The Child Emperor

Prince Donghai came to the Weary Marquis’s mansion for his regular visit, and the doormen and servants were already accustomed to it, neither blocking nor announcing him, letting him come and go freely. Behind his back, they all said he had been “well-disciplined” during this period.

Indeed, under Lady Tan’s urging, Prince Donghai was extremely dedicated to helping Han Ruzi compete for the throne, tirelessly offering strategies and dedicating all his resources, showing even more enthusiasm than if he were competing for himself.

Han Ruzi had no intention of wasting this hard-earned enthusiasm.

“Do you still have many connections with the Cui family?” Han Ruzi asked.

Prince Donghai removed his mud-stained boots and ordered his attendant to clean them. He sat cross-legged on Han Ruzi’s sleeping couch and said, “It’s alright, I’m too busy to deal with them, but my wife visits them often.” He sneered, “The Cui family is quite pleased now. You and the Champion Marquis are both their sons-in-law. They’ll have an empress regardless of who becomes emperor. Hasn’t anyone from the Cui family come to flatter you?”

“No,” Han Ruzi also found it strange. Almost all noble families in the Capital tried various ways to establish connections with the Weary Marquis, but only the Cui family remained silent. Even Second Young Master Cui Teng no longer showed his face – either he had changed his mind or wasbeing closely watched by their father.

“Don’t worry, just be prepared. When the Cui family does come, don’t stand on ceremony. Ask for whatever you want, be as greedy as you like. Don’t worry, you won’t be able to swallow up the Cui family.”

Han Ruzi smiled.

“Why are you asking about the Cui family?” Prince Donghai asked.

“I hope you can help me with something.”

Prince Donghai was silent for a moment. “I’ve already moved out of the Cui residence, only maintaining superficial family relations. Cui Hong recommended me, but actually got the Champion Marquis’s permission beforehand. They don’t see me as a threat at all.”

“Grand Tutor Cui’s alliance with the Champion Marquis is purely for benefits, but you still have years of family bonds with them.”

Prince Donghai kept sneering, finally saying: “Family bonds… fine, there’s still a bit left, might as well use it. What do you want me to tell Cui Hong?”

“I received news that the Champion Marquis appointed Wu Xiu as the Northern Army’s Adjutant.”

“I heard about that too. Wu Xiu leaves tomorrow. I also heard that Wu Xiu actively sought to join the Champion Marquis. He went to the palace to visit the Emperor a few days ago, then met with the Champion Marquis the next night. Shortly after, he received the appointment. Don’t you think this means something?”

The young Emperor could pass away at any time, but unless he received definite news, Han Ruzi didn’t want to speculate. “Regardless, Wu Xiu is a problem. He’s the Emperor’s uncle, and with the Champion Marquis’s personal appointment, his going to the Northern Army poses a threat to Chai Yue.”

“What do you want Cui Hong to do? He’s the Grand Marshal of the Southern Army, which has always been rivals with the Northern Army. They would hardly be amicable in normal times, let alone now.”

“I don’t need Grand Tutor Cui to be amicable. I need him to deploy troops.”

Prince Donghai was stunned, then slapped his thigh. “How devious – was this Yang Feng’s idea?”

Han Ruzi didn’t answer. Prince Donghai laughed: “This is a good idea. Though Wu Xiu has a high status, he’s a coward. With a major battle approaching, even just a sign of it would terrify him. Who else would the Northern Army troops support then if not Chai Yue? But… can Chai Yue be trusted? You haven’t known him long.”

“Some people are trustworthy after just one meeting.”

Prince Donghai gave an awkward laugh. “I can’t leave the city, but I can write to Cui Hong.”

“Can you convince him?”

“That’s easy. With all the fighting in the Capital, if the Southern and Northern armies don’t make some noise, they might be completely forgotten. We’re not asking Cui Hong to actually fight, just to show that the Southern Army is still here. He’ll definitely agree. I’m confident.”

