The Child Emperor

Han Ruzi rushed into the imperial palace, seeing corpses everywhere – unfortunate eunuchs and palace maids, unknown martial artists, and some officials. Most had been stabbed in the back, clearly killed while trying to flee.

With his mother and wife foremost in his mind, Han Ruzi rode through an open doorway before suddenly realizing that the palace was unguarded. He had not only accidentally breached the North Gate but had inadvertently taken control of the palace.

He pulled his reins and gave detailed orders to the soldiers following him: some were to return to the palace’s North Gate to secure the road there. Though not particularly long, this road was Han Ruzi’s lifeline – troops from outside needed to continuously pour in to maintain their victory.

He dispatched another group of officers to scout in all directions throughout the palace, announcing loudly wherever they went that the Weary Marquis had arrived. Anyone willing to come pay respects was to be sent to the courtyard in front of the Tongxuan Hall.

Han Ruzi galloped toward the Empress Dowager’s quarters with only about a hundred soldiers following, who periodically shouted in unison: “The Weary Marquis has arrived!”

A dozen or so eunuchs and palace maids came out to meet them midway, kneeling and weeping before the Weary Marquis’s horse. Han Ruzi vaguely recognized one of the eunuchs, so he ordered everyone to rise and asked about Maiden Wang and his wife’s whereabouts.

Though these people didn’t know, they were eager to help. They led the way forward and quickly found more palace servants. One palace maid knew where the Weary Marquis’s wife was staying – near the Empress Dowager’s quarters.

Han Ruzi spotted smoke in the distance and his heart seized. He spurred his horse ahead even faster.

The entire courtyard had burned down. Fortunately, it was an isolated compound and the fire hadn’t spread elsewhere. Only a few flames and thick smoke remained.

No one could identify the bodies. Han Ruzi felt uncontrollable anger rising as he dismounted and strode toward the Empress Dowager’s quarters.

“Open the door,” Han Ruzi ordered, drawing his sword.

Two soldiers stepped forward to break down the door when a voice came from inside: “Who goes there?”

The soldiers exchanged glances before one replied: “The Weary Marquis has arrived. Open the door immediately.”

There was movement inside. The two soldiers stepped back as Han Ruzi advanced with his sword drawn, troops protecting his flanks. The many palace servants who had gathered watched fearfully from their knees, not daring to move or intervene.

The door opened and Han Ruzi was startled to see three women standing there, with his mother in the middle. He dropped his sword and fell to his knees, crying out “Mother!” with mixed joy and surprise.

Maiden Wang showed no joy at their reunion, saying flatly: “Rise. Don’t kneel before others.”

Han Ruzi stood, a great weight lifting from his heart. “I’m glad mother is safe. What about Xiaojun? Is she here too?”

Instead of answering, Lady Wang asked: “Why have you come here?”

“I… I came to rescue… I came to find mother and Xiaojun.”

“Ruzi, at times like these you must understand priorities. The imperial court takes precedence over wife and mother; the Capital is urgent, the palace secondary.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what you must do?”

“Um…” Though Han Ruzi actually had a plan, he became uncertain in his mother’s presence.

“Go to Tongxuan Hall immediately to receive the court officials. Plead with them, beg them, accept all their conditions – but do not use force, understand?”

“I understand.”

“Pardon everyone without exception, even the main conspirators. They must be sentenced by the Empress Dowager, not you. Understand?”

“I… understand.” Han Ruzi agreed somewhat reluctantly, as this differed slightly from his plan.

Maiden Wang stepped forward and motioned for her son to lean down, whispering in his ear: “The urgent matter is restoring your status. As long as they acknowledge you as Emperor, anyone can be forgiven – at least temporarily. You’ll have plenty of opportunities later. As for those who won’t acknowledge you, let them flee. If they fall into your hands, hand them over to the Empress Dowager. No matter what others think or see, the Empress Dowager remains the Empress Dowager – you must prove this to everyone.”

Shang-guan Sheng’s massacre of palace servants and escape from the Capital implicated the Empress Dowager. In most people’s eyes, the Empress Dowager had fallen from grace, and being able to keep her life was fortunate enough. Yet Maiden Wang insisted that her son show the Empress Dowager even more respect.

Han Ruzi didn’t quite understand. He stared into his mother’s eyes for a while, and only after confirming she wasn’t under duress and was speaking sincerely did he nod, “Yes, mother.”

“Go now. From this moment on, your every word and action must befit an Emperor’s status.”

“Yes.” Han Ruzi remained still. “I must see Xiaojun first.”

Maiden Wang’s gaze turned stern, then softened moments later as she said quietly, “She’s not here.”

Han Ruzi’s heart sank.

“Don’t disappoint those behind you,” Maiden Wang said.

Han Ruzi turned to look – over a hundred Southern and Northern Army soldiers were staring at him uncertainly. These men had never entered the palace before. Armed but ignorant of proper etiquette, they had no idea what to do next and could only watch the Weary Marquis, awaiting his orders.

More and more eunuchs and palace maids were emerging from their hiding places, kneeling at a distance.

Han Ruzi bowed deeply to his mother, then walked among the eunuchs and palace maids surrounded by soldiers. He called over those whose attire indicated the highest ranks and ordered them to close all palace gates, clean up the bodies, and direct any soldiers they saw to gather at the Tongxuan Hall. All unoccupied palace servants were to follow behind him.

The confusion hanging over everyone dissipated as the palace officials hurried to carry out their orders, sensing the palace would soon return to its long-awaited peace.

Han Ruzi proceeded on foot through a side entrance into the courtyard before Tongxuan Hall. The soldiers behind him had grown to over three hundred, with more than a hundred palace servants.

But he wasn’t the only one who had arrived.

