A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 1: Me and Emperor Wu of Han Going Head-to-Head?
In the first year of Yuanshou, in the fifth month of summer, on the day of Gengchen.

On a poisonous month and an evil day, wicked and wicked people hold sway, and the five evils emerge together.

Having a son is unfavorable to the father, having a daughter is unfavorable to the mother; it is advisable to keep orchids for bathing.

Chang'an, Weiyang Palace, Jiaofang Hall.

The walls were plastered with peppercorns and mud, symbolizing warmth, fragrance, and many children.

Orchids were planted all around the palace, and the corridors were winding, with light gauze curtains swaying in the wind.

The palace maids wore deep-sleeved robes with curved hems that trailed on the ground like flowing clouds. Their hair was styled in high buns adorned with hairpins, and their jade pendants jingled as they moved through the covered corridors.

As the emperor strode ahead, his bright yellow brocade palanquin approaching in a graceful procession, several palace maids on the nearest covered walkway immediately knelt down, followed by all the eunuchs and palace maids on duty, near and far.

The covered walkways, steps, and corridors were all densely packed with kneeling eunuchs and palace maids.

The two eunuchs opened the temple doors in advance. Instead of pushing them, they used their hands to slowly lift their respective doors slightly and then slowly moved them inward. The two doors were moved open without making a sound.

"Your Majesty is here!"

As the palace audience announced the arrival of the emperor, Emperor Liu Che had already entered the palace like the wind. With his right hand on top and palm down, he clasped his hands in front of his chest. Empress Wei Zifu, who was bowing respectfully, was startled and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty?"

"Not dead yet."

Liu Che angrily turned his sleeves and rebuked, "You have truly given me a fine crown prince. You have only been the heir apparent for a short time, yet you are already teaching me how to govern the world."

"Your Majesty, Ju'er is still young and does not yet understand Your Majesty's great talent and strategy. He has misspoke..."

Before Wei Zifu could finish her attempt to reconcile the situation, Liu Che interrupted her, saying, "What did he say wrong? He's telling me that he's read a lot of books and knows that the Book of Documents says, 'Heaven's mandate is not always given, and violence is unreliable. Those with virtue gain the country, while those without virtue lose it.' He also knows that 'governing a country should be based on virtue, not on military might.' Our crown prince doesn't like war; he's not like his father. What can you do about it?"

Having said all that, each sentence was like a sharp knife, piercing Wei Zifu's heart with pain. The harmonious relationship between husband and wife, the loving father and filial son, were now like snowmelt under the sun, smashed apart by the sharp words.

"Your Majesty's descendants have already exhausted the blessings accumulated over several generations. Where can we find a son who looks exactly like Your Majesty? Ju'er is still young after all..."

Liu Che wouldn't listen to a single word of comfort, and his words became even sharper and more cutting. "Alright, alright! You don't need to cover for him. When I was younger than him, I vowed to defeat the Xiongnu. I just don't understand why my son is such a coward. He's neither like me nor as brave and skilled in battle as your Wei family. Let me fight for him! In the future, he can be a ruler who maintains the status quo and lives in peace!"

"Stop reading books. Go with Wei Qing to the Northern Army to learn military affairs. Don't let him be so indecisive anymore. First, learn to be a qualified man, then a qualified crown prince!"

Facing His Majesty's rebuke, Wei Zifu stood there upright, while Liu Che, still furious after venting his anger, left the palace in a huff, his face still cold.

Come in a hurry, go in a hurry.

As the imperial carriage departed into the depths of the inner palace, the atmosphere in the Jiaofang Palace fell into silence.

With a gentle wave of her hand, Wei Zifu led the other female officials and palace maids out of the palace gate in a line.

Passing through the eastern passage and entering the inner hall, the first thing you see is a huge bronze mirror on the side wall. Wei Zifu looked at the person in the mirror and reached out to touch the wrinkles that were gradually appearing on her eyebrows and at the corners of her eyes.

……

The heavens have four celestial guardians: the Azure Dragon, the White Tiger, the Vermilion Bird, and the Black Tortoise, which govern the four directions, and kings model their palaces and pavilions after them.

