How Dare You?! 成何体统 (Cheng He Ti Tong)
By 七英俊 Qi Ying Jun
Translation by Spider
He didn’t mind dying in the darkness before dawn, but if there was a chance to step into the bright sunlight, who would refuse?
“I now…” He started, but found it was a mood killer and his voice trailed off. ‘I now feel a bit reluctant to die.’ was what he’d wanted to say.
Yu Wanyin was puzzled, “What?”
“It’s nothing.” Xiahou Dan smiled and pulled her back to her original position, “Jiejie, your hair smells nice.”
The capital had been overcast for seven days, the sky as dark as a long night.
In just a few days, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were buried one after the other, the Imperial Army fought each other, and the frightened people of the city closed their doors and windows and lived in fear all day.
Later, the killings seemed to come to an end, but the curfew in the city continued. No one knew how this turmoil had started or when it would end. But judging from the ultimate winner, this matter was closely related to Prince Duan.
And Prince Duan’s recent actions had completely ruined his carefully cultivated reputation over the years. Dozens of ministers on their knees could not even get to see the Emperor one last time. Such a tragic event, no matter how thick the palace walls were, could not prevent it from spilling out into the streets and alleys the next day. Even an eighty-year old man would ask, “Is there a conspiracy?”
Furthermore, before the Emperor’s body was cold, Prince Duan made a great fuss about the Empress’s arrest, clearly with the intention of eliminating all threats.
Public opinion was rampant for a while.
Then came the Imperial Army. Under the command of the newly appointed leader by Prince Duan, rumours and gossip were rampant.
After a few households were taken out and made an example of, the city fell into silence. People looked at each other with their eyes, and except for the footsteps of the patrolling Imperial Army, there was no other sound to be heard, turning the city into a ghost town.
Li Yunxi and others sat by Cen Jintian’s sickbed.
After Cen Jintian was discovered by Prince Duan in the suburban villa, Xiahou Dan transferred him to a new hiding place, allowing him to spend the remaining few months of his life quietly.
On the day Xiahou Dan died, Prince Duan let his ministers return home to rest. Li Yunxi had a premonition that this return home might be permanent. So after discussing with his two good friends, they decided to halfway turn and hide with Cen Jintian.
Sure enough, not long after, word came that the group of ministers who had been knelt in front of the palace had been besieged in their own homes by the Imperial Army, with no way in or out. It was only a matter of time before Prince Duan’s men found this place.
The group looked at each other, all with gloomy expressions.
Cen Jintian, sitting on the sickbed wrapped in a blanket, spoke first in a calm tone, “Things have come to this point, we should plan ahead.”
After being taken care of by Xiao Tiancai during this period, his condition had improved a lot. Judging from his complexion alone, he didn’t look like someone with only a few months left to live. Those who had been seriously ill for a long time had long been indifferent to life and death, so he was the calmest among them.
Now there are only two ways to survive,” Cen Jintian analysed for them. “Either resign from our posts or surrender to Prince Duan. I don’t think you look like someone who would surrender…”
“Of course I’m not surrendering.” Li Yunxi said decisively.
Yang Duojie sighed, “Yeah, I’m ready to resign.” There was no one worth loyalty in the palace, and he couldn’t stay in this city anymore. It was better to go back and finally take care of his parents.
Li Yunxi hesitated for a moment. Resignation sounded too bleak. He began to consider his long-standing ambition to go down in history with blood splattered in the hall.
“I actually want to try surrendering.” Er Lan said lightly.
Li Yunxi: “…”
“What?” Li Yunxi gaped.
Er Lan was not joking, “Supporting the Emperor’s party now is more like resigning to save your life. There will be many vacancies at the court. Prince Duan needs people to work for him, and he won’t act against those who stay in the short term.”
Li Yunxi felt anxious. Before he could speak, Cen Jintian frowned, “With your wisdom, don’t you know that Prince Duan would definitely settle scores later?”
“Let’s take one step at a time. It’s not too late to die when it comes.” Er Lan seemed not to mind discussing life and death in front of the patient, “I think His Majesty would rather see us protect the people and prevent them from suffering from this turmoil.”
Li Yunxi: “…”
Was his long-standing ambition that obvious?
Li Yunxi was caught in a dilemma. He was no longer the straightforward young man he was when he first entered the court, and naturally understood Er Lan’s difficulties. But bowing to Prince Duan now would be a great shame!
After a moment of silence, Cen Jintian slowly spoke, “When the building is about to collapse, one person’s effort is insignificant. Life is short, and you’re in your prime. Why not live for yourself?”
Er Lan smiled and shook his head, her beautiful eyes looking at him straight, “Cen-xiong, you don’t know that I stay behind for righteousness and also for personal reasons.”
Li Yunxi and Yang Duojie both coughed simultaneously.
