Chapter 66: Farewell to Emperor Wu of Han

Emperor Wu of Han gazed down from his height at the Prince Qi collapsed in the snow, the fury in his eyes seeming to devour him.

"You wicked son, do you still recognize me?"

Emperor Wu of Han roared in anger, his voice booming like thunder across the empty snowfield, shouting:

"I had high hopes for you, made you a prince, gave you wealth and honor, yet you commit this grave treason! Colluding with the Xiongnu, betraying the Han, how can you face your ancestors? How can you face my nurturing of you?"

The Prince Qi trembled all over, scrambling to get up, but Emperor Wu of Han stepped on him, rendering him immobile.

"Father, I know my mistake, I was deceived by villains, just a moment of confusion!" the Prince Qi wailed, snot and tears smearing his face, a sorry sight.

Only now did he snap out of his dazed state; although he didn't know why Emperor Wu of Han had returned from death, his father still being alive was an undeniable fact.

"Confused?" Emperor Wu of Han snorted angrily, "This is deliberate rebellion! Do you know how many Han commoners suffered and how many soldiers lost their lives because of your foolish actions?"

Emperor Wu of Han's chest heaved violently, each word forced out through clenched teeth.

He lifted his foot and kicked the Prince Qi hard, again and again, as if to vent all the years of anger and disappointment.

Having vented his inner fury, Emperor Wu of Han turned his gaze to the Chanyu Wuyi.

Though shocked inside, Chanyu Wuyi forced composure, staring straight into Emperor Wu of Han's eyes.

"Hmph, you're Chanyu Wuyi?" Emperor Wu of Han said coldly, "Do you think a mere force of over ten thousand can invade Han territory and act recklessly? Now that you're in my hands, it's your doom!"

Chanyu Wuyi gritted his teeth and said, "Today I am outmatched, I have nothing to say. But don't get too pleased—the Xiongnu will not let this rest."

Emperor Wu of Han burst into loud laughter, his voice full of contempt and mockery:

"You think the Xiongnu can still stir up trouble? During my reign they were repeatedly defeated by the Han. Now my son Liu Ju is even more brilliant and martial, surpassing... not inferior to me—do you think the Xiongnu still have a chance?"

Emperor Wu of Han stepped forward a few paces, standing before Chanyu Wuyi, his eyes sharp as a blade, "From this moment I will personally lead a campaign against the Xiongnu, pacify the Western Regions, and make you vanish from the steppes!"

Chanyu Wuyi was cowed by Emperor Wu of Han's aura and involuntarily lowered his head.

Liuche said to Li Guang, "Front General, immediately send someone to escort Chanyu Wuyi to Ever Peace for execution, leaving it to the Son of Heaven to decide; as for this rebellious son, Prince Qi..."

Liuche fixed his gaze on Prince Qi, grinding his teeth.

Prince Qi hurriedly knelt, pleading, "Father, I know my wrong, I will never dare again."

Liuche sighed inwardly, then turned to Li Guang for the first time in a consultative tone: "Front General, let this rebellious son stay by my side, what do you think?"

Li Guang pondered, "Your Majesty, the disposition of Prince Qi should be decided by the Son of Heaven; neither you nor I have the final say."

Prince Qi lamented, "Father, Old General, I was blinded by greed and led astray by Liu Que and my clansmen into rebellion; I harmed no Han civilians, and my dealings with Chanyu Wuyi were merely perfunctory, forced upon me."

Li Guang was about to speak when Emperor Wu of Han cut him off:

"Front General, Prince Qi is now just a lonely soul; he couldn't stir up any trouble. Moreover, your expedition aims to take me away from Han lands—with you and I watching him constantly, he won't dare act out. Please go along with this once, will you? I am old and do not wish to lose another son."

Li Guang let out a long sigh, still saying nothing.

Liuche said, "I understand; as a trade, I will hand over the Imperial Jade Seal and the Imperial Tally to you—how about that?"