A servant brought in the cleaned boots and helped his master put them on. Prince Donghai went to the table, wrote a letter on the spot, and handed it to another attendant, ordering him to leave the city immediately to meet the Southern Army’s Grand Marshal.

After finishing, Prince Donghai asked: “Anything else? We counter their moves as they come, that’s what makes it interesting. But we can’t just defend, we need to attack too.”

“Do you have any ideas?”

“There’s one person we should try to win over sooner rather than later.”

“Shang-guan Sheng?”

“Exactly. Shang-guan Sheng, the General who commands tens of thousands of troops in the Palace Guard. To the Empress Dowager, the Palace Guard is a hundred times more important than the ‘Guanghua Tigers’. Winning over Shang-guan Sheng would mean more than gaining the support of all the civil and military officials at court.”

“But our ultimate plan is to take Shang-guan Sheng hostage… I understand.” Han Ruzi smiled, one should get closest to one’s enemies, just like him and Prince Donghai now. “It won’t be easy though. Shang-guan Sheng is only loyal to the Empress Dowager, and unlike her brother Shang-guan Xu, he’s bold and decisive.”

“We still have to make a show of it. With the Palace Guard there, not trying to win them over would actually be suspicious. I hear the Champion Marquis has been trying various ways to get close to Shang-guan Sheng.”

“Yes, you’re right.” Han Ruzi also picked up his brush and wrote a letter, showing it to Prince Donghai.

“Hehe, Liu Kunsheng surely never expected to suddenly become so important. But he was only a General for a few days and has no background. As for the Palace Guard… well, it’s just for show anyway.”

Liu Kunsheng was formerly a Captain of the Palace Gates who was promoted after achieving merit, then transferred to become Captain in the Northern Army. It made sense for Han Ruzi to ask him to make introductions.

Han Ruzi called Zhang Youcai, sealed the letter, and ordered him to find someone to deliver it to the Northern Army.

“There used to be many noble sons in the Palace Guard, but unfortunately they were all sent home. Otherwise they would have been helpful – they all support you,” Prince Donghai said regretfully.

But since the noble sons were still familiar with the Palace Guard, Han Ruzi and Prince Donghai each wrote several more letters, sending them to different people. Some directly made requests, others asked for meetings to discuss in person. In any case, they hoped to arrange a meeting between the Weary Marquis and Shang-guan Sheng.

The two had lunch in the study, and afterward met with two scheduled visitors. There was nothing major to discuss, just casual conversation. This was how relationships with noble families worked – at least two casual conversations were needed before serious matters could be discussed.

Not long after the visitors left, an unexpected guest arrived at the mansion.

After days of practice, the manor clerk was much calmer now, no longer panicking like before. He entered and announced normally: “Prince Ying requests to see the Weary Marquis.”

“Who?” Han Ruzi and Prince Donghai asked in unison.

“Prince Ying.”

Han Ruzi and Prince Donghai looked at each other, not understanding why this young uncle had come.

Prince Ying brought only two attendants; the fate seer Yuan Zifan hadn’t come with him.

“Is this your study? There are so many books.” Prince Ying entered the room, looking around with his hands behind his back. He was an impolite child – when the Martial Emperor passed away, he had just been born, and though he received his title, he hadn’t received the best education.

Though Prince Ying was young, his generational status as an elder demanded respect. Han Ruzi and Prince Donghai both stood up and nodded with smiles.

“Wait outside,” Prince Ying ordered his attendants. He sat in Yang Feng’s usual chair, swinging his feet that couldn’t reach the ground, and asked, “Why don’t you come play with me?”

Han Ruzi and Prince Donghai were stunned again. Prince Donghai smiled, “You like playing with us?”

“Yes, last time at Champion Marquis’s house was so fun. When are we going again?”

Prince Donghai laughed heartily. Han Ruzi was dumbfounded and couldn’t help asking, “Where’s Yuan Zifan? Why didn’t he come with you?”

