Character Index

Shu Yunsong: Second Uncle of Yunqi. Former officer in the military.

Shu Yunzhi: Eldest maternal uncle of Yunqi. Former officer in the military.

Shu Zhengyan: Shu Yunsong's eldest son, a headstrong young man who was sent back to Youzhou from the capital after he made a failed gambit and nearly dragged Yunqi into deep trouble.

Li Que: A Senior Investigator of the Imperial Investigation Bureau.

Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince.

Wise Consort: Mother of Zhou Yunqi.

General Yan: Commander of the Wu reinforcements to their ally, Chuluo Khagan.

Lord Qu: Oversight Censor sent by Kayla to monitor General Yan.

Liang Hongfei/Hu Qing: Lord of the Liang clan, Oversight Officer sent by Kayla to monitor General Yan.

Alizhi: Grandson of Commander Tumidu of the Uyghur tribe.

Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince, deceased.

Archduke Qi: Half-brother of the Emperor.

Cao Shuyi: Wife of the Third Prince.

Zhou Chenqian: Son of the Third Prince.

Wei Guang: Imperial Edict Bearer and Minister of Censure.

Captain Jiang: A Captain of the Imperial Guard.

Archduke Wei: Brother of Archduke Qi.

Princess Chengxia: Daughter of Archduke Wei, married into the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

Sir Yang: A senior eunuch who serves the Emperor.

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Kayla walked into the room where Shu Yunsong and Shu Yunzhi were being held, the Investigators at her side visibly more tense than they were before.

Those two are both skilled veterans after all, Kayla noted. She had once helped to save Shu Yunsong’s neck, and before that, she had covered up for his son Shu Zhengyan. Had she made the right choice back then? Kayla couldn’t say for sure.

Both Shu Yunsong and Shu Yunzhi were on the ground, bound in numerous restraints with frazzled Investigators standing over them. The man standing next to Li Que seemed to be sporting a few bruises, by how he was holding himself.

“You, go and get treated,” Kayla said. “The same goes for anyone else injured.”

Only the man next to Li Que moved, the others stoically remaining in place regardless of their injuries.

Whatever then. They have thinner faces than a sheet of paper.

“Fuck you, bastard! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Shu Yunsong snarled, glaring at Kayla ferociously. She had no doubt he would tear her throat out with his bare teeth if he could manage to get close enough.

Up close, it was evident that the men before her were related to the Fifth Prince. It wasn’t so much their looks, which were lacking compared to the Wise Consort that Yunqi took his genes from, but a strong resemblance that seemed to carry over without a single feature that overlapped.

“Greetings, Sir Shu. To answer your question, you, your father, and your elder brother are to be sentenced to death for the murder of the First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince. I am here to carry out your sentence. Out of consideration for His Highness the Fifth Prince, the rest of your clan will be spared. Worry not, my lords, for His Majesty has been merciful.”

Shu Yunzhi gave her a flabbergasted look that quickly shifted into horror.

“What?! What murders?! No, I’ve never–”

He cut off at his brother’s audible scoff. Shu Yunzhi glanced at Shu Yunsong, his brows knitting into a disbelieving frown.

“Yunsong?”

“Is this something to be relieved about?” Shu Yunsong said through gritted teeth.

“What? Yunsong, what did you do?!” Shu Yunzhi cried.

“I acted alone, and I’ll bear responsibility alone. It’s a pity that I ended up drawing my father and brother into this mess, but what I did, I did for the Shu clan!” Shu Yunsong bared his teeth in a parody of a smile. “Judging by your words, my gamble succeeded after all!”

Shu Yunzhi’s jaw fell open. “You–no, you couldn’t have–You fool!”

“Better than being a coward like you!”

Kayla cut in before the two could start duking it out, restraints and all.

“That’s enough. Your father has taken his own life honorably. Will the two of you follow his lead, or must we take action for you?”

Shu Yunzhi winced.

