My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

In the autumn of the eleventh year of Qianwu (211 AD), in Luoyang, at the temporary palace.

The night was deep and quiet, and all was still.

Ji Xuanyuan sat alone in his study, a scroll of memorials laid out before him, but he couldn't concentrate on reading a single word.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

He put down the memorial, rubbed his sore eyes, and took a small sip of tea.

The tea had gone cold, and a bitter taste lingered on the tip of my tongue.

His health has been deteriorating these days.

I cough frequently, often waking up coughing at night, and occasionally there are traces of blood on my pillowcase.

Zhang Zhongjing tried different prescriptions, but they could only alleviate the symptoms, not cure the disease.

He knew that this was a chronic illness from his early years, caused by overwork, and that it could not be cured by medicine.

"Your Majesty, it's time to rest," the eunuch said softly.

Ji Xuanyuan waved his hand: "Wait a little longer."

The eunuch dared not speak further and stepped aside.

Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew by, and the candlelight flickered.

Ji Xuanyuan looked up and saw that there was someone standing in front of the window at some point.

The man had white hair but a youthful face, a lean and refined appearance, three long strands of beard flowing down his chest, and wore a moon-white Taoist robe, looking as ethereal as a fairy.

He stood with his hands behind his back, a smile on his face, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

Ji Xuanyuan's pupils contracted slightly, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword on the table, but he did not draw it.

"Your skill is impressive," he said slowly and calmly.

"My palace is heavily guarded. Your ability to enter so quietly is no small feat."

The man smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "This humble Taoist priest, Zuo Ci, greets Your Majesty."

Zuo Ci.

Ji Xuanyuan was shocked.

Of course he knew the name.

Zuo Ci, courtesy name Yuanfang, was a native of Lujiang. He was a famous magician in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, skilled in magic and unpredictable. He was recorded in history books by later generations and was regarded as an immortal.

The Book of the Later Han Dynasty records that he "possessed supernatural abilities from a young age." Cao Cao once summoned him, and during the banquet, he conjured up countless delicacies and could also disappear into walls, appearing and disappearing like a ghost.

Unexpectedly, such a person would appear in front of me.

Ji Xuanyuan loosened the hilt of his sword, leaned back in his chair, and looked at him calmly: "Zuo Yuanfang, I have long admired your name. What brings you here so late at night?"

Zuo Ci smiled slightly and sat down opposite Ji Xuanyuan, as if he were at home.

"Isn't Your Majesty curious how I got in?"

Ji Xuanyuan shook his head: "With your abilities, there is probably no place in this world you cannot go."

Zuo Ci stroked his beard and smiled, "Your Majesty is indeed magnanimous. Then this humble Taoist will speak frankly."

He stopped smiling and said seriously, "Your Majesty, do you know how many people's fates your arrival has changed?"

Ji Xuanyuan's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive: "What do you mean by that?"

Zuo Ci's gaze was deep as he said, word by word, "You shouldn't be in this era. Your brothers, Xiang Yu, Ran Min, Li Cunxiao, Yang Zaixing, and Yuwen Chengdu, shouldn't be in this timeline either. Cause and effect have been completely disrupted."

The study was deathly silent.

The candlelight flickered, casting swaying shadows on the wall.

Ji Xuanyuan remained silent for a long time, then suddenly smiled.

In that smile, there was relief, helplessness, and also a hint of something indescribable...relaxation.

"So, there are still people in this world who can see through my secrets." He picked up his teacup, took a small sip; the tea was long since cold.

"I believe this secret will be kept to my grave."

Zuo Ci looked at him, his eyes filled with pity: "Your Majesty, aren't you afraid?"

Ji Xuanyuan shook his head: "Afraid? Why should I be afraid? In my life, what haven't I seen? I've crawled out of piles of corpses, braved mountains of knives and seas of fire. What's so scary about a secret?"

He put down his teacup, looked at Zuo Ci, and said frankly, "Since you can see through me, then I will not hide it from you. I am indeed not a person of this era. I come from more than a thousand years in the future. I know the direction of this era and the fate of those people. So I want to change it, I want them to live, and I want them not to have to face those tragic fates."

Zuo Ci nodded: "So, you saved Xiang Yu, Ran Min, Li Cunxiao, Yang Zaixing, and Yuwen Chengdu. You changed history and also changed cause and effect."

Ji Xuanyuan remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Your Excellency, is there truly a way to achieve immortality in this world?"

Zuo Ci looked at him and suddenly smiled.

There was a hint of mystery and a touch of detachment in that smile.

"Your Majesty, didn't your era already provide you with the answer?"

Ji Xuanyuan was taken aback.

Zuo Ci stood up, hands behind his back, gazing at the bright moon outside the window, and said slowly, "You spent sixteen years pacifying the world, and another ten years reforming the political system. You brought a good life to the people, gave the soldiers a place to belong, and allowed those heroes who should have left tragic endings in history to live on and enjoy their later years. Aren't these things more meaningful than immortality?"

Ji Xuanyuan remained silent.

Zuo Ci turned around, looked at him with a profound gaze: "Your Majesty, you have already achieved it. As for immortality..."

He smiled slightly and didn't continue.

"This humble Taoist priest should be leaving now."

Ji Xuanyuan stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Please take care, Your Excellency."

Zuo Ci walked towards the door, then suddenly stopped and looked back at him.

"Your Majesty, I will not tell anyone your secret, you can rest assured."

Ji Xuanyuan nodded: "Thank you."

Zuo Ci stepped out the door and disappeared into the moonlight, as if he had never been there.

Ji Xuanyuan stood by the window, gazing at the bright moon, remaining silent for a long time.

The next day, in Luoyang, at the Taiji Hall.

