Everlasting Rule, Source of Chaos (Part 2)

Everlasting Rule.

That was White Deer Grotto's vision. Once upon a time, the emperor had dismissed it as the ravings of scholars.

The Buddhist School sought nirvana, the Daoist School sought longevity; only a scant few could achieve such things, while everyone else chased reflections in the mirror and flowers in the water, a fleeting dream.

What the Confucian scholars sought—Everlasting Rule—was much the same.

But it seemed they now intended to put their ideas into practice.

The emperor waved his hand.

"Crown Prince, troubles rise on all sides. You must work hard."

"Yes, Father Emperor."

"You may return first. The day after tomorrow, when Wei Huaiwen returns to court, you are to lead the civil and military officials outside the city to welcome him."

"Everything has already been arranged."

The Crown Prince answered carefully. Wei Huaiwen's northern campaign had not achieved complete success, but a victory was still a victory. Since it was a victory, his father would not begrudge this old minister a measure of dignity.

No matter how many people at court criticized Wei Huaiwen, the Crown Prince knew that his father's trust in Marshal Wei remained unchanged.

Those people believed the repeated failures of the northern campaign had come from the emperor holding them back from behind the scenes, but the Crown Prince understood only too well how weak Great Liang had become under Xu.

"Good. I am weary. You may withdraw."

The emperor lightly waved his hand, retreating once more behind layers upon layers of curtains.

Above Jiankang's nightscape, the bright moon gently combed the drifting clouds. The lights of ten thousand households gleamed like scattered stars, stretching all the way to Ci Prefecture.

Liu Yidao slowly adjusted his clothes.

This time, he had changed into ordinary garments and held a longsword in his hand.