chapter 7

[Zhou Chengyi Side Story]

Records of History, the 21th year of Jing Shou, in the depth of winter, Emperor Jing passed away, and the throne was passed to the Crown Prince Grandson Zhou Chengyi.

Emperor Wuzhao Zhou Chengyi became the seventh emperor of Daye, ascending the throne in the 1st year of Chengde.

Emperor Wuzhao was the legitimate son of Deposed Crown Prince Zhou Yong. The year he was born, Emperor Jing had just seized power from his brother, calling him the Heaven-chosen legitimate grandson and conferring him as Crown Prince Grandson.

In the 16th year of Jing Shou, Deposed Crown Prince Zhou Yong was sentenced to death for treason, and Crown Prince Grandson Zhou Chengyi set fire to Chonghua Palace, after which his whereabouts were unknown.

In the 21th year of Jing Shou, Emperor Jing’s third son, Prince Jin, ascended the throne in Taiji Hall. Crown Prince Grandson Zhou Chengyi, holding his Imperial Grandfather’s posthumous edict, mobilized the Imperial Guard and the Capital Command Guard, over fifty thousand men, and launched a coup, forcing Prince Jin to abdicate.

Afterwards, the Crown Prince Grandson ascended the throne, changing the era name to Chengde, becoming Emperor Wuzhao.

Emperor Wuzhao, throughout his life, was diligent in governance, loved his people, and strove for reform. From the day he ascended the throne, no affairs of state were neglected; he rose early and retired late.

Yet such an emperor was judged with mixed praise and criticism by later generations, for two reasons.

In the 3th year of Chengde, Emperor Wuzhao, wary of the power of the empress’s family, deposed Empress Chen, imprisoned her in the Cold Palace, and later had her strangled.

The empress’s maternal clan was executed to the last member; Imperial Uncle Chen was sentenced to death by lingchi, his head hung at the South City Gate.

From then on, Emperor Wuzhao held sole power.

The Chen clan was the line of Emperor Wuzhao’s maternal grandfather, yet he exterminated them ruthlessly, a method much criticized.

Afterwards, Emperor Wuzhao never established another empress, devoting himself solely to state affairs.

He had two sons: the eldest, Zhou Luming, was conferred Crown Prince in the 5th year of Chengde.

The second son, Zhou Heming, was made Prince Cheng in the 7th year of Chengde.

In the 9th year of Chengde, Emperor Wuzhao died of illness.

During his reign, he reduced the power of the princes, reformed the bureaucracy, promoted virtuous ministers, and revitalized the imperial examination system, laying the foundation for future prosperity.

However, in the year of his grave illness, his temperament changed drastically; he became suspicious and dismissed many of his trusted ministers, demoting them harshly.

It was not until Crown Prince Zhou Luming ascended the throne that these ministers were reinstated.

The year the New Emperor ascended was the 1st year of Xinghong.

The memorial tablet of Emperor Wuzhao was placed in the royal Daoist temple, Daye Xuan Hall. On a rainy, overcast day, the New Emperor stood on the high platform of the temple for a long time, listening to the three strikes of the bell and cauldron. He turned to his Imperial Younger Brother, Prince Cheng, who was holding an umbrella for him, and said, “We’ve made it through, just as he wished.”

Made it through…

The chronicles would never record, nor ever know, that Emperor Wuzhao’s life was like a dream of Nanke.

Crown Prince Grandson Zhou Chengyi lost his mother at the age of three and was raised in the Eastern Palace.

At five, he was nearly killed by a wet nurse’s poisoning.

Later, Empress Xiaowen took him in and cared for him.

When he was eight, he accompanied the emperor and empress on a southern tour. In Yuzhou, they were attacked; Emperor Jing was wounded, and Empress Xiaowen died of illness.

The wrath of the Son of Heaven was like thunder; all officials in Yuzhou, great and small, were harshly demoted and exiled.

The eight-year-old Crown Prince Grandson watched them, shackled and wailing.

Then, he saw a little girl sitting on the ground.

Carved like jade, as lovely as a child in a New Year’s painting, she stared with wide eyes at the shackle around her.

She was so small that the shackle couldn’t fit around her neck, slipping down to her shoulders and pinning her arms.

The shackle was too heavy for her to stand, so she simply sat on the ground.

Someone was crying and calling her-

“Wen Sheng! Wen Sheng!”

The little girl tried to stand, responding repeatedly, “Here! Here!”

But she couldn’t get up, falling back to the ground again and again.

Her little face flushed with exertion, she tried dozens of times, still trying.

Like a fool.

