The Child Emperor

Returning to the imperial palace, Han Ruzi no longer felt like a puppet controlled by others. Rather than feeling the elation of wielding great power, he felt as though he was walking on thin ice, surrounded by potential crises.

He needed to quickly establish a secure perimeter within his ten steps.

Soldiers from his personal troops were brought into the palace to serve as his guards, managed jointly by Cai Xinghai and Chao Hua. The original guards were all stationed on the outskirts, awaiting orders and under the command of the eunuch Yang Feng. Some guards, including Meng E’s brother Meng Che, had gone missing. Until they resurfaced, the emperor could not trust the palace guards.

Parts of the Northern and Southern Armies were assigned to guard the palace and the city gates, while the Palace Guards set up camp in the western part of the city. Han Ruzi pardoned and recalled scattered soldiers to rejoin their ranks. Although this appeared to be a temporary measure, Han Ruzi had no specific plans for when to summon this army back.

These arrangements proceeded smoothly, with the court and the public recognizing the emperor’s authority to make such decisions. All departments fully cooperated, and even without the imperial seal on the edicts, they were acknowledged.

All the palace personnel who had fled returned. With many of the servants killed by the Palace Guards, Han Ruzi was able to promote those he trusted. The eunuch Liu Jie was released and reinstated to his position as Keeper of the Imperial Seal. Han Ruzi even considered appointing him Chief Overseer but decided against hasty actions, restoring him to his original post first. A large number of low-status “Unfortunates” were given important roles to fill the vacant positions of palace servants.

This arrangement encountered no resistance. It was customary for an emperor to employ his trusted aides upon re-entering the palace. It could be said that Liu Jie and those “Unfortunates” had wisely chosen the right master.

As for broader adjustments, Han Ruzi was not in a hurry.

On the fifth day of his return to the palace, Han Ruzi received news of Chancellor Yin Wuhai’s death. This was both beneficial and detrimental. The advantage was that he could immediately select a new chancellor; the disadvantage was that he had no particularly suitable candidate, and this matter needed to be resolved quickly. The day after tomorrow, the Empress Dowager and the officials would go to the Ancestral Temple to formally welcome the emperor back, and at that time, the officials would need a leader.

He no longer had to sit on the floor in the pavilion. It was furnished with a full set of tables and chairs, making it more like a study.

That afternoon, Han Ruzi had only one person to meet.

Yang Feng was also very busy. Before he arrived, Han Ruzi looked up from the map and asked Zhang Youcai, who was standing at the door, “Do you really not want to become an official?”

Zhang Youcai had been detained in the Southern Army camp. When Grand Tutor Cui surrendered, he was immediately released and returned to the emperor’s side. However, he had repeatedly refused to take any official position. He shook his head again and said, “I don’t want to be an official. I’m very happy just serving Your Majesty.”

Han Ruzi smiled. Zhang Youcai was very loyal, but he was young and uneducated, making him unsuitable for managing any affairs.

“Don’t just serve me; help me with some advice as well.”

Zhang Youcai hesitated to speak. Han Ruzi laughed and said, “You don’t have to call me ‘Your Majesty’ all the time.”

Zhang Youcai nodded.

“Don’t worry. Even without the imperial seal, I can still issue decrees. Not calling myself ‘We’ doesn’t change the fact that I’m the emperor.” Han Ruzi preferred not to constantly maintain the emperor’s majesty and chose to take things slowly. “The current Chief Overseer has come to apologize and take responsibility for the various issues in the palace. I don’t think it’s entirely his fault, but he is indeed not suitable for managing palace affairs. I want to replace him. You’ve been in the palace longer than I have. Do you have any recommendations?”

Recommending someone to the emperor was a significant power, but Zhang Youcai didn’t realize it. He took the emperor’s request seriously and thought for a moment. “Yang Feng.”

Han Ruzi shook his head. “Yang Feng is not an old hand in the palace and has no interest in managing it.”

“True, Yang Feng couldn’t even manage the few people in the Weary Marquis’s residence properly. Liu Jie, on the other hand, is an old hand in the palace and is just one rank below the Chief Overseer.”

Han Ruzi smiled and shook his head. Zhang Youcai’s recommendations were all the emperor’s trusted aides, showing he was more concerned with loyalty than with the ability to manage the palace. “Liu Jie has done well as the Keeper of the Seal.”

A eunuch downstairs reported that Yang Feng had arrived, bringing the discussion between the two to an end. Han Ruzi’s conversation with Yang Feng was the real business at hand.

Zhang Youcai tactfully withdrew.

Yang Feng entered, kowtowed, and, after receiving permission, sat on a chair diagonally across from Han Ruzi. This was the second student he had helped become a true emperor, yet his face showed neither joy nor flattery. He still looked like a stern teacher, with a hint of scrutiny.

Yang Feng spoke first, as he had many things to report to the emperor.

“The imperial seal is still in Meng E’s possession. After leaving the city that night, she was likely pursued. According to my information, she headed east and disappeared near Hangu Pass.”

“Why didn’t she come to find me?”

Yang Feng shook his head. He had entrusted the seal to Dong Qing’e to deliver out of the palace, not expecting any mishaps along the way.

“Who was chasing Meng E? Her brother?”

“It appears so. Meng Che took fourteen palace guards with him, following the same route as Meng E, and they all disappeared near Hangu Pass.”

Han Ruzi frowned slightly. “Who is Meng Che working for?”

