Chapter 385

Chapter 385

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Final Volume: The Rise and Fall of Royal Power, The World United Chapter 385: The Imperial Seal Gifted to the Lord

“…What, what did you say?” Liu Bei was stunned by the sudden news.

Whether it was Liu Xie’s reappearance or the emergence of the Imperial Seal, both came as a complete surprise.

Having disappeared for over four years, few could believe that Liu Xie was still alive.

Everyone who had experienced the period when Li Jue replaced Dong Zhuo in power in the Chang’an region knew exactly what kind of person Li Jue was.

Unless Liu Xie had the ability to escape from Li Jue’s grasp, it was impossible for him to survive after Liu Yu had already succeeded to the throne.

But now, not only had they heard news of Liu Xie’s survival, but the Imperial Seal, which had disappeared since the death of Emperor Ling of Han, had also reappeared alongside Liu Xie.

Upon closer thought, this made perfect sense.

After all, Liu Xie had been designated as the successor by Emperor Ling of Han. Before Liu Hong’s death, the Imperial Seal was entrusted to Zhang Rang. Whether Liu Xie knew the whereabouts of the seal was hard to say.

Perhaps Dong Zhuo’s villainous actions in Luoyang made Liu Xie realize that revealing the seal’s location at that time would do him no good. Instead, it would hand the authority of the Han Dynasty over to the villain. Thus, he feigned ignorance, making people believe that the seal had been entrusted to Zhang Rang and disappeared with his death in Mang Mountain.

But now, he indeed had the opportunity to quietly retrieve the seal and bring it to Chang’an.

However, while forging the Imperial Seal was nearly impossible—given its material and age—not everyone had forgotten what the seal looked like.

But if someone were to impersonate Liu Xie, it was indeed possible.

On one hand, Liu Bei felt that Liu Xie’s appearance at this time filled the vacancy left by Liu Yang’s execution by Liu Yu. The seal in Liu Xie’s hands could also serve to stabilize people’s hearts, further proving that the Chang’an court was the legitimate Han Dynasty. On the other hand, he couldn’t help but worry about such issues.

He asked the jailer, “Isn’t anyone worried about mistaking his identity?”

The jailer didn’t mock Liu Bei, a man near death, for asking such a question. Instead, he replied, “Of course, that’s a concern for everyone. But I just saw him—”

This couldn’t be considered the jailer neglecting his duty. Yang Xiu had brought Liu Xie through the East Gate of Chang’an, straight down the main road separating the inner palace from the government offices, and temporarily settled Liu Xie at the Dahonglu Hostel. During this journey, the jailer, who was on his way to work at the Tingwei Office, briefly encountered them.

Initially, the jailer didn’t know the identity of the young man Yang Xiu was so cautious about, but he soon found out.

It was Liu Xie, the former emperor before Liu Yu ascended the throne!

Even though he was no longer the emperor, upon hearing the news of Yang Xiu bringing him to Chang’an, Liu Yu immediately ordered preparations for the imperial carriage and ceremonial guards to show his respect for Liu Xie.

Among the Three Excellencies, apart from the already deceased Wang Yun, Huangfu Song and Huang Wan also rushed over upon hearing the news.

This caused quite a stir.

Liu Xie’s identity was too special, so special that any misstep could make the already complicated situation even more bizarre.

This momentarily made people forget that today was the day Liu Bei and Liu Yang were to be executed.

The jailer, speaking up to this point, couldn’t help but look at Liu Bei with a hint of pity.

He had heard about the people of Xuzhou pleading for Liu Bei’s life last year. Thinking of Liu Yang, who remained unrepentant even in prison, always saying that his father on the throne would surely save him, he felt that Liu Bei’s life was being wasted for such a person.

With Liu Xie’s arrival today, even death received less attention, and he couldn’t help but feel more sympathy for Liu Bei.

According to tradition, trials were held in spring and executions in autumn. But Liu Bei wasn’t even held in the death row cell until the next “auspicious time,” clearly indicating that he couldn’t be saved by the death penalty redemption policy or any possible amnesty this year. It was as if “certain death” was written on his forehead.

Thus, the jailer didn’t mind explaining a bit more to Liu Bei: “But I think if you really saw him, you wouldn’t have such doubts.”

This wasn’t just idle talk.

