The Child Emperor

For nine full days, Han Ruzi’s routine remained exactly the same: getting out of bed before dawn, being dressed by a bunch of eunuchs and servant-girls, being ushered into another room, being stripped by yet another bunch of eunuchs and servant-girls, being washed in a wooden tub, getting dressed in fresh robes, ushered into a small, well-lit chamber, kneeling on a cattail mat, and keeping a gaze on the Founding Emperor’s ceremonial robes and crown. Only after noon could he eat his first meal as tens of attendants carried various cups and bowls, containing only rice porridge and some salted vegetables.

Such a life was called the vegetarian fast.

Strictly speaking, Han Ruzi was not yet the Emperor of Chu. He had been introduced to the ancestors in the Ancestral Temple, but he still had to go through the ascension rites before he could face the civil and military officials of the Imperial Court. The whole ceremony had been simplified extensively, yet it still required half a month before it could be completed.

Outside the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Court was abuzz with preparations for the ascension ceremony. Only Han Ruzi remained milling about, kneeling within the quiet chamber every day, his stomach growling in hunger. All he could do was to stare at the Founder’s ceremonial robes, counting the number of holes it had from its age.  Other than that, he could admire the murals on the walls. But nobody explained to him what they meant — he guessed that they depicted the various battles the Founder had gone through to found the Empire.

The thick ink and heavy colors of the murals did not make the battles appear difficult. The Founder’s armies always seemed to be able to secure a one-sided victory, enemies either butchered across the battlefield or prostrating in surrender. The Founder rode astride a white stallion, his stature much larger than others around him: the very picture of martial prowess.

The bored Han Ruzi began making up stories for these murals. Gradually, he even started to find it quite amusing. So much so that the thing he looked forward to most was being sent to the quiet chamber. He’d much rather sit here alone than face the strangers coming and going around him.

Ever since he left the Ancestral Temple, he never saw Yang Feng, Prince Donghai, nor the Grand Consort. The eunuchs and servant-girls by his side kept changing, yet the things they did were always exactly the same. Other than speaking a few necessary sentences, they constantly kept their heads down, intentionally ignoring the new Emperor, as though they were servicing a wooden, moving puppet.

Indeed, there was not much difference between Han Ruzi and a wooden puppet. Only in his heart could he race across the battlefield with the Founding Emperor.

On the tenth day, Han Ruzi finally welcomed a companion in the quiet chamber.

Under the accompaniment of two eunuchs, Prince Donghai walked into the quiet chamber, his face flat as still water. He knelt stiffly and bowed his head. “This subject pays his respects to His Majesty.”

Han Ruzi was about to get up, but the eunuch Jing Yao who was behind Prince Donghai stepped forward. “Your Majesty, do not move. This is the sacred room where the Founding Emperor’s ceremonial dress is housed; proper decorum between sovereign and subject must be adhered to.”

Han Ruzi remained still. He had gotten used to being told what to do over the past few days. Hence, he just kept silent. After a while, Jing Yao spoke on behalf of the Emperor. “The Prince Donghai may rise.”

Prince Donghai stood up, but his head bowed lower than ever.

Another eunuch stepped forward with his body bowed. He placed a cattail mat behind the Emperor, slightly on the right, before cautiously leaving the chamber. Jing Yao said, “By the Empress Dowager’s edict: Prince Donghai shall attend by His Majesty’s side from today onwards. May His Majesty be devoted to the vegetarian fast. Tomorrow morning, the Ministry of Rites and Decorum shall be conducting a rehearsal for the ascension ceremony. Fast may be broken after noon.” Having said that, Jing Yao left the room as well.

Han Ruzi adjusted his posture on the cattail mat and continued to look at the Founder’s robes contemplatively. This time, he did not continue making up stories about the murals. With someone next to him, Han Ruzi felt like even his thoughts could be stolen away. Prince Donghai was diagonally behind Han Ruzi; despite kneeling, he did not keep still — occasionally coughing, intermittently sighing, his robes kept rustling against the cattail mat.

Han Ruzi turned his head and smiled towards his brother.

Prince Donghai was momentarily stunned. He leaned forward, his hands supporting his weight on the ground. This was not a kneeling posture — it was to get closer to Han Ruzi. He growled nasally, “Don’t be smug. You are not the true Emperor, only a fake one.”

“I know.” Han Ruzi said his first words in ten days.

Prince Donghai was stunned again before letting loose a sliver of disdain. “What do you know? Do you think being a true or fake Emperor is all just fun and games? That is…” He could not carry on.

Han Ruzi turned around to face the Founder’s robes again. He knew that he was a puppet — a short-lived one at that. But he knew he had to keep his cognizance hidden, except towards Yang Feng.

“Everyone thinks that you are simple-minded, but I know that you are faking it. And it is still pointless — even if you are a hundred times cleverer, you are still trapped in the palace like a turtle in a jar.” Prince Donghai smirked. There are many in the palace who instill fear in him, but that would definitely not include this new Emperor.

“Look at the Founder’s crown,” Han Ruzi said. Finally having a companion, he hoped to chat more.

“What’s there to look at, I’ve seen it all before. I even know its history. Everyone says that this crown that this crown is passed down from ancient times, experiencing five dynasties — that would be more than a thousand years. But actually, only a few beads on this crown has such a long history. The other parts have long been replaced. From what I know, at least seven beads were changed during the Martial Emperor’s reign.”

