A Time-Traveling Zombie Romance (GL) - Chapter 13

Early in the morning, just as dawn was breaking, Zhang Ming sent someone to call me to wake up. Upon hearing this, I quickly got out of bed. Loulán, seeing this, immediately called the other three maidservants over. Two of them helped me dress, and I opened my chest, letting them arrange me like a puppet. One went to prepare my washing supplies, and Loulán helped comb my hair. The early morning was already so busy—it hardly felt quiet.

While getting dressed, I looked at the two maidservants carefully assisting me and asked, “What are your names?”

“I am Qingzhu, your humble servant.”

“I am Hongmei, your humble servant.”

“Mm, and what about the other maidservant?” I nodded.

“Besides Sister Loulán, the other maid is Qiujü,” Hongmei replied.

“Oh~~ I see! Mei, Lan, Zhu, Ju—the Four Gentlemen among flowers,” I laughed.

“Hehe, Your Highness is truly clever. Our names were chosen by the Princess. Now that you’ve returned, the Princess summoned us to be your personal attendants,” Qingzhu said with a smile.

“Hehe.”

“Your Highness, you are ready,” Hongmei said.

I walked to the mirror to look at myself in the white four-clawed python robe. My hair was styled half-up, held with a white ribbon, feet in white “Cloud-Walking” boots, waist tied with a white jade belt, with a white jade pendant at my side, and holding a white jade folding fan with gold threads. I looked entirely like snow.

“Your Highness looks beautiful in anything,” Loulán said, eyes brightening.

I flipped my hair, clasped my fists, and said, “Hehe, you flatter me.” Truth be told, I had plenty of confidence in my appearance.

“Your Highness, you may wash up now,” Qiujü respectfully said, entering.

“Mm, thank you,” I replied, washing my face and brushing my teeth on my own. Qiujü looked on in disbelief—her master thanking her directly was something she probably had never seen before.

“Your Highness always speaks nonsense,” Loulán said with a chuckle.

After finishing, I straightened myself and said sternly, “From now on, as long as you are my maidservants, we are all equal. No distinction of rank, and no kneeling without reason. If you cannot accept this, then you may leave. The first few days may feel strange, but in time, you will get used to it.”

Seeing them all frozen, I sighed, shook my head, and ignored them, walking out of the room toward the front hall.

When I arrived, Zhang Ming also came forward. Seeing me, his eyes lit up. “My son is indeed handsome. How is this outfit?”

“Greetings, Father. The outfit fits perfectly. Your child is very pleased,” I said, clasping my fists and bowing slightly to Zhang Ming.

“Good, good. As long as you like it. Let’s go; it’s getting late,” Zhang Ming said, smiling.

We left the mansion together, seeing two eight-man sedan chairs outside. Zhang Ming entered the first chair, and I the second.

With a shout from Zhang Fu, “Lift the sedan chairs!” the eight men carefully raised it. Feeling secure, I relaxed and enjoyed the ride. After a while, bored, I opened the side curtain and looked at the street. The sky was just brightening, some street vendors were setting up stalls, though few pedestrians were out.

After some time, we finally arrived at the palace gates, where a stern voice called, “Who goes there? Do you have a token?”

Zhang Fu quickly presented the Xiaoyao Wang Mansion token to the palace guards.

Seeing it, the guards immediately knelt. “Greetings, Lord Wang! Long live the Lord Wang, ten thousand years!”

“No need for formalities,” Zhang Ming said authoritatively from the sedan chair.

The guards stood and replied, “Thank you, Lord Wang. Please proceed.”

Everything went smoothly, and within ten minutes, the sedan chairs stopped inside the palace. Stepping out, I saw the gate called Zixuanmen ahead.

“Qi’er, the Emperor decrees that all princes, officials, and ministers must dismount after passing through Zixuanmen,” Zhang Ming explained.

“Mm, Father, I understand,” I replied.

Zhang Ming and I dismounted and passed through the Yulong Bridge, arriving at the Jinluan Hall. I was stunned. The hall had twelve massive pillars adorned with golden dragons, and the floor was laid with white jade tiles. The hall measured roughly fifty meters wide and thirty-five meters long. The dragon throne was massive, crafted entirely of pure gold, the dragons lifelike. The dragon table was nearly as big as a bed, made of an unknown black jade.

Officials in the hall wore different ceremonial attire. Civil officials on the left, mostly in red robes; military officials on the right, in armor. The civil officials were led by Chancellor Liu Yi and Zhang Ming, the Xiaoyao Wang; the military officials were led by General Lu Kai.

When Zhang Ming and I entered, most officials had already arrived. Seeing Zhang Ming, they clasped their fists and bowed. “Greetings, Fourth Prince! Long live the Fourth Prince, ten thousand years!”

“Mm, no need,” he replied.

I curiously scanned the hall. Such luxury! It far surpassed the Wang Mansion, I thought.

Some sharp-eyed officials noticed a young man in white behind Zhang Ming and were momentarily stunned. One, about thirty-five, with thick eyebrows and a goatee, wearing a civil official’s robe, stepped forward. “Fourth Prince, may I ask who is the young man in white behind you? We have never seen him before.”

I looked at the official. Zhang Ming smiled and said, “He is my son. He returned home only yesterday, which is why Minister Li has not met him before.”

Understanding this, all officials clasped their fists and bowed. “Greetings, Young Master! Long live the Young Master!”

“Hehe, no need,” I replied, bowing and smiling.

“Thank you, Your Highness. You truly have a remarkable appearance,” a military official thundered.

“Yes, yes,” other officials chimed in.

I touched my nose and chuckled.

Soon, a quacking-like voice rang out. “The Emperor has arrived.”

