Zhan first arrived at Guang Han Palace when he was only eight years old. He thought it was a dream and didn’t sleep for three days, afraid he would wake up.
Eleven years later, he sat in the grand hall, receiving the bowing ministers of war and civil service. That dream had become something he could never wake up from, no matter how hard he tried.
Year 287 of the Common Era
The Crown Prince of Yun Pei, Na Jing, ascended the throne at nineteen and was given the title of Honor King.
On the day of his coronation, his father, the former king Na Qida, stripped off his royal robes, taking only two attendants with him as he left Guang Han Palace. No one knew where he went or if he would ever return. That day, the court shaman, Fa Tian, dragging his long white robe, sighed as he looked at the angry young king on the throne: "O King! People may hold onto their splendor, but splendor will never hold onto people."
Na Jing was perplexed. What could his father possibly be dissatisfied with, to abandon such a glorious kingdom?
Upon hearing his words, Fa Tian bowed three times, then retreated to a corner and said nothing, gazing at the stars in silence.
Na Qida, only thirty-six years old at the time and still in his prime, had abruptly relinquished his throne. Before leaving, he left his son Na Jing with only four words: “Take care of yourself.”
Take care? But what did that mean? Na Qida, the thirty-second king of Yun Pei, was never considered a great ruler. Despite his wisdom, he lacked the strength to rule effectively. He knew that to govern well, a king needed to possess the three cruelties: a cruel heart, a cruel sword, and cruel self-restraint. A cruel heart was necessary to make ruthless decisions with unwavering authority; a cruel sword was needed to fight and kill without mercy; and cruel self-restraint, the most important, was essential to prioritize the nation over oneself, to rule with wisdom, compassion, and justice. Na Qida knew he lacked these qualities.
Of course, few rulers in the world possessed all these traits. The difference with Na Qida was that he was aware of it. This realization left him powerless and even ashamed. Day by day, he grew more gaunt, until one day, when his eldest son Na Jing came of age, he didn’t hesitate to remove the royal mantle and embark on a journey.
He believed that his greatest achievement wasn’t in ruling a kingdom, but in making history.
To one who seeks to leave a legacy, grandeur is but a dream!
* * *
Year 307 of the Common Era
Na Qida, along with his two loyal servants, Rong Ruo and Rong Huo, had spent twenty years traveling, leaving their footprints across every oasis, recording the customs and cultures of various tribes. After two decades of hardship and adventure, they had seen all the beauty of the world and came to understand the desert like the back of their hands.
That same year, news reached them from Yun Pei that King Na Jing had fallen gravely ill. The court ministers begged for a successor, kneeling in Guang Han Palace for thirteen days, but Na Jing refused to choose an heir. Upon hearing this, the former king Na Qida returned to the capital.
“Kneel before your father!”
A thin boy knelt beside a lavish bed, looking no older than nine, but his eyes were sharp and full of composure.
Na Jing lay in bed, his face cold as he smiled and asked, “Why don’t you call me ‘Father King’?”
The boy kowtowed, his voice steady. “A father and son share only the bond of family, while a king and son are tied by the succession of the throne. I understand my place.”
Na Jing was delighted by this and laughed. “Good, good! This child is clever. Since I ask you to call me father, I will not deny you. What is your full name?”
The boy replied, “I was not given a name. After meeting Master in the snowy plains, he named me Zhan.”
Na Jing pondered for a moment before declaring, “Yun Pei is ruled by the Na family. Since you have become my son, from now on, you will be called Na Zhan!”
The boy glanced at Na Qida, who was sitting nearby. Seeing Na Qida nod, the boy quickly knelt and said, “Thank you, Father King!” This time, he addressed him as “Father King.”
That was Na Zhan’s first time entering Guang Han Palace. After meeting Na Jing, Rong Huo led him under the protection of a large group of palace guards to the Chuangtian Ancestral Tomb, where he bowed three times and nine times.
A month later, King Na Jing issued an edict: "My son, Na Zhan, whose mother was exiled due to grave mistakes, was unaware of her pregnancy, leading to the Seventh Prince being lost among the common people. After extensive searches, by the grace of the gods, my son has returned to Guang Han Palace and rejoined the royal lineage. This is to be announced, and Na Zhan is granted residence at He Guang Prince’s Mansion, with succession rights ranked fifth."
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