The crown prince, though nominally a crown prince, was merely a facade, not truly living up to the title.
Only an idiot would pass the throne to a nephew instead of a son, unless he were a eunuch or impotent. The Jing Tai Emperor Zhu Qiyu was only in his twenties, and he likely thought that while young and strong, with numerous wives, he could easily father enough children to form not just a football team, but probably its entire cheerleading squad as well.
Initially, the Jing Tai Emperor’s promise to the empress dowager to establish Zhu Jianshen as crown prince was merely an expedient measure.
Haste makes waste.
The cunning Jing Tai Emperor was not in a hurry; he had plenty of time to go back on his word.
The Cry That Tugs at the Heartstrings
Wan Zhen’er didn’t even have time to put on her shoes before rushing over, climbing onto the prince’s bed, and tightly embracing him. She gently patted his back and said lovingly, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Aunt Wan is here.”
The prince choked up, clinging tightly to Wan Zhen’er: “Aunt Wan, Aunt Wan!”
Wan Zhen’er said: “Don’t cry! Don’t cry!”
The prince continued crying, saying between sobs: “Aunt Wan, don’t leave me! Don’t leave me!”
Wan Zhen’er kissed the prince’s delicate, small face, tenderly saying: “Aunt Wan won’t leave you! Aunt Wan will always be with you.”
The prince calmed down, looking at Wan Zhen’er with bright eyes.
Then, the prince smiled, tears still hanging on his face.
Deposed Prince
When the prince was five years old, he was finally deposed as those small-minded people had long wished. They had been yearning for the prince’s eccentric uncle to issue an imperial decree deposing the prince and establishing his own biological son, Zhu Jianjing, as the new heir.
Fortunately, the prince’s eccentric uncle wasn’t completely heartless. Remembering that the prince was his late brother’s flesh and blood, and sharing the Zhu surname, he didn’t completely destroy the prince’s future, granting him the title of King of Yi.
But her voice had lost its previous resonance, and many matters were no longer under her control. For instance, she strongly opposed preventing her biological grandson Zhu Jinshen from becoming the future emperor, but her opposition was ineffective.
The one sitting on the dragon throne was no longer her biological son, and the person on the dragon throne refused to listen to Empress Dowager Sun, leaving her powerless to change anything. The court officials, so-called pillars of the state, were either uninvolved or unwilling to offend the current emperor.
If the emperor were to blame them, they could be mutilated, and not only be disabled but also have their entire clan punished, with wives, children, and grandchildren reduced to slavery for generations. Those officials who feared death, embracing the philosophy of “every man for himself,” didn’t object much to Emperor Jing Zhu Qiyu pushing his nephew Zhu Jinshen off the heir’s position and placing his own biological son Zhu Jianjing on the throne. They obediently complied, and some even applauded.
The one who stood up against this was Empress Wang, Emperor Jing’s wife.
Empress Wang, not inferior to men, was kind and straightforward. She criticized her husband Emperor Zhu Qiyu without hesitation: “From the perspective of maintaining feudal etiquette, the prince’s transition from regent to emperor was already an emergency measure beyond ancestral instructions. Now changing the heir is simply too greedy – human desires are insatiable like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.”
As a result, Emperor Jing Zhu Qiyu became furious.
Those who follow me will prosper; those who oppose me will perish! I am the emperor – who should I fear?
The King of Yi rushed over, tightly hugging Wan Zhen’er, squeezing his small body into her embrace, a gesture he was accustomed to. Each time the King of Yi felt uneasy, he would hide in Wan Zhen’er’s arms. Wan Zhen’er only wanted to protect and love the King of Yi.
After moving out of the imperial palace, Wan Zhen’er lived with the King of Yi in a small royal residence. The King of Yi became even more lonely.
The so-called King of Yi’s residence was a sparsely populated, desolate place outside the capital, a small courtyard with a small garden behind it. Besides the King of Yi and Wan Zhen’er, there were two old nannies, nearly deaf, toothless, and blind, responsible for meals and cleaning. There were also two hunchbacked old eunuchs who made up the household staff.
However, the courtyard was surrounded by Brocade Guards, nominally for protection, but actually for surveillance.
The King of Yi’s grand empress dowager, his mother Lady Zhou, and the imperial aunt who loved him – the former Empress Wang, now Lady Wang – were not allowed to visit the King of Yi. They could not easily leave the palace.
That Emperor Jing, with his lackeys everywhere, had planted his eyes inside and outside the palace. Even the slightest movement would not escape his keen observation. Who would dare to challenge him, risking their personal safety and precious life?
Helplessly, they could only let the young King of Yi fend for himself.
Most hateful were the old nannies responsible for meals and cleaning, and the two unsightly, cowardly eunuchs who were afraid of death, unwilling to approach the King of Yi, avoiding him like a plague.
The King of Yi was just a child.
He was a pitiful child, constantly frightened and trembling, almost scared out of his wits, even stammering when speaking.
The King of Yi broke Wan Zhen’er’s heart.
All Wan Zhen’er could do was guard the King of Yi like a mother, never leaving his side, even sleeping while holding him, personally taking care of his clothing, food, and living arrangements, doing everything possible to ensure his safety – lest some loyal dog might suddenly poison his food, causing the King of Yi to die unexpectedly, with no one to help.
That high-ranking official’s fellow townsman very much liked Wan Zhen’er. Four-year-old Wan Zhen’er was clever and articulate, skilled at pleasing others and understanding adults’ concerns. Therefore, he persuaded Wan Gui, saying the imperial court was selecting court ladies, so why not let Wan Zhen’er try?
Wan Zhen’er’s mother cried repeatedly, reluctant to let her young daughter go.
Wan Zhen’er also cried, unwilling to leave her family.
But Wan Zhen’er’s father said that rather than waiting to die together, they should try their luck. He further explained that although the future could never be predicted, even with a one-in-ten-billion chance, it was still an opportunity. Opportunities are not waiting to be received, but must be seized and pursued.
So, Wan Zhen’er followed that high-ranking official’s townsman to the capital to try her luck. Wan Zhen’er indeed entered the palace and became a palace maid. But Wan Zhen’er did not rise to prominence.
Now, dreams of leaping like a carp through the dragon gate or becoming a phoenix were beyond even daydreaming. Wan Zhen’er had long abandoned those unrealistic fantasies. Her greatest wish now was to live peacefully with Yi Wang, no longer worrying about seeing the next day’s sun or whether she and Yi Wang would be separated. That would already be a blessing from heaven and ancestors.
Yi Wang looked at Wan Zhen’er and asked, “Aunt, do you miss your home and family?” Wan Zhen’er said, “Yes, very much! I especially miss my mother.”
Yi Wang said: “I listen, I listen to your words.”
Wan Zhen’er said: “You must swear that you will listen to me in the future!”
Yi Wang knelt down, raised his right hand, and solemnly swore to the sky: “I swear that I, I will forever and ever listen to Aunt’s words! Whatever Aunt says, I will listen! Forever, forever and ever listening!”
