The Child Emperor-Chapter 327: The Emperor’s Trust

Meng E only returned at dusk. She went to eat first, then stood in the corner as if she had never left. Zhang Youcai wanted to ask her several times where she had been, but the words reached his lips and he held back each time, knowing he would get no answer. Meng E was obviously waiting for him to leave.

Han Ruzi had taken another nap in the afternoon. When he woke up, he felt quite refreshed. He ate some food and even had Liu Jie bring him some official documents. Contact with the Capital had been severed, so these documents all came from generals and officials in the city. Han Ruzi read for a while, then felt drowsy again.

He had been sleeping on the couch these past few days, but tonight he wanted to move to the large bed to rest. Zhang Youcai had people bring in a bathtub and attended to the Emperor’s bath, helping him change into fresh clothes so he could sleep more comfortably. Throughout this, Meng E remained present, her gaze averted. The eunuchs all regarded her as a palace maid and paid her no mind.

Once everything was arranged, Zhang Youcai no longer needed to remain constantly at the Emperor’s side. As he left the room, he gave Meng E a meaningful look, but she offered no response.

With only the two of them remaining, Han Ruzi lay on the bed, still feeling tired but no longer weak and powerless. His strength seemed to be gradually returning.

After a moment of quiet, Meng E extinguished the candles and was about to retreat to her corner when Han Ruzi spoke first: “Are you helping me practice martial arts?”

“Yes, didn’t I already tell you that?”

“The timing isn’t right…”

“Timing? There’s no better time than now. You’re trapped in the city with nothing to do – it’s perfect for practicing martial arts.”

Han Ruzi was speechless. Upon careful consideration, Meng E was absolutely right. He was now cut off from the outside world, unable to handle state affairs, and the defense of the city didn’t require his efforts. There truly was nothing else to do.

“An emperor… is like a banner that must stand there whether there’s business or not, visible to everyone as much as possible. Isn’t this what you wanted to learn about imperial statecraft?”

After a moment of silence, Meng E said: “If someone wants to destroy that banner and has already positioned themselves beneath it, should the banner continue standing there? Shouldn’t it dodge?”

“Hmm?” Han Ruzi had made the analogy first, but now he was somewhat confused. “Are you saying someone wants to harm me? The Xiongnu are right outside the city – what need is there for conspiracies and schemes?”

“Don’t worry. Within a few days, everything will become clear, and Your Majesty will naturally understand. What Your Majesty needs most right now is to recover your health.”

Han Ruzi closed his eyes but found he couldn’t sleep. He spoke: “You must tell me the truth. Why would your medicine be mistaken by the imperial physicians for poisoning? The symptoms are almost identical.” There was no response. “Meng E, are you still there?”

Meng E had already left without saying goodbye.

Han Ruzi sighed. With Meng E’s personality, learning imperial statecraft would truly be extremely difficult. However, he had at least confirmed one thing – Meng E indeed had no intention of harming him.

He waited for a while, and drowsiness gradually overcame him. Finally, he fell into a deep sleep.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when Han Ruzi suddenly opened his eyes. After staring blankly for a moment, he realized he was listening to zither music. But it was completely different from before. The melody was almost unchanged, yet the feeling was entirely different. After much thought, he could only describe the music he was hearing now with the phrase “seductive and corrupting sounds.”

This greatly surprised him, so he listened carefully and finally understood where the difference lay.

The Empty Sound melody was played by two people – one primary and one secondary, one proper and one unconventional. Previously, Han Ruzi had only heard the primary, proper sounds, somehow overlooking most of the secondary, unconventional notes. Yet it was precisely the latter that was the source of the “seductive and corrupting sounds.”

The “primary” sat upright and proper, while the “secondary” tried every means to seduce and entice. This was the complete content of the Empty Sound melody. It probably took such a name to deceive people.

The more Han Ruzi listened, the more surprised and displeased he became.

The music stopped abruptly.

After a while, Meng E’s voice suddenly came from the corner: “It seems they won’t come tonight.”

“Who won’t come?” Han Ruzi sat up, got out of bed barefoot, and felt his strength had recovered considerably. His mind had also largely cleared, and that listless mood of indifference to everything had vanished without a trace. He could no longer tolerate being kept in the dark.

“The zither players.”

“Why would the zither players come?”

“Your Majesty needs rest.”

“What I need are answers.”

“Very well, what does Your Majesty wish to know?”

Han Ruzi had lain down for too long, and his legs felt somewhat weak and numb. He moved about slowly in the darkness for a while, then set aside the matter of the qin player and asked about the most important thing: “Why did I have symptoms of poisoning?”

“Because Your Majesty was indeed poisoned.”

Han Ruzi was stunned. “You poisoned me?”

“To be precise, everyone around Your Majesty poisoned you together.”

“What?”

“The incense I lit, the tea and food Zhang Youcai provided, the documents Liu Jie delivered, the sachets that Prince Donghai and Cui Teng carried with them… we all poisoned you together.”

Han Ruzi found the table in the darkness and placed one hand on it, gently alternating between shaking his feet. “What a complex poison.”

“Each item alone was harmless, but together they formed a deadly toxin. Only this way could the poisoning leave no trace and be extremely difficult to treat afterward.”

Among all the “poisoners,” only Meng E knew the full situation. The others were unaware and had been unknowingly used, so they could reveal nothing during investigations.

“But you can cure it?”

“Yes, after administering the poison once, I knew how to create the antidote. Your Majesty has already taken it.”

Han Ruzi felt his legs could now support his body, though they were more sore and numb. “Why were you so anxious to find an antidote?” After a pause, he added another question: “Why did you have to test it on me?”

“Because the real poisoner was about to act. I had to get ahead of them, and using it on Your Majesty was to draw this person out.”

