CH 58: Going over the Wall

Within the Imperial Palace, there were walls surrounded by even more walls, towering like sheer cliffs. Climbing these walls was difficult and descending even more so. The walls of the inner sanctums of the palace were somewhat shorter, yet still measured over six meters in height. As Han Ruzi lifted his head to gaze upward, he realized that one only regrets his lack of knowledge when it is needed, and one only feels the wall is high when trying to scale it. Moreover, the wall was smooth and slippery, without any pits or hollows to leverage.

Zhang Youcai led the way, not finding any blade-wielding rebels. When they reached the wall, he too was out of options. “This wall is much taller than the one at Cining Palace. Brother Cai, if we form a human ladder with the six of us, could we help His Majesty escape?”

Including the Emperor, they had six people, and the height seemed sufficient. However, Cai Xinghai dared not form a human ladder. “That would be too dangerous, and once His Majesty is on top of the wall, there would be no way to descend.”

Cai Xinghai looked up and examined the situation for a moment before addressing the Emperor, “Your Majesty, is there a place for you to go to?”

“Of course, as long as I can leave the palace, any destination will suffice.”

“Not far from here lies the Chamber of Ceremonial Attire that houses the Founding Emperor’s robes. There, we can find tools for climbing walls.”

The chamber, also known as the quiet chamber, was a place Han Ruzi had spent several days fasting when he first entered the palace. Naturally, he remembered it well, even down to the number of holes in the Founding Emperor’s robes. “Are there tools for climbing walls there?”

“I have seen a ladder in the side chamber there. I am just unsure whether it is still usable.”

“Let’s go take a look.” Han Ruzi spoke, but he did not know which direction to head in. He had always taken the main paths in the Imperial Palace, and there was always a large group of people accompanying him. Now that he was in an unfamiliar area, he could no longer find his way around.

“Understood.” Cai Xinghai bowed with clasped fists and took the lead.

Han Ruzi and the others followed quickly, asking, “Cai Xinghai, were you a soldier in the army previously?”

Cai Xinghai turned his head and smiled, “Your Majesty has a keen eye. I used to guard the border beyond the border forts. I entered the palace five years ago.”

Han Ruzi hadn’t met many soldiers before, but the military air surrounding Cai Xinghai was so strong that even without much experience, one could easily tell.

Zhang Youcai’s excitement had not subsided. He said, “We secretly call him ‘General Cai.'”

Cai Xinghai blushed, “I am no ‘General.’ I am merely a low-level military officer.”

“But you still commanded several hundred people, Brother Cai. And you fought against the Xiongnu…” Zhang Youcai suddenly fell silent for some reason.

If Han Ruzi were a little more mature, he would not have pressed the matter further. However, he was only thirteen years old, and his mind wasn’t entirely focused on the situation at hand. He casually asked, “Wasn’t it great to have a successful career on the frontier? Why did you choose to enter the palace?”[1]

Cai Xinghai chuckled, “To be honest, Your Majesty, I was too eager to achieve success and make a name for myself. So, when reporting the number of enemy heads I had taken, I overreported by… two or three hundred. According to the law, I should have been executed. Fortunately, the Imperial Court granted a general amnesty to the entire Empire at the time, so I was allowed to atone for my crime through a lesser punishment. I didn’t want to die, so I entered the palace.”

Zhang Youcai said, “Hah, you told me that you had overreported by a few dozen heads, but you finally told the truth to His Majesty—it was actually several hundred!”

“I can’t bear the crime of deceiving the Emperor. Here we are, the chamber containing the Founding Emperor’s robes is just ahead,” Cai Xinghai pointed to a small courtyard in front of them.

Han Ruzi felt a sudden realization, faintly understanding why Cai Xinghai dared to save him. He was a soldier accustomed to taking risks, and after successfully saving the Emperor, he must have his own requests. Thinking about this, Han Ruzi felt relieved. Deeply influenced by Yang Feng, he had always been skeptical about help that came without any apparent reason. Having found a reason, he now trusted the chubby eunuch even more.