As Liu Bei’s prison cart headed out of Chang’an, it passed by the procession escorting Liu Xie to the palace.

Liu Bei instinctively stood up in the cart, using its height to look towards the center of the crowd, where he saw a simply dressed young man heading towards Gui Palace.

Given his status and the important artifact he brought, he could have worn luxurious robes and ridden the imperial carriage. But he didn’t. Instead, he wore the same plain clothes he had on when he approached Yang Xiu, holding the Imperial Seal in a box, slowly walking towards the palace.

Liu Bei didn’t see his face, only catching a glimpse of Liu Xie’s back.

But he had to admit, the jailer was right.

The royal demeanor Liu Xie displayed in that brief glimpse wasn’t something easily faked.

His posture not only overshadowed Liu Yang but also made his plain clothes seem as majestic as imperial robes.

Though there was a hint of reclusive air, it didn’t detract from his extraordinary presence in the opulent Chang’an.

Seeing such a former emperor appear in this manner, Liu Bei, with Han royal blood, couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope.

With Qiao Yan controlling most of the military and seventy percent of the court’s power, whether Liu Xie’s appearance could change the situation of strong ministers and a weak ruler was uncertain.

But this didn’t stop Liu Bei from seeing a possibility.

Don’t forget, Qiao Yan still had Emperor Ling’s entrustment!

Her control over Liangzhou and Guanzhong was inseparable from the authority granted by this entrustment.

Thus, while she could sideline Liu Yu and capture Liu Yang for his assassination attempt, she couldn’t sideline Liu Xie. Otherwise, the capable people who joined her to restore the Han Dynasty and the loyal ministers of the Han court would surely criticize her, even break away from her control.

With this in mind, Liu Bei felt as if a new hope was walking along the new road of Chang’an, heading towards the future of the Han’s revival.

And Liu Xie, younger than Qiao Yan, should have the vigor of youth, which was somewhat reflected in his slightly steady demeanor.

Liu Bei suddenly smiled at Guan Yu, “Yunchang, what do you think someone looking down from above Chang’an would feel seeing our two processions?”

The two processions were like two lines without intersection, just as Liu Bei could only see Liu Xie’s back. There was no overlap, one heading north and the other south, only catching a glimpse of each other in passing.

“One is heading towards death, the other towards life,” Liu Bei didn’t expect Guan Yu to answer, already providing one himself.

Yes, one was heading out of Chang’an’s south gate towards death, the other towards the palace, towards rebirth.

Indeed, a contrast of death and life.

Perhaps sensing something, Liu Xie suddenly glanced towards Liu Bei’s direction, a small ripple in his otherwise focused gaze towards Gui Palace, allowing the two Han royals to briefly lock eyes.

But they were already some distance apart, making it hard to clearly see each other’s expressions. However, Liu Bei, due to Liu Xie’s turn, saw the scar on Liu Xie’s face and was startled, “His face?”

“You mean the scar on his face?” the jailer interjected, “I said if you really saw him, you wouldn’t doubt his identity, partly because of this scar. Think about it, would anyone faking his identity put such a scar on their face?”

Of course not!

Such a scar on a royal heir was a flaw, not something to evoke sympathy for his past.

Thus, this scar made it unnecessary to doubt Liu Xie’s authenticity.

Liu Bei suddenly laughed and shook his head, “Hardships of the past, forging greatness.”

He looked towards Liu Yang and felt the stark contrast.

Liu Yang, who had considered himself Liu Yu’s successor since arriving in Chang’an, finally realized that his previous comfortable life didn’t mean he was Liu Yu’s only choice, nor did it guarantee him a lifeline when he made a grave mistake.

Thus, what he received wasn’t Liu Yu’s exoneration but his unwavering decision to send him to execution.

Upon leaving the prison, Liu Yang first cursed Liu Yu for only considering Liu He, who died in Youzhou, as his son, while he was just an unlucky short-lived man, why not cherish him, the only remaining son.

He then cursed Liu Yu for being unable to break free from Qiao Yan’s control, lacking even the autonomy to decide his own son’s fate.

Finally, he cursed Qiao Yan for being a woman with ambitions to usurp the throne, the greatest villain in the world!

But as the prison cart moved through Chang’an, perhaps tired of cursing or aware of the public’s differing attitudes towards him and Qiao Yan, he dared not utter any more insults, lying in a corner of the cart like a lifeless wooden figure, saying no more.

