In February of the following year, the spring chill still lingered. On this day, amidst the faint sound of waves, a group of several dozen people rushed into an unnamed small fishing village by the Yellow Sea.
Years of war had led to a scarcity of able-bodied men in such a remote fishing village, leaving only a few households, all elderly, weak, women, and children. Their faces were darkened, and their clothes were tattered. When they suddenly saw this group of people rushing into the village, their expressions turned to one of panic, resembling lost dogs. Some wore crooked hats, neglecting to straighten them, while others had disheveled hair and were missing a boot. Despite their disheveled appearance, their clothing indicated they were of noble birth. Among them was a woman with a lavish golden mask covering her face, which struck the villagers as bizarre.
The villagers were terrified, calling for their children and scattering in all directions.
The pursuing soldiers were drawing closer, so near that one could almost hear the sound of hooves hitting the ground and the clash of battle. Suddenly, a man who looked like an official fell from his horse, his hat rolling to the side of the road. He had broken his leg and cried out for help, but no one paid him any mind. In the blink of an eye, dozens of people rushed past him like the wind, leaving him and his terrified cries behind.
An old fisherman, carrying a rope, appeared from the opposite direction, seemingly just returned from the sea. Upon seeing the group, he turned to flee but was immediately caught. The soldiers threatened him with their swords, forcing him to lead them to the dock.
The sound of the waves was accompanied by a cold, salty sea breeze that rushed toward them.
The horses sank into the muddy shore, making it difficult to advance. Liu Yan and his group dismounted and stepped into the mud, stumbling as they hurried toward the dock where the fishing boats were moored. Finally reaching the boat, they were all barefoot, their clothes caked in mud, looking utterly disheveled. Their boots were left stuck in the muddy shore behind them, resembling black mouths gaping toward the sky, futilely gasping for air.
At low tide, the fishing boat was quickly pushed into the water, and the old fisherman was forced aboard to take the helm.
However, the boat was not large enough to accommodate everyone.
After Liu Yan, Su Ehuang, Liu Shan, the newly appointed General Liang Ji, his daughter who had been named Empress by Liu Yan, and the last ten soldiers boarded, there was no room left for anyone else.
Wang Ba, Dou Wu, and Deng Xun had long lost their usual composure. Barefoot and without their hats, they were covered in dirt, their hair and faces smeared with mud, kneeling by the sea, facing Liu Yan on the fishing boat. Some were wailing loudly, while others, disregarding the mud on their faces, bowed to bid farewell, creating a chaotic scene.
At that moment, Dong Cheng suddenly pushed past Dou Wu, who was blocking his way and waded through the seawater to catch up with the fishing boat. Grabbing the bow with all his might, he cried, “Your Majesty, do not abandon me! Allow me to board! I was loyal to you and helped you ascend to the throne; how can you abandon me now…”
The fishing boat, having just set sail with the retreating tide, was already unstable. As he clung to the bow, trying to climb aboard, it began to sway dangerously.
Liu Shan, lying on the slippery, dirty bow, desperately stomped on Dong Cheng’s hands with his feet. Seeing Dong Cheng stubbornly holding on, he drew a soldier’s dagger and swung it down at Dong Cheng’s hands.
With a scream, one of Dong Cheng’s fingers was severed. In a moment of survival instinct, he grabbed Liu Shan’s ankle with his other hand. Liu Shan lost his balance and was dragged down, and both men fell into the sea.
The waves surged, quickly pulling them away from the fishing boat. Liu Shan, who could not swim, struggled to free himself from Dong Cheng’s grip while shouting hoarsely for help, “Your Majesty, save me—”
Before he could finish, a wave crashed over him, and in an instant, both their heads disappeared beneath the surface.
Liu Yan stood in the boat, his robes billowing in the sea breeze, staring blankly at the approaching soldiers in the distance, his expression vacant.
The fishing boat gradually vanished from sight amidst the cries of the loyal subjects left behind on the shore.
—
The next evening, without any supplies, Liu Yan and his group finally reached a small island under the guidance of the old fisherman.
This island showed signs of habitation; tattered fishing nets were drying on the beach, and in the distance, a few low thatched huts could be seen.
Liang Ji asked Liu Yan to rest for a moment while he took the soldiers to search for the islanders.
