The Child Emperor

Outside the military tent came the sound of music, neither entirely like a zither nor entirely unlike one, ethereal and melodious, threading through the air and into the ears. Han Ruzi listened for a while, feeling an indescribable comfort, so he held his breath, trying to catch those delicate, gossamer notes.

Zhang Youcai and Ni Qiu were tidying up the dishes. Seeing the Emperor raise a hand, seemingly signaling them to stay quiet, they both froze in place, one holding a plate and the other bending over to pick up chopsticks. They glanced at each other, bewildered.

Suddenly, an argument erupted outside, like a bear crashing into a forest, scattering the timid birds— the music stopped abruptly, and the listeners sighed as if a beautiful dream had been interrupted.

Zhang Youcai and Ni Qiu, still puzzled, resumed clearing the table, knowing they could move again.

Cui Teng burst into the tent, clearly drunk, his face flushed and his eyes fierce, though he tried to maintain a cheerful demeanor. He muttered incoherently, “The Emperor is my… brother-in-law, we are… family, hehe, brother-in-law, I knew you weren’t asleep yet.” Thɪs chapter is updated by novel·fiɾe·net

Liu Jie, the Director of Palace Attendants, followed behind, holding onto one of Cui Teng’s arms, clearly displeased with his rude behavior. Unfortunately, in a military camp, there weren’t many barriers to stop such people.

Han Ruzi nodded at Liu Jie, signaling him to let go. Liu Jie hesitated but then obeyed, bowing and retreating.

Cui Teng thought his brother-in-law was nodding at him and nodded back several times, staggering forward and looking at the leftover food on the table. “Your Majesty eats this?”

The Emperor’s dinner consisted of four dishes, two meat and two vegetable, a bowl of soup, and a bowl of rice.

“You’ve been drinking again,” Han Ruzi said sternly. “Hehe,” Cui Teng unnecessarily lowered his voice, “Your Majesty forgot, I was… was ordered to drink.”

“That was days ago.”

“But Your Majesty never rescinded the order, so I must… keep drinking, right?” Cui Teng said triumphantly, having found a loophole he had been exploiting.

Han Ruzi chuckled in exasperation. Cui Teng was one of the few who were utterly loyal to him, but he had too many flaws. Han Ruzi didn’t dare to give him a serious position.

Zhang Youcai and Ni Qiu didn’t like Cui Teng, making faces behind his back as they carried the dishes away.

Two guards silently entered the tent, standing by the door, clearly sent by Liu Jie.

Cui Teng seemed oblivious to being disliked, pulling up a stool to sit across from the Emperor. “I got them all drunk…”

“From now on, you are not allowed to drink until I permit it,” Han Ruzi stated clearly.

Cui Teng tilted his head, thinking for a moment, and finding no loophole, he laughed, “Then I won’t drink. You’re the Emperor, and my brother-in-law; what you say goes.”

“What do you want?” Han Ruzi saw that Cui Teng came with a purpose, his curiosity showing on his face.

Cui Teng laughed even more heartily, “Your Majesty is truly clever; no wonder my sister was so un…” He raised a hand to cover his mouth.

“Continue,” Han Ruzi commanded.

Cui Teng slowly lowered his hand, “It’s not my sister’s fault. At that time, everyone thought Your Majesty was… a fool chosen by the Empress Dowager, unable to speak, only able to bite and hit.”

Han Ruzi shook his head with a smile, “So your sister didn’t want to marry into the palace then?”

“Of course not! My sister cried to our mother and to Elder Laojun, but it was useless. Father only wanted an empress in the family and didn’t care about anything else.”

Cui Hong had met the Emperor long ago and wouldn’t have considered him a fool, likely just disdainful of explaining to the women in the family.

Recalling Cui Xiaojun’s appearance on their wedding night, Han Ruzi could understand her fear and unease at that time.

“Why are we talking about my sister?” Cui Teng scratched his head, “Anyway, my sister is genuinely happy now. When I joke about the past, she gets angry… Never mind, let’s not talk about this. I brought some good things for Your Majesty.”

Cui Teng made a mysterious expression.

Han Ruzi was still thinking about Xiaojun and, after a moment, asked, “What did you bring?”

Cui Teng, his excitement unreciprocated, suddenly felt deflated. “Your Majesty is really… I brought some good things, but you must allow me to bring them in. The eunuchs outside stopped me.”

“No nonsense,” Han Ruzi admonished.

“How is this nonsense? You are the Emperor. Not giving the best things to the Emperor is what would be nonsense.” Cui Teng stood up, strode to the door, lifted the curtain, and shouted, “You can come in now.”

Liu Jie, of course, would not follow his orders. He entered the tent and looked at the Emperor, and only after receiving permission did he exit and allow Cui Teng’s “good things” to be brought in.

Four women entered, each holding a different musical instrument. They knelt gracefully, their beauty akin to heavenly maidens. Even before they spoke, their shy and demure demeanor was apparent, their eyes downcast yet radiating charm.

Cui Teng quickly returned to the Emperor’s side. “They are of unparalleled beauty, unmatched in the world. In all of Luoyang, no, in all the land, you won’t find a fifth like them. Your Majesty is truly fortunate. They come from different places and happened to gather in Luoyang…”

Han Ruzi was furious and slammed the table. “Cui Teng, who gave you the audacity?”

Cui Teng fell to his knees, his eyes just level with the tabletop, displaying an extremely bewildered expression. He muttered, “Your Majesty, no one… no one gave me the audacity.”

“The Empress is your own sister. I am on this journey to stabilize the realm. If you do not help, so be it, but to present women to distract me—how can you face the Empress or justify my trust in you?”

