Son of Heaven

In Heaven's Edict Hall, the Xia Emperor was still reading memorials. Among the emperors of every generation, this Xia Emperor might not have been a wise ruler, but he was undoubtedly the most diligent. Yet his indecisive nature had become his greatest shackle, leaving his achievements far behind those of his predecessors. The Xia Dynasty had stood still for thirty years without advancing. But in the turbulent tides of the present world, merely preserving what one had was failure; accomplishing nothing was itself a fault.

"I cannot become a sinner of the Xia Dynasty!"

The Xia Emperor knew his own weakness. That was why, this time, he had resolved to send troops to Northern Zhangyuan and no longer tolerate anyone who touched Great Xia's dignity.

Yet Heaven's Will was unfathomable, and fate toyed with men. Even the Son of Heaven could not divine Heaven's intentions.

"Empress, is what you said true?" Seated upon the dragon throne, the Xia Emperor's expression was grave as he asked in a deep voice.

Though he was only in his forties, half his hair had already turned white. Throughout his life, the Xia Emperor had committed no great wrongs, yet achieved no great merits. He had preserved the realm all his life, but toiled all his life as well. He alone had borne the weight of that vast imperial dynasty, exhausting his heart and mind. Though still in the prime of life, he was already nearly a lamp running out of oil.

"True beyond all doubt."

Changsun looked at the man who had accompanied her for half her life, and a sigh rose in her heart. The words of her elders from childhood—supporting one another, holding each other up—she had remembered them and tried her best to live by them. As for love, perhaps it truly did not belong in an emperor's household. She had never expected it either. Only that prematurely white hair spoke fully of time's mercilessness.

"Summon the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau."

With the imperial decree issued, a fast horse raced from the palace toward the east.

The people within the imperial palace waited in silence. The Xia Emperor descended from the dais and walked before the hall. Beside the bright Heart Constellation Emperor Star, a crimson star flickered with faint red light—dim, yet piercing to the eye.

"Yinghuo Shouxin."

Bitterness surfaced on the Xia Emperor's face. Could it be that his life was truly destined to bear the name of a foolish ruler?

Changsun did not step forward. She remained silent. The harem should not meddle in government affairs; she had given her warning, and that was enough.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau has arrived and awaits outside the hall."

Not long afterward, a eunuch entered to report. The Xia Emperor's bitter expression immediately returned to the majesty befitting an emperor.

"Summon him."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

At that moment, Changsun also rose and came before the Xia Emperor. She bent her knees in a salute. "This concubine shall take her leave first."

"Mm."

The Xia Emperor nodded in assent. It was improper for the Empress to remain while ministers came for an audience, lest it give others something to talk about—especially at such a sensitive time.

Changsun departed, and Shangguan Yuanming, Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, entered the hall shortly afterward. After kneeling and performing his salute, he waited for the Xia Emperor to tell him to rise.

Yet after waiting for a long time, Shangguan Yuanming still did not hear the Xia Emperor speak. Suddenly, his body trembled, and cold sweat poured down him.

"Shangguan Yuanming." The Xia Emperor finally spoke, his tone devoid of any emotion.

"This minister is here." Shangguan Yuanming kept his head lowered, his voice trembling.

"How long have you sat in the position of Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau?" the Xia Emperor continued.

"Ten years and three months." The fear in Shangguan Yuanming's heart grew ever stronger. His face turned ashen, and his body shook uncontrollably.

"Very good. Very good."

The Xia Emperor repeated the words. His formerly calm face suddenly turned savage, and he slammed his palm onto the table beside him. "Ten years and three months! If I had raised a dog for that long, it should have learned loyalty by now!"

"This minister is guilty!" Shangguan Yuanming pleaded in terror, banging his head repeatedly against the floor.

"Where lies your guilt?" The savagery on the Xia Emperor's face gradually subsided as he asked coldly.

"This minister is untalented and ignorant, and has failed Your Majesty's trust." Shangguan Yuanming pressed his head to the ground, his voice trembling.

"Untalented and ignorant? What a fine 'untalented and ignorant'!"

