Di Huang Shu Chapter 1

The morning sun glides across the dawn sky, lazily casting its light upon the palace courtyard. The majestic palace, as usual, welcomed the thrice-weekly morning court session.

In the grand nation of Great Jing, which had stood for several decades, Emperor Jia Ning had accumulated immense power. However, he was always open to counsel from his ministers and frequently engaged in heated debates in the court, with each person holding their own views. Nevertheless, today’s situation was somewhat peculiar. All the courtiers lowered their heads and cast submissive glances at the deputy general, dust-covered from his travels, standing in the center of the hall. They all tightly sealed their lips, resembling motionless statues of Bodhisattvas.

“Zhao ài qīng [1], repeat what you have just said.”

The imperial countenance on the throne exuded majesty, and his hand rested upon the dragon-head ornament of the royal seat. His usually stern expression now appeared somewhat absurd.

The deputy general Zhao Jinshi, clad in armor and having traveled a thousand miles, half-knelt in the court. He eagerly glanced toward the left side of the hall. The mighty man, seasoned by hundreds of battles, suddenly fell silent. He made an acknowledging gesture, stammered, and then cautiously reported in a low voice.

“Replying to Your Majesty…”

“Zhao qīng [2], answer properly!” Emperor Jia Ning’s voice grew cold as he issued a stern command, his dragon-like eyes slightly narrowing.

“Your Majesty, a surrender letter has been sent from Anle Village, expressing their willingness to accept the imperial court’s offer of peace and submit to our Great Jing. The village chief, Ren Anle, has heard of the Crown Prince’s outstanding reputation throughout the Central Plains. She believes there is no need for Great Jing to pacify Anle Village, and instead proposes that, in exchange for her loyalty with thirty thousand naval forces, she only desires the position of one of the consorts from the Eastern Palace.”

When Emperor Jia Ning let out a resounding roar, Zhao Jinshi shivered in response. His deep voice echoed throughout the grand hall, reverberating off the walls.

With these words spoken, all the courtiers turned their heads toward the left, their faces filled with astonishment.

Vice General Zhao was an honest man. The phrase, “The Prince of Great Jing's majestic presence encompasses the Central Plains,” was undoubtedly what Ren Anle had said. Words like these could not be casually uttered in court.

The young man, positioned on the left, lowered his gaze. He wore crimson court attire, and his serene, silent posture hindered the ministers’ half-hearted attempts at prying.

In the quiet Chong’an Hall, the emperor sitting on the throne gently tapped the dragon chair. His expression, which had briefly changed, quickly returned to normal after receiving the deputy general’s report.

“Oh? Thirty thousand water army swearing allegiance unto death? Is Ren Anle’s statement true?”

The words spoken by Emperor Jia Ning were rare, and one sentence, in particular, was so astonishing that all the court officials, disregarding everything else, concentrated on pondering the meaning behind it.

“In reply to Your Majesty, this is what the surrender letter states. General Ji has instructed this humble official to swiftly return to the capital and present it to Your Majesty. He mentioned that this opportunity is rare and hopes that Your Majesty and… His Highness will think twice.”

Zhao Jinshi had served in the military for years; a rough and seasoned soldier, his words were incoherent and disconnected, as if reciting a book from memory. It seemed that Old General Ji had also instructed him on what to say.

If it weren’t for the chief of Anle Village proposing such an absurd condition, this kind of opportunity to return to the capital and seek rewards for military achievements would not have fallen to him. A group of ministers shook their heads, clearly understanding the situation.

Great Jing had a strong army and vast territories. The countries of Bei Qin and Dong Qian, located in the desolate northern frontier, could not be considered major threats. However, the southern coastal areas suffered from rampant pirate activities, which constantly disturbed the coastal cities. Unfortunately, Great Jing’s naval forces were weak, and for decades a solution had yet to be found.

Anle Village was a strange and unique existence for Great Jing. Thirty years ago, during the turmoil in the Central Plains, various warlords and aristocratic families engaged in fierce battles. The Han family from the north rose to dominate the land. Anle Village was originally a small, remote corner along the southeastern coast. At that time, it didn’t catch the attention of the founding emperor and was consequently overlooked and preserved. Unexpectedly, over the decades, it grew in strength. From a few hundred local bandits who once ruled the mountains, it developed into a formidable force of thirty thousand naval soldiers. About a dozen years ago, they proclaimed themselves as Anle Village and had been thriving in their secluded corner ever since.

The imperial court had launched several sieges, but each time they were defeated by the navy, returning in frustration. Consequently, this had become a thorn in the side of the imperial court. Fortunately, although Anle Village did not belong to the imperial court, it did not harass the common people. It only occupied the mountains and acted as its own ruler.

