The Child Emperor

Early in the morning, Prince Donghai came over and ordered servants to serve him porridge. He sat across from Han Ruzi eating breakfast as if he had stayed there overnight.

“When do we start?” Prince Donghai asked after putting down his empty bowl.

“Hmm?”

“The battle for succession.” Prince Donghai waved the servants away.

Han Ruzi didn’t want to discuss this in the hall, so he got up and headed to his study with Prince Donghai following beside him. “It’s so unfair,” said the prince. “Our closest relatives are under house arrest in the palace, while the Champion Marquis only gave up one son – one born from the Tan family that he doesn’t even care about. It’s not fair. Shouldn’t we bring this up?”

“To whom?”

“The Empress Dowager, and the fate seers.”

“You have a fate seer by your side.”

“Lin Kunshan? He just gives foolish giggles, making people think he knows everything when those are just stupid laughs. Seeing him like that every day, I could be a fate seer myself. Hmm… hehe…” Prince Donghai imitated Lin Kunshan’s laugh quite accurately.

The study was spotlessly clean. Han Ruzi sat down in a chair and casually flipped through a book while Prince Donghai looked around. “Is this your command tent?”

“Command tent?”

“Yes, for strategizing, planning, deploying troops… all happening here,” Prince Donghai said excitedly.

“You’re overthinking it. This is just a study,” Han Ruzi said, looking down at his book.

Prince Donghai walked over and placed both hands on the desk. “Why aren’t you anxious?”

“About the succession? There’s still half a year – what’s there to be anxious about?”

“No, no, if we compete according to the fate seers’ rules, we’ll definitely lose – you’ll definitely lose. You need to act early, not just sit and wait while the Champion Marquis wins over all the court officials. What’s your plan?”

“My plan… I have people visiting the Marquis Ping’en’s residence daily…”

“That’s useless.” Prince Donghai cut him off urgently. “You sent that palace maid – I remember her, quite fierce, even left the palace with you.” After thinking for a moment, he continued, “They’re just women – what can they accomplish? We need our own plan.”

“I thought General Han Xing already had a plan.”

Prince Donghai froze, then frowned. “My brother – what plan could Han Xing have? Lending you his official seal was already extremely daring. Even then, he must be secretly sending people to explain things to the Champion Marquis and show his loyalty.”

“In that case, why help me at all?”

“Hedging his bets. But we can fully utilize this – launch a sudden attack, eliminate the Champion Marquis and Prince Ying, depose the Empress Dowager, command the officials, and kill those who don’t comply.”

“Sudden attack… how? We have no troops or authority.”

“Hehe, are you trying to get information from me? Tell me your plan first. Did you and Yang Feng visit Guo Cong the other day?”

“Yes.” It had been an open visit that neither side tried to conceal.

“How did it go?”

“Nothing came of it. I left after a brief chat.”

“Guo Cong didn’t invite you to stay for a meal?”

“No, we just had some tea.”

“Then it wasn’t successful.” Prince Donghai pulled up a chair. “This must have been Yang Feng’s idea, thinking they could change officials’ minds through scholars. That’s completely unrealistic. Scholars are for singing praises and maintaining court stability. To seize the throne, you need military might.”

Prince Donghai clenched his fist and struck the table.

“But we lack military power. The entire Capital is under the control of the Eight Imperial Guard Camps. General Han Xing’s forces are scattered, and the Southern and Northern Armies dare not step into the capital region, plus they’re too far away to help…”

“That’s why I’m asking what your plan is. Just waiting won’t create miracles.”

Han Ruzi smiled. “Why have you suddenly become so anxious?”

“I’ve always been this way.” Prince Donghai sighed heavily. “I feel you don’t trust me, that’s why I’m anxious. If our alliance is just empty words, what’s the point?”

Han Ruzi quietly watched Prince Donghai.

Prince Donghai stood up and said sincerely: “After everything that’s happened, do you think I’d still compete with you for the throne? You’re better than me in every way.” He sighed again. “Honestly, I’m not happy about it, but I have to accept reality. We’re brothers after all – you becoming emperor versus the Champion Marquis becoming emperor makes a huge difference for me.”

“Alright, Yang Feng and I do have a plan, but I’d like to hear yours first.”

Prince Donghai sat down slowly, then suddenly stood up and quickly walked to the door. He opened it to check outside before returning to his seat. “The Tan family has extensive connections.”

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

“Many people owe them favors, and some are even willing to repay with their lives. They’re fools in my opinion, but useful fools.”

“You mean the pugilists?” Han Ruzi frowned slightly. While his bodyguards were mostly pugilists, that was the extent of it – he would never rely on pugilists to seize the throne.

“Not just pugilists, but also court officials, military officers, and bureaucrats from various departments, especially” Prince Donghai paused mysteriously, “officials from the Ministry of Punishments and the Court of Judicial Review.”

Han Ruzi’s interest was piqued. “You mean the ‘Guanghua Tigers’?”

Guanghua Hall was where the Empress Dowager regularly met with law enforcement. About a dozen of these officers had achieved high positions after helping capture Prince Qi’s followers. Known as the “Guanghua Tigers,” they commanded numerous subordinates and were notorious for their brutality. Anyone they arrested would certainly be convicted, to the point where everyone feared them.