Poor man. The former officer seemed genuinely ignorant of his brother’s actions, just as General Shu had been.

Concealing her sympathy, Kayla turned to Shu Yunsong.

“Sir, you have no one to blame for this but yourself. You can apologize to your father and brother in the afterlife.”

“Fuck you! Don’t look down on me, you yellow-haired brat! You have no right to do so! What the hell have you done for your nation in all your years of life?! I’ve been fighting for this country longer than you’ve been alive!” Shu Yunsong snarled.

Kayla was almost glad for the vitriol. If he had been any less ferocious, she would’ve felt sorry for him.

“Even so, you’ve committed treason,” she said.

Shu Yunsong gave a mocking laugh. “Ha! Unbelievable, it’s just what I would expect from a capital bastard! If we risk our lives to gain achievements, then we should be fucking rewarded for it. That’s righteous by both heaven and earth! Only those up on the top will say that we should do this simply for loyalty–we’re the ones out here breaking our backs!”

He ranted on, growing more worked up as he went.

“We’ve been worked like livestock out here. A man’s life is worth less than that of a warhorse! I’ve given my all for this country, and was only humiliated for it. Should I just lay back and accept that?! Bullshit! Even a dog bites back when it’s beaten!”

Kayla was silent for a moment before she responded.

“You should rejoice then.”

“What?!”

“Things will be different under the new era. Is that not worth celebrating?”

Shu Yunsong’s eyes nearly bulged out in rage.

“You–!”

Kayla cut him off before he could continue. “This, my lord, is a reward.”

Shu Yunzhi lowered his head in resignation, but Shu Yunsong glared back boldly.

“I can’t accept this…I don’t give a shit what excuses you politicians come up with! If we had a way out, if we had been left a path to live by, would I have done any of this?!”

“I’m offering you an honorable end out of consideration for your service to the country and for your relation to the Fifth Prince,” Kayla said gently. “If you would prefer to die by another’s sword–”

“I’m not a coward who shies from death!” Shu Yunsong snapped. “Release me and I’ll finish it myself!”

Kayla gave an approving nod. “Now there’s a man. Let him go.”

Reluctantly, Li Que undid Shu Yunsong’s restraints and tossed a sword before him.

The man scanned the room, seeking any final possibility of escape. Kayla could see the moment when he realized there was none.

With a set jaw, Shu Yunsong fell upon his blade to the muffled sob of his older brother.

Shu Yunzhi’s shoulders shook, and his face was twisted in grief and despair.

“Sir Shu, you need not force yourself,” Kayla said quietly, allowing the sympathy to seep into her tone. “If you wish, it can be done for you in an instant. You wouldn’t even feel it.”

“No, that’s alright,” Shu Yunzhi said, voice thick with tears. “I’m a soldier. It’s only right to do it myself.”

“As expected of a decorated veteran,” Kayla said. She nodded to Li Que.

Shu Yunzhi took a deep breath and followed his younger brother’s example.

Kayla raised her eyes to the ceiling, no longer caring if the Investigators judged her for it. There was a strange murkiness in her chest that seemed to weigh on her lungs, one that refused to clear out.

“Prepare the heads for transport,” Kayla ordered. “Cut off all communications from the Shu clan to the outside until further notice. Take good care of the Shu clan members though. Ensure that you treat them with courtesy and see to their comfort. This is important, not just for me, but for everyone here. Do you understand?”

A chorus of agreement came from the Investigators around her.

“Good, let’s get moving then. I’ll take the heads back myself.”

Li Que stepped forward, quietly speaking into her ear.

“Please wait, my lord. There’s an Investigator who wishes to report to you. I believe it’s important.”

“I see,” Kayla murmured. She raised her voice slightly. “Show me to Shu Yunsong’s study. If there’s anything of importance, I’ll take it back along with me.”

Li Que gave a subtle nod to an Investigator, who hastily led Kayla into Shu Yunsong’s private rooms, shutting the door behind them.

