EMHTC -Chapter 53 Long Live the Emperor!

Actually… accepting him might not be impossible.

The old emperor reacted swiftly, and his mind quickly turned to the idea of splitting up Huihu.

Although the current Huihu king (the son of his younger brother) had shown no signs of rebellion or independence—having come to the capital with his ministers to pledge loyalty immediately upon ascending the throne two years ago—the old emperor trusted his own means of weakening Huihu far more than relying on loyalty, which depends on the whims of the heart.

For instance, he could allow this wild Huihu king to return to his homeland, but without granting him the right to reclaim the throne. If he still wanted to be a king, he could establish a new Huihu tribe elsewhere.

Oh, and the current Huihu king wouldn’t be allowed to kill him either.

—If the Turks could have East and West Turkic states, why couldn’t Huihu have East and West Huihu tribes?

Of course, someone would need to keep an eye on him.

But who?

The old emperor pondered and pondered.

The grand general was already overseas, and even if he weren’t, the emperor couldn’t bear to part with him.

The Marquis of Yongchang… he couldn’t part with him either.

Then his gaze fell on Li Shihu.

He was perfect.

He had been to the Western Regions and had even interacted with the Huihu king.

It’s better to send someone familiar!

Li Shihu, for some reason, suddenly felt a chill rise up his spine.

Three or four days later, the group leaving the mountains now included the wild Huihu king.

—The delay in their departure was to avoid running into any barbarians.

“Your Majesty—!”

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites was the first to spot the emperor, who had been missing for so long. His voice cracked as he cried out, nearly losing his composure as he ran over. “Where has Your Majesty been all this time? Were you injured?”

He quickly reported the situation: “Your Majesty, please rest assured. On the very first day of your disappearance, the Crown Prince sealed off the news, informing only a few ministers accompanying you. Even the Prime Minister was not told. Currently, state affairs are being handled by the Crown Prince and the ministers, and the public merely believes that Your Majesty lingered a while longer at Shanhaiguan.”

Pausing for breath, he continued: “After Your Majesty’s prolonged absence, the Crown Prince ordered the Jinyiwei to search everywhere and even mobilized troops from nearby prefectures a few days ago.”

The old emperor finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Over the past few days in the mountains, he had been deeply worried about the situation outside. But now it seemed…

The old emperor nodded slightly. “The Crown Prince handled things well.”

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites cupped his hands respectfully, but his gaze soon shifted to Li Shihu, who was winking at him. His face instantly showed shock: “How are you—”

The old emperor was even more startled, nearly interrupting him on the spot.

Recognized, Li Shihu couldn’t hold back his grin. “Long time no see, Top Graduate! Ah, you’ve been reinstated and returned to court? That’s great! What position are you holding now?”

Hearing this, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites immediately realized—Li Shihu and his men didn’t know about the change in dynasties!

Looking at the number of wild soldiers from the previous dynasty and then considering the distance of the local troops, the Vice Minister’s smile grew forced. “Y-Yes. Thanks to His Majesty’s grace, I’ve become the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.”

Li Shihu was overjoyed. “You’ve made it to Vice Minister of Rites! Third rank! Fantastic! Congratulations! Too bad I haven’t had the chance to give you a gift to celebrate your promotion.”

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites forced a smile that remained stiff. “Seeing you alive is enough for me. Whether there’s a gift or not doesn’t matter.”

His words were sincere, but if they could have been said in a different setting, they might have sounded even more heartfelt.

The emperor’s return was a pleasant surprise. The emperor bringing back the soldiers of the previous dynasty was a terrifying shock.

The group made their way toward the magistrate’s office.

Li Shihu, full of emotion, said, “I’ve been to Shanhaiguan, but I haven’t been out of the mountains in so long. Even Shanhaiguan looks completely different—before, there was practically an opera stage on every street. Now there isn’t a single one.”

