Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 659: The Fierce Erysipelas and the Emperor's Delusion
Wang Yun looked at Liu Xie meaningfully, a gleam in his eyes. "Although the emperor seems to have the ambition to revive the Han Dynasty, his obsession with women and drug abuse is not a sign that he can shoulder important responsibilities for long. Your Highness should make plans earlier and encourage himself."
Liu Xie feigned a hint of fear on his face, but his eyes couldn't conceal the glimmer of anticipation. He stammered, "My brother, the government is now stabilizing. What else can I do? I'm afraid I'm powerless."
Wang Yun stepped forward, patted Liu Xie on the shoulder, and said firmly, "Your Highness, why should you be so self-deprecating? With your talent and character, if you could stand at the center of power, how could you be inferior to the emperor? This world may be more suitable for you to control."
The two men looked at each other and smiled knowingly. In that smile, the desire and ambition for power were hidden, quietly spreading in the corner of the empty hall.
The sound of bells and drums signaling the end of court echoed throughout the palace. The emperor, having concluded a morning court session, looked slightly exhausted, yet also filled with a certain irrepressible excitement as he hurried back to his chambers. As soon as he entered the luxurious inner chamber, he waved eagerly to the waiting eunuch, his tone filled with urgency: "Quick, bring the elixir!"
This elixir had become an indispensable part of the emperor's life. His dependence on it grew, and his use became more frequent. He used to be able to barely make it until noon, but now, as soon as the morning court session ended, he eagerly demanded his first pill. The sun, shimmering on the palace's glazed tiles, hadn't even reached its zenith when the emperor had already swallowed the elixir, reveling in the strange sensation it brought.
In the afternoon, the sunlight gradually softened, filtering through the carved window lattices, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The emperor sat on the dragon throne, his eyes empty yet gleaming with enthusiasm. Without being prompted, he reached out for the pill again and swallowed the second one without hesitation.
As night fell and the lights came on, the entire palace was shrouded in silence, except for the emperor's bedroom, which remained brightly lit. In this silent night, the emperor tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Finally, he summoned a eunuch and took the third pill.
After taking this supposedly miraculous elixir, the emperor seemed to be transported to a realm of illusion. His eyes were hazy, and a strange smile occasionally curled around his lips, as if everything in the world was under his control, and all events in the world had a predetermined, perfect outcome. In his imagination, he already held supreme power, and with extraordinary ability and supreme wisdom, he governed the entire country in perfect order. The worries and difficulties that once threatened the Han Dynasty's rule had vanished. He had successfully revived the Han Dynasty, restored its former glory, and become an emperor whose name would go down in history.
After taking the elixir, the emperor became increasingly addicted to vanity, his behavior becoming increasingly erratic and unbridled. Within the harem, Empress Lu Wan, despite her high position, was insignificant, oblivious to all matters. Meanwhile, Concubine Gongsun and the emperor developed a grudge, and their relationship deteriorated. Consequently, the entire harem became a place of unbridled extravagance, a place where the emperor indulged his own desires, with no trace of order left.
Whenever the emperor felt like it, regardless of day or night, he would summon his beauties. Sometimes, during the day, sunlight filtered through the thick curtains onto his luxurious chambers, and the emperor could not wait to embrace them. Sometimes, in the stillness of night, when all was silent and the entire palace was slumbering, the emperor's chambers remained ablaze with lights, and he lost himself in the gentle pleasures of the land, giving free rein to his desires. He longed to harness the power of this miraculous elixir to fulfill his absurd dream of embracing women like the Yellow Emperor, enjoying every pleasure of the world, and even ascending to heaven.
Concubine Wang, the emperor's first favorite, was already pregnant with a dragon heir. However, the emperor, now intoxicated by the psychedelic effects of elixirs, favored concubines more and more frequently, his mind completely consumed by these absurd acts, and he had long forgotten Concubine Wang's pregnancy.
Shi A not only searches for the emperor's alluring elixir, but also scours the land for beautiful women to satisfy his ever-expanding desires. His actions evoke disdain from his mentor, Wang Yue. Yet, facing the emperor's unwavering favor for Shi A, Wang Yue is helpless and unable to do anything about it.
Amidst the chaotic court situation, Wang Yue gradually found his own direction. He secretly took on the responsibility of protecting Concubine Wang, knowing that the fetus in her womb might hold a glimmer of hope for restoring order to the court. He was determined to protect the Emperor's bloodline, preserving a glimmer of hope for the Han Dynasty and sparing himself the pain of witnessing Shi A dragging the Emperor into the abyss.
Wang Yue had earnestly advised Shi A, stating that the miraculous medicine he had presented was of no benefit. After the emperor took it, his spirit and health deteriorated, and his behavior became even more absurd. However, Shi A turned a deaf ear to these warnings, preoccupied with pleasing the emperor and consolidating his position within the palace, completely oblivious to the disaster this would bring to the country.
At this morning's court, the ministers hailed the emperor as a wise and powerful figure, a leader capable of turning the tide and restoring the country. The compliments were like a spring breeze, filling the emperor with joy. Furthermore, the situation had recently improved, with the power of the Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao brothers effectively contained, making it difficult for them to stir up trouble. While Ma Teng of Xiliang continued to send urgent letters, seemingly threatening the situation, they were actually sapping Xiliang's vital forces. As a result, the emperor felt relieved, believing he had all the threats under control.
