Chapter 365: There are No Conflicts in the Palace
There were two types of loyalty: one tended toward loyalty to an individual, while the other tended toward loyalty to a position.
For Han Ruzi, the Empress and Zhang Youcai belonged to the former type. Whether he was Emperor or Weary Marquis, he could count on their loyalty. Liu Jie and Xiao Sheng, who died for the cause in Jincheng City, belonged to the latter type. Regardless of who became Emperor, their loyalty remained largely unaffected.
Han Ruzi perused historical records and discovered that most emperors distinguished clearly between these two types of loyalty. They indulged and pampered the former type, treating them as family members, which often puzzled outsiders and drew criticism from historians. Toward the latter type, emperors constantly maintained an air of authority, conducting business formally in ordinary times, yet might show mercy at crucial moments.
Han Ruzi himself was no exception to this pattern. The difference lay in addressing some people as “I” and others as “We.”
There were also some people for whom loyalty or disloyalty mattered little. Not only would they not bow to an emperor, but even if deities descended from heaven, they would observe for a while, confirming that the deities truly benefited them before kneeling in worship. Otherwise, they preferred to stand aside and watch.
Ironically, these very people might possess exceptional talents in certain areas. Yang Feng and Meng E were such individuals—they had their own ideas that even the Emperor could not control.
Han Ruzi closed the book, feeling both excited and bewildered. Being Emperor was perhaps the most complex identity in the world, extremely challenging. No wonder most people failed at being Emperor, and some even showed obvious weariness, yet no one could let go—all held on tightly.
Han Ruzi was willing to accept the challenge.
Chief Overseer Liu Jie entered and said softly, “Your Majesty, Jing Yao has arrived.”