“So Your Highness knew all along.” Ethan Brooks covered her mouth in surprise. Then she stopped holding back and said angrily, “Her Ladyship has fallen for that thief woman surnamed Da’s tricks!”

“Consort Ding’s surname is Da? Da the Big Butt Consort?” James Johnson asked in surprise, “There’s actually such a surname?”

“She’s a Semu.” Ethan Brooks replied with disdain. In the Ming dynasty, both Mongols and Semu people were derogatorily called ‘barbarians’, but since James Johnson’s mother’s surname was Hu, people in the palace naturally avoided that term.

“These Tartar women are all ambitious. Though they don’t dare compete with the Empress, they’ve always been eyeing the position of Noble Consort. Now that Noble Consort Sun is clearly on her way out, she deliberately provoked Her Ladyship and put on a show of self-sacrifice in front of His Majesty, just to get rid of her rival!”

“You really know a lot.” James Johnson chuckled.

Ethan Brooks’s heart tightened. She quickly lowered her head obediently and said softly, “I just dare not hide anything from Your Highness.”

“Then hurry up and tell me everything you know!” James Johnson sat up, pressing for details.

Ethan Brooks then spilled everything like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, and indeed revealed quite a bit of useful information.

For example, that Consort Da Ding was originally John Brooks’s concubine. After Mr. Johnson defeated John Brooks, he took her for himself.

George Washington claimed he never seized other men’s wives or daughters. This was the one exception, and he openly said it was because he was furious that John Brooks had killed so many of his generals, so he took his concubine as revenge.

But the palace staff privately said it was because Lady Da was too seductive and skilled at charming the ruler. Otherwise, even the always strict and self-disciplined Mr. Johnson wouldn’t have been tempted to imitate Mr. Cooper.

Although no one could possibly threaten Empress Ma’s position, a man’s heart and body can be kept quite separate.

In any case, Lady Da was very much favored, giving birth to the seventh and eighth princes and a princess in succession. Her status naturally kept rising, and she gradually became arrogant.

“Like mother, like son. Her son, Prince Qi, is no good either!” Ethan Brooks said angrily. “He bullies the palace staff all day even though he’s so young, and not even the palace cats and dogs can escape his cruelty.”

“The swallows built a nest in Changyang Palace, and he found them noisy, so he had the nest destroyed and then personally burned the fledglings to death!” Ethan Brooks gave another example. “The scar behind Your Highness’s ear was also from when he hit you as a child!”

James Johnson touched behind both ears and indeed found a half-inch scar behind his left ear.

“Don’t be fooled by the fact that he’s half a year younger than Your Highness—he’s vicious. During the Dragon Boat Festival, he even kicked a palace maid and broke her ribs.” Ethan Brooks continued indignantly, “But Consort Da Ding is so sinister and ruthless that everyone’s afraid of her revenge, so no one dares report it to His Majesty…”

As James Johnson listened, he gradually drifted off to sleep, deep in thought.

……

The next day, James Johnson didn’t get up until the sun was high in the sky.

Ethan Brooks was already off duty, and another, younger palace maid was now serving him. He didn’t know her name.

After getting dressed and having a simple breakfast, James Johnson said he wanted to go out.

David Walker hurriedly ordered the attendants to prepare.

A young eunuch presented an ebony waist token for passing through the palace gates. David Walker took it and hung it at his waist, then supported Your Highness by the hand and bowed as they left the hall.

Ten young eunuchs were already waiting outside the door.

Two eunuchs carried red gauze lanterns at the front to lead the way. One lantern was inscribed with ‘Palace of Eternal Peace’, the other with ‘Prince of Chu’.

The other eight young eunuchs followed behind, carrying water jars, spittoons, folding chairs, clothing chests, golden parasols, incense burners, and the like.

James Johnson glanced at David Walker and said, “Isn’t something missing?”

“It is a bit lacking, but that’s the rule. Only when leaving the palace can you use the full ceremonial entourage. Inside the palace, things must be kept simple.” David Walker explained gently.

“David Walker, shouldn’t there at least be a sedan chair? Am I, a dignified prince, supposed to just walk out the door?” James Johnson eyed David Walker, wondering if this old eunuch was messing with him.

“Oh dear, did Your Highness forget that much after falling in the water?” David Walker looked at him with the expression of someone caring for a slow child. “His Majesty specifically decreed this to prevent you princes from becoming lazy and indulgent. Except for the Crown Prince, all imperial sons must walk inside the palace!”

“There’s really such a rule?”

“Of course. Even when leaving the palace or the capital, you can’t just ride the whole way—you have to walk at least three out of every ten stops.” David Walker added, rubbing salt in the wound.

“Damn…” James Johnson was dumbfounded, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

With such a ‘loving father’ around, his dream of a prince’s life of leisure seemed unlikely to come true.

……

But there was one thing James Johnson understood very well. In this Forbidden City, his father’s word was law—there was absolutely no room for negotiation.

He could only obediently stretch his legs and, guided by two eunuchs, left the Gate of Eternal Peace and turned onto West First Street.

West First Street was a road flanked by the Western Six Palaces and the Palace of Heavenly Purity. On the east side, behind the tall red walls, was Mr. Johnson’s bedchamber.

James Johnson hesitated, unsure whether he should go in and pay his respects—see what his father actually looked like.

To be honest, James Johnson always felt nervous about ‘meeting the Emperor in person’.

In front of others, even if he made a mistake, it wasn’t a big deal—he could always get by on his status and position.