Prime Minister Li stroked his beard. “You’re here to seek death, you say?”
“This sinner cannot atone for his sins regardless of how many times he dies. Therefore, he dares not ask for forgiveness, let alone shirk responsibility and taint His Majesty’s ears.”
Prime Minister Li scowled. “You sure know how to plead for mercy. What gave you the audacity to commit the acts in the first place, then?! The citizens of our Nine Provinces nearly had to bear the burdens of your mistakes, and the imperial court, including His Majesty, would have to remedy things for you. Do you realise your wrongs?!”
“This sinner does.”
Prime Minister Li’s wrinkles smoothed out a little. “Although you have realised your faults, a nation’s laws must be observed. Howbeit, His Majesty rules through virtue unlike the tyrants out in the wild. Therefore, you may leave your last words before you accept your penance. Do you have any last words?”
Not a single official dared to take a breath when Luo Ming suddenly rose to his feet and marched toward the throne. What could they do if the greatest swordsman a decade ago had transcended his previous level were to attack? They cautiously glanced up to Emperor Yuansheng’s side, where Tianhu had an upward curve to his lips, while Prime Minister Li looked cosy where he stood. Most reassuring, though, was that Emperor Yuansheng didn’t show any fear.
With every stride Luo Ming took, a memory he and Emperor Yuansheng shared would float to the front of their minds.
Their friendship blossomed similarly to the lotuses on the day they met and brimmed with energy comparable to the sun on the day they met by Taihu Lake. Together, they took down villains and travelled across Jiangnan. On more than one occasion, Emperor Yuansheng would say something along the lines of, “Burn some incense and tell my father I love him. Advise my mother to not choose another Emperor who is prone to getting lost in the pugilistic world like me! Bring it on, you sons of, hargh! Bring it!” Time and time again, Shen Wuzheng and Luo Ming would risk their necks to rescue Emperor Yuansheng. Those were fun times, but time flew by perceptively faster than usual during those times.
It was when duties separated them that they realised how powerless they were, how hard it was to distinguish right from wrong, how dangerous life was and how it was sometimes more important to discard their humanity to live than to hold on to principles. Their paths diverged, but they were as visibly as tired as each other. They could both agree that they had aged.
Wouldn’t it be nice for life to be clouds? Wouldn’t it be nice to go back to the days or laughing over drinks? Alas, though the lotuses at Taihu Lake were now as beautiful as back, those fleeting years of youth were gone for good.
Luo Ming stopped at the foot of the steps, went back to his knees and bowed his head to the ground.
“Why?” Only when Emperor Yuansheng spoke could anyone tell how saddened he was.
Without batting an eye, Luo Ming replied, “This sinner’s first bow is to thank the imperial court. Thanks to the imperial court, Luo Sword Manor has been honoured, never had to be concerned over their livelihood and enjoyed privileges.”
Luo Ming bowed his head to the floor again. “This second bow is to apologise for lacking the insight to recognise your greatness and mistaking you for an intruder at the outset. In addition, it is to thank you for not holding against this sinner.
Luo Ming bowed his head a third time. “This third bow is to express gratitude to you and Shen Wuzheng for supporting this sinner’s marriage.
Luo Ming bowed his head again. “This fourth bow is to show appreciation for granting the honour of trusting your fourth son to this sinner. Lyu’er has the prudence of a general. Please invest in his development.
Luo Ming bowed his head forth a fifth time. “This fifth bow is to thank you for sparing Luo Sword Manor in spite of this sinner’s heinous crimes that should incur a clan extermination. There is no way this sinner cannot recognise your forgiveness.
Luo Ming dropped his head to the floor a sixth time. “This sixth bow is to show gratitude for allowing this sinner to personally avenge his fallen sons and brothers. It is also to thank you for not leaving him for dead on the battlefield when he lost his ability to defend himself after the battle and even did everything in your power to treat his injuries.”
“None of it… matters anymore.” Emperor Yuansheng weakly wagged his hand.
“This last bow… This sinner is conceited, odd and narrow-minded, yet you were willing to befriend and trust him. Those days are irreplaceable.” Luo Ming raised his head after another kowtow and saluted Emperor Yuansheng with both hands, smiling. “Please watch where you go from now… Do not get lost again.”
Only when Emperor Yuansheng bobbed his head did it dawn on him that he obstructed his vision with his feelings.
Meanwhile, Emperor Yuansheng’s vassals interrupted Luo Ming’s expression of gratitude and request for death as a declaration of war. As vassal who helped manage Emperor Yuansheng’s empire, they saw things through more pragmatic lenses.
Luo Ming’s death in the capital would create ripples in Huzhou. Once Huzhou’s elites marched on the capital, war was unavoidable. As the supplier of arms to the imperial court’s military, Luo Sword Manor could also supply the other six White Princes with weapons. Thus, the vassals were already contemplating which blacksmith to contact for supplies before news of Luo Ming’s execution was publicised. Meanwhile, Luo Siming was wetting his lapels and spacing out in front of an empty porridge ball. He was fully aware that was his last meal with his father.
“Luo Ming has no means of repaying you besides,” – Luo Ming’s voice snapped the vassals out of their worlds – “on behalf of Luo Sword Manor, henceforth, Luo Sword Manor shall step down as one of the Seven Champion White Princes, returning to its roots as ordinary citizens. Luo Sword Manor’s soldiers shall be entrusted to the Ministry of Defence. The imperial court shall manage Huzhou’s taxes, and Luo Sword Manor will no longer have the privilege to accept taxes as income. All savings earned from taxes shall be paid forward to the imperial court. All military equipment manufacturing shall be entrusted to the imperial court’s supervision. All two hundred and forty-plus weapon blueprints shall be handed over, as well. Military workshops are hereby properties of the imperial court. Luo Ming hereby hands over all of Huzhou to repay your grace.”
***
Thirty years ago, a young man similar to the one sitting at a table at Eight Deities Restaurant also visited the restaurant. Instead of gazing at the sky over drinks, however, he gazed at it from the bottom of the lion statue by the city entrance. He once woke up to see the face of a different woman every morning and went nights without sleep. He once fell adulated adepts with a single sword at the foot of Mount Zijin. He once said, “As I gaze at the flowers on the eaves, I see ubiquitous signs of war in the capital.”
Glossary
Wouldn’t it be nice for life to be clouds… – Clouds are being used as a simple of impermanence. “Life” here isn’t just about one’s life but encompasses mankind as a whole, as well as the world. Does that also come out the same way in English? Clouds come and go, but life only moves forward. Clouds that are scattered and reunited are still the same clouds (I assume not really, but I’m no chemistry whiz), but people are no longer the same when they reunite.
