Overnight, the Prince Regent and the Second Prince were executed for conspiring in a coup. The Third Prince was trampled to death by a horse. The Emperor suffered a stroke and hadn’t appointed a crown prince. The court was left leaderless and in chaos.
The First Prince had died young, the Second Prince was killed for treason, and the Third Prince was dead, leaving only two very young princes still in diapers. The only suitable candidate left was the Fourth Prince, who was eleven years old.
But… he was only eleven!
How could a child like that be expected to act as regent? He couldn’t even make his own decisions!
Everyone was especially wary because Sima Heng had ascended the throne at ten—and look what that led to: a Prince Regent with enough power to plot treason. No one wanted history to repeat itself.
With no emperor to preside over the court, a group of ministers gathered together to discuss what to do.
After much debate, they eventually made their way to the residence of Prince Duan to seek his advice.
Prince Duan was advanced in age, held higher seniority than anyone present, and as a member of the royal family with a distinguished military career, he was the natural choice for a decision of this magnitude.
Seated at the head of the hall, Prince Duan said calmly, “Why are you bothering me with such a simple matter?”
The Minister of Rites gave a bitter smile. “It’s just… the Fourth Prince is only eleven. Even if we name him Crown Prince, he can’t truly govern. Unless… perhaps Your Highness would consider…”
Prince Duan waved him off. “I’m too old. I’m not returning to court. Let the State Preceptor do it.”
“The State Preceptor?” the ministers echoed in surprise.
They had instinctively ruled her out. Despite her high status, she was a woman—not the emperor’s mother, merely his sister—which made her an unusual and, to some, inappropriate choice.
Prince Duan glared. “Who else, then? You want me to drag these old bones into court? I’m not going. My son is busy reorganizing the army—he doesn’t know the first thing about politics. But the State Preceptor is different. She can divine the heavens and read the stars. Even if she doesn’t know everything, she’ll never lead you astray!”
The ministers: “???”
That… was certainly a novel reason.
But it was also persuasive.
They had witnessed Qingli’s capabilities many times over and never once doubted her. And since she was a woman, even if she held power for now, it was assumed she would return it to her younger brother in time. So… maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all?
“Thank you, Your Highness, for your wisdom. This is an excellent solution,” said the first minister after a brief pause.
The other ministers, especially those who had been summoned by Sima Chang that fateful night to serve as witnesses, all nodded vigorously in agreement. “The State Preceptor is both wise and skilled in martial matters. If not for her foresight and preparation, the palace would’ve already fallen into traitorous hands. With her guiding the Crown Prince, our Jin Dynasty will surely prosper!”
Another official chimed in, “The Minister of Rites is right!”
Prince Duan stroked his beard with a bored expression, lips twisting in mild disappointment. No one was even opposing the idea. How dull.
He waved a hand. “Then what are you still doing here?”
The ministers finally snapped to attention, rising in unison to take their leave. “We’ll go ask the State Preceptor to take up the post at once!”
“Thank you again for your guidance, Your Highness!”
The group of ministers surged toward the State Preceptor’s residence. They didn’t even go inside. Instead, they lined up neatly at the entrance and shouted in unison:
“We respectfully request that the State Preceptor assist the Fourth Prince in governing as Crown Prince!”
“We respectfully request that the State Preceptor assist the Fourth Prince in governing as Crown Prince!”
Their thunderous voices startled a middle-aged man who had just been sitting nervously in front of Qingli, waiting for an answer. He flinched and asked anxiously, “State Preceptor, is my son still alive?”
“He is,” Qingli quickly replied, seeing how panicked he was.
He had come to ask about his son, who had gone off on a trading journey a year ago and hadn’t returned. In these ancient times, long-distance merchants were often gone for months. A journey that lasted only ten days or two weeks was already considered short.
His son had gone on an especially long journey, traveling to a neighboring country to sell Jin Dynasty goods at a profit. This trip had lasted over a year—longer than any of his past excursions and naturally, the family grew anxious.
His wife had recently dreamed that something terrible had happened to their son, and had been worried sick ever since. That’s why he came to Qingli for help.
Upon hearing the good news, the man breathed a huge sigh of relief, bowed repeatedly in gratitude, left a basket of home-raised eggs behind, and hurried off—afraid he might be intruding on important affairs.
The moment he left, Sima Yan poked his head in from the door and stared at Qingli eagerly. “Sister… why do the ministers suddenly want me to be Crown Prince?”
Qingli motioned for Baizhu and the steward to bring the ministers in, then beckoned Sima Yan over.
Once the young boy reached her side, she gently pulled him down to sit next to her and said in a calm voice, “A lot happened last night…”
Qingli explained everything that had taken place, then described the current situation. “Our father has had a stroke and is in a coma. Even if he wakes up, he may not be lucid. Of his sons, the first three are all gone. You are now the eldest remaining prince. That’s why they want to name you Crown Prince so that you may eventually inherit the throne. Until you come of age, I—both as the State Preceptor and the Grand Princess—will assist you. Can you accept that?”
Over the past year, Qingli had been far stricter with Sima Yan than she ever was during their time in the Cold Palace, preparing him for exactly this moment.
Sima Yan, naturally intelligent, had begun to shine once he was removed from the shadows. Though once unnoticed, he now stood out even among the other royal scions at the Imperial Academy. He had quietly held his own for months, never once giving Qingli cause for worry.
Her guidance had helped him mature quickly.
Now, hearing her words, Sima Yan immediately understood—his sister had cleared the path for him completely.
While he was still immersed in his studies, everything the Second and Third Princes had once dreamed of was now laid before him. And his sister was asking him: Do you want it?
Sima Yan gave a quiet smile and answered firmly, “Yes.”
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152