Chapter Five: The History of the Empire
Finally seeing Liu Yuqing off, Liu Ji let out a long sigh of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. However, the twin rows of teeth marks on his arm left him feeling rather helpless. This girl’s strength was truly something to behold; he had no doubt that, were he ever to fight Liu Yuqing, she would cripple him with a single punch!
This once again reminded him of the frailty of his current body.
“The most urgent thing now,” he thought, “is to quickly figure out the situation within the manor and understand this world.” With that, Liu Ji changed into fresh clothes and stepped outside.
“Take me to the library.”
He stopped a passing servant.
“Yes, young master.”
The servant did not question his request and respectfully led the way.
With hands clasped behind his back, Liu Ji walked on, taking in the sights of the Southern Prince’s residence. The corridors meandered elegantly, and in the lotus pond, ornamental carp swam leisurely among the lilies. On the rockery at the center of the pond, birds chirped merrily.
Every now and then, exquisitely dressed maids greeted him, their faces a mix of awe and bashfulness. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—how wonderful it was to be wealthy!
Guided by the servant, they turned left and right through the winding halls, finally arriving before a stately pavilion. Above the entrance hung a plaque, its three grand characters sweeping and majestic.
Library Pavilion.
The servant withdrew, and Liu Ji, hands still clasped, approached the guard at the door, doing his best to strike the arrogant pose befitting the heir apparent.
From what he had gathered, the former owner of this body had been nothing more than a good-for-nothing dandy. Otherwise, he would not have been spoken of as someone who spent his days courting the beautiful Miss Mu outside the city, seeking to “enjoy himself”—though never successfully.
He said, “Open the door.”
The guard was momentarily startled, then replied respectfully, “Young master, the prince has given strict instructions—this is a restricted area of the residence. Anyone who comes here must report their purpose. May I ask what brings you here today?”
Liu Ji frowned. “What, am I, the heir, not qualified to enter?”
“You misunderstand, young master!” the guard said in terror. “I am only following the prince’s orders. Please, do not make things difficult for me. Everyone must state their purpose, or I’m afraid I cannot let you in…”
“I’m here to look up information about… about vengeful spirits,” Liu Ji said after a moment’s thought. “So? Am I qualified now?”
“…Of course, young master. Please, go in.”
The guard was again taken aback, but hurriedly turned, produced a peculiarly shaped token, and pressed it into a slot on the door. With a push, a twist, and another push, the heavy black stone doors rumbled open to both sides. The guard bowed and reminded him, “Just a reminder, young master: please return all books to their original place after reading.”
Liu Ji acknowledged him with a hum and stepped inside.
Watching Liu Ji’s retreating figure, the guard scratched his head in bewilderment and turned to his companion. “What’s gotten into the young master today? He actually came to the library! How odd!”
He’d been stationed here for over a decade and could easily count on one hand the number of times the heir had visited the library. He was a complete wastrel, an idler with no interest in learning. Today, the young master’s sudden interest in books was nothing short of sensational for the household.
The other guard waved a hand. “Who knows? Maybe the young master has had a sudden epiphany. But really, our prince is a man of such talent—how did he end up with such a disappointing son?”
“Now, everyone in the Southern Prince’s City, even throughout the entire Nüxi Empire, knows that the Southern Prince’s heir is a ne’er-do-well who spends his days indulging in pleasure, frequenting brothels, and has utterly disgraced his father’s name!”
He shook his head. “If I were the prince, I’d devote myself to educating the young master, grooming him as the next successor!”
He sighed with regret.
“Quiet,” the first guard quickly admonished. “We shouldn’t gossip about such things behind their backs! The prince has only this one beloved son after a lifetime of conquest—it’s natural he dotes on him.”
“I mean no harm,” the other replied. “I just feel sorry for our prince. They say the tiger does not father a dog, yet look at the young master!”
Both men shook their heads in lament.
They had both served alongside Liu Heng on his campaigns and were loyal to the Southern Prince’s household. It was only natural for them to worry about its decline and vent their frustration in private.
…
Unaware of the servants’ gossip, Liu Ji stood at the entrance of the library, gazing at the towering shelves.
“How many books must be stored here?” he marveled.
He stepped up to one of the shelves, pulled down an ancient volume, and began to read. To his relief, he could understand the characters. Had he been unable to read the language of this world, he thought, he might as well have died again.
He turned his attention to the text.
“Annals of the Empire:
The first year of the Nüxi Calendar: The land was torn by feuding warlords and barbarian invasions, with endless wars leaving mountains of bones and rivers of blood across the central plains!
In the tenth year of the Nüxi Calendar: A decade of war left the land devastated, with the living suffering and the dead unavenged. The Zhou Emperor unified the central plains, expelled the barbarians, and founded the Nüxi Empire!
In the eleventh year: The Zhou Emperor decreed that all land within the empire belonged to the central authority, to be distributed according to household size, weakening the slave system and prohibiting the private trade and abuse of slaves.
Thereafter, a series of policies were enacted for the benefit of the people. The empire knew peace; the people lived in harmony, and the empire’s glory shone across the Land of Calamity!
In the hundredth year: The empire’s population plummeted.
In the one hundred and first year: Northern barbarians suddenly invaded imperial territory with an army of five hundred thousand, threatening the capital. The Zhou Emperor led two hundred thousand Armored Spirit Masters and annihilated the barbarian army, displaying the might of the empire!
In the one hundred and fiftieth year: A powerful vassal within the empire rebelled, betraying the people, and was crushed by the Zhou Emperor leading five thousand Armored Spirit Masters!
In the one hundred and fifty-first year: The Zhou Emperor died.
In the one hundred and fifty-second year: The barbarians raised a massive army to invade the Nüxi Empire, but the newly crowned emperor led one hundred and fifty thousand Armored Spirit Masters to repel them again!
In the two hundredth year: The empire’s population plummeted.
In the two hundred and first year: The barbarians invaded again but were again defeated by the empire.
In the two hundred and twelfth year: Three great vassals within the empire formed an alliance to rebel, hoping to overthrow imperial rule and plunge the people into misery once more. Within half a year, the rebellion was crushed by the imperial army!
In the three hundredth year: The empire’s population plummeted.
In the three hundred and first year: The barbarians invaded once more, but the reigning emperor led the army to drive them back, even threatening the barbarian heartlands before returning in triumph.
In the three hundred and eighty-ninth year: Another rebellion among the vassals broke out. The emperor swiftly deployed the army, suppressed the uprising, and stripped the vassals of their military authority!
In the four hundredth year: The population plummeted.
…”
After finishing the annals, Liu Ji couldn’t help but marvel at the stubbornness of the barbarians—defeated again and again, yet never learning their lesson.
The records were detailed: resisting foreign invaders, suppressing internal rebellion, leading the empire to an age of glory. But some details remained vague and rather peculiar. Every few centuries, the empire’s population mysteriously suffered a massive decline, with the only explanation being “natural disasters.”
And following each catastrophe, either the barbarians would invade, or there would be yet another vassal revolt. As for the reasons behind these rebellions, the records offered no further explanation.
This piqued his curiosity. Being the empire’s official history, one would expect thorough documentation, yet certain parts were conspicuously ambiguous.
Was the empire deliberately concealing something?
Moreover, he noticed that every event recorded in this annal served to praise the greatness of the empire and extol the might of the royal family.
Of course, this was only natural. No regime would tarnish its own reputation. Still, he now had a general understanding of the world he found himself in.