Epilogue (1/2)

EPILOGUE

Flying Into The Homes Of The Common People

In heaven’s recording of the fifth year, spring, Zhang Zhou’s old general Bai Wei led troops of one hundred and seventy thousands up north, saving Du Cheng from its siege, Nu King Ye Li was forced into retreat. The frontiers halted battles for more than two months, Qi Ling and Nu Tribe reaches settlement. Yet Ye Li actually mobilised troops to head down south during the peace settlement, Bai Wei thus suffering a great defeat, with the loss of eighty thousand soldiers outside Du Cheng, falling back to guard Tong Shu, Nu King is of valiant bearings, unwilling to give up and follows in pursuit, successively capturing three cities, Bai Wei’s hair grew white overnight, committing suicide in Xi Zhou.

Zheng Liu was outraged by this. The value of the Shu Clan is put forth in this moment, under desperate measures, Zheng Liu elects Shu Yu Cai as commander, leading troops in Xi Zhou, preventing Nu King Ye Li from advancing south. Shu Yu Cai had only just reached his twenties, skilled in all areas of astronomy and geography, and is particularly well versed in the art of war. Taking to brutal means, on the battlefield there is nothing he will hold back on, Nu King could also do nothing about this, the two sides continues their confrontation in Xi Zhou for five years, the war adding up to almost a hundred battles, the people residing by the frontier lines miserably suffers. In heaven’s recording of the tenth year, autumn, Nu King Ye Li’s body feeling unwell, thus retreats. In the winter of the same year, the two nations makes peace negotiations — with the exclusion of Xi Zhou — Tong Shu, Tu Lun Fan, Du Cheng, these three lands are ceded to the Nu Tribe, the two nations comes to a truce.

The Battle of the Jade Governor continued for five years, Emperor Zheng Liu of Qi Ling had his worries taking a toll on his health, body hit with a vicious disease, his condition sometimes good sometimes bad, the imperial physician at loss what to do, reaching the time of the year everything returns to spring, the season of flouris.h.i.+ng flowers, the truce between the two nations restored peace to the hearts of the people, yet Zheng Liu entered the state of being incurably ill, disregarding all medications.

“Your highness, your highness……” The palace maid hurriedly runs into the hall, the Empress who was sat behind the curtains with sleepy eyes, was startled by this cry, her eyes abruptly opens, unable to conceal how taken aback she is, “Is his majesty……”

“Reporting to your highness, his majesty urgently summons you, the imperial physician……the imperial physician says may your highness quickly go, any longer and it may be too late!”

The Empress deeply furrows her brows, combing back the hair on her temples, in that very moment, a flash of sorrow is revealed in her expression, but disappears without a trace, standing up, she orders, “Quickly summon the Imperial Lin Army’s Commander into the palace to await orders!” The personal palace maid quickly runs out, the Empress gently lets out a sigh, leading a group of palace maids and guards, she hurries towards Yu Gan Hall.

The outside of Yu Gan Hall filled with towering ancient trees, the spring sun s.h.i.+nes between the branches, a luxuriant green like jade, just that as one approaches, a thick herbal smell rushes up the nose, gloom follows the herbal smell in dispersing into the spring shades. The Empress steps into the hall, attentively looking over, this hall uses the reflections of gla.s.s to gather lighting, the lighting like strings of beads, the form it takes like a woman with hair done up in a highly pulled back bun, a great aesthetic style.

The countless times she has entered and exited this hall, but this one time, it is just like the first time she had stepped inside, heart at great unease, as though sensing an inner voice screaming within her chest, her heart beats faster, wanting to jump out of her chest. Inside the hall, so open and empty, deeply secluded, with not the slightest of sound, knowing that the Emperor has only summoned for her alone, the servants withdrawing to the left and right, she slowly paces into the hall.

“Is that Empress?” Behind the heavy curtains, a deep voice gently calls out, his tone very low, like an echo bouncing off the walls.

“Your majesty, it is I!”

The one behind the curtains seems to have let out a sigh, but also seems to not have let out a sigh, the Empress lowers her eyes, the bottom of her feet smooth and flat like a mirror, she lightly holds up her skirt as she heads forward, leaving behind a very light shadow.

