Chapter 13: Has My Empire Disappeared?
Ming Dynasty.
Old Zhu hurriedly brought Zhu Biao to the Eastern Palace. The moment he entered, his gaze fell upon the bed where his eldest grandson lay, eyes tightly shut, his body covered in swollen, red chickenpox.
A sudden pang gripped Old Zhu’s heart, an indescribable emotion surging within him.
At the bedside sat Empress Ma, her complexion pale, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead.
Her eyes were fixed intently on her grandson, hands clasped tightly as if silently praying.
Zhu Biao stood nearby, his heart aching as he looked at his mother’s worn face and his lifeless eldest brother on the bed.
He stepped quickly beside his mother and softly said, “Mother, you must take care of yourself! Staying here day and night like this, how can your body endure? It would be better to return to the inner palace and rest for a while.”
Old Zhu immediately chimed in, “Sister, Biao is right! Look at you—you’ve been exhausted these past days. If anything happens to you, what will we do?”
Empress Ma only gave a bitter smile and remained silent.
Her eyes never left her grandson on the bed, as if only then could she find a bit of peace.
“Chongba, did you just hear the words ‘Long live the people’ on the sky screen?”
Old Zhu was momentarily stunned.
Empress Ma shifted her gaze from her eldest grandson, Zhu Xiongying, and looked at Old Zhu with tears sparkling in her eyes. She said slowly, “Chongba, if one day I’m no longer here... I hope you will govern with the people as your foundation, and stop creating so much bloodshed!”
“While I am here, I can still advise you, but if I am gone, no one else will be able to.”
“Sister... what nonsense are you speaking? From now on, I forbid you from saying such things!”
Old Zhu’s eyes reddened instantly upon hearing her words.
“If you don’t stay with me, I’ll spill blood across the Hall of Heavenly Peace!”
“I’ll fight tooth and nail, sister... I can’t be without you.”
Empress Ma was so angered that she felt dizzy and nearly stumbled, “Zhu Chongba... you... you’re trying to kill me with anger!”
Old Zhu hurried forward to steady her, “Sister... sister... I promise you, but you must promise to return to the inner palace and rest now!”
Zhu Biao also urged his mother gently.
Just then, the unconscious Zhu Xiongying awoke, weakly looking at his exhausted grandmother and whispering, “Grandma... Empress Dowager... please listen... listen to Grandfather!”
Old Zhu’s heart ached seeing his eldest grandson so sensible, wiping his reddened eyes.
“Sister... please return to the inner palace and rest for a while! I beg you!”
“I promise, we will cure the eldest grandson!”
Empress Ma, still uneasy, gently touched Zhu Xiongying’s forehead and said, “Eldest grandson... Grandma is not tired... Grandma is not tired!”
“Grandma... Grandma, Xiongying’s illness is contagious. Xiongying doesn’t want... doesn’t want to infect Grandma!” Zhu Xiongying struggled to say.
Hearing this, Empress Ma, Zhu Biao, Old Zhu, and the others felt even more heartbroken.
...
After a while, Old Zhu still could not persuade Empress Ma. With reddened eyes, he left the inner palace with Zhu Biao.
Wiping his eyes, he looked at the title on the sky screen and furrowed his brows.
He had fought battles across the south and north all his life, founding the Ming Dynasty, believing himself worthy of the title “The Eternal Emperor,” yet he was utterly baffled by this “Eternal Younger Brother.”
At that moment, the narration began on the sky screen:
“As is well known, the history of China spans thousands of years, with a total of 24 dynasties and hundreds of emperors!”
“Among them were wise and capable rulers who forged lasting legacies, as well as foolish and incompetent ones!”
“The ‘Eternal Emperor’ list, as the name suggests, honors those who had great influence on China, either through monumental achievements or founding eras of peace. The ‘Eternal Younger Brother’ list is the opposite!”
...
“The ‘Eternal Emperor’ receives heavenly rewards according to their merits; the ‘Eternal Younger Brother’ receives punishments corresponding to their sins!”
Upon seeing the various dynasties displayed beneath the sky screen, all understood its meaning.
So the “Eternal Younger Brother” is essentially a derogatory title!
