Ya She

Chapter 34 Zhenyangyu

In 209 BC, the first year of Qin Er Shi (Hu Hai), Pei Feng Yi Zhongyang Li
Three-year-old Liu Ying, wearing straw sandals and tattered hemp clothes, stumbled along the mountain path, carrying pine cones she had just picked up from the forest.

He didn't really want to walk alone in such desolate mountains, but his father hadn't returned home for a long time, and his mother had gone to look for him alone several days ago. After that, his mother rarely came home; even when she did, she would only gather money and provisions before leaving again. The neighbors all said that his father had committed a serious crime by releasing convicts, and that's why he was hiding in the mountains, afraid to return home.

But wasn't his father the village head?
Liu Ying pouted and decided to go find her father herself. Although her sister said that her father lived in a remote mountain far from their home, she still secretly ran away.

It was the height of summer, and although the woods were somewhat shady, the heat was still unbearable. After wiping the sweat from half her face, Liu Ying felt her throat was parched, so she didn't waste any more and licked the sweat from her palms.

It tastes salty, and it seems to make me even thirstier...

Looking around, Liu Ying spotted a figure sitting in the woods ahead. He walked over with his short legs and noticed that the person was holding a bowl and looking down at it intently.

Because the person was sitting on the ground, Liu Ying could easily see that the bowl was empty, with nothing inside.

A *yu* is a vessel for holding rice and water, which Liu Ying recognized, as he also possessed a small *yu* bowl. However, this *yu* was exceptionally exquisite, crafted with lacquer. The interior was a vibrant vermilion lacquer, while the exterior was a noble black lacquer, adorned with cloud patterns painted in red lacquer. Black and red were the most prestigious colors at the time, and even though his mother, Empress Lü, came from a wealthy family and brought a substantial dowry, Liu Ying had never seen such an exquisite *yu* bowl.

Even such exquisite beauty, so captivating, paled in Liu Ying's eyes, insignificant compared to a bowl of water. He scrutinized the man, finding him filthy and disheveled, suggesting he had been wandering for a long time, a stark contrast to the spotless bowl in his hand. The man's hair was disheveled, and his head was bowed, obscuring his face, but Liu Ying surmised he was young. His sister had said that children like him were called "the age of hanging-up hair," their hair naturally hanging down, and that only when they grew up could they comb their hair up, marking the age of coming of age.

Liu Ying was somewhat disappointed, because he found that the man carried no baggage except for the lacquer bowl in his hand. Touching his own empty stomach, Liu Ying decided it would be best for him to head home; if he was lucky, he might still make steamed buns for his sister that evening. It seemed his father was right: even the greatest ambitions must eventually succumb to the mundane realities of food, drink, and shelter.

Before leaving, Liu Ying kindly said to the man, "Hurry home, there are monsters in the mountains that eat people!"

Little Liu Ying had just finished speaking in his childish voice when a mountain breeze blew by, making him shiver and even more frightened. He had been full of confidence when he resolved to run away from home to find his father, but now he was having second thoughts. He remembered what his sister had said, which made him tremble even more.

At the same time, an uncontrollable thought arose in my mind: Could the person in front of me be a monster?
Liu Ying's body stiffened. She wanted to leave, but whether it was from hunger or fear, she couldn't move her feet and could only watch helplessly as the person slowly raised his head.

When Liu Ying saw the man's true face, she was even more horrified. The man was not old, with a handsome face and the appearance of a scholar. However, there was an unhealed wound on the man's neck, as if he had been slashed horizontally. The gruesome wound extended from the collar of his tattered clothes and could not be concealed at all.

Liu Ying felt that it was impossible for a mountain spirit to have fallen to such a state. At this time, the tyrannical rule of Qin Er Shi had plunged the world into chaos, and refugees were rising up everywhere. Perhaps he had encountered some trouble and fled into the mountains. Although Liu Ying was young, he was kindly advised by his older sister, "Don't you have anywhere to go? Why don't you come to my house?"

The young man's eyes, which had been lifeless, blinked slowly after hearing Liu Ying's words. He forced a smile and uttered a few words: "No need, thank you." His voice was hoarse and strained, as if he hadn't spoken for a long time.

When Liu Ying heard him speak, curiosity overcame fear, and he pointed to the lacquer bowl in the man's hand and asked, "Is this lacquer bowl yours?" This was not entirely Liu Ying's fault, because it was very strange that this man was so destitute yet holding such a precious lacquer bowl.

The young man did not answer; instead, he asked, "Do you know what lacquerware is?"

Liu Ying tilted his head. No one around him spoke in such a refined manner, but at least he could understand what this person was saying. "What is lacquerware?" He shook his head in confusion. Lacquerware was a magical thing—light yet sturdy, so shiny and alluring, like a precious jewel.