The Minister of Revenue chuckled dryly. “Indeed…”

The previous dynasty had been extravagant, with emperors who loved ornate literary pursuits. The current emperor vehemently opposed such practices. Now, the streets were more populated with scholars composing poems and essays. Of course, there were still opera performances, but those took place in dedicated theaters. Moreover, instead of tales of love and heartbreak, the current dynasty’s operas focused more on reflecting the hardships of the common people and exposing bureaucratic corruption—a genre the emperor, who had risen from the masses, particularly enjoyed.

A wild soldier exclaimed, “You can drink in public gatherings now?!”

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites coughed twice, covering his mouth. “That’s a recent change. Back when there were eighteen rebel factions, public drinking was prohibited to maintain order. Now that the world is at peace, the ban has been lifted.”

Some hesitated and asked, “But why are even the ways of eating and drinking tea so different? I remember that the street-side pancakes used to be about palm-sized, small enough to finish in two or three bites. A sturdy man could eat over a dozen in one sitting. But now these pancakes are so big—just two are enough to fill a sturdy man up.”

“Well… now that it’s a time of peace, the price of rice and flour has dropped, so the pancakes are made bigger.”

—Actually, it was because the previous dynasty valued refined and delicate customs, whereas the current dynasty embraced a more rugged and straightforward style.

“Oh… and cooking meat in large chunks—is that also because meat is cheaper now?”

“Exactly!”

—In the previous dynasty, people preferred to slice meat thinly, while chopping it boldly into large pieces, as if slicing through with a blade, was something usually only done by soldiers in specific settings. Nowadays, even common folk on the streets preferred cutting large chunks to toss directly into the pot.

“Do commoners drink tea now? When I left, I distinctly remember that even in civilian teahouses, only those with some wealth could afford it.”

The rapid changes in the world left these people, who had been isolated from society, feeling dizzy. Even the customs of the common folk had transformed. Everything seemed unfamiliar, and they couldn’t help but feel estranged from this land they once knew.

By the time they reached the magistrate’s office, many hurried inside as if escaping.

After they were seated, Li Shihu casually asked the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, “I’ve lost track of time in the mountains. What year is it now?”

“The Yongbao era lasted only four years, and it was followed by the Tiantong era. Today is April 1st, in the thirty-third year of Tiantong.”

The others silently marveled.

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites truly lived up to his reputation. Without telling a single lie, he managed to create the impression that Yongbao and Tiantong were two era names under the same emperor.

Li Shihu’s expression changed, and he immediately turned to bow deeply before the old emperor. “Your humble servant is guilty! I did not realize today is Your Majesty’s birthday!”

“Hmm?”

It wasn’t his birthday… Oh!

The old emperor realized he was referring to the former dynasty’s last emperor.

Li Shihu continued to proclaim loudly, “May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”

He sighed regretfully, “It’s a pity that the birthday gift I prepared can no longer be offered.”

—After all, now that it was already known the emperor had accepted the Huihu king’s allegiance, it would be inappropriate to present that as a birthday gift.

The old emperor maintained his composure and helped him to his feet, smiling warmly. “To have such a great general is itself a blessing for ten thousand years.”

They directly spoke in a way that moved him, making Li Shihu increasingly grateful and determined to serve the emperor to the death.

After standing up, Li Shihu, his face beaming with excitement, turned to the others and asked, “Surely, my esteemed colleagues have already prepared birthday gifts for His Majesty. May I ask what they are?”

Uh…

The room fell silent for a moment before the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites broke the tension, saying solemnly, “I shall recite a poem for His Majesty!”

He then improvised and composed a birthday poem that was decent and respectable.

—It couldn’t be helped; it was made up on the spot.

The legendary poet who could compose in seven steps might be a tale of history or folklore, but even they needed at least seven steps to think. Li Shihu’s assumption that they had prepared gifts gave them no time at all to think of something elaborate!

The Minister of Revenue immediately followed up, saying, “I shall sing a song for His Majesty!”

The emperor: “…”

Although the Minister of Revenue looked scholarly and had a rich voice, even gracefully swinging his sleeves and stepping in rhythm while singing, it was…

Strange. Very strange.

