Astronomical Official?" Zhu Youxiao asked, "Is he very capable?"

"He's certainly good at it, but that's the least important of the many reasons." Zhu Changluo walked to the edge of the city wall and once again looked out at this place, completely different from the Beijing he remembered. There were no tall buildings here, only endless rows of low houses.

Zhu Youxiao asked in confusion, "What is the important reason?"

Zhu Changluo did not answer immediately, but turned around and pointed at Wang An's chest. Wang An understood and took out his pocket watch and handed it to the emperor.

"First of all, it hints at the court's attitude towards Westerners. You can consider this position as a return gift for that shipload of tribute." Zhu Changluo handed the pocket watch to Zhu Youxiao. "This is for you."

Zhu Youxiao took it, but still asked, "Is this the only one, Father?"

This pocket watch was actually Johann Adam Schall von Bell's personal belonging. When he came to Beijing from Nanjing with King James Version, the tribute ship had not yet arrived in Beijing. To show his respect to the emperor, he included this pocket watch in the gift list along with the "astronomical telescope" that Galileo gave to Deng Yuhan.

"Well, it's not a big deal. The craftsmen of the Imperial Household Department have completed the reverse research and development and produced the blueprints. The Silver Works Bureau is using the blueprints to mass-produce parts. It won't be long before I can get a new one." Zhu Changluo said.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace." Only then did Zhu Youxiao accept the gift.

Zhu Changluo continued, "With such a foreign official, foreign merchants can confidently come to the Ming Dynasty's Tianjin Port to trade. However, among the Jesuit foreign scholars who came across the ocean to preach in the Ming Dynasty, there are many who are proficient in astronomy. I chose Tang Ruowang because he is young enough and a marginal figure in the Jesuit Order. This way, the Jesuit Order has an extra core. A core that is more obedient than President Long Huamin."

"I understand." Zhu Youxiao nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "What exactly is the Jesuit Society?"

"This question is so big it could be a whole paper." Zhu Changluo shrugged and summarized it simply: "You can think of it as a school of Confucianism or a sect of Taoism."

(End of this chapter)