He didn’t understand the sinking feeling in his chest.
“Younger Brother, have you forgotten? Back then, you even pleaded me. You said that you fancied that person. You said, ‘Imperial Brother, I want him’.” His voice sunk into a perfect imitation of Xuan Cheng’s voice. “‘If our Qin Kingdom and the Yan Kingdom become one house, then please give that man to your Younger Brother.'”
It looked like these events were true. The history books read that the year of Fu Jian’s ascension, he had toured the nearby kingdoms. It made sense that he would visit the Yan Kingdom too.
Xuan Cheng grabbed his stomach. He didn’t know why, but it felt like something had stabbed through his heart.
“No,” Xuan Cheng said, and settled into a momentary silence. “I don’t want him, Imperial Brother.” His voice seemed to become more and more desperate. “If you really annex the Yan Kingdom, I don’t want him! Please don’t want him too, alright?”
Fu Jian titled his head and drank down another cup of wine. He smiled, although the expression was insipid. “Foolish Younger Brother, what are you talking about? How can I not want him, how can you not want him? As long as our Qin Kingdom annexes the Yan Kingdom, the Murong Clan will become our Fu Clan’s people. Then, he will be ours.”
Xuan Cheng’s heart palpitated. That was right. This was history, so how could it not happen? This year was the fourth year of Fu Jian’s reign, 369 CE. There was only a year left.
How was it enough?
But what exactly was the purpose of his transmigration here? Was it to prevent Fu Jian from making that terrible mistake, or was it to assist him in establishing the Qin Kingdom into a powerful dynasty?
If it was to establish the Qin Kingdom into a powerful dynasty, then he needed to conquer each and every one of those scattered Northern tribes and small countries, including Former Liang, Dai, and Chouchi. However, if it was to prevent Fu Jian’s mistake, then he couldn’t allow Fu Jian to attack the Yan Kingdom.
Xuan Cheng’s head began to ache again. He grabbed his head, his fingers wrapping around his hair.
“Younger Brother.”
Fu Jian’s voice was as gentle as always.
Why? Why are you always as gentle was water, like a kind madam?
Xuan Cheng forced out a question. “You are the Emperor. You are the ruler of all the people in Great Qin, so how can you act like this?”
Fu Jian rubbed his shoulders. His strength was as light as silk, as if he was afraid of using too much force and hurting Xuan Cheng.
But Xuan Cheng would almost prefer it more if Fu Jian used more strength. Then, he would have more of the tyrannical and domineering air of an Emperor.
The servants came and refilled the wine. Fu Jian, slightly intoxicated, gave a muddled laugh. “Younger Brother, come, let’s go to the palace.”
“I knew it. The reason you came here was for that Empress Dowager Gou.” Xuan Cheng stood up from the stone bench. In the pavilion, sunlight scattered onto his shoulders, casting him with golden light.
Fu Jian slowly turned to look at him. “I already told you, I’m just the go-between. As long as I can bring you to the palace, then our trip back to Chang’an will not have been wasted.”
He also slowly rose from the bench. But perhaps because he had drank too much recently, his body wobbled unstably, looking as if it would collapse any moment. He bared his teeth, an anger forming on his face. “This trash craftsmanship, see if We won’t destroy you!”
Xuan Cheng pulled at his raised arm. “I’ll return with you to the palace.”
“Really?” Fu Jian sobered in an instant. All of his drunkenness seemed to disappear.
Xuan Cheng felt some regret at his soft-heartedness.
This was Xuan Cheng’s first time entering the Imperial Palace.
He walked slowly, half-wishing that he could leave behind some remnant of his visit here. Perhaps a footprint, the sound of his footsteps, or a piece of grass tracked in from outside?
The multifloras had not withered yet. How had these flowers survived under the shadow of the blue palace walls?
Although the atmosphere in the garden was quite and grand, the sudden appearance of those ugly and eye-catching flowers ruined the harmony of the environment. The beautiful and delicate flowers grew along with common weeds, which gave the whole garden a strange aesthetic.
He caught eye of Weiyang Palace. This was the palace that had been passed down through the generations since Qin Shihuang, the true emblem of an emperor’s power and supreme authority.
He saw Ganquan Palace. This served as the Inner Palace of all the emperors since the Qin Dynasty. That building always seemed to be fluttering, whether the gentle flickering of candlelight or the curtains dancing to the wind. Still, other than the Emperor himself, it was the only place where no one could touch.
Next to Ganquan Palace were several assortments of smaller palaces. He couldn’t recognize the words written on the plaque, instead turning his head to look at a nearby lake.
Fu Jian said, “That is the Jianzhang Palace. That lake is known as Jade Lake.”
Why did Fu Jian feel the need to explain? Wasn’t Fu Rong his younger brother? Wasn’t he familiar with these surroundings since a young age?
Xuan Cheng didn’t make respond. Instead, he slowly walked to riverbank. In the winter weather, his breath came out in little clouds of white.
The lake hadn’t froze over yet. The water was still and limpid.
The lake water reflected the image of a person.
That person was wearing a large robe, with a silver mian balanced on his head. His complexion was as white as jade, while his countenance seemed noble and scholarly.
Who was he?
He heard a voice speak from the inner depths of his heart.
That voice replied, “Xuan Cheng, this is you.”
