The Child Emperor-Chapter 252: The Empress Dowager’s Instructions

The palace had many gates. After passing through two of them, Reckless was stopped. At the third gate, Prince Ying was taken away while still sound asleep, unaware that the person carrying him had changed.

Only Yang Feng remained, continuing deeper into the palace led by several eunuchs. Though they knew each other, they acted like strangers along the way, not exchanging a single word.

The alley was packed with people, including the Empress Dowager’s ceremonial guards and numerous attendants. They had clearly received orders to clear a path. The guide stopped and gestured for Yang Feng to proceed alone.

There were fewer people in the courtyard. Those present showed surprise upon seeing Yang Feng. Grand Consort Cui turned her face away, pretending not to recognize this eunuch. Cui Xiaojun respectfully bowed to him but remained silent. Maiden Wang gave a slight smile but also said nothing.

“Lord Yang, please enter. The Empress Dowager has been waiting for you,” a palace maid said.

By custom, the Founding Emperor’s Wardrobe Chamber had to be kept away from lamps and candles. A eunuch stood in the corner holding a lamp with both hands, diligently watching the flame as if the entire room would burst into flames should he look away.

The Empress Dowager knelt on a cushion facing the Founding Emperor’s wardrobe. Her nephew Shang-guan Sheng stood behind her. After a while, he turned and walked to Yang Feng, saying, “You shouldn’t have come.”

Yang Feng slightly nodded without responding, as he hadn’t come to argue with Shang-guan Sheng.

Shang-guan Sheng stared at him for a long time before finally leaving the wardrobe chamber.

Without rising or turning around, the Empress Dowager said, “Your intelligence network is as efficient as ever.”

“When I served Your Highness in the palace before, I came to know a few people.”

“Yes, you knew a few people. If the officials were like you, there’d be no secrets in the palace anymore.”

“The emperor shines like the sun and moon above all beings – there shouldn’t be secrets anyway.”

Follow current novℯls on ƒгeewёbnovel.com.

“Heh, Lord Yang hasn’t changed, still fond of teaching imperial arts.”

“Only before royalty.”

Having been a eunuch for many years, Yang Feng was still skilled at flattery.

The Empress Dowager fell silent for a moment. “There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“Please speak, Your Highness.”

“Where does an emperor’s power truly lie?”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“Even someone as clever as you has things you don’t understand?” The Empress Dowager stood and turned to face Yang Feng, looking him up and down. “I’ve been consolidating power in the palace, but I’ve found that the more secure the power becomes, the more rigid and inflexible it gets, like an old cart unused for decades – seemingly intact but impossible to push or pull. I’ve even begun to feel that the emperor is dispensable.”

Yang Feng prostrated himself.

“I don’t want your kowtow, I want you to answer my question,” the Empress Dowager said somewhat severely. The eunuch in the corner trembled slightly, causing the lamplight to flicker.

“Without Your Highness’s pardon, I dare not speak carelessly.”

The Empress Dowager gave a cold laugh. “Whatever you say, even if it’s treasonous, I’ll pardon you.”

Only then did Yang Feng stand up. “When status is improper, words do not flow.”

“I rule as Empress Dowager – are the people dissatisfied with this? Yet when there was a legitimate emperor before, it seemed he had no support either.”

“That’s precisely where the people’s wisdom lies.”

“Wisdom? I think it’s more like cowardice.”

“It’s the same thing. Sometimes, cowardice is wisdom.”

The Empress Dowager laughed loudly, then suddenly turned to the lamp-holding eunuch in the corner. “Are you wise?”

The eunuch’s face was filled with panic. He didn’t dare move and didn’t know how to answer, yet couldn’t not answer. “I… I…”

The Empress Dowager’s smile faded as she said to Yang Feng: “I understand now. That which is hard is brittle, while the soft appear harmless. To survive under an emperor’s nose, one must appear soft – this is the legacy the Martial Emperor left for his descendants. He thought this would make the imperial throne more secure.”

Yang Feng nodded, letting the Empress Dowager continue since she understood.

“But the soft have their own methods. They neither oppose nor support, cause no trouble but also do nothing. When I first stopped reviewing memorials, I wanted to see just how passive the officials could be. As it turned out, they were more patient than me. Heh, in these six months, the only one who took action was actually-“

The Empress Dowager’s expression shifted slightly as she suddenly understood Yang Feng’s intention was to guide the conversation toward the Weary Marquis. But Yang Feng had barely spoken, and she couldn’t find any obvious flaws. “Know yourself and know your enemy, and you’ll never be defeated. Lord Yang has pursued the fate seer for long, it seems you’ve deeply grasped their arts of deception.”

“I dare not accept such praise. I’ve only achieved minor success.”

The Empress Dowager turned to look at the Founding Emperor’s ceremonial robes. She came to view them almost daily yet could never look enough. “Heroes emerge in chaotic times. The Founding Emperor had no weaklings under him. I wonder if we should start over-“

“The empire’s fate still lies with the Han clan.”

The Empress Dowager sighed deeply and asked, “What would happen if I made Prince Ying emperor?”

“All under heaven would fall silent. Your Highness’s power would be more secure, the officials more submissive. The end result would be everyone standing aside while the Great Chu dynasty faces peril – when the nest falls, no eggs remain whole.”

“My only son is dead,” the Empress Dowager murmured. “Who am I protecting this realm for after all?”

“For all under heaven, for the Shang-guan clan,” Yang Feng answered.

