Han Ruzi was awakened from his sweet dreams by someone shaking and calling him. He smelled a familiar scent but his eyes remained close as he grunted lazily.

“Get up, Ruzi. We’re going back.”

Mother’s voice was ethereal like the music of immortals. Han Ruzi forced his eyes open, and in the dim light, saw his mother’s excited yet nervous face. “Mother…”

“By the blessings of the Gods and Buddhas, we can finally go back,” Mother repeated, her voice trembling with emotion.

“Back where?” Han Ruzi slowly sat up, still confused.

“Back to the palace. You are going to be Emperor.”

Han Ruzi rubbed his eyes. Finally awake, he said, “I don’t want to go back, nor do I want to be Emperor.”

Mother clenched Han Ruzi’s arms. “You are not to say such dispirited words. Never ever. Do you understand? You have a long road ahead of you, and there are many who would hinder your way. You must…”

Mother did not know how to carry on. Her son was barely thirteen years old — that stage in life where one had only a hazy notion of the ways of the world; where the words of adults can easily be misunderstood. “The throne is rightfully yours,” Mother said gently. “The Martial Emperor was your grandfather and he liked you very much. He even gave you your nickname. If he had passed away later, he would have appointed you Imperial Grandson.”

Han Ruzi nodded his head. His mother often prattled on about such matters, but to be honest, he could not even remember what his grandfather looked like. He quickly got dressed in his robes and hat, and walked out of the room with his mother.

It was very dark outside, and very cold. The courtyard was filled with shadowy, indistinct shapes of people. No one lit any light, and Mother nudged her son forward. She spoke with a tone of superiority. “This is the grandson of the Martial Emperor, and the son of the Graceful Emperor.”

The courtyard rustled with the sound of people getting down on their knees. Han Ruzi was nervous but he did not retreat. He did not want to disappoint his mother.

The person closest to them walked forward as a cold breeze blew by. The chilling breeze left a deep impression on Han Ruzi — even many years later he would be unable to forget.

“I am Palace Attendant Yang Feng. I am here to escort the Prince to the Imperial Palace.”

Mother could hear the irreverence in the attendant’s voice. She thus spoke in an even colder voice. “Just an ordinary attendant?”

Yang Feng nodded his head and bowed slightly. He said to Han Ruzi, “May the Prince embark the carriage.”

Han Ruzi turned his head to look at his mother. In the dark of night, his mother’s face looked shrouded with a layer of frost.

“The two of us were chased out of the palace. Our return should not be conducted in such an off-handed manner.”

Yang Feng bowed deeper, but his face revealed a disapproving expression. “Maiden Wang, this old servant is but obeying orders. Moreover, another batch of people are escorting Prince Donghai into the palace this very moment. I should not need to say more — Maiden Wang should understand how important it is to reach the palace as quickly as possible.”

Maiden Wang was immediately persuaded. She stepped forward beside her son. “Very well. We shall set out now.”

Yang Feng remained stationary, and so did the shadows behind him.

“Our lives are in your hands, Lord Yang. Please feel free to speak your mind.” Maiden Wang’s tone was surprisingly subdued.

“My orders are to escort the prince only.”

Maiden Wang’s expression quickly changed. But this time, she did not argue, nor did she flare up. Instead, she slowly pushed her son towards Yang Feng.

Han Ruzi looked back in shock. “Mother, I don’t…”“Behave.” Maiden Wang’s voice was soft but brook no doubt. “You shall enter the palace first, and then… then… you can take me in.” Maiden Wang went close to her son’s ear and said in an even softer voice, “Remember, other than yourself, do not trust anyone, and also do not offend anyone.”

Han Ruzi started welling up with panic. Under his mother’s nudging he found himself moving forward until a pair of hands received him. A crowd of people swarmed over, drowning him like a mass of dark clouds. From this moment onward, Han Ruzi felt like he had lost most of his senses. He did not even know how he left his home and got onto the horse-carriage. The carriage was not fully sealed but had a roof. He kept turning his head to look back, always thinking that his mother would be just right behind him, yet all he saw were strangers on horseback. Only until he was two streets away did he realize that he did not bid his mother farewell.

“We shall meet again soon.” Han Ruzi thought to himself, but his mouth unknowingly spoke the words aloud.

Nights in the Capital were always silent, and hence the galloping of the horses on the street was unusually striking. Sitting beside Han Ruzi, Yang Feng heard his mutterings. Turning his head, he said amicably, “I met Your Highness when you were very young.”

Han Ruzi remained silent.

“Your Highness, you are… twelve years old this year?”

“Thirteen.” The carriage was speeding by too quickly, Han Ruzi felt like his insides were empty, like his entire body was light and floating. To think that he could remain seated in the carriage — that surprised him very much.

Yang Feng continued to stare at the boy. He needed to assess the worth of this prince in the shortest time possible. “You do not look that old.”

Han Ruzi was not shorter than any other thirteen year-old. What made him appear more juvenile was his expression — lost like a kitten in a dog’s den, unable to accept the sudden change in the faces and smells around him.

“Your Highness does not leave home often, I suppose?” Yang Feng realized that when the Graceful Emperor was still the Crown Prince, Maiden Wang was not favored and she lived with her son in a secluded section of the manor. And when the Crown Prince ascended to the throne, Maiden Wang entered the palace but was similarly neglected. Just a month later, she was told “The Prince is getting older and it would not be proper for him to remain in the palace”, and both mother and child were escorted out of the Imperial Palace.

In any event, regardless of how disfavored a prince was, he would be given a Prince title upon turning fifteen. That was the rule laid down by Great Chu’s ancestors. He may be enfeoffed to some remote swamp, but at least he would be a lord in his own right. Maiden Wang would then become Queen Dowager, henceforth living a life away from the jealous intrigues of the Imperial Palace.