As soon as Su Ehuang set foot on the shore, she collapsed onto the rocks, retching continuously. Her butterfly mask accidentally fell off and was swept away by a wave.
With a scream, Su Ehuang disregarded the surging waves and chased after it, finally retrieving the mask from the beach.
Soaked to the skin, her face pale as a corpse, she clutched the now slightly deformed mask and attempted to put it back on her face. However, her trembling hands caused it to fall off several times.
Finally, after a struggle, she managed to put it back on. She crawled onto the shore, eventually collapsing beside a rock, gasping for breath.
Liu Yan was nearby, his face haggard, his lips cracked and bleeding, standing motionless like a clay statue.
Soon, Liang Ji returned, holding a jug of fresh water, and offered it to Liu Yan. He reported that there were dozens of residents on the island, fishermen who had fled from nearby coastal villages to escape the chaos of war. They had already been captured by the soldiers. Liang Ji suggested that Liu Yan rest for the night, and once supplies were prepared, they could find a larger, safer boat to escape further in the morning.
Struggling, Su Ehuang stood up and said, “Your Majesty, the sea is vast. Even if the traitor Wei has his hands everywhere, once we leave this coastal area, he will be powerless! We can head south, and once we reach the south, we can recuperate. With your rightful identity as the emperor of the Han dynasty, how can we not find loyal subjects? In the future, we will seek revenge and return to Luoyang, tearing the traitor Wei to pieces and avenging our grievances!”
The sea breeze was strong, and her voice was carried away, sounding almost unreal, yet it was filled with conviction. Even Liang Ji seemed to sense the hope in her words.
The previously despondent spirits were lifted, and he looked toward Liu Yan.
With Liang Ji’s support, Liu Yan slowly stood up and walked toward the highest point of the island, where the settlement was located, stepping carefully through the mud.
In a flat area of the settlement, dozens of ragged fishermen, men, and women of all ages knelt with fearful and confused expressions, watching Liu Yan and Su Ehuang approach.
Liu Yan entered the largest thatched hut. Once inside, he lay down on a tattered mat that barely resembled a bed, closing his eyes and remaining still.
The sky gradually darkened.
Outside the hut, the sea wind howled, and strange sounds echoed as if ghosts were roaming the island.
Finally, Liu Yan felt exhausted.
He fell asleep, with Liang Ji lying on the ground beside him.
Moonlight streamed through a hole in the roof of the hut, illuminating Liang Ji’s youthful and beautiful face, revealing traces of tears at the corners of her eyes.
Suddenly, Liu Yan jolted awake, sitting up abruptly.
Liang Ji was startled awake, scrambling to her feet and rushing to his side, asking, “Your Majesty, what is wrong?”
Liu Yan stared wide-eyed at Liang Ji’s face in the moonlight, gradually revealing a dazed expression.
Liang Ji tentatively called out to him again, but seeing his unresponsive gaze becoming increasingly strange, she felt a chill and slowly backed away.
Liu Yan suddenly lunged at her.
“…You are my Liu Yan’s wife… Say it, you will share my bed in life and death…”
Though Liang Ji was the empress, she was not often close to him. Now, in such dire circumstances, feeling his tight embrace and hearing his trembling, incoherent words, with his cold lips pressing against her cheek, her heart raced uncontrollably. She slowly closed her eyes and trembled, saying, “Your Majesty, I am already your wife; I will surely share your bed in life and death…”
Liu Yan kissed her more fervently.
“I know you were forced! You were married to the traitor Wei against your will… They all deserve to die, a thousand deaths! But as long as you change your mind, I will not hold it against you, and I will make you empress!”
Liu Yan’s voice grew increasingly agitated.
Liang Ji opened her eyes in shock, saying, “Your Majesty, what are you saying?”
Liu Yan suddenly froze, slowly opening his eyes, staring intently at Liang Ji beneath him in the pale moonlight.
Liang Ji felt fear creeping back in, shrinking back slightly, and softly said, “Your Majesty… just now you said I was forced to marry the traitor Wei… and that they deserve a thousand deaths… My father has always been loyal to you… I beg Your Majesty to see clearly…”
Liu Yan’s gaze flickered, his facial muscles twitching, his breathing becoming increasingly labored. He suddenly raised his hand and grasped her neck.
