Guide to the Sickly Strategist’s Death Seek - Chapter 5

The new Emperor had only recently ascended the throne. Most of the concubines from the late Emperor’s harem had already departed to guard the imperial tombs.

Yan Yan was not particularly old, but compared to the monarchs of previous dynasties, a nineteen-year-old Emperor would typically begin expanding his harem. However, during his time as the Fourth Prince, he had taken no consorts—neither a primary wife nor a secondary one. Now, the few officials who had begun to accept his status as Emperor were already plotting ways to send people to his side.

Ruan Jinyu rose early today to attend the morning court. A dispute had broken out regarding the status of Lady Chu, the birth mother of Prince Shi. This matter was directly tied to the fact that the Seventh Prince had been enfeoffed as Prince Shi.

When Yan Yan granted titles to the late Emperor’s sons, the former Crown Prince and the Second Prince were naturally unwilling to surrender the throne to him, but the deed was done. No one could find fault with the titles given to Prince Xian and Prince Wu’an, but they could certainly pick apart Yan Yan’s handling of Prince Shi.

Lady Chu had no powerful family behind her; her maiden home was of humble status. Logically, even if Prince Shi were to stay in the palace due to his youth, he should not be living in the Qingshuang Palace—a place that was effectively a “Cold Palace.”

Even though the Seventh Prince had been doted on by the late Emperor, he was young and had never participated in court affairs. He was entirely different from his brothers, Prince Xian and Prince Wu’an, who had extensive social and political networks. With the late Emperor gone, the Seventh Prince essentially had no backing, as his birth mother could provide him with no power.

The officials presenting petitions today argued that although Prince Shi was young and had not yet been granted a manor in the capital, he should not be residing in the Cold Palace, even if he remained within the imperial grounds. Among the late Emperor’s concubines, most—except for the Empress—had gone to the tombs. Yet Yan Yan had neither ordered Lady Chu to join them nor granted her the title of Consort Dowager.

Some ministers believed Yan Yan was doing this intentionally to keep Prince Shi under house arrest in Qingshuang Palace.

Ruan Jinyu listened for a long while and eventually grasped the situation. The ministers were arguing this point because the faction under Prince Xian wanted to pressure Yan Yan into sending Lady Chu to the tombs. Simultaneously, they were signaling for Yan Yan to move Prince Shi out of Qingshuang Palace.

In truth, the young Prince Shi posed no threat or conflict of interest to anyone. The officials were simply using this as a pretext to dampen the new Emperor’s spirits—testing the waters to see how he would react to them challenging his authority.

The man on the dragon throne kept his eyes half-lidded, looking down upon the assembly from start to finish. Even as the ministers’ suggestions grew increasingly bold and lawless, his expression remained unchanged. He still appeared somewhat languid, though a hint of impatience flickered in his eyes. This impatience didn’t seem to stem from the ministers’ words, but rather from the sheer noise of it all.

Finally, he spoke. “Imperial Preceptor, what is your view?”

Ruan Jinyu, who had been burying his head in the crowd staring at the hem of his robe while lost in thought, was suddenly startled. He jerked his head up, realizing the Emperor was asking for his opinion. Fortunately, he did not belong to the factions of either of the two princes, so he wasn’t part of the group currently cornering Yan Yan.

Ruan Jinyu stepped forward and replied in a gentle voice, “This servant believes that since this concerns Prince Shi, we should consider the Prince’s own wishes. If the Prince desires to live with his birth mother, why force Lady Chu out of the palace and separate mother and son?”

As soon as Ruan Jinyu finished, a leading official immediately stood up to counter him. “The Imperial Preceptor’s words make it sound as if Prince Shi would be unfilial if he were unwilling.”

Ruan Jinyu gave a faint smile. He didn’t look at the man beside him but kept his gaze forward and upright. “Our dynasty has always prioritized the virtue of filial piety.”

The official’s face turned an ashen shade of green at this response. Ruan Jinyu’s implication was clear: Prioritizing filial piety was the will of our ancestors and the foundation of the state. I am merely responding based on ancestral tradition. You, on the other hand, seem to be suggesting we defy our ancestors.

The official was speechless, but there were others. They were a band of brothers on the same rope, whereas the Imperial Preceptor was clearly standing alone. Just as another minister was about to snap at Ruan Jinyu, the Emperor ended it all.

“I believe the Imperial Preceptor is exactly right. This is for the best.”

Yan Yan ended the discussion with a single sentence. The matter reached a conclusion in court. Since the Emperor had spoken and the Preceptor’s logic was sound, it was difficult to find a rebuttal. Even if they wanted to drag the issue out, they couldn’t find an opening.

It was only today that Ruan Jinyu confirmed that the new Emperor’s power in court was truly fragmented. Prince Xian and Prince Wu’an were difficult to deal with, and their supporters were numerous, loyal, and unlikely to flip. It was a tough situation. This also answered his earlier question: how could the court be peaceful after Yan Yan’s ascension? It couldn’t. They were simply waiting for the right time, and today was just the beginning.

With the Emperor’s word, the matter was settled. There were no other affairs, and the court was finally dismissed. Ruan Jinyu left the hall immediately. When he reached the bottom of the stairs and saw no eunuchs coming to stop him, he assumed the Emperor wouldn’t be calling him to the Hall of Supreme Vitality today. He headed back to the side hall of the Palace of Ultimate Bliss in high spirits.

To his surprise, as he reached his own palace gates, he saw a eunuch waiting—one of the Emperor’s personal attendants. Ruan Jinyu couldn’t very well ignore him, so he naturally greeted the man. The eunuch bowed and said, “My Lord, please come with me.”

