Chapter 127: The Fall of an Emperor

It was the ninety-ninth day of Fan Li’s stay in Chang’an. For quite some time, he had not seen Cao Cao, Liu Bei, or Sun Quan. It was not as if the three had turned their backs on him simply because Dong Zhuo was dead; in fact, given the current state of the Han Dynasty, Fan Li’s influence had only grown.

Almost every day, envoys from the three houses came to visit him. They would offer apologies, claiming their masters were too occupied to personally pay their respects to the Duke of Jin, while simultaneously presenting extravagant gifts to prove that their houses would never dare to slight him. Fan Li, being a reasonable man, would beam and accept everything on the list, patiently reassuring each envoy that he was not offended and certainly did not believe the three lords were distancing themselves from him.

He knew, however, that they were indeed busy—busy with the business of replacing the dynasty.

The Fan Trading Firm spanned the entire realm, which meant that Fan Li’s eyes and ears were everywhere. For instance, in Chang’an, three renowned master tailors had recently received mysterious orders for custom-made dragon robes at exorbitant prices. While the origin of these orders could not be traced, the measurements could.

"So Cao Cao is that short?"

"Sleeves lengthened? This one must be for Liu Bei."

"Whoa! Sun Quan’s waist is this thick? What does he eat? I thought it was just cheese buns and milk tea spring rolls; I suppose he’s been eating too much of Minister Jiang’s tofu."

Muttering to himself, Fan Li tore the notes with the measurements into shreds. It was time for him to leave. An imperial decree had arrived from Weiyang Palace; the Han Emperor wanted to see him. Over the past three months, Fan Li had entered the palace many times, but always directly to Changle Palace. It suddenly dawned on him that he had not seen Emperor Liu Xie since the great battle.

Outside the palace, the sun was bright, yet inside, the halls were filled with blazing candles, as if the occupant had such failing eyesight that they could see nothing without light even in broad daylight. The illumination was so intense that as soon as Fan Li stepped through the gate, he saw an old man lying on a bed, his white hair and beard disheveled, eyes tightly shut, with Princess Changle personally attending to him.

When Fan Li stepped closer, he was shocked. The man’s skin was withered and gaunt, marked with dark age spots—a man clearly at the end of his tether. Yet, Fan Li immediately recognized him as Emperor Liu Xie. Just a hundred days ago, he had been a man in his prime, with regular, handsome features and an elegant air. Now?

Fan Li glanced from the Emperor to Princess Changle, who remained calm.

"He’s not dead yet, is he?" Fan Li’s tongue moved faster than his brain, and he accidentally blurted out his thought.

"...Correct, I am not dead." The Emperor opened his eyes, which were as murky as mud. He looked at Fan Li with unconcealed disdain.

"Haha," Fan Li scratched his head in embarrassment. "Your Majesty’s dragon body is robust, and your subject is overjoyed to see it."

"With which eye do you see my dragon body as robust?" The Emperor spoke slowly, shaking his head slightly. "My daughter, to be entrusted to someone like you."

Was this the tone of someone giving their final instructions?

Fan Li felt incredibly awkward, like a man living in sin while the father-in-law still insisted on playing the patriarch.

"Can you take good care of Changle?" seeing Fan Li remain silent, the Emperor urged him in a hoarse voice.

"...I can?" Fan Li wanted to say, "What does that have to do with me?" but he feared the Emperor's Qin Emperor Sword might leap from its scabbard.

After staring at Fan Li for a long time, the Emperor finally sighed. "The Jiajing Emperor will eventually unify the world. When the Ming army arrives at the city walls, how will you resist? And what will become of my Changle?"

"The Chu-Han alliance is as strong as iron. With the combined power of both nations, the Jiajing Emperor would never dare act rashly," Fan Li replied with the standard answer.

"A Chu-Han alliance?" The Emperor chuckled as if hearing a joke. "And if the Han Dynasty ceases to exist, what will you do then?"