“Help me up!” Zheng Liu says. The Empress hurries forward, rolls up the curtains, half sitting on the side of the bed, reaching out to help Zheng Liu up, placing an embroidered pillow behind him, beyond the curtains there contains a type of smoked ambergris scent, surging up the nose, making her feel a little dizzy, seeing the situation beyond the curtains, her heart is. .h.i.t with shock, a richly sour feeling hits nose, and she was practically about to break down in tears, mouth unable to refrain from softly calling out: “Your majesty……”

Zheng Liu smiles, ever since he had fallen gravely ill, it seems to be the first time he had revealed a smile: “I just had a dream, dreamt of seeing Mother Empress, she says I had been lying here for too long, should I lie here any longer, this country of the Zheng Clan’s will end up in the hands of others……”

“Your majesty……” The Empress lowly murmurs, the tears unknowingly falling down, “Your majesty’s dragon body is priority, the big matters within court naturally has, naturally has……” Anxiety rising in her heart, all of a sudden, unable to think of anyone else in court who is worthy of mentioning.

Zheng Liu closes his eyes, calmly saying: “I am ill, but not old, what the imperial court is looking like right now, how could I not know? Empress, I have made an imperial decree several days ago, placed on the table, you go help me get it.”

The Empress nods, wiping away her tears, she stands up, coming up to the table, a piece of paper placed on top of the dark red wood, a few lines of words hastily written over it, the imperial decree laid out flatly, her eyes sweeps across, seeing the two words “eldest son”, heartbeats like thunder, hands refusing to listen to the mind as it trembles, touching upon the imperial decree, she dares not to look at it anymore, hurriedly rolling it up. Within this lifetime of hers, she has received countless imperial decrees, but only the one in her hands, seems to weigh heaviest, as heavy as thousands of jin.

Zheng Liu does not even glance at the paper in the Empress’ hands, only saying: “You take a look.” The Empress’ hands starts trembling, unable to suppress the feelings of worries, panic, and also that type of indefinable sense of unpredictable overcast, slowly unrolling the paper, those few lines, she has stared at for a very long time, her brows creasing together, as she says: “Your majesty wants to mobilise the southern army to eradicate Prince Duan? But, but doing this, is it not, forcing him into revolting? Also the Shu Clan, they gained merit for the Battle of the Jade Governor, yet your majesty……your majesty wants……”

“Empress,” Zheng Liu cuts off the Empress’ speech, face looking more pale white than that of paper, his right hand slightly raises, “I know, Yu Yan He of Jin Yang is your a.s.sistant in power, he can be a great supporter, in future, can become one of your strong pillars in court. The old minister of three generations, Yan Gang, is most loyal to our Zheng Clan, in future when Xuan-er succeeds the throne, old ministers like him still needs to be relied upon. You remember, master is weak, subjects are deceiving, number one – must guard against those who hold great power, number two – must guard against being a weak master with overpowering subjects, number three – must guard against those of royal bloodline……Prince Duan is currently a.s.sembling forces gradually, has long lost the heart to be subject, taking advantage of him having not an ounce of suspicion right now, destroy him in one strike, should this opportunity be missed, once I leave, you mother and son alone, how are you to stand against him……?” He has spoken so much in one breath, seeming to have already exhausted himself, his brows tightly knitting together.

The Empress was just about to speak, but was stopped by the look in his eyes, after taking a little break, Zheng Liu continues: “The Shu Clan are a hidden danger, but can temporarily be put aside for now, should you go against both the Shu Clan and Prince Duan at the same time, it will instead make them join hands, then this country of our Zheng Clan can no longer be protected. Two powerholders plotting against the lesser, the meaning behind this, you should be well aware of……Empress, Xuan-er is too young, I electing him as future emperor, who knows how many conniving wolves will be hiding in the shadows, Empress, in future you must not act impulsively, can only carefully plan out your path, first kill Prince Duan, then destroy the Shu Clan!”

The Empress upon seeing him forcefully keep his eyes open, an extraordinary splendour in his eyes overflowing, immediately panics, as she persuades: “What your majesty has said, I know, I know……your majesty, you take care of your dragon body, these big matters will not be too late to take care of once your majesty gets better……”

Yet Zheng Liu seems to not have heard her, mind at ease as though in deep sleep, abruptly, he waves both his hands, right hand grabbing upwards, but is unable to get hold of anything, his peaceful face reveals a trace of deep sorrow, mind seeming to have already turned hazy, his lips muttering: “Empress……Empress……”

“I am here.” Reaching out her hands, taking old of Zheng Liu’s struggling right hand, the palm of his hand cold like ice.

“You tell me, where is she, just where is she?”

She? Which she?