However, Emperor Jia Ning was no vegetarian ruler. How could he allow others to snore peacefully in his jurisdiction?[4] Anle Village had been besieged numerous times in recent years, but all attempts to conquer it had been in vain. If they could surrender this time, it would not only showcase the might of imperial power but also allow the utilization of their thirty thousand naval forces to restrain the pirates in the South Sea. This could truly be considered killing two birds with one stone.[5]

After pondering over it, the courtiers felt that Anle Village’s surrender was almost certain. They looked toward the gentle and amiable Crown Prince and shed a tear of sympathy.

Over a decade ago, this place wasn’t known by its current name; it was simply referred to as the “Bandits’ Den.” At that time, the former leader of the village was delighted when he had a daughter and changed the village’s name to Anle in celebration. A few years ago, the former fort leader passed away, and his daughter took over as the new leader. Now, she was over eighteen years old, but she was said to be extremely rude, strong, and overbearing—a true female bandit.

Thirty thousand naval forces exchanged for one position of a concubine. Everyone marveled at the young and talented Crown Prince, who stood out among the courtiers with his youthful and charming appearance. People couldn’t figure out whether it was the imperial court that had taken advantage of the situation or if the renowned female bandit had received a good deal.

“Zhao Qing, this matter is of great importance. Anle Village has shown a willingness to surrender, and I see that its young lady possesses loyalty and integrity. This could be a good thing, but this matter still requires the Crown Prince’s submission. My imperial son, what are your thoughts?”

Emperor Jia Ning lowered his eyes, gazing toward the lower end. His facial expression carried a smile, yet his eyes betrayed a hint of depth.

All the courtiers felt a sudden unease in their hearts. Your Majesty, if you want the thirty thousand formidable and skilled naval forces, just say so directly. Why do you have to appear so ceremonious and seek the Crown Prince’s approval?

Besides the thoughts of the ministers, several princes also had the intention of looking at the joke. The Crown Prince had been proposed for marriage by a female bandit who praised his beauty in front of all the civil and military officials at court. This incident was a significant blow to the Crown Prince’s dignity.

“Imperial Father, if Anle Village pledges allegiance to our Great Jing, the loyal thirty thousand naval forces are willing to be incorporated into the Suinan General’s Camp. Anle Village will be disbanded from now on. Your son is willing to reserve a position in the Eastern Palace to welcome Anle’s arrival in the capital.”

Crown Prince Han Ye stepped forward, faced Emperor Jia Ning, and performed the ritual of salutation. He responded in a calm and composed manner.

Several senior ministers glanced at Emperor Jia Ning, noticing that his facial expression had instantly softened, and they secretly praised him. The Crown Prince’s words were spoken beautifully, not only pointing out the conditions for him to marry—which were the loyalty and submission of Anle Village—but also indicating that he would only marry if these conditions were met. He would also incorporate thirty thousand naval forces into the Suinan General’s Camp, which was under His Majesty’s control. This demonstrated that he harbored no personal desire for Anle Village’s forces. In this way, by willingly marrying a female bandit and voluntarily lowering his status as the future ruler, the Crown Prince would gain the hearts of the Emperor, ministers, and the common people, who would see it as a significant sacrifice.

Several imperial princes realized this and snorted, their faces somewhat awkward.

“The Emperor’s son is benevolent, loves the people, and has deeply gained my favor!” Emperor Jia Ning patted his palms and laughed heartily. The stern expression between his eyebrows disappeared instantly. He looked toward the Minister of Rites and said, “Gong Aiqing, please consider giving a suitable position to the chief of Anle Village. Since she has traveled a thousand miles to come here, she should not be treated poorly.”

In the courtroom of Great Jing, for the first time, a mere position in the Eastern Palace was discussed. When the aged minister from the Ministry of Rites, Gong Jizhe, was called upon, he quickly stepped forward. With a sincere expression, he pondered for a moment and respectfully said, “Your Majesty, this subject thinks the position of rú rén [6] is enough.”

Although Ren Anle surrendered with thirty thousand sailors, she was, after all, a leader of bandits. She was marrying the current Crown Prince, the future Emperor. Even if she became a concubine, it was still an elevation. If it weren’t for the Emperor’s good mood, Gong Jizhe would not have made this proposal. As expected, some officials who emphasized noble status frowned and prepared to advise against it.

“Your Majesty…” The long-ignored Vice General Zhao felt something was amiss and suddenly remembered an important matter he had forgotten to report. He hurriedly took a step forward to intercept the Court Official’s words. Emperor Jia Ning was taken aback by his sudden action and asked displeased, “Zhao Qing, what’s the matter?”

