Retired Emperor

Biodata

Power Progression

Title and Authority

• Abdication does not end his political influence. Although Emperor Zhou occupies the throne, the Retired Emperor retains the allegiance of old court ministers 17.
• Military necessity sustains his position. Great Zhou needs an emperor with golden dragon fortune to preside over its ten-yearly war against the Demon Domain; Emperor Zhou initially lacks that qualification 17.
• His approval carries weight in succession. The Empress Dowager states that no court official will dare oppose Wu Junji’s appointment if the Retired Emperor agrees 5.
• His authority has limits. Emperor Zhou later condemns him for secretly signing a National Pact, accusing him of treating the retired title as permission to act as an emperor above the reigning emperor 38.

Background / History

Throne and Heir

According to the Empress Dowager, the Retired Emperor took the throne illegitimately from his elder brother, Wu An. When confronted, he denies having an elder brother at all. Her accusation also connects his hostility toward the eldest grandson with his own position as a younger brother who obtained the throne 37.

He struggled for more than ten years to obtain a child, then spent another twenty-odd years attempting unsuccessfully to father another. His only son, Emperor Zhou, had a bodily abnormality that the Retired Emperor despised. He nevertheless raised him as an ordinary boy and began selecting women for him at thirteen, hoping to secure a descendant he considered physically whole 5 15.

The Retired Emperor once arranged a possible replacement from a collateral branch. He offered Emperor Zhou the option of surrendering his flood dragon fortune, faking his death, and disappearing from the imperial family 19.

Abdication and the Crown Prince’s Appointment

After Consort Dong gave birth to Wu Junzheng, the Retired Emperor hurriedly passed the throne to Emperor Zhou. Wu Junji interprets this as an attempt to preserve his reputation. The narrative also states that he abdicated to restrain himself from deposing his son and appointing his preferred grandson 2 5.

Before Wu Junji’s birth, he secretly consulted multiple diviners. All predicted that the eldest grandson would bring national prosperity and that choosing otherwise would invite calamity. Still unconvinced, he later asked Abbot Tianxuan to examine Wu Junji personally 5.

Tianxuan declared that Wu Junji possessed an emperor’s destiny. The Retired Emperor accepted the omen, endorsed his appointment, and said he would await the boy’s General Summoning at age three. He subsequently presided over the Crown Prince’s investiture alongside Emperor Zhou 5 6.

Hostility Toward Wu Junji

His formal approval did not become affection. Emperor Zhou later discovered that the Retired Emperor had ordered someone to open the infant Wu Junji’s windows to harm him secretly; the child protected himself by wrapping up in a blanket 11.

When Wu Junji sought help obtaining a separate palace, an attendant turned him away on the elders’ behalf. Later, the Retired Emperor explicitly told him that he disliked him, then took him to the Palace of Eternal Longevity and ignored him while praising and rewarding Wu Junzheng 9 14.

The Empress Dowager understood this treatment as a demonstration of displeasure toward Emperor Zhou. The Retired Emperor regarded both father and elder grandson as aberrations, while considering Wu Junzheng Great Zhou’s ideal successor 15.

General Summoning Conflict

The Retired Emperor began Wu Junzheng’s General Summoning before the agreed time. After the second prince obtained Three-Seven False Flood Dragon fortune, he attempted to dismiss the court without allowing Wu Junji his ceremony 16 17.

Emperor Zhou ordered Chen Yang to block the doors, but eventually let the Retired Emperor and ministers leave. The Retired Emperor insisted that if Emperor Zhou wanted the Crown Prince tested, he should guide the demanding ritual himself 17.

When Emperor Zhou exposed his severed-tail flood dragon fortune, the Retired Emperor struck Wu Junzheng for pointing out its missing tail. The blow served as a warning to the watching officials, who immediately proclaimed their loyalty to Great Zhou 18.

Wu Junji’s manifestation of Human Emperor fortune overturned the succession calculations. The Retired Emperor accepted his claim to the Crown Prince position, while officials shifted their allegiance toward Emperor Zhou and his son 19.

National Pact and Loss of Leverage

The Retired Emperor secretly signed a National Pact with the Demon Domain that traded away Wu Junji’s Human Emperor fortune for tangible benefits. Wu Junzheng also discovered that he had been included in the arrangement, despite being his grandfather’s favorite 29 38.

