Chapter 0319 Extra—Emperor Jian: When Love Begins, It Runs Deep

In his childhood, Emperor Jian bore an overwhelming academic burden.

As the late emperor’s only son, he was subjected to unprecedented expectations and pressure.

The late emperor had cleverly seized Jingcheng and won over the officials of the previous dynasty, but his humble origins as a beggar and his lack of cultural refinement were constant targets of criticism from the courtiers. Ambitious individuals even sought to replace him.

While the late emperor was busy leading his generals to quell rebellions across the land and overseeing the reconstruction and administration of cities and counties, he hoped his son would immerse himself in the classics, learn to manipulate the complex court officials, and prove to those snobbish ministers that a beggar could become emperor, and a beggar’s son could rule the world and build a prosperous era.

To the late emperor, Emperor Jian was less like a son and more like a tool to prove a point.

The heavy academic workload left Emperor Jian dizzy and exhausted. Even when training in martial arts left him coughing painfully in the freezing cold, he was given no rest. The late emperor would merely glance at him, frown, remind him to take his medicine, and then hurry back to the Imperial Study to review memorials.

As a child, Emperor Jian yearned for paternal love and companionship but received neither.

The only things his father could give him were the position of Crown Prince and the empire itself.

“I won’t give you any brothers to compete for the throne, so you must work harder to repay me. If you feel lonely, I’ll assign you a study companion for the Crown Prince.”

That study companion would later become the Junior Minister of Ceremonies.

Though frail and sickly, the Junior Minister of Ceremonies was exceptionally learned, came from a good family, and possessed a gentle, meticulous nature, never losing his temper. Whenever Emperor Jian was caned by the tutor for poor academic performance, the Junior Minister would fix his sickly, cat-like eyes on the tutor and stubbornly insist, “The Crown Prince is of delicate stature! The tutor must not subject him to corporal punishment! Please punish me instead!”

Emperor Jian found him amusing—how could someone so ill dare to challenge the tutor and offer to take punishment for him?

But… to Emperor Jian’s surprise, the Junior Minister of Ceremonies went to the late emperor after being caned on his behalf and argued so persistently with classical rhetoric that the late emperor grew annoyed and waved him off, exempting Emperor Jian from future punishments.

Though the primary reason was likely the late emperor’s realization that Emperor Jian was growing older and would remember such humiliations, potentially leading to resentment or rebellion.

“Since you’re exempt from punishment, you must study even more diligently. Do not disappoint my expectations, or I’ll send your sickly little companion to the frontier to graze on grass,” the late emperor threatened.

That single threat drove Emperor Jian to persevere for ten years. He studied and practiced swordsmanship relentlessly, becoming a martial arts master and learning to manipulate the court.

And then…

He rebelled.

In modern terms, he hit his rebellious teenage phase.

“I will definitely have several children in the future!” Emperor Jian declared to the late emperor, who was reviewing memorials. “They’ll share the burden of ruling the empire! One will handle domestic affairs, one foreign affairs, one finances, and another—”

Emperor Jian pondered for a moment. “Will be for me to play with!”

The late emperor: “…Have you finally lost your mind?”

How could royal brothers ever get along harmoniously?

Their mothers and the factions behind them would never be content with them being mere princes.

“Junior Minister of Ceremonies, tell him to stop daydreaming,” the late emperor said.

But the Junior Minister of Ceremonies was staring out the window in a daze, occasionally chuckling softly as if recalling something amusing.

The late emperor remarked, “Oh~ he’s lovesick.”

Emperor Jian was stunned, Emperor Jian found it unbelievable.

He and the Junior Minister of Ceremonies were practically inseparable; even during rest periods, they often sneaked out of the palace to meet up. How could he not know that the Junior Minister had a lady he fancied?!

Betrayal.

Blatant betrayal!

And I considered you my best brother!!!

