The Child Emperor-Chapter 259: The Tide of Events

Lin Kunshan was confined in a small courtyard, calculating how much longer he had to live, when a group of people dragged him out and hurriedly brought him before Prince Donghai, forcing him to kneel and address him as “Your Majesty.”

Prince Donghai, hidden among layers of guards, only asked Lin Kunshan one question: “Do you really have people inside the palace?”

Lin Kunshan had previously hinted to Prince Donghai that the fate seer could control certain matters within the palace. Prince Donghai remembered this, and now that the battle was in a stalemate with the Southern Army unable to breach the imperial city, he recalled this matter again.

Lin Kunshan knelt on the ground, looking up at the “Emperor,” shaking his head in bewilderment, as if overwhelmed by imperial authority and too excited to speak.

Prince Donghai kicked the fate seer aside and ignored him without killing him. Later, when Han Ruzi demanded that Prince Donghai personally come to negotiate, he summoned Lin Kunshan again.

Prince Donghai would never meet Han Ruzi in the military camp, viewing it as walking into a trap. He needed someone to go in his place. “Aren’t fate seers best at persuasion? Go meet Han Ruzi and convince him to join forces with me. I’m willing to give him the throne.”

Lin Kunshan accepted the mission with only one condition – he wanted to leave the city alone, without any guards or observers. He successfully met with the Weary Marquis and conveyed Prince Donghai’s message in one sentence, then brought up the imperial seal and the Founding Emperor’s sword.

Cai Xinghai hadn’t slept long before coming out to supervise the checkpoint again. Han Ruzi took Lin Kunshan to his tent for questioning, keeping two guards by his side.

Han Ruzi didn’t speak immediately, sitting for a while before addressing Lin Kunshan who stood opposite him: “Do you have those two items?”

“Of course not.”

“So you’ve come to make a fool of me?”

Lin Kunshan gave a dry laugh, “How would I dare? Has the Weary Marquis noticed that while Shang-guan Sheng installed Prince Ying as emperor in the palace, he hasn’t issued any imperial edicts? That’s rather strange, isn’t it?”

Han Ruzi remained silent.

“The fighting in the city has reached a desperate pitch. Shang-guan Sheng hasn’t issued any edicts for one reason – he can’t. The palace doesn’t lack writing materials or imperial servants. It only lacks one thing – the imperial seal.”

“These are all your speculations, Lin Kunshan, and speculation is precisely what I don’t need right now.”

Lin Kunshan thought for a moment, and when he spoke again, he avoided speculation. “I can enter the palace to find the imperial seal, and the Founding Emperor’s sword too. While this sword might not mean much to others, it holds some significance for the Weary Marquis, doesn’t it?”

“How will you enter the palace? And how will you find the seal?” Han Ruzi believed Shang-guan Sheng must have already searched the entire palace thoroughly. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

“I have my ways,” Lin Kunshan noticed the Weary Marquis’s interest and began being mysterious again. “I just want to know if the Weary Marquis desires these two items?”

Han Ruzi pressed his lips together, knowing clearly that what Lin Kunshan “just wanted to know” was definitely not this.

“The moon wanes when it reaches its fullest. The Great Chu has been in chaos for so long, it’s time for stability. After just two days of fighting, the city is already in a miserable state – lacking water and food, especially vegetables. Many homes have been occupied or destroyed by soldiers. From the imperial palace to the western market, it’s almost become wasteland. Does the Weary Marquis have confidence in ending all this?”

Han Ruzi stood up. “Everyone has confidence, but what matters is whose confidence you choose to believe, and what you hope to gain from it.”

Lin Kunshan laughed heartily. “Weary Marquis, I choose you. As for what I want – fate seers are too fragile to withstand great storms. I hope that after you restore the imperial throne, you can pardon the charges above our heads. The fate seers will then only walk the pugilist world, never entering the imperial court again.”

Fate seers were considered instigators of Prince Qi’s rebellion. Although they could appear in public, having such charges hanging over them was troublesome – officials could arrest them without reporting to the court.