The Empress Dowager laughed loudly again, her laughter filled with sorrow and thus tinged with madness. As her laughter subsided, she said, “My sister is fortunate. She was convinced I killed the Thoughtful Emperor, so she sought revenge against me without hesitation.”

The eunuch in the corner trembled. He shouldn’t be standing here, much less hearing this conversation. He wished he could truly be like a wooden statue – seeing nothing, hearing nothing.

“But I wasn’t the one who killed him,” the Empress Dowager’s voice turned ice-cold, filled with murderous intent. “It was someone else, a filthy hand, hidden right here in the palace.”

The Empress Dowager turned in place, looking up at the ceiling. “Like a snake, lurking in the shadows, striking when guards are down, spitting a few drops of poison, thinking no one would know.”

She looked back at Yang Feng. “So I used the perfect bait to lure this snake, finally making it reveal its weakness.”

Yang Feng’s expression changed. Though he had guessed some of the truth, hearing the Empress Dowager admit it still shocked him. He realized something – her madness hadn’t been cured, it had become one with her entire being.

“Your Highness shouldn’t have done this. An emperor is still an emperor-“

“Even an illegitimate one?” The Empress Dowager showed a cunning smile, as if catching a flaw in Yang Feng’s words. “The emperor has faced two assassination attempts. The first used the same method as the Thoughtful Emperor’s poisoning, but I found the antidote and saved the emperor’s life. I knew the venomous snake would strike again, so I waited patiently. Just now, that snake indeed came again, and this time, I caught its tail.”

“The Xiongnu army is at our borders, the Southern Army-“

“None of that matters!” the Empress Dowager shouted harshly, making the lamplight flicker. “If the imperial palace isn’t safe, what meaning does being emperor have? What’s the point of talking about ruling all under heaven when you can’t even secure your immediate surroundings? To be emperor, one must start with those closest to them.”

Yang Feng remained silent, understanding when to stop. In this regard, he was as “cowardly” as the other ministers.

The Empress Dowager’s voice softened, “You keep saying the fate seers can reach into the palace.”

“The fate seers are just one finger on that hand,” Yang Feng corrected.

“You still believe your judgment wasn’t wrong?”

“Without a doubt.”

“But you were wrong. I caught the snake’s tail, and when I pulled it up, it was an old acquaintance. I had long suspected her. If it weren’t for your influence, I would have dealt with her earlier. Now with solid evidence, I need not hesitate anymore.”

“Your Highness, please reconsider.”

“Like you, I too am certain.”

“If that’s the case, what else does Your Highness command?”

“Though Great Chu isn’t as important as revenge, we can’t neglect it entirely.” The Empress Dowager glanced at the lamp-bearing eunuch, who was so frightened he didn’t react until her gaze grew stern. Only then did he awaken from his daze and hurry toward the door. Yang Feng stopped him halfway, took the lamp, and the eunuch rushed out, as if escaping from a beast’s den.

“All my enemies have gathered – the Cui clan and their lackeys and minions.”

“Grand Tutor Cui is outside the city.”

“I’ve promised several Southern Army commanders that whoever kills Cui Hong will become the Grand Marshal of the Southern Army. By now, they should have made their move. Not everyone is as cowardly as you say – throw out some rewards, and people will leap at the chance.”

“What would Your Highness have me do?”

The Empress Dowager gazed at the door and sighed softly, “I may be making a huge mistake. As I said before, I hoped to start anew like the Founding Emperor.”

“Yes.” Yang Feng felt uneasy. Having been away from the Empress Dowager’s side for some time, he had only heard rumors of many events and couldn’t fully assess the situation.

“I was somewhat confused before and mistook Shang-guan Sheng for the Thoughtful Emperor. I told him many things, though I don’t remember what exactly, but it likely included the idea of starting anew.”

“Shang-guan Sheng remembered?”

“I think he took it seriously, even believing the Shang-guan clan could replace the Han clan.” The Empress Dowager lowered her gaze. She couldn’t be wrong, at most showing slight hesitation. “But I need him. Without him, my revenge plan cannot proceed.”

“Once the Cui clan falls, with Shang-guan Sheng holding great power, who could stand against him?”

The Empress Dowager smiled slightly, “Stop pretending. Like Maiden Wang, you only think of one person, believing you can subtly persuade me. There’s no need for such complexity. It wasn’t you two who persuaded me, but Han Ruzi himself. He can be considered the foremost hero of these chaotic times, at least looking the part. If he has gone to the frontier, then I have misjudged him. If he returns to the Capital with the Northern Army in time, give him this.”

The Empress Dowager took something small from her sleeve and handed it to Yang Feng.

Yang Feng stared at it for a moment, then knelt, set down the oil lamp, and received the Imperial Seal with both hands.

Among the twelve imperial seals, this was the most important one.

“Keep it safe. If it falls into the hands of others, you’ll have failed the entire empire.” After delegating this important task, the Empress Dowager felt lighter. She walked toward the door, stopping beside Yang Feng, sighing softly, “As for me, I have failed only the Thoughtful Emperor, for I failed to protect him.”

Yang Feng touched his forehead to the ground, remaining silent.

“If you still suspect the fate seers, then kill them all,” the Empress Dowager added, pushing open the door of the robing room.

Shang-guan Sheng stepped forward, “Your Highness, someone has arrived at the North Gate.”

“Good, let’s receive our guests then.” The Empress Dowager turned to Grand Consort Cui, “You’ve been in the palace so long, yet I haven’t properly hosted you.”

If you are reading this on an aggregator site, do consider visiting https://tuzhitranslations.wordpress.com/ to support this translation project by leaving a comment.

← CH 251