Volume One: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss Chapter Eleven: Last Words

"No matter whether out of selfish motives or genuine sincerity, he is a good child."
"..."
"An intestinal abscess—this disease arises either from overeating, which he has not done, or from accumulated grief and suffering."
"I truly cannot imagine his state of mind these past few days, since Yanzhou was taken from him, living in a foreign land like a prisoner. Yet he remained so proud, standing before me and the entire court, unflinching in the face of danger, bearing the spirit of his father!"
"Everyone is watching my attitude. Undeniably, no matter what, I cannot send him home, nor can I kill him. But there are always some people who think themselves clever—do they believe my nephew is someone anyone can bully? Granted, I kept him in Wei's capital to serve as a whetstone, to temper the nobility here. But now, that is no longer possible..."
"This child truly is talented; that's why he is so proud. To write lines such as 'The thread in a loving mother's hand, the clothes on the wandering son's back,' to compose verses like 'On this night, in music, I hear the breaking of willows,' to pen 'If only life were as it was at first meeting'—these are works destined to be immortal. His poetry is unparalleled, unrivaled in the world... Yet he is a hidden dragon in the depths, trapped in a cage. I misjudged him; and was not the lord of Jin, his own father, guilty of the same? So much so that he fell ill from pent-up grievances. How much suffering has he endured? Did he finally break under the weight after his maternal grandmother passed away?"
"Perhaps, had I sent him home earlier, he would not have contracted this fatal disease. I regret it, and it is because of the Empress Dowager. I have always remembered—on the second day after the Yanzhou upheaval, the news had already spread throughout Wei's capital. The Empress Dowager asked me whether I would let Wang Chuan return home, saying the child was nearly grown, still alone here, his marriage unresolved... At the time, I brushed her off. Mother, my great mother, since I ascended the throne, you never interfered in state affairs, but the one time you pleaded with me for Wang Chuan, I refused, and you never asked again. Perhaps from another perspective, this was not a matter of state but of family. I regret it deeply; had I known today would come, why did I refuse then? I would have granted your wish, cared nothing for Yanzhou or the crown prince of Jin. Is it because of this, that you would not see me again before your passing? I truly regret it."
"..."
That day, the Lord of Wei stood there and spoke at length, slowly and quietly.
The loyal chief eunuch stood not far off.
It was as if emotions repressed for so long finally erupted on that day.
The Lord of Wei had been on the throne for twenty years—twenty years of storms, twenty years alone.
He had no one to confide in, no opportunity for heartfelt conversation.
Sometimes he would visit the Empress Dowager, not to discuss state, but to talk of troubles, seeking a bit of comfort and encouragement from his mother, which revived him.
But today, his mother was gone.
There was no one left.
He was in great pain.
The Lord of Wei stood there for a long time, then fell silent for an even longer time...
"Does the imperial physician have anything else to say?" The Lord of Wei finally asked.
Other than ‘no hope,’ perhaps a different answer.
"Your servant knows they all dare not speak plainly, fearing blame, so I shall risk it," the chief eunuch spoke slowly. "Normally, in such cases, one can prescribe sedative powders, so that His Highness Wang Chuan will not suffer so much..."
That was mercy killing.
The disease was agonizing and tormenting.
Had it come to this?
Upon hearing this, the Lord of Wei pondered seriously. "If he is lucid, let him decide for himself... Enough, ask his old servant, what was his name? It has nothing to do with whether he is the Prince of Jin; I have no right to decide for him. Now, in all the world, only that old servant truly cares for him. Let him decide."
At such a time, for the Lord of Wei to speak from the heart was rare.
"Yes." The chief eunuch gave the orders, then waited quietly.
"Send him home, discreetly, with dignity..." The Lord of Wei added.
"Yes." The chief eunuch made arrangements.
He had already decided what to do.
Even if he must die, let him die at home; let him cling to life until he returns to Jin.
The crown prince of Jin must not die in Wei.
"The one who spread 'He Manzi' throughout Luocheng was the governor Zhao Song, was it not? Let him regret it; let him not die so easily..." The Lord of Wei issued his final command. "Second Prince’s household, fine for a year; the clan office, a year as well."
"Yes."
...
The governor of Luocheng, guardian of the imperial capital, held high rank and power.
A word from the Lord of Wei doomed him to slow execution, stroke after stroke. Passersby before the palace gates were terrified and trembling.
"I am innocent!"
"All I did was for Your Majesty!"
"I am loyal and true!"
"..."
From defiance at first, to kneeling and wailing, begging for mercy, his filth soiled the ground.
This emperor was ruthless; blood was shed within two days of the Empress Dowager’s passing.