But Lin Kunshan’s demands were so modest that Han Ruzi found them hard to believe. Without revealing his doubts, he said, “Bring these two items, and I’ll grant you all pardons.”

“Is this the word of an emperor?”

“It is.”

As Lin Kunshan took his leave, he remarked with feeling: “Fate seers can be wrong. Making mistakes about ordinary people is one thing, but misjudging the Weary Marquis was unforgivable.”

Shortly after Lin Kunshan left, Cai Xinghai requested an audience. “Scouts came out from the northern city gate, observed, and went back. The Palace Guards haven’t sent anyone else out.”

Han Ruzi acknowledged with a grunt, his mind elsewhere as he studied Cai Xinghai, weighing matters in his heart.

Cai Xinghai, confused, looked down at his armor, finding nothing amiss.

“Brother Cai-“

Cai Xinghai dropped to his knees. “Please, Weary Marquis, take back that form of address. I’m not worthy.”

Han Ruzi smiled slightly. “Commander Cai, please rise.”

Only then did Cai Xinghai stand up. “What are your orders, Weary Marquis?”

“I have a very important task for you.” Han Ruzi truly couldn’t find other helpers – Cai Xinghai was the only trustworthy person by his side.

Cai Xinghai’s face lit up. “Perhaps we should attack the North Gate or block the West Gate? Though the Northern Army is small in number, if used properly, we could achieve surprising results.”

Han Ruzi shook his head. With a large army marching to support him, there was no need to seek “surprising results.” “Neither. I need you to enter the city alone.”

“Enter the city?” Cai Xinghai didn’t understand.

“The Southern Army and Palace Guards are in a standoff inside the city, posing no threat to those outside. Some supporters of mine, mostly scholars without weapons, are trapped inside. I worry they might be harmed – someone needs to protect them.”

“I’m willing to go, but…” Cai Xinghai patted his stomach. He wasn’t afraid of death, just of failing the Weary Marquis’s mission.

“Ni Qiu and his people should be in the southern city, numbering several hundred. Go to the Rising Honor Inn – find Ni Qiu, and you’ll find them.”

“The old Rising Honor Inn? I know where it is. No problem. I’ll leave at dawn, borrow Northern Army clothes – it’ll be easy to slip into the city.”

Han Ruzi wanted to give more instructions but didn’t want to put additional pressure on Cai Xinghai. “Take care of yourself first. If you see Yang Feng, follow his orders.”

Han Ruzi believed Yang Feng must hold some crucial information. Making contact with Yang Feng was now urgent, but he didn’t emphasize this to Cai Xinghai – not because he doubted the loyal eunuch’s faithfulness, but because he didn’t want him taking unnecessary risks.

Dawn came quickly. The Palace Guards hadn’t attempted any surprise attacks, nor had Grand Tutor Cui led his army to attack.

As Cai Xinghai set out wearing Northern Army armor, the fate seer Lin Kunshan was just rounding the northwest corner of the capital. A Southern Army unit came to escort him back to the western city.

The western city had become a large military camp. Civilians had been driven away, some houses demolished, with wood, stone, and earth used to block streets and fortify walls.

Prince Donghai stayed just inside the west gate – if anything happened, he could mount his horse and leave the city immediately.

The room’s original owner was a merchant, with copper coins and scattered gold and silver piled on the floor. He had intended to flee with these valuables but was dragged out and thrown into the street before he could pack them.

Prince Donghai paid no attention to this small amount of money, and Grand Tutor Cui cared even less, not even bothering to have someone clean it up.

Upon seeing Lin Kunshan enter, Prince Donghai rose from his chair and asked, “How did it go? Did Han Ruzi believe you?”

Lin Kunshan shook his head, “The Weary Marquis doesn’t trust me, but he believes himself safe, which works in our favor.”

“I knew he would fall for it.” Prince Donghai turned to Cui Hong sitting nearby, “Uncle, it’s time to make a decision.”

“This matter requires careful consideration.” Cui Hong’s expression darkened. Initially, he had only wanted to investigate and determine what had happened in the city. He hadn’t expected Prince Donghai to occupy the west gate. In a moment of rashness, he had accepted the invitation to bring his troops into the city and let their rear camp burn, thinking they could achieve a swift victory. Instead, they had reached a stalemate.

