The Child Emperor

Grand Tutor Cui Hong was not in the Capital, but his intelligence network was extremely effective. Shortly after the Weary Marquis left the Capital, he received notice and dispatched a large number of soldiers to blockade the entire White Bridge Town area, determined to intercept their target and not let the Weary Marquis quietly cross the river like last time.

He had to understand the true intentions of the Weary Marquis and the Empress Dowager.

When soldiers came to report that the Weary Marquis requested an audience, Cui Hong was not surprised at all, but rather felt his son-in-law had finally learned to read the situation.

However, when the Weary Marquis entered the room, Cui Hong was stunned, then became angry. Indeed, he hadn’t met his son-in-law many times, but he wouldn’t mistake him – the person before him wore royal garments but was clearly a young eunuch.

Cui Hong gripped his sword hilt. He didn’t need to act personally – this was just a signal. The dozen guards on either side understood immediately, all half-drawing their waist swords.

The young eunuch was terrified. He raised both arms and called out loudly: “I am Zhang Youcai, the Weary Marquis’s personal attendant, sent here on his orders to see Grand Tutor Cui.”

Cui Hong’s expression remained dark. Zhang Youcai hastily added: “The Weary Marquis had me dress as him, saying it would be faster to see the Grand Tutor this way. He also said… he also said…”

“Said what?” Cui Hong finally spoke.

Zhang Youcai glanced at the sword-wielding guards around him and slowly took out a letter from his robes. “The Weary Marquis also said that after reading this, the Grand Tutor would no longer be angry.”

A guard took the letter and placed it on the desk in front of Cui Hong. Cui Hong released his sword hilt and opened the letter to examine it. The guards maintained their half-drawn sword positions – with just one grunt from the Grand Marshal, they would immediately chop this presumptuous eunuch into mincemeat.

After just one glance, Cui Hong’s expression changed slightly. He then read it carefully, put away the letter, and sat there staring intently at the young eunuch. “What else did the Weary Marquis say?”

Zhang Youcai hemmed and hawed, refusing to answer. The Weary Marquis had been very clear – after the Grand Tutor read the letter, his anger would surely subside, so Zhang Youcai could afford to be a little coy.

The Grand Tutor still looked angry, so Zhang Youcai’s attempt at coyness became rather forced, more like having amnesia at a crucial moment.

Cui Hong waved his hand, and the guards sheathed their swords and filed out.

Zhang Youcai let out a heavy sigh of relief. He wasn’t particularly cowardly, but previously he had always had either the Weary Marquis or Du Chuanyun by his side, or at least Ni Qiu. Facing the Grand Tutor who had armies at his disposal alone, he couldn’t maintain his composure.

Cui Hong continued staring, and Zhang Youcai finally remembered he hadn’t answered the question. “Oh, right… ahem, the Weary Marquis said, ‘A storm is coming. Please quickly find suitable shelter, Grand Tutor Cui, and stop hesitating.'”

Cui Hong burst out laughing. Zhang Youcai was startled, his knees nearly buckling. But remembering he wore the Weary Marquis’s clothes, he forced himself to stay standing, though his body and voice trembled: “That’s… that’s exactly what the Weary Marquis said.”

Cui Hong stopped laughing and asked coldly: “Where is the Weary Marquis?”

“He… he returned to the Capital.”

“Why return after leaving?”

“The Weary Marquis said that once he left the city, he no longer needed to follow any rules of the succession competition. His return isn’t to compete for the throne, but to… to restore his position as Emperor.”

Cui Hong continued sneering, then suddenly took up paper weight and slammed it on the desk. The guards immediately entered from outside and surrounded Zhang Youcai.

Zhang Youcai shook so hard his teeth chattered – this scene was quite different from what the Weary Marquis had predicted.

“Take him away and guard him strictly.”

The guards escorted Zhang Youcai out.

An elderly man dressed as a scholar entered the room without announcement, clearly familiar with the Grand Tutor. He walked to the desk and asked: “What news did the Weary Marquis send?”

