The Child Emperor

Meng E and the other three maids were summoned by the Grand General. The Marquese Ping’en had to accompany them since she was responsible for these four and she also wanted to understand the changing winds. She had noticed that Grand General Han Xing’s support for the Weary Marquis was wavering, so to be safe, she brought along Han Xing’s daughter.

Han Xing did not want to interrogate the maids in his bedroom nor attract too much attention in the main hall. He found an empty room in the backyard, guarded by dozens of soldiers. A fate seer had reminded the Grand General that the four maids might possess martial skills, so Han Xing selected ten strong soldiers to enter the room, both to protect him and to perform torture.

When Meng E and the others arrived, Han Xing saw his daughter and Marquese Ping’en. He frowned but did not send them away. He did not plan to act immediately; if he could persuade the maids to confess to stealing the seal and hand it over, that would be the best outcome.

To Han Xing, these were just four ordinary maids.

To the fate seer, they were merely common pugilists with some martial skills, nothing more.

Meng E and the others bowed to the Grand General. Han Xing’s daughter and Marquese Ping’en stood behind the soldiers, not intending to plead for the maids but wanting to see how the Grand General would handle the situation.

Han Xing’s gaze swept over the four women. “You belong to the Weary Marquis, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Meng E replied on their behalf.

“The Weary Marquis seems to be under some misconceptions. I heard he successfully seized an official seal at Divine Hero Pass, but he overlooked one thing: Divine Hero Pass was leaderless at the time, and the soldiers were willing to follow any Chu general’s command. Hangu Pass is different; it has tens of thousands of troops and fully staffed officers. Even if you have the Grand General’s seal, even if you hold me hostage, it wouldn’t necessarily make the soldiers obey.”

As Han Xing spoke, he studied the four women, then paused slightly. “I know this is an inside job. You stole the Grand General’s seal to give it to someone outside, who would then take it to Hangu Pass. But it won’t work. The moment that person shows the seal, they will be captured, and their fate will be at my mercy.”

Han Xing sighed. “I’ve always looked after the Weary Marquis, giving him many privileges in the army. When he needed support at Divine Hero Pass, I granted him military command. I don’t understand why he would repay me in this way.”

Meng E glanced at the fate seer behind the Grand General. “I’m not good with words. I just want to know if this person was sent by the Champion Marquis.”

The fate seer smiled silently.

Han Xing did not turn around, his expression growing colder. “A wise man knows when to submit. The Champion Marquis did indeed want to eliminate the Weary Marquis. Who wouldn’t when he is a son of the Graceful Emperor and a former emperor himself? The Weary Marquis only needed to defend Divine Hero Pass and Shattered Iron City, showing the Champion Marquis he had some power, and he would have been safe. But he insisted on sneaking back to the Capital. The Champion Marquis, wanting to be the ordained emperor, does not want chaos or opposition in the court, so he tolerated the Weary Marquis and even allowed me to recommend him. But if the Weary Marquis thinks this gives him a real chance to seize the throne, he’s delusional. He can earn a larger reputation and be given a princely title after the Champion Marquis ascends. But there’s a line.”

Han Xing gestured from his abdomen to his chest. “A Weary Marquis with nothing and a Weary Marquis who is too threatening, both will face great danger. Only in the middle is he safe. Do you understand?”

Meng E and the others nodded. The other three women, influenced by her, were also not talkative.

“The Weary Marquis can win over scholars and even a few ministers; that only legitimizes the Champion Marquis’ victory. But stealing the Grand General’s seal,” Han Xing shook his head sternly, “that’s crossing the line. You’ve all crossed the line.”

Meng E said, “The Weary Marquis only wants to use the Grand General’s power to open the granaries and distribute food.”

This was a tacit admission of the theft. Han Xing laughed. “No one knows the Weary Marquis’ true intentions, not even you. With the Grand General’s seal, he could do many things, at least create many troubles for others and himself. The Champion Marquis allowed the Weary Marquis to stay in the Capital mainly to monitor his actions. But the Weary Marquis insists on being unpredictable, which is unacceptable to the Champion Marquis and to me.”

“It sounds like the Champion Marquis has everything under control.”

Han Xing nodded. “Does the Weary Marquis think the Northern Army will support him? No, that’s just goodwill, not support. When the Champion Marquis ascends, even if he orders the Northern Army to lay down their arms and kneel, they will not resist. The Weary Marquis’ efforts only earned him some fame, which is beneficial but won’t make him emperor.”

Han Xing successfully convinced one person. Not any of the four maids, but Marquese Ping’en who had been listening. Once she confirmed that the Grand General’s support for the Weary Marquis was not genuine, she too would change her stance.

Marquese Ping’en knew Meng E was a close confidante of the Weary Marquis. She stepped forward to persuade, “The Grand General has made it very clear and generous. Miss Meng, if you know the whereabouts of the seal, you should reveal it for the Weary Marquis’ sake.”

Meng E thought for a moment and then looked up. “Are you telling the truth?”

Han Xing felt slightly relieved. As a Grand General, speaking so much to a few maids was already very courteous. “If the Champion Marquis wasn’t sure of victory, why would I stake my reputation?”

“The Champion Marquis hates the imperial clan members who betrayed Crown Prince Ju, right? Isn’t that true?”