Kayla scrutinized the Investigator as he removed his mask.

“Greetings, my lord.”

This guy’s from the Tiele tribes, Kayla noted.

“Well done coming here. What is it you wished to report?”

“I bring word from General Yan and the Lords Qu and Liang,” the Investigator replied.

Hu Qing?

“Go on,” Kayla said.

“General Yan wishes you to-he wishes you to know that if you need military reinforcements, he has reserve troops near the border that can masquerade as his army. He begs your forgiveness, but it’s not possible for him to safely withdraw at this time. However, should anyone else take military action, he can mobilize very quickly to reach the capital before them,” the Investigator said, a little nervously.

“How did you come into possession of this message?” Kayla demanded.

“Through Sir Alizhi of the Uyghur,” the Investigator hastily explained. “I am related to him through my cousin, who is married to his cousin.”

She gave a smile of amazement. Kayla hadn’t been expecting anything from General Yan, but she would hardly look a gift horse in the mouth.

“So he would be willing to support me if another commander attempts to take advantage of the situation?”

“Yes, my lord,” the Investigator said.

“Excellent! I have been worried about there being a naval movement of troops from the Southeast after the lockdown was loosened…thanks to General Yan, I have no more worries. Please tell him to stay still for now, and I will contact him through the Tiele tribe. However–”

Kayla paused, thinking through the possibilities ahead.

I might not even be able to contact him after this. But Yunqi must ascend the throne.

“However, if I am unable to contact him, please protect the Fifth Prince’s safety no matter what,” Kayla said.

“Understood,” the Investigator said.

Kayla let out a sigh of relief. “Truly, my heart has been put at ease. Please tell General Yan to be very careful in the North and act according to the situation on the ground. With the capital as it is, there’s no telling if the Turks may turn on us should they catch wind of what’s happening.”

The Investigator bowed his head slightly. Grabbing a few scrolls off the desk, Kayla exited the room. The Investigator slipped off, Li Que following his departure with hawklike scrutiny.

“Let’s go,” Kayla said. Li Que nodded, waving towards a fresh group of Investigators.

Kayla got onto the carriage, pausing as she saw the three boxes on the seat across from her.

Don’t we have a luggage compartment for that? Well, it’s not like we can place the heads of the future Crown Prince’s relatives in the trunk…fuck it. Whatever goes, goes.

She settled into her seat, uneasily eyeing the boxes as the carriage jolted into movement.

What would she be returning to? Letting go of the capital was a great risk, exceeded only by not letting go of the capital.

For the former, Kayla would likely be the only one to die. For the latter, extermination to the ninth degree was the most likely consequence of refusing the Emperor’s orders.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

It wasn’t stoic determination that cleared Kayla’s mind of her worries, but rather her exhaustion. It had been a long few days–she had barely slept since Kuang died, and the desperate rush of her journey for head collection had done Kayla no favors.

She just wanted the world to be quiet for a bit. Against all odds, her thoughts emptied out into a static fuzz. Even the actual heads in her carriage couldn’t stir her to discomfort.

With the world slipping out of her grasp, Kayla fell fast asleep.

///

Yunqi jolted awake as if someone had sharply tugged his arm. He sat up with a gasp, heart pounding hard against his ribcage.

Brother?

It was the seventh day after Kuang’s death after all, what was to say that the prince wouldn’t return to visit his loved ones?

But the room was silent save for his own uneven breathing.

I suppose not.

Kuang had already said everything that he needed to. Yunqi sighed, dragging a hand over his face as a fresh wave of grief swept over him.

It must be grandfather then. Or perhaps his uncles.

A great emptiness opened up inside his ribcage and stretched until Yunqi was certain it would burst.

The seat of Crown Prince was all but his. The Shu clan would avoid destruction. Yet it all came at a cost he never could have anticipated.

Kuang tried so hard to keep them alive, and yet they killed my brother. I tried so hard to protect them, and now they’re dying to clear my path.