Cui Hong pushed the letter across the desk. The old man picked it up and quickly read it, then laughed. “The Empress Dowager was indeed feigning madness – she even wants to dismiss you from your position as Southern Army Grand Marshal.”

“We can’t let the soldiers in camp see this imperial edict.” Cui Hong knew clearly that with the army’s morale unstable, any unexpected incident could cause unimaginable chaos, let alone the first imperial edict in several months.

“What exactly are the Weary Marquis’s intentions? To curry favor with you?”

“The Empress Dowager must have given this edict to the Weary Marquis, hoping to use him against me. The Weary Marquis didn’t want to be used as a pawn, so he gave me the edict, hoping to use me against the Empress Dowager. Heh, they say he’s returned to the Capital and no longer needs to follow any rules of the succession competition…” Cui Hong suddenly realized this was the real message the Weary Marquis was sending him.

“So the Weary Marquis hopes the Grand Tutor will lead the Southern Army to the Capital.” The old man also understood. “What is he thinking? Does he believe you will support him?”

“The Weary Marquis’s thoughts don’t matter. I should indeed go to the Capital. Whether it is Prince Donghai or the Champion Marquis who wins, they’ll need my help.”

“Don’t you think the Weary Marquis could win?”

Cui Hong studied the old man for a moment. “He’s just being mysterious. What does he have to win with?”

The old man smiled. “You should go to the Capital, but be careful of the Northern Army.”

“No matter. I’ll only take 60,000 men to the Capital, enough to suppress the Eight Palace Guard Camps. The remaining 40,000 will stay behind. The Northern Army only sent a few thousand men here, most remain in Mancang City. By the time they receive news and march south, it will take at least five or six days. By then, matters in the Capital will be settled, and the Northern Army won’t dare act rashly.”

The situation in the Capital was changing rapidly, and relations between the Southern and Northern armies fluctuated accordingly. They had been in confrontation just recently, but became allies a few days ago to jointly guard White Bridge Town, with thousands of Northern Army troops already arrived and stationed outside the town.

The old man picked up the imperial edict and read it again, then put it on the table. “This edict shouldn’t continue to exist.”

Cui Hong naturally understood this reasoning. He took back the letter, planning to burn it later. “What did my sister do to offend the Empress Dowager? She truly treats the Cui clan as mortal enemies, pressing us step by step. The Weary Marquis has done me a favor – for Xiaojun’s sake, I’ll grant him a prince title in the future.”

The old man smiled without speaking. Cui Hong said somewhat dissatisfied: “Marquis Junyang, I accepted your defection because I value your experience and hope to hear your advice. You keep smiling – are you playing at being a fate-seer? Whatever thoughts you have, speak them.”

Marquis Junyang, Hua Bin, had participated in the palace coup over a year ago but fled midway. Relying on his reputation in the pugilist world, he had moved freely through the pugilist world without being caught. A month ago, he came to join Grand Tutor Cui Hong and stayed in the Northern Army camp.

What Cui Hong valued about the Marquis Junyang wasn’t just his experience, but also his reputation and the pugilists with special skills he could introduce.

“I think the Grand Tutor need not hesitate any longer. Prince Donghai will inevitably seize the throne. Inside the palace, we have Grand Consort Cui, within the city we have the Tan family and the heroes I’ve introduced, and outside the city, we have your army. With these three forces, the throne is already in the bag.”

Cui Hong sighed, “Is there no hope for the Champion Marquis?”

“He’s all show and no substance. He lost the Northern Army that was already in his grasp. Though he had support from officials, he failed to utilize it fully, and was instead defeated by the resourceless Weary Marquis. There’s no chance for recovery now. The Weary Marquis’s return to the Capital will only cause minor ripples – he has no stable supporters, and nothing significant can be achieved with just a group of scholars.”

Cui Hong nodded, then his expression darkened. “You’ve always said my sister would take action in the palace, but refused to tell me the true situation. Now it’s time to speak. Once the Southern Army crosses White Bridge, I’ll be charged with returning to the capital without imperial orders.”