The Empress parts her lips, but senses a bitter feeling in her mouth, with not a single word coming out, instead, a string of tears comes rolling down, marking a blotch of dark yellow on her chest.

Zheng Liu widens his eyes, directly looking into the veiled curtains, hastened tone revealing his disorderly state: “Did that arrow hit her? Did it hit her……who is to tell me, if it hit her?”

The Empress stiffly leaves him to grab onto her hand, Zheng Liu’s grip tightens the longer he holds on, a state of utter panic, seeming to be grabbing onto something with his life, and all seems to be completely in vain.

Hand sensing pain, heart, seems to be even more in pain, as though a roar is trying to break out from her chest, and the moment she parts her lips, that roar only comes out in the form of gentle words: “Your majesty……already pa.s.sed, that has already pa.s.sed, it has already been five years ah……”

Zheng Liu was stunned, the evident panic between his brows lightening up, yet the sorrow thickens: “Five years, it’s been five years? Why do I feel it was but only a moment ago, I see her every night in my dreams, she is smiling, smiling so sweetly, I have never seen her smile like that before……why has she never smiled at me? Ye Li’s arrow shot her, I almost went crazy upon hearing the news, hating to be unable to kill Ye Li immediately on the spot, I have sent for so many people to look into it, but have not gotten any news of her……exactly is she dead or alive? What about Lou Che, he too had disappeared, where has he gone? I am waiting for his return, return to fight a decisive battle against me, why is he too not returning……she and he, exactly where have they gone? You all tell me……where have they gone?”

His last sentence shouted out aloud, the loose hair as though dyed in frost scatters by his cheek, eyes looking lax. The Empress kneels beside the bed, half sprawled on Zheng Liu’s body, suppressing his struggle, eyes and nose running, burying her head into Zheng Liu’s chest, clearly hearing that “putong putong” heartbeat, so close to her, in the end, she could no longer tell whose heartbeat it is.

“Your majesty……your majesty……please stop thinking about it, it’s already been so long, already been so long ah……” The Empress wails, “Your majesty, Prime Minister Lou is not returning, that one arrow, ended everything, Prime Minister Lou is most unwilling to give up his power, but for Gui Wan, he is willing to do anything……your majesty, please stop thinking about it, they are not returning, not returning!”

The hall suddenly turns silent, other than the Empress’ wailing, nothing more can be heard, the struggles and cries just now, fades away as though it was all but an illusion. The Empress raises her head, tears blurring both eyes, Zheng Liu silently lies there, the Empress’ hand senses something wet and warm, upon a closer look, Zheng Liu’s face, actually has wet trails.

“Lou Che willing to give up all for her, I know, if not he would not have kneeled before me back then, is this the reason? I can present all treasures before her, yet for her, Lou Che is able to give up all these treasures……is this the difference? Ha-ha-ha-ha……” He crazily laughs out loud, his breathing unstable, “I was wrong, I missed the opportunity……back then I investigated her ident.i.ty, she too had once drawn the Emperor Swallow Stick, I should have kept her behind……I was wrong……”

“Your majesty,” The Empress withdraws the hand suppressing Zheng Liu, “Back then I had tested her, she said she is simply not a phoenix that can enter the imperial family, it is her who gave up all these, not your majesty’s fault ah……”

It is uncertain whether Zheng Liu is able to clearly listen to these words, those eyes that were once deeply filled with brilliance gathers away its light, leaving a deep deep black, one look sees a bottomless pit: “She doesn’t want……what I give, she doesn’t want!”

He softly says, only speaking for himself to hear. The Empress hears this, sensing nameless sorrow. After a long time, Zheng Liu had already restored his quiet, the corner of his lips hangs a faint smile, just the same as usual.

“Empress, you tell Xuan-er, I am not a good father, I will be leaving behind the two of you, to continue to struggle for this imperial throne. Just that I have a few words to leave for Xuan-er, tell him, the imperial throne, is honey on the tip of the blade, should you grow greedy for that sweet taste, you will be entangling yourself in a b.l.o.o.d.y mess, and those around you will avoid, give way, such taste, is far too lonely……”

Heart as though a hole had been drilled through, empty, painfully worried, the Empress forces herself to nod her head with a smile: “Yes, I will naturally convey this.”

Zheng Liu says no more, the Empress takes hold of the blanket beside the bed, gently covering him with it. The lighting in the hall overflowing, filling up the s.p.a.ce behind the curtains, faces pale and cold, chin pointy, an entire face giving rise to a layer of light green. She looks at his face, heart beating like a drum, within the heavy silence, she hurriedly turns away, covering her face with her sleeve, wiping away the tears.