"On the slopes grow lacquer, in the marshes grow chestnuts... Emperor Shun made tableware, cutting down mountain trees and collecting the wood, smoothing the saw marks, and then applying lacquer to them... Emperor Yu made sacrificial vessels, dyeing the outside with ink and painting the inside with vermilion..." Perhaps having regained his voice, the man spoke more fluently and louder. Although still hoarse, his voice carried a sharp, piercing quality, echoing far and wide on the mountain breeze. Liu Ying couldn't understand nine out of ten sentences, but he found the voice's intonation beautiful, so he forgot his momentary thirst and listened intently with his large, clear eyes.

"Do you know the Book of Changes?" the young man suddenly changed the subject and asked. But he didn't expect Liu Ying, who was only two or three years old, to be able to answer his question. After a slight pause, he continued, "The Book of Changes has eight trigrams: Qian (☰) is three unbroken lines, Kun (☷) is six broken lines, Zhen (☳) is an upturned bowl, Gen (☶) is an overturned bowl, Li (☲) is empty in the middle, Kan (☵) is full in the middle, Dui (☱) is missing at the top, and Xun (☴) is broken at the bottom. These eight lines are not simply for memorizing the trigrams."

Liu Ying listened, seemingly understanding but not quite, and politely refrained from interrupting.

"King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang, not only wrote the hexagram and line texts, but also created the objects that each of the eight hexagrams represents." The young man sighed softly, stroking the lacquered bowl in the bowl with his fingers. "This is the Zhenyang bowl."

"Zhenyang Yu?" Liu Ying repeated in confusion. This lacquerware bowl looked precious, but he didn't expect it to have such a strange name.

"The image of the Zhen hexagram resembles a bowl placed upright. The appearance of the Zhen hexagram signifies that the foundation of the nation will be shaken..." The young man's throat suddenly became hoarse again, and he covered his mouth and coughed heavily.

Perhaps because the wound on his throat hadn't fully healed, Liu Ying could see blood slowly seeping from the gruesome scar. The lacquer bowl in the man's hand also slipped from his grasp, falling to the ground and rolling erratically in front of Liu Ying.

"Are you... alright?" Liu Ying couldn't help but pick up the bowl, intending to return it to the young man, but he felt a sudden weight in his hand, almost dropping the bowl. He looked down and saw that the bowl had suddenly filled with clear water!
Liu Ying was so shocked that she couldn't speak. The lacquer bowl was clearly empty when the man held it, so why did it fill with water as soon as he picked it up?
The young man looked at the Zhenyang bowl in Liu Ying's hand with a complicated expression. After a long while, he sighed and said, "Treat this thing well, and don't let it fall to the ground and shake again."

"Huh?" Liu Ying looked up in confusion, only to see that the man had already stood up and was staggering into the depths of the forest.

Holding the lacquer bowl, Liu Ying took a few steps towards the man, but soon lost sight of him. Looking down at the clear water in the bowl, Liu Ying hesitated for a moment, then finally lowered her head and took a small sip.

Sweet and soothing, Liu Ying blinked her big eyes, held the lacquer bowl, and gulped it down.

But then the clear water reappeared in the lacquer bowl, filling it to the brim once more, much to Liu Ying's astonishment. Although young, he knew that an ordinary bowl couldn't continuously overflow with water. Had the man earlier looked down at the lacquer bowl in disappointment because he could no longer produce water in his hands?
Little Liu Ying didn't have much time to study the problem. His older sister came looking for him and was about to give him a good beating. Little Liu Ying immediately shared the lacquer bowl in his hand with his sister like a treasure.

Strangely enough, as long as the lacquer bowl was in Liu Ying's hands, it was a full bowl of clear water, but in the hands of her sister Liu Le, it was just an ordinary bowl.

Liu Le is already nine years old this year, and she is precocious like an ordinary girl. Little Liu Ying talked about her meeting with that young man in a halting manner. She could also tell that the lacquer bowl was quite special, so she told her younger brother to keep it safe and not to tell anyone else.

"Not even your parents?" Little Liu Ying asked, tilting her head.

"Let's wait for them to come home..." Liu Le patted his younger brother's soft hair, also thinking that he had to tell his parents about this.

The two siblings had high hopes, but reality was cruel. Not long after, news arrived that their father, Liu Bang, had started a rebellion after slaying a white snake at Mount Mangdang!
In fact, the world descended into chaos after the Chen Sheng and Wu Guang uprising at Dazexiang. Liu Bang was extremely popular in Pei County, and many friends flocked to him upon hearing the news. Liu Le and Liu Ying, the siblings, also had relatives and neighbors helping to take care of them. Life continued as usual, but Liu Ying developed a little secret: she would occasionally take out that lacquered bowl to look at it, and drinking a few sips of its sweet water would make her happy for days.