Liang Ji struggled to breathe, her slender neck contorted under Liu Yan’s grip, her legs flailing in vain. Soon, her eyes rolled back, and her body went limp.
Liu Yan finally released his grip on her fragile neck. He climbed up from the ground, staring at Liang Ji’s face, which had turned pale, and smoothed her eyelids, murmuring, “Manman, you can rest easy… I will follow you in the future…”
His expression was a mix of tears and laughter, pain and relief, as he gasped for breath.
Suddenly, accompanied by the sea wind outside the hut, a faint sound of killing echoed.
Liu Yan felt as if he had been pricked by a needle, leaping up from the ground and rushing out through the broken door. He saw Liang Ji running toward him, shouting in panic, “Your Majesty, it’s bad! The traitor Wei’s large ship has caught up, and they have landed!”
Liu Yan looked up and saw the direction of the beach where he had landed earlier, now illuminated by flickering torches, casting a red glow over the entire beach. In the blink of an eye, they were surrounded by this fiery light, and under the moonlight, countless figures were rushing toward the high ground.
The sounds of killing rose, even drowning out the howling wind across the island.
—
Liu Yan should have felt fear, just like Liang Ji and the ten or so loyal guards remaining by his side.
However, at this moment, all that filled his heart was confusion and a chilling sense of utter despair.
Ever since the Xiongnu’s failed raid on Yuyang at the end of last year, he had already realized that sooner or later, he would face such a situation.
Yet, Liu Yan had not expected that this day would come so swiftly.
“Quick! Bring the islanders here!”
A piercing voice from Su Ehuang rang out behind him. Liang Ji was taken aback but quickly reacted, issuing orders loudly.
To prevent the islanders from causing trouble under the cover of night, they had already tied them up with ropes before dark. Soon, the soldiers drove the islanders forward, forcing them to kneel on the ground, their cries echoing in the air.
The moonlight was bright tonight, illuminating the entire small island as if it were a snowy night. Liu Yan saw a man of similar age to himself striding toward him, flanked by several generals, illuminated by the intertwining light of white moonlight and red flames.
In his life, his greatest and most hated enemy was Wei Shao.
Wei Shao had not only taken away his fiancée but also seized his kingdom.
Ironically, he had never had the chance to confront his enemy face to face.
Until this moment, he finally realized that the man approaching him in the moonlight and firelight, with the bearing of a victor, was the curse from which Liu Yan could never escape.
He stared at the man, whose armor gleamed with a fiery red light as he drew closer, feeling a chill run through him, followed by a wave of heat. His body, clad in armor, trembled uncontrollably.
“Kill—”
“Kill—”
From all directions, the high-pitched battle cries mixed with the low rumble of the sea and the howling night wind surged toward the high ground in the center of the island.
The soldiers who had followed Yan Hou across the sea were filled with fervor.
General Li Dian had joined forces with General Lu Mu, launching a pincer attack that annihilated King Chen, whose cannibalistic army had terrorized the south for nearly a year. Meanwhile, in December of last year, Wei Shao personally led his army to pacify Yuzhou, causing Gai Zhao to surrender. After that, his momentum was unstoppable, with Lujiang’s Song Ling and Jiangxia’s Liu Quan also surrendering one after another.
Aside from the southern barbarians, only Han Zhong’s Le Zheng and Liu Yan’s small court remained in the Central Plains.
The Le Zheng brothers were embroiled in internal strife, and the fall of Daliang was imminent. Liu Yan was now within reach, like a turtle trapped in a jar.
To eliminate Liu Yan and destroy Daliang meant that the world would be unified, and a new empire would rise from the ashes, no longer plagued by the bloodshed of war. How could this not fill people with hope and excitement?
“Wei the Traitor, listen! These islanders are innocent civilians. His Majesty does not wish to make things difficult for them, but you are being so aggressive! If your soldiers come any closer, I will kill all the islanders and fight you to the death!”
Liang Ji shouted with all his might toward Wei Shao, who was several dozen paces away, his voice mingling with the cries of the islanders behind him, carried away by the wind.
Wei Shao halted his steps.
The commanding officer gradually issued orders, and soon, the surrounding sounds of battle quieted down.
“Clear the way immediately and escort His Majesty to the ship—”
Liang Ji, filled with emotion, waved his long knife and continued to shout.