The endlessly repeating scene suddenly made the Crown Prince Grandson unbearably irritable. He frowned, pointed at the crowd, and said to Eunuch Fu beside his Imperial Grandfather, “Those few children, send them to the palace as slaves.”

Later, he forgot all about it.

The Crown Prince Grandson lived in Chonghua Palace, accustomed from childhood to intrigue and conspiracy.

Born to be the heir, too many eyes watched him.

He hacked his way through thorns, surviving peril after peril, relying not just on luck.

He staked his life, stared into the abyss, and grew ever more ruthless and cold.

A ruler uses his subjects: in times of trouble, their lives are forfeit; in peace, their strength is spent.

He told himself, before sitting on that throne, he could use any means necessary.

At twelve, he had already developed a cold, hard heart and never trusted anyone.

At the Shangsi Festival banquet, Princess Shuoyang smilingly offered him Deer Blood Paste; he accepted with courtesy, but had already calculated his response.

A palace maid plotted to lure him into the Cold Palace corridor, where he was attacked by a Mastiff, only to be saved when Chen Yan, commander of the Imperial Guard, shot the beast.

He hadn’t expected a little palace maid to rush out with a Club, heedless of danger and fear, pounding the dog’s head with abandon.

Ah Wen was the only accident in his life.

The Mastiff’s teeth were poisoned.

He considered letting the little maid die of poisoning, so he could use the incident to bring down Princess Shuoyang.

In a single thought, Ah Wen’s life hung in his hands.

As he contemplated killing her, he recalled the girl’s figure charging forward, utterly determined, shouting loudly.

Like a fool.

A fool’s life was worthless, but a fool was pitiable.

The only moment of softness in his life, he gave to Ah Wen.

Years later, remembering it, he broke out in a cold sweat.

How fortunate-Ah Wen almost died by his hand.

The little fool was always silly, but truly beautiful: apricot eyes, peach cheeks, a chubby, still-childish face, dimples swirling when she smiled.

Her real name was Wen Sheng, the Crown Prince Grandson remembered.

From his earliest years, he knew the hearts of men were treacherous, all driven by profit.

Only one fool, Ah Wen, was without calculation, hugging the leg of his desk, dozing off, and asking him for pastries to eat.
The eyes of the fool were clear and pure, filled with hope whenever she looked at him.

The unusually strict Crown Prince Grandson could never bring himself to refuse her.

She had a remarkable appetite, able to finish all the snacks in the Snack Box in a single afternoon.

Later, after being scolded by Aunt Yuchun, she didn’t dare to ask for them openly anymore, so she switched to stealing in secret.

Thinking he couldn’t see, she would sneak glances at him while furtively reaching out her little hand to take some.

Zhou Chengyi found it amusing-she was like a little mouse, cheeks puffed out as she stuffed her mouth, finishing everything behind his back, and when she turned around, there was still evidence left at the corner of her mouth.

This greedy little thing didn’t even spare his Pine Soot Ink.

His ink, naturally, was the very best.

It came from Yi Mountain, and was a tribute for the imperial family.

The first time he saw her dip her finger in the ink and suck it with delight, he was stunned.

He suddenly wanted to laugh, and found it hard not to.

So he gave a low chuckle, and from then on, whenever he saw her acting like this, he couldn’t help but smile with interest.

Ever since Ah Wen had come to Chonghua Palace, the Crown Prince Grandson found he especially enjoyed spending time in the Study Room.

She was quiet, rarely disturbing him.

He too was relaxed, his spirits lifted.

This amusing little fool, when she was thirteen, suddenly asked him: How many legs does a crab have?

She had never eaten one, nor seen one, but she really wanted to know. Her eyes, wide with curiosity, waited for his answer.

His heart softened, and in the end, he took her to the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet.

On that day, she snatched the Apricot Paste Princess Shuoyang had sent and drank it straight away.

Later, she said that as long as the Crown Prince Grandson was safe, Ah Wen’s life was of no value.

She also said it was worth it, because the Crown Prince Grandson was kind to her.

At that moment, the cold-hearted Crown Prince Grandson was overwhelmed with emotion.

A fool.

A fool who would willingly give her life to him with her whole heart.

For the smallest kindness, she was grateful to tears.

He knew that Ah Wen would never betray him.

Later, he treated her better and better, so gentle that even his uncle Chen Yan was surprised.

Later still, he searched all through Chonghua Palace and the Cold Palace, and finally found Ah Wen at Taiye Pond, her head bloodied, nearly dead.

In that instant, rage burned from his heart through every part of his body.