The entire matter would be covered up and blamed on Archduke Qi. But could he look Cao Shuyi in the face and lie to her? He couldn’t even imagine the grief and betrayal his sister-in-law felt. Or his own mother…was she pleased? If she was, Yunqi didn’t want to know it.

Yunqi hadn’t met her or even made contact with her for all this time. They were within walking distance of one another, but they both resolutely looked away from the other one’s residence. Nothing was more important than assuaging the Emperor right now and stabilizing his moods.

The heart of one man is reflected in the hearts of tens of thousands.

Yunqi stared at the moonlight filtering in through the curtains. How had his brothers felt when the Emperor abandoned them? How much fear festered in the hearts of the people? The lack of an heir, a tumultuous court, the horrors of a potential civil war…Yunqi closed his eyes with a sigh.

The care for my own elders unto those of others, the love of my own children unto those of others. Is that not the heart a ruler should hold? And yet that is beyond my capacity. Brother could have done it. But me?

Yet, now that he had been placed before that coveted position, he had little choice left.

Yunqi glanced in the direction of his father’s residence.

Whether it’s him or Grandmother, if I’m to become Emperor, then I can’t be like those who came before me.

His father’s example lay before him. A man tormented by paranoia and suspicion, coupled with an emotional temperament prone to strong affection or hatred, the Emperor’s growing despair at the state of his declining country only served to worsen his circumstances. Unable to bear the pressure and having no way to assuage his burden, the Emperor would pin all his hopes upon a trusted person, piling power and favor upon them. The Emperor would convince himself that everything would take a turn for the better, with almost unreasonable expectations for the single person he had bet upon to fix everything. When they inevitably failed or let him down, the Emperor’s fondness would turn into frustration, and then outright hatred.

With too few people to rely on, with no actual means of fixing the problems that plagued him, it was the only way the Emperor could temporarily relieve his worries–and like a gambler, he tossed his hopes out like dice, over and over again. It happened before with the Gongsun clan, and then with Archduke Qi, and now with Wenyuan.

And next up is me.

Yunqi knew his own capacities. Even if the Emperor made him Crown Prince and regent of the nation the very next day, Yunqi could never fix things fast enough to outrun the pace of his father’s disappointment.

He rubbed a hand down his face, his sigh melting into the silence of the room.

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Kayla jolted awake as the carriage stopped. Her worries came flooding back almost instantly.

If they want me dead they won’t bother letting me through the gates!

She flung the windows open.

“Where are we?” Kayla demanded.

“We’ve entered the Northern Gate, my lord,” Li Que replied. “A messenger came for you–you’re to go straight to the palace.”

Kayla nearly choked on her relief.

Okay, alright. What the fuck, we didn’t even stop at the gates? Or did I not wake up?

“What is the situation at the gates? Is the security still on high-alert as I ordered?” Kayla asked.

“It is as you ordered, my lord. Our carriage was let in without being checked as I cleared our entrance with the security ahead of time,” Li Que explained, instantly understanding Kayla’s actual question.

The Emperor could still kill me inside the palace…but if we were able to clear security…

Could it be that the Emperor hadn’t taken action against her?

It must be Yunqi and Wei Guang, Kayla realized in amazement.

“Excellently done. Then please go and get some rest, I’ll head over to the palace,” Kayla said.

She caught a glimpse of Captain Jiang, nodding to him across the distance. The carriage made a turn and she let the curtains fall shut again.

Captain Jiang gave her a reassuring smile as he helped her out of the carriage.

“How fares the Emperor and the Fifth Prince?” Kayla asked.

“Well enough,” Captain Jiang replied. “The Emperor would have been lost in his grief if not for the Fifth Prince’s constant attention. Thankfully, the worst of it seems to be over with.”

Kayla nodded slightly.

“And the Princess Consort and her son?”

“They remain in the Third Prince’s residence,” Captain Jiang replied.

So the Emperor’s stable enough not to consider the five-year-old. Thank god for small mercies.