The entire hall in complete silence, quiet to the extreme, Zheng Liu tossed and turn just now, very tired, seeming to be in deep sleep. Within this quiet hall, only his breathing can be heard, every inhale and exhale, deep and shallow. She holds back her breath to listen, yet her eyes wanders around the inner hall, the lighting outside the curtains frequently forming strings, pa.s.sing through the reflection of the gla.s.s, it carries slight colour, sometimes yellow, or red, casting upon the mirror-like tiled ground, the lighting appears alive, quietly spilling out from the air.

How long has it been since she has experience such silence before? So long even she herself has forgotten. These past few years, did she have any moment that is like today’s?

Since the Battle of the Jade Governor started, first it was Ba Wei who got defeated, committing suicide in Xi Zhou, following on, his majesty had been physically and mentally exhausted, severely ill, on one hand, the imperial court goes through reformations, eliminating those of the Lou faction, on the other hand, Prince Duan is unable to remain still……for how many years has she survived outside this hall?

Pile after pile of happenings, which of these did not leave people worried, stuck in a dilemma?

She lowers her head, noticing her own hand, smooth and tender, fair like jade, still looking like a young girl in her twenties, not at all seeing the signs of aging. But deep inside, she is well aware, she is already old, even if her appearance remains the same as the past, the heart, has already grown old.

Within these five years, she has been in this hall, watching Zheng Liu grow weaker and weaker, moment after moment of aging, only feeling that these days are so long, with no limits and boundaries……just like this, pus.h.i.+ng the heart to mature.

Upon thinking this, she cannot help but to sense a sour feeling in her heart, silently letting out a soft side, turning around, she catches glimpse of Zheng Liu’s bright yellow sleeve hanging outside the blanket, reaching out, she gently tucks it back into the silk covers. Within a trance, the hand under the covers abruptly grabs onto her wrist, heart sounding “putong”, giving her a little scare.

“Gui Wan?” Zheng Liu turns around, deeply calling out, voice a little unclear, seems like sleep talking.

Just now, she was still in a bit of daze, her thinking unclear, upon hearing this calling, a burst of chills. .h.i.ts her heart, her entire person wide awake, face turning red then white, the silk cover before her such a brilliant yellow, so bright to the point of blinding. She withdraws her hand, the force in this movement extremely great.

Zheng Liu is startled awake, opening his eyes: “En?”

The Empress was terrified, only now does she realised what she had done, hurriedly saying: “I was discourteous.”

Zheng Liu once again calls out: “Is Empress?” The Empress sounds a reply.

“You were watching over all along?” Zheng Liu’s spirits seems to be slightly better, “You too must be tired, so take a rest, the decree I gave you, take good care of it.”

The Empress is slightly stunned, only saying: “Your majesty, how about I continue to accompany you here?”

Zheng Liu did not expect her to say this, raising his head to get a good look, stupefied. Chest gradually feeling stuffy, breathing uneven, he was even having difficulty with breathing, not knowing where he got the strength, he waves his hand in irritation: “Withdraw, withdraw……I don’t need taking care of.”

Ever since Zheng Liu had fallen ill, his temper had always been bad, the Empress could only helplessly withdraw away from the curtains, kneeling on the ground: “I shall take my leave.” No one speaks from behind the curtains, she slowly stands, holding the imperial decree placed at the side, with slight movements from her fingers, it is put away into her sleeves. Settling down her feelings, she turns and leaves. With every step the colourful lighting from the gla.s.s circles around the floor, as she walks out of the large empty hall.

“He Chu……”

Hearing this sound of soft calling, her body is stunned, steps coming to a stop. Frantically looking back, staring towards the curtains unbelievingly, the wind gently blows, the pond-like ground ripples, sparkling gold.

Just like when she had just entered the palace to become Princess Consort, he had once stood beyond the curtains, half holding up the curtain, a smile hanging between his brows, softly smiling, every word calling out to her: “He Chu, He Chu……”

But this sound of calling, she has waited for, for ten years already.

“Your majesty,” She speaks up, voice trembling badly, words not matching the tune.

“I know, you and they are keeping it from me, not letting me know……” Beyond the hazy curtains, his voice is faint like a flat line.

The Empress slightly trembles, her lips parts, a mix of colour flas.h.i.+ng past her eyes, getting a splitting headache, yet deep inside she could only think: He knows, he knows everything, he knows everything……