The Chief Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices chimed in next: “I shall compose an essay in honor of His Majesty!”

“I…” The Marquis of Yongchang found that the options for impromptu gifts were running out. After a quick glance around, he grabbed his sword and declared, “I shall perform a sword dance for His Majesty!”

It was only then that Li Shihu realized he had done something inappropriate. He slapped his forehead in regret.

His colleagues had only just returned. Even if they had prepared birthday gifts, they would certainly be stored in their respective residences. Now, because of his question, they had to resort to offering poems, songs, and dances on the spot. The proper gifts would have to wait until the official birthday banquet.

Ah, this was all his fault! He’d gotten a bit carried away earlier!

While Li Shihu was silently berating himself, hurried footsteps approached, accompanied by a man’s anxious voice.

“Father! The Jinyiwei said you’d returned! Are you hurt?”

The crown prince, limping hurriedly into the room, nearly stumbled in his haste. He was too preoccupied to notice the unfamiliar faces in the room. Once he confirmed that his father and the officials were safe, his face lit up with relief.

Eagerly, he shared the news he had encountered earlier.

“Father, let me tell you! On my way back with the troops, I ran into a group of rebels! Do you know how they were exposed?”

“Wait—”

“Today is that little tyrant emperor’s birthday, isn’t it? They had captured several women and were planning to strip them and burn them as a tribute to celebrate his birthday. Thankfully, I eradicated them just in time—”

Noticing the strange atmosphere in the room, the crown prince paused, confused. “What’s wrong?”

Even the air seemed to freeze.

The emperor stiffly turned his head to look at Li Shihu. “My dear minister, let me explain…”

It would have been better if he hadn’t said anything. The moment he spoke, Li Shihu immediately caught on.

Clang!

Li Shihu drew his sword, glaring fiercely at the emperor. “So you’re a rebel!”

The wild soldiers who had accompanied Li Shihu from the tribe were stunned by the sudden development. After some hesitation, they moved to stand behind him.

The Chief Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices’ eyes gleamed, and he feigned shock. “Li Lang! Are you going to let the murder of your father go unavenged?”

Li Shihu froze. “What?”

The Chief Minister then recounted, in full detail and without exaggeration, the absurd actions of the former emperor that had ultimately caused Li Shihu’s father’s death.

Li Shihu’s eyes widened. “Everything you’re saying… is it true?”

The Chief Minister replied, “Why would I lie to you? Li Lang, all of this can be verified.”

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites quickly added, “Do you know how the last emperor died? He used commoners for archery practice during his outings. One night, while staying at a monastery, he was beheaded in his sleep by the Prime Minister and his own personal guard.”

The Vice Minister deliberately omitted one crucial detail: after the former emperor’s demise, the Prime Minister neither seized the throne for himself nor supported any member of the royal family to ascend it. Instead, he steadfastly guarded the capital without an emperor and ultimately perished with the kingdom.

He feared that if his former colleague learned the full story, he might see it as a noble example and choose to end his life in the same way.

Li Shihu froze. “So that’s how it was, but…”

The Deputy Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices gritted his teeth and stepped forward. “Brother Shihu! Even if you don’t think about yourself, you must consider your mother, your ex-wife, and your son! If you act as a martyr of loyalty, they—after decades without seeing you—will have to join you in death!”

Li Ying ran forward and threw his arms around Li Shihu. “Father! If Grandma knew you were still alive, she would be overjoyed!”

“Ying’er…”

Li Ying sobbed, “Father! Grandfather died of sheer rage! The former emperor was nothing but a beast! Not only did he desecrate his own father’s corpse, but he also forced Cousin into the palace. He humiliated ministers at will, made the Prime Minister eat pig slop in public, and when the Minister of Personnel once smelled fishy, he grew curious and ordered the man’s stomach cut open! If a minister displeased him even slightly, he would draw his blade and hack them to death!”

Li Shihu was stunned. “How could this be!”

Seeing his attitude beginning to waver, the emperor gave Li Ying a subtle signal.