After much deliberation, Emperor Jian concluded it must be the night’s fault, so he slipped out of the palace at midnight and went to the Junior Minister’s home.

Little did he know that from that moment on, he would lose his heart.

Under the silver crescent moon, a cool breeze swept through the small courtyard. There, a tall and graceful young woman in red wielded a whip, sweeping fallen leaves. With a swift motion, the silver tip of her whip coiled around a peach blossom branch, plucking it from the tree. Accompanied by the sharp crack of the whip cutting through the air, the branch landed deftly in her fair, calloused palm.

She moved with the elegance of a startled swan, the grace of a soaring dragon, her radiance outshining autumn chrysanthemums, her vitality surpassing spring pines. Like a wisp of cloud veiling the moon, she drifted as if carried by the wind, swirling like snowflakes in a breeze.

Propelled by her inner energy, the peach blossom branch flew steadily and lodged itself into the hair of a blushing, sickly young man seated in a wooden chair.

“Old pal, your peach blossom has arrived!”

The young woman’s voice was clear and resonant. She coiled her long whip and fastened it behind her back, then bounded playfully over to the Junior Minister. As she did, her stunningly beautiful face was fully revealed.

Her cloud-like hair was piled high, her delicate eyebrows arched gracefully. Her red lips glowed, her white teeth sparkled within, and her bright eyes sparkled with a lively charm, complemented by enchanting dimples.

That night, Emperor Jian lay awake, tormented and restless, until dawn broke, his clothes damp with dew.

Love at first sight, captivation upon the second meeting.

Yet, the beauty’s heart belonged to another, and Emperor Jian knew well that his high station prevented him from offering a lifetime of devoted love to one person. He accepted the palace maid sent by the late emperor to instruct him in intimate matters, and he also accepted the crown princess arranged by the late emperor. He sincerely wished the Junior Minister happiness and fulfillment, though at times, dark thoughts crossed his mind—if the Junior Minister were to succumb to illness, he would surely take good care of Hua Ning.

Until the day the Junior Minister truly passed away.

“I know Your Majesty favors Hua Ning…” the man who had always been gentle, refined, and almost supernaturally patient gripped Emperor Jian’s hand with his dying breath and entrusted, “Your Majesty, take care of her. Do not let her suffer any grievances.”

Throughout his life, the Junior Minister had been upright and honorable, with only one act of selfishness.

Knowing full well that his illness was incurable, he still chose to love Hua Ning, marry her, and in doing so, leave her a widow.

She deserved better—she could have even become the mother of the nation.

But she wanted only the Junior Minister.

The Junior Minister was well aware that Emperor Jian had also developed feelings for her. Their ten years of friendship weren’t for nothing, but seeing Hua Ning resolutely choose him, he felt guilt yet couldn’t help a shameful thrill of joy.

Like a mayfly that lives for just a day, he poured all his energy into spending a brief, beautiful time with the one he loved, then entrusted their love to continue through a new life.

As long as there were no regrets.

…

After the Junior Minister’s death, many officials who admired his character came to pay their respects. As Emperor Jian stroked the coffin that would bury his friend, he dazedly realized he had lost the only true brother he ever had in this life.

But, fortunately, a new life would carry on his legacy.

To protect Hua Ning’s reputation, Emperor Jian—who should have been a model of virtuous rule—made a grand spectacle of forcibly taking his minister’s widow as his own. He ordered the imperial physicians to conceal the true timing of the child in Hua Ning’s womb. Gazing at her gradually swelling belly, he thought to himself, this child is the offspring of his best brother and the woman he loved most.

He would surely treat the child as his own.

Emperor Jian might have had a fertile constitution—or rather, a potent one—as every intimate encounter seemed to result in conception.

His first encounter with the palace maid resulted in Xie Shoujun’s conception. Emperor Jian had little attachment to this child initially, thinking it sufficient to keep him by his side. He intended to name him “Shoujun” (Guardian of the Monarch), but the late emperor deemed it inappropriate, so Jian changed it to “Jun” (Equality).