Hearing Liu Bei’s words about hardships forging greatness, he just lifted his eyelids to glance at Liu Bei, then muttered, “Praising others is useless, can that guy save you? If you were executed in Xuzhou, maybe someone would bring you a last meal, but here…”

He sneered, muttering the rest inaudibly.

Probably more people would be interested in hearing about Liu Xie’s experiences over the past few years than in their fates.

He had no chance of survival, and now even his death was so hasty. For someone who once aspired to the throne, this was an utterly unacceptable blow.

Thinking that whether it was Liu Yu or Liu Xie on the throne, Qiao Yan wouldn’t step down as Grand Marshal anytime soon, remaining at the pinnacle of power for decades after his execution, while he would become a handful of yellow earth, possibly forgotten, Liu Yang felt a heavy stone pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

As the prison cart exited Chang’an’s south gate, the surrounding crowd gradually dispersed, finally freeing him from their accusatory gazes.

But this brought him no comfort.

Being of the Liu royal family, both he and Liu Bei were first taken to the Hall of Enlightenment for a moment of reflection.

Liu Yang glared at the ancestral tablets, feeling that if the ancestors had any spirit, they should condemn his father’s inaction.

But no matter how hard he glared, no heavenly fire descended upon Chang’an to strike Qiao Yan.

As he was taken further out of the city, he saw the clear blue sky, seemingly perfect for reunions and sending “villains” like them to their deaths.

He didn’t know whether to be grateful that his father didn’t choose a bustling city square for the execution, at least preserving some dignity.

Kneeling on the execution platform in the wilderness, the fear of death replaced his previous numbness, making him cry out and struggle to escape the executioner’s blade.

The transition from hunter to hunted was too swift. Liu Yang’s dreams were shattered abruptly, and only at the moment of death did all his pain and regret surface.

He was wrong!

Terribly wrong!

If only he had remained a dutiful prince, not opposing Qiao Yan, even if Liu Yu fell ill and Liu Xie took the throne, he could have lived a peaceful, wealthy life.

Even if Chang’an hadn’t undergone such upheaval, Liu Xie might have remained in seclusion, avoiding disputes over the throne.

But what use was regret now?

He was destined to be recorded in history as a traitor, the chief culprit in persecuting loyal officials.








Unless Qiao Yan had truly committed some act of usurping the throne of the Han Dynasty, he might have had a chance to restore his reputation as a wise man who had seen through her true nature early on. However, his unfilial actions towards his ailing father, even going so far as to restrict his movements and causing him to spit blood, left no room for redemption of his tarnished name!

This was the much-criticized unfilial behavior under the backdrop of the Han Dynasty.

The sound of blades and axes cutting through the air turned what could have been an instant death into a slow-motion scene.

Liu Yang bit his lower lip hard, waiting for the moment the blades would fall, but suddenly heard a distant cry of “Spare the man!”

The wind stopped abruptly, and Liu Yang, with a look of surprise, turned towards the direction of the voice, only to see Lu Zhi riding a fast horse towards them.

But as Lu Zhi approached, Liu Yang’s hope of escaping death was shattered the moment Lu Zhi spoke.

Lu Zhi said, “Could you give me a moment to have a few words with my disciple?”

He wasn’t here to save anyone; he was here to bid Liu Bei farewell.

From Lu Zhi’s words, it was clear that he couldn’t change the verdict that would cost Liu Bei his life, at best offering some comfort as a teacher.

If this was the case for Liu Bei, Liu Yang naturally had no hope of forgiveness either.

The rapid transition from death to life and back to death was so swift that Liu Yang wished the blade had just fallen, sparing him from facing two life-and-death verdicts in succession.

But no one paid attention to his distress at this moment.

Both the officials overseeing the execution and the main character, Liu Bei, focused their gaze on Lu Zhi.

Lu Zhi had undoubtedly rushed here, even now dismounting his horse without catching his breath.

It made sense; news from Chang’an to Leping in Bingzhou took days, and Lu Zhi’s journey from there would also take days, assuming no obstacles along the way.

Liu Bei clearly saw that Lu Zhi’s usually well-kept hair was now mostly disheveled by the wind, with a few noticeable silver strands flying in the air.

