The Child Emperor

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Prince Donghai was unafraid.
Once the official turned around, Prince Donghai made various faces in imitation of the official, causing the other young nobles to quietly snicker.

That ought to be the life of a teenager.

Han Ruzi watched them for a while, trying his best to remember the appearances of those who were most lively and boisterous.
Since he was a boy, he had never had playmates.
Rather than fun and games, he was more used to silent contemplation.

In the afternoon, a different teacher came by.
He was even older and feebler than Guo Cong — he could not even speak clearly.
His subject of instruction was the Book of Documents — unintelligible archaic words  streamed out of his mouth, like bees fleeing a destroyed hive, buzzing about aimlessly.

Such were the teachers the Empress Dowager had selected for the Emperor — five feeble old men, the youngest being in his sixties, to teach the Classic of Poetry, Book of Documents, Book of Rites, Classic of Music, and Book of Changes.[3] It was hard even to communicate normally to them.

Han Ruzi did not give up on his studies.
If he could not understand his teachers then he would study by himself.
If he encountered words that he did not understand he would circle them out, believing that he would eventually have the chance to clarify.

A few days in a row went by like this.
Han Ruzi did not think that he had learnt much from the books, and he carried on only by sheer willpower.

One day, at noon, Prince Donghai did not gather with the other nobles, and instead stayed by the Emperor’s side, and dined with him.
When the eunuchs withdrew to clear the table, he finally spoke to the Emperor.
“The dower gifts have been delivered.”

“Huh?” Han Ruzi was unaccustomed to Prince Donghai’s change.

“The palace has delivered the dower gifts to the Cui clan.
When my uncle returns from Qi, the Empress will be appointed.”

Han Ruzi was rather sympathetic to Prince Donghai.
“Do you like her very much?”

Prince Donghai’s eyes erupted in fiery rage.
“It is not a matter of liking her! She was to be mine! This was something that was said since I was young, both Mother and Uncle had agreed!” Prince Donghai clenched both fists as he said forcefully.
“My things are never handed over to others!”

“You hang about those attendants every day.
Are you unable to get a message out to your mother? Perhaps she could help you.”

The fiery rage in Prince Donghai’s eyes was suddenly extinguished.
He said dejectedly, “Mother wrote a letter berating me, telling me to know my place and behave well in the palace — to focus on serving the Empress Dowager and… you.
Things have changed, everything has changed.
Just because I did not become Emperor, even Mother and Uncle have changed.”

Han Ruzi was unable to console Prince Donghai.
He only found matters ridiculous.
Both he and Prince Donghai wanted the life the other had, but neither of them could have their way.
They were trapped in their positions, envious of the other.

“How is it going in Qi? Did Prince Qi confess to his crimes?”

“Did Yang Feng tell you nothing?” Prince Donghai said sarcastically.

Yang Feng was too busy.
He had not spoken to the Emperor in days.
Han Ruzi said, “If things do not go as planned in Qi, the matter with the Empress might see changes.”

Prince Donghai considered this for a moment.
“Things are still in a stalemate over there.
Prince Qi did not immediately rise in open rebellion.
He denied the accusation and claimed that he was being set up by treacherous villains.
But it is no use.
The longer the matter is delayed, the worse it is for Prince Qi.
He will surely be defeated and Uncle will return victorious… Forget it, I know I can’t blame you.
But you must remember, when I… Sooner or later, I will take back everything that belongs to me.”

Han Ruzi laughed.
“I wish you all the best.”

Han Ruzi understood one thing.
The greater the conflict between the Cui clan and the Empress Dowager, the more secured his position once.
If the time comes when the two sides are at ease with each other, then he would be in danger.
At least for the time being, Prince Donghai’s fighting spirit was more beneficial than detrimental to him.

In the evening that day, Han Ruzi was idling in his room.
Yang Feng walked in, carry bundles of books.
These were the tomes that the Emperor was reading for his studies in the Soaring Cloud Pavilion.

Yang Feng ordered the servant-girls to withdraw, and placed the books on the table.
He opened one of them and turned to face the Empress.
“It seems like Your Majesty has drawn quite a number of circles.”

Han Ruzi’s face grew a little red.
“There are some words that I do not recognize.”

“Mm.
I have spoken to the Empress Dowager.
She has allowed me to teach you your characters.”

“That’s great!” Han Ruzi was not thrilled about learning to read, but about being able to properly communicate with someone.

Yang Feng placed the books down and moved closer to the Emperor.
“Learning to read is but a minor skill.
Your basics are not good, so all we can do is mend the fence after the sheep have been stolen.
It will not benefit you that much.
Instead, I will be teaching you something else.”

“What would Lord Yang be teaching me?” Han Ruzi’s enthusiasm for learning was magnified once again.

“History.”

“History?”

“Rulers must learn from history.
History is usually one of the most important subjects for a ruler, but the Empress Dowager has omitted it from the curriculum.
Hence, I will be giving instruction on it.
Your Majesty should keep this to yourself and not let others know.”

Han Ruzi nodded vigorously.
He would not say a word to anyone.

Yang Feng did not have any history books at hand, so he relied entirely on his own memory.
He did not wish to teach the Emperor formal history.
He first picked up a book and taught the Emperor a few words, before saying, “Your Majesty has begun your studies, and will meet more officials.
Perhaps I will tell you about the interactions between the Founding Emperor and his subjects.”

Han Ruzi liked listening to stories, but he felt like the Founding Emperor was not a suitable reference for him.
“But I hardly get to interact with anyone…”

“Do not be in a hurry.
Everyone is still observing matters.
Once the opportunity arises, there will be moments of interactions.
But I must remind Your Majesty of one matter.”

“Please speak, Lord Yang.”

“Do not believe the first person who comes forward to contact you.
That person would surely have ulterior motives.”

Han Ruzi was stunned.
He remembered clearly: the first person who came forward to contact him was Yang Feng himself.

[1] This is what a yellow parasol would look like.

[2] Full translation of this poem can be found online here.

[3] Of the five classic texts mentioned here, the Classic of Music is not one of the Five Classics of Confucianism because in our reality the Classic of Music was a text lost by the time of the Han Dynasty.
Hence, an astute native reader might realize that one of the Classics is missing from Han Ruzi’s education: the Spring and Autumn Annals, which is a historical text.