Yang Feng suddenly felt a tenderness in his heart. The young boy sitting next to him was but a lamb. He had a happy future ahead of him, but Yang Feng was now taking him to the wolves.

“When… will I be able to bring my mother into the palace?” Han Ruzi asked softly.

Yang Feng silently mocked himself for his moment of weakness. “When you are able to issue imperial edicts.”

“How long would I have to wait?” Han Ruzi continued asking.

Yang Feng was silent for a moment before speaking, stressing his words firmly. “If you choose to just wait, that time will never come.”

Han Ruzi did not understand the hidden meaning behind the eunuch’s words, but from his expression and tone Han Ruzi could perceive his cold indifference. Hence, Han Ruzi kept his mouth shut. he was a prince, but had never felt himself superior to others.

Yang Feng stood up, and shouted at the carriage driver, “Take a right turn in front. Enter through Penglai Gate.”

“Lord Yang, Penglai Gate is further away…” The carriage driver was very surprised — he did not understand why Attendant Yang would take the longer route.

“Watch the road!” Yang Feng patted the driver heavily on the back before going back to his seat. He waved to signal to the horsemen behind him.

The driver did not dare to raise any more questions. He made the turn at the crossroad, speeding towards Penglai Gate, located at the northeastern section of the Imperial Palace. The eunuchs on horseback behind split into two— one group following the carriage, the other group continuing towards Dongqing Gate.

A sliver of light began to appear in the sky. The driver called out, “Lord Yang!” in a rather panicked tone.

A squad of soldiers stood in the way of the road ahead.

Yang Feng stood abruptly. The sky was still dark; he could not tell which army the soldiers were from. He placed both hands on the driver’s shoulders and shouted, “Hurry along quickly! No one would dare stop a Palace Attendant’s carriage!”

The soldiers in front started to make a hue and cry, ordering the horse-carriage to come to a halt.Han Ruzi turned slightly as his gaze went beyond the four powerful horses of the carriage, laying his eyes on at least twenty soldiers forming two rows to block the road, each of them wielding a long spear.

The carriage cannot charge through, he thought. He turned his head towards Yang Feng. The old eunuch in his fifties looked like a wolf ready to pounce on prey, his hands firmly pressed on the driver’s shoulders as though he could transfer his force to him.

“Faster!” Yang Feng bellowed.

Han Ruzi was shocked. He had seen eunuchs before, each of them timid and overcautious, like cats walking on tight-rope. Palace Attendant Yang Feng seemed different from them — he was more like a well-trained hound.

The soldiers blocking the road were getting closer and closer. Han Ruzi grabbed the carriage tightly, getting ready for the carriage to crash and overturn.

Several horsemen overtook the carriage from behind, spewing a string of curses and commands.

Finally, for reasons unknown, the soldiers unexpectedly got out of the way. The carriage continued forward. Han Ruzi was astonished— this was the first time he got to see firsthand the power of bravely charging forward.

Yang Feng went back to his seat and kept to himself. Suddenly, he turned his head sharply and asked, “Do you really want to take your mother to the palace?”

Han Ruzi nodded repeatedly. Of course he did. He had never been so far from his mother before.

“Very well. Your Highness looks like a silent person. From now on, please remain silent and leave everything to me, alright?”

Han Ruzi nodded again.

When dawn broke, the horse-carriage made it to the Imperial Palace. Han Ruzi had no memories of the place, and he remained muddled and clueless as he was put in a room.

Not long later, a eunuch hurriedly entered, his head covered with sweat. He might have been one of the horsemen following Yang Feng. “Lord Jing’s convoy was stopped at Dongqing Gate.”

Yang Feng stamped his foot excitedly on the floor. “I knew it! Who did it?”

“Strangely enough, it was a group of students from the Imperial University. They were yapping on about proper decorum not being kept.”

“What’s so strange about that. The true mastermind will not reveal his face so soon. Mm… go to Dongqing Gate again and announce that Prince Ruzi has entered the palace. That might extricate Lord Jing from the situation.”

The eunuch was momentarily stunned but did not ask further. He quickly went to carry out the order.

Yang Feng turned to Han Ruzi. “Do not be afraid. Remember, everything that you are about to get was fought for by me for you.”

Han Ruzi nodded his head. Mother had told him not to trust anyone, but he currently had both eyes in the dark. Other than this elderly eunuch, he could not find anyone else to rely on.

After some time had passed, the sounds of two men arguing could be heard from outside.

“It was you who leaked information to the senior officials, getting them to lay an ambush at Dongqing Gate! And here you are pretending to be on the same side!” The voice was extremely furious.

“Lord Jing, do not mistake prescience for leaking information. We are on the same boat here, and surely we need someone who is able to foresee the dangers that lie ahead. You should be glad that I am a vigilant person.” This was Yang Feng’s voice.

“Don’t play tricks with me! Let us go see the Empress Dowager, your lies will not work on everyone!”

Han Ruzi remained quietly seated. He suddenly understood that everything that had happened here was related to him, and yet also had nothing to do with him.

A creak sounded as the door was pushed open. A young boy roughly the same age as Han Ruzi walked in. He wore an elaborately embroidered brocade robe. Upon seeing Han Ruzi, the young boy was momentarily stunned. “Are you here to fight for the throne as well? Looks like we are brothers then. Someone told me that I shall have to grant you a Princedom in the future, but I think I should get you killed. That would settle things once and for all.”

Han Ruzi heeded Yang Feng’s warnings and remained completely silent.