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墨書 Inktalez
The master of the mansion helped the two children inside and lit the lamps. The dim light dispelled some of the chill, revealing Emperor Shao and King of Chenliu, both covered in mud and looking disheveled. He settled them into chairs and poured a cup of warm water, gently asking, "Whose children are you? How did you end up in such a state?"
Emperor Shao lowered his head in silence, his hands trembling as he held the cup. King of Chenliu glanced at his brother, bit his lip, and finally spoke up, "We are not ordinary children. This is His Majesty the Emperor, and I am his brother, King of Chenliu. We were forced to flee due to the chaos caused by the Ten Eunuchs."
The master of the mansion was taken aback, the lamp in his hand shaking slightly as shock filled his face. "What?" He slowly crouched down to examine the two children closely. Their demeanor was markedly different from that of common beggars; an innate sense of nobility made him instinctively believe their words.
"The Emperor has fallen to such misfortune?" The master's voice was low, clearly shaken by the sight before him. He immediately knelt on the ground, bowing several times with deep remorse and respect. "I am Cui Yi, brother of the former Chancellor Cui Lie. I withdrew here because I was disheartened by the corruption of the Ten Eunuchs who sold positions and persecuted loyal officials. I never expected to see Your Majesty today!"
Emperor Shao was stunned, a flicker of surprise and hope crossing his eyes. He slowly reached out a hand to help Cui Yi up but had to let go due to his lack of strength. "Uncle Cui... please rise. I... am just a homeless orphan now; there is no need for such formalities."
Cui Yi lifted his head and saw Emperor Shao's haggard yet determined expression. His eyes reddened as he bowed deeply again. "Your Majesty deserves all respect; how could I be negligent! In these chaotic times with the Ten Eunuchs causing turmoil and loyal officials forced into hiding, it is my honor to provide shelter for Your Majesty!"
He stood up quickly and stepped aside, instructing his family to prepare food. Soon, steaming plates of simple yet heartfelt dishes were brought in. He knelt beside the table, carefully handing a bowl of rice to Emperor Shao. "Your Majesty, please eat something first; you and King of Chenliu are too thin."
Emperor Shao accepted the bowl with trembling hands, seeing the steaming white rice and a few slices of vegetables nearly brought him to tears. He whispered, "Thank you... Uncle Cui..."
King of Chenliu had already started devouring his food hungrily, rice scattered all over his mouth. Between bites, he mumbled, "Brother, hurry up and eat! Uncle Cui's food is much better than the cold noodles we had on our way!"
Cui Yi watched the two children with tears welling in his eyes. He made a silent vow that no matter what happened, he would protect both the Emperor and King of Chenliu; he could not allow them to suffer any further harm.
"Your Majesty, please rest easy here; I will do everything in my power to protect you," Cui Yi said firmly, anger and determination evident in his gaze. "If loyal ministers in court learn of your safety, they will surely come to bring you back to the capital and restore order!"
Emperor Shao nodded; although his face remained pale, for the first time he showed a faint smile. He lifted his head and softly said, "Uncle Cui... thank you."
Duan Gui fled desperately but ultimately could not escape his pursuers. Min Gong intercepted him with a group of men on the mountain path, swords glinting coldly in the moonlight as they surrounded Duan Gui.
"Rebel! Where is the Emperor?" Min Gong's voice was as cold as steel, sword pointed at Duan Gui's throat.
Duan Gui gasped for breath, sweat covering his face as he raised a hand to point into the distance, speaking incoherently, "I... I got separated from them! The Emperor... I don't know where he went!"
"Scoundrel!" Min Gong roared, stepping forward with his sword drawn and piercing Duan Gui through the chest. There was no hesitation on his face as blood splattered onto his armor. Coldly, he declared, "A shameless traitor like him is a menace that must be eliminated."
Duan Gui's body fell to the ground, and Min Gong cast a cold glance at it before ordering his men to sever the head and hang it from the horse's neck. He commanded, "Split the troops to search for the Emperor and the King of Chenliu! The rest of you, continue to pursue!"
The soldiers quickly dispersed, and Min Gong rode alone, searching along the way. His gaze was sharp, scanning every bush and hillside, fearful of missing any clues. Suddenly, his horse's hooves struck a flat area ahead, revealing a small courtyard with dim lights flickering at the entrance, suggesting some activity within.
Min Gong reined in his horse and glanced at Duan Gui's severed head hanging beneath its neck. A thought crossed his mind. He dismounted and strode toward the courtyard, knocking on the door and shouting, "Who is inside? Come out and respond!"
The mansion's Master, Cui Yi, heard the call and hurriedly opened the door. Under the light, he saw the bloody head hanging from Min Gong's horse and his expression changed slightly. "General, what is this...?"
Min Gong clasped his hands in salute and replied solemnly, "I am Min Gong from the Central South Office, tasked with searching for Emperor Shao and the King of Chenliu. May I ask if you have seen them?"