Seeing that Shangguan Yuanming was still concealing the truth, the Xia Emperor could no longer suppress his rage. He seized the teacup on the table and hurled it down.

With a bang, the flying teacup smashed into Shangguan Yuanming's head. Blood immediately streamed down, staining the hall before him red.

"Speak! Who ordered you to do this?" The Xia Emperor fixed his eyes on him and barked.

He was no fool. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau was filled with capable people; how could they possibly have failed to calculate such a crucial celestial omen as Yinghuo Shouxin? Someone behind the scenes had surely deliberately suppressed this news in order to bring about the dispatch of troops.

Since ancient times, Yinghuo Shouxin had foretold war and disaster. If he raised troops at such a time, he would undoubtedly become a tyrant in the eyes of the world, one who had kindled the flames of war. Great Xia would become the target of every arrow. By then, Great Xia would no longer face only the Ancient Mongol Royal Court, but denunciation from the entire world. With the Eternal Night Divine Cult, which had long been stirring restlessly, Great Xia's thousand-year foundation would be utterly doomed beyond redemption. And he would become Great Xia's sinner.

At that thought, the Xia Emperor's body began to tremble. The fear and fury he had forcibly suppressed showed signs of erupting once more.

"This minister was ordered by no one."

Shangguan Yuanming raised his head. Blood ran down from his forehead, dyeing half his face crimson. At this moment, he instead became calm and answered in a deep voice.

"Good. Very good!"

The Xia Emperor took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His voice was icy.

"Men, throw Shangguan Yuanming into the death row prison. Also, send the Imperial Guards to surround Shangguan Yuanming's residence. Without my command, no one may enter or leave."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As the words fell, two imperial guards entered the hall and dragged Shangguan Yuanming away. In all of Heaven's Edict Hall, only the Xia Emperor remained seated upon the dragon throne, gazing at the sky ahead without a word.

After a long while, an unhealthy flush suddenly rose on the Xia Emperor's face. Then, with a pfft, scarlet blood spilled from his mouth.

"I cannot become Great Xia's sinner."

How sorrowful, how arduous. The human emperor who held power over the world, the mortal god with the sun and moon over heaven, could contend against men's hearts, yet could not contend against Heaven's Will. Was it Heaven's Will that toyed with men, or fate that toyed with gods? With that mouthful of sprayed blood, the answer sank clearly into darkness.

A thousand-year immortal dynasty was both glory and pressure. The Xia Emperor bore Great Xia's thousand years of glory; with every step, he had to weigh ten more. Was it caution, or hesitation? No one could see clearly, and no one could distinguish it.

The night was cold and clear, with a light breeze brushing past. Upon the dragon throne where the heights were too cold to endure, the Xia Emperor sat alone, unmoved even as spots of blood soaked his Dragon Robe. Outside the hall, the guards stood watch with vigilance, yet none dared step inside. This was Great Xia's emperor. So long as he remained seated upon that supreme dragon throne, no one dared defy the imperial countenance.

Nothing was more ruthless than an emperor's heart. The Xia Emperor's ruthlessness was not only toward others, but toward himself as well. His hair was mottled white, his body a lamp running out of oil. Twenty years as emperor, a hundred years in the mortal world.

"I am unwilling! I am unwilling!"

A thousand words turned into laughter that rose toward the heavens, filled with unwillingness. In the darkness, the gradually brightening star of Mars suddenly flared, then dimmed once more. Its silent change seemed to mock the ignorance of the human emperor.

At the next day's morning court, the anticipated decree to dispatch troops was not issued. All the ministers were astonished and turned together toward the Three Grand Ministers. Only the Three Grand Ministers could alter the Xia Emperor's already-set resolve. Yet the silent Three Grand Ministers remained silent, offering no opinion.

After morning court, the ministers withdrew, each harboring private thoughts, neither joy nor sorrow showing on their faces.

When the Three Grand Ministers upon their seats were also about to depart, the Xia Emperor stepped forward. Looking at Grand Tutor in his blue scholar's robes, he asked solemnly, "Teacher, if I take the wrong path this time, will you intervene?"

