The Child Emperor

The smoke of incense filled the room as the Empress Dowager of Great Chu said imperiously, “Kneel.”

The young man immediately complied.

The Empress Dowager stepped forward, extending her arm until her fingertips were just two or three inches from the old garments on the rack. Though within reach, she stopped as if encountering an invisible barrier. “These are the Founding Emperor’s robes,” she said, her tone softening with a hint of obsession. “When people die, their spirits remain. When emperors ascend to heaven, they become immortals and deities, forever watching over their descendants. When you ascend, you too will join the ranks of gods. But I… in heaven I will only be a humble servant.”

“The Empress Dowager is the mother of the realm. Even in heaven, you will stand among the deities alongside past emperors,” the young man answered carefully.

“You don’t understand. An Empress Dowager can be deposed with just… just one word from the Emperor…” The majesty vanished from her face, replaced by terror and unease. Her gaze turned to the sword on the clothes rack. She suddenly shuddered, stepped back slowly, lowered her arm, and knelt on another cushion to pray quietly for a moment.

The Empress Dowager turned to look at the young man. “In heaven, will you stand by your mother’s side?”

“Of course.”

Joy and affection spread across her face. “I knew I could rely on you. Everything I’ve done… it’s all been for you. Your father… no, we won’t speak of him. Just remember, when you ascend, you must defend me. You are the Emperor – you will become a deity. No one can dispute your words, not even other emperors, not even your father.”

“Of course,” the kneeling young man replied, keeping his words minimal.

The Empress Dowager stood up, her expression becoming stern again. “You will soon rule personally. Have you mastered the art of kingship?”

“I still need the Empress Dowager’s guidance.”

“Very well, come with me. Let’s not disturb the Founding Emperor.”

The young man rose and followed the Empress Dowager out of the chamber that housed the Founding Emperor’s ceremonial robes.

In the courtyard outside stood two women. The Empress Dowager stared at them for a while, her face showing traces of anger yet resignation. “The Graceful Emperor has got his wish – his women are all here. How can he say I’m jealous and spiteful now?”

“Your Highness is virtuous and serene, a model for all women. Even if the Graceful Emperor were reborn, he couldn’t find fault with you,” Consort Cui said with a smile.

“Demonic aura! You both have demonic auras,” the Empress Dowager pointed at the two women. “Stay right here, don’t move around. Let the Founding Emperor suppress your evil spirits.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” both women respectfully replied in unison.

The Empress Dowager led the young man into a side hall – a small room normally used for visitors to rest, now serving as a temporary classroom.

The young man glanced at the two women before reluctantly following the Empress Dowager into the side hall.

Maiden Wang whispered, “Why did you have to add that extra comment? Even in her confused state, she could detect your mockery.”

Consort Cui smiled faintly. “What can she do about it? She brought me into the palace just to ease her conscience before the late emperor. She already knows my personality – why should I pretend otherwise?”

Consort Cui’s smile faded. “The Empress Dowager’s mind is corrupted. Even in her madness, she’s still full of schemes. Making us stand together like this – it’s deliberate. She thinks she’s clever, trying to deceive not just people, but ghosts too.”

Maiden Wang, having risen from being a maid, paid little mind to Consort Cui’s words. “Don’t forget, we need the Empress Dowager to deceive people, ghosts, and gods alike.”

Consort Cui stared at Maiden Wang, suddenly breaking into a radiant smile. “Sister speaks truly. The fate of Great Chu rests in this mad woman’s hands. We must ensure a smooth transition to the true Emperor of the Chu empire.”

The side hall door opened and the young man hurried out. He looked around before approaching Consort Cui and Maiden Wang, speaking in a low voice: “Do you realize that everything I’m doing now is punishable by death and the execution of my entire clan?”

Maiden Wang remained silent, but Consort Cui smiled and said, “Shang-guan Sheng, the Empress Dowager is your aunt. Humoring her and helping treat her illness is simply your filial duty as a junior relative. How can that be a capital offense?”

“I’m impersonating the Thoughtful Emperor!” Shangguan Sheng was furious, his voice becoming shrill though he dared not raise it for fear the Empress Dowager would hear.

Maiden Wang said, “That’s not true. You’re not impersonating the Thoughtful Emperor. You’re dressed as a palace guard from head to toe. You haven’t called yourself by the royal ‘We’ or touched the imperial seal. How is that impersonation? You’re just… like the robes in that room. The Empress Dowager senses the Founding Emperor in those robes and sees the Thoughtful Emperor in you. That’s not impersonation…”

“You’re another set of robes, Shang-guan Sheng. In the end, you’ll receive the rewards and treatment befitting those robes,” Consort Cui interjected.

There was always a hint of mockery in Consort Cui’s words. Shang-guan Sheng’s expression darkened. “I’m risking my life and my family to help you.”

“Whichever of our sons ascends the throne will remember the Shang-guan family’s service. After all, we’re connected to the Graceful Emperor’s lineage – we rise and fall together. The Champion Marquis isn’t,” Consort Cui said.

Shang-guan Sheng understood this logic. After voicing his complaints, he had no choice but to continue acting as the “robes” and returned to the side hall.

Watching his retreating figure, Consort Cui remarked, “Did the Shang-guan family’s wit and intelligence all go to the Empress Dowager alone?”