Simply put, a foolish ruler.
...
Qin Dynasty.
“I never imagined... never imagined there would be so many dynasties after me!”
Ying Zheng had accepted the demise of his Qin, but upon hearing there were 24 dynasties and hundreds of emperors, he could not help but feel angry.
He could not fathom how such a vast Qin had come to an end.
How long had the Qin lasted? Surely several centuries.
He was also curious about the rewards on the sky screen.
Would they be powerful weapons of later times, or the rice that fed hundreds of millions?
Just thinking of it made Ying Zheng tremble uncontrollably!
...
Han Dynasty.
Liu Che listened to the narration, eager to know if he would be listed as an Eternal Emperor.
Wei Qing and Huo Qubing stood silently beside him.
The Crown Prince Liu Ju, although harboring different thoughts, restrained himself in this solemn atmosphere.
He looked at his father’s hopeful expression and frowned slightly.
His father had been waging war for years, and the people’s lives were far worse than before. If this continued, the people would surely suffer.
What then...
Eastern Han.
“Twenty-four dynasties? That many?”
Suddenly, Liu Xiu, holding Yin Lihua, gasped in shock.
“Hss... no way... my Han... my humble Han is no more?”
Liu Xiu’s face was full of disbelief. He had just founded the dynasty and was enjoying peace. How could it have perished?
He could not help but recall the Taoist shown earlier on the sky screen.
...
Tang Dynasty.
“Twenty-four dynasties?”
Li Er counted on his fingers again and again.
“One, two, three... twelve...”
In the end, he concluded that Tang was also gone!
He threw the memorials in his hand to the ground, grinding his teeth, “My great Tang is no more.”
“That damned scoundrel—if I find out who destroyed my Tang, I will annihilate their entire ancestral clan, grind their bones to dust, dry them, and feed them to the fish!”
Fang Xuanling gently advised, “Your Majesty... you are well-versed in history and should know that dynastic changes are inevitable.”
...
Calming himself, Li Er let out a sigh. “I know that... but... but... ah!”
“Now I want to know just how long the Tang lasted, and which unworthy descendant caused its ruin!”
...
Ming Dynasty.
Old Zhu’s face was grim and terrifying—his Ming was also gone?
He could not accept this!
Clenching his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms, he was utterly unaware.
He had devoted his life from commoner to founding the Ming Empire; how could he tolerate its destruction?
“I want to see which dog villain destroyed my Ming!” Old Zhu roared softly.
Zhu Biao stood beside him, filled with worry, quietly advising, “Father, the fall of dynasties may be fate. We must do our best to protect Ming.”
Old Zhu snorted coldly, “Fate? I never believed in such nonsense! I will ensure Ming endures for all eternity!”
During the Yongle era of Ming.
Zhu Di was furious, slamming the long knife he was wiping onto the dragon-carved desk.
His eyes flashed with murderous intent; this matter must involve the Wala.
“You Wala brats, how dare you! I will make you pay dearly!” Zhu Di’s voice thundered with rage.
“Someone... ask the Crown Prince how the military funds preparation is going!”
Zhu Di was so furious he wished to march north immediately.
...
Qing Dynasty.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty! I just calculated—we have exactly 24 dynasties, even a few minor ones not counted!” Heshen flattered, flattering Qianlong.
Qianlong’s face, previously dark due to the sky screen omitting his words, brightened instantly as he laughed heartily.
“Hahaha, so our Qing is the final dynasty among the 24, a sign of great fortune!”
Heshen hurried to add, “Your Majesty is wise; under your rule, the Qing thrives with peace and prosperity, surely leaving a glorious mark on the Eternal Emperor list!”
Qianlong grew more pleased, pacing the palace with hands behind his back.
“Bring ink and brush—I shall compose a poem...”
“From afar, a great stone; up close, a stone great. Truly a great stone, a great stone indeed!” — Qianlong!
Heshen clapped enthusiastically.
“Brilliant! Brilliant, Your Majesty! A masterpiece for the ages!”
...
At the same time, the image slowly appeared on the sky screen.
The narration began:
“The first Eternal Emperor: Emperor Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng!”