When Han Ze married the first time, Emperor Mingzheng was away on campaigns and could not be present. He had always harbored guilt over this, feeling that because they, the parents, had not overseen the marriage, it led to his son’s unfortunate marital life. For his son’s remarriage, he wanted to hold a grand wedding to compensate him. However, out of consideration for the feelings of his grandson and granddaughter, he eventually decided to keep things strictly according to protocol. Even so, the rituals for a Prince marrying a Principal Consort were extremely tedious. By the end of the day, both leads were exhausted. Fortunately, the Empress issued a decree allowing them to skip the immediate palace audience.
On the second day, Xiaoxing and Xiaozhu rose early and went to the main courtyard. Han Ze and Qian Xiangxiang had already finished washing and dressing. Seeing the children, Qian Xiangxiang felt a bit reserved, but the siblings acted normally. According to etiquette, they kowtowed and offered tea to the new Princess Consort. After receiving greeting gifts from her, the family of four sat down for breakfast.
After the meal, the four of them packed up and headed to the palace. Emperor Mingzheng and the Empress were already waiting. Recalling her mother’s pre-wedding advice, Qian Xiangxiang followed cautiously behind Han Ze, not daring to speak much, and knelt beside him to pay respects.
The Empress watched and gave a small smile. “Rise quickly!”
Emperor Mingzheng also nodded with satisfaction, though his tone was unusually stern as he looked at Han Ze: “Now that you are married, stay home and study properly. Don’t think about being lazy or acting out of line like before.”
Did the boy really think his father didn’t know he was making the grandchildren do his calligraphy homework?
Han Ze frowned and said unhappily, “Dad, you said I could rest for a month!”
The Emperor was stifled. The Empress laughed, “Aze just got married; let him rest for a few days. After all, the Crown Prince is here.” They didn’t expect this child to do anything major. With them and the Crown Prince around, there was no need for him to work too hard.
The Emperor shot the Empress a helpless look and said, “As you wish.”
Han Ze said happily, “Mom is still the best.”
Emperor Mingzheng: “…”
Han Ze suddenly looked at the Emperor. “Dad, I got married yesterday, yet you haven’t given the new bride a greeting gift?”
The Emperor said crossly, “If your Mom is so good, let her give the gift.”
Han Ze looked thoroughly displeased. “Is Dad really not giving one? Mom really is better.”
As the Emperor prepared to retort, the Empress said reproachfully, “Your Majesty, Aze just married; stop teasing him.” She then looked at Qian Xiangxiang. “His Majesty and I have prepared items for you. When you leave later, have them brought with you so you can look through them at home.”
Qian Xiangxiang’s eyes lit up. Then, remembering her mother’s warning not to be impudent before the Sovereigns, she knelt respectfully to give thanks.
…
As the couple sat in the carriage heading home, Qian Xiangxiang smiled and said, “The Emperor and Empress are so good to me—even better than my own parents.”
In the months leading up to the wedding, her parents had restricted her every move, forbidding this and that, and even hired nannies to drill her in etiquette. Yet the Empress hadn’t forced her to follow strict rules. Unlike other mothers-in-law, the Empress always looked at her with a beaming smile, making her feel close.
Han Ze glanced at her but didn’t want to dampen her spirits. The reason the Empress didn’t force rules on her was because she knew her own son wasn’t a rule-follower. The Emperor and Empress truly doted on the Original Body and had no great expectations for him other than a comfortable life. Naturally, they had few requirements for his wife; as long as she treated him with a single heart, they wouldn’t trouble her.
After the wedding, Han Ze lived a very leisurely life. Emperor Mingzheng was busy with border conflicts and had no time to manage him, making him even more free. One day, however, he suddenly heard that the Crown Prince was going to war.
Han Ze froze and rushed to the palace immediately.
From the Original Body’s blurry memories, he deduced that one reason the Original Body’s life ended so tragically was because the Crown Prince died in battle. The Empress had been so devastated she became bedridden, and the Emperor was so consumed by grief and state affairs that he had no time for his “foolish” son. Without his supporters, the Original Body was left to be bullied at will.
Han Ze sprinted all the way to the Hall of Clear Hearts. He told the eunuch at the door, “I must see Dad! Go report it!”
Inside the hall, the Emperor was discussing the war with the Crown Prince and ministers. Hearing Prince Chun was there, he frowned. “I am busy; I won’t see him.” He paused and added, “Ask him what it’s about. If it’s something minor, have him find the Empress.”
Seeing that the Emperor wouldn’t see him, Han Ze began shouting outside: “Dad! I want to go to the border to fight! I want to go to the border to fight too…!”
The Emperor barked, “Nonsense!” He looked at Hu Deyang. “Let the brat crawl in here.”
Crown Prince Han Wei frowned. This Aze…
Han Ze entered the hall and knelt. “Dad, I want to go to the border to fight! I want to go too!”
The Emperor said in a deep voice, “Nonsense! Is war something you can just talk about casually?”
Han Ze said stubbornly, “I’m not being nonsensical! I want to go to the border! Big Brother is going; why can’t I? I want to help share Dad’s worries.”
The Emperor’s gaze turned sharp. “Who told you the Crown Prince is going to the border?”
“I heard the servants in the mansion talking about it. Dad, war is too dangerous. I want to go and protect Big Brother.”
