Her guards

Chapter 31 The Treasures of the Previous Dynasty

Wei Jiao was sent to the capital at the age of thirteen.

After the new dynasty stabilized, the emperor wanted to reward General Wei Cui of Longxi, who had made great contributions to the stability of the country by controlling Guanzhong, and enfeoffed him as a king of a different surname. He invited him to come to the capital, but Wei Cui declined.

However, they sent their youngest son over.

He said that if the emperor really wanted to reward him, he would help take care of his son and let him study under Wang Zaitian.

Because the emperor was a wise ruler who brought peace to the country, many famous scholars who had previously lived in seclusion in the previous dynasty flocked to the capital to follow him, including Wang Zaitian, a Daoist scholar.

The reason for sending the youngest son to study with Wang Zaitian was not because the son was particularly studious, but because it was for the purpose of curing his illness.

The child suffered from heart and brain damage, resulting in disordered speech and behavior. Over the years, countless medical treatments and medications were sought, but no solution was found. Finally, a renowned doctor suggested that the youngest son learn the arts of Huang-Lao (a Taoist philosophy), which might help calm his mind.

Wei Cui explained to the emperor that the reason for the damage to the heart and brain was because the child had lived for several years in Zhao Tan's care.

Back then, Zhao Tan usurped the throne and killed two brothers from the Wei family. Wei Cui managed to escape, but his wife and children could not be saved and remained in the capital, where they were captured by Zhao Tan.

The child was only two years old when he fell into Zhao Tan's hands.

Although Wei Cui's wife submitted to Zhao Tan to protect her and her son's lives, Wei Cui's son would surely live like a pig or a dog in Zhao Tan's hands.

It literally means pig or dog.

This child lives in a pigsty and eats dog food.

Later, when the emperor captured the capital, Zhao Tan fled with the mother and son. It wasn't until Zhao Tan died that the mother and son finally returned to their home in Longxi.

Wei Jiao was already seven years old at that time.

Zhao Tan was brutal; even adults could not endure his torture, let alone children as young as a few years old.

After five years of torment, this child is no longer a normal person.

The emperor looked at Wei Jiao in front of him.

Wei Jiao is now nineteen years old. She is much taller than when she first came to the capital, but she is still thin, pale, and has a cold expression, like a beautiful jade sculpture.

If she were dressed as a woman, she would be stunningly beautiful.

The emperor still remembers standing in the hall when the thirteen-year-old boy amazed everyone and fell silent.

At the time, he didn't understand why Wei Cui said the child was sick; he just seemed quiet. But he soon found out.

Since Wei Cui said he wanted his youngest son to study, he had someone summon Wang Zaitian and others. Since the matter of studying was being discussed, the Prince of Donghai was also studying, so they were summoned together. In order to give Wei Cui face, he arranged for Wei Jiao to be the prince's study companion.

As a result, after exchanging only a few words with Wang Zaitian and the others, Wei Jiao stuffed incense ash into the mouth of the King of the East Sea from the side hall.

The emperor led his entourage over and saw the Prince of Donghai rolling on the ground vomiting. Then he saw Wei Jiao sitting obediently, holding an incense burner in his hands. When he saw them, his eyes gleamed.

"Do you want some?" he asked in a cool voice. "This meat porridge is delicious."

After saying that, he scooped up some incense ash and stuffed it into his mouth.

Perhaps because the scene was too horrifying, Wang Zaitian later accepted Wei Jiao as a student, but never accepted the formalities of a disciple.

Later, Wei Jiao also had several episodes of this illness, suddenly believing that he was a dog or a beast, biting the other person, or believing that the other person was a monster or ferocious beast and beating him up...

Despite being only thirteen years old and looking thin and frail, he possesses immense strength and is extremely agile, making it difficult for the guards to control him immediately.

For a time, no one dared to approach him. Wei Jiao was sent to the Imperial Hospital by the emperor and treated by the imperial physicians for a year before his condition improved somewhat.

After that, he rarely appeared in public. Apart from studying with Wang Zaitian, he would only come to pay his respects to the emperor during festivals.

Whether it was the imperial physician's treatment, growing a few years older, or the Taoist Huang-Lao philosophy that truly worked, when Wei Jiao came to pay his respects at the age of seventeen, he happened to witness the emperor's outburst over an official's case, berating the officials for being useless and evasive. Wei Jiao suddenly spoke up, saying he would give it a try.

"Officials are complicated by family backgrounds, teachers, and marriage ties, and are not of one mind with His Majesty in many matters, nor can they wholeheartedly consider His Majesty's interests. But I am different. I am myself, regardless of other people's backgrounds or relationships."

The emperor found it interesting and let him give it a try. Unexpectedly, the originally complicated case was quickly resolved. As a result, the emperor no longer let Wei Jiao remain idle and created a position specifically for him.