“It’s not clear yet, but it’s definitely not the Empress Dowager or Shang-guan Sheng.”

Han Ruzi was even more puzzled. “Then the seal is of no use to him.”

Yang Feng couldn’t explain either. After a moment of silence, seeing the emperor had no further questions, he continued, “Grand General Han Xing fought with Shang-guan Sheng today. News should arrive by noon tomorrow at the latest.”

“Yes.” Han Ruzi wasn’t particularly concerned about this. Shang-guan Sheng had only a few thousand veteran guards under his command, with no supplies, no clear objectives, and no reinforcements. Han Xing guarded Hangu Pass with tens of thousands of troops, so there was no reason he shouldn’t win this battle.

“Most of the pugilists in the Capital have fled. Many local pugilists have also left the Capital under the pretense of visiting relatives or friends, so they are no longer a threat.”

“No longer a threat? The Tan family can recall them at any time. Cloud Dream Marsh is still their stronghold, and Hua Bin is still their leader.”

“They are not the greatest threat at the moment,” Yang Feng changed his statement. “Recent events have shown that pugilists are of little use. Let them scatter, and then the local government offices can eliminate them. As for the Tan and Hua families, they are not worth Your Majesty’s personal attention.”

“We can’t let them get away with it, can we?”

“Leave it to the Ministry of Justice and the Capital Prefectural Office.”

“Those officials and the Tan family,” Han Ruzi was about to say they were “birds of a feather” but suddenly realized, “The officials are anxious, fearing my retribution. It’s perfect to have them investigate the Tan family, giving them a chance to show their loyalty. If they uncover anything, it will remove future threats from the Tan and Hua families. If they don’t, we can catch them all in one net later.”

“They will definitely uncover something. Brotherhood among pugilists isn’t that strong,” Yang Feng said plainly, not speculating further on the outcome.

After Han Ruzi was restored to the throne, his first decree was to grant amnesty to everyone. Only Shang-guan Sheng refused to surrender, choosing his own demise. As for the Tan and Hua families, past transgressions could be forgiven, but not future ones. A group of officials eager to make meritorious deeds was watching them daily, ensuring the two families would eventually be caught.

Speaking of pugilists, Han Ruzi thought of some old acquaintances. “What about the Du grandfather and grandson, and Reckless? I’ve always wanted to summon them to the palace, but I can’t find them.”

“They have also left. Du Motian asked me to convey his apologies to Your Majesty for not being able to help during the crisis.”

“But I don’t care about that. They’ve already done enough for me.”

Yang Feng smiled slightly, sensing the eagerness of the “new” emperor, much like when he first ascended the throne. “They are pugilists; let them stay in the pugilist world.”

“What about Reckless? Is he still a cook?”

“Yes, but not in the Capital.”

“I don’t understand. When I had no power, they risked their lives to protect me. Now that everything is settled, they leave me. Is this the so-called code of the pugilist world?”

“Wait a few years. If they still refuse to come, Your Majesty can issue a decree praising them, and the favor will be returned.”

“Fame again?”

“There are still people in the pugilist world who care about their reputation. Your Majesty should be pleased. Otherwise, the world would be left with only those who pursue profit.”

The pugilist world was never Han Ruzi’s main concern. He nodded and set the matter aside, asking, “What about the fate seers? Any news?”

During the struggle for the throne, the pugilists did not create any miracles. Prince Donghai, who relied too much on them, was utterly defeated. Consequently, the influence of the fate seers diminished significantly. Besides Yang Feng, no one paid much attention to those fate seers.

On the night of the Capital’s chaos, Yang Feng chose to help Han Ruzi reclaim the throne, missing the chance to capture all the fate seers.

“Lin Kunshan is in Shang-guan Sheng’s hands. The others will show themselves eventually. It’s only a matter of time.”

No one could change Yang Feng’s mind once he was determined. Han Ruzi let it be and began discussing the most crucial matter. “Regarding the choice for chancellor, what did Yin Wuhai say?”

Yang Feng had visited the ailing chancellor yesterday. As per tradition, he inquired about Yin Wuhai’s opinion on his successor. Now that the chancellor had passed away, this matter became urgent. “Chancellor Yin initially said he trusted Your Majesty’s choice. After my persistent questioning, he recommended someone.”

“Who?”

“Qu Zixi.”

Han Ruzi was stunned. “Qu Zixi is only a scholar at the College of National Scions, and he is in the eastern provinces. What does Yin Wuhai mean by this?”

“Your Majesty does favor Qu Zixi, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, but I never thought of making him chancellor immediately. He needs to be observed over time and promoted step by step.”

“I guess Yin Wuhai wanted to remind Your Majesty that choosing a chancellor is not easy. Even the person Your Majesty values most cannot rise to the top immediately.”

“So his recommendation of Qu Zixi is actually telling me not to appoint him? What a cunning fox.” Han Ruzi pondered for a while and asked, “Can I not appoint Qu Zixi as chancellor right away?”

“You can, but it would be a grave mistake.”

“Even a true emperor cannot do this?”

“It is especially a true emperor who cannot.” Yang Feng stood up, saluted, and said, “A person’s life has roughly two maturations. The first maturation is knowing what one can do, be it seeking revenge or acting as one pleases. The second maturation is knowing what one cannot do, to do things using the right leverage and leaving no trace. If Your Majesty wants to be a true emperor, you must first understand what you cannot do.”

Han Ruzi felt a surge of anger but did not show it. Instead, he said, “Alright, let me see what I cannot do.”

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