After the massacre by the palace guards, the ceremonial guards before Tongxuan Hall were gone, replaced by another group of soldiers – nearly a thousand men armed with swords and spears. At their head stood two men: Cui Hong and Prince Donghai, uncle and nephew. They hadn’t come on horseback, showing some respect for Tongxuan Hall.

They had entered through the south gate and remained stationed there, not advancing further. Most were gazing up at the towering Tongxuan Hall like tourists who had wandered into the palace by mistake.

Han Ruzi’s group entered from the northeast corner, and the two parties quickly spotted each other, observing one another across the courtyard.

Though Han Ruzi’s soldiers were far fewer, he hesitated only briefly before stepping forward. His soldiers followed, gripping their weapons tightly. The Southern Army soldiers in particular, recognizing the Grand Marshal, couldn’t help feeling tense and frightened.

Instead of approaching Cui Hong directly, Han Ruzi moved to the steps of Tongxuan Hall, facing them from there.

After a moment of silence, Prince Donghai spoke first, shouting, “Han Ruzi, surrender! You’re outnumbered and no match for us.”

Han Ruzi whispered something to a nearby soldier, who then called out loudly: “The chaos in the Capital is Great Chu’s misfortune. The court officials are innocent, the soldiers are innocent, and the common people are innocent. Grand Marshal Cui Hong of the Southern Army and Prince Donghai Han Shu, come forward to receive your pardons.”

Prince Donghai exclaimed in disbelief: “Has Han Ruzi gone mad too? Uncle, don’t listen to his nonsense. Send troops to hack him to pieces, and we’ll have no more enemies!”

Cui Hong grunted but didn’t immediately give the order. He saw people running in through various gates around the courtyard. Though not numerous, they came in steady streams – mostly soldiers, both from the Northern and Southern Armies, as well as some palace servants. Without exception, they all ran toward the outnumbered Weary Marquis rather than the superior forces of Prince Donghai.

Cui Hong had nearly a thousand soldiers in the courtyard and more waiting outside the palace. They could indeed rush forward and kill the Weary Marquis, but this wouldn’t be accomplished quickly. It would take time, and who knew how much support the Weary Marquis might receive or what changes might occur during that time?

“Uncle, what are you thinking about? We’ve already made our plans. We can’t miss this opportunity – time waits for no one. If we miss this chance… there will never be another.”

Cui Hong had made many promises to Prince Donghai, but circumstances had changed faster than he’d anticipated: the Northern Army’s main force had arrived, the garrison troops and Southern Army outside the city had scattered, and the Weary Marquis had charged into the capital and even made his way to the Tongxuan Hall. Due to several moments of hesitation, he and Prince Donghai had missed their opportunity, arriving one step too late.

Cui Hong looked at his son-in-law in the distance, then turned to his nephew. “When you truly become Emperor, how will you deal with the Weary Marquis and Shang-guan Sheng?”

“Kill them, of course. How could I leave such future troubles alive?” Prince Donghai replied bewildered, not understanding why his uncle would ask such a question at this moment, or why there was even anything to ask about. The Weary Marquis and Shang-guan Sheng weren’t the only ones he planned to kill – there were many others who had offended him or refused to help at crucial moments…

Cui Hong heaved a heavy sigh. He had never thought highly of the Weary Marquis and had been wary of this son-in-law’s abilities, but now when it came down to it, he realized he had no choice.

“Lay down your weapons,” he ordered the Southern Army soldiers. “The battle is over.” He then drew his own sword and threw it to the ground first.

Weapons clattered to the ground as Prince Donghai blanched. “Uncle, what are you doing? We clearly have the advantage…”

Following Cui Hong’s pointing finger, Prince Donghai fell silent. A column of Northern Army flags was entering the courtyard through the northwest gate, indicating the main force had arrived.

The Southern Army’s advantage would only last for this brief moment.

Prince Donghai turned to leave, but Cui Hong grabbed his nephew’s arm. “Where are you going?”

“Anywhere. I won’t become a prisoner.”

“The Weary Marquis will pardon you.”

“He’s lying!” Prince Donghai said angrily. “He’s just trying to win people over. Once he becomes Emperor…”

“The Great Chu still faces external threats. A true Emperor understands the importance of compromise.”

“I won’t…” Prince Donghai suddenly understood. “Xiaojun is the Empress, Cui Teng serves as the Weary Marquis’s dog – you were prepared for this. You were never truly supporting my claim to the throne!”

Cui Hong didn’t want to explain further. He released his nephew’s arm and gestured for the guards to come forward and restrain Prince Donghai.

Han Ruzi stood before the steps, watching the Southern Army soldiers lay down their weapons and various groups pour in through different gates: Northern Army flags through the northwest gate, led surprisingly by Chai Yue; palace servants and scholars through the west gate, protected by Cai Xinghai and his troops; and ministers entering through the east gate, appearing on their own initiative for the first time during the entire struggle for the throne.

Though no one had ordered it, the soldiers around him automatically stepped back several paces. Han Ruzi turned and climbed the steps one by one, suddenly spotting Cui Xiaojun emerging from the northeast gate with Yang Feng, surrounded by people dressed as palace guards.

Han Ruzi thought Xiaojun had seen him, so he gave a slight smile.

He didn’t climb to the topmost platform – it wasn’t time yet. After ascending more than ten steps, he stopped and turned around. No one had followed him, and the nearest person was over ten paces away.

“Long live the Emperor!” The sudden shout from the courtyard drowned out all other sounds, submerging all notions of loyalty and betrayal, belief and doubt, familiarity and strangeness.

Han Ruzi looked around and realized how few familiar faces he could see, and how even fewer were truly trustworthy.

He suddenly understood why his mother had wanted him to pardon everyone.

From now on, he would finally have to face the entire world, not just enemies one by one or group by group.

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