Vol 9 Chapter 19 (2/2)

“Father!” Liu Cong’s voice rang out shortly after and she too knelt down like I did before father’s bed with tears flowing down her face.

“Ah, Cong’er is here too huh?”

When I looked up, I saw that father’s countenance seemed a bit better. He was not looking at me, or at Liu Cong, and was merely staring at the rafters. Even so, he smiled. Looking at father closely, it seems like he’s lost some weight. The big, strong hand that once pulled me along felt thin and weak in mine.

“Father…” I began to feel tearful as I looked at father. Father has not treated me very well when I was young but he’s still my father. Now that I’ve grown up, I have accepted my past and it’s not like I’m suffering now.

I’m now grown up and father has become like this.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Father said as he strengthened his grip.

“Cong’er, father is fine.” He said as he reached out and touched Liu Cong’s forehead.

“But now, my blood brother…” His eyes bulged and looked towards us expectantly as he asked. As expected, the topic came to what he was likely most concerned about in no time at all.

Unfortunately, there is only disappointment.

“Father… Our search parties have returned.” I had to tell this to father who was gravely ill, no matter how cruel it may be, “Father has been resting for close to 10 days now and we have searched both downstream and up but we still haven’t seen any sign of uncle’s body.”

As I said so, I heard footsteps behind me. There was no need to turn back and look, it was definitely Cai Mao and Lady Cai.

“Only the riverbed has not been searched thus far for Imperial Uncle Liu.” Cai Mao said with a troubled look.

Just then, I could feel father’s grip tighten just as he roared, “Then search the riverbed! If you still can’t find him, then search every stream all the way down. If you still can’t find him even then, drain the river!” Father got more and more agitated as he went on and he was so angered that he actually managed to sit up.

“Father, please calm down.”

“Calm down?! How can I calm down!” Father shook his head and then looked at Cai Mao, “Why are you still here?!”

I turned and looked at Cai Mao and saw that her expression seemed to waver ever so slightly.

“Governor, why can’t you understand my intent in doing so?” Cai Mao said in a quicker pace than usual, “Now that Imperial Uncle Liu is dead, your empire can be–”

“This is not my empire! It’s the Great Han’s empire!” Father’s voice grew heavier as he yelled and his eyes glazed over as though he were seeing something, “My blood brother is different from me. All I can do is protect a small plot of land for the Great Han but Liu Bei, he can save the people! My subordinate killed the potential saviour of the world, what will the world think of me years later! How can I answer to my ancestors!”

“Jin Sheng! Is it that serious…” Lady Cai said in the hopes of laying matters to rest but before she could finish, father stopped her words with a harsh stare.

Father’s lips quivered for a long while and he gave a long sigh, “Hai!! Liu Bei, your elder brother has killed you!!!”

“Father…” I wanted to try and comfort him but the words stuck in my throat.

The words that father said echoed how I felt. If only I was able to come up with a more foolproof plan, things would not be as they are now.

“*Ke* *Ke* *Ke* *Ke* … Ah– *Ke* *Ke* *Ke* …”

“Father!”

“Father, Father!”

Liu Cong and I hurriedly got up and supported father when we saw him cough violently into his sleeve.

“Jin Sheng, I’ll get some of the usual medicine–” Lady Cai said as she turned to leave.

“No, I won’t have it.”

But father suddenly and swiftly lifted his arm and stopped Lady Cai who turned and looked at father with surprise, “W, what’s the matter?”

“Enough.” Father said as his breathing normalised and looked up at her, “I’ve had enough of that medicine. I know I’m beyond saving.”

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