“It’s true, so what? An emperor can’t like everyone, but he won’t kill everyone who angers him. Even the Martial Emperor wouldn’t. The Champion Marquis understands the positions of the imperial clan and the nobility, knows whom to guard against, and whom to reward. It’s no longer a major issue for him.”

Marquese Ping’en trembled and stepped back, tightly gripping Han Xing’s daughter’s arm. She had supported the Weary Marquis because of the Grand General and now had to express her loyalty to the Champion Marquis through the Grand General.

“Speak,” Han Xing commanded.

Meng E thought for a while longer. “I’m not good with words. Is returning the seal really beneficial for the Weary Marquis?”

“It only has benefits and no drawbacks. I will act as if this never happened, and the Champion Marquis will not pursue it,” Han Xing turned to glance at the fate seer. The fate seer said, “The Champion Marquis is not a vengeful person. As long as it doesn’t affect the emperor selection, and as long as the Weary Marquis remains within controllable bounds, he will forgive the Weary Marquis and those who wavered.”

Marquese Ping’en felt the last sentence was directed at her, and she was moved, gripping Han Xing’s daughter’s arm even tighter.

“Alright, I know where the seal is, but I will only tell the Grand General alone.”

Han Xing did not hesitate and stepped forward, but the fate seer, cautious, immediately stepped in front of the Grand General. He did not know much about these four maids, only that Meng E had served as a guard in the palace and was likely skilled. “Say what you need to say out loud.”

“But this matter involves someone close to the Grand General,” Meng E hesitated.

Han Xing and the fate seer simultaneously looked at Han Xing’s daughter. The Grand General’s daughter quickly pulled away from the wife of the Weary Marquis’ grasp and exclaimed, “It has nothing to do with me, really. Father, I couldn’t possibly…”

Han Xing waved his hand, signaling trust in his daughter. His trust in others was not as firm.

The fate seer and Han Xing exchanged glances. The fate seer stepped forward, “Tell me.”

Meng E was still hesitant. Han Xing said, “Tell him; no matter who is involved, don’t hide anything.”

The ten soldiers inside the room were nervous. Although they believed themselves innocent, they had been together for a long time and did not want to see a comrade get into trouble.

Meng E walked towards the fate seer. The fate seer asked, “She doesn’t have any weapons on her, does she?”

Marquese Ping’en immediately said, “No, I checked.”

The fate seer was reassured. Meng E approached him and whispered in his ear.

“What?” The fate seer didn’t hear clearly.

Meng E moved closer and whispered a few words. The fate seer turned to look at the Grand General with a surprised expression. Han Xing froze, thinking that no matter what the maid said, he would have a way to explain it as long as he retrieved the seal.

The fate seer seemed to want to say something but remained silent, staring at the Grand General.

Meng E stepped back to join the other three maids.

Han Xing felt uneasy. “Mr. Fang, Mr. Fang…”

A soldier was the first to notice something wrong, shouting, “He’s bleeding! Assassin!”

All ten soldiers drew their swords, protecting the Grand General. Marquese Ping’en and Han Xing’s daughter were so frightened they collapsed, unable to make a sound.

The fate seer’s chest had been pierced by something, and blood was soaking through his clothes, becoming more apparent.

The assassin was undoubtedly Meng E. The ten soldiers held their swords ready, awaiting the Grand General’s command. The other three maids rolled up their sleeves, standing protectively in front of Meng E.

Han Xing was stunned for a while before finally regaining his senses. He pointed at the maids, “You, you…”

Meng E calmly said, “I’m not good with words. Grand General, why not invite Mr. Qu here and let him speak.”

Han Xing was furious and wouldn’t listen to any advice. “Kill these four wenches. I will explain to the Champion Marquis.”

The soldiers advanced with their swords. Han Xing’s daughter suddenly realized the situation and said shakily, “Father, wait.”

“Wait for what? They stole the seal and now killed Mr. Fang in front of me. The Champion Marquis will surely think…”

Han Xing’s daughter was anxious about this matter and struggled to stand. “Mr. Fang is a trusted aide of the Champion Marquis. Killing them won’t earn forgiveness; it will only increase the Champion Marquis’ suspicions.”

Han Xing was startled and quickly signaled the soldiers to stop. After thinking for a while, he said, “Call Qu Zixi.”

One soldier left to carry out the order. The more Han Xing thought about it, the more alarmed he became. He asked, “Did the Weary Marquis instruct you to do this?”

Meng E remained silent.

Han Xing asked again, “What did you use to kill…”

“A hairpin,” Meng E replied. She had a specially made hairpin with a steel needle hidden inside its golden exterior.

Han Xing was hesitant, stepping back two paces. “What is the Weary Marquis planning? Does he have many subordinates like you?”

Meng E remained silent.

Qu Zixi arrived shortly, still neatly dressed despite having slept little. He assumed he was about to argue with the Grand General again. As soon as he entered, he saw the fate seer’s body collapse, startling him.

“The Weary Marquis’ subordinate killed the Champion Marquis’ trusted aide,” Han Xing said.

“I was once a guard for the Empress Dowager,” Meng E added. “I’m not good with words. Please, Mr. Qu, explain to the Grand General.”

The situation was too bizarre and shocking, but Qu Zixi immediately grasped the opportunity. Clearing his throat, he was now fully confident in persuading the Grand General to support the Weary Marquis in distributing food from the granaries.

“The Grand General thinks the Weary Marquis has no roots and few supporters. That is a grave mistake.”

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