Li Ying understood. “And… and he also enjoyed abusing young boys!”

The officials were baffled. Huh? Is that supposed to be a major revelation?

Li Ying: “…” Having already said it, he forced himself to continue tearfully. “One time, I was summoned to the palace myself. Afterward, Grandfather died of anger!”

It was true that the former emperor abused young boys. It was also true that Li Ying had once been summoned to the palace—but only to receive a reward, with nothing untoward happening. And Grandfather’s death from rage? Also true.

But the events weren’t even on the same day. There was no need to mention that to Li Shihu.

Under the astonished and admiring gazes of the crowd, and the emperor’s heartfelt declaration of, “Li Minister, you are truly a paragon of loyalty!” Li Ying closed his eyes in despair.

Damn that Xu Yanmiao! If he hadn’t gotten used to hearing such shameless gossip, how could he have blurted out something like this at such a critical moment?

As for Li Shihu…

His eyes widened.

For three days, Li Shihu sat in silence in a pavilion, watching the bustling crowds below. The wind and sand at Shanhai Pass were relentless; when a gale swept through, yellow dust engulfed the area.

Borderlands were known for their harsh conditions, yet the people at Shanhai Pass wore smiles, a sign that the new emperor was governing well.

He remembered how, before he left, even the heartlands of the Central Plains were filled with sorrow and hardship.

On the fourth day, Li Shihu went to meet the emperor.

On the fifth day, holding the seal of the Shandong Commander and an imperial leave of absence, he went to find his son. “Ying’er, I want to visit your grandmother. I heard she’s living here in Shanhai Pass.”

—As for his soldiers, after he pledged allegiance, they received rewards for their role in the emperor’s rescue. They were reorganized and happily went off to their respective camps.

Li Ying was overjoyed. “Father! You’ve made up your mind! Let’s—”

He paused mid-sentence.

“What’s wrong, Ying’er? Let’s go! I’ve already found out where the house is. Let’s meet your grandmother!”

Li Ying’s smile was more like a grimace.

Besides Grandma, there’s also… my mother.

He couldn’t even imagine what that reunion would look like.

The scene, however, turned out to be incredibly heartwarming.

Mother and son embraced and wept bitterly.

Even upon learning that his mother had remarried, Li Shihu said nothing. Instead, he respectfully addressed his stepfather according to proper etiquette: “Father.”

“Father! Your son has returned!” came the voice of the Deputy Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices from outside.

The moment he entered, the two men locked eyes—Li Shihu glaring, the Deputy Minister feigning innocence.

Li Shihu was delighted. “So, not only are we colleagues, but also brothers! I’m two years older than you, so I’ll shamelessly call myself your elder brother.”

“Elder brother,” the Deputy Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices replied, though his expression was a bit awkward and uneasy.

Li Shihu didn’t notice. He let out a hearty “Aye!” and began rummaging in his pouch to gift his newfound brother a necklace made from polished beast teeth.

By sheer coincidence, a voice came from outside: “I heard shouting earlier—has my husband returned?”

Hearing the familiar voice, the Deputy Minister froze in panic. “Wait!”

Hearing the familiar voice, Li Shihu exclaimed with joy, “My wife!”

But the woman had already walked in.

When their eyes met, both froze in place.

After a moment of stunned silence, Li Shihu turned to look at the Deputy Minister.

The Deputy Minister coughed. “Elder brother, this… this is something I can explain.”

Li Shihu turned to glance at his mother and stepfather. His stepfather smiled kindly. “Shihu, are you staying for dinner tonight?”

Li Shihu looked at his son, Li Ying, who quietly covered his face, avoiding eye contact.

Li Shihu finally spoke. “So, this is what you meant by everyone remarried???”

Li Ying whispered, “Doesn’t it count?”

Li Shihu pressed his hand to his forehead, swaying on his feet.

Perhaps he hadn’t come down from the mountains. Perhaps he hadn’t met the emperor. Perhaps he hadn’t even returned home. Maybe… he had simply eaten some poisonous mushrooms, and this was all a hallucination.