Volume One, Chapter Four: The Emperor's Man

Zhu Youjian stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at Cao Huachun, who was kneeling on the floor. "Do you know why I chose you, and you alone?"

"This servant is dull-witted and does not understand Your Majesty's intentions," Cao Huachun replied, his forehead pressed against the ground.

"Look up," Zhu Youjian said calmly. "Let me ask you: do you have a clear record of where the silver from the Imperial Kitchen went?"

Cao Huachun’s body trembled. "Your Majesty, have mercy! This servant..."

"Stand up and speak," Zhu Youjian commanded.

The young man rose, trembling, but kept his head bowed. Zhu Youjian paced slowly around him. "You have been serving in the Imperial Kitchen for three years. You must have handled quite a bit of silver, haven't you?"

"This..." Cold sweat beaded on Cao Huachun’s forehead.

"How much did Liu Ruoyu take from your hands each month?" Zhu Youjian asked suddenly.

"Th-three hundred taels..."

"And what about Wen Tiren?"

Cao Huachun jerked his head up, terror flashing in his eyes. "Your Majesty... you..."

"Do not be alarmed," Zhu Youjian said, coming to a halt before him. "Since I chose you, it is because you are someone I can trust."

He took a list from his sleeve. "Do you recognize the people on this list?"

Cao Huachun took the list and examined it carefully. It was densely packed with dozens of names—all officials who had taken kickbacks from the Imperial Kitchen.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I recognize them. These people..." He swallowed hard.

"Very good," Zhu Youjian nodded with satisfaction. "Then do you know how much silver they each took?"

"This servant has kept a record of it!" Cao Huachun said hurriedly. "Every single transaction is written in a small ledger..."

"Bring it here."

After a moment of hesitation, Cao Huachun pulled a crumpled little notebook from his robes.

Zhu Youjian opened the book, which was filled with detailed accounts of every tael of silver. He closed it, satisfied. "You are quite a meticulous person."

"This servant dares not..."

"Tell me, if these people knew you held such a ledger, what do you think they would do?"

Cao Huachun’s face turned deathly pale. "Your Majesty, have mercy! This servant..."

"What are you afraid of?" Zhu Youjian smiled. "I said I trust you. Keep this ledger safe. You will have use for it later."

The young man was stunned. "Your Majesty means..."

"I am giving you a chance," Zhu Youjian said sternly. "Are you willing to work for me?"

"This servant..." Cao Huachun hesitated. "But those people..."

"Afraid of their retaliation?" Zhu Youjian sneered. "With this ledger in your hands, they are the ones who should be afraid of you."

Cao Huachun’s eyes brightened, then dimmed again. "But I am only a lowly eunuch, I fear that..."

"Who says you are just a lowly eunuch?"

Zhu Youjian took an imperial edict from his desk. "I have already drafted the decree. From this day forward, you are the Superintendent of the Imperial Household."

"This..." Cao Huachun’s eyes widened. "This servant is unworthy..."

"Read it," Zhu Youjian continued. "I have another task for you." He lowered his voice. "I intend to deal with those corrupt officials one by one. I want you to watch them for me and see what further schemes they dare to concoct."

"But... isn't that the duty of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard?" Zhu Youjian scoffed. "They have long since been bought off. I need a confidant, do you understand?"

Cao Huachun shuddered. He finally understood Zhu Youjian’s intent.

"Your Majesty wants... wants me to be your eyes and ears?"

"Clever," Zhu Youjian nodded. "As long as you hold that ledger, they won't dare touch you. And..." He looked at Cao Huachun meaningfully. "Why do you think I gave you that shop?"

The young man suddenly realized. "To... gather intelligence?"

"Correct." Zhu Youjian nodded with satisfaction. "Whatever those people say or do in the teahouses and taverns, you must record it all."

"This servant understands!" Cao Huachun knelt. "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, this servant will certainly..."

"Get up," Zhu Youjian interrupted. "There is one more thing." He took a silver note from his sleeve. "This is one thousand taels of silver."

"Your Majesty has already..."

"This is extra," Zhu Youjian said. "Keep it. You will receive this much every month from now on."

Cao Huachun was stunned. "Your Majesty, this is..."

"If you are to work for me, you must have the capital to do so," Zhu Youjian said meaningfully. "Besides, I cannot let my own confidant go wanting, can I?"

A sharp glint flashed in the young man's eyes. He finally understood. This was not just an opportunity; it was a lifeline!

"This servant..." He kowtowed heavily. "This servant will never fail Your Majesty’s trust!"

"Very good," Zhu Youjian nodded. "Go and prepare the shop. Remember, be quick."

"Yes! This servant will go at once!" Cao Huachun stood up and turned to leave.

"Wait," Zhu Youjian called out.

"Does Your Majesty have further instructions?"

Zhu Youjian said enigmatically, "Tell me, do Liu Ruoyu and the others know that it was you who kept those ledgers of the Imperial Kitchen's silver?"

Cao Huachun trembled. "This..."

"Go," Zhu Youjian waved his hand. "I await your good news."

The young man, as if granted a reprieve, hurried out.

Zhu Youjian watched his retreating figure with a cold smirk. This Cao Huachun was a talent worth molding. With that ledger in hand, he would never dare to betray him.

"Wang Chengen," he called out.

"This servant is here."

"Go and keep an eye on him. If he dares to play any tricks..."

"This servant understands," Wang Chengen bowed. "If he dares to be dishonest, I will make him disappear from this earth."

Zhu Youjian nodded. He turned to the window and looked out at the palace walls in the distance. The sunlight cast a golden brilliance over the red walls and yellow tiles, but behind that splendor lay countless unspeakable secrets.

And now, he had his first key.

Cao Huachun walked out of the inner treasury, his heart filled with a mixture of emotions. He touched the silver note in his robes, then the small ledger. Suddenly, he remembered Zhu Youjian’s last words and shivered.

Indeed, if those people knew he held their accounts...

He quickened his pace, his mind already set. He would secure that shop today. And... he would invest all that silver into it. Because he understood that this was no longer just an opportunity; it was a way to survive.

From this day forward, he belonged to the Emperor.

Wang Chengen followed him from a distance, watching the small, thin figure recede further into the sunlight.