Chapter 3

Chapter 3

A nation cannot go a single day without a ruler.

After the ceremony concluded, I became the Emperor once again.

During the morning court session, I sat perched atop the throne, half-asleep, listening to the officials below argue heatedly over my posthumous title.

I am likely the first emperor in history to overhear the debate regarding his own posthumous name.

At the thought of this, I felt a strange sense of comfort.

The officials below were divided into roughly three factions.

There was the group led by Chancellor Cui, who believed my achievements were unparalleled throughout the ages.

There was the group led by Grand Commandant Li, who felt I was utterly mediocre.

And then there was the group led by General Zhou, who mostly just stared blankly and yawned.

The crowd bickered back and forth without reaching any conclusion.

Chancellor Cui claimed I was a sagacious ruler for the ages, one who had exhausted his life in service to the country and its people.

Grand Commandant Li countered that there were no great feats during my reign. He argued that in my early years, I had been reckless and hungry for glory-specifically citing the Battle of Pingqiao Ferry against the Wei State, where two hundred thousand soldiers of our Great Xia were lost. He claimed I had failed the citizens and could not be considered an enlightened ruler.

I dazed off for a long time upon hearing the name Pingqiao Ferry.

That truly was a very long time ago.

Subconsciously, I reached to touch the scar on my left arm, only to realize as my fingers met smooth, youthful skin that I had changed shells.

I had ascended the throne at fourteen, an age of youthful vigor and high spirits, my heart set on building a legacy and expanding the empire’s borders.

In the second year of my reign, the Wei State repeatedly provoked our borders. In a fit of rage, I personally led the imperial expedition, marching my armies south with a vow to level the Wei capital.

After a year and a half of grueling stalemate with the Wei State, I won a Pyrrhic victory at Pingqiao Ferry.

The Wei State’s army of three hundred thousand was completely annihilated, but of my own two hundred thousand troops, fewer than twenty thousand remained.

The Wei State was crushed, remaining docile for many years.

However, Great Xia fared little better; it took over a decade of rest and recovery to barely regain its strength.

From that point on, I never fought another war.

Chancellor Cui wanted to continue the argument, but I waved my hand.

“That is enough for today. We shall discuss this another time.”

After a few more days of arguing, the matter was finally settled.

Zong Shi, the sixth emperor of Great Xia, reigned for thirty years. His administration was efficient, his people lived in harmony, and the populace knew peace. His posthumous title: Emperor Zhaohui.

Mediocre, neither good nor bad.

The Chancellor originally wanted to fight for something better on my behalf, but I stopped him.

“I dreamed of the late Emperor yesterday. He said he is very satisfied with this title.”

It was just a posthumous name; it wasn’t worth wasting effort over.

At the mention of the late Emperor, Cui Yan’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. “Your Majesty, the late Emperor suffered so much.”

Here we go again.

Lately, he had been repeating this sentiment constantly.

I looked up at the sky, not feeling that my life had been particularly bitter. At most, I had simply died a bit young.

I wondered if this old man Cui was getting senile. Why was he becoming so sentimental? Where was the sharp-tongued fire he used to have when he used to lecture me?

“The late Emperor said he did not suffer.”

Seeing him still wiping away tears, I frowned.

“If this continues, I fear the Chancellor will have no time to attend to the affairs of the state?”

Sensing the shift in my tone, Cui Yan finally pulled himself together.

“This old minister has lost his composure. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness. I will certainly not fail the late Emperor’s trust.”

Watching Cui Yan’s slightly staggering figure as he left, I hesitated. My heart softened, and I decided to give him a few more days of leave.

Yes, three days-no more than that.

Old man, you’d better hold on.

Great Xia needs you right now.