Maiden Wang maintained her silence, knowing that speaking too much leads to mistakes. She preferred not to mock anyone unnecessarily.

But before Consort Cui, saying too little was also a mistake. She showed a trace of disdain, “It should be my son’s turn now.”

In the side hall, the Empress Dowager sat formally and asked sternly, “Did you rebuke those two worthless women?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I scolded them harshly,” Shang-guan Sheng replied compliantly.

“Good. Remember, this too is the art of kingship. When promoting someone, you must also suppress them, keep them anxious and grateful, make them understand their place. Never let them become proud. A subject’s pride erodes imperial power.”

“I understand,” Shang-guan Sheng said, though inwardly he wondered just how mad the Empress Dowager had become. He was several years older than the Thoughtful Emperor and barely resembled him, yet somehow she saw him as her own son. It was incomprehensible.

In the Empress Dowager’s eyes, these obvious discrepancies didn’t exist. She continued, “An emperor must learn to categorize. Never view all subjects as one group. Imperial power can create something from nothing: if you treat different factions as one group, even those with deep hatred will eventually become allies as you ‘see’ them; conversely, if you insist on treating one group as different factions, they will eventually split apart.”

Shang-guan Sheng nodded.

The Empress Dowager grew animated, seeing only the Thoughtful Emperor before her. “The nobility are of one type, but to the emperor they have varying degrees of closeness – that’s categorization. The army is of one type, so it must be divided into Southern Army, Northern Army, Border Army, Palace Guards…”

She suddenly stopped, as if remembering something particularly important. After a moment’s pause, she asked in an extremely stern voice, “How is the expansion of the Palace Guards progressing?”

At these words, Shangguan Sheng dropped to his knees, breaking into a cold sweat. His uncle, Shang-guan Xu, had been the previous Commander of Palace Guards before departing for the frontier with Grand General Han Xing and never returning. Shortly after, Shang-guan Sheng had inherited the position, spending the past six months doing only one thing: removing excess personnel and strengthening the elite troops.

Though Shang-guan Sheng had done well, the Empress Dowager’s sudden question reminded him of his true identity. He feared she had regained clarity, which would spell disaster. Even as her nephew, he wouldn’t escape death.

But the Empress Dowager smiled, “My son, you need not fear. I have arranged everything perfectly. In one to three years, the new Palace Guards will take shape. They will not only protect the palace but the entire Capital. The Southern and Northern Armies won’t return from the frontier soon – even if the Xiongnu are defeated, there are still local rebellions to suppress. Let them pacify each prefecture. Then I will richly reward the Southern and Northern Army commanders, make them all high officials, station them in different places where they’ll compete and watch each other. By then, the new Palace Guards can win without fighting, ensuring Great Chu’s peace for at least thirty years.”

“Yes,” Shang-guan Sheng replied trembling, not daring to mention that the Southern Army had already returned to the Capital’s outskirts and the Northern Army was heading south.

“Then there are the ministers – they’re the most troublesome. The army’s threats are obvious; as long as you’re careful not to concentrate too much military power in one person or department, you can manage them. But ministers excel at indirect approaches and using softness to overcome strength. When categorizing them, you can’t be too simple. They’re too clever and cunning. Sometimes they deliberately split into factions, pretending to compete before the emperor, but in the end both sides benefit while the emperor loses.”

The Empress Dowager fell into contemplation while Shang-guan Sheng knelt silently.

“A subject’s pride threatens the emperor, but the ministers’ pride runs deep. So the best way to handle ministers is to turn their pride against each other, make them truly look down on one another: officials despising clerks, examination officials despising hereditary officials, senior ministers from previous reigns despising newly appointed ministers, civil officials despising military officers, old despising young… what else?”

Before Shangguan Sheng could respond, Maiden Wang’s voice came from outside: “The old immortal has arrived.”

The Empress Dowager’s face lit up. “Quickly, invite him in.” Then to Shangguan Sheng: “You’re too young to meet an immortal. Withdraw for now. Tomorrow I’ll continue teaching you the art of kingship.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Shang-guan Sheng rose and left the side hall, wanting to run but lacking the courage. Maintaining his composure, he deliberately avoided looking at Consort Cui and Maiden Wang as he hurried out of the courtyard to join a squad of palace guards outside, feeling somewhat relieved.

The white-haired old immortal stood outside the courtyard gate. Shang-guan Sheng bowed respectfully and said softly, “Old immortal, you may enter.”

The old immortal smiled and nodded, stepping into the courtyard and bowing to Consort Cui and Maiden Wang.

“Old immortal, have you seen him?” Maiden Wang couldn’t hide her excitement.

Chunyu Xiao said, “The Weary Marquis has safely entered the Capital region.”

Lady Wang let out a long breath.

Consort Cui smiled, “Now everyone’s here, can the succession competition begin? Old immortal, are you confident you can convince the Empress Dowager? She doesn’t even acknowledge the current emperor, still thinking… that the Thoughtful Emperor is on the throne.”

Chunyu Xiao pointed to the sky, “What mortals cannot do, the gods in heaven can.”

“You are an immortal, descended from heaven,” Consort Cui said.

Chunyu Xiao chuckled and entered the side hall.

Consort Cui coldly said to Maiden Wang, “Can your son handle such people? Great Chu needs a true emperor, not a puppet.”

Maiden Wang remained silent, her heart racing at the thought that her son was not far away.

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