Immediately, the officials lined up. I stood behind Chancellor Liu Yi and Zhang Ming, with other civil officials behind me.

Many eunuchs in blue robes and palace maidservants in pink, about fifty in total, entered first. After them, I saw a figure in a golden dragon robe being supported as he entered, walking up the dragon stairs and sitting on the dragon throne.

“Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years!” the officials knelt and bowed. I followed their actions.

“Rise, all ministers,” a deep, middle-aged male voice echoed.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

I looked up and saw Emperor Zhang Fei, with slanted eyebrows, starry eyes, a straight nose, thin lips, and sharply defined features—a handsome man. He looked no older than twenty-five, not forty as claimed.

Then, Eunuch Meng called out, “Present your reports, retreat if none.”

Chancellor Liu Yi stepped forward. “Your Majesty, in recent years, Northern Huai has suffered drought, no grass grows, and refugees have fled to Yongzhou. Yet there is no housing for them. Southern Huai has suffered heavy rains, landslides, and mudslides, causing devastation. We request Your Majesty’s guidance.”

Zhang Fei frowned. “Did I not allocate fifty million taels of silver from the treasury to disaster relief the year before last? Why are the disasters worsening? Minister of Revenue Feng Yu?”

Feng Yu nervously stepped forward. “I… I am here, Your Majesty.”

Zhang Fei’s voice rose. “Feng Yu! Explain to me—where did the fifty million taels go?”

Feng Yu trembled violently. “This… this…”

Zhang Ming stepped forward. “Your Majesty, according to my investigation, corrupt officials in Northern and Southern Huai have embezzled the funds. To hide it from superiors, they bribed higher officials, which is why the theft went unnoticed.”

“Corrupt officials? Embezzling treasury silver? Bribery? Feng Yu, what do you say for yourself? How dare you hide such a thing from me! What use are my ministers?” Zhang Fei slammed the dragon table and stood angrily.

“Wu Qi!” Zhang Fei called.

“I am here,” a military officer responded.

“Take one hundred elite soldiers to Feng Yu’s home and search for embezzled treasury silver!”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the officer replied.

Feng Yu, still kneeling, trembled violently, sweat streaming down his face.

“Do any of you ministers have methods for disaster relief?” Zhang Fei asked, sitting down.

All officials fell silent. I thought: serving the Emperor is like serving a tiger; Feng Yu is doomed this time. As for disaster relief… hehe.

Suddenly, I stepped forward and knelt. “Your Majesty, I have a method.”

“Hmm? Who are you…” Zhang Fei was surprised.

“I am the son of the Fourth Prince, Zhang Xiaoqi,” I announced loudly.

“Your nephew? What brings you to the capital? Why didn’t I know?” Zhang Fei’s face brightened with a smile.

“Your Majesty, I returned to the mansion yesterday and came today to pay respects,” I said.

“Hehe, very well. Nephew, rise. What is your method?” Zhang Fei asked eagerly.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. We can employ the ‘South-to-North Water Diversion’ project,” I slowly explained.

Zhang Fei’s interest peaked, and the ministers listened carefully. “What is this South-to-North Water Diversion?”

“Your Majesty, it involves transferring surplus water from Southern Huai to Northern Huai. Southern Huai is rich in freshwater. Northern Huai suffers drought annually, so we can build reservoirs in Northern Huai to store water diverted from the south. The people will no longer fear drought. Additionally, to prevent floods in Southern Huai, we can dig a channel at the foot of the mountains to the Yangtze, allowing mudslides to flow safely without harming civilians,” I elaborated.

“Excellent, excellent! Nephew, your wisdom is remarkable,” Zhang Fei praised, clapping occasionally.

The ministers nodded, some whispering, “No wonder people say the Young Master is the reincarnation of the Star of Literature. His intellect is unparalleled.”

“Where are Minister of Revenue Chu Tian and General Yi Min?” Zhang Fei asked.

“I am here,” both responded.

“I order Minister Chu Tian to take a thousand elite soldiers to transport Southern Huai’s freshwater to Northern Huai, investigate corrupt officials, recover the treasury silver, construct four reservoirs, purchase grain, build homes, and resettle refugees. You are granted the imperial sword; do not report to me—execute directly if necessary. General Yi Min will take two thousand soldiers to dig the southern mountain channel to the Yangtze and resettle refugees. You are granted a yellow ceremonial robe; obedience to it is obedience to me,” Zhang Fei decreed.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. We obey,” Chu Tian and Yi Min said in unison.

At that moment, Wu Qi returned from Feng Yu’s residence. “Your Majesty, we found 25 million taels of silver at Minister Feng Yu’s home. Verification confirms it is from the treasury.”

“Feng Yu, what do you say?” Zhang Fei asked coldly.

“Your Majesty, I am innocent! I don’t know where the silver came from. Someone must have framed me. Please investigate and clear my name!” Feng Yu pleaded, bowing furiously.

“Hmph! Evidence is clear! No excuses. Take him to the Dali Court for punishment,” Zhang Fei said.

“Yes.” A dozen armored soldiers dragged Feng Yu away.

“Any other reports?” Zhang Fei asked sternly.

The hall fell silent.

“Dismissed,” Meng’s quacking voice rang again.

All officials knelt. “Farewell, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!”

As Zhang Fei left, he said to me, “Nephew, do not return yet. Stay to speak with me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” I replied.

After the Emperor left, all officials looked at me with admiration. One by one, they bowed and departed, leaving only Zhang Ming and me. Meng, having escorted the Emperor back to the bedchamber, returned and said, “Fourth Prince, Young Master, the Emperor summons you,” and we followed him toward the Imperial Garden.