Han Ruzi was speechless. “Did you draw them out?”

“Yes, I went to see him during the day.”

Han Ruzi waited a moment. “You’re not planning to tell me who it is?”

“I thought Your Majesty would ask next—it’s Hua Bin.”

“Hua Bin? He wants to poison me?” Han Ruzi found it hard to believe. Hua Bin was imprisoned in the Ceremonial Guard Camp, barely able to protect himself. How could he poison the emperor?

“Your Majesty’s northern inspection tour had a predetermined route. The original plan was to stay in Jincheng City for three to five days, then depart after joining with the Northern Army.”

“Right, this was the route determined by the Ministry of War.”

“Each location had to prepare in advance to receive Your Majesty, so this route was leaked long ago. A group of pugilists arrived in Jincheng City early, planning to rescue Hua Bin here and, if possible, take the opportunity to kill Your Majesty.”

“Pugilists again. Why must they oppose the Great Chu emperor?”

“I’m told there are some personal grudges involved, but I don’t understand the specific circumstances. Your Majesty will have a chance to ask Hua Bin directly.”

“Ha, I certainly will.” Han Ruzi returned to sit on the bed. “How many accomplices does Hua Bin have?”

“Hua Bin didn’t tell me. Only if I bring him Your Majesty’s head will he completely trust me.”

Han Ruzi thought silently for a while. “What about the zither master and his daughter? You seem wary of them, and their music is very strange.”

“Your Majesty heard the full zither music?”

“If I had known it would be like this, I never would have brought them along.”

“Zhang Zhuhе and Zhang Qinyan are not truly father and daughter, but master and disciple. Zhang Zhuhe originally learned zither in Donghai, and his skills have considerable connection to Righteous Heroes Island’s martial arts. Your Majesty’s internal energy cultivation has achieved some success, so when you first heard the music, you felt a sense of transcendence.”

“Exactly, it seemed to help with cultivating internal energy, but you told me not to practice anymore.”

“When things reach their extreme, they reverse. Your Majesty is not a true martial artist. Your internal energy cultivation progresses slowly but safely, without consuming too much energy. If stimulated by the zither music, the accelerated progress would do more harm than good.”

“But now I can hear the full zither music.”

“Because I helped Your Majesty open the governing and conception meridian channels. Though your internal energy hasn’t increased greatly, it can be controlled. Your Majesty can actually choose which zither music to hear, though I suggest Your Majesty continue listening to the current type.”

“Does such zither artistry truly exist in the world, allowing listeners to perceive different sounds?” Han Ruzi had experienced it himself but still found it incredible.

“Only with Righteous Hero Island’s internal energy can one hear different zither music. Zhang Zhuhe didn’t expect Your Majesty to know internal energy. Their initial purpose was merely to tempt Your Majesty to accept feminine charms.”

“No wonder the eunuchs weren’t affected, but why wasn’t Cui Teng affected either? He only likes Zhang Qinyan and has no interest in the music.”

“I only know this much about zither arts. Zhang Zhuhe has already guessed that I taught Your Majesty internal energy and is very wary of me. I can’t get anything out of him.”

Han Ruzi grunted. “Zhang Zhuhe is also a pugilist. Could he be in league with Hua Bin?”

“Hard to say. I have no evidence.”

Many of Han Ruzi’s doubts were resolved, leaving only one matter. Strictly speaking, this wasn’t really a doubt, because he had already guessed the answer. “It was Righteous Heroes Island that told you these things, wasn’t it?”

Meng E hummed in acknowledgment.

After escaping from Linzi, Meng E had been thoroughly informed about the various dangers facing the Emperor. She had suddenly become skilled at both poisoning and detoxification. Han Ruzi could only draw one conclusion. “Righteous Heroes Island hopes you can gain my trust, and then what? What do they, or rather you, want to get from me?”

“Righteous Heroes Island hoped to have someone stay by the side of the Great Chu Emperor at all times. At that time, they hadn’t anticipated that the Xiongnu would be so successful.”

“And you?”

“Me? I was to gain Your Majesty’s trust.”

Han Ruzi couldn’t continue questioning. Meng E had told him everything truthfully and had indeed gained the Emperor’s trust. As for how she might use this trust in the future, whether she would turn against the Emperor when Righteous Heroes Island gave the order, Han Ruzi couldn’t predict. Any answer from Meng E wouldn’t be reliable.

“So you acted on your own, without telling me, and did all these things.”

“Did Your Majesty want me to inform you beforehand?” Meng E seemed somewhat puzzled.

Han Ruzi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Of course. I am the Emperor. The Emperor must know everything, at least those matters of life and death.”

“But you said that bluffing is also an imperial art. If I had explained beforehand, Your Majesty’s illness wouldn’t have seemed so convincing, and I wouldn’t have been able to gain Hua Bin’s trust.”

“You are not yet an emperor, Meng E. You can learn imperial arts, but don’t use them on me. It wouldn’t be so easy for Hua Bin to poison me. In the future, if there are similar matters, you must tell me in advance. If you can’t do that, I cannot let you stay by my side.”

“Very well,” Meng E replied. “There is one matter right now.”

“Mm, speak.”

“I want to take Your Majesty and escape from Jincheng City. Everything has been planned, but I can only take Your Majesty alone.”

Han Ruzi moved his two numb and aching legs onto the bed and laughed. “Escape? I won’t escape, Meng E. If you want to learn imperial arts, then observe carefully. When one has swords in hand, who would fight bare-handed? When one has learned imperial arts, who would need to flee alone?”

“The Founding Emperor of Great Chu…”

“He wasn’t emperor yet at that time. Watch, Meng E, just watch.” Han Ruzi gently massaged the muscles in his legs, feeling that he would soon be able to run freely again.

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