Grand Tutor was silent. After a long while, he softly uttered a single word. "I will."

The understated answer seemed to grant the Xia Emperor his greatest confidence. It let him know that when he reached a dead end upon his path as emperor, his teacher would extend a hand and pull him back.

The Three Grand Ministers departed calmly. The Xia Emperor remained seated alone in Heaven's Edict Hall as before, handling the affairs of the realm in silence, alone as always.

Weiyang Palace

Early in the morning, Ning Chen got up and spent half the day clanging and banging away at the doorway. Mu Chengxue took one glance and lost interest. Such petty mechanisms could only deal with children.

Ning Chen paid no heed to what Mu Chengxue thought. Once he was done, he admired his own handiwork for a while, then happily prepared to eat. Before leaving, he glanced at Mu Chengxue, split his lips in a grin, and smiled more brilliantly than blooming flowers.

Serves you right for being so arrogant. No food for you now, huh?

Weiyang Palace had a place specially for palace maids and eunuchs to eat. Ning Chen was now an exceptionally idle man. He arrived right on time to collect his food, and there were not many people in the dining hall yet.

"This one, this one, and this one too."

Ning Chen excitedly pointed at one dish after another. The old eunuch serving the food was honest enough to give him generous portions. It was clear that Changsun's palace treated its servants rather well.

"Give me some more of this too. Oh, right, pack it up for me." Ning Chen pointed at a basin of braised pork, his eyes shining.

"Hm?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Ning Chen looked up and suddenly noticed that the old eunuch had stopped moving. He could not help asking strangely, "What's wrong? Can't I have this?"

"What does 'pack it up' mean?" The old eunuch came back to his senses and asked in confusion.

It was an utterly ordinary question, yet it immediately put Ning Chen in a difficult spot. Looking at the bowl and ladle in the old eunuch's hands, his mind became a tangled mess.

No plastic bags, no takeout containers... How am I supposed to pack it up? How? How?

Ning Chen was a complete mess. In a daze, he tucked steamed buns into his clothes, carried three plates in his hands and mouth, and stumbled out of the dining hall.

"Wen you finish, I'll return the plates!" Before leaving, Ning Chen mumbled at the equally bewildered old eunuch. As for whether the old eunuch understood, that was no longer his problem.

On the road, he encountered Qing Ling. "Mornin', Sister Qing Ling."

Qing Ling frowned, then she too became a complete mess.

Fortunately, Ning Chen did not know any of the people he encountered afterward, saving him the trouble of greeting them. He dashed back to his quarters, kicked the door with his foot, and said, "Open the door."

Inside the room, Mu Chengxue had originally intended to come open the door upon hearing Ning Chen's footsteps. But when she heard that bizarre voice, she stopped again.

"Open the door, I've got things in my hands."

Ning Chen had bitten onto a plate all the way back and felt as though his cheeks were about to go numb. Seeing that Mu Chengxue would not open the door, he immediately grew anxious. Was she trying to tire him to death?

Mu Chengxue concentrated for a moment, confirmed that Ning Chen was the only one outside, then cautiously opened the door a crack.

"Move aside, move aside."

Seeing that the door had finally opened, Ning Chen hurriedly squeezed in. He took a few quick steps and set down the plates in his hands and mouth on the table, finally letting out a breath of relief.

"I'm exhausted." Ning Chen realized his tongue was all twisted, and his face changed in alarm. He hurriedly rubbed his cheeks hard.

"Let's eat."

Though his tongue had not recovered, Ning Chen could not wait to sit down. He pulled out the steamed buns tucked against his chest and prepared to start eating.

Mu Chengxue looked at the plates Ning Chen had held in his mouth and the buns he had tucked into his clothes. Light flickered in her eyes several times. In the end, she still sat down across from Ning Chen.

"The food's pretty good, right?"

Ning Chen happily picked up a piece of braised pork and put it into his mouth, deeply satisfied. He had bled; he needed to eat something good to replenish himself.

Mu Chengxue looked at the young man's thoroughly satisfied face and fell silent. After a moment, she softly asked, "Do you really want to learn martial arts?"