With a nod of gratitude, she entered the Emperor’s quarters, Captain Jiang handing off the boxes of heads to Sir Yang.

“Zhao Wenyuan humbly greets His Majesty the Emperor,” Kayla said, kneeling and bowing in a smooth movement as soon as the Emperor came into sight.

He waved off her greetings, his gaze falling onto Sir Yang and the tray of boxes.

“Those are the heads then?” The Emperor asked.

“Yes, my liege.”

Kayla subtly gestured to Sir Yang, who brought the tray closer to the Emperor. He flicked open the lid of one at random, lips curling back at the sight of Shu Yunzhi’s dejected expression, frozen in time by death.

“Perhaps I was too lenient to leave their sons alive,” the Emperor muttered. He glanced back to Kayla. “Have their deaths be listed as from disease.”

“As you wish.”

The Emperor observed the heads one by one as Kayla averted her eyes. Finally satisfied, he waved away Sir Yang.

“I didn’t dream of Kuang,” the Emperor said as the eunuch slipped away. “Even on the seventh day after his death, there wasn’t even any sign that he had come back to see me.”

Kayla prudently stayed silent.

“I heard that my grandson dreamed of him though. The boy swore that he saw his father come to his bedside.”

The Emperor gave a bitter laugh. “It was the same with my eldest sons. None of them ever came back to see me.”

“My condolences,” Kayla said quietly.

The Emperor acted as if he didn’t hear her. “Perhaps they simply didn’t want to see me again?”

Then, as if suddenly remembering that Kayla was still there, he turned his attention back.

“Archduke Qi may be dead, but what about his brother? You've placed him under house arrest, but would it not be safer to get rid of him?” The Emperor demanded.

Kayla quailed, drawing back slightly. “Please reconsider, my liege. He is the father-in-law of Princess Chengxia, what message will that send to our allies?”

“You all seem to be using our allies as quite the convenient excuse, both you and your godfather,” the Emperor said sardonically.

“I wouldn’t dare,” Kayla said.

“Wei Guang has been speaking in your favor, using that wife of yours as an excuse…Yunqi has also intervened on your behalf, though I suppose that was expected. Even the Tiele are backing you so fervently. How popular you’ve grown, hmm?” The Emperor said, a dangerous undertone in his voice despite the lightness of his words.

Kayla lowered her head, sweat trickling down her neck.

“It is merely that I am an unworthy recipient of their kindness…my liege, please forgive me if I have spoken out of line,” Kayla said.

“Well, in any case, I’ve missed my chance to kill you,” the Emperor said jokingly.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she failed to suppress a flinch.

The Emperor sighed. “Nevermind that, I have enough regrets already. What’s one more?”

Kayla was almost embarrassed to find that her eyes were tearing up.

The Emperor saw it as well, and a look of vindictive pleasure crossed over his face. It faded quickly, crumpling into a despondent look of remorse, and then weary dejection.

“You may leave.”

Kayla bowed her head and quickly fled the room.

She wiped her face with the blade of her hands.

I didn’t realize. I didn’t think I cared that much.

She wasn’t supposed to–distance had been her greatest friend ever since her arrival, the lack of genuine attachment her most helpful asset. And now?

A dead prince that she had wanted to protect.

An Emperor who once cherished her.

And…Kayla as well, who had resigned herself to dying here.

She glanced up as Sir Yang approached her. He sympathetically glanced over Kayla’s reddened eyes.

“The Fifth Prince wishes to see you,” he said in a gentle voice.

“I understand,” Kayla replied. “Thank you.”

How am I supposed to face him after killing his grandfather?

At the very least, she didn’t have to face the Wise Consort just yet.

“My prince,” Kayla greeted Yunqi as she entered his quarters. She bowed deeply, unsure of where she stood with him.

Yunqi swept over, pulling Kayla upright.

“I apologize, my prince,” Kayla began, but Yunqi stopped her with a firm grip on her shoulders.