Prince Donghai nodded. “The Tan family produces heroes who love saving people, similar to the former Marquis Junyang, but their methods differ. Marquis Junyang would always petition the emperor directly, succeeding or failing publicly, gaining fame but actually saving few people. The Tan family operates discreetly, often telling those seeking their help ‘breaking the law is breaking the law, we can’t save you.’ But they work with law enforcement officials and prison guards, asking them to treat prisoners better and not let them suffer too much. After investigation, the guilty remain guilty, while the innocent can walk free.”

Han Ruzi nodded. “The Tan family really knows how to handle relationships.”

“Indeed. Over the years, they’ve saved many lives. Without them, many innocent people would have died in prison before the truth came out, if not died then at least been severely tortured. The Tan family has accumulated many favors and maintained good relationships with various judicial offices, especially with ordinary clerks. You know, ministers may rotate positions – in the Ministry of Punishments this year, maybe the Ministry of Personnel next year – but clerks rarely change, only climbing the ranks within the Ministry of Justice and Court of Judicial Review.”

“I understand your meaning – the Tan family has close ties to the ‘Guanghua Tigers’ and can reach the Empress Dowager?”

“Not quite. The ‘Guanghua Tigers’ are like mice before the Empress Dowager, only taking orders without daring to say anything extra. They rarely see her lately – after meetings in Guanghua Hall, they submit records through eunuchs who pass them to the Empress Dowager.”

“Does she respond to them?”

Prince Donghai nodded.

Han Ruzi finally showed real interest. “While memorials in the Hall of Diligent Administration have been held for two months, the ‘Guanghua Tigers’ can get responses from the Empress Dowager?”

“Not all of them, just occasionally. That’s why people say her madness comes and goes. Plus she only responds, she doesn’t seal anything.”

“Continue with your plan.”

Seeing Han Ruzi’s interest, Prince Donghai grew more excited and unnecessarily lowered his voice. “The ‘Guanghua Tigers’ are very nervous now. The Champion Marquis courts high officials, not them, and they offended many officials while arresting Prince Qi’s followers. They’re worried he’ll take action against them if he becomes emperor.”

Han Ruzi could understand their fear. “What do they plan to do?”

“They don’t have clear plans yet, but I have one: the fate seers are all criminals – enforcement has just loosened, but the court hasn’t issued any pardons. The ‘Guanghua Tigers’ are terrified to act now, but with just a little promise…”

“They could arrest all the fate seers?”

“Not just that – the Champion Marquis, Prince Ying, and Shang-guan Sheng are close to the fate seers. They could all be arrested, even…” Prince Donghai made a vague gesture.

“You can convince the ‘Guanghua Tigers’?”

“The Tan family can. This is why mother arranged my marriage with the Tan family – she wasn’t interested in them, but in the ‘Guanghua Tigers’!” Prince Donghai spoke of his mother with admiration. “Of course, it’s not that simple. We need to talk to and test each member of the ‘Guanghua Tigers’, but I think there’s a high chance of success. The key is your involvement – these law enforcement officers will only dare oppose the Champion Marquis and the other officials with promises from the future emperor.”

After thinking for a while, Han Ruzi leaned over the desk and also lowered his voice: “I’ve already written to Chai Yue, asking him to send the noble sons back.”

Prince Donghai frowned. “What use is that? The noble families won’t support you because of this. Those people returning to the Capital might stir up trouble… we might gain more enemies…”

Because of Prince Donghai’s mismanagement, over a hundred noble youths had died outside Shattered Iron City. He knew he had made many enemies.

“Chai Yue won’t just release the noble sons, but also some of my private army soldiers. They were originally fishermen from south of the Capital. Without armor, returning to the capital in small groups, they can deceive the Southern Army.”

Prince Donghai smiled. “So your meeting with Guo Cong was actually a diversion?”

Han Ruzi nodded. “About three to four hundred men will secretly return to the Capital. Not many, but they’re willing to die for me. Though Shang-guan Sheng is a commander, the number of soldiers in the Eight Imperial Guard Camps willing to die for him may not be many.”

Prince Donghai lightly tapped the table. “Our two plans can be perfectly combined! The ‘Guanghua Tigers’ plus your hundreds of loyal soldiers – with proper planning, we can control the Capital.”

“But we also need support from the imperial clan. If General Han Xing and others declare loyalty immediately after we succeed, everything will be fine.”

Prince Donghai nodded repeatedly and stood up. “This is real cooperation. I’ll come see you every day, and we’ll make a more detailed plan. In one month minimum, three months maximum, you’ll be emperor again before summer!”

Han Ruzi smiled without speaking.

“I’ll go talk to the Tan family – we must get their full support.” Prince Donghai hurried away.

Han Ruzi continued reading. When Yang Feng returned in the afternoon, Han Ruzi mentioned Prince Donghai’s visit but didn’t elaborate on their “plan.”

“Prince Donghai can’t be trusted,” was Yang Feng’s only comment.

In the evening, Meng E returned. She still lived in the same room as Han Ruzi as a maid, which they had grown accustomed to. She reported on her day’s visit to the Marquess Ping’en, nothing major, just meetings with several noble ladies.

“Did you discuss Prince Donghai’s new wife?”

Meng E thought for a moment. “Yes, everyone said this Tan daughter is formidable, worth as much as a man in their family.”

Han Ruzi finally understood who was “motivating” Prince Donghai behind the scenes.

Several plans lay before him, and Han Ruzi could choose slowly. For him, the most difficult task was understanding the hidden “personal interests” of Prince Donghai, the Tan family, Han Xing, Guo Cong, and Yang Feng.

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