“Your Majesty, on the surrender letter, the position Ren Anle was seeking…” Deputy General Zhao glanced sideways at the handsome and elegant Crown Prince and reluctantly replied, “It’s the position of Crown Prince’s consort.”

Quiet. Absolutely quiet. So quiet that even the sound of breathing seemed too loud.

The entire Chong’an Hall miraculously fell silent when the three words “Crown Prince’s Consort” were mentioned. Even the censors, who usually liked to argue with flushed faces and thick necks over matters of propriety, tightly closed their mouths, their lowered gazes showing a hint of fear and apprehension.

Absurd, absurd, simply… absurd. A group of literati pondered for a long time and still could not find any other words besides these two characters to describe that audacious and brazen female bandit from Anle Village.

The Crown Prince was the heir to the throne. She was seeking the position of Crown Princess. Could it be that she also aspired to become the Empress of the Great Jing Dynasty? Within the imperial capital, there were numerous noble ladies raised in distinguished families, yet none dared to bluntly express the desire to enter the Eastern Palace and aspire to be Crown Princess.

The Crown Prince stepped back, lowered his eyes, and maintained a calm expression, but there was a slight ripple in the depths of his gaze.

It was quite interesting that the leader of Anle Village dared to propose such a condition.

Even Emperor Jia Ning fell silent, his expression turning grave.

“What a remarkable Ren Anle! How does she regard my Great Jing Dynasty…”

“Your Majesty, Ren Anle has said that if You are unwilling to grant her the position of Crown Prince’s consort, she is willing to forgo entering the Eastern Palace. She only hopes that Your Majesty can arrange a military position for her within the army, allowing her to exchange military achievements for an opportunity to eventually ascend to the Eastern Palace.”

Although feeling the awe-inspiring aura of the emperor and finding the Crown Prince’s indifferent gaze somewhat uncomfortable, Deputy General Zhao still displayed the indomitable spirit he had on the battlefield. He took a deep breath and completed the report.

In fact, to put it plainly, Ren Anle had only one intention. You could choose not to grant her the position of Crown Princess now, but for the glory of Great Jing, you must show some sincerity to gain the allegiance of her thirty thousand-strong water army. What could Ren Anle do? Embroidery and arts such as guqin, go, calligraphy, and painting were nonsense to her. She only knew how to wield a big sword and fight. Joining the army and earning promotions was the most direct path.

Just doing this, how was it any different from robbing in broad daylight? Being a woman accustomed to a bandit’s life, even when marrying a husband, she still carried habits of a bandit that were hard to change.

The status of women in Great Jing was relatively high. Although few women historically led armies or entered the imperial court, it was not unheard of. The courtiers disdained the arrogant and tyrannical chief of Anle Village, but dared not speak recklessly, fearing offense to the higher authorities, especially considering the valiant thirty thousand-strong naval force.

“Oh? She says she won’t enter the Eastern Palace unless she becomes the Crown Prince’s consort? Such arrogant words! Gong Qing, draft an imperial edict on my behalf and announce it to the world.” Emperor Jia Ning, deviating from his usual behavior, did not scold Ren Anle for her outrageous demand but instead clapped his hands and laughed heartily.

“The resolute and loyal leader of Anle Village, with compassion for the ruler, is willing to lead a naval force of thirty thousand to pledge loyalty to Great Jing. In recognition, the position of Deputy General of Suinan will be conferred upon her. All the people of Anle Village will be treated generously. This Emperor appreciates the loyalty shown by this humble young woman and grants her permission to enter the capital and take up an official position.”

The Minister of Rites received the imperial edict and withdrew, feeling a slight movement in his heart. Ren Anle was summoned to the imperial capital, and sooner or later, the thirty thousand naval troops would be tamed by General Ji. Not more than a few years later, Anle’s influence on the southeastern coast would disappear. Ren Anle, a mere woman, would then be at the mercy of the imperial court.

Once the emperor made this statement, no one dared mention Ren Anle’s desire to marry the Crown Prince. Instead, Emperor Jia Ning exchanged thirty thousand naval forces for a low-ranking official position with no real authority for Ren Anle.

After the emperor waved his hand, a young eunuch shouted, “Leave the court.” When the ministers left the main hall, they noticed the Crown Prince had already been led by the chief eunuch Zhao Fu to the study room.

“Father Emperor truly values Third Brother. He just finished court, yet eagerly summoned him again,” said Han Zhao, the Ninth Prince. He had thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a military bearing. His mother, the daughter of the Left Prime Minister, had a fondness for the battlefield. As there was little conflict with the Crown Prince, the fifteen-year-old young prince had developed a carefree temperament.