“He’s too controlling. I snuck out,” Prince Ying jumped down from the chair and came to the desk. “Are you practicing writing? I can write too.” Prince Ying picked up the brush and messily wrote the character “ying”, looked at it proudly for a moment, then dropped the brush. “Where shall we play today?”

“Today…” As Han Ruzi was trying to figure out how to deal with this young uncle, Prince Donghai stepped forward and smiled at Prince Ying: “There are plenty of places to play, but now is time for conversation.”

“Mm, I like talking. People in my manor don’t want to talk. Yuan Zifan used to talk often when he first arrived, but not anymore. He’s always going out but won’t let me leave.”

“Where does Yuan Zifan go?” Prince Donghai gave Han Ruzi a look, indicating this was a rare opportunity to perhaps learn some special information.

Prince Ying shook his head indifferently – he didn’t know where Yuan Zifan went, nor did he care.

Han Ruzi stepped back, looking at Prince Ying and couldn’t help thinking of his own childhood. He similarly lacked guidance, but he had his mother’s companionship and knew to hide his thoughts in front of others. Prince Ying was more like a Prince Donghai who hadn’t studied properly.

“Prince Ying, do you know what we’re doing?” Prince Donghai continued asking with a smile.

“Talking, right?”

“I don’t mean right now, I mean before. Remember? We were once in a room together, listening to an old man explain rules.”

“Oh, you mean choosing the emperor. Of course I remember. When I become emperor later, I’ll make you all high officials.” Prince Ying was very generous.

“Many thanks, but… the Weary Marquis also wants to be emperor.” Prince Donghai turned and pointed at Han Ruzi behind him. “There can only be one emperor, so who should it be?”

Prince Ying picked up a paperweight from the table and fiddled with it. “I’m the Martial Emperor’s son, of course I should be emperor.”

Prince Donghai’s smile widened. “Who originally told you that you would definitely become emperor?”

“Yuan Zifan.” Prince Ying tossed down the paperweight and yawned boredly.

“You didn’t know him before, so why do you believe what he says?”

Prince Ying looked at Prince Donghai. “Who says I didn’t know him? I’ve known him since I was little, but he wasn’t called Yuan Zifan then. I don’t know why he changed his name…” Prince Ying covered his mouth with both hands. “I shouldn’t tell you these things, it’s a secret.”

Han Ruzi and Prince Donghai were both shocked and took turns asking questions, but Prince Ying wouldn’t reveal another word. Instead, he kept insisting on going out to play.

Prince Donghai said to Han Ruzi: “How about it, shall we take him out for a walk?”

Han Ruzi understood his intention – the three of them appearing together for no reason would make many people misunderstand, thinking Prince Ying had joined the Weary Marquis’s side. No amount of explanation afterward would matter.

It was already late afternoon, so they couldn’t go far. Han Ruzi said: “Let’s go to the East Market, it’s lively there.”

Prince Ying cheered, saying: “I knew coming to find you wasn’t wrong.”

Prince Donghai asked: “You knew I was here?”

“I went to your house, they said you were at the Weary Marquis’s manor.”

Prince Donghai led the way, while Han Ruzi and Prince Ying walked behind. Just as they left the room, Han Ruzi suddenly asked: “Yuan Zifan used to be a eunuch, right?”

Prince Ying smiled and said: “Oh, did you know him before too?”

Han Ruzi smiled without answering. He had guessed – Prince Ying had rarely left the palace, so people he knew were most likely from within. Yuan Zifan had clearly disguised his appearance somewhat.

“Let’s not go to the East Market. Let’s visit the Chancellor instead – he’s been sick for several days,” Han Ruzi said.

“Is it fun at the Chancellor’s?” Prince Ying asked.

“Very fun,” Han Ruzi said. If Yin Wuhai wanted to stay out of things, then they would bring trouble to his doorstep.

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