“Your Majesty need not provide official robes. Since this is an unprecedented office, I will use my own preferred robes,” Wei Jiao said, standing up and spreading his arms to show off the robes he was wearing.

He seemed to wear a robe with a red lining and a black outer layer all year round, day and night.

Black robes sounded unpleasant, and they didn't look good on others either, so the emperor ordered that patterns be embroidered on black robes, naming them "Embroidered Robes." Wei Jiao became the Commandant of the Embroidered Robes, overseeing the extravagance and overreach of officials and nobles, among other illegal activities.

Indeed, in the past two years, no imperial physicians have reported that Wei Jiao has fallen ill again. However, many officials and nobles have come to accuse, cry, and curse Wei Jiao for his arrogant behavior, torture, and treachery.

Many people seem to have been driven crazy by Wei Jiao.

The emperor looked at the young man before him. His cold face was smiling, making him look even more handsome, yet also revealing an eeriness.

He thought that Wei Jiao was not cured, but rather that he had found a suitable place to relapse.

The emperor smiled slightly and changed the subject: "Has another treasure from the previous dynasty been discovered in Zhao County?"

Wei Jiao curled his lip: "I think it's just that those thieves started fighting amongst themselves and used this as an excuse. The old dynasty's dilapidated royal family was ruined by Zhao Tan long ago, so where would they find any treasure?"

The emperor said, "I think this treasure may not refer to gold and silver jewelry, but rather, people."

Wei Jiao looked at the emperor.

The emperor said, "Although Emperor Ai was killed by Zhao Tan, he had a prince."

When Zhao Tan ascended the throne, his pretext was to temporarily rule the country on behalf of the Great Zhou emperor, and then return power to the princes when they grew up.

After Zhao Tan became emperor, the child never appeared again. Some say that Zhao Tan killed him because he would never return the throne to Zhao Tan.

"After entering the capital, we searched the entire city but couldn't find the child. However," the emperor continued, looking at Wei Jiao, "there are rumors that the prince didn't die and was rescued by loyal ministers and generals."

Wei Jiao chuckled, finding it increasingly amusing, and finally burst into laughter: "Where did that dilapidated Great Zhou find loyal ministers and generals?"

The emperor gave him a reproachful look: "What's so funny? Don't forget, I was a loyal minister and general of the Great Zhou back then, which is why I had to execute the traitor Zhao Tan. Your father was the same; he was acting in accordance with the will of Heaven and the people, and he helped the Zhou rise to power. This was the proclamation issued by your father."

Wei Jiao scoffed: "That dilapidated Great Zhou Dynasty perished after Zhao Tan emerged, so how could it be loyal and supportive?"

So the Great Zhou Dynasty perished because of Zhao Tan, and had nothing to do with loyal ministers and generals. The emperor laughed heartily. Who said Wei Jiao was a madman? This child is very clever. He can act crazy, but he's also very good at coaxing people. Putting everything else aside, just look at how his princesses and daughters acted like madmen when they saw Wei Jiao...

"Alright, no need for such talk. I took the throne with a clear conscience and don't need to use any respectable pretexts," the emperor said calmly. "But at that time, there were indeed many people who used the name of assisting Zhou to establish their own independent regimes and intend to divide the country. The biggest figurehead among them was this young prince of Emperor Ai. However, my power was already established and the people's hearts were with me, so these people quickly disappeared."

The emperor, with a touch of arrogance, smiled again at this point.

"Now more than ten years have passed, and that child has grown up."

The emperor's face darkened.

"Some people's minds began to stir again."

Wei Jiao stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will investigate thoroughly and crush these disloyal and wicked officials who were not loyal to the Great Zhou during its time, but now that the new dynasty is peaceful and the world is at peace, they still harbor ulterior motives towards the Great Zhou one by one," he said.

The emperor looked at him, smiled, and nodded: "Go."

……

……

The princesses were all confined to their studies in the study, and Wei Jiao's steps became much more languid when she left the palace.

The treasures of the previous dynasty.

It's a person.

Wei Jiao turned to look at the imperial city.

Everyone says that children have no memory, that they can't remember how much effort their parents put into raising them, or the carefree joy of simply eating, drinking, and defecating. But strangely enough, they do have memories.

From the moment I was abandoned by my father and taken by my mother to depend on others, every single moment and every single day I experienced is clearly etched in my mind.

He had actually met that young prince.

I was too busy yesterday and forgot to say my thoughts on the book's release. This time, I wanted to try using simpler language to tell a simpler story. Thank you all for reading my book. It would be my honor if you enjoyed it. If not, we'll meet again in the next book. Please remember that reading is for enjoyment, not just for the sake of reading. Thank you all.

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(End of this chapter)