Li Guang's expression froze, then he looked at Liuche and asked, "Really?"

Liuche nodded, then immediately turned back to the carriage, took out a map and gave it to Li Guang, saying, "The seal and tally are right here; send someone to fetch them and you'll see."

Li Guang examined the map, then after a moment ordered his aides, "Escort Chanyu Wuyi at once to North Frontier City to be handed over to the Son of Heaven, and also deliver this map to Your Majesty without error."

The personal guards departed, and Li Guang turned to Liuche, saying, "Your Majesty, this old servant trusts you; as the great Han Emperor Wu, you will surely keep your word."

"Report to the Front General, the court's troops are arriving imminently, only a hundred meters away!"

At that moment, Li Guang's personal guards came to report.

Li Guang's expression tightened.

And Emperor Wu of Han Liuche suddenly turned his head, seeing the dark dots growing larger in the distance—Liu Ju, whom he had long wished to see, was now within reach.

Liuche's eyes flickered; having weathered countless storms, he could not help but clench his fists and tremble uncontrollably.

"Father?" Prince Qi Liu Hong whispered softly.

Having just escaped death, his feelings were tumultuous; he knew his life was spared thanks to his father's most precious sacrifice, so he naturally dared not hope for anything more.

"Your Majesty?"

Li Guang also shouted.

Liuche drew a deep breath, slowly lifted his head, and looked toward the approaching convoy.

"Let me take one more look at the Han realm, and one more look at my son!"

Having lived a life of unmatched majesty, Emperor Wu of Han stood there.

At this moment he no longer resembled a wise and martial emperor.

Merely an old man approaching his twilight years.

Merely a father longing to see his son once more.

Amid the vast wind and snow of the northern frontier, he stood silently alone.

Meanwhile, in the distance, the approaching Liuche saw the tightly bound Xiongnu Chanyu Wuyi, not far off the Han-flagged troops, and the solitary figure standing at the front.

His emotions surged, he involuntarily opened his mouth and murmured, "Is it you, Father?"

Liu Ju dismounted, walked a few steps forward, and thus gazed afar at Emperor Wu of Han.

Both sides' troops tacitly remained still.

Emperor Wu of Han saw Liu Ju clad in military attire, calm-faced, heroic and spirited, his spirit outstanding—it was virtually the image of his younger self, without difference.

Liuche saw a solitary figure, hair and beard white, yet his majesty undiminished from his younger days—it was precisely his future likeness, without any deviation.

After a long while.

"Ju, you have grown up and become a true emperor. Father, though I fell short by one move, though unwilling, I am also comforted."

Liu Ju seemed to hear Emperor Wu of Han murmuring to himself.

His heart surged with mixed feelings, tears threatening to spill, he flung himself down and knelt, declaring, "I will guard the Han realm and its people for you!"

Liuche did not reply; when Liu Ju lifted his head again to look ahead, he saw only the receding figures of Emperor Wu of Han and Li Guang's detachment.

Liuche was proud; at this moment he no longer clamored to regain his throne as before, nor did he demand a return to Ever Peace.

Instead, he chose to leave, to leave the vast territory he had personally conquered. At this moment, he finally let go of his obsession, and completely handed over this great Han to his son.

He remained proud, straightening his back as he left the most familiar land, venturing far away—this was his final defiance against fate.

Father Emperor!

Liu Ju choked out a sound, the tears that had been held back for a long time pouring down.

Emperor Wu of Han was proud, and also lonely; this contradictory mindset could only be understood by someone who, like him, was an emperor.

Liu Ju simply stood there in the wind and snow for a long, long time, until the entourage of Emperor Wu of Han had completely vanished from sight.

Until Zhao Chongguo stepped forward to report.

He composed himself, slowly turned, and said in a deep voice: "Escort the Xiongnu Chanyu Uwe to Shuofang City; decide on a day to dispose of him!"

He mounted his horse and galloped toward Shuofang City.

The heavens and earth were a vast white expanse, leaving only his figure riding on horseback.