“Thank you, Wenyuan.”

Kayla went still, quizzically assessing the Fifth Prince’s face. To her shock, he seemed sincere.

“Have you brought back my grandfather?” Yunqi asked.

“Uh, yes.”

“Good. He’s always wanted to return to the capital,” Yunqi said, a note of fondness in his voice.

“My condolences,” Kayla said.

Yunqi shook his head.

“No need for that, Wenyuan. Whether it was you who killed them or they who died for my sake, you’ve all contributed greatly to my cause.”

Kayla stared at him in shock. If she had expected anything, it certainly wasn’t this.

As she watched, the Prince’s face curved into a gentle smile.

“Don’t worry, Wenyuan. You have my utmost gratitude.”

Her mind in a blur, Kayla let Yunqi pull her into a conversation around the executions, the tone of their talk far too casual for so heavy a topic. Almost as if she could not control what she was saying, Kayla’s words tumbled out one after another, presenting the events in full detail.

When she finally finished, Yunqi patted her on the back as if to commend her, allowing Kayla to gather herself in silence.

How long have we been talking? Kayla thought dazedly. The sun was setting now. It had still been mid-afternoon when she’d walked in.

The two sat in silence for a while before an eunuch came rushing into the room.

“My prince! My prince!”

“Calm yourself,” Yunqi ordered. “What’s the matter?”

“My prince, Your Excellency, there is an Imperial Edict,” the eunuch announced.

Yunqi nodded, serene and self-assured.

“Come, Wenyuan, let’s go receive His Majesty’s orders,” Yunqi said kindly.

Kayla followed him to the entrance hall and watched blankly as he exchanged greetings with Sir Yang. She followed suit when he knelt. The scene felt strangely similar to that fateful night when she’d been raised to Third Rank in the Grand Duke’s courtyard.

Sir Yang stood before them in robes far more formal than he had been wearing when Kayla saw him last.

“The weightiness of selecting an heir, in securing the succession of the familial name, is so that once a worthy man emerges, he can bring blessings upon all under heaven,” Sir Yang read from the scroll.

It’s happening, Kayla realized in shock. The Emperor’s actually doing it!

She had hoped for as much, but the Emperor’s decisiveness still took her by surprise after he’d waited this long to make his choice.

“Fifth son of His Majesty the Emperor, Zhou Yunqi, has forbearance and wisdom that extends his blessings far and wide. His virtue and bearing are acclaimed, his broad ambitions admired, and his achievements grow by the day. Filial piety is the base of one’s virtue, and allows one to act appropriately in each venue of life. Benevolence is a heavy responsibility, which allows one to appease the beings of one’s realm.”

“To rule over a great nation, one’s merits must exceed the limits of the four directions, and one’s character must reign supreme over the two sages of the south. One must take charge of all affairs, and be skilled in all arenas. One’s duties extend to both the inner and outer matters of the country, and one’s acts are recorded into the annals of history. Near and far bend to one’s well, both the court and the people look towards one’s guidance.”

“His Highness the Fifth Prince has the capacity to shoulder the legacy of his forefathers and to construct a path of grandness, and thus is suitable to be named as the Crown Prince. The necessary rites are to be prepared, and upon the fortuitous hour, he shall be crowned accordingly.”

“Zhou Yunqi humbly thanks His Majesty for his benevolence!”

Yunqi bowed his head to the ground, Kayla following suit behind him.

As the red-tinted sun lowered itself to the horizon, Yunqi lifted his head. Lit ablaze by its rays, the Fifth Prince smiled.

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Cultural Notes

脸皮薄/Have a thin face: In China, the concept of "face" is often the equivalent of pride. So if someone has a thin face, it might mean that they're prideful/are easily offended/can't take a joke, etc.

黄毛小儿/Yellow-haired brat: An Ancient Chinese proverb, it's believed to derive from the term 黄口小儿/yellow-mouthed brat, referring to the yellow beaks of young birds. However, this version refers to the yellow-ish hairs that some infants had (possibly due to insufficient natal nutrition).

