In truth, Na Zhan was not Na Jing’s illegitimate child, as stated in the edict. He knew very well that he was an orphan from the snowy plains, with no royal blood whatsoever. But despite reading the edict, he never asked any questions. He had no doubts, no concerns, and he acted quietly. At eight years old, he was calm and simply observed everything around him.
Na Zhan grew up in Guang Han Palace, but no other prince was as humble and studious as he. He knew how to win people over, and within a year, the He Guang Prince’s Mansion had become a popular gathering spot for the young princes.
The fifty-seven-year-old former king, Na Qida, doted on Na Zhan, personally teaching him the history of governance and inviting the kingdom’s greatest martial general to train him in swordsmanship.
Ten years later, at the age of eighteen, Na Zhan married his first consort, Yu Jie, at the He Guang Prince’s Mansion.
Before the wedding, Na Qida asked him, “Do you love this woman?”
Na Zhan smiled and replied, “Of course, I love her!”
Na Qida remarked, “But I’ve heard you’re more fond of Yu Hao!”
Na Zhan raised an eyebrow. “Yu Hao is already betrothed to the twelfth prince.”
Na Qida was puzzled. “The marriage hasn’t been formalized yet. Why are you giving up so easily?”
Na Zhan smiled at him. “Grandfather, the auspicious time has arrived. Your grandson can hardly wait, so I’ll take my leave for now!”
Year 317 of the Common Era, the twelfth prince of Yun Pei, Na Sui, staged a rebellion during the hunting festival, attempting to surround and capture seventy-nine royal family members. However, his plan fell apart at the last moment. The fourth, sixth, seventh, and tenth princes had already been informed and united their forces, crushing Na Sui’s dreams in just seven days. Everyone in Na Sui’s household was executed, except for the twelfth princess consort, Yu Hao, who, later that same year, remarried Na Zhan, the seventh prince.
On the night of the wedding, Na Qida once again asked Na Zhan, “Do you love this woman?”
Na Zhan smiled as always. “Of course, I love her!”
Na Qida continued, “Then why didn’t you marry her from the start?”
Na Zhan replied, “Without her, how could the twelfth prince have been caught off guard?”
Na Qida laughed heartily and that night, as a wedding gift, personally presented Na Zhan with the completed Great Desert Chronicles.
Na Zhan had never intended to become king. His battles for the Na family’s kingdom, eradicating treacherous ministers, were nothing more than acts of gratitude for the grandfather who had raised and educated him. Yet, he often traveled in disguise, worrying deeply about the welfare of the common people. He knew that no one in Guang Han Palace was capable of bearing the weight of its splendor.
After his first child was born, bearing the surname Na, it seemed like his family had rooted itself in Guang Han Palace. His second and third children also bore the Na surname. Strangely enough, despite his lack of royal blood, the father king had granted them royal status and rights of succession. This both moved and confused Na Zhan, who devoted all his energy to assisting his father in governing the kingdom and quelling unrest.
However, a year later, Honor King Na Jing passed away suddenly, without issuing an edict for succession. Guang Han Palace was plunged into controversy. In the end, the court had to turn to Na Qida, who was now sixty-seven years old and bedridden. With great effort, he opened his dry eyes and carefully examined the seventeen princes and their consorts kneeling before him, his gaze sending shivers down their spines.
“Huor, do you want to be king?” he asked the eldest prince.
The eldest prince, Na Huor, was twenty-six years old. He replied, “I do.”
“Why?”
“To rule the world—who wouldn’t want that?”
“Hmm! Ambitious.” Na Qida smiled briefly before turning to the fourth prince. “Zhun, do you want to be king?”
Na Zhun, who was twenty-four, responded, “I do.”
“Why?”
“To command the people and issue decrees—who wouldn’t want that?”
Na Qida, hearing this, did not smile. He sighed and turned to the seventh prince. “Zhan, do you want to be king?”
Na Zhan was surprised but quickly regained his composure. After a moment of thought, he replied, “I do.”
Na Qida smiled again but didn’t ask him “why.” He remained silent for a long time, closing his eyes as if he had fallen asleep, scaring the court physicians who hurriedly checked his breathing. Just as they reached out, Na Qida opened his eyes again, and he continued to ask the other princes the same question: “Do you want to be king?” “Why?”
In the end, all the princes, except for the youngest, four-year-old Na Yanxing, answered that they wanted to be king. Their mothers, kneeling behind them, were drenched in cold sweat. The room was so quiet that the frantic heartbeat of each person could be heard.
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