Marquis Junyang felt the time was right. “During my time in the pugilist world, I met many special experts. I introduced several to the Tan family and sent two to Grand Consort Cui. She valued them greatly, sending one to serve Prince Donghai as an attendant, who unfortunately died at Shattered Iron City. The other entered the palace disguised as a maid.”

Cui Hong grew increasingly alarmed. “This… this happened long ago.”

Marquis Junyang nodded. “Grand Consort Cui greatly values the friendship with the Hua family. Even when my son and I were wandering the pugilist world, our connection never broke.”

Cui Hong was stunned, never imagining his sister would do something so bold behind his back. “That special expert who entered the palace…”

“She is Grand Consort Cui’s sharpest dagger, capable of striking anyone.”

Cui Hong’s expression changed dramatically, then gradually softened. “Why didn’t my sister seek my help? Working together from inside and outside would increase our chances of success.”

“I’m asking for help on Grand Consort Cui’s behalf now, aren’t I?”

Cui Hong no longer hesitated. If it were just Prince Donghai and the Tan family making reckless moves, he might have waited and watched. But with his sister involved and holding a “dagger,” he had to declare his position quickly.

“Very well, the Southern Army will cross the bridge.”

Cui Hong acted immediately. Within half an hour, he led several thousand elite troops across the bridge. The remaining forces followed gradually – by dawn tomorrow, all sixty thousand troops would be on the road back to the Capital.

White Bridge Town was busy all night, with the sound of hoofbeats never ceasing. Every household kept their doors shut, no one daring to venture out until dawn, when some finally gathered the courage to look outside.

A hundred thousand troops couldn’t stay in one place for long. The camps were scattered – sixty thousand crossing the river with the rest staying behind would take several days to gather at White Bridge Town. Currently, only two to three thousand troops were stationed there, guarding against the Northern Army outside the town. The supervision within the town wasn’t strict, and rumors flew everywhere, saying the Emperor and Empress Dowager had been harmed, and the Grand Tutor was leading troops back to the Capital to quell an uprising.

Han Ruzi and Meng E crossed the bridge into town around noon. He had only planned to return to the Capital but hadn’t set out yet.

They wore common civilian clothes, appearing as a traveling couple. Usually, soldiers would have stopped them for thorough questioning, but now no one cared about their identity. Some even approached them for news since they came from the Capital’s direction.

Han Ruzi played along, fabricating several rumors.

The pair headed to the town’s only inn to lodge, claiming they were frightened by the army and needed rest.

There weren’t many guests at the inn. Soon after, Chao Hua came to pay his respects. He was posing as a horse trader who remained in town waiting for payment after his horses were requisitioned by the Southern and Northern armies.

Shortly after meeting, Chao Hua took his leave and went to the Northern Army camp outside town, seeking an audience with Commander Cai Xinghai under the pretense of collecting payment.

With the Northern Army’s numbers, few recognized the head of the Weary Marquis’s private forces, especially in merchant’s clothing.

Cai Xinghai recognized him.

Shortly after nightfall, Chao Hua visited again, this time bringing two people.

In the main tent, Cai Xinghai and several informed officers received the Weary Marquis. Han Ruzi presented another imperial edict, showing he had been officially appointed as Grand Marshal of the Northern Army.

After the edict was passed around and everyone had seen the imperial seal, Cai Xinghai and the others knelt in their armor, acknowledging the new Grand Marshal of the Northern Army.

Han Ruzi said, “The Empress Dowager is safe – this imperial edict is proof. Grand Tutor Cui’s march back to the Capital reveals his treacherous ambitions. The talk of quelling an uprising is mere rumor. It’s not the Southern Army that has imperial orders to suppress the rebellion, but the Northern Army. Commander Cai, send men immediately to summon all Northern Army troops. Commanders, issue orders – in half an hour, the entire army will enter White Bridge Town. Explain the imperial edict to the remaining Southern Army soldiers. Those who surrender will be pardoned; those who resist will be executed.”

Bluffing was just a tactic. Han Ruzi understood that when it came to the decisive battle, he must hold true power in his hands.

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