Their father never returned. Their mother came back a few times, only to leave again in haste. Over the next few years, the siblings heard bits and pieces of news about their father: the march on Xianyang, the Feast at Hongmen, the enfeoffment of the King of Bashu as King of Han… followed by the disastrous defeat at Pengcheng.

Chaos reigned in Pei County. Rumors spread that Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King, was about to massacre the county. Rumors flew, and no one knew the truth. Twelve-year-old Liu Le secretly led six-year-old Liu Ying into the mountains. The siblings had left in haste, carrying little food, let alone water. Fortunately, Liu Ying was still clutching a lacquer bowl, preventing them from dying of thirst in the forest.

Liu Ying vaguely remembered that the forest they were in now was the very place where he had met that young man years ago. The two siblings, supporting each other, hid in the woods until a carriage finally appeared.

When their father left home, Liu Ying was still very young and had long forgotten what his father looked like. However, Liu Le vaguely remembered him, so he excitedly pulled his younger brother forward to recognize him. It turned out that Liu Bang had suffered a major defeat at Pengcheng and went to Pei County to fetch his family to escape with him, but his wife, Lü Zhi, and father had been separated in the chaos of battle. He first went home but couldn't find his children, assuming they were also lost; he never expected to see them again.

The situation was urgent, and there was no time for them to weep. Liu Bang's chief servant, Xiahou Ying, quickly jumped off his horse, carried the Liu siblings onto the carriage, and rode off again.

Xiahou Ying and Liu Bang were very good friends. Although Liu Ying was still young at the time, she was deeply impressed by Xiahou Ying's big beard and immediately called him "Uncle Big Beard" in a sweet voice. As for her own father, Liu Ying glanced at him and found that this father, who looked extremely unfamiliar, had a gloomy face and was full of hostility, with no trace of the joy she had felt when they recognized each other earlier.

Perhaps it was because of the defeat... The recording dared not provoke her father, and hid her small body in her sister's arms. Of course, she still held the lacquer bowl firmly in her hands.

Strangely enough, despite the carriage being jolted so violently, not a single drop of water spilled from the full bowl.

"Great! I can give it to my father later; he must be thirsty." Liu Ying thought happily.

Liu Le didn't notice this. She keenly sensed that her long-lost father wasn't as kind and gentle as she had imagined, and his hasty escape suggested they were caught in a crisis. She could faintly hear the distant rumble of hooves and shouts. Liu Le regretted getting into the carriage, but there was nothing she could do but hold her younger brother tightly in her arms.

Liu Ying was unaware of her sister's complicated feelings, focusing only on the bowl in her hand. After an unknown amount of time, Liu Ying felt a powerful force, and suddenly the world spun around her. She fell from the carriage to the ground, tumbling twice before groggily managing to get up with one hand on her own.

His sister, who had fallen off the carriage with him, lay beside him, with a large footprint on her back; clearly, they had been kicked off the carriage.

Who is it? The bearded uncle is driving the horse in front, and there is clearly only my father in the carriage!
Liu Ying quickly looked up at the carriage in front of her and saw her father sitting coldly on the carriage, his expression indistinct.

"Clap!"

The bowl in Liu Ying's arms finally fell to the ground, spilling some of the clear water inside. It left wet marks on the dry sand, like someone's tears.

Liu Ying didn't have many memories of his father, but over the years, his sister and neighbors had constantly talked about how wise, brave, and powerful he was, a man worthy of respect and admiration. So at this moment, Liu Ying was completely unaware of what was happening until he blankly picked up the bowl and saw the half-empty portion inside, only then realizing something was missing.

It's not just the water that spills out of the bowl.

Uncle with the big beard stopped the carriage, argued with his father, and then carried Liu Ying and her brother back onto the carriage.

Then, in order to lighten the weight of the carriage and escape faster, the father kicked them off.

This was repeated three times.

Liu Ying was completely stunned, and Liu Le stopped crying, only able to hold her younger brother tightly in her arms.

Xiahou Ying and Liu Bang had a big argument. Liu Bang drew his sword several times and threatened Xiahou Ying not to care about his children. Seeing this, Xiahou Ying simply picked up the two siblings and put them on his horse, and they galloped away.

Liu Ying was in a daze and didn't know how she got to Xingyang. It took her a long time to regain her senses under the concerned gaze of her older sister.

The two siblings looked at each other in silence, their sorrow beyond words. It was as if the incident had never happened as long as neither of them mentioned it.

The water in the bowl was no longer as full as before, only about half full. Liu Ying vaguely guessed that it might be because he had dropped the bowl once.

But what did the clear water in that bowl represent? He didn't know. He just felt that when he drank that water again, it no longer had the same sweetness as before. It was bland and tasteless, no different from ordinary water.

