Chapter 1734

Although Li Honghan had been forcibly dragged out by Yang Haoran, his anger remained like an erupting volcano, unstoppable. Although it was his father's decision, he felt as if he had lost everything—lost Xichuan, lost his status, lost his power, lost his dreams! He had long regarded himself as the future master of Xichuan, but his wish remained unfulfilled when his father prepared to give away everything that rightfully belonged to him. How could Li Honghan resign himself?

Yang Haoran pulled Li Honghan into the neighboring courtyard. Li Honghan struggled free from his grip and shouted, 'Our family's affairs are no place for an outsider like you to interfere!'

Yang Haoran sighed and said, 'Brother Li, although I am an outsider, the Grand Marshal has shown me En ru shan; for the Li family I would go through fire and water, even sacrifice my life, without hesitation.'

Li Honghan usually got along well with Yang Haoran; those words were just a sudden outburst, spoken without thinking. Immediately regretting them, he turned away and slammed his fist hard into a tree—Bang! —the bark dented and leaves fluttered down from the violent shake. His face twisted with pain, he lowered his voice: 'Haoran, you are not me, how could you understand my suffering? Father intends to send the Prince back to Dakang and have us bow in submission to Dakang!'

Yang Haoran exclaimed from behind Li Honghan: 'What? Impossible, how could Father make such an unwise choice? In the past Xichuan was strong while Dakang weak; aligning Xichuan with Dakang would surely earn favor, perhaps even enjoy prosperity and lifelong peace. But now Xichuan's situation is such that even if the court accepts our surrender, it will not value us, especially after our past opposition and the house arrest of the Prince. Who can guarantee that after surrender the court won't take revenge on us?'

Those words struck Li Honghan's heart; he nodded heavily and said, 'You and I think alike—I have also advised Father this way, but he not only refuses to listen, he loudly insults me; I truly do not know what he is feeling.'

Yang Haoran said, 'Actually Father's choice is also a helpless move. There's a saying I don't know whether to speak, but since Mr. Zhang's death Father has become hesitant; after the defeat at Yunyang this worsened, and the earlier earthquake caused heavy casualties, Father seems to have lost all confidence. In truth we still have hundreds of thousands of troops, millions of civilians, Xichuan's terrain is perilous and its fertile lands stretch a thousand li; if we can endure this present difficulty, revival remains possible—only Father no longer has his former ambition, and once a man loses confidence he can hardly speak of fighting spirit.' He sighed deeply and added, 'Brother Li, since Father has already decided, we brothers can only obey.'

Li Honghan shook his head heavily and said, 'No, how can we just hand over the foundation we built with such hard work to Dakang? This Xichuan is not only my father's; it was also forged by brothers who shed their blood and sacrificed their heads. How could we give it away for nothing because of his single word?'

Yang Haoran patted Li Honghan's shoulder and said, 'Brother Li, Father's decision cannot be changed by anyone in Xichuan.'

Li Honghan bit his lip hard until blood seeped out; he was unwilling to accept it.

Yang Haoran lowered his voice and said, 'Actually there is still another way…'

Li Honghan turned to Yang Haoran, his eyes full of anticipation.

Yang Haoran said, 'Father believes Dakang will accept us, but if the court deems us unworthy of forgiveness, then the Grand Marshal will naturally lose heart.'

Li Honghan, reminded by him, immediately thought of something, and a icy killing intent flashed in his eyes: 'Prince Long Yefang!' Killing Prince Long Yefang would naturally make them unforgivable criminals in Dakang's eyes, foiling Father's surrender plan; Dakang would then regard them as eternal enemies, and only this could preserve Xichuan.

Fortune and misfortune depend on each other; people often find disaster striking just as happiness approaches. Prince Long Yefang had been imprisoned for seven years, finally awaiting freedom. After confirming that Li Tianheng had not deceived him, he seemed to be reborn, busily bathing, changing clothes, and preparing his luggage. Although Prince Long Yefang is now Dakang's most likely heir to the throne, he harbors no ambition for it whatsoever; he only wishes to return quickly to his homeland and live a quiet life, even if he had no royal status he would not care.

The door was lightly knocked; Prince Long Yefang stopped his work and warned, 'Who is it?'

The voice of Guard Qi Jingcheng came from outside; Prince Long Yefang then relaxed his breath. Seven years of imprisonment had made him overly cautious, excessively wary of everything.

After receiving his permission, Guard Qi Jingcheng pushed the door open and entered, accompanied by the Xichuan Young Marshal, Li Honghan.

Seeing Li Honghan, Prince Long Yefang could not help but be startled; Li Honghan rarely visited Autumn Splendor Palace, and the Prince felt an indescribable fear of him, for it was Li Honghan who had personally carried out his capture by the Li clan. Somewhat flustered he said, 'General Li… has come.'

Li Honghan laughed loudly, looked over Prince Long Yefang and said, 'Your Highness, you look much more spirited today—indeed, joy brings vigor. Oh, I almost forgot to congratulate you!' He then clasped his hands in greeting toward the Prince.