The Chamber of Ceremonial Attire was located in a small courtyard, and the courtyard door was closed tightly.

Cai Xinghai spoke softly, “Your Majesty, let me knock on the door first. You can reveal yourself later.”

“Alright.” Han Ruzi and Zhang Youcai stood by the wall, while the other three eunuchs stood on the other side of the courtyard door.

Cai Xinghai raised his fist and knocked on the door, “Old Huang, open the door, Old Huang, open the door quickly!”

After a while, a low voice came from inside, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Cai Xinghai. Can’t you recognize my voice?”

“What are you here for?”

“When I came to sweep the floor a few days ago, I seemed to have left a broom here. The cleaning department can’t account for it. I’m here to look for it, so hurry up and open the door.”

“I don’t have your broom here. What on earth is happening outside? Why do you dare to run about the palace?”

In the area where the consorts resided, there were many courtyards. They usually kept their gates closed and were even more cautious during times of unrest. People from the outside could not get in, and those inside had no way of knowing the progress of events.

“What could be happening? Just the usual arresting of people. Open the door and let me in to take a look.”

“If nothing is happening, why hasn’t anyone come to deliver food?”

The sun had already inclined to the west, and the eunuch, who had been hungry all day, knew very well that something significant must be happening outside.

“What does delivering food have to do with me? I am just a sweeper. Why do you not believe me?”

There was silence inside for a moment. “You should leave. Today is not a day for cleaning, and I cannot let you in.”

Cai Xinghai was a skilled warrior after all. When his words didn’t work, he grew anxious, especially with the Emperor nearby. He raised his fist, ready to break down the door, but Han Ruzi gestured for him to stop and whispered, “Let him take a look outside.”

“Who? Who else is outside?” The eunuch inside the door heard them.

“If you won’t open the door, fine. Old Huang, take a look outside.”

The door creaked slightly, and the person inside peered out through the crack, “Old Cai, don’t cause trouble. This is the Imperial Palace, even a small mistake could cost… Oh my heavens!”

Han Ruzi stepped forward, speaking softly, “Open the door for Us. We recognize you, and you should recognize Us.”

Han Ruzi had seen too many eunuchs in the palace and didn’t remember who Old Huang was. However, he believed that Old Huang would surely remember the Emperor.

The door bolts moved, and the two doors opened. An old eunuch knelt on the ground, trembling, “I didn’t know Your Majesty was coming…”

“Make haste.” Han Ruzi led the way into the courtyard, followed by Cai Xinghai and the others. Old Huang was dumbstruck, not daring to stop them.

The courtyard was small, with the main room being the Chamber of Ceremonial Attire in the middle. The side chambers on both sides contained some relics and artifacts left from the time of the Founding Emperor when the palace was first built. Later generations treasured and preserved these items.

Han Ruzi said to Cai Xinghai, “You go find the ladder. We will pay respects to the Founding Emperor’s robes and crown.”

Upon hearing this, Cai Xinghai and the others grew solemn, and they walked softly and cautiously.

Arriving at the Chamber of Ceremonial Attire, Han Ruzi confidently headed straight there, pushing open the slightly ajar door, and stepped inside. With a glance, he saw two eunuchs kneeling on the ground. He paid no attention to them, walked to the wardrobe, knelt on the cushion, and whispered, “Founding Emperor, you went through countless battles in your lifetime. Today, your unworthy descendant Han Ruzi has no choice but to borrow one of your belongings. I believe your spirit in heaven will not object.”

Han Ruzi kowtowed, then stood up and carefully took the Founding Emperor’s treasured sword from the wardrobe. He had developed a strong interest in it the first time he came here for the vegetarian fast but did not dare to touch it then. Now, there was nothing to fear.

The Emperor was not afraid, but the eunuchs were.

The two eunuchs, who were kneeling on the ground, stared blankly at the Emperor at first. Suddenly, they both stood up, rushed to the Emperor’s feet, and cried, “Your Majesty, you must not touch the sword! Absolutely not!”