He stood still, seeing that the execution had paused, clearly giving him a chance to speak with Liu Bei. He then tidied his hair and sleeves to their usual state and walked towards Liu Bei.

Liu Bei suddenly felt a pang of sorrow. As Lu Zhi sat cross-legged before him, he asked, “Teacher, why not go see the new changes in Chang’an?”

Lu Zhi sighed, “Some things can be seen later, but some people, if delayed, will be gone.”

The master and disciple tacitly avoided discussing why things had come to this or any regrets, instead casually talking about Liu Bei’s experiences and growth since arriving in Chang’an.

Liu Yang was almost infuriated by Liu Bei.

Lu Zhi, nominally Qiao Yan’s teacher, didn’t take this opportunity to plead for Liu Yang’s mercy. Instead, Liu Bei mentioned that although he nominally held a high position, due to the lack of royal family members in Chang’an, he had turned part of his residence into farmland, planting winter vegetables like in Liangzhou, which would be ready by spring.

If his residence wasn’t handed over to someone else by then, Lu Zhi could take the harvest as a form of tuition from his student.

Lu Zhi replied helplessly, “You never paid your own tuition, always had others do it for you, and had a penchant for fine clothes and horses. Now you want this old man to harvest vegetables? What is this?”

He handed a still-warm flask of wine to Liu Bei, “Have a drink?”

Liu Bei, not missing the underlying tolerance in Lu Zhi’s seemingly reproachful words, gestured to the executioner to untie him.

The surrounding soldiers, armed with bows to prevent any rescue attempts, didn’t worry about Liu Bei escaping even with his shackles removed, allowing him to share a drink with his teacher.

“Thank you,” Liu Bei said to the soldier who approached.

The atmosphere in Chang’an, under Qiao Yan and Liu Yu’s governance, seemed unchanged but had subtly shifted to a more comfortable state.

He turned to the wine flask, and as the seal was removed, a strong aroma of alcohol wafted through the still chilly air.

Liu Bei praised, “Good wine! Teacher, you first.”

Lu Zhi said, “At a time like this, why stand on ceremony?”

Liu Bei shook his head, “I’m not being polite. After you drink, I’ll finish the rest, reliving the feeling of emptying a flask.”

This was typical of Liu Bei.

While many saw him as a benevolent gentleman, especially after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Lu Zhi had seen him leading rogues through streets, knowing his unruly nature from his youth.

Now, facing death, some of that old temperament resurfaced.

Lu Zhi took a small sip and handed the flask to Liu Bei, who drank a few mouthfuls before stopping and suddenly asking, “Teacher, do you mind if I give this to someone else?”

Seeing where Liu Bei’s gaze fell, Lu Zhi guessed whom he intended to give it to.

He said, “Since it’s yours, do as you wish.”

Liu Bei stood up with the flask and, under the wary eyes of the soldiers, walked to Guan Yu, saying, “Though we are master and servant in name, we are brothers in heart. Regrettably, after the defeat in Xuzhou, I couldn’t find a way to turn things around, made a wrong choice, dragging you to death with me, and more regrettably, not dying as a general in battle. Today, only this strong wine to comfort a hero.”

Guan Yu smiled freely, “If I truly blamed you, I could have said so days ago. Today, to die together fulfilling our bond, with strong wine to see us off, though not enough to get fully drunk, it suffices!”

“Don’t trouble them to break the rules and remove my shackles, please, Xuande, bring the wine to me!”

The wine was too little for these northern men, but its strong taste brought some warmth to their stomachs.

Liu Bei, knowing the time was almost up, returned to Lu Zhi, handed back the empty flask, and bowed deeply.

No more words were needed.

Lu Zhi’s presence today was the best comfort for him.

He slowly said, “Teacher, you should go.”

Lu Zhi looked at Liu Bei once more, seeing the understanding of the situation and perhaps a glimmer of hope due to Liu Xie’s arrival in Chang’an in his 36-year-old disciple’s eyes. Unable to bear it, he turned and walked towards Chang’an.

He had come riding like the wind but chose to walk his tired horse back slowly.

After walking a few dozen steps, he suddenly heard the sound of blades and axes behind him.

In the brief moments between the sounds of hacking, Lu Zhi, holding the now empty flask of strong wine, suddenly burst into tears.

