The Child Emperor

Prince Donghai jumped up in rage. “How dare he? He promised! He promised!”

Lady Tan coldly remarked from the side, “What good are promises?”

Prince Donghai found unexpected courage and said resentfully to Lady Tan, “This is all your fault! You said Han Ruzi’s talk of leaving the Capital was just pretense, told me to test him bit by bit. Now look what’s happened – he really ran away and we have no preparations at all. We should discuss what to do.”

Lady Tan’s expression turned stern, and Prince Donghai deflated.

“Let’s first confirm the facts. Has the Weary Marquis truly left the city?”

Prince Donghai nodded, still angry. “This news came from the palace. Someone saw Han Ruzi leave the city personally, with two attendants.”

“No chance of mistaken identity?”

“Han Ruzi was on horseback with his face uncovered. It was definitely him, no mistake.” Prince Donghai couldn’t help complaining again. “I told you before, Han Ruzi is different from me. He was never raised to be emperor – that little ambition of his couldn’t last long. When faced with life or death, he was bound to back down. I’m different. I’m the true emperor. Whether facing the Xiongnu or the imperial throne, I’ll charge forward even if it kills me.”

Lady Tan said flatly, “Then charge ahead. The Tan family will charge with you.”

Prince Donghai felt touched and stepped forward to grasp Lady Tan’s hand. “Soon you’ll be the Empress of Great Chu.”

Lady Tan withdrew her hand. “The Weary Marquis was meant to be our shield against swords and our hunting dog at the front. His being driven from the Capital means the Empress Dowager is about to make her move.”

“What should we do?” Prince Donghai actually had his own ideas but wanted to hear his wife’s decision.

“Go to the South City.”

“What?”

“Go to Derun Pharmacy in Hundred Herb Lane of Shengnong District.”

“What for?”

“To hide from the Empress Dowager. If you want to be emperor, first keep yourself alive.”

“Come with me.”

“The Empress Dowager’s target is you, not me. Why should I hide? I’ll stay here to mislead her.”

“But-“

“The Tan family will come see you and report on the plan’s progress. Remember what you said – you’ll charge forward no matter the costs when the throne is before you.”

Prince Donghai didn’t recall saying “no matter the costs,” but still nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry. To become emperor and make you empress, I won’t back down like Han Ruzi.”

Lady Tan showed a faint trace of a smile and began arranging his departure plans.

Dawn had just broken. Word came that Shang-guan Sheng was heading to the Capital Prefectural Office to take over the case from Lian Danchen. At the same time, Prince Donghai and his princess consort took a sedan to the Tan residence with many servants, appearing to be in a panic.

Prince Donghai only sat in the sedan briefly, poking his head out to berate two slow servants. When they changed sedan carriers in the entrance hall, he got out and returned alone to the inner quarters, changed into prepared common clothes, and left through the back door without any attendants.

This was his first time going out alone. He felt nervous, constantly feeling like someone was following him and looking back repeatedly. Everyone on the street seemed menacing, like the Xiongnu who had besieged Shattered Iron City – Prince Donghai’s most terrifying memory.

After walking several streets, what annoyed Prince Donghai was no longer the pedestrians but his own legs. Usually he rode horses or took sedan chairs; even when fleeing he had never had to rely purely on walking like this.

He felt tired and felt even more strongly how slow this was. The South City seemed impossibly far away.

After noon, Prince Donghai finally reached Shengnong District in the South City. He hadn’t spotted any followers, and the pedestrians looked increasingly normal the more he looked at them -they were either leisurely going on or busy with their affairs. While Shang-guan Sheng was making his moves and the court was about to undergo massive changes, the common people knew nothing. Prince Donghai secretly vowed he would never fall to such a state of ignorance.

Shengnong District was packed with pharmacies and people – some buying medicine, some seeking treatment, all shoulder to shoulder, mostly looking worried, coughing and spitting. Prince Donghai had to dodge constantly.

After circling Shengnong District halfway, Prince Donghai finally found Derun Pharmacy in Hundred Herb Lane. It was an old shop with worn-out signboards, but had many customers, clearly well-reputed.

Just as Prince Donghai was hesitating about who to look for inside, several people suddenly approached and whisked him away without a word. Prince Donghai was shocked and about to scream when he recognized a face – a Tan family servant whose name he couldn’t recall. “You are-“

The man nodded to show Prince Donghai need not worry.

Five people in total escorted Prince Donghai into a small pharmacy next door. There were no customers inside, just a shopkeeper focused on accounting, paying no attention to the intruders.

In the medicine storeroom at the back, Prince Donghai sat on a rough wooden stool. Four men left, leaving only the familiar face, who knelt before Prince Donghai. “Please rest here for now, Your Highness. I will protect your safety.”

“You are-“

“I am Tan Diao, the Princess Consort’s cousin.”

“Oh.” Prince Donghai finally remembered – not a servant but his own relative, whom he had met once at his wedding. “How long must we stay here?”

“We’ll move after dark,” Tan Diao said as he stood.

“How are things outside?”

“The city gates are closed for three days. The Palace Guards will search house by house.”

“Ah, what should I do? This hiding place won’t work, will it?” Prince Donghai looked around at the room full of various medicines giving off pungent odors.

Tan Diao smiled. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. The Palace Guards are searching for assassins, not you. Even if they wanted to find you, the Tan family can keep you safe.”

“Good.” Prince Donghai felt somewhat relieved. He coughed twice to regain his dignity. “When will Tan Ye come see me?”

Tan Ye was the Princess Consort’s brother, who Lady Tan had said made all important family decisions.

“Big brother is arranging some matters. Once Your Highness is settled, he will come.”