Emperor Zhou had been told that attending Jixia Academy would let Wu Junji begin his schooling early, make friends, and ease Great Zhou’s finances. After discovering the Crown Prince’s abuse there, he destroyed the academy and returned to a palace surrounded by Chen Yang’s Northern Army 36 37 38.

Emperor Zhou then announced that he had become a dragon and no longer needed his father to lead the next war against the Demon Domain. He beat the Retired Emperor in a brawl and recovered the secondary imperial seal 38.

A self-reproach decree issued in the Retired Emperor’s name helped Emperor Zhou manage the political consequences of Jixia Academy’s destruction. Despite their broken relationship, the Retired Emperor later persuaded him to send Wu Junzheng to Minglu Academy alongside Wu Junji 39 50.

Appearance

• Described as a sturdy little old man in his fifties 5.
• His authoritative gaze is described as having “dragon eyes” when he looks down on Wu Junji 14.

Personality

The Retired Emperor judges descendants by bodily conformity, bloodline, and their usefulness to the dynasty. He dismisses Wu Junji’s appetite and frailty as evidence of unfitness, while praising Wu Junzheng’s health, manners, and early interest in swordplay. He also blames Wu Junji for their distant relationship despite his own openly hostile treatment 14 15.

His interest in religion combines devotion with practical caution. He questions Abbot Tianxuan about fish, grandsons, and lifespan, and worships in both Buddhist and Daoist halls. He explains that palace deaths may leave unclean influences and that using both traditions means he has done everything possible to guard against them 5 14.

Abilities & Skills

Dragon Fortune and General Summoning

• Summoned twenty-one generals, qualifying for Three-Seven False Flood Dragon fortune 15 16.
• Possesses golden dragon fortune, initially superior to Emperor Zhou’s incomplete flood dragon fortune 16 17.
• His qualification to lead the war against the Demon Domain gives him leverage over the reigning emperor and court 17.

Imperial Seal Knowledge

• Passed down the teaching that the Jade Seal can accomplish what its wielder desires, provided sufficient fortune is available to activate it 46.
• His Fate Line appears reddish gold when Emperor Zhou reveals the imperial family’s threads through the Jade Seal 46.

Summoned General

• Emperor Zhou has never seen the Retired Emperor’s summoned general and does not know its ability 21.
• The identity, condition, and powers of that general remain unconfirmed in the provided passages 21.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Secondary imperial seal / Deputy Imperial Seal — Recovered from him by Emperor Zhou after their confrontation. Wu Junzheng later explains that it carries authority equivalent to the Jade Seal 38 42.
• National Pact — Secret agreement with the Demon Domain involving the princes and Wu Junji’s Human Emperor fortune 29 38.
• Self-reproach decree — Used by Emperor Zhou to ease the fallout from the destruction of Jixia Academy 39.

Relationships

• Emperor Zhou — Only son and successor. Their estrangement includes attempted replacement, competing court authority, and physical confrontations 5 16 19 38.
• Wu Junji — Eldest grandson and Crown Prince. Accepts his appointment under prophetic pressure but repeatedly undermines and mistreats him 5 11 14 17.
• Wu Junzheng — Favored grandson and preferred successor; nevertheless includes him in the Demon Domain bargain 15 29.
• Empress Dowager — Emperor Zhou’s mother and mediator in the father–son conflict. She eventually confronts him over Wu An and his claim to the throne 15 37.
• Wu An — Elder brother whom he denies having. The Empress Dowager identifies herself as Wu An’s summoned general 37.
• Abbot Tianxuan — Frequent target of his divination questions; Tianxuan’s judgment temporarily persuades him to support Wu Junji 5.
• Chen Yang — Commander whose Northern Army surrounds his palace. The Retired Emperor regrets allowing him to gain that command 37.
• Chen Yu — Spreads news of Chen Yu’s self-castration, damaging the Chen family’s reputation; is pleased by the development 50.

Notable Quotes

“Actually, I really don't like you.” — To Wu Junji 14

“If the emperor wants the Crown Prince to select his generals, he can guide the ritual himself.” 17

“Shut up! I have no elder brother!” — When confronted about Wu An 37