Prince Long Yefang forced a faint smile and asked, 'What joy is there?'

Li Honghan said, 'I have heard that Your Highness will return to Kangdu, so I have come specially under Father Marshal's orders to see you off!' He gave Qi Jingcheng a look, and Qi Jingcheng said, 'Please come in.'

But a guard entered carrying a tray with a wine pot and three cups.

After Qi Jingcheng took it, the guard withdrew.

Li Honghan picked up the wine pot and slowly filled the three cups, smiling, 'Your Highness, you have spent seven years in Xichuan; during that time our Li family has treated you fairly well. I do not know how Your Highness feels.' He lifted a cup and offered it to Prince Long Yefang.

Prince Long Yefang gazed at the cup, his face showing alarm; he swallowed, his throat moving up and down.

Li Honghan saw his fear and chuckled, 'Your Highness, worried the wine is poisoned? Fine, I'll drink first as a sign of respect.' He drained the cup, then lifted another and presented it to Prince Long Yefang.

Prince Long Yefang trembled, 'I… I have given up alcohol…'

Li Honghan seemed to have heard the funniest thing in the world and burst out laughing.

Prince Long Yefang said, 'I… I have sworn an oath to heaven… taken a poison oath… that if I drink alcohol again I will let my intestines rot and die a miserable death…'

Li Honghan nodded, 'Indeed poisonous enough; I suppose I shouldn't force you to drink.' He drank that cup as well and walked slowly toward Prince Long Yefang.

Prince Long Yefang frightened, kept stepping back.

Li Honghan said, 'Your Highness, have you considered that if I truly wanted to kill you, there would be no need to poison the wine so troublesomely?' He lifted the third cup: 'Your Highness, surely you would not refuse me even this small courtesy?'

Prince Long Yefang gazed at the cup again being offered to him, finally made up his mind, and trembling, took it.

Li Honghan said, 'If Your Highness drinks this cup, I will see you out.'

'Where to?'

'The place you ought to go!'

Prince Long Yefang steeled himself and drank the cup down.

Li Honghan took the wine cup from his hand and softly said, "Why don't you persevere to the end? Actually this wine jug has a trick; the first two cups are fine, this last cup..." He gave a hehe cold laugh, then lightly tossed the cup onto the ground.

Long Yefang suddenly felt his abdomen as if a knife were stirring inside, pain making him clutch his stomach and collapse to his knees on the ground.

Li Honghan looked down at him, raising his hands with an utterly innocent expression, pursed his lips and said, "It's none of my business; you swore the poison oath yourself—if I were you, I wouldn't drink this cup of wine."

"You... you aren't afraid of me... I, the great army of Dakang, will... will raze Xichuan to the ground..."

Li Honghan gave a cold snort and said, "Afraid! Really afraid, but only if they have the ability; even if they have the ability, they must also care about your life." He lifted his foot and kicked Long Yefang over to the ground, then drew his side sword.

Qi Jingcheng, seeing the scene before him, felt deeply puzzled and couldn't help reminding, "Young Marshal..." In his view, Long Yefang had already drunk the poisoned wine, so there was naturally no need to strike again.

Li Honghan slashed down with his sword.

Li Tianheng, hearing the news that Prince Zhou had been killed, was shocked beyond words; he could not contain his inner fury and roared, "Capture that unfilial son for me!"

"No need for trouble!" Li Honghan strode in casually, tossed aside, and Long Yefang's blood-soaked head hit the ground, clattering to a stop at Li Tianheng's feet.

Li Tianheng's eyes nearly burst with rage, he gritted his teeth and snarled, "Unfilial son, do you not know you have brought ruin to Xichuan?"

Li Honghan said, "Someone else is responsible for harming Xichuan, Father; Long Yefang is already dead—what do you have left to bargain with Dakang?"

Li Tianheng shouted in anger, "I'll kill you, you beast!" He drew his side sword and charged at Li Honghan, striking with a sword blow at Li Honghan.

Li Honghan gave a cold snort, shifted his step, an illusory apparition flickered before Li Tianheng, and his sword strike cut nothing but air.

Li Honghan slowly shook his head and said, "I am your son, yet you would resort to killing me?"

Li Tianheng replied, "I have no son like you! You had better surrender meekly; I will send you to Dakang to carry firewood and apologize."

"You old fool!" Li Honghan roared, "I am your son—you actually want to hand me over to the court?"

Li Tianheng swung down his sword again.

Li Honghan lifted Li Tianheng's long sword, the immense strength numbing Li Tianheng's arm; Li Tianheng's expression filled with astonishment, not knowing when his son's martial prowess had reached such a level. Li Tianheng glared at Li Honghan and said, "Can you bear to let the people of Xichuan fall into fire and water for your own selfish gain?"

Li Honghan blocked Li Tianheng's incoming sword, then struck with a powerful blow; the tremendous force sent Li Tianheng stumbling back three steps, his side sword almost slipping from his grasp.

Dragon Boat Festival peace and health (to be continued~^~)