Prince Donghai nodded, suddenly feeling hungry. “Is there anything to eat here besides medicine?”

Tan Diao smiled and withdrew, soon returning with food – rice and meat. The taste was ordinary but sufficient to satisfy hunger.

All afternoon, Prince Donghai was trapped in the narrow storeroom with only medicines for company. Even Tan Diao stopped coming. He could only pace back and forth, repeatedly vowing he must become emperor.

As night fell and the storeroom had no lights, Prince Donghai grew increasingly afraid, doubts multiplying: Why did he trust the Tan family? Or rather, why did his mother trust the Tan family? He had never heard of his mother having prior dealings with them.

The door opened, startling Prince Donghai. Only when he heard Tan Diao’s voice did he relax.

“Follow me,” said Tan Diao.

The shopkeeper was no longer in the store. Several medicine packages lay on the counter. Tan Diao said, “Please carry these, Prince Donghai.”

“Why?”

“For cover.”

Prince Donghai reluctantly picked up the medicine packages.

Outside, a middle-aged man dressed as a physician nodded to Tan Diao. He walked in front, with Tan Diao and Prince Donghai following behind.

The streets were empty, but the shops on both sides had their doors wide open. People inside were chatting idly, as if waiting for something.

Prince Donghai quickly understood what was happening.

A group of soldiers had gathered at the gate of Shennong District. Prince Donghai immediately recognized them as palace guards and lowered his head. Though they were officially searching for assassins, who knew what other secret orders they had received?

The physician stepped forward and exchanged words with the guard officer. The officer examined the two people behind the physician, then waved them through.

Passing through was so simple that Prince Donghai felt he had wasted much nervous energy.

The main street outside the district was equally deserted. Though it was night, the silence felt eerie. Tan Diao whispered, “There’s a curfew in the Capital. Common people aren’t allowed on the streets after dark. This Doctor Liu can leave only because he’s going to treat Marquis Ping’en.”

Prince Donghai suddenly understood two things: first, the Tan family truly had means, and second, Marquis Ping’en must be one of his supporters.

After many turns, Prince Donghai completely lost his bearings. In a pitch-black alley, a man suddenly emerged, startling him again. This man was there to take over from him, taking the medicine packages to continue the pretense of visiting the Marquis with the physician. Tan Diao instructed “Wait here” before following them.

Prince Donghai stood alone in the alley, terrified. He even began to question the purpose of the Tan family’s elaborate efforts to hide him – surely the Empress Dowager wouldn’t immediately move against potential throne contenders.

Footsteps approached in the darkness, then a hand gripped Prince Donghai’s arm. A voice said, “Let’s go.”

Though Prince Donghai knew this was one of the Tan family’s people, he still couldn’t help but tremble.

The journey was short. They soon entered a residence with a small courtyard surrounded by complete sets of buildings – clearly not an ordinary household.

In one room, Prince Donghai finally saw his escort’s face and relaxed. “Tan Ye, it’s you.”

Tan Ye, about thirty-seven or thirty-eight, had a long face and hawk-like nose, with the bearing of a gallant warrior. He nodded and said, “This place has already been searched. You won’t be disturbed again.”

Without taking time to examine the room’s furnishings, Prince Donghai asked urgently, “How are the preparations?”

“Everything is ready. The night after tomorrow, when the curfew is lifted, that’s when we’ll act.”

“Tell me the plan again.”

“Zhang Jing, Director at the Ministry of Punishment, is loyal to you. The night after tomorrow, he will pretend to have secret information for Shang-guan Sheng, luring him into a trap. General Ning Su of the Palace Guard Cavalry will capture Shang-guan Sheng and use his authority to control the Eight Palace Guard Camps.”

“Good.” Prince Donghai knew Ning Su was his firm supporter.

“Meanwhile, Third Sister will go to the Champion Marquis’s mansion to retrieve some personal items and take the opportunity to assassinate him. This is her personal vendetta, unrelated to the Tan family or Prince Donghai.”

Prince Donghai shuddered. The Tan family was extremely concerned with face, and “Third Sister” was the Champion Marquis’s divorced wife. She dared to assassinate her former husband to wash away the humiliation. Prince Donghai reminded himself to be careful in dealing with the Tan clan in the future, and his manner toward Tan Ye became more courteous.

“Assassinating Prince Ying will be simpler – we’ll use the same people.”

“They won’t fail again, will they?” Prince Donghai was somewhat displeased; the previous assassination attempt had failed to kill Prince Ying, which was unacceptable.

“If they fail again, they’ll present their heads.”

“Mm.” Prince Donghai gestured for Tan Ye to continue.

“The Weary Marquis can’t be spared either.”

“What? The original plan-” Prince Donghai was startled.

“The original plan must change. The Weary Marquis leaving the Capital early will ultimately cause problems. Once he controls the Northern Army, he’ll be a great threat to your ascension – at least a future trouble.”

Prince Donghai pondered for a moment. “What if I make him a prince? The scholars like him, and the ministers secretly favor him too. Have you already sent people?”

Tan Ye nodded.

“Those who accomplish great things must be ruthless,” Prince Donghai muttered, raising no further objections.

“After these matters are handled, as long as the Eight Palace Guard Camps stand aside, we can escort you into the palace. You’ll immediately ascend the throne, demote the Empress Dowager, and summon the Southern Army. Within a day, our great undertaking will be complete. The Empress Dowager suspects you, but she could never imagine you’re so thoroughly prepared.”

“It’s the Tan family that’s thoroughly prepared,” Prince Donghai said with a smile, while internally contemplating how to eliminate the Tan family’s influence after his ascension.

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