At that moment, Lei Yan, a nearby archer, seized a steel bow, drew it back with all his strength, aimed, and suddenly shot an arrow toward the figure on the distant high ground.
The arrow whistled through the air, striking Liang Ji in the chest, and he fell to the ground with a scream.
“Liu Yan’s soldiers, listen! My lord knows that you are bound by others and have no choice. Surrender now, and you will be pardoned! If you continue to resist, you will all be executed!”
Lei Yan’s powerful voice rang out, commanding respect without anger.
“Surrender!”
“Surrender!”
The soldiers around echoed in unison, their voices like thunder, shaking the eardrums.
With nowhere to turn, surrounded, and their commander killed before them, the last remaining dozen or so guards, who had held out until now, felt their will completely collapse. As the calls for surrender rang out, they slowly began to retreat. One soldier suddenly turned, kneeling toward Wei Shao, raising his weapon high, and the others followed suit.
The soldiers of Wei Shao erupted in cheers, slowly closing in on the high ground.
Su Ehuang’s face twisted in rage, her eyes wild. She suddenly snatched a crying baby from a fisherwoman’s arms, holding it high and shouting, “Wei Shao, listen! If you do not let us go, I will drop this baby! Are you not afraid that this innocent soul will seek revenge on your children?”
Lei Yan was furious and shouted at Wei Shao, “This wicked woman is truly malicious. I will shoot her first!”
Wei Shao looked at the seemingly mad Su Ehuang and slowly shook his head.
At that moment, Liu Yan, who had been standing stiffly, seemed to come back to life, his voice sharp as he said, “Wei Shao! You first took my wife, then my kingdom. I cannot coexist with you! Today, I know I am no match for you, but to be defeated by you like this, I am not only unwilling but also defiant! You merely rely on your ancestors’ legacy to dominate the world. What do I have? Though I am of royal blood, I have never relied on anyone, only on my hard work! I resent the heavens for being unjust! If I had a great foundation to rely on like you, would I have fallen to this point? I do not wish to make things difficult for these islanders any longer! I can let them go; dare you fight me one-on-one? If I am still no match for you, I will die without complaint!”
Su Ehuang was taken aback, turning to scold him, “Liu Yan, you useless man! Have you gone mad? If you want to die, don’t drag me down with you!”
Liu Yan seemed not to hear her, shouting again, “Wei Shao, do you dare to accept my challenge?”
Wei Shao gazed at Liu Yan’s figure in the moonlight for a moment before bursting into laughter, “What is there to fear?”
The generals beside him, Lei Yan, and the naval commander were astonished and urged, “Liu Yan is merely a dying man! Why use a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken? My lord’s life is invaluable; there is no need to fight!”
Wei Shao waved his hand and declared loudly, “All soldiers, listen! I will duel with Liu Yan; life and death will be determined by fate. If I am defeated, he may leave freely, and you shall not obstruct him!”
After saying this, he drew his long sword and strode toward a clear area illuminated by the moonlight.
Liu Yan also took up his sword, moving toward the open space amidst Su Ehuang’s curses.
—
The moonlight was like water, and the waves crashed against the shore. The cold blade was drawn, slicing through the air with a chilling gleam.
With a roar, Liu Yan charged toward Wei Shao.
In these past years, he had not only schemed and planned but had also endured hardships, practicing swordsmanship and fighting with warriors.
Countless nights, when he closed his eyes, he would remember the day he was pinned in the snow by Chen Rui’s long spear, unable to move, watching helplessly as he took away Xiao Qiao, laughing as he left.
If only he had the strength he possessed today back then, that humiliating scene would never have repeated itself.
The humiliation and hatred brought by the man before him far surpassed that of Chen Rui.
His eyes turned red, gritting his teeth, he fought with all his might, each strike a desperate gamble for his life.
To kill him, even if it meant dying together, he would not hesitate.
Yet, it seemed that heaven always mocked him, even at the last moment, it remained so.
Liu Yan’s final desperate hope was severed beneath Wei Shao’s sword.
With a sharp sound of metal breaking, Liu Yan’s long sword was shattered, the blade splitting into three pieces, one of which pierced into Liu Yan’s left knee.
