Chapter 49: Old Zhang Was Scared to Death—A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

“He’s a scoundrel, but what am I? Zhang Yuchu, do you dare curse your own father as a scoundrel? Say it again if you dare.”

“Father, I dare not, I admit my mistake…”

“Zhang Yuchu, don’t blame me for being harsh. Your younger brother insisted you must be strictly disciplined, lest you go astray…”

The voice, mixed with the cries of a child, echoed across the heights of Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

The emperor’s envoy was bewildered. He had just arrived on the mountain, only to witness Zhang Zhengchang disciplining his son…

This imperial envoy, a supervisor by rank, knew a bit about the people of Dragon and Tiger Mountain. Zhang Yuchu, Zhang Zhengchang’s eldest son, was the heir apparent to the Celestial Master. The boy was bright, a pride of the mountain, and even Zhang Zhengchang often boasted his son would surpass him in achievement.

He glanced back at the Taoist priest beside him.

The priest offered an awkward smile. “Master returned from the capital with a troubled heart. And whatever words that little demon said, claiming the young master would turn bad, Master has taken it upon himself to discipline him frequently…”

The ‘little demon’ referred, of course, to Zhang Yi, far away in Yingtian. The supervisor nodded in deep agreement. As a man close to the emperor, he was well aware of the power that young Celestial Master wielded. To infuriate the emperor to the point of smoke pouring from his ears, yet remain lively, and after visiting the Chang family, to leave their eldest son bedridden—calling Zhang Yi a little demon was no exaggeration.

But this was not the time for idle chatter. He needed to see Zhang Zhengchang and fulfill the emperor’s orders.

“Take me to see Master Zhang,” he commanded.

The Taoist led the envoy further inward, and soon they encountered Zhang Zhengchang again.

The envoy paused, surprised. Zhang Zhengchang had not been back on Dragon and Tiger Mountain long, yet the once vigorous Celestial Master now looked years older, his vitality diminished.

He held a wooden stick; a child knelt on the ground—surely Zhang Yuchu. The boy, perhaps eight or nine, was handsome but now tearful, snot running down his face, pitifully disheveled.

“Master!”

The Taoist hurried forward to announce the visitor. Zhang Zhengchang ceased his actions and turned, seeing a man arrive with his disciple. He felt the stranger’s face was familiar but could not recall who he was.

“This gentleman says he’s arrived from Yingtian Prefecture and wishes to see you, Master.”

After the Taoist explained, the envoy stepped forward.

“My name is Ling Shuo. Master Zhang, you should recall me. At the Taoist temple, I served beside His Majesty as his supervisor.”

“Supervisor…”

All color drained from Zhang Zhengchang’s face; the cane dropped from his hand in fright.

“Has my son caused trouble again, and the emperor sent you to take me away?”

Seeing his terror, Ling Shuo thought: Clearly, with the young Celestial Master left in the capital, Zhang Zhengchang has been suffering untold anxiety. This constant fear—who knows when it will end…

Ling Shuo felt nothing but sympathy for Master Zhang.

It was no wonder. If Zhang Yi remained lively, it must surely be thanks to the ancestors of Dragon and Tiger Mountain watching over him.

Afraid that the old master might faint from shock, Ling Shuo hurried to reassure him.

“No, I am here with a verbal message from His Majesty for you! And, incidentally, to deliver a letter from the young Celestial Master.”

Zhang Zhengchang was stunned. The emperor himself had sent a letter to that troublemaker?

Master Zhang was instantly filled with awe and dread.

“Let us speak privately,” Ling Shuo said, glancing around.

Zhang Zhengchang nodded and hastily led Ling Shuo into an inner room.

“Please deliver His Majesty’s command,” Zhang Zhengchang said. With no one else present, he knelt before Ling Shuo to respectfully receive the emperor’s will.

“The imperial message is simple: read Zhang Yi’s letter, digest its contents, and after understanding, come to the capital to see the emperor.”

Ling Shuo stated plainly what Zhu Yuanzhang had entrusted him to say. Zhang Zhengchang was momentarily bewildered.

What had that rascal Zhang Yi done now, to prompt the emperor to personally send a verbal order?

“Master Zhang, here is the letter.”

“I must return immediately to report to the emperor.”

“Allow me to see you off!”

Zhang Zhengchang accompanied Ling Shuo all the way to the mountain gate. Outside, Madam Zhang had already prepared silver in anticipation.

Just before departing, Zhang Zhengchang discreetly slipped the silver into Ling Shuo’s hand.

“Master Zhang, His Majesty most detests his officials accepting such gifts. Please, never do so again; if the emperor finds out, both you and I will suffer…”

Ling Shuo smiled, quietly pushed the silver aside, and turned to descend the mountain.

Only after Ling Shuo had gone did Zhang Zhengchang’s legs weaken, and he nearly collapsed.

“Husband!”

Madam Zhang, quick to react, caught him as he faltered.

“What’s wrong? Are you unwell?”

“I’m fine, just tired,” Zhang Zhengchang replied, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. He would never admit he’d been frightened.

With Zhang Yi lingering in the capital, every day Zhang Zhengchang lived in dread that the emperor might lead a bloody purge of Dragon and Tiger Mountain because of him.

There was no other reason: the boy was simply too troublesome.

It had only been a little over a month, yet as he thought of the long road ahead, old Zhang felt he lacked even the will to go on.

“Help me to the inner room; I need to rest.”

Nearly collapsing in his wife’s arms, she quickly assisted him inside.

Once within, Zhang Zhengchang dismissed everyone, then carefully opened Zhang Yi’s letter.

At first, he maintained a calm facade, but as he read on, his body began to tremble.

Good news. This time, Zhang Yi had brought Dragon and Tiger Mountain an enormous blessing.

He briefly outlined the process of researching the inoculation method and nasal vaccine with Huang He, and informed his father of his decision.

The origin of the inoculation method, of course, was a “celestial technique” gleaned from dreams.

To offer the inoculation method to Dragon and Tiger Mountain, then present it to the emperor, and to have the emperor’s tacit approval for such a thing—

“Heaven bless Dragon and Tiger Mountain!”

Tears streamed down old Zhang’s face. Since returning from the capital, he had not heard such good news in a long time.

Losing the position of Celestial Master might mean little to others, but Zhang Zhengchang, feeling he had let down the ancestors, labored under immense pressure.

And with Zhang Yi at the emperor’s side, so many uncertainties lingered; Zhang Zhengchang found himself sleepless night after night.

Now, at last, Zhang Yi had brought him a stroke of fortune.

This was surely the greatest opportunity for the Zhang family! If handled well, even the thing he most wished to regain might yet be within reach.

With reddened eyes, Zhang Zhengchang shouted,

“Someone! Bring me something to eat…”

“And more candles!”

Master Zhang, wild-eyed, emerged from the room, his waist no longer aching, his legs no longer weak—only his gaze appeared somewhat terrifying.

“Master, what’s the matter?”

Madam Zhang was not present, but his disciples were waiting outside. Seeing their master in such a manic state, they too were startled.

“Just do as I say. Bring what I asked for and don’t bother me!”

“Master, what are you planning?”

“I am entering seclusion!”

With red eyes and clenched teeth, old Zhang declared. Seclusion was a pretense; what he truly intended was to study tirelessly, to the point of exhaustion.