A bucket of cold water was poured over Prince Donghai’s head, causing him to jump up and shout, “I’ll fight to the death! I really will! It’s uncle… it’s Cui Hong…”

Seeing an unfamiliar person instead of his wife Lady Tan, Prince Donghai asked warily and with surprise, “Who are you?” He looked around – this was indeed his home. His head was spinning and his feet felt unsteady as the effects of alcohol hadn’t worn off yet. Outside, it was just beginning to get dark.

“Please come with me, Your Highness.”

“Why should I go with you? Who exactly are you?”

“His Majesty summons you to the palace.”

Prince Donghai’s heart jumped and his face turned pale. “I’m supposed to leave tomorrow. Why summon me to the palace today?”

The stranger’s face remained expressionless. “You’ll know when you get to the palace.”

“Where’s the imperial edict? The decree? You… you’re a guard, not a palace eunuch…” Prince Donghai grew increasingly panicked and was about to cry for help when he suddenly remembered there was no one left to save him. Everyone in his residence, from officials to servants, had been replaced except for his wife Lady Tan. He didn’t know any of them.

The strange guard remained calm, showing no urgency. His ability to enter the residence was proof enough of his identity.

Prince Donghai understood this logic and calmed down slightly. “Let me inform the princess consort.”

“No need. The princess consort has also been summoned to the palace. She should already be in her sedan chair.”

“Let me… wash my face and change clothes,” Prince Donghai said, unable to think of any other excuses.

While washing and changing, countless schemes flooded Prince Donghai’s mind, but none seemed feasible. He imagined someone might suddenly appear to rescue him, but by the time he finished preparing, no miracle had occurred. The servants remained respectfully distant, showing no signs of being hidden martial arts experts, and there were no warriors concealed in corners or on rooftops.

Prince Donghai suddenly realized he was truly alone.

When the guard urged him again, Prince Donghai had no choice but to leave, his drunkenness completely gone. He kept looking back as he left the residence. Though he hadn’t lived in this prince’s mansion long, he now felt deeply attached to it, wishing he could collapse and refuse to leave.

Outside the main gate were more guards and two sedan chairs. Prince Donghai wanted to speak with Lady Tan but was politely guided to his own chair.

Throughout the journey, his emotions surged. His body alternated between feeling limp and tense. By the time he got out of the sedan chair, he barely had the strength to walk.

He was taken to a separate small courtyard in the palace. When he alighted, he was alone – Lady Tan had been taken elsewhere.

Han Ruzi had been busy all day and only found time to see Prince Donghai at the second watch. Upon meeting him, he asked, “What’s wrong with you? Haven’t you eaten? Or have you just been practicing martial arts?”

Prince Donghai found unexpected courage and stood up abruptly. “If you want to kill me, then kill me… I’m not afraid of you. Your shameful deeds will eventually be exposed to the world, and everyone will know…”

His courage spent, Prince Donghai collapsed back into his chair.

Han Ruzi smiled. “My shameful deeds?” He shook his head. “If I wanted to kill you, I would do it openly and properly, not secretly summon you to the palace.”

Prince Donghai was stunned, then realized this made sense. The other party was already emperor – he could either have others do it or frame him for a capital crime. There was no need for other tactics. Greatly relieved, he almost burst into tears. “You… What does Your Majesty want with me?”

“Something strange has happened in the palace. I need to discuss it with you.”

Prince Donghai was startled again. “I didn’t do it.”

“I haven’t even said what it is yet.”

“Whatever it is, I had nothing to do with it. I’m more docile than a well-fed dog now. Those people you sent to my residence can testify – all I do is drink, eat, and sleep. I don’t see anyone from outside. Really, I accept my defeat. I know how failed imperial princes should live out their lives in wine and women. I’ve already started with the wine, as for women… that can wait.”

Han Ruzi laughed heartily. “You’re too young to be indulging in wine and women. Why not help me pacify the realm and accomplish something instead?”

Prince Donghai looked around – there was no one else in the room. “Just speak plainly. You’re the emperor, I’m your subject. Even if you ordered me to kill myself, I wouldn’t dare refuse. There’s no need for kind words to win me over.”

Han Ruzi sat on the other side and poured himself a cup of cold tea. “The Founding Emperor’s sword has disappeared.”

“What?”

“The Founding Emperor’s sword.”

“The one from the Imperial Regalia Chamber?”

“Yes.”

“How could… Your Majesty doesn’t suspect me, does he?”

“You did lead people into the palace that night.”

“But I never went to the Imperial Regalia Chamber, and besides, the Founding Emperor’s sword would be useless to me. Even if I wanted to use it to rally the court officials, I should have revealed it then. Hiding it away serves no purpose for me.”

Han Ruzi had not suspected Prince Donghai from the beginning. “What about the Tan family members?”

“The Tan family? I can’t guarantee anything about that. It was particularly chaotic then… Oh, so that’s why you summoned the Princess Consort into the palace. You… Your Majesty is the Emperor, and the Princess Consort is your sister-in-law. You mustn’t act rashly.”

Han Ruzi smiled exasperatedly. “What are you thinking about? The Princess Consort was with the Empress in the Imperial Regalia Chamber that night.”

Prince Donghai remembered – the Princess had told him about her experience that night. “Yang Feng – Your Majesty should ask Yang Feng. He was tied to a pillar outside the Imperial Regalia Chamber. If anyone went in or out, he couldn’t have missed it.”

Han Ruzi had already asked – Yang Feng hadn’t seen anything, and Han Ruzi chose to believe him. “The key is not knowing when the sword was switched. It definitely wasn’t during the time Yang Feng was imprisoned.”