Cui Yi's expression shifted as if he understood something. He lowered his voice and cautiously asked, "May I inquire, General, whose head is that...?"
Min Gong smiled coldly. "This is Duan Gui. He conspired with Zhang Rang to abduct the Emperor and commit treason; I have personally executed him. However, I have yet to find any trace of the Emperor or the King of Chenliu."
A flicker of surprise and relief crossed Cui Yi's eyes as he took a deep breath and whispered, "General, please follow me."
He took up a lamp and led Min Gong through the courtyard into an inner room. Pushing open the door revealed a dimly lit space where Emperor Shao and the King of Chenliu sat beside a wooden bed. Though they had changed into clean clothes, their faces remained pale and haggard.
"Your Majesty!" Upon seeing them, Min Gong immediately knelt down, gripping his sword with both hands as tears of emotion welled in his eyes. "I have arrived late; I apologize for frightening Your Majesty!"
Emperor Shao lifted his head wearily. Struggling to contain his emotions, he said softly, "Min Gong, you have worked hard... I am unharmed thanks to Uncle Cui’s rescue."
Min Gong wiped away the moisture from his eyes and replied solemnly, "The nation cannot be without its ruler for even a day; I implore Your Majesty to return with me immediately for the peace of our land."
Cui Yi brought forth a frail old horse from beside him and apologetically said, "General, resources at home are limited; this is the only horse available. I hope Your Majesty can manage to ride it."
Min Gong nodded and personally assisted Emperor Shao onto the horse before taking hold of its reins. He mounted another horse alongside the King of Chenliu as they departed from the courtyard together.
As they traveled three miles, the sound of horse hooves approached from afar, illuminating the night sky with flickering flames. Ahead, a group of riders formed a line, led by Wang Yun and Grand Commandant Yang Biao. Following them were Left Army Lieutenant Chunyu Qiong, Right Army Lieutenant Zhao Meng, Central Army Lieutenant Bao Xin, and hundreds of armored soldiers led by Yuan Shao.
"Your Majesty!" Upon seeing Emperor Shao, Wang Yun immediately dismounted and knelt on the ground, his eyes filled with excitement and sorrow. "We have finally found Your Majesty!"
Emperor Shao looked at the kneeling officials and warriors, his eyes welling up with emotion as he gripped the saddle tightly. He spoke softly, "My loyal subjects, you have worked hard... I am finally safe, thanks to Heaven's protection."
Yuan Shao stepped forward, noticing Min Gong leading the horse with Duan Gui's head. He coldly declared, "The rebel has been executed; we must send the head back to the capital to proclaim it to the world!" He turned and ordered his men to help Emperor Shao down from his weak horse and onto a strong steed, while arranging for the King of Chenliu to mount another fine horse. The officials surrounded Emperor Shao as they resumed their journey back to the capital, tears streaming down their faces.
Sitting atop the horse, Emperor Shao gripped the saddle tightly, his fingertips turning pale from the pressure. His back was straight, and he struggled to maintain a composed expression, but only he knew that his heart was in turmoil. The bumpy mountain road seemed to shake the heavy stone pressing on his heart even more with each jolt, nearly suffocating him.
"Will I truly find peace upon returning to the capital?" He looked down at his small, pale fingers—fingers of an emperor that lacked any power over fate. He raised his head against the night wind; the capital appeared vaguely in his mind but no longer resembled the familiar place it once was.
He seemed to see raging flames erupting in the palace and those officials and courtiers contending for power with grotesque expressions. Each face pretended to bow respectfully before him while hiding coldness and schemes in their eyes. He heard voices arguing incessantly in the court; those sounds pierced his ears like sharp blades, causing him to instinctively shrink back.
"I am just a powerless emperor." A deep sense of helplessness washed over him as he envisioned He Jin's figure—the general who confidently walked through the palace gates only to become a victim of Zhang Rang's treachery. He could almost see Zhang Rang's cold smile; the shadow of the Ten Eunuchs still loomed over the court. And those loyal ministers who once saved him—he could not be certain if their loyalty could withstand the temptations of power.
"There will be another storm of bloodshed." Emperor Shao could almost foresee the future; his small frame was caught in a struggle among countless people, each wanting to use him to fulfill their ambitions while he had no strength to resist. His gaze gradually dimmed as thoughts swirled in his mind like a fog.
"I am nothing but a puppet." He whispered to himself, a wave of sorrowful self-mockery rising within him. He glanced at King of Chenliu beside him; his young brother was fast asleep on horseback, a carefree smile lingering on his lips. A pang of pain shot through Emperor Shao's heart, yet he said nothing more and silently draped his outer robe over King of Chenliu's shoulders.
He turned his gaze toward the horizon ahead; amidst the darkness, a faint glimmer of dawn emerged. Yet that light seemed both weak and distant in his eyes, as if it could never be reached. He gently closed his eyes and took a deep breath, striving to suppress the chaos within him but unable to quell the fear and loneliness surging from deep inside.
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