While his father was temporarily residing in Xingyang, no one except his bearded uncle knew how ruthlessly his father had kicked his brother and sister off their horses that day. His father had many subordinates, and Liu Ying occasionally encountered a few of them, all of whom respectfully addressed him as "Eldest Young Master." Liu Ying had never seen such a scene before and was initially somewhat unaccustomed to it, but he grew accustomed to it after a while.

So what if he's the eldest son? In his father's heart, isn't he still just a burden that can be discarded at any time?

My sister seems to have been frightened and has stopped going out of the house. I heard that my father has started looking for a husband for her, making the most of her resources to form alliances with other powerful families.

Six-year-old Liu Ying heard a lot, because many people didn't really take him seriously, since they didn't understand much anyway. But Liu Ying felt like he had grown up in an instant, becoming less talkative, his smiles disappeared, and he spent most of his time silently holding the lacquer bowl.

Many people assumed that the lacquer bowl belonged to his mother, so they didn't pay much attention to it.

On this day, he saw his father personally leading his generals to welcome him outside the city. A valiant general in armor, who looked so familiar, was being greeted by his father.

Liu Ying stood there blankly not far away. As if sensing his gaze, the young general saw the lacquer bowl in his arms, which was only half full of water, and after a slight pause, gave him a faint smile.

"It has been three years since we parted in the woods. How have you been, young master?"

Liu Ying didn't have much of a chance to talk to the general. His father seemed very eager to speak with him and pulled him away.

Looking down at the lacquer bowl in his hand, Liu Ying saw his own face reflected on the clear water, and he saw the ripples in his eyes on the rippling water.

He began to inquire about the general.

His original name was Han Xin. He was an orphan and reportedly wandered around in his youth, suffering a lot of hardship. In Huaiyin, he was even ridiculed by a group of ruffians and forced to crawl between someone's legs. Later, he joined Xiang Yu and served as a halberd-bearing guard under him. However, he was not given important responsibilities, so he turned to join his father, Liu Bang.

Naturally, he didn't get an official position so easily. He only became a guard in charge of the warehouse, and was even falsely accused of treason and sentenced to death. If it weren't for his self-defense before his execution, which made Xiahou Ying, the supervisor of the wine cups, realize that he was no ordinary person, this famous general would have perished.

Although Liu Bang did not value him later, he maintained close ties with Chancellor Xiao He. However, Han Xin, who still could not be given important positions in the Han army, finally chose to leave, which led to Xiao He chasing after Han Xin under the moon, becoming a famous story in the Han army.

He was later appointed as a Grand General.

From then on, the God of War was invincible!
Liu Ying listened quietly as the others chattered about Han Xin's deeds. Some were envious, some admired, some scorned, and some were indifferent.

Liu Ying was still young, but he felt that a real man was one who could bend and stretch, and who could stand up again even when trampled into the most despicable mud.

He longed to find an opportunity to ask him what was going on with Zhen Yangyu, but unfortunately, his father would never allow his general to have contact with his son. The next day, he was made crown prince and sent to Guanzhong. It is said that once the defense of Xingyang was entirely in Han Xin's hands, the tide of battle turned as if by magic. Yongqiu, Waihuang, and other places were successively recaptured by the Han army, and defensive lines were built around Xingyang, Chenggao, and Luoyang.

Xiang Yu never crossed this defensive line, not even once, until his death.

The bloodshed and cruelty of war were firmly kept outside this defensive line. Liu Ying's days in Guanzhong were uneventful. His mother returned, but she seemed like a completely different person. His father also gained a concubine, Consort Qi, who gave birth to a younger brother named Liu Ruyi. His father cherished her dearly, while his mother viewed it as a formidable enemy.

Liu Ying felt no jealousy whatsoever. That kind of love was like a burning fire, seemingly bright and warm, but getting too close would lead to merciless burning. Just like that day, when they were overjoyed to see each other, they were instantly plunged into the abyss.

News of the battles at the front kept coming in. In three years, Han Xin successively destroyed Wei, conquered Zhao, coerced Yan, and pacified Qi... until he engaged in a decisive battle with Xiang Yu at Gaixia.

Destroy Chu!

After Han Xin went to the battlefield, he never suffered a defeat! This is true invincibility! A peerless national hero!
There was jubilation in Guanzhong, but some discordant voices also emerged, with rumors circulating that Han Xin wanted to amass an army, establish himself as king or emperor.

Liu Ying didn't see anything wrong with it. His father's empire could be said to have been built by Han Xin. What had his father done? After the great defeat at Pengcheng, he stripped Han Xin of his military power, appointed him as prime minister, and let him raise troops to attack Qi. And just before the decisive battle at Gaixia, Liu Bang had been defeated by the Chu army. If it weren't for Han Xin's heroic efforts, his father would have been dead long ago.

