Chapter Twenty-Five: Liu Shan

Liu Shan’s gaze rested upon the sandalwood box. Ma Miao’s head lay silently on the silk lining, eyes slightly closed, his complexion a deathly pale, the severed neck already darkened. The Emperor’s fingers unconsciously traced the patterns on his jade ruyi, while his other hand flipped through the report of the victory. The ink on the parchment was still fresh; the words "Jiangyou Recaptured" and "Ma Miao Executed" stood out starkly, seemingly carrying the lingering scent of blood from the battlefield.

Incense smoke curled through the hall, yet it could not mask that faint, pervasive smell of iron. Liu Shan’s eyes drifted back and forth between the severed head and the document, the agitation previously stirred by Huang Hao and Qiao Zhou gradually settling.

When he looked up, the usual haze in his eyes had cleared somewhat.

"Since the General of the Guards has sent this report," Liu Shan’s voice sounded particularly dull in the vast hall, "then... the news of Liu Chen’s victory must be true."

Huang Hao hurried forward, his heavily powdered face contorted with a feigned expression of concern, and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Prince of Beidi is, after all..."

"Enough." Liu Shan waved his hand impatiently, the jade ruyi cutting a faint arc through the air. "What kind of decorum is this, all this weeping and wailing? The Prince of Beidi is out there suffering in the campaign, and you are here gossiping."

He paused, his voice rising slightly, and sneered, "Transmit my decree. Send a capable man to Jiangyou to observe the situation with the General of the Guards, and incidentally, ask for the details of the battle from the Prince of Beidi."

This pronouncement appeared fair, yet it made no mention of the "forging of imperial edicts" or the "seizure of military power." Huang Hao’s face turned a mottled shade of pale, but he could only nod in submission. Qiao Zhou stood in the shadow of a palace pillar, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes tightly knotted.

As he watched Liu Shan pick up the jade ruyi again, the despair in his heart grew like wild weeds—with such a muddled sovereign and such an absurd court, how could the Shu-Han not perish?

Once the decree was drafted and dispatched, Liu Shan waved for everyone to withdraw. He leaned back against the silk cushions and signaled for the musicians to continue their performance. But now, the seductive melodies no longer tasted as they once had.

As Qiao Zhou exited the palace, the setting sun was staining the walls the color of blood. His shadow stretched long across the stone steps, his frail body stumbling slightly in the twilight. Looking back at the towering palace, he let out a cold snort and turned toward the Crown Prince’s residence.

Crown Prince Liu Xuan was practicing Zhong Yao’s calligraphy in his study. Hearing that Qiao Zhou requested an audience, he laid down his brush, surprised. This Grand Master of Splendid Happiness was known to keep to himself and would never visit unbidden unless something of great importance had occurred.

"Master Qiao, you have come so suddenly—is there something urgent?" Liu Xuan led Qiao Zhou into the hall and poured wine for him personally.

Qiao Zhou finished his wine and went straight to the point: "Does Your Highness know of the Prince of Beidi’s act of forging an edict to seize military power? Regardless of the outcome of the battle, this act is, in name, resisting the enemy, but in reality, it is treason. The Army Inspector was sent by His Majesty himself, yet he was killed on a whim; military command is the lifeblood of the state, yet he seized it as he pleased. Does he still hold His Majesty in his eyes? Does he still respect the laws of the land?"

Liu Xuan’s brows furrowed. He unconsciously rubbed the rim of his tea cup and gave a bitter smile. "I have heard as much. My fifth brother has indeed won a great victory. The sixty-thousand-strong army of Deng Ai and Zhuge Xu has been routed, and Wudu and Jiangyou have both been reclaimed. This is a tremendous merit."

"Can merit negate such a transgression?" Qiao Zhou’s voice rose sharply, his graying beard trembling with agitation. "He holds seventy thousand troops and sends reports of victory from the front; the soldiers in the army know only the Prince of Beidi, not His Majesty! In the time of Emperor Wu of Han, the Crown Prince Li was forced into the Witchcraft Crisis precisely because he held too much military power!"