He was determined to be a father who distributed his affection equally.

In court, he maintained perfect impartiality among ministers with conflicting agendas.

He refused to believe he couldn’t balance the scales of paternal love.

Until Xie Chengze was born, and Emperor Jian completely overturned that bowl of paternal love.

It simply couldn’t be balanced.

His little Chengze was utterly adorable!

With his mother’s looks and father’s temperament, how could there exist such a perfect, delightful son in this world? Smacking kisses

Concerned for Hua Ning’s health after pregnancy and childbirth, Emperor Jian dared not touch her for two full years. He wished to remain chaste for her, yet Hua Ning always urged him, “You should visit the Empress—at least give her a child.”

Only then would the Cao family cease troubling her.

The Emperor went, succeeded in one attempt, and the Empress conceived Xie Jinyu.

Jinyu—fine jade. Emperor Jian hoped this legitimate firstborn would possess the flawless virtue of jade and embody its gentle, benevolent warmth.

To prevent fraternal conflict, he early on designated Xie Jinyu as Crown Prince and applied the rigorous educational methods inherited from the late emperor onto him.

Though being caned was humiliating, it indeed accelerated growth.

When Heaven is about to place great responsibility upon a person, it first tests their resolve, exhausts their muscles and bones, starves their body… though the starvation part was unnecessary.

One may hardship a child but never starve them.

But Emperor Jian never anticipated the Empress would be a “madwoman.”

She proved even harsher than him, perhaps fearing the emperor’s fickleness might lead him to appoint Xie Chengze as heir someday. Her treatment of Xie Jinyu’s studies was so cruel it seemed inhuman for a mother.

Or perhaps she never saw Xie Jinyu as a son, but rather as a tool for fulfilling familial duties.

In Xie Jinyu, Emperor Jian saw his own reflection.

He wanted to intervene but hesitated, for Xie Jinyu truly lacked innate brilliance—far inferior to Xie Chengze, who was born under a lucky star and exchanged longevity for wisdom.

To become a wise ruler, Xie Jinyu fell considerably short.

The Emperor convinced himself: if he had endured such trials, so could Xie Jinyu.

Still, he dismissed Xie Chengze’s tutors, not wanting him to become too brilliant. Firstly, due to the Heavenly Decree predicting his short life; secondly, a prince without maternal family influence outperforming the Crown Prince boded ill.

He assumed this would maintain peace.

Until Xie Chengze discovered the wounds on Xie Jinyu’s body.

His image as a loving father shattered instantly in Chengze’s eyes. Hua Ning resented his concealment of the matter. Kind-hearted, she knew her existence stripped the Empress of dignity, and learning that she and Chengze indirectly caused the Empress’s cruelty toward the young Crown Prince, she sought to inhale musk to prevent bearing any imperial offspring.

Emperor Jian refused.

He longed to have a child with Hua Ning.

They endured a half-month cold war until the Emperor, unable to withstand Hua Ning’s resolve, yielded for love.

“I can’t bear to see her in pain,” Jian told himself. “What if she suffers difficult childbirth and leaves me? She’s the only one. I can’t gamble with her life.”

Watching Hua Ning endure daily dizziness and sore throat from musk inhalation, Emperor Jian felt a twinge of jealousy toward the Empress.

After being selected as the prospective Crown Princess, the Empress joined their small trio consisting of him, the Junior Minister of Ceremonies, and Hua Ning. At that time, Hua Ning greatly enjoyed spending time with the Empress, even teaching her many martial arts moves from the jianghu. The two were often inseparable—one playing the qin under a tree while the other cracked her whip in the courtyard. Hua Ning would often tease him, saying, “I truly envy you for having such an outstanding and capable wife like the Crown Princess.”