It was fury at its peak, unlike before when Zhao’s family was merely expelled and their assets seized.
On the other hand, the crown prince of Jin was truly at death’s door.
News had spread through Luocheng; aside from the imperial physicians, many local doctors had been summoned, all deeming it incurable.
Gradually, everyone knew.
Bang...
"Luocheng is full of knights!"
In a tavern on a street corner, a burly man bared his chest and slapped the table.
"I want to petition for His Highness Wang Chuan! He is the son of the Princess! Jin has wronged our Wei, but the crown prince of Jin has never wronged our Wei!"
"Let’s go!"
"We’ll find the emperor and ask him to let His Highness Wang Chuan return home!"
"..."
Countless voices responded.
The Princess was beloved by the people, and Qi Hao had always known it.
As he drew closer to the Princess’s mansion, he saw more and more of Wei’s citizens gathering, moving in that direction.
Qi Hao slowed his pace upon seeing this.
The capital was ablaze with incense at dawn.
Earlier, the Empress Dowager’s passing had brought national grief.
Now, news of Wang Chuan’s critical illness brought fresh calamity.
Countless knelt, knocking their heads to the ground, pleading Heaven to spare His Highness Wang Chuan.
The streets around the Princess’s mansion were crowded with people, quietly wiping away tears.
Luocheng is full of knights.
It is a pride of Wei’s capital, a pride of its people.
Twenty years ago, the Princess entered the palace alone, passing through the markets and asking, "Who will stand by me to cleanse the emperor’s side?"
Many knights answered, their ranks swelling as they marched.
That day, villains were purged, the throne restored, and Wei entered a new era.
Qi Hao knew well that the Princess was born with extraordinary talent in the art of patterns, which was why the Divine Pattern Institute eventually recruited her.
That legendary woman had protected home and country for years.
That day, her mastery of the art complete, she led the knights into the palace, rooting out traitors and supporting her brother’s ascension.
She was kind to the people, sharing royal rewards with the poor, teaching skills and knowledge.
Thus, after Wang Chuan came to Wei, the people treated him well.
His efforts to win hearts merely added brilliance to the foundation laid.
For years, using the Zhao family’s money, he aided disaster relief and charity.
Even after the upheaval in Yanzhou, the people’s attitude toward him remained unchanged.
Today, perhaps due to the Princess as well... His Highness Wang Chuan was gravely ill, and the people grieved.
Outside the city, crowds arrived, and someone began placing baskets of... vegetables...
Then a piece of meat, a basket of eggs, even money...
...
Before entering the mansion, Qi Hao saw a mountain of offerings, and was moved by the pure hearts of the people.
They gave all they could, their gifts carrying heartfelt wishes for Wang Chuan.
They could do nothing more, only this gesture, though it could change nothing.
"A lifetime of glory, now destroyed here?" Qi Hao could not help but ask himself.
Was His Highness truly leaving?
"Your Highness, the people of Wei are outside, they care deeply for you..." Qi Hao said.

At that moment, Wang Chuan’s hand moved at last.
His eyelashes trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes.
"Your Highness." Old Zhong was deeply moved.
"Uncle Qi..." Wang Chuan spoke slowly, with difficulty and pain.
Qi Hao sensed him trying to grasp his hand tightly, but to no avail—his hand only trembled.
"Your Highness, I am here." Qi Hao gripped his hand more firmly. "I have come to take you home; His Majesty misses you. Rest well."
"It’s useless, don’t comfort me. I know, my life is nearly over. Uncle Qi, I’m glad you’ve come. There’s much I want to say." Wang Chuan coughed again, cold sweat beading more heavily.
"Your Highness, speak." Qi Hao struggled to contain his emotions.
He held that withered hand, feeling Wang Chuan’s last strength.
The grip grew tighter.
"The nation depends on a wise ruler!" Wang Chuan looked at him, solemnly. "Uncle Qi, you are a great general defending the borders, a capable minister governing the country, a pillar of our Jin. The prosperity of Jin depends on you all."
"Your Highness, you will be fine." Qi Hao was deeply moved.
Wang Chuan shook his head, a look of sorrow on his face, and continued, "Tell the next crown prince, my brother, to be as righteous as Yao and Shun."
Qi Hao’s heart was startled—this was a final instruction.
Even in death, this crown prince’s heart was with home and nation.
A pure heart, shining like the sun.
"Old Zhong, bring the scroll." Wang Chuan’s face regained a hint of vigor, as if in a final burst of energy.
Old Zhong immediately brought the scroll they had kept for over ten years, unable to hide his sorrow.
"This was given to me by my father," Wang Chuan explained.
Yes, just days ago he had stomped it in anger.
Qi Hao looked and saw no imperial seal, but a signature—indeed, the handwriting of Jin’s lord.
"Wind, fire, mountain, forest."
"When I left home, I was still young. I can no longer recall my father’s face or voice," Wang Chuan said, his voice breaking, tears falling. "But his teachings I have always kept, unforgettable for life and never dared forget!"
"Before I came to Luocheng, I remember he sent me off at the foot of Yanshan, and at parting, gave me four words."
"'The Art of War, Chapter on Military Engagement: So swift as the wind, so steady as the forest, so fierce as fire in attack, so firm as the mountain in defense.'"
"My father hoped I could live by these words!"
"So swift as the wind: After arriving in Luocheng, we quickly established ourselves, using wealth to aid the suffering and win hearts, soon gaining a foothold. But I never dared meddle in court affairs—that was my boundary."
"So steady as the forest: In dealing with others, slow and gentle, respectful, endlessly patient, making many friends and few enemies."
"So fierce as fire in attack: My fame in Luodu spread like wildfire, unstoppable, causing the Lord of Wei to fear me, securing my place."
"So firm as the mountain in defense: Waiting patiently for the chance to return home, no matter the hardship, steadfast and unmoving..."
"Tell my father, I have done all this. Ask him for me: did I not disappoint him? Am I his pride?"
"Uncle Qi, please remember to tell my father..."
"..."
Wang Chuan looked at him with earnest longing.
Qi Hao could only nod, tears in his eyes. "Rest assured, Your Highness, I will tell him."
"All these years, I have not written home, unworthy as a son," Wang Chuan said. "Knowing you have come, Uncle Qi, I am glad. I wrote a poem and a memorial; please take them back for me."
He pointed to where the items were placed; Old Zhong came over, understanding, and handed them to Qi Hao.
"Just now, I think I saw Grandmother. Perhaps it is time to go, to be with her and fulfill my filial duty, telling her tales of Hulan River..."
"Imperial physician, imperial physician..."