Liu Xuan set down his cup, his tone calm yet tinged with sharpness. He shook his head and said, "Master Qiao, you worry too much. My fifth brother has always been known for his loyalty and courage. If he truly had rebellious intentions, why would he fight Deng Ai to the death? The Wei army has not yet retreated, and this is a time when we need such men. If we were to pursue this matter now, would it not chill the hearts of our soldiers?"

Qiao Zhou stared at the Crown Prince’s young face, secretly startled. He had expected the Crown Prince to feel threatened by Liu Chen’s achievements, but he had not expected such composure.

He lowered his voice. "Your Highness is kind-hearted, but have you considered what will happen when the Prince of Beidi returns to the capital, demanding power based on his merits? How shall you and His Majesty conduct yourselves then?"

Liu Xuan’s expression faltered. How could he not know that his father favored his sixth brother, Liu Xun? For years, he had walked on thin ice as Crown Prince. He picked up the calligraphy practice sheet and gently smoothed out the wrinkles.

"If my fifth brother can truly keep the Shu-Han safe, that is a great merit. Not to mention power, even greater rewards would be deserved." Liu Xuan’s voice was soft but clear. "As Crown Prince, I only hope for the stability of the nation and the well-being of the people. As for the rest, I have never given it much thought."

Seeing the Crown Prince’s frank expression, Qiao Zhou was left speechless. He remained silent for a moment, then rose to take his leave, his silhouette appearing somewhat hunched.

After seeing Qiao Zhou out, Liu Xuan walked to the window alone. The evening glow on the horizon was as brilliant as blood. His fingers tapped unconsciously against the window lattice, and he murmured to himself:

"Fifth brother, do you truly intend to seize this position of Crown Prince?"

At the same time, Xi Zheng was walking briskly toward the Changle Palace. As the Secretariat Chief, he had just heard of the great victory at Jiangyou, and a rare joy appeared on his aged face. As long as the Shu-Han stood, his wealth was secure; if the Shu-Han fell, his entire clan would be in peril.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!" Xi Zheng bowed, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

Liu Shan was playing with his jade ruyi and did not even look up. He waved his hand and said, "Xi Zheng, draft an imperial edict for the archives. Command the Prince of Beidi, Liu Chen, to lead the Yulin Imperial Guards, with Zhuge Zhan as his deputy, to block Deng Ai’s advance."

The joy on Xi Zheng’s face froze instantly. His hands, holding the court tablet, trembled slightly, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. Looking down at the cold gold bricks beneath his feet, the warmth he had felt moments ago seemed to be doused by ice water.

"Your Majesty..." His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice rasping. "This edict is..."

Liu Shan finally raised his eyes, his gaze as deep as an ancient well. "Was this not already placed in the Stone Chamber?"

Xi Zheng looked up abruptly, the white hair at his temples trembling under the palace lamps. He had served two generations of the Shu-Han and had overseen official documents for over thirty years; he had never seen such an absurd affair. Forging an imperial edict was a crime punishable by the execution of one's entire clan—yet not only did the Emperor refuse to investigate, he intended to use a legitimate edict to cover up the lie?

"Your Majesty!" He took a deep breath, his court tablet buzzing in his hand, and said sternly, "Official documents are the trusted history of our nation; every word and every phrase is tied to the moral order. If the Prince of Beidi has indeed forged an edict, to issue a retroactive one now is to use Your Majesty’s dignity to cover a subject’s crime. The pens of historians in future ages are as iron—how will they judge this?"

Liu Shan looked at him gloomily, turning the jade ruyi between his fingers.

"He holds elite troops, and now commands over a hundred thousand men; he has performed a great service to the state in restoring the Han. If not this, then what? Shall I kill him?"

The hall fell into a deathly silence. The incense continued to curl, yet it could no longer mask the bloody scent of the power struggle. Xi Zheng lowered his head, watching his own shadow waver on the gold bricks, as if he could see the precarious future of this dynasty.

The sun finally sank completely behind the palace walls, and the twilight flooded the hall like a tide. In that deepening darkness, everyone felt it clearly: this struggle for power and loyalty had only just begun.