Liu Yan closed his eyes briefly, then opened them to see Wei Shao standing before him, sword in hand.
In the moonlight, Wei Shao’s eyes glowed with a chilling light, suddenly reminding Liu Yan of the inevitability of death.
Liu Yan’s jaw began to tremble slightly.
Just moments ago, all the generosity, sorrow, anger, and courage that had fueled his duel with Wei Shao seemed to be rapidly slipping away from him.
He did not want to show fear, but at this moment, he truly felt regret.
Perhaps Su Ehuang was right; by threatening the lives of the islanders, he might still escape and have a chance to return…
This thought flickered vaguely in his mind.
But before he could fully form it, a sharp pain pierced his chest as Wei Shao’s sword plunged into his heart.
He could feel the blade, exuding the aura of death, tearing through his clothing and piercing his flesh.
“Manman is my Liu Yan’s fiancée… The world belongs to my Liu family…”
He stood upright, his face pale, forcing out trembling words through clenched teeth.
Wei Shao looked coldly at his contorted face, the sword blade precisely inserted between his ribs, slowly pushing toward the protected, beating heart, inch by inch. Just as the sword tip was about to touch the rapidly contracting mass of flesh, it paused.
“Liu Yan.”
Wei Shao’s icy voice drifted into Liu Yan’s ears.
“I cannot claim that I, Wei Shao, am more deserving of Manman or more qualified to be the emperor of this world than you. But there is one thing I will never do: for my benefit, I would never dare to collude with the Xiongnu, betraying the Han people and forming alliances with foreign tribes.”
“Though you call yourself the emperor of the Han, in my eyes, you are nothing. The reason I crossed the sea to pursue you here is that I cannot find peace without killing you myself!”
Before his words had finished, he exerted force, driving the sword deep into Liu Yan’s chest, piercing through his back.
Liu Yan clutched his chest, which was gushing blood, his eyes wide open, his lips moving slightly, his body trembling violently.
Wei Shao withdrew the sword, and hot blood sprayed out with the blade. Liu Yan let out a loud cry and fell backward.
Wei Shao lowered his head slightly, his expression unchanged, watching Liu Yan’s body convulse on the ground.
Until that body gradually stopped moving, he closed his eyes, let out a long breath, and opened them again, directing his gaze toward Su Ehuang, who was sitting on the ground.
Su Ehuang’s hair was disheveled, and her skirt was covered in mud. She still tightly held the crying baby, and under Wei Shao’s cold gaze, she fearfully placed it on the ground, instinctively crawling backward. After retreating a few steps, she struggled to get up and turned to run, only to be blocked by the soldiers behind her.
She suddenly broke down in tears, crawling toward Wei Shao, trembling as she reached out her muddy hand to grasp his ankle.
“Second Young Master! I know I was wrong! I was blinded and did things worse than a pig or a dog… But everything I did was out of my love for you… Second Young Master, you have punished me heavily before; I beg you, for the sake of our past, spare me—”
She looked up at Wei Shao, tears streaming down her face, rolling down the twisted golden mask.
Wei Shao slowly bent down, reaching for her face, suddenly tearing off her mask entirely. He squeezed it in his hand, quickly crumpling it into a ball.
Su Ehuang screamed, hurriedly covering her face with her sleeve.
Wei Shao stared at her expressionlessly, opening his hand, and the crumpled mask fell to the ground with a thud.
Wei Shao turned and strode away.
“Listen, villagers! The Central Plains have been pacified, and the world is unified. There will be no more wars! If you wish to return to your hometown, you may board my lord’s warship and come ashore!”
Lei Yan ordered the soldiers to untie the ropes binding the islanders.
At first, the islanders were incredulous, but soon their faces showed excitement. They whispered to each other and then knelt before Wei Shao’s retreating figure, thanking him loudly. They helped each other up, hurried back to gather their belongings, and boarded the ship to leave the island and return home.
—
Xiao Qiao woke up in the middle of the night, feeling restless, as if something had happened.
Her hand brushed against her sleeping daughter, Fei Fei.
She leaned toward her daughter’s warm, soft body, pressing her face against the little head.
The familiar scent of milk filled her nostrils, and she gradually felt her mood calm down.
She closed her eyes again.
Wei Shao should be back soon…
Before she fell asleep, she had this feeling in her heart.