There was no need to guess who had sent him. However, being at the Palace of Ultimate Bliss was unexpected; usually, at this hour, Yan Yan should be handling state affairs at the Hall of Supreme Vitality. The eunuch looked solemn, and Ruan Jinyu found no opening to ask questions.

The eunuch led him directly to the library within the Palace of Ultimate Bliss. He gestured for Ruan Jinyu to enter alone. Inside, a large imperial desk similar to the one in the Hall of Supreme Vitality was covered in scrolls and books. Yan Yan sat there, brush in hand, writing.

Ruan Jinyu remained courteous. As he entered, Yan Yan didn’t look up but set his brush down and rose from his seat. Ruan Jinyu, with his head slightly bowed, noticed the rice paper on the desk. A sentence had been cut off halfway through the third character. The writer seemingly didn’t care; he just dropped the brush and left the desk.

The Emperor walked straight up to him. As the distance closed, Ruan Jinyu—keeping the proper distance between sovereign and subject—did not meet his eyes, but lowered his gaze. The Emperor looked at him for a few moments, then stepped around him. Ruan Jinyu was still hesitating in place when he heard a voice behind him:

“Follow me.”

Though confused, he obeyed. Gentle and submissive as always, he listened without questioning. Yan Yan led him out of the palace. When they were outside, the Emperor gave instructions to a eunuch. When the eunuch announced that the carriage was headed for Qingshuang Palace, Ruan Jinyu finally realized where they were going. As for why? He had no idea.

Because the two palaces were far apart, they needed to use the imperial carriage (longnian). The carriage was already waiting. Followed by several attendants, Yan Yan stepped inside. Ruan Jinyu, who had been following behind, prepared to walk behind the carriage with the eunuchs without hesitation.

He had only taken two steps when he was stopped. The silk curtain of the carriage was lifted, and the man inside looked down at him, uttering two flat words: “Get in.”

Confirming the words were meant for him, Ruan Jinyu turned and said righteously, “Your Majesty, there is a distinction between ruler and subject. This is inappropriate.”

This was the imperial carriage. Strictly speaking, not even the Emperor’s concubines were allowed to ride in it with him. Ruan Jinyu considered himself a paragon of following the rules and staying in his place!

“There is no distinction between teacher and student,” Yan Yan replied dismissively. He raised an eyebrow, his tone dropping an octave. “Teacher… do you not recognize me as your student?”

“…”

Faced with this choice, Ruan Jinyu chose survival over etiquette without a second thought. Between rules and life, he valued his life and was willing to throw away his dignity. If people wanted to criticize him, let them.

Throughout the journey, the Preceptor sat perfectly upright, huddled right by the carriage door—clinging to a tiny shred of propriety until the end. He kept his gaze fixed forward. As for Yan Yan on his left, no matter how obvious or intense the Emperor’s gaze was, Ruan Jinyu acted as if he were blind. This young Emperor had clearly already convinced himself that Ruan Jinyu was his teacher.

Qingshuang Palace was indeed remote. The journey took a long time. By the end, Ruan Jinyu felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, though his face remained a mask of calm. He had lived at the feet of the Son of Heaven for many years, after all; he had that much composure.

When they arrived at Qingshuang Palace and dismounted, Ruan Jinyu finally felt his mind and body relax slightly. “Your Majesty, what is our business here?”

“Was it not Teacher who said,” Yan Yan spoke slowly, “that we should ask for Prince Shi’s opinion?”

So, he had personally brought Ruan Jinyu here to ask? Ruan Jinyu hadn’t expected this. His words in court had been intended to help the Emperor check the power of the ministers. He had said that to return the initiative to the Emperor. Usually, once the court dismissed, the Emperor’s word on Prince Shi’s treatment would be final, and the ministers wouldn’t have an opening to complain. After all, the “Prince’s opinion” would be whatever the Emperor said it was.

But since they were here, Ruan Jinyu, as a loyal subject, would not question the Emperor. He followed him obediently into the palace.

The Qingshuang Palace was not a “Cold Palace” by name, but it felt like one. It wasn’t as dilapidated or eerie as a true Cold Palace, but it was incredibly lonely and desolate, with very few maidservants in sight.

Ruan Jinyu met the fabled Lady Chu and the newly titled Prince Shi. He was seeing Lady Chu for the first time, but Prince Shi was familiar. During the late Emperor’s life, the boy had been doted on, so Ruan Jinyu had seen him often.

Hearing of the Emperor’s arrival, mother and son hurried to the main hall. Yan Yan was direct. “I ask you, are you willing to live here in Qingshuang Palace?”

Prince Shi, who was a head and a half shorter than Yan Yan, looked dazed. He seemed unable to process that the man before him was now the Son of Heaven. However, when he saw Ruan Jinyu standing nearby, his expression changed noticeably.

Prince Shi was naturally not a sharp or aggressive person. He had been incredibly obedient before the late Emperor and was never arrogant. Yan Yan, however, was blunt, making no effort to show brotherly affection.

Ruan Jinyu assumed the young Prince was simply terrified of his formidable older brother. He stepped forward proactively. “Your Highness, simply say whether you wish to or not. His Majesty is magnanimous and wishes to hear your thoughts.”

Getting closer, Ruan Jinyu noticed Prince Shi’s arms were trembling. He was truly afraid. It was understandable; he was young, his doting father was gone, and his world had changed overnight.

Ruan Jinyu’s words had an effect. Prince Shi finally spoke, stammering while still not daring to look at the Emperor. “I… I am… I am willing.”

From the moment he entered, Ruan Jinyu’s attention had been entirely on Prince Shi. He failed to notice the Emperor’s face behind him suddenly darkening. As soon as Prince Shi spoke, Yan Yan strode down, not giving the boy another look. He stepped directly between Ruan Jinyu and the Prince, looked down at Ruan Jinyu, and dropped two cold words:

“We’re leaving.”