Cui Teng was at a loss for words. Suddenly, there was a loud thud behind him. It turned out the woman holding the pipa had been so frightened that she dropped her instrument.

In a very low voice, Cui Teng said, “My sister isn’t here, and no one will gossip. An Emperor, if he doesn’t enjoy life, what kind of Emperor is he? Even ordinary people have multiple wives and concubines. Moreover, different women are… different…”

Han Ruzi recalled that Cui Teng had once been friends with the libertine Chai Yun, and they must have shared similar tastes. Cui Teng had just never shown it before.

Han Ruzi smiled. “Did the Prefect of Henan send them?”

Seeing the Emperor smile, Cui Teng regained his confidence and, still kneeling, revealed his eyes. “Han Chou has no such taste. He found a bunch of ordinary women whom even I wouldn’t look at, let alone present to Your Majesty. So, I had him find more beauties, and I personally selected these four. I had heard of their fame, and to my surprise, they were all in Luoyang. If it weren’t for me, Han Chou would have hidden them away… Hey, what are you doing? Your Majesty… Your Majesty… listen to me…”

Two guards seized Cui Teng and unceremoniously dragged him out of the tent.

The four women trembled on the ground, their previous charm and allure completely gone.

Liu Jie and several eunuchs entered and ordered the women to leave. They retreated on their knees, leaving the fallen instrument behind.

“Wait,” Han Ruzi called out to them. “Who was playing the tune outside earlier?”

One woman seemed to answer, but her voice was too soft for Han Ruzi to hear. Liu Jie bent down to listen, then stood up and said, “It was her master, testing the pitch of the zither, unintentionally disturbing Your Majesty.”

Han Ruzi didn’t feel disturbed. He was about to dismiss them but hesitated, unwilling to let go.

Zhang Youcai bent down, whispered a few questions, then smiled and said, “Your Majesty, her master is a zither player named Zhang Zhuhe, aged forty-seven.”

Zhang Youcai always understood the Emperor’s thoughts.

Han Ruzi nodded and waved for the eunuchs to escort the women out.

The Prefect of Henan, Han Chou, was eager to please the Emperor. This might be an opportunity to encourage Luoyang’s wealthy merchants to participate in opening granaries for the people. Han Ruzi planned to summon the Luoyang officials again the next day.

The Emperor ordered that the music resume outside. It sounded even more melodious but lacked some of its previous spirit. Han Ruzi, not well-versed in music, listened for a while and felt it was dull. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: some things can only be found by chance; the more one seeks, the further they become.

The Emperor prepared to rest, and the music ceased.

Zhang Youcai and the others all withdrew, leaving Han Ruzi lying on his bed. He silently practiced the internal qi techniques Meng E had taught him, gradually entering a half-asleep, half-awake state.

At some point, music began to play again. It seemed like two people with two different zithers, their tones distinct, conversing with each other in a unique manner.

Han Ruzi was deeply affected, feeling as if two people were supporting his arms, lifting him up into the clouds, allowing him to soar freely among the ethereal mist…

When he woke up, Han Ruzi felt more energetic than ever before. The fatigue of the past days was completely gone, and he was full of vitality. Zhang Youcai and Ni Qiu, who came in to attend to the Emperor, noticed his rejuvenation and were astonished.

After getting ready, Han Ruzi asked, “Is that zither master called Zhang Zhuhe still here?”

“He was sent away last night. If Your Majesty likes, he can be summoned back at any time,” Zhang Youcai replied.

“No rush. First, we need to find out more about him. Who should go…”

“I’ll go!” Ni Qiu immediately volunteered. Having transformed from a fisher village boy to the Emperor’s personal attendant, he was eager to go out and stretch his legs.

“You are unfamiliar with Luoyang. How will you gather information?”

“Money will do. I’ll visit places where music is played and ask other zither masters. If everyone has heard of Zhang Zhuhe, that’s good. If not, it means there’s something suspicious about him, and then we can have the Ministry of Punishment investigate.”

Han Ruzi looked at Ni Qiu in surprise. “Go ahead, let’s see what you can find out.”

“Change your clothes. There’s silver in my bundle…” Zhang Youcai reminded, as Ni Qiu strode out without looking back, waving to show he knew all that.

The first task after getting up was to meet the accompanying ministers. Many memorials had been sent from the Capital and had all been reviewed. Copies were brought to inform the Emperor that the court’s operations were proceeding normally.

Vice Minister of Revenue Liu Zeqin reported that he had made detailed inquiries with the Henan county officials. As expected, the official granaries did not have enough grain to support the refugees around Luoyang. The Ministry of War also provided detailed numbers, indicating that unless the northern borders were secure with no need for additional troops, there wouldn’t be much surplus grain in Ao Granary to distribute to the refugees.

After the court session, Han Ruzi intended to immediately summon the Henan Prefect, but Chai Yue reminded him that there was someone else he needed to meet that morning.

Ugly Wang of Luoyang, Wang Jianhuo, had arrived early and had been waiting outside the camp for a long time. After undergoing a full-body inspection, he was given a brief introduction to the court etiquette by officials from the Ministry of Rites and Decorum. Only after practicing without mistake was he allowed to meet the Emperor.

Wang Jianhuo complied with all instructions, ignoring the whispered comments around him. When he entered the tent, however, instead of kneeling, he cupped his fists and said, “Your Majesty has three difficult issues weighing on your mind. I, a humble commoner, offer my services to help ease Your Majesty’s concerns.”

What surprised Han Ruzi the most was how ugly Wang Jianhuo was.

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