“You do know much,” Han Ruzi said sincerely.

“Heh. This is but common knowledge that a prince ought to know. The Founder’s crown can only be worn when you formally ascend the throne. Other than that, it can only be worn during the rites of adulthood, marriage, and the investiture of the Crown Prince. Nothing interesting about it — it’s just ornamental.” Prince Donghai stared at the robes and crown, even wishing to stand up and have a feel.

The Founding Emperor had left many personal effects behind. Other than the crown, he also left behind robes, shoes, swords, jade trinkets, horse-whips, et cetra. These items were all too old and could be used. Only the crown could be used occasionally.

“The Emperor is like this crown — no use other than being an object of veneration.” Han Ruzi had stayed in this chamber for some time, so he had developed some feelings for these personal effects.

“Hah!” Prince Donghai laughed mockingly. Outside the room, a eunuch coughed in reminder, causing Prince Donghai to quickly kneel properly. Only after a while did he say softly, “That’s right, you are only an object to be used. The crown will be stored here after use, but you will not enjoy such good treatment. If I were the Emperor, I would surely not fall into such straits. Tell me the truth: are you not afraid?”

“I am, but what is the use in being afraid?” Han Ruzi gazed at the Founder’s most treasured sword on the shelf. The Founder had probably used it to slay many enemies, yet it could only remain here: sheaved and speckless, completely unused.

Prince Donghai stood up and looked at the door before creeping behind Han Ruzi. “If that is the case, why don’t I send you along your way. You don’t have to be afraid anymore, and I will get what I wish for.”

Prince Donghai did not sound like he was joking, but Han Ruzi was not afraid of him. He did not bother turning around and kept his eyes on the treasured sword. “I think we should be on the same team.”

“Is that why you asked for me to stay in the palace and attend to you?” Prince Donghai said bitingly.

“That was your idea.”

“My idea?”

“You said that when you became Emperor you would either kill me or keep you by your side. I didn’t want to kill you, so I kept you by my side.”

Prince Donghai was stunned for the third time. He did indeed say such a thing, but he did not expect Han Ruzi to remember it and use it on him. “Don’t think so highly of yourself. You think you are truly an Emperor? Nobody even listens to you. The reason I’m being kept here is because the Empress Dowager is using me to threaten the Cui clan.”

Prince Donghai’s voice was full of hatred. Compared to Han Ruzi, he hated the Empress Dowager who control everything from behind the scenes much more.

“That’s why we should be on the same side.”

“Heh. Your Wang clan is completely powerless, so you wish to seek support from my Cui clan? I will not be tricked… Unless you are willing to let me have the throne.”

“I never wanted to be Emperor. I can give you the throne anytime.”

“No, it should be ‘return the throne to me’.”

“Sure, I can return the throne to you.”

There were footsteps outside so Prince Donghai quickly went back to his original position. After things quietened down outside, Han Ruzi said, “Are you still in contact with the Cui clan?”

“No, I am being watched closely. That bastard Jing Yao, he tricked me into the palace and now he is my jailor. But this is only temporary, my mother and uncle will surely find a way to pass messages to me.”

“Have… have you seen Yang Feng?”

“Attendant Yang Feng? I’ve seen him once; he just ran across in front of me without even paying his respects… You’re not expecting much from him, are you? I’ve heard some news in the palace; it was him who negotiated with the senior officials and pushed you on the throne, thereby throwing you into the fire. He is now one of the Empress Dowager’s trusted agents. The one who kills you in the future will surely be him. Definitely. He just looks like the king-killing type. If I were the Emperor, the first thing I would do is get rid of him.”

Han Ruzi could not guess at Yang Feng’s true intentions, but that eunuch left too deep an impression on him. If he could choose someone to be his “teammate”, he’d rather it be Yang Feng.

The last vestiges of Prince Donghai’s fear of the Emperor had vanished, and he started to unceasingly map out his plan. “When you return the throne to me, it will be an abdication. Such things have happened in the past. When the time comes, we would just say that you are seriously ill and cannot fulfill the responsibilities of Emperorship — that would be a simple matter. What is difficult is, how do we drag the Empress Dowager down… It’s very strange… I still don’t understand one thing: why did Uncle agree to handing the Grand Marshal’s seal of office to the Shang-guan clan? That is half of the Capital’s military forces! And despite making such a huge compromise, I am still not Emperor. Outrageous, absolutely outrageous!”

His voice was too loud, hence the room’s door was opened. Jing Yao’s doughy pale face looked in and said, “The Founding Emperor is watching.” The old eunuch had a respectful posture and expression but his tone left no room for doubt.”

The chamber doors were closed slowly, and Prince Donghai could only squeak. “Jing Yao is treacherous. Teacher was right: eunuchs are all treacherous.”

Han Ruzi did not know who was treacherous and who was loyal. All he knew was that he was in imminent danger. If a miracle did not happen, he would never see his mother again.

He turned and looked at Prince Donghai but he knew that with just two thirteen year-olds, all they could do was complain to each other. Every step they took would be fraught with difficulty, and nothing would be accomplished.

On the other hand, Prince Donghai was much more confident. He suddenly crawled from behind. He was too excited and almost knocked Han Ruzi down. “I have a swift plan to deal with the Empress Dowager! It shall be carried out tomorrow!”

Note from TZT: Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please feel free to leave a comment below to support this series.