Court meeting.

Ji Xuanyuan sat upright on his throne, his face pale, yet his back remained straight. The courtiers stood in two rows, heads bowed in solemn silence.

"Your Majesty," Guo Jia stepped forward and said softly, "the Imperial Medical Academy recommends that Your Majesty rest and recuperate. The Crown Prince may temporarily oversee the affairs of the court."

Ji Xuanyuan nodded, his gaze deep and far-reaching: "Granted."

He looked at Ji Heng, his eldest son, who was standing at the front of the ranks of military officers. Ji Heng was sixteen years old this year.

"Heng'er".

Ji Heng stepped forward and knelt on one knee: "Your subject is here."

Ji Xuanyuan looked at him gently: "From today onwards, you will attend court and participate in government affairs. You will learn to handle all matters, large and small, in the court. If you don't understand something, ask Guo Jia, Pang Tong, Xun You, and the others."

Ji Heng kowtowed: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

The assembled officials exclaimed in unison, "Your Majesty is wise!"

After the court session, in the Imperial Study.

Ji Xuanyuan sat alone at his desk, a long list spread out in front of him.

That was the list of government affairs he was preparing to hand over to the Crown Prince, covering taxation, water conservancy, education, military affairs, diplomacy, and every single matter.

Guo Jia walked in and said softly, "Your Majesty, are you really going to relinquish power to the Crown Prince?"

Ji Xuanyuan nodded, his gaze deep and thoughtful: "I know my own body. I cannot wait until I collapse to let him take over. That would be irresponsible to him, and also to the world."

Guo Jia remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "The Crown Prince is young and I'm afraid he will have difficulty winning over the people."

Ji Xuanyuan shook his head: "No. Although Heng'er is young, he is intelligent and eager to learn, and with your assistance, I trust him."

He paused, then added, "Besides, I'm not going to abdicate immediately. I'm just gradually delegating power so he can learn little by little. When I'm truly no longer capable, he'll be able to take charge on his own."

Guo Jia bowed deeply: "Your Majesty is wise."

Winter of the eleventh year of Qianwu, Luoyang, Eastern Palace.

Ji Heng sat in his study, a pile of memorials laid out in front of him, his brows furrowed.

He had just taken over the government affairs and was overwhelmed with a multitude of tasks, unsure of where to begin.

"Your Highness," Guo Jia entered, smiling, "have you encountered a problem?"

Ji Heng quickly stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Mr. Guo, you've come at the right time. I've been looking at these memorials for a long time, but I don't know how to review them."

Guo Jia sat down, picked up a memorial, read it through, and pointed to one section, saying, "Your Highness, please look. This memorial concerns the Yellow River floods. The Yellow River overflows every year, causing immense suffering to the people. During His Majesty's reign, he sent people to manage the situation many times, but with little effect. If Your Highness wishes to solve this problem, you must address the root cause—planting trees upstream, building dikes in the middle reaches, and dredging downstream. Only by addressing all three can we see results."

Ji Heng listened attentively and nodded frequently.

Guo Jia added, "Controlling the Yellow River is not something that can be accomplished overnight. Your Highness needs patience, and even more so, perseverance."

Ji Heng clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Guo."

Guo Jia smiled slightly: "Your Highness, there's no need for you to be so polite. We will certainly do our utmost to assist Your Highness."

In the spring of the twelfth year of Qianwu (212 AD), in Luoyang, at the Taiji Hall.

Court meeting.

Ji Xuanyuan sat on his throne, his face growing increasingly pale, yet he still maintained an upright posture. Ji Heng stood beside him, head bowed in reverence.

"Your Majesty," Pang Tong stepped forward and said loudly, "The Crown Prince has been acting as regent for several months, and his administration is efficient and the people's hearts are with him. I request Your Majesty to formally appoint the Crown Prince as regent and entrust him with the overall administration of the state."

The courtiers echoed in unison.

Ji Xuanyuan looked at Ji Heng, his gaze gentle: "Heng'er, what do you think?"

Ji Heng knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your subject is young and lacks talent and learning, and I fear I am not up to the task. I only wish that Your Majesty will recover soon and continue to rule the country."

Ji Xuanyuan shook his head, his gaze deep and unwavering: "I know my health. You need not refuse. From this day forward, you will be the Crown Prince Regent. You will have full authority over all affairs of the court. I will only provide guidance from behind the scenes."

With tears streaming down his face, Ji Heng kowtowed and said, "Your subject... obeys the decree!"

The assembled officials shouted in unison, "Your Majesty is wise! Long live the Crown Prince!"

Summer of the twelfth year of the Qianwu reign, Luoyang, Imperial Garden.

Ji Xuanyuan sat in the pavilion, watching Ji Heng play with his younger brothers in the garden, a smile appearing on his lips.

Zhen Mi sat beside him and said softly, "Your Majesty, look at Heng'er, he's becoming more and more like you."

Ji Xuanyuan nodded, his gaze gentle: "Yes. He is far superior to me back then."

Zhen Mi held his hand and whispered, "Your Majesty, you've handed over all the power to Heng'er. Aren't you afraid of being idle?"

Ji Xuanyuan shook his head, his gaze deep and distant: "I am not taking a break. I intend to use the remaining time to do more important things."

Zhen Mi was taken aback: "What is it?"

Ji Xuanyuan looked at her and smiled slightly: "I'll stay with you."

Zhen Mi's eyes reddened, and she leaned on his shoulder.

"Mi'er," he said softly, "my life has been worthwhile."

Zhen Mi raised her head and looked at him, her eyes full of tenderness: "Your Majesty, my life has been worthwhile."

As the sun sets, it paints the Imperial Garden in a golden hue.