Li Yunxi felt bitter and unable to speak, while Yang Duojie marvelled at how his sworn brother had been so straightforward about his identity.
As if a long time had passed, Cen Jintian smiled vaguely, “So, Er-xiong has already found happiness here? That’s a joyous occasion.”
“Yes, it’s a joyous occasion.” Er Lan stood up, “I’ll go see how things are outside.”
She left.
Li Yunxi and Yang Duojie stiffened in place like sitting on pins and needles. Cen Jintian lowered his eyes and said nothing more.
After a while, Li Yunxi turned and left without saying a word, kicking a pillar as he went.
He gasped a few breaths, then turned back fiercely, “Then I won’t leave either!”
Yang Duojie looked around, “You’re not leaving either? Then I’ll go. Someone has to stay behind to erect a grave for you two.”
While Yang Duojie wrote his resignation letter overnight, Prince Duan had a grim face as he looked at the ‘Emperor’s’ body in the Inner Palace.
Kneeling beside him, his advisor trembled.
Xiahou Bo’s face was pale, cold sweat forming on his forehead and wiping away. His advisor, watching with trembling fear, advised, “Your Highness, it’s crucial to heal your wounds. You should lie down and rest…”
Xiahou Bo interrupted, “Was this person brought here by the Central Army?”
“Yes, Your Highness. He was brought here by the Central Army, and General Luo personally interrogated him.”
A flash of fierce light crossed Xiahou Bo’s eyes and he reached out to lift a corner of the mask that was firmly attached to the corpse’s face, muttering to himself in a low voice, “Even the Central Army would betray…”
Only at the moment when this ‘Xiahou Dan’ had breathed his last did he realise the person was a fake.
At the time, he was furious and wanted to keep the news quiet and continue his secret pursuit of the real Emperor. But those ruthless courtiers were so insistent that if he didn’t appear before the body of this impostor was buried, he might be seen as sacrificing himself. Xiahou Bo dared not arouse public anger at this critical time, and had no choice but to use the body of this impostor.
Immediately, he arranged for a hasty burial. This way, as long as he insisted that Xiahou Dan was already buried, even if another real Xiahou Dan appeared in the future, he could still counterattack, claiming the other was an impostor.
But being fooled by this impostor for several days could have fatal consequences. Where did the real Xiahou Dan end up? Did he evade the encirclement of the three armies as they searched and retreated, or was he hidden by the forces that betrayed him?
Xiahou Bo didn’t want to suspect the Central Army. He had fought side by side with General Luo and had a deep bond with him. He preferred to believe that General Luo simply hadn’t seen through this person’s disguise.
However, he knew in his heart that he couldn’t welcome the Central Army into the city without reservation. He couldn’t trust the other two armies either.
Xiahou Bo couldn’t help but feel a sense of loneliness and betrayal.
“Your Highness, the three armies will gather outside the city tomorrow.” His advisor reminded him.
Xiahou Bo collected himself and calmly said, “Arrange for them to camp outside the city.” He had to guard against Xiahou Dan’s possible return.
“Should Your Highness summon the three generals?”
“Let them come into the city to see me. Set up ambushes along the way, and if anyone acts suspiciously, execute them on the spot. Also, strengthen the defences at the city gates. Send people to inspect the troops and supplies of the three armies one by one. Check the true identity of anyone who looks suspicious.”
His confidant noted each instruction. Xiahou Bo then thought of something else, “Bring the Crown Prince to me… and bring the entire household of Yu, the Deputy Minister, all of them.”
This was clearly taking hostages. Xiahou Dan might not care much about the lives of these people, but for the sake of appearances, he couldn’t simply abandon them. especially if Xiahou Dan really showed up tomorrow.
Xiahou Bo had made comprehensive preparations.
However, he still felt a lingering unease. Perhaps it was because he had witnessed the weapon in Xiahou Dan’s hands at the foot of Mount Bei.
Now that he knew his enemy well, he would never place himself within range of this weapon. But the sudden appearance of the weapon itself seemed like an ominous sign. In Xie Yong’er’s prophecy, he was supposed to be the Chosen One. So why, even though he had held on so far, did it feel like Heaven’s favour was growing stingier and stingier?
He was now disfigured and crippled, his leg injury worsening. To his confidants watching him, it seemed that the once proud Prince Duan had fallen so low that he had lost his commanding presence. His eyes, once firm, now revealed paranoia and suspicion, making him seem even more terrifying than the mad emperor.
His advisors silently lamented.
Having come this far, they could not change allegiance at the last moment – they could only see this through to the end. These men, once eager for Prince Duan’s glorious ascent, now hid their fear, unwilling to show it.The air was filled with a cold, chilling aura. If seasoned soldiers were present, they would recognize it as the scent of defeat.
Translation by Spider
Next: Chapter 24
Previous: Chapter 22