Xiao Yuzheng

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yuzheng (萧宇政)
Alias(es)	Emperor Zhengde; His Majesty 96
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great Zhou Dynasty
Occupation/Role	Emperor of Great Zhou
Status	Deceased; fatally stabbed by Crown Prince Xiao Jingqing 601 602
Posthumous Title	Emperor Zhaoming 612
Age	Around fifty at his introduction 96
First Appearance	Chapter 96: “Xiao Yuzheng”

Appearance

Xiao Yuzheng is a middle-aged ruler whose stern appearance reflects his authority and relentless work as emperor. 96

• Wears dragon robes, including white casual robes embroidered with golden dragons. 96 234
• Has a resolute face and square jaw. 96
• His temples are streaked with white. 96
• His appearance grows pale and frail during his later illness. 453

Personality

Xiao Yuzheng is diligent, politically calculating, and intensely concerned with the stability of Great Zhou. He rises before dawn to review memorials and personally oversees matters such as military supply, grain transport, taxation, corruption, and major crises. 96 572 His commitment to rule is rooted partly in guilt: after usurping the throne, he spends decades attempting to prove that he deserves it through achievements. 602

He is suspicious by nature and willing to manipulate events to expose threats. He feigns illness through self-poisoning to draw hidden enemies into action, keeps close watch on ministers and princes, and uses Jiang Yun as a test of the Fourth Prince’s ability. 196 368 His stated hatred of corruption does not prevent politically expedient decisions, such as promoting the embezzler Chang Pingyuan rather than punishing him immediately. 114

His temper is volatile when his authority, family, or reputation is challenged. He orders Xiao Min’er’s execution after she condemns his reign, whips Xiao Jingfu to death upon uncovering his treachery, and reacts harshly to officials who remain silent during crises. 243 343 473 Despite this ruthlessness, he values capable subordinates and repeatedly relies on Feng Yu, Jiang Yun, Xu Xiaogang, and other effective servants of the throne. 105 217 244

Reign and History

Usurpation of the Throne

Xiao Yuzheng was originally close to and respectful of his elder brother, the expected heir to the throne. When their father died, however, Xiao Yuzheng arranged for Imperial Army generals to murder his brother and seized imperial power for himself. 602

The usurpation haunted him throughout his reign. He suffered recurring nightmares of his father and elder brother condemning him, fearing that history would remember him only as a fratricidal usurper. 602 His later diligence—rectifying corruption, adjusting taxes, funding disaster relief, and defeating the Northern Hu twice—was driven by his need to leave behind the legacy of a restoring ruler. 602

Anti-Corruption Campaigns

When military weapons and supplies were discovered being sold to the Northern Hu, Xiao Yuzheng recognized that the case implicated powerful figures. He ordered the official investigation closed while secretly directing that a clean, fearless, and ungreedy Imperial Guard continue investigating. 96

He came to value Jiang Yun as an unusually capable investigator who was willing to offend powerful people. After Jiang Yun’s early cases, Xiao Yuzheng promoted him within the Imperial Guards while deliberately limiting his monetary reward, believing that integrity should be cultivated before greed took root. 105

Xiao Yuzheng also understood that corruption could not be solved through diligence alone. Xiao Min’er’s accusation—that his hard work had failed to prevent the court from remaining rotten—struck directly at his deepest insecurity. 343

Northern Frontier and Xu Xiaogang

After Xu Dingwu’s apparent defection to the Northern Hu, Xiao Yuzheng appointed Xu Xiaogang as Duke Zhenguo and Commander of the Sword Pool Pass Garrison. He accepted Xu Xiaogang’s claim that he could command the garrison because of his longstanding ties to its soldiers. 244

Xiao Yuzheng later became wary of Xu Xiaogang’s growing military influence. He recalled him from the front, ignored his warnings about Duan Xing’s incompetence, and rewarded Duan Xing despite knowing that the frontline reports were unreliable. 268 272 When the Zhenchi Army later mutinied, he hesitated to call Xu Xiaogang back because of their earlier conflict. 276

Xu Dingwu’s supposed defection was in fact orchestrated by Xiao Yuzheng, who knew the duke had not truly betrayed Great Zhou. 286

Health, Immortality, and the Sacred Tomb

As his health deteriorated, Xiao Yuzheng became increasingly vulnerable to promises of immortality. He initially believed in Chu Yuangeng’s elixirs, only for Jiang Yun to expose the alchemist as a fraud and identify the emperor’s mercury poisoning. 366 368

Facing death, he sought the Imperial Seal and the complete map to the Sacred Tomb, hoping its opening might provide a means of extending his life or attaining sainthood. He entrusted Feng Yu and Jiang Yun with this mission. 450 Wen Chen’s Immeasurable Grass temporarily restored some of his strength, but did not resolve his underlying decline. 471

Succession Crisis and Death

Xiao Yuzheng initially made the Fourth Prince, Xiao Jingfu, Crown Prince and regent while he was gravely ill. 453 After learning of Xiao Jingfu’s treachery, he personally whipped him to death and blamed Zhang Yao to preserve his own image as a benevolent ruler. 473

Xiao Jingqing later became Crown Prince, but Xiao Yuzheng increasingly criticized his recklessness and considered sending him to the southwestern front to gain experience. 584 600 Fearing replacement by the First Prince, Xiao Jingqing stabbed Xiao Yuzheng in the Imperial Study. 601 602

Mortally wounded, Xiao Yuzheng was carried to Jiang Yun’s residence in the hope that Little Black could save him. He died still burdened by guilt over his usurpation and afraid of posthumous infamy. 602 Xiao Jingzhi subsequently ascended the throne and granted him the posthumous title of Emperor Zhaoming. 612

Relationships

• Feng Yu — His longtime eunuch, confidant, and most trusted subordinate. Feng Yu handles sensitive investigations, protects him from assassins, and attempts to save him after Xiao Jingqing’s attack. 136 450 602
• Jiang Yun — A favored Imperial Guard whom Xiao Yuzheng entrusts with politically dangerous investigations. He recognizes Jiang Yun’s ability, but also uses him to test the ambitions of his sons. 105 217 368
• Xu Xiaogang — Appointed by Xiao Yuzheng as Duke Zhenguo and commander at Sword Pool Pass after Xu Dingwu’s defection. Their relationship deteriorates as the emperor grows suspicious of Xu Xiaogang’s military influence. 244 268 272
• Xiao Jingqi — Sixth Prince. Xiao Yuzheng becomes deeply disappointed in him after his ties to Baiyun Temple and later strips him of title and imprisons him for treason. 238 240
• Xiao Jingfu — Fourth Prince and briefly Crown Prince. Xiao Yuzheng initially favors him, then kills him after uncovering his treachery. 453 473
• Xiao Jingqing — Eighth Prince and later Crown Prince. Xiao Yuzheng neglects him for most of his childhood, then is murdered by him after attempting to restrain his conduct. 584 600 602
• Xiao Jingzhi — First Prince and eventual successor. Xiao Yuzheng distrusts his private meetings with ministers and warns him not to overstep his position as a prince. 582 612
• Xiao Min’er — Xiao Yubang’s daughter, who openly condemns Xiao Yuzheng as a fratricidal usurper. Her accusations expose the guilt behind his devotion to ruling. 342 343
• Ye Xiuyuan — A respected adviser whose talent Xiao Yuzheng values highly. Xiao Yuzheng personally seeks his advice on fiscal, military, and political problems. 234 304 508

Notable Quotes

“Great Zhou is currently facing many internal and external troubles. If my dragon body were sound, those hidden villains would not dare to show themselves and cause trouble.” 196

“You… you unnatural son…” 602