“You’ve done so much for her—you should at least tell her.” Emperor Jian felt distressed. He could sense the Empress’s wariness toward Hua Ning. Unable or unwilling to take action against Hua Ning and Xie Chengze, the Empress could only push Xie Jinyu to grow stronger.

He wanted the Empress to know that Hua Ning had chosen, for her sake, to never bear another child.

No one would compete with her son for the position of Crown Prince.

Hua Ning would not bear any imperial descendants.

Yet even twenty years later, during their long-awaited reunion in Kunning Palace, Emperor Jian never spoke those words.

All because she had instructed him not to.

“What she needs least is my pity. Nor do I want her to feel guilty every time she sees me, reminded of this matter.” Back then, Hua Ning shook her head in refusal, then smiled and tapped Emperor Jian’s forehead. “Who asked Your Majesty to be so formidable, always managing to make things happen?”

Emperor Jian remained silent. Emperor Jian persevered.

For the first time, he had a woman he truly loved.

It seemed he truly had a fertile constitution. Even after inhaling large amounts of musk, Hua Ning still conceived—though she couldn’t carry the pregnancy to term. After that, no matter how hard Emperor Jian tried, she never conceived again.

Hua Ning seemed to love him, yet also seemed not to. She could passionately engage in Fanyunfuyu with him, radiant with charm, yet calmly organize imperial selections for him without a hint of jealousy.

She selected Da Guiren, who was also from Liaozhou, and persuaded him to accept the immense wealth of the Jiang family from Yangzhou for the sake of Jian’an, taking Jiang Rou as Rou Fei.

Her temperament was so amiable that even though she enjoyed Emperor Jian’s deep favor, the other women in the harem couldn’t bring themselves to dislike her. She mingled freely with them, teaching Da Guiren her martial arts secrets, sneaking out of the palace with Rou Fei using qinggong to watch Beijing opera, secretly gifting Xi Fei with rare treasures Emperor Jian had procured, and then the two of them would “waste” precious Yun Duan Jin by playing with Northeastern-style handkerchief tossing.

Though it seemed as if the entire harem existed for her amusement, Emperor Jian was willing.

From beginning to end, he loved only Hua Ning. The other women were merely his responsibility—he owed them children to secure their positions in the harem. Fortunately, they held no particular affection for him either, treating their arrangement as a partnership with mutual respect.

He had thought this could continue forever.

Until one day, Hua Ning claimed that Xie Chengze was not her son.

She insisted that the soul residing in Xie Chengze’s body was not his, but a wandering spirit.

But Emperor Jian did not believe in supernatural tales.

There were no ghosts in this world, no wandering souls.

Though unclear why Xie Chengze appeared more cautious and somewhat duller-minded, after repeatedly examining his son’s body and verifying private matters only a father and son would know, Emperor Jian became convinced this was indeed his son. Instead, another thought took root in his mind.

Perhaps it was better this way—to be somewhat dull.

At least he would live a long life.

But Hua Ning’s condition steadily deteriorated.

She became obsessed with recovering her son’s true soul, yet most people in the palace didn’t believe in spirits. Since Xie Chengze showed no significant differences aside from diminished wit and spark, they all believed Hua Ning had lost her mind.

Hua Ning forbade him from being kind to Xie Chengze any longer, always glaring at him with fierce eyes as if he were a monster who had stolen her son’s skin. Emperor Jian felt utterly helpless, desperately seeking out a master in a last-ditch effort, yet it yielded no results.

Until Hua Ning passed away from illness.

“Bring Wuhen and Wuji back.” Those were her final words, “Let them stay in Jingcheng to guard Ze’er’s body.”

“Don’t let my Ze’er… lose his way home.”

Hua Ning breathed her last in his arms.

Emperor Jian had lost the woman he loved most in this life, the only woman he had ever loved.

But fortunately, Xie Chengze remained.

As long as he was there, it was as if Shaochang Qing and Hua Ning were still with him.

May my son live a long life.

May my brother and my wife live long lives.