Han Ruzi ignored the two and slowly unsheathed the sword. After more than 120 years, the blade still shone with a cold light, as white and bright as snow.

“It is indeed a precious sword.” Han Ruzi praised, giving it a light swing and growing increasingly fond of it. “A sword like this should be used frequently; keeping it hidden away is a waste.”

As he took a step forward, he realized that his legs were tightly embraced by the eunuchs.

“We order you to let go.”

“Your Majesty, the Founding Emperor’s items must not be touched, and cannot be taken out of the chamber. This is a rule passed down by our ancestors, Your Majesty…”

Han Ruzi raised the sword, “The Founding Emperor wielded this sword to conquer the realm, and this sword has tasted the blood of countless people. It has not been used for many years, and using you to consecrate it would be fitting.”

The two eunuchs hesitated, released the Emperor’s legs, and retreated on their knees without daring to raise their heads.

Han Ruzi carried the sword out of the door. Cai Xinghai and the others also emerged from the side rooms, carrying a ladder. They saw the sword in the Emperor’s hand and exclaimed in unison, “What a fine sword!”

Han Ruzi could not help but laugh, his confidence boosted. He sheathed the sword and said, “Let’s go.”

The old eunuch guarding the door was still kneeling at the entrance, watching the emperor carrying the sword. He did not dare to stop him and just kept kowtowing.

It was getting darker, and Han Ruzi did not know how the situation at the Hall of Diligent Administration was developing. He quickened his pace, with Cai Xinghai and the others following closely behind.

The ladder was set up against the top of the wall, at just the right height. Cai Xinghai said, “The Founding Emperor is truly a great warrior, always thinking about battles. This ladder was prepared for this palace wall.”

Han Ruzi had another thought; it seemed that the Founding Emperor felt that the palace was not entirely safe, so he had prepared siege equipment. More than a hundred years later, his seventh-generation descendant would use the equipment.

Cai Xinghai climbed up the wall first to test the sturdiness of the ladder, finding no issues. He said, “Your Majesty, please come up. Zhang Youcai, protect His Majesty well.”

“Don’t worry,” Zhang Youcai followed behind the Emperor, always ready to lend a hand.

Cai Xinghai knelt on the roof tiles, also extending his hand to catch the Emperor.

The pursuers arrived just at that moment, and one of them shouted, “Found him! The Emperor is trying to escape!”

Han Ruzi was startled and turned his head to see more than a dozen blade-wielders dressed as eunuchs running down the alley. The two leading men were extremely fast and would soon catch up.

Han Ruzi took a few quick steps, extending his free hand to grasp Cai Xinghai’s hand, and with his help, leaped onto the top of the wall in one step. The wall was covered with a layer of tiles, making it quite unstable to stand on.

Zhang Youcai, being agile, quickly climbed up as well. Han Ruzi shouted to the three men below, “Come up quickly!”

The three men exchanged glances, and one of them looked up and said, “Your Majesty, please go ahead, we’ll hold them off for a while.”

The three men brandished their long bamboo poles, preparing to face off against the dozen or so blade-wielders.

Just as Han Ruzi was about to urge them again, Cai Xinghai and Zhang Youcai had already pulled up the ladder and casually thrown it over the wall.

The two foremost blade-wielders arrived, and while blocking the bamboo poles with their blades, they threw side-arms at those on the wall.

Cai Xinghai held onto the Emperor and leaped, jumping off the wall. Zhang Youcai fikkiwed without a second thought.

Cai Xinghai fell to the ground, feeling a sharp pain in his right ankle. But he could not check on it as he still held the Emperor. He turned his head to look at the wall. Although he was a soldier, he had some understanding of the pugilist world. If it had been a large-scale battlefield, he would not be afraid of the blade-wielders. But in such close skirmishes, he did not have much chance of winning.

If just one of the blade-wielders inside the wall had trained in light-step martial arts and could jump or climb over the high wall, Cai Xinghai would have no choice but to fight to the death.

Screams were heard from behind the wall.

[1] The only way a male could serve in the palace was as a eunuch, which was clearly not seen as a top career choice.