“Heh, an emperor shouldn’t trust anyone… forget I said that.” Realizing his life wasn’t in danger, Prince Donghai felt more at ease and could think seriously about the Emperor’s problem. “Think about it another way – what use is the Founding Emperor’s sword? It’s just an heirloom from our ancestors.”

“It’s useless to most people, but to me and to Grand General Han Xing, it had some significance.”

“Oh, right – you once had someone bring out the Founding Emperor’s sword, and after Han Xing received it, he quelled the palace uprising… So that’s how he was assassinated.” Prince Donghai suddenly understood, forgetting to address him as ‘Your Majesty.’

Han Ruzi understood Prince Donghai and knew his surprise was genuine. “I originally thought they used the Imperial Seal, but now it seems more likely it was the Founding Emperor’s sword. The assassin probably brought the sword to meet the Grand General, who mistakenly thought the person was sent by me…”

“Tomorrow when we march out, we can find Han Xing’s guards and learn how he died.” Prince Donghai was still a bit nervous, feeling his suggestion was too simple and the Emperor must have already thought of it. After thinking for a moment, he asked, “Does Your Majesty suspect the Tan family?”

“The assassination seems more like the work of the pugilist world. The Tan family and Hua family are both possibilities. Yang Feng thinks it was done by the fate seers.”

Prince Donghai sneered, “Lin Kunshan? If he had such ability, I wouldn’t have…” Prince Donghai silently vowed to watch his mouth. “Fine, I can talk to the Princess Consort. If any Tan family members were involved, she should have heard something. But I need one guarantee.”

“Regarding the Tan family, I make no guarantees. For the Princess Consort, I can grant her clemency one more time.”

Prince Donghai stared at the Emperor for a moment. “Alright, shall I go now?”

Han Ruzi nodded. He needed to uncover the truth quickly.

Prince Donghai walked toward the door, then suddenly stopped and turned around. “My mother…”

“Grand Consort Cui, Crown Prince Yong’s orphan, and the Champion Marquis will be buried together, probably in about ten days.”

Han She, also known as Han Pu, whose brief reign as Emperor would not be recognized, would forever be known in Great Chu history as “Crown Prince Yong’s orphan.”

Prince Donghai suppressed his grief and anger. “I heard she was… poisoned?”

“I never asked,” Han Ruzi said, which was true. Since they still had to respect the Empress Dowager, some things were better left unquestioned. However, since the Empress Dowager had blamed the Thoughtful Emperor’s death entirely on Grand Consort Cui, poisoning her enemy was inevitable.

Prince Donghai said nothing more and left the room. Someone naturally led him to see the Princess Consort.

Han Ruzi sat alone in the room. All the rooms in the palace were remarkably similar, differing only in size and furnishings, yet each had its own name – countless halls, pavilions, galleries, and courts that Han Ruzi couldn’t possibly remember.

Soon, Prince Donghai returned, his face alternating between pale and flushed, as if he’d been scolded.

“The Princess Consort says she didn’t take the sword. The Empress was there too. After they rescued Yang Feng, they left. No one entered the Imperial Regalia Chamber – it was impossible for anyone to take anything.”

Han Ruzi had already heard the details from Cui Xiaojun and didn’t suspect Lady Tan. “What about other members of the Tan family?”

Prince Donghai hesitated. “The Princess Consort doesn’t know. She said… she said…”

“Said what?”

Prince Donghai finally gathered his courage. “She said Your Majesty shouldn’t just focus on pacifying the realm and finding the Founding Emperor’s sword – you should also make time to manage family affairs.”

Han Ruzi was startled. Lady Tan was indeed quite bold, but her words seemed rather puzzling.

“Your Majesty doesn’t know? Hasn’t the Empress mentioned it?”

Han Ruzi’s gaze turned slightly stern, and Prince Donghai quickly said, “Forget what I said. The Princess Consort was talking nonsense. I think she’s a bit unstable now, her words may not be reliable…”

“You’re leaving the Capital tomorrow. Since you like the palace so much, you might as well spend a peaceful night here.” Instead of pressing further, Han Ruzi encouraged Prince Donghai to rest well.

To Prince Donghai, this sounded more like a threat. Realizing he couldn’t fool the Emperor anymore, he blurted out, “Maiden Wang… Empress Dowager Wang wanted to eliminate the Empress.”

Prince Donghai had preemptively given Maiden Wang the title of Empress Dowager.

Han Ruzi narrowed his eyes slightly, making Prince Donghai even more frightened. “The Princess Consort said that night, she and the Empress went to the Empress Dowager’s chambers for help. Maiden Wang was guarding the door and refused to open it, saying that with the Empress around, Your Majesty wouldn’t be able to move against the Cui clan. If Yang Feng hadn’t quickly found palace guards, the Empress and the Princess Consort might have really died at the hands of the palace troops. I heard the Zhuoxin Palace was burned down – the Empress had been living there, so she was fortunate to escape. Of course, what the Princess Consort said might not be accurate, I didn’t see it myself…”

“Enough.” Han Ruzi stood up. “Tomorrow, all members of the Tan family, regardless of age or gender, will follow the army and relocate to Donghai with you.”

Prince Donghai was shocked. “That’s not what the imperial edict said.”

“There will be a new edict tomorrow morning.”

“But… how can there be enough time? There’s no time to prepare at all.”

“The Tan family has nothing to prepare for. They just need to leave.” Han Ruzi offered no further explanation as he walked out. He would not leave any suspicious people in the Capital.

Prince Donghai was dumbfounded. Though he had always thought an emperor should be ruthless, seeing Han Ruzi become cruel instead of himself was still hard to accept.

Escorted by guards, Han Ruzi headed toward his chambers, feeling more indecisive than ever before.

He believed Lady Tan’s words but didn’t know how to broach the subject with his mother and the Empress.

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