Perhaps it was the sudden relief of his inner pressure, or perhaps it was the effect of the elixir, but that night, after the emperor had indulged himself, he looked at the beauty in his arms and suddenly felt that she was just some vulgar woman, completely losing interest. His thoughts could not help but drift to Empress Lu Wan, remembering her cold and noble temperament, and he suddenly felt itchy, increasingly feeling that what he could not obtain was the best. The desire in his heart grew like a weed, difficult to quench.
Unable to contain his composure, the Emperor quickly summoned Shi A and commanded him to find a way to bring Lu Wan to his knees. Shi A's heart sank, his face filled with resignation. The Emperor was unwilling to completely break with Ma Chao, and Empress Lu Wan was a fierce woman. If pushed to the limit, she might even fight to the death. If Lu Wan were to perish, Ma Chao would surely rebel. Furthermore, Ma Chao had Dian Wei, a formidable general, by his side. He was no match for her on his own, and even with his mentor, Wang Yue, he might have stood a chance. But Wang Yue was now estranged, making him unreliable. Shi A was in a dilemma, unsure of what to do.
Shi A hurried to the Pepper Room, feeling anxious. After annoyed, he stepped inside to find Empress Lu Wan seated in the main seat, her expression calm and composed, a commanding presence even without anger. Forced to remain calm, Shi A took a deep breath, bowed respectfully, and spoke cautiously, "Empress, Your Majesty has sent me here, saying he misses you and hopes you'll visit His Majesty's chambers."
When Lu Wan heard this, a trace of disgust flashed in her eyes. Before she could speak, Dian Wei, who was standing by, stepped forward, his eyes wide open, glaring at Shi A, and said in a rough voice: "The emperor has been behaving absurdly lately, how could the queen not know it. It is absolutely impossible for the queen to see him!" Dian Wei's voice echoed in the hall with unquestionable toughness.
Lu Wan frowned slightly, her voice cold and firm: "As the queen, I naturally know the rules of the harem. But the emperor is now addicted to elixirs and acts recklessly. I really don't want to meet him. You go back and tell His Majesty that I am unwell and cannot go." There was no hesitation in her words, and her attitude was extremely firm.
Upon hearing this, Shi A's heart skipped a beat, knowing this plan was doomed. But he didn't dare say anything more. Under Dian Wei's gaze, which seemed to devour him alive, he could only bow and retreat. Along the way, Shi A was filled with worry, unsure how to report to the emperor. But the emperor's order was unavoidable, so he had no choice but to return to the palace.
Upon hearing that Shi A had returned empty-handed, the emperor's hair stood on end with rage, his face turning purple and blue, and the veins on his neck bulged like twisted snakes. "Lu Wan, that bitch!" he roared, his voice shrill and almost cracking, echoing through the empty palace. "How dare they rely on that adulterer Ma Chao to disregard me? Do they really think I can do anything to them?" The emperor fiercely kicked the carved screen beside him. With a crash, the exquisite screen fell to the ground, shattering into a pile of wood chips.
"Ma Chao, you traitor!" The emperor's eyes were wide open, bloodshot, like a mad beast. "Do you think I don't know what you are thinking? You and Lu Wan exchanged glances and gave each other secrets. Do you think I am blind? Do you think that with the few troops you have, you can challenge me? You are simply dreaming!"
"Ma Chao, this traitor, does he really think that I can't do anything to him? He is simply like an ant trying to shake a tree, and he doesn't know how to die! Now Xiliang has been restrained by my strategy, and the army has been wiped out. He actually wants to use those remaining soldiers to intimidate me. It's simply a foolish dream!" The emperor roared and paced back and forth in the palace, taking each step heavily, as if he wanted to crush the floor tiles of the palace.
The emperor paced frantically in the hall, his robe sleeves swinging violently as he swore, "When I've dealt with Yuan Shu, you'll be the first one I'll kill. When the time comes, I'll chop you into pieces, cutting off pieces of your flesh, Ma Chao, and feeding them to the dogs! I'll exterminate all nine generations of your clan, wiping them from this world completely, without a single descendant!"
"I will make him know the consequences of disobeying the imperial order and going against my will!" The emperor became more and more excited as he spoke, and the expression on his face was almost ferocious. "I will cut Ma Chao into pieces and wipe out his entire family, so that Xiliang will never be able to turn things around! I will make him regret it, regret that he dared to go against me!" The emperor's voice echoed in the palace for a long time, as if it was a curse from hell.
"And Lu Wan, that shameless woman!" The emperor gritted his teeth, his face twisted with hatred. "Once Ma Chao dies, I will banish her to the cold palace and make her suffer a fate worse than death. I will make her live every day in regret and pain, and make her pay the most painful price for her betrayal!"
After a frantic outburst, the emperor was exhausted and breathless. Under the combined effects of the elixir and his extreme anger, his eyes went dark, and he collapsed onto the dragon couch, falling into a deep sleep. Beside him, the beautiful woman trembled with fear, curled up tightly in a corner, not daring to breathe, her eyes filled with terror and helplessness. Meanwhile, Shi Ah, watching the emperor finally calm down, breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, "At least I've gotten away with it. I wonder how I'll handle this next time."
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