天经地义/Righteous by both heaven and earth: An Ancient Chinese saying.

留条活路/Left a path to life/to live by: A Chinese saying. Essentially means to leave a way out.

头七/First Seventh Day: Refers to the Chinese concept of death, which incorporates folk beliefs as well as Buddhist beliefs. It is often believed that the souls of the dead will return to visit their families on the seventh day after their deaths.

一人之心千万人之心也/The heart of one man is reflected in the hearts of tens of thousands: A quote from an Ancient Chinese prose, in the context that tyranny breeds resentment in each and every person who is oppressed.

老吾老，以及人之老。幼吾幼，以及人之幼/The care for my own elders unto those of others, the love of my own children unto those of others: An Ancient Chinese quote by Mencius, a Confucian sage. It essentially means to love another's parents as one would one's own, and to love another's children as one's own. That is, to have empathy and kindness for all others.

The Imperial Edict for naming Yunqi Crown Prince: So I based mine almost entirely off the 立秦王为太子诏/Edict Establishing the King/Archduke of Qin as the Crown Prince. That is, the official edict naming Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. as the Crown Prince. Here are the details and related cultural notes. As always, all translations are entirely my own.

- 储贰之重，式固宗祧，一有元良，以贞万国/The weightiness of selecting an heir, in securing the succession of the familial name, is so that once a worthy man emerges, he can bring blessings upon all under heaven

- 器质冲远，风猷昭茂，宏图夙著，美业日隆/[ ] has forbearance and wisdom that extends his blessings far and wide. His virtue and bearing are acclaimed, his broad ambitions admired, and his achievements grow by the day.

- 孝惟德本，周於百行，仁为重任，以安万物/Filial piety is the base of one’s virtue, and allows one to act appropriately in each venue of life. Benevolence is a heavy responsibility, which allows one to appease the beings of one’s realm

- 敷政大邦，宣风区隩，功高四履，道冠二南，任总机衡，庶绩惟允/To rule over a great nation, one’s merits must exceed the limits of the four directions, and one’s character must reign supreme over the two sages of the south. One must take charge of all affairs, and be skilled in all arenas.

- 职兼内外，彝章载叙，遐迩属意，朝野具瞻，宜乘鼎业，允膺守器。可立为皇太子。所司具礼，以时册命/One’s duties extend to both the inner and outer matters of the country, and one’s acts are recorded into the annals of history. Near and far bend to one’s well, both the court and the people look towards one’s guidance. [ ] has the capacity to shoulder the legacy of his forefathers and to construct a path of grandness, and thus is suitable to be named as the Crown Prince. The necessary rites are to be prepared, and upon the fortuitous hour, he shall be crowned accordingly.

The edict makes a number of references to certain terminologies, which I will explain below:

- 四履/The extent of the four directions. Originates from a pre-Qin context where a man was granted territory that extended a certain distance in each direction.

- 二南/The two [sages of] the south: This in fact refers to the Zhou Nan (the South Zhou) and the Zhao Nan (the South Zhao), two sections of the Book of Poetry, which was a pre-Qin collection of songs and poems. These refer to certain areas or courts that fell under the reign of Lord Zhou and Lord Zhao, both of whom were known for their virtue and wisdom.

- 任总机衡/Take charge of all affairs: In Ancient China, this essentially means that one has power over all affairs.

- 庶绩/All arenas: Another Ancient Chinese term, essentially refers to accomplishments in all arenas.

- 彝章/Old books/History books: An Ancient Chinese term referring to the old laws, the old books. Essentially means "to be written into the books".

- 遐迩/Near and far: An Ancient Chinese term that can mean "near and far" or "far and wide". It essentially means to reach over a wide distance of undetermined size.

- 允膺/To shoulder: An Ancient Chinese term, with the connotation "to shoulder as you should", "to shoulder as is your responsibility and as you rightfully deserve to".