Looking at the sky tinged with the red of sunset, as if responding to Liu Bei’s last words, “You should go,” he said, “Yes, I should go see… see the Son of Heaven who was once lost.”

The dead are gone, and Chang’an remains in its ever-changing turmoil.

Even the long-lost Liu Xie suddenly appeared, and no one could predict what would happen next.

Though he should be considered distant from Chang’an’s court politics, since becoming the Prefect of Jiujiang in the fourth year of Xiping, he had been a high-ranking official for twenty years. Even if the Han Dynasty was truly declining, he had to witness its end.

Meanwhile, in the Guigong Zichen Hall, Liu Xie, holding the Imperial Seal, had arrived.

Liu Yu, already weakened by Liu Yang’s execution, had not intended to rise, but upon hearing of Liu Xie’s appearance, he dragged his sick body to the court.

Seeing Liu Xie standing there, he suddenly felt a disorienting sense of time.

Before Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, died, he had also been a supporting minister for Liu Xie. But now, Liu Xie, dressed simply, stood in the hall, the passage of time strikingly evident on his youthful face, having grown from a child to a robust young man, while Liu Yu himself was prematurely aged and frail.

The only superiority was the shift in their positions as ruler and subject.

This was due to Liu Xie’s earlier disappearance, which had placed Liu Yu on the throne.

But this mistake could be corrected.

Seeing the vitality in Liu Xie, Liu Yu suddenly mustered his strength and quickly walked over to him, stopping in front of him.

As he examined the young man’s complexion, he said, “When Ye Shu supported me to the throne, I told her that my ascension was a necessary move against the Ye court and to revive the central plains. If you were found, I would step down without hesitation.”

His gaze then fell to the Imperial Seal in Liu Xie’s hands.

The seal, once taken by Liu Yang to issue false commands, was nothing like the one Liu Xie held, which had been passed down from the Qin to the Han, witnessing the rise and fall of the Han Dynasty over four hundred years, a true symbol of the Son of Heaven.

Its return with Liu Xie was an auspicious sign!

Liu Yu even felt a glimmer of hope—since the true Son of Heaven had returned to his rightful place, perhaps Qiao Yan could step back to her position as a minister, and all his previous dreadful speculations could remain unrealized.

The Han Dynasty would still be the Han Dynasty.

Though not revived under Liu Yu, it could be a prosperous era created by Qiao Yan and Liu Xie together!

He then said, “My health, as you can see, even without my unfilial son’s actions forcing me to write that edict of self-reproach, cannot sustain the Han Dynasty much longer. If another Liu family member were to inherit the throne, I would often worry about enemies finding an opportunity. Only with you returning to the throne, working harmoniously with Ye Shu, can we find a way out of this predicament.”

Unfortunately, over the years, while building Chang’an, they had never stopped searching for Liu Xie, always in vain, until this unexpected discovery.

But faced with Liu Yu’s invitation to ascend the throne, Liu Xie’s young face showed little interest.

If he truly desired to return to the throne, he could have sought supporters in private over the years, rather than being content with his rural life.

Now, with the throne within easy reach, he had no intention of changing his pre-arranged plans.

Two days of hard riding had only made his heart beat faster than usual, or perhaps this strange change was due to the unprecedented act he was about to commit.

But he was no longer a emperor raised in the deep palace, but one swept into the masses by the relentless tide of the times, now resurfacing.

His voice… was not for himself!

He said, “No, I am not here to hand over the Imperial Seal to Your Majesty, nor to reclaim the throne.”

At this point, Liu Xie’s gaze momentarily shifted from Liu Yu to Qiao Yan.

Interestingly, having spent months in Luoyang, witnessing its stabilization and development, and the implementation of measures to counter rumors, he had never met Qiao Yan face to face.

She was like the driving force behind these era changes, hidden behind the clouds.

Now, in this moment of eye contact, the image he had in his mind fully overlapped with the person before him.

The intense confidence and ambition burning in her eyes left no doubt in Liu Xie’s mind that, should the vast lands be entrusted to her, she could indeed accomplish the great task of pacification, lifting the suffering masses out of their plight, breaking free and reborn.

A single answer silently presented itself before him—Yes!

He paused, then dropped another bombshell in the already bewildered court.

“I have been observing from among the people for a long time, and I wish to entrust this Imperial Seal to the Grand Marshal.”