Chapter 26: They Are Envious of You

Beyond Zhu Di, a large crowd was gathered in the side hall, eating. Monk Daoyan, Fang Xiaoru, Ru Chang, Zhu Neng, Qiu Fu, Wang Dun, Zheng Ci... Chen Kan recognized some, while others were strangers to him. The group chatted as they ate, making the entire side hall feel like a bustling produce market.

Surveying the scene in the hall, Chen Kan bowed to Zhu Di. "Commoner Chen Kan pays his respects to Your Majesty... Long live, long live, long live Your Majesty."

In informal settings, there was no need to kneel—the one thing about the Great Ming that Chen Kan found somewhat satisfactory. Thanks to Old Zhu for that.

"You've arrived. Rise," Zhu Di said. "Grant him a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Di merely nodded at Chen Kan before turning back to confer with Fang Xiaoru. Two young eunuchs brought over a stool and a small table for Chen Kan, then served him a meal.

They were providing food? Then hadn't he taken that beating for nothing? Why hadn't they said so earlier? After silently grumbling to himself, Chen Kan sat down. He was curious to see what sort of trouble Zhu Di intended to stir up by summoning him.

Chen Kan’s seat was far from Zhu Di, positioned almost behind the main door. Even so, it drew sidelong glances from the officials. Because Chen Kan was Fang Xiaoru’s only closed-door disciple, nearly everyone present knew him. And it was precisely because they knew him that they stared. They were all well aware of how wretched Chen Kan’s luck had been; looking back at his eighteen years, the word "unlucky" barely did it justice.

But now, it seemed his fortunes were turning. First, he had persuaded Fang Xiaoru in prison to submit to the Emperor, allowing His Majesty to win over the hearts of scholars across the realm without any effort, a great service indeed. Now, as a mere commoner, he was dining in the same hall as the civil and military elite. Rumor had it that the Emperor had even returned the Puding Marquis’s mansion to him!

"Favored by the Emperor." This thought occurred to all the officials simultaneously. Had it been the destiny of the Great Ancestor and the Jianwen Emperor that had jinxed him? It was hard not to suspect as much.

Chen Kan soon realized he was receiving many inexplicable but benevolent gazes. He was a bit bewildered; he didn't seem to be particularly close to any of these people. Why did they have that strange look of "other people's children are always better" in their eyes?

Soon, he spotted a familiar face among the many eyes fixed on him. Ru Chang. "Indeed, it is I."

Chen Kan glanced at Zhu Di, who was deep in pleasant conversation with Fang Xiaoru. He decided to make himself scarce—not by leaving, but by sneaking along the wall to Ru Chang’s side.

"Young Master Chen, it has been a while!"

"Minister Ru, we have already met three times today."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Yes, indeed!" Chen Kan found that every time he saw Ru Chang’s chubby face, his mood inexplicably improved. How to put it? It felt a bit like visiting a panda at the zoo.

"Minister Ru, why do I feel like the way they are looking at me is not quite right?" Chen Kan tried to hide himself behind Ru Chang, feeling a sense of security.

Ru Chang shifted his body to block Zhu Di’s line of sight and whispered, "They? They are envious of you."

"Envious of me?" Chen Kan asked in surprise.

"Indeed."

"Why?" Chen Kan felt strange; why would people in such high positions of power be envious of him?

Ru Chang whispered, "Look at these people. Who are they?"

"They are all good men who have poured their hearts and blood into the prosperity of the Great Ming, working from dawn till dusk. What about them?"

"Pfft..." Ru Chang shot Chen Kan a look of disdain. He truly was the sort of person who could get along with the likes of Li Jinglong; he spouted lies as effortlessly as breathing.

"What is it?" Chen Kan leaned back, feeling insulted by Ru Chang.

"They are all former officials of the Jianwen regime."

"Jianwen loyalists?"

"Exactly. So, in the end, they are all defectors."

Chen Kan frowned. So what if they were defectors? Wasn't Ru Chang a defector too? Seeming to fear Chen Kan didn't grasp his meaning, Ru Chang rubbed his head, let out a yelp of pain, and explained, "Since they are defectors, it means that without some extraordinary merit, they will never advance further in their lifetimes."

"They are all too aware of their own plight, which is why they envy you. Look at yourself: you come from a noble background, are a student of a leader of the literati, and most importantly, you are a blank slate with a clean record and are so young. By performing such a great service for the Emperor, you are clearly favored by him. You have a bright future ahead of you. How could they not be envious?"

"Hmm, well, am I really that outstanding?" Chen Kan examined himself and found that Ru Chang’s words actually held some truth.

Ru Chang, with the air of an expert, affirmed, "Be more confident. You are."

"Fine, I am truly outstanding. I am worthy of myself!"

After whispering with Ru Chang for a while, Chen Kan felt greatly satisfied. But when he looked up again, he was stunned. "Eh? Where did everyone go?"

The hall was nearly empty, save for Fang Xiaoru, Ru Chang, Monk Daoyan, and Zhu Di. Now, the person whispering with Zhu Di was Monk Daoyan instead of Fang Xiaoru.

Taking advantage of the gap, Fang Xiaoru beckoned to him. Chen Kan slipped along the wall to his side. "Teacher, what is it?"

Fang Xiaoru gestured for him to sit. Seeing that Zhu Di and Daoyan were deep in conversation, he whispered, "No matter what official position the Emperor offers you later, you must refuse. Do you understand?"

"Why?" Chen Kan was startled. He hadn't expected Fang Xiaoru to forbid him from taking office. His excuse used to fool Zhu Gaoxu had become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

"I will explain the implications to you when we return home. Just remember my words."

"Oh!" Chen Kan nodded, feeling discouraged. He knew there must be a reason for Fang Xiaoru’s instruction, but refusing an official post meant refusing power. In an era where power could determine life and death with a single word, its temptation for a soul from the twenty-first century was immense. Chen Kan was no saint, so having a few small grievances felt perfectly reasonable.

Seeing that Chen Kan had taken his words to heart, Fang Xiaoru walked out of the side hall with his hands behind his back, satisfied. Now, only Zhu Di, Monk Daoyan, Minister Ru, and Chen Kan remained in the hall.