The longer the stalemate continued, the more disadvantageous it became for the Southern Army. Even without the Weary Marquis watching like a tiger, reinforcements arriving from various regions would eventually overwhelm the Southern Army.

“There’s no time for deliberation.” Prince Donghai suppressed his irritation. “Remember when the three states of Chu, Zhao, and Qi fought for supremacy? While Chu and Zhao battled, Qi watched from the sidelines hoping to profit. What did the Founding Emperor and the King of Zhao do then?”

When Cui Hong remained silent, Prince Donghai raised his voice: “The Founding Emperor and the King of Zhao temporarily ceased fighting and attacked Qi from both sides. Without that battle, it would have taken the Founding Emperor at least three to five more years to establish his rule. Han Ruzi thinks he can watch the tigers fight from his mountain perch – let’s see how he fares when both tigers turn on him!”

Prince Donghai was excited, believing this was a brilliant strategy.

After further consideration, Cui Hong said, “Back then, Chu and Zhao each withdrew thirty miles before simultaneously attacking isolated Qi. They didn’t have to worry about surprise attacks. But the Southern Army and Palace Guards are facing off inside the city. Neither can withdraw outside. If I send troops to attack the Weary Marquis and Shang-guan Sheng attacks us, we’ll be the ones caught in a pincer attack, not the Weary Marquis.”

Shang-guan Sheng would surely have similar concerns – two sides that distrusted each other could never work together effectively.

“But if we continue like this, neither I nor Prince Ying will become emperor,” Prince Donghai grew impatient. “Han Ruzi still has the Northern Army behind him. Once they arrive, even if we join forces with the Palace Guards, we won’t stand a chance.”

Lin Kunshan stepped forward, “Let me try to persuade Shang-guan Sheng. The situation is desperate – both sides must compromise.”

After pondering for a while, Cui Hong said, “Then I’ll trouble Master Lin to make this trip. If we’re to launch a pincer attack on the Weary Marquis, we must move our troops by noon tomorrow at the latest. The Weary Marquis claims the Northern Army will arrive in three days, but I fear they may come sooner.”

Grand Tutor Cui wrote a brief note and sent an officer to escort Lin to meet with the two chief censors, hoping to negotiate with Shang-guan Sheng through Xiao Sheng and Shen Mingzhi.

Once only uncle and nephew remained, Prince Donghai’s confidence wavered, “Can Lin Kunshan convince Shang-guan Sheng?”

“If he wants to, Lin Kunshan certainly has the ability.” Grand Tutor Cui had faith in the fate seer. “Are Hua Bin’s men reliable? Last time he sent three so-called experts to assassinate the Weary Marquis, they failed.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve seen those men’s skills. They’re capable. Tonight they’ll climb into the palace. When Shang-guan Sheng sends troops out of the city, they’ll steal the keys to open the palace gates. The Tan clan will lead the charge, followed by thousands of Southern Army troops. We’ll surely take the palace. Then we can crush Han Ruzi on the outside and capture Prince Ying within. The throne will be mine alone – and the Cui clan’s, of course.”

Uncle and nephew shared a knowing smile.

“Any news of your mother?” Cui Hong asked.

Prince Donghai’s expression turned cold, “Worrying is useless. I’m assuming the Empress Dowager has already killed her. Nothing will stop me from taking the palace.”

Though this was his nephew, Cui Hong thought to himself that he would need to be cautious in dealing with the new emperor.

As Cai Xinghai infiltrated the West Gate and tried to find a way to the southern city, Lin Kunshan had already been granted entry to the palace.

Lin Kunshan had mentioned the imperial seal to the Weary Marquis but hadn’t revealed Prince Donghai’s true plans. He volunteered to be Grand Tutor Cui’s messenger but didn’t indicate that the imperial seal was likely already lost.

To him, the tide of events was like water – it could flow any direction. As long as he obtained the imperial seal, the fate seer would remain undefeated.

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