A deathbed examination from a father-in-law? Why were all his questions so brutally honest? Fan Li suddenly realized that spouting platitudes would not only fail to appease the Emperor but would also make the man look down on him.

He straightened his expression and said, "Even without the Han, I remain a steadfast ally to Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan."

The Emperor’s gaze finally changed. "I knew it. You and those three... birds of a feather."

As a treacherous official, Fan Li had never been needled by an emperor like this. He felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

"What do you plan to do with my precious grandson?" the Emperor asked with a stern face. "As far as I know, the title of Marquis of Liyang is hereditary in the Fan family. In this generation, it is inherited by your elder brother, Fan Ming, who has no heirs?"

Fan Li’s expression was strange as he replied, "My brother will have children sooner or later, and the title will surely be inherited by his legitimate son."

"What? My grandson carries the blood of the imperial house, yet he cannot compete with your brother’s son?! You have the nerve to call yourself a father..." The Emperor was about to fly into a rage, but Fan Li stopped him with a single sentence.

"Is the position of Crown Prince of Chu not superior to the hereditary title of Marquis of Liyang?"

The Emperor’s mouth hung open. He remained stunned for a long time before pointing at Fan Li’s nose and cursing, "I almost forgot! You are just like that scoundrel Dong Zhuo—a traitorous official! To steal the dragon and replace it with a phoenix—I truly marvel at your audacity to speak of such schemes! How arduous it was for the King of Chu to found his nation, and yet you have usurped the divine vessels..."

The Emperor went on cursing for a long time, unable to stop, spraying spit all over Fan Li’s face. Fan Li wiped his face and asked, "According to Your Majesty’s meaning, should we give up the position of Crown Prince of Chu?"

"How dare you suggest giving it up!?" The Emperor glared at him.

*Ah?* Then why were you scolding me? Fan Li dared to think it but dared not say it; after all, the elderly cared most about their dignity.

"Does Your Majesty have anything else? If not, this subject will take his leave, so as not to disturb your rest," Fan Li said timidly. He waited for a response, only to find no one was paying him any attention. The Emperor was holding Princess Changle’s hand, the father and daughter communicating through their eyes.

Fan Li dared not utter another sound, fearing he would anger the old man again. He stood awkwardly by the dragon bed, feeling like the only superfluous presence in this scene of filial piety.

Finally, the Emperor spoke. "I have used these hundred days to slightly repay the debt I owed the people. Changle, I am not a good father. What I can leave you... is ultimately too little."

Princess Changle smiled in silence.

"Fan Li."

"Ah, yes?" Fan Li responded reflexively upon hearing his name.

"Tonight, I grant you permission to stay overnight in Changle Palace."

Fan Li was about to refuse, but he met the Emperor’s unquestionable gaze. "...Your subject obeys," he could only say.

To his surprise, as soon as he agreed, the Princess stood up and pulled him toward the exit. Soon, they arrived at Changle Palace. Fan Li couldn't help but ask, "What did your father mean by that?"

"Nothing." The Princess waved her hand, signaling the ladies-in-waiting and eunuchs to leave. The palace doors were bolted shut, and even the windows were closed. The sunset glow spilled through the cracks, landing on the Princess's magnificent robes.

The next second, the robes slipped to the floor. Before Fan Li’s eyes appeared the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. The Princess’s stunning face held an aura as holy as an immortal.

"Whenever you came to Changle Palace, Father knew we were merely chatting. Father wishes for harmony between husband and wife. Just one night is enough... to make Father happy..."

The Princess’s tone was gentle, yet her actions were uncharacteristically forceful. In the face of her Qi-Refining cultivation, there was truly no room for resistance. Fan Li hoped for it to end, yet occasionally hoped his resistance would succeed. Unfortunately, by the time dawn arrived and the first ray of morning light pierced through the window, he remained the loser.

Suddenly, a bell tolled from Weiyang Palace, desolate and heavy. Princess Changle froze, saying nothing. Fan Li was silent as well, not even wiping away the teardrops that fell onto his cheek.

After a long time, the Princess finally whispered, "Father... has passed away."