Chapter 31: The Messenger

Chapter 31: The Messenger

Was the Emperor having a stomachache a big deal? Han Ruzi found out.

The two eunuchs guarding the door heard the Emperor’s cries and immediately awoke from their quasi-slumber. They raised their heads like guard-dogs, alert yet confused.

Their reactions were not as quick as one person. Luo Huan-zhang stepped forward and knelt on one knee. He held onto the Emperor and looked into his eyes.

It was only later that Han Ruzi realized that Luo Huan-zhang was checking whether the Emperor’s pains were genuine. This teacher of Prince Donghai could not be blamed for being suspicious. He had just revealed a secret and the Emperor started rolling on the floor mat — it was too coincidental.

But in the moment, Han Ruzi did not think so much. He just felt that he was in pain as he curled into a fetal position. Large beads of sweat flowed from his forehead as he groaned continuously.

From one look, Luo Huan-zhang was convinced that the Emperor was not faking. He told the eunuchs, “Get the imperial doctors.”

The two eunuchs ran about in a panic, until one of them left while the other stayed. The one who stayed was younger, and he knelt on the ground, his body trembling. It was not clear what he thought as he pounced towards the Emperor, as though wishing to die with the Emperor.

Even though Luo Huan-zhang was a scholar, he was not physically weak. He reached with his left hand and pushed the eunuch away. “What are you panicking for. Go inform the Empress Dowager.”

The eunuch swallowed before stumbling his way out of the room.

“What is going on? Is someone harming the Emperor?” Luo Huan-zhang’s expression was serious, like a fierce general rather than a scholar who touted justice and benevolence.

Han Ruzi knew what this was about. The pill that Meng E had fed him had started to work, its effects more serious than he had expected. Suppressing the pangs of pain in his stomach, he said, “No. It could... could be that something was wrong with the food. It’ll get better in a while.”

“This is not a simple matter, Your Majesty...” Luo Huan-zhang was in the middle of speaking when the sound of footsteps came from outside. He lowered his voice and spoke quickly, “The officials of the court are in support of Your Majesty reigning personally. Someone will be in contact soon, please do not be suspicious.”

Han Ruzi was just about to ask who had stuffed the note the previous day when Zuo Ji and a few eunuchs came running in, kneeling on the ground.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty...” Zuo Ji had never been a calm person. While he had appeared coolly aloof earlier in the day, he now looked like a pitiable worm in a panic, sweat pouring down his head like he would lose consciousness before the Emperor would.

After all, if anything happened to the Emperor, not even the Empress Dowager could save his life.

The pain in his stomach was no longer so apparent. It became a breath of warm qi, seeking a pathway around. It felt more like he had eaten too much chili. Han Ruzi forced himself to sit down, and when he reached out, a piece of cloth of quickly put into his hand. He wiped the sweat off and felt better. “It’s nothing. We are feeling much better. It might have been something We ate.”

“The Imperial Kitchens must take responsibility for this!” Zuo Ji nearly shouted these words.

Luo Huan-zhang knelt and said, “It could be due to over-assertion during martial arts training.”

“Ah, that’s right! His Majesty trains every single afternoon — I have long said that that would not do.” Zuo Ji was in a hurry to push responsibility away. Anyone else would do.

Han Ruzi did not wish for the matter to blow up. He forced a smile and said, “It is but a minor incident. There is no need to make a fuss over it. The Empress Dowager especially should not be alarmed.”

If he could get the support of these men, he would surely be able to overcome the Empress Dowager. Han Ruzi’s confidence grew as he hoped to meet the messenger that Luo Huan-zhang had spoken of.

The Minister of Personnel, after proving his administrative abilities, demonstrated his talents at flattery. He flapped his arms energetically as he hailed, “Long live the Emperor! The Heavens have blessed His Majesty! The rebels are defeated just as the imperial wedding looms — one may extrapolate that, when the Empress is enthroned, Prince Qi may well be captured.”

These words were for the Empress Dowager, hence Han Ruzi remained expressionless. He had no choice but to marry an Empress, but he would definitely not sire an heir under the control of the Empress Dowager, regardless of who was to be Empress.

The martial arts class in the afternoon was cancelled. The reason was that the Emperor needed to rest, in preparations for the imperial wedding.

In truth, there was nothing to prepare. Unlike the ascension, the main character this time was the Empress. The daughter of the Cui clan had long been trained by the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Ceremonies, ensuring that there would be no mistakes in her marriage to the Emperor.

Han Ruzi returned to Cining Palace, anxiously awaiting the messenger. He found everyone around him suspicious, even Zhang Youcai and Dong Qing E who were attending to him.

There was a benefit to not going for martial lessons. Han Ruzi’s stomach began to hurt again in the afternoon. This time he was ready, and did not show obvious signs of pain. He silently practiced the breathing technique, not daring to distract himself with miscellaneous thoughts.

In the evening, the Grand Consort brought Prince Donghai along for dinner.

The Grand Consort sat opposite them and watched the two of them eat without eating herself.

Prince Donghai appeared depressed. He kowtowed to the Emperor the moment he arrived, admitting to being in the wrong and promising to change for the better.

What could the Emperor do? This was his brother, the two of them bound by close ties of kinship. Surely he could not condemn him over such a small matter. Han Ruzi forgave Prince Donghai and invited him to dinner. Before the gaze of the Grand Consort, the two princes made up.

Prince Donghai had just been in an embarrassing position before the young nobles, and hence he did not have much of an appetite. He ate a few mouthfuls before putting down his chopsticks. He took over from the servants and served the Emperor his food, causing everyone around to be confused. But after the Grand Consort did not object, and in fact nodded her head, the eunuchs and servant-girls did not worry about it.

“This dish is stir-fry lotus roots. It is known for dispersing heat, comforting the stomach, and calming the mind. Have some, Your Majesty.” Prince Donghai appeared to be overflowing with affection, even trying to be cute. But when he placed the dishes on the table and had his back facing everyone else, his expression grew sullen and his gaze appeared threatening. Once he turned around, he went to get more dishes in a lively manner.

Han Ruzi was not intimidated. He only found it amusing. He did not care about Prince Donghai at all, and pretended not to notice. He ate normally, put down the chopsticks, and indicated that he was done.

The eunuchs and servant-girls got busy, and Han Ruzi once again saw the shadows of “precedent”. But this precedent appeared useful, so no Emperor would seek to change it.

Thinking of “precedent”, Han Ruzi turned towards the Grand Consort. The Grand Consort smiled at him.

The Emperor smiled back. He was not afraid of the Grand Consort. Prince Donghai was full of ambition, and had the powerful Cui clan as his backers, that was his advantage. But the Cui clan was also a weakness, so he often had to act against his own will while the Empress Dowager and the Grand Consort held the Cui clan hostage. As for Han Ruzi, he had nothing, so he was hardly held hostage.

The servants withdrew, and so did Prince Donghai. The Grand Consort stood up but did not leave. She walked slowly, as though checking whether the quarters were to the Emperor’s comfort. When there was no one else, she stopped and turned to the Emperor. “Luo Huan-zhang said that Your Majesty is ready. Is that true?”

Han Ruzi was shocked. He shot out of his seat and breathed unevenly. His stomach began to hurt again. “You... how could it be you?”

The smile on the Grand Consort’s face was slowly wiped off. “If you knew what kind of person the Empress Dowager is, you would understand my choice.”