News then came that Han Xin's military power had been stripped away again, and he was enfeoffed as the King of Chu.

The recording was utterly baffled. Why did he listen to his father so much? Why didn't he become emperor himself?
On the night his father ascended the throne, he held the lacquer bowl, which was more than half full of water, and murmured a question. His older sister had long since married, and he had also developed the habit of talking to himself with the lacquer bowl.

"What's so good about being an emperor?" a voice came from the window, with a familiar hoarseness.

Liu Ying jumped up in surprise and immediately opened the window. Under the cool moonlight, the famous general, dressed in plain clothes, stood outside his window with his hand on his sword, looking dashing and heroic.

"General... what are you doing here?" Liu Ying was quite frightened. Although he was only nine years old, he knew that if others found out that he had returned to Guanzhong, it would definitely cause a huge uproar.

"I have come to see the eldest son one last time." The young general bowed gracefully, then stood up and looked at Liu Ying, his phoenix eyes revealing a complex expression.

Liu Ying looked down at himself. Thanks to his mother and Zhang Liang's efforts, and even the intervention of the Four Sages of Mount Shang, his father hadn't changed the heir apparent to Liu Ruyi. He remained the Crown Prince of the Han Dynasty, dressed in the most prestigious black ceremonial robes. Liu Ying raised his head, sensing that this young general was looking back on someone through him.

"General, I am unworthy of such a title." Liu Ying said sadly. He was just an ordinary child, dull and slow-witted, not even as clever as his six-year-old brother Liu Ruyi.

"What's so good about being an emperor?" The young general repeated what he had just said, this time with a hint of mockery. "His father no longer treats him as a son, his wife no longer treats him as a husband, and his son no longer treats him as a father. He will doubt everyone around him, trust no one, and in the end, he will die alone."

"This is a punishment for them."

Although it was already summer, Liu Ying suddenly felt a chill. These words were like a curse, lingering in his mind, yet he had to admit that what the other party said was probably not wrong. He also knew a little about what had happened before. When the two armies were facing off at Guangwu Gorge, Xiang Yu had threatened his father with the lives of his grandfather and mother, but his father said, "If it is minced meat, please share a bowl of soup."

"Then...General...why are you still...helping my father?" Liu Ying asked hesitantly. He suddenly realized that six or seven years had passed, but this man was still as young as when they met in the forest, unchanged. "I must go." The young general slightly curled his lips and turned to leave. Liu Ying became anxious. He had many questions to ask and vaguely knew that after this meeting, they would probably never see each other again. "General, it's understandable that you rewarded the woman who saved you with a thousand pieces of gold for a meal. But why didn't you punish the person who insulted you, and instead promoted him to lieutenant?"

The young general stopped and said calmly, "That humiliation wasn't so bad; it made me see my true identity."

He turned around, looked at the lacquer bowl in Liu Ying's hand, and said calmly, "Do you know what lacquerware is?"

Liu Ying shook his head. He had been asked this question years ago, but he still didn't know the answer.

"Its surface is exquisite and ornate, lacquered to prevent decay, but in essence, it is still made of wood." The young general sighed and continued walking into the darkness, his intermittent voice carried slowly by the wind.

"Don't hold on to the past too tightly, then how can you grasp the present?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Ying loosened her grip on the lacquer basin, but then hugged it tightly again.

Liu Ying still didn't have a chance to ask why there was clear water in the Zhenyang Bowl. He also had a premonition that even if he asked, he wouldn't get an answer.

That year, Liu Ying had another younger brother, named Liu Heng.

The Empress Dowager didn't pay much attention this time, because her younger brother's mother, Consort Bo, was not favored, and the only person she was wary of was Consort Qi.

Liu Ying felt sorry for his younger brother. It was said that their father had only favored Consort Bo for one night, and even after learning of her pregnancy and childbirth, he had not visited her again. Liu Ying sent some things to her, because although he could not take care of her personally, she was still his own brother.

Since becoming estranged from his parents and with his sister getting married, Liu Ying has become increasingly appreciative of family ties. As for the Han general he admired, when he saw him again, he felt no familiarity whatsoever. Liu Ying felt that he must have left, even though the current General Han looked exactly the same as before.

Days passed by, and Liu Ying continued to feign stupidity and dullness, coldly observing the struggle between his father and mother without uttering a word.

He didn't value his position as crown prince. If he could, he would even like to be an ordinary farmer.

The water in the bowl was decreasing day by day, but he didn't care.

He even felt that the clear water represented his hope. As a child, he hoped for so many things, but he was constantly disappointed. Hope slowly dried up and turned into despair.

When he was sixteen, his father passed away, and he ascended the throne in a daze, leaving his mother to manage state affairs. He was happy to have an easy life.