“Ninth Brother, Third Brother is the Crown Prince. Receiving Father Emperor’s favor is only natural,” the eldest prince, Han Rui, replied with a tone neither light nor heavy, his solemn expression displaying authority.

Han Zhao hummed disdainfully, slightly raising his eyebrows, indicating he did not take it to heart.

Han Rui, though eldest, was not born of the principal wife, and his mother’s family was of low status. Originally, he was not highly regarded by Emperor Jia Ning. Among all imperial princes, his status was awkward. Fortunately, over the years, he had shown great loyalty and filial piety toward Emperor Jia Ning, treating the Crown Prince with utmost respect. He had made significant contributions to the court and was one of the most respected princes, second only to the Crown Prince. Three years ago, he was further honored and bestowed the title of Mu Wang.

The Fifth Prince, Han Yue, saw the two locked in a tense standoff and hurriedly intervened. “Ninth Brother, the Eldest Prince is right. Third Brother is the Crown Prince, and his position differs from ours. However, I suspect Father calling him away might not solely concern Anle Village.”

The Fifth Prince, despite being born into the imperial family, had a strong preference for vegetarianism and Buddhist rituals. Since age ten, he had been under the guidance of Venerable Master Jingxian at the national temple. Emperor Jia Ning had many sons, but only four were still alive. The Emperor feared the Fifth Prince, due to his early reverence for the Bodhisattva, might shave his head and become a monk. Nevertheless, the Fifth Prince possessed a clear and pure temperament, always speaking truthfully without compromise.

“Besides Anle Village, what else could there be?” Han Zhao asked as he followed the Fifth Prince down the stairs.

Han Rui’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and he gazed toward the study upstairs with a somewhat profound expression.

To the Great Jing Dynasty, a small place like Anle Village was not a formidable matter, even with thirty thousand naval troops surrendering. The reason Emperor Jia Ning took it seriously was that the dissolution of Anle Village signified the complete end of the era under Taizu’s rule.

Anle Village had been established thirty years ago, enduring almost as long as Great Jing itself, deeply buried in the southeastern territory. This was what Emperor Jia Ning could not tolerate.

“Third Brother is already twenty-two,” Han Yue said indifferently, seeing Han Rui and Han Zhao looking at him together. “But up until now, he still doesn’t have a legitimate heir.”

Without a Crown Princess, where would a legitimate heir come from?

The two princes were about to retort but suddenly felt a chill. Han Rui sternly said, “Fifth Brother, you must not speak recklessly,” then brushed his sleeve and left.

“Hmph, always putting on a loyal face without backbone,” Han Zhao sneered. “Fifth Brother, I plan to go sightseeing outside the palace. If Father asks, say I went to the Western Suburb Garrison. Cover for me.”

He ran down the stone steps like a streak of smoke, disappearing.

Han Yue smiled. The lively Ninth Prince had grown up in the palace and understood which things could not be spoken of openly. The imperial family had many taboos, but there was only one taboo that truly offended Emperor Jia Ning.

It was not the Crown Princess. The Emperor’s real fear was tied to the surname the Crown Princess represented.

The Southern Jin’s Di Family. Great Jing esteemed the Han family of royal lineage, noble but not exclusive to the imperial household. All the glories and shames associated with the Di family had vanished like smoke and clouds ten years ago. What remained in the mortal world was a sole descendant of the Di family, holding nothing more than the empty title of Crown Princess.

Under the intense sun, somewhat dazzling, Han Yue chuckled to himself as he considered his own meddlesome nature. He then turned and left the palace, silently reciting the Heart Sutra on his way home.

[1] 爱卿 - ài qīnɡ - Means the monarch's pet name for his subjects; a polite, affectionate term used by the emperor to address ministers in court.

[2] 卿 - qīng - High-ranking official; an honorific used by the emperor to address his subjects, especially ministers.

[3] 朝服 - cháo fú - Court attire worn in ancient China, usually by the emperor and ministers during court sessions, and sometimes by consorts or female officials.

[4] “How can one snore on the side of a couch?” - Metaphor for being close to or within one’s jurisdiction; meaning one cannot allow others to intrude on their sphere of influence.

[5] Killing two birds with one stone - Doing one thing and gaining two benefits at the same time; accomplishing two goals with a single action.

[6] 孺人 - rú rén - A title given to the mother or wife of a seventh-rank official; also used as a respectful title for women, often for lower-ranking consorts.

[7] 太祖 - tài zǔ - Refers to the founder of a dynasty or regime; the “Grand Ancestor.”

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