During the construction of the Han Dynasty, Weiyang Palace had two gates, Xuanwu and Canglong, and two halls, Baihu and Zhuniao.

The White Tiger Hall is located in the west of the palace, hence the name West Hall; the Vermilion Bird Hall is in the south of the palace, hence the name South Hall; the Azure Dragon Gate is in the east of the palace, hence the name East Gate; and the Black Tortoise Gate is in the north of the palace, hence the name North Gate. Liu Ju sat in his carriage as it slowly drove out of the North Gate, which was painted with the image of the Black Tortoise, his heart surging with emotion.

He woke up from a dream to find himself transmigrated, and with an incredibly lucky start. His father was Liu Che, the Han Emperor Wu, who was as famous as Qin Shi Huang and who changed the name of the country to his clan name in one lifetime. His mother was Empress Zifu of the Wei clan, who brought with her the most precious dowry in five thousand years of Chinese history. His uncle was Wei Qing, one of the two pillars of the empire, and his cousin was Huo Qubing, another of the two pillars of the empire...

Is he the Crown Prince Li?

Against this magnificent backdrop, and then thinking of his father, who became a complete lunatic in the latter half of his life, Liu Ju's lips curled into a smirk.

As a keyboard warrior who believes "if the heavens hadn't created me, the world of keyboard warriors would have remained in eternal darkness," I'm all about getting to work with just two horizontal lines and one vertical line!

The son is not like his father?

Love you, Dad. See you at Xuanwu Gate!
Liu Ju looked back at the Northern Palace, his heart burning with fervor. A thought flashed through his mind, and a semi-transparent panel appeared before his eyes, with lines of white text slowly emerging.

At the age of seven, you were officially made Crown Prince. Your father, the Emperor, granted a general amnesty, bestowed titles and rewards upon officials and common people, and sent envoys to tour the country to offer condolences and comfort.

Your father selected renowned teachers for you, including Shi Qing, the youngest son of Shi Fen, known as "Lord Wan Shi," who was appointed as the Crown Prince's tutor. He also ordered you to study the "Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals," which you disliked.

You began to study the *Guliang Commentary* in private.

At the age of fifteen, you underwent the coming-of-age ceremony, married, had children, and moved to the Crown Prince's Palace.

Your father built the Bowang Garden for you in the south of Chang'an, allowing you to freely make friends with guests and even accept "heretics" who disagree with the mainstream political views.

You formed a political group different from your father's.

At the age of twenty-one, your father frequently went on tours of state, entrusting you with the responsibility of overseeing the country. You governed with leniency and often overturned wrongful convictions, winning the hearts of the people. However, this led to conflicts with the group of cruel officials appointed by your father.

Your queen mother advised you to obey your father, and while you hesitated, your father instead praised your kindness.

You've made up your mind.

At the age of twenty-two, Grand Marshal and General Wei Qing passed away. Because he was related to the emperor but not partisan, you lost the support of some of your maternal relatives. Opposition forces in the court began to frame you, and the old saying that "you are not like your father" became rampant, and the legitimacy of your succession was questioned.

You don't care.

At the age of thirty-four, Jiang Chong launched a direct attack on you, which created a grudge over the use of the imperial road. At the same time, your cousin Gongsun Jingsheng was arrested for embezzling military funds. His father, Gongsun He, pursued Zhu Anshi to atone for his sins, but was falsely accused of witchcraft. Many members of the Wei family were implicated and killed, further weakening your power.

You've realized the crisis.

At the age of thirty-seven, Jiang Chong took advantage of his father's serious illness and falsely claimed that witchcraft was causing trouble in the palace. He then led people to dig up a wooden doll from the Crown Prince's palace.

You cannot defend yourself.

Junior Tutor Shi De suggested a preemptive strike, so you forged an imperial edict to capture and kill Jiang Chong, and fought a fierce battle with Prime Minister Liu Quli in Chang'an for five days, but were defeated.

Before Xuanwu Gate, you face a life-or-death dilemma.

[Host: Liu Ju, the Emperor Taizong System has finished loading... Do you... have the courage... to... begin... a life-changing reversal at this age of forty?]

(End of this chapter)