Anyway, he doesn't really understand it. With Prime Minister Xiao He around, there won't be any major trouble.

However, Empress Dowager Liu Ying knew that the Empress Dowager and Xiao He had conspired to kill Han Xin in the Chang Le Bell Chamber a year earlier, and that Han Xin was not the real General Han. But he was still extremely surprised when he heard this.

He knew his mother had changed, but he never imagined she had become a stranger.

"Your Majesty, what do you think of my handwriting?" Fifteen-year-old Liu Ruyi held up a scroll of bamboo slips in both hands and presented it to Liu Ying. Liu Ruyi inherited most of his mother Consort Qi's appearance. Although he was a boy, he was pretty and handsome, and his almond-shaped eyes had a flattering look, making it hard for anyone to criticize him.

Liu Ruyi had originally been enfeoffed in the Zhao region, but was summoned to Chang'an by an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager. Fearing for his mother's safety, Liu Ying personally went out of Chang'an to welcome him, taking him directly to his own palace where they ate and slept together, preventing his mother from having any opportunity to harm him. Liu Ruyi knew that the only person in the capital who could save him was his emperor brother, so he became increasingly reliant on him.

Liu Ying took the bamboo slip from Liu Ruyi, glanced at it casually, and praised, "Very good." In fact, he was not interested in these things. Looking at Liu Ruyi, who looked thin even in a thick robe, Liu Ying frowned and said, "Ruyi, you should get up early with me to practice archery."

Looking at the heavy snow outside, Liu Ruyi shivered. These past few days, he'd mostly just accompanied Liu Ying early in the morning, observing from the hunting grounds. Inside the palace, a fireplace made it warm and cozy; if his life weren't threatened, why would he have gotten up so early to practice archery? Liu Ruyi had become familiar with Liu Ying and knew his emperor brother was kind-hearted, so he reverted to his old ways. Ultimately, he was just a pampered young master. So he kept shaking his head in refusal, using every trick in the book to charm Liu Ying, leaving him speechless.

Liu Ying sometimes felt that the fifteen-year-old Liu Ruyi was not as sensible as the eight-year-old Liu Heng. Perhaps his father was most susceptible to his coquettishness back then.

When the eunuch delivered the meal as a gift, Liu Ying was the first to pick up his chopsticks and taste each dish. This wasn't because he was picky, but because he was afraid there might be something wrong with the food. He wouldn't trust anyone else to test it for poison; he preferred to do it himself.

Liu Ruyi saw this and felt even more grateful.

After taking a few bites, Liu Ying noticed nothing unusual and nodded to Liu Ruyi that she could eat.

Liu Ruyi pointed to the side and said, "Brother, why is there always half a bowl of water in this lacquer bowl by the bedside?"

Liu Ying's gaze followed Liu Ruyi's finger and landed on the urn placed on the bedside table. He was stunned for a long time before casually changing the subject without answering.

Liu Ruyi stuck out her tongue, unconcerned.

The next day, when Liu Ying got up, he saw Liu Ruyi sleeping soundly beside him, so he couldn't bear to wake him and quietly got up to practice archery alone. When he returned, he found that none of the eunuchs who were serving at the palace gate were there.

A strange chill rose in Liu Ying's heart. He called out Liu Ruyi's name and strode into the hall, only to see the Zhenyang Bowl lying on the ground.

The vessel was empty; the water had long since drained away. Liu Ruyi, who had been acting coquettishly beside him just yesterday, was now lying lifeless on the bed, bleeding from all seven orifices.

"My son, are you even listening?" Empress Lü slapped the table in front of her, looking at Liu Ying, who was sitting cross-legged opposite her, drinking wine from a lacquered bowl, with a look of exasperation.

After Liu Ruyi's death, Empress Lü was overjoyed, venting all her resentment and bitterness on Consort Qi. She ordered her limbs chopped off, her eyes gouged out, copper poured into her ears, and her tongue cut out, turning her into a human pig. Still not satisfied, she ordered Liu Ying to see it. Unexpectedly, this sight caused her good-for-nothing son to fall seriously ill, only gradually recovering after more than a year. Afterwards, he became a heavy drinker, using the very same lacquer bowl that had been used to poison the curious Liu Ruyi. Empress Lü found it both offensive and chilling, yet she couldn't stoop to her status and fight her son for a mere lacquer bowl. Although she was the most noble woman in the Han Dynasty, wearing the most magnificent robes, the most exquisite gold hairpins, and the most refined makeup, in essence, she was still that peasant woman from Pei County.

Therefore, she pays extra attention to her words and actions, but more often than not, she still can't control her true nature.

Perhaps we should let the eunuch find an opportunity to throw this lacquerware away.

