After experiencing a miserable period full of war and chaos for decades, finally, the Han Chinese succeeded in driving out the Yuan Dynasty who had oppressed the Han for hundreds of years, thus established a new dynasty.
Founded in 1368 AD, this new dynasty was the well-known Ming Dynasty. The founding Emperor was called Zhu Yuanzhang, a man of humble status but due to his perseverance and cleverness then succeeded to ascend the throne and became emperor. He was enthroned with the title of Hongwu Emperor.
Under his iron-fisted, perfectionist, and strict government, the Ming Empire achieved great progress. Ming military power became one of the world's greatest forces at that time. Cultivated land rose to 8,804,623 qing and 68 mu, something might not be achieved by any other Chinese dynasties. The Capital of the Ming Empire Yingtian (the term for Nanjing during the Ming Dynasty era) was believed to be the most populous city in the world during that period.
The Hongwu Emperor paid great attention to education since he came from an impoverished group and thus was unable to get a proper education. He wished that Ming could be a great and prosperous country, filled with civilized and well-educated people. And he hoped the same for his descendants. He was very strict with all of them, no less strict than what he did towards his people because he wished that they could become the noblemen who would set a good example for the whole country. The Hongwu Emperor also had a farsighted mind. He did not wish to see his descendants killed each other to fight for power as it usually happened in the tragedies of strife over authority. From afar before he had determined that it was the Crown Prince, Zhu Biao, who would ascend the throne, while he granted his other sons the title of Fan Wang, then ordered each of them to head a city he had determined before.
One day, the Hongwu Emperor was sitting at the Yellow River dam, staring at the ceaseless blue sky. Suddenly he saw a cluster of bizarre clouds appearing above the sky. Consisting of various color, the layers of the clouds were incredibly beautiful. This scenery would not exist in a normal situation.
The emperor stood up in a trice. Those are... Seven colored Clouds * ! Fluttering elegantly like Flying Dragons... Yes, they are unquestionably Seven Colored Clouds! Gasping, he kept looking at the wonderful phenomena for a long time, eyes widened. Then, he thought.
The Seven Colored Clouds always become the Emperor's Symbolism. The Son of Heaven's Symbolism! He who is lightened by them will become the next emperor! But... the clouds appear in Kaifeng, not in the capital where Biao lives... Why?
It can't be... Su?!
He remembered the incident of the Xuanwu Gate that occurred in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD). The emperor's second son murdered his elder brother and younger brother, then proclaimed himself as the new emperor. Now The Seven Colored Clouds appeared in Kaifeng, where his fifth son Prince Zhu Su was enfeoffed there. The emperor gritted his teeth. He did not wish to see bloodshed occurred tragically among his sons.
He must do something to prevent it.
...
* Seven Colored Clouds = In ancient Chinese belief, Seven Colored Clouds were considered as an auspicious sign, so there is a Chinese idiom "Xiangyun Ruiqi" or "Rui Caixiangyun", which is translated as "Lucky Color, Propitious Clouds".
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In this part, I will also explain the royalty terms I am using in this novel and will not be translated into English. If you are an expert in Chinese history, you may leave this chapter. If you are not knowledgeable about Chinese history and get interested in it, then please go on.
I use Chinese terms for royalty titles and addressing terms, since the setting of this novel reflects the status of the monarchy during the Ming Dynasty, and the speech used in the royal household was different from that used by commoners. Terms like Emperor, Your Majesty etc still has equivalent translation with royalty terms in English so I continue to translate them. But the terms below are difficult to translate so I can not translate it to English and must let it still in Chinese or it will make the readers more confused.
1. Fan Wang: the sovereign or feudal superior who have the right to claim a city as a prerogative. Ones who get this right are the princes who are born as the sons of the Emperor, but not as the eldest son. For the example Zhu Su who was the fifth son of the Hongwu Emperor. The emperor would enfeoff them with a big city. "Fan" means "Enfeoffed", while "Wang" means "King" for the rulers of countries outside China and means "Prince" for the son of Chinese Emperor. In early era of Ming Dynasty, at his enfeoffed city Fan Wang had the highest authority and he had great power of military whom he could even use to fight against emperor.
The prince also has another respectful title, Qin Wang. "Qin" means kinship, it refers that the prince titled Qin Wang is the pure member of Ming Royal Family. Fan Wang indeed can be translated as Prince, but for this novel, I think it's more suitable to let it in its original Chinese term. After all, this is a Chinese historical novel, so let such the unique culture enliven this story.
2. Fan Wang Guo = principality; princedom. But I will not translate Fan Wang as Prince. Then his enfeoffed city won't be to translate as princedom, either, I still use Fan Wang Guo. Here, "Guo" means "Country". In Ming Dynasty, an enfeoffed city is considered as a country, although it is the small one.
3. Wang = abbreviation of Fan Wang. Example: Zhou Wang, Yan Wang, etc. It's rare in Chinese historical documents to find the word "Zhou Fan Wang", "Yan Fan Wang" etc. Hence, I follow the historical documents.
4. Wang Fei = the spouse of Fan Wang.
5. Fu Huang = Respectful way to say "Father" to the Emperor by his children. "Fu" means "Father" and "Huang", abbreviation from Huang Di, means "Emperor".
6. Fu Wang = Respectful way to say "Father" to the Fan Wang by his children.
7. Shi Zi = Fan Wang's son (usually the eldest one) who will ascend to become next Fan Wang.
8. Huang Ye Ye = Respectful way to say "Grandfather" to the Emperor by his grandchildren.
9. Mu Hou = Respectful way to say "Mother" to the Empress by his children. "Mu" means "Mother" and "Hou", abbreviation from "Huang Hou" which means "Empress".
10. Mu Fei = Respectful way to say "Mother" to the Wang Fei by his children. "Mu" means "Mother" and "Fei", abbreviation from "Wang Fei".
11. Jun Wang = the sons of Fan Wang who is not the eldest one.
12. Jun Zhu = daughter of Fan Wang.