Crown Prince Han Wei: “…” I don’t need your protection. He thought to himself: If you actually went to the border, I don’t know who would be protecting whom.
The Emperor said with a headache, “Go back and study. Stop being ridiculous.”
Han Ze said unhappily, “Dad, I told you I’m not being ridiculous. Big Brother, I really want to go to the border. Just let me go!”
The Emperor said seriously, “I said no, and I mean no.” He couldn’t allow Han Ze to act out; war was no child’s play.
“Dad? Please let me go!” Han Ze pleaded unwillingly.
“No means no.” The Emperor looked at the Crown Prince. “Prince, take Aze out of here.”
The Crown Prince bowed and grabbed Han Ze, who was kneeling on the floor. As Han Ze struggled to stay down, the Crown Prince glared at him. “Do you still want your gold?”
Han Ze’s struggling weakened. The Crown Prince added, “If you want gold, come out with me.”
Han Ze pouted. Knowing he wouldn’t get his way, he stood up reluctantly and followed the Crown Prince out of the hall.
…
The Crown Prince sighed and looked at him. “How did you suddenly think of following me to the border? Did someone say something to you?” Could it be Prince Yong stirring up trouble again?
Han Ze muttered, “War is dangerous. I want to go protect you so you don’t get shot to death. Don’t be ungrateful for my good intentions.”
Crown Prince: “…” So I should be thanking him?
Han Ze looked at him and said, “I’ve had dreams for days in a row—dreams that you were shot to death by an arrow. Then today I heard you were going to war.”
The Crown Prince’s lip twitched. Just how much does this silly brother worry about my death?
Han Ze continued, “That’s why I have to go to the border to protect you. You have to believe me; my dreams are very accurate.”
The Crown Prince took a deep breath. “If I really were to be shot to death, what do you think you could do even if you were there?”
Han Ze said immediately, “I could go and protect you!”
The Crown Prince arched an eyebrow. “Can you shoot an arrow?” Han Ze shook his head. “Do you know martial arts?” He shook his head again. “Do you know how to fight a war? Or how to arrange troops?” Han Ze shook his head once more.
The Crown Prince snorted. “You know nothing. So what exactly could you do if you went?”
Han Ze froze. The Crown Prince looked at him and said seriously, “I’ll tell you what you could do!”
Han Ze asked blankly, “What?”
The Crown Prince looked at him. “Die.”
Han Ze: “…”
After a long pause, Han Ze reacted and glared at the Crown Prince. “I wouldn’t die!”
“What do you mean you wouldn’t? If you aren’t going there to die, what are you doing?”
Han Ze snorted. “You look down on me.”
The Crown Prince stopped bickering and said slowly, “I don’t look down on you. I’ve followed Dad to war since I was small; I’ve been through countless battles. How could I be killed so easily? Besides, Mom only has the two of us. If we both go to the battlefield, imagine how she would worry. And forget Mom for a moment—what about Xiaoxing and Xiaozhu? Have you thought about them?”
Han Ze said unwillingly, “I really can’t go to the battlefield?”
The Crown Prince looked at him. “It’s impossible. Dad will never allow it.”
Han Ze pouted and reached into his robe, pulling out a small bottle and handing it to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince took it and asked, “What is this?”
Han Ze blinked and gave it a name: “The Nine-Cycle Great Restoration Pill.”
“The Nine-Cycle Great Restoration Pill?” The Crown Prince twitched his lip as he held the bottle. “Where did you get this?”
“An old beggar gave it to me,” Han Ze said randomly. “They say as long as there’s a single breath left, it can bring a person back.”
“You actually believe the words of an old beggar?”
Han Ze said impatiently, “The old beggar said it works, so it works! If I give it to you, just take it. When you’re about to die, eat one, and you won’t die. That way Mom won’t have to worry if you’re dead.”
Eat one when I’m about to die? The Crown Prince looked at his brother with a headache. He gritted his teeth; this is my biological brother, my own flesh and blood, I cannot hit him. After a moment, he asked, “…How many pills are even in this bottle?”
“Five,” Han Ze said grandly.
The Crown Prince lowered his hand, even less inclined to believe it was a “Great Restoration Pill.” Could such a precious medicine be given away five at a time?
Han Ze said, “Don’t you dare throw that medicine away. The old beggar gave it to me, and I was reluctant to use it. I only gave it to you because you’re going to war.”
The Crown Prince was helpless. “Why did the old beggar give you medicine?”
Han Ze said, “Back when there was no food, I gave him half a steamed bun. He was so moved he gave it to me.”
The Crown Prince nodded dismissively. “Fine, I understand.” He was certain his silly brother had been cheated.
Han Ze issued a serious threat: “Big Brother, you must carry this medicine with you! It can save your life. If I find out you didn’t keep it on you, I’ll go to the border to find you myself.”
The Crown Prince patted his shoulder. “Fine, fine. I’ll take it, I’ll take it, okay?”
“Then it’s fine.”
As they parted, Han Ze turned back once more to remind him: “Make sure you carry the medicine!”
This was life-saving medicine he had bought from the system. He had bought five at once; with those five pills, the Crown Prince surely wouldn’t die so easily.
The Crown Prince laughed and said lazily, “I know.”
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152