The rumor about Princess Shuoyang’s daughter Lin Ruowei having a secret affair with the attendant Feng Shaoxiao was deliberately spread by his order.

That attendant, Feng Shaoxiao, was also a handsome man he had painstakingly chosen.

He promised him riches and rank, a smooth path to success.

But in the end, he had him killed to silence him-his wife, children, and widowed mother, not one was spared.

The Crown Prince Grandson never left anyone evidence in anything he did.

Princess Shuoyang, bereft of her daughter, could not let go of her hatred, and became utterly estranged from Prince Jin and Consort Zhang.

In the 14th year of Jing Shou, the Crown Prince Grandson went to the Jiangbei Region to investigate the Prince Guang clan’s tax case.

While staying at the Wanhu Mansion, the maid named Yuntai was summoned to his chambers every night, sleeping on his bed.

The Crown Prince Grandson himself went to another room, reading by lamplight before putting out the lamp and going to sleep.

A few days later, Yuntai was assassinated.

Was it a pity? Not at all.

That maid had been planted by the Crown Prince’s Concubine, hoping to seduce him before he understood such matters.

If any scandal reached Emperor Jing’s ears, it would have been exactly as they wished.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince Grandson had always been calm, self-restrained, and strict.

After returning to the capital, he began to establish himself at court and to assert his authority.

At the age of nineteen, the matter of selecting a Consort could no longer be postponed.

The Crown Prince Grandson did not like women.

They were calculating, hungry for power and influence, always bringing trouble.

If he had to choose a woman, aside from Ah Wen, he wanted no one else.

Ah Wen was a pearl among stones, a bright and flawless moon.

He was certain he liked her.

Because every time Ling Shao saw her look of delighted surprise, it would stir up his own discontent and irritability.

He coaxed Ah Wen into saying she wanted to be his Consort, and the Crown Prince Grandson kissed her lips, savoring it and finding he could not get enough.

Ah Wen was so soft, so sweet, so fragrant… he found himself utterly unable to restrain himself.

The always calm and self-restrained Crown Prince Grandson lost his composure-he was completely swept away.

Later, Ah Wen became his woman.

When the Crown Prince rebelled, he and Ah Wen escaped with their lives.

They settled in a Bamboo House in the forest and spent four years in peace.

No more scheming or intrigue-only his wife and child.

Three meals a day, fishing and tending vegetables, teaching his son calligraphy and swordsmanship during the day, sharing a pillow with his wife at night.

He took her to pick wildflowers in the woods, to boat on the stream.

They grilled fish by the river, watched the stars in the fields.

Those days were carefree and full of joy.

But he knew that, in the end, he would have to return.

He was Zhou Chengyi, the Crown Prince Grandson, heir to the nation, chosen by Heaven.

All under Heaven belonged to the Son of Heaven.

After lying low for five years, when victory was at hand, his uncle Chen Yan bluntly told him that he wanted to betroth his daughter Chen Litang to him.

To stage a coup is to hang one’s head by a thread-succeed, and you rise to the top; fail, and not even your corpse will be left behind.

With the entire Chen Family’s lives at stake, they needed a promise and a guarantee.

Zhou Chengyi agreed.

Whether it was a true promise or mere theater, he thought, as long as his heart was with Ah Wen, what did it matter?

He never expected that the foolish girl would burst into tears just from seeing Chen Litang wrap her arms around his waist.

Zhou Chengyi’s heart ached. He kissed her lips and told her it would be soon, to wait just a bit longer, to give him some more time.

Later, he secretly entered the palace to see his gravely ill Imperial Grandfather.

And after that, he launched the coup, seized power and killed his enemies, and finally, step by step, reached the highest place of all.
Everything quieted down. The era name was changed to Chengde, and he ascended the throne as emperor.

He had not seen Ah Wen for half a year.

The Chen Family was anxious for him to establish an empress, but Zhou Chengyi kept refusing.

Newly crowned, it was inevitable for him to be arrogant.

He was the Son of Heaven. Ah Wen had borne him two sons. After ascending the throne, it was only natural to make Ah Wen the empress.

Yet to go back on his word, to discard someone after using them, was not the act of an emperor.

With the empress’s position unsettled, the Chen Family was displeased, making it difficult for him to bring Ah Wen into the palace.

Zhou Chengyi’s gloomy brows and eyes concealed countless imperial schemes.

In order to bring Ah Wen into the palace, he conferred the title of empress upon Chen Litang.

If Ah Wen found out, would she cry?

Suddenly, a sharp pain twisted in his heart.

But it didn’t matter. As long as Ah Wen trusted him, one day, that position would still be hers.