Empress Lü knew her son was deeply dissatisfied with her, but she couldn't care less. Years of experience had taught her that a woman was only truly safe when she possessed power. At least power wouldn't discard her like trash one morning after a few years or a decade.

She did not regret being so cruel to the Qi mother and son, but she regretted letting her soft-hearted son see the terrible scene.

Empress Lü took a few deep breaths to calm herself, sat up straight, and said in a commanding tone, "My son, you are about to come of age. You should choose a woman to be your empress."

Liu Ying did not answer; his face remained completely expressionless as he continued to pour wine into the lacquer bowl from the wine pot beside him.

Empress Lü did not expect any reaction from him and continued, "Yan'er is very good. I am very satisfied. Let's choose a date next month to get married."

Liu Ying had just finished drinking his wine when he heard this and immediately choked on the liquid, coughing several times as he looked at Lü Zhi in disbelief.

Who is Yan'er? She's his sister's daughter! His own niece! She's only twelve years old! Has his mother finally gone mad?
Empress Lü was actually quite pleased with the different expression on her son's face, but that didn't mean she would allow him to contradict her decision. She glanced one last time at the lacquer bowl in Liu Ying's hand; since her younger brother Liu Ruyi's death, the water in the bowl had been dwindling.

The inner wall of the vermilion lacquered bowl was bright and smooth, with a few drops of wine still clinging to it. These drops slowly slid down the bowl to the bottom, where a small amount of clear water gradually appeared. This water was extremely bitter and astringent, and could only be swallowed after being mixed with wine.

Liu Ying smiled wryly. His mother hadn't been asking for his opinion; she was simply informing him.

Liu Ying drank the remaining mixture of wine and water at the bottom of the bowl in one gulp, wiped the residue from her lips, and smiled helplessly.

He dared not refuse to marry her; even now, he still haunts his nightmares with images of Consort Qi's tragic fate. His mother's methods were simply too cruel. How could his once so kind mother have become so seemingly insane?

"Brother...brother...what's wrong?" A gentle voice sounded in her ear, its tone so familiar that it almost brought tears to Liu Ying's eyes.

"Sister...Sister!" Liu Ying scrambled to his feet from the table, looking at his sister whom he hadn't seen in so long. Since Liu Le married, she had lived a secluded life, and Liu Ying hadn't seen her many times. But in her somewhat haggard face, one could still vaguely see the look of concern she had shown him in their childhood. Clutching Liu Le's sleeve, Liu Ying pleaded as if grasping at a lifeline, "Sister, please go and talk to Mother. She can't let Yan'er marry me!"

Liu Le's eyes were filled with tears. If she had a choice, she certainly wouldn't want her daughter to enter this prison-like deep palace, but she was helpless! Their mother, the Empress Dowager, was not one to listen to advice. "Brother, listen to your sister. You mustn't refuse. The rumors outside are already rampant. If you don't marry Yan'er, Yan'er can forget about marrying anyone else. Marrying into the palace is at least better than not marrying at all..."

Listening to Liu Le's rambling words, all of which were filled with worry for her daughter, Liu Ying slowly loosened her grip, letting her sister's clothes slip from her palm.

Yes, my sister is already married and has her own family. She can't possibly think only of him like she used to...

“Little brother, I’ve never asked you for anything. Back then, I helped you escape from the forest…”

Liu Ying forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, and nodded with difficulty, replying, "I understand. I will obey your will."

The change in self-reference from "I" to "朕" (the imperial "I") made Liu Le realize something. But after hearing Liu Ying's approval, she breathed a satisfied sigh of relief and left hesitantly.

Liu Ying sadly raised the lacquer bowl in his hand, completely unaware that no more water would seep out of it.

He continued to drink heavily, brooding over his sorrows.

Yes, he can protect Yan'er. Although he cannot be her true husband, with the title of Empress, he can ensure her safety for life.

But why doesn't anyone consider his feelings...?

Overwhelmed with grief, Liu Ying drank more and more. In his hazy state, a few words from many years ago kept echoing in his mind.

What's so good about being an emperor?

His father no longer treats him as a son, his wife no longer treats him as a husband, and his son no longer treats him as a father. He will doubt everyone around him, trust no one, and eventually die alone.

This is a form of punishment...

Liu Ying curled up in pain. He had done nothing wrong, so why should he suffer such punishment?

Inside the empty and desolate hall, the young emperor of the Han Dynasty slept drunk as usual. A young eunuch peeked around for a long time before finally tiptoeing over, picking up the empty lacquer bowl from the ground, stuffing it into his robes, and quietly leaving.

188 BC, Chang'an, a teahouse.

The two young men silently sipped their tea, listening to the whispers of the guests around them about Empress Lü's usurpation of power since Emperor Hui of Han's unexpected death.

The young man in white sighed softly and said in a low voice, "Sir, thank you for saving me."