He didn’t understand the sinking feeling in his chest.
“Younger Brother, have you forgotten? Back then, you even pleaded me. You said that you fancied that person. You said, ‘Imperial Brother, I want him’.” His voice sunk into a perfect imitation of Xuan Cheng’s voice. “‘If our Qin Kingdom and the Yan Kingdom become one house, then please give that man to your Younger Brother.'”
It looked like these events were true. The history books read that the year of Fu Jian’s ascension, he had toured the nearby kingdoms. It made sense that he would visit the Yan Kingdom too.
Xuan Cheng grabbed his stomach. He didn’t know why, but it felt like something had stabbed through his heart.
“No,” Xuan Cheng said, and settled into a momentary silence. “I don’t want him, Imperial Brother.” His voice seemed to become more and more desperate. “If you really annex the Yan Kingdom, I don’t want him! Please don’t want him too, alright?”
Fu Jian titled his head and drank down another cup of wine. He smiled, although the expression was insipid. “Foolish Younger Brother, what are you talking about? How can I not want him, how can you not want him? As long as our Qin Kingdom annexes the Yan Kingdom, the Murong Clan will become our Fu Clan’s people. Then, he will be ours.”
Xuan Cheng’s heart palpitated. That was right. This was history, so how could it not happen? This year was the fourth year of Fu Jian’s reign, 369 CE. There was only a year left.
How was it enough?
But what exactly was the purpose of his transmigration here? Was it to prevent Fu Jian from making that terrible mistake, or was it to assist him in establishing the Qin Kingdom into a powerful dynasty?
If it was to establish the Qin Kingdom into a powerful dynasty, then he needed to conquer each and every one of those scattered Northern tribes and small countries, including Former Liang, Dai, and Chouchi. However, if it was to prevent Fu Jian’s mistake, then he couldn’t allow Fu Jian to attack the Yan Kingdom.
Xuan Cheng’s head began to ache again. He grabbed his head, his fingers wrapping around his hair.
“Younger Brother.”
Fu Jian’s voice was as gentle as always.
Why? Why are you always as gentle was water, like a kind madam?
Xuan Cheng forced out a question. “You are the Emperor. You are the ruler of all the people in Great Qin, so how can you act like this?”
Fu Jian rubbed his shoulders. His strength was as light as silk, as if he was afraid of using too much force and hurting Xuan Cheng.
But Xuan Cheng would almost prefer it more if Fu Jian used more strength. Then, he would have more of the tyrannical and domineering air of an Emperor.
The servants came and refilled the wine. Fu Jian, slightly intoxicated, gave a muddled laugh. “Younger Brother, come, let’s go to the palace.”
“I knew it. The reason you came here was for that Empress Dowager Gou.” Xuan Cheng stood up from the stone bench. In the pavilion, sunlight scattered onto his shoulders, casting him with golden light.
Fu Jian slowly turned to look at him. “I already told you, I’m just the go-between. As long as I can bring you to the palace, then our trip back to Chang’an will not have been wasted.”
He also slowly rose from the bench. But perhaps because he had drank too much recently, his body wobbled unstably, looking as if it would collapse any moment. He bared his teeth, an anger forming on his face. “This trash craftsmanship, see if We won’t destroy you!”
Xuan Cheng pulled at his raised arm. “I’ll return with you to the palace.”
“Really?” Fu Jian sobered in an instant. All of his drunkenness seemed to disappear.
Xuan Cheng felt some regret at his soft-heartedness.
This was Xuan Cheng’s first time entering the Imperial Palace.
He walked slowly, half-wishing that he could leave behind some remnant of his visit here. Perhaps a footprint, the sound of his footsteps, or a piece of grass tracked in from outside?
The multifloras had not withered yet. How had these flowers survived under the shadow of the blue palace walls?
Although the atmosphere in the garden was quite and grand, the sudden appearance of those ugly and eye-catching flowers ruined the harmony of the environment. The beautiful and delicate flowers grew along with common weeds, which gave the whole garden a strange aesthetic.
He caught eye of Weiyang Palace. This was the palace that had been passed down through the generations since Qin Shihuang, the true emblem of an emperor’s power and supreme authority.
He saw Ganquan Palace. This served as the Inner Palace of all the emperors since the Qin Dynasty. That building always seemed to be fluttering, whether the gentle flickering of candlelight or the curtains dancing to the wind. Still, other than the Emperor himself, it was the only place where no one could touch.
Next to Ganquan Palace were several assortments of smaller palaces. He couldn’t recognize the words written on the plaque, instead turning his head to look at a nearby lake.
Fu Jian said, “That is the Jianzhang Palace. That lake is known as Jade Lake.”
Why did Fu Jian feel the need to explain? Wasn’t Fu Rong his younger brother? Wasn’t he familiar with these surroundings since a young age?
Xuan Cheng didn’t make respond. Instead, he slowly walked to riverbank. In the winter weather, his breath came out in little clouds of white.
The lake hadn’t froze over yet. The water was still and limpid.
The lake water reflected the image of a person.
That person was wearing a large robe, with a silver mian balanced on his head. His complexion was as white as jade, while his countenance seemed noble and scholarly.
Who was he?
He heard a voice speak from the inner depths of his heart.
That voice replied, “Xuan Cheng, this is you.”