He had schemed all his life, treading on thin ice at every step, always in peril.

In this life, he had only been careless this once, and it brought him unbearable pain.

Great love brings great loss, great hoarding brings great ruin.

He forgot that he had once spoken these very words to Ah Wen.

How did he end up forgetting them himself?

Damn it, after becoming emperor, he thought he could cover the sky with one hand, that he was omnipotent.

Ah Wen was dead.

Before she died, she said, “I trust him, I will always trust him.”

Zhou Chengyi felt as if he had died as well.

His soul floated in midair, watching that awe-inspiring Emperor Wuzhao, expressionless, not revealing a hint of emotion.

He watched as his eyes harbored cruelty and cunning. In three years, he wiped out the entire Chen Family, and the empress was strangled in the Cold Palace.

Chen Yan’s flesh was sliced off piece by piece, yet his hatred was not appeased.

Ah Wen died by throwing herself onto a sword.

Her fair, slender neck would bleed endlessly, unstoppable, staining her clothes red.

He could not bear to think of it. Every time he did, the pain made him want to carve out his own heart with a knife.

Why? Why didn’t he go to fetch them himself that day?

State affairs kept him busy-what did that have to do with him?

Why? Why did he have to ascend to this position?

If he had never taken this path, his Ah Wen would surely still be living in the Bamboo House in the Bamboo Forest.

They would wash their hands to make soup, till the land and grow vegetables, fish in the river, and raise their children together.

He regretted it so much, his guts twisted with remorse, the pain unbearable.

Why did he lose Ah Wen? It must be Heaven punishing him for once stopping at nothing to seize power.

……

The Chen Family was gone, Ah Wen’s vengeance was fulfilled.

He closed his eyes wearily, thinking of Ah Wen, feeling that he could finally go to her.

All these years, he had never once dreamed of her.

No, he could not go to her yet.

Ah Wen would be angry if she saw him.

He still had to settle their children, watch them grow up.

Emperor Wuzhao reigned for nine years, never having a moment’s rest.

As if to fulfill some kind of mission, he governed so diligently that he slept only two hours a day.

His mind was filled with state affairs and family matters.

He had to pave the way, so that when Minger and Xiao He’er grew up, he could leave them a peaceful and prosperous realm.

He was a competent emperor, and also a competent father.

He taught them brotherly love, benevolence, virtue, and the way of kings.

He endured and endured, his soul outside his body, watching as a shell of himself toiled day and night, burning the midnight oil.

In the end, he still worried that when Minger ascended the throne, those old courtiers would bully him for being young.

Emperor Wuzhao began to grow suspicious, his temperament turning irritable. In court, he flew into rages, harshly demoting those old courtiers, stripping them of power and forcing them to leave the capital in disgrace.

Finally, he told Minger, “Those old courtiers are all capable men. In the future, you must invite them back.”

His two sons held his hand and began to weep bitterly, calling “Father Emperor” again and again.

After nine years of toil, his restless soul could finally depart.

At last, he could leave.

In Daye Xuan Hall, his memorial tablet was enshrined, honored as Emperor Mingying Wuzhao.

His soul watched numbly, then turned away and went to that Bamboo Forest.

The stream flowed, the Bamboo Forest rustled.

The Oriole sang sweetly.

He was no longer Emperor Mingying Wuzhao, but the Crown Prince Grandson Zhou Chengyi.

His soul, clad in a blue robe, walked step by step through the empty Bamboo Forest.

At last, he reached the Bamboo House.

He saw the Chick in the cage chirping away, and his girl, with her back to him, feeding the chickens.

Hearing a sound, she stood up and turned around. The familiar brows and eyes, the clear and pure gaze, lit up with surprise and joy-

“Crown Prince Grandson! Crown Prince Grandson!”

She rushed into his arms, hugging his waist, crying and laughing, laughing and crying, finally looking up to complain, “Zhou Chengyi, why did you take so long? I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

In an instant, his soul found its home. He held her tightly, burying his head in her neck, murmuring over and over, “Ah Wen, Ah Wen…”

“I’m here.”

“Have you been waiting for me all this time?”

“Yes, I was about to leave, but suddenly I thought you’d be so pitiful. Ah Wen likes you the most, I couldn’t bear to go, so I stayed here to wait for you…”

He was crying, trembling, his fragile soul at a loss, finally kissing her lips with shaking lips, pressing close, a thousand words unsaid.

Fool, fool…

Only a fool would firmly believe that he would definitely come.

The sun and moon pass, the years do not wait for me.

Only the little fool waited for her young man to return.

(The End)