The young man in black smiled and pointed to the lacquer bowl on the table, saying, "If I hadn't seen this for sale, I wouldn't have remembered to come see you." It turned out that the eunuch who had taken this lacquer bowl from Liu Ying's side on the orders of Empress Lü Zhi did not smash it. Instead, he saw it as a preserved plum and secretly sold it outside the palace, eventually ending up in the hands of ordinary people.

The young man in black took a sip of tea, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said, "If you are willing to give up the supreme position in the world, why shouldn't I help you this once?"

Liu Ying sighed silently. He knew the young man before him was incredibly powerful. He was already twenty-three years old, yet he still looked as young as when they first met twenty years ago. Sitting together, the young man even appeared older than him. Liu Ying didn't dwell on the past. Having escaped that ruthless abyss, he had no other desires. As for the throne, he felt his young son, Liu Heng, was a suitable successor. However, whether Liu Heng would ultimately ascend the throne was neither his power nor his desire to interfere.

Liu Ying picked up the lacquer bowl on the table and asked curiously, "What is the origin of this Zhenyang bowl? Why was there water in it when I held it before, but it gradually dried up afterwards?"

The young man in black put down his teacup and said calmly, "Do you know King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang?"

Liu Ying nodded. He vaguely remembered what happened back then. This Zhenyang Yu was related to the Book of Changes written by King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang.

"Do you know Boyi Kao?"

Liu Ying nodded again. Boyi Kao was the eldest son of King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang. When Ji Chang was still the Marquis of the West, legend has it that King Zhou of Shang boiled Boyi Kao alive and made him into a meat broth, which he then presented to Ji Chang. Even knowing it was his son's meat broth, Ji Chang was forced by King Zhou to eat it. This is an extremely tragic and cruel legend.

"King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang, ate the meat soup from that bowl in a wooden vessel, and was overcome with grief. To remind himself of this monstrous blood feud, he carried the wooden vessel with him at all times, and fearing it would rot, he later lacquered it..."

As if his hand had been burned, Liu Ying immediately put the trembling bowl back on the table, speechless with shock.

"This is the Zhenyang Bowl. Legend has it that only when the true Son of Heaven holds it will the clear water within reveal itself. And this clear water represents the affection in your heart..."

The rest is self-explanatory; Liu Ying could guess what would happen next. The water in the bowl had been spilled multiple times, and spilled water cannot be gathered up again… which led to his departure without looking back.

Family affection is like clear water; it may seem insignificant, easily overlooked, and taken for granted when consumed daily. But after a long drought, it is like sweet rain. And once the land dries up…

The young man in black also fell silent, staring at the lacquered bowl on the table. He had once witnessed the bowl's water rise and fall to its empty state. Ironically, the last person qualified to hold the bowl had never ascended the throne.

After a long while, Liu Ying withdrew his gaze and asked, "Sir, I have no other wish in this life but to follow you."

The black-clad young man's gaze softened, the icy killing intent of his former days as a general gone. He nodded and said, "Very well, you shall come with me to find someone. It may take a long time..."

"promise."

2012 AD.

"So, Emperor Hui of Han didn't actually die!" The doctor twitched his rabbit ears after hearing this. He hadn't eaten in so long, so he begged the shopkeeper to buy him a bag of chocolates and was diligently pouring the chocolate chips out of the counter. Even if he couldn't eat them, they looked good!
"No, he's dead." The shopkeeper calmly wiped the lacquerware bowl in his hand, quietly looking down at it. At that time, lacquerware was generally made only in black and red, because these two colors were considered the most prestigious in ancient times. The red was vibrant yet not ostentatious, and the black was deep yet not dull; the two complemented each other perfectly. Although the entire lacquer bowl had no other decorations besides the cloud pattern on the outside, it still possessed a dignified and serene air, making it a rare and exquisite piece.

Upon hearing this, the doctor scattered the chocolate beans in his hand, scattering them across the counter with a clatter, and several even fell to the floor, spinning around several times.

The shopkeeper put down the shaker in his hand, bent down and patiently picked up the chocolate beans one by one, then gathered them together from the counter and piled them next to the doctor.

"I'm sorry," the doctor apologized softly. He couldn't imagine how his boss had seen so many friends pass away over the course of a thousand years. Watching them grow old and ravaged by time, watching them turn from youth into bones... the doctor suddenly felt a pang of sadness; perhaps one day, he and his boss would meet the same fate.

"Why apologize? Everyone dies eventually." The shopkeeper smiled nonchalantly, picked up a chocolate bean, wiped it with a silk handkerchief, and casually put it in his mouth.

"I'm apologizing for spilling chocolate chips!" the doctor retorted fiercely.

